Patents Examined by James W. Cranson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7455439
    Abstract: A headlight of the elliptical type comprises an occulting or masking screen which defines a cut-off profile in the light beam emitted by a light source, the beam being a regulation lighting beam for use in wet weather, with a cut-off profile. This beam includes a zone of reduced illumination which is situated below the cut-off line. The occulting screen includes at least one generally transverse portion which is made of transparent material and which lies above the cut-off line. This transparent portion includes a zone of reduced transparency which forms the zone of reduced illumination within the regulation lighting beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Pierre Albou, Boris Wiegand
  • Patent number: 7357540
    Abstract: A compact flashlight is configured such that it can be coupled to a key ring, as well as various other devices, and includes a locking mechanism that inhibits accidental opening and detachment from the ring or other device. The compact flashlight is further configured to allow the flashlight to be pointed in numerous directions while resting on a surface, and further allows for ease of battery replacement. The compact flashlight additionally includes a plurality of switches that are easy to operate, and includes both a momentary switch and an on-off switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Inventor: Donald J. Booty, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7357555
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from the output surface of the light guide, and a first interference reflector positioned between the output surface of the light guide and the emissive material is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The first interference reflector substantially transmits light having the first optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the second optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7357554
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from the output surface of the light guide, and an interference reflector positioned such that the emissive material is between the output surface of the light guide and the interference reflector is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The interference reflector substantially transmits light having the second optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the first optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, John A. Wheatley, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7347590
    Abstract: A lens used for a light-emitting diode (LED) includes a body having an axis and a retaining part, wherein the body of the lens is symmetrical about the axis. The lens is mounted onto an LED and further includes a first lens part and a second lens part. When entering into the first lens part, light rays will be totally reflected through the first lens part and the light rays emitted from the first lens part will approximately parallel to the axis. When the light rays emitted from the first lens part enter into the second lens part, they will be totally reflected, and the light rays emitted from the second lens part will be approximately perpendicular to the axis. Thus, the lens has a structure that may control the emitting direction of light emitted from an LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Chi Lin Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: I-Chang Lee, Shen-Yin Tsai
  • Patent number: 7341358
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus is disclosed in the invention. The illumination apparatus includes a cavity with a diffusion surface, a light source, a light-spreading device, and at least one optically-conditioning surface with a wavelike array formed thereon. The light-spreading device and the optically-conditioning surface spread the light generated by the light source. The light-spreading device includes a wing-shaped protrusion part, a light incident surface, a recess located away from the light incident surface, and an optically-conditioning surface including a wavelike array, wherein the wavelike array has a wavefront direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Epistar Corporation
    Inventors: Min-Hsun Hsieh, Chou-Chih Yin, Chun-Chang Chen, Jen-Shui Wang, Chia-Fen Tsai, Yi-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 7338190
    Abstract: A vehicle rearview mirror system includes a rearview mirror assembly comprising an electro-optic reflective element and, preferably, at least a first and a second photo-sensor, both facing generally in a common direction. A light piping element pipes light to the first photo-sensor from a light environment different from the light environment to which the second photo-sensor is exposed. The first photo-sensor may comprise a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation. A spectral filter may be disposed in front of the first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident thereat. One of the first and second photo-sensors may have a rearward field of view relative to the forward direction of travel of the vehicle, and the other of the first and second photo-sensors may have a forward field of view relative to the forward direction of the travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney K. Blank
  • Patent number: 7334908
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing and cooling beverages includes a stand supporting an ice bucket. The bucket includes a rack section provided with notches for supporting beverage vessels. The present invention may further include a light emitting mechanism for illuminating the bucket. Such a light emitting mechanism includes a power supply source, a switch, support rods, and bulbs operably connected to each other. The present invention further includes at least one shelf member engageable with the stand. Such a shelf member includes flange portions spaced apart that are compressible for cooperating with the stand so that it can be maintained at a stable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: Hector D. Figueroa
  • Patent number: 7325960
    Abstract: A bar-like side-emitting light guide suitable for re-directing an incident light beam such that the light beam emerges from each side of the structure. The guide structure includes a light guiding bar having an upper surface and a lower surface and extending along a longitudinal direction. On a cross-sectional plane of the light guiding bar, there is a first line interval on the upper surface. A second line interval, a third line interval and a coupling part are located at the lower surface. The coupling part couples with the second line interval and the third line interval. The distance from the lower surface of the light guiding bar to a reference plane of the upper surface varies such that the thickness gradually decreases from the coupling part to the sides. In addition, a planar light source module can be constructed by arranging the foregoing light guiding bars in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ya-Hui Chiang, Chiu-Ling Chen, Shang-Ping Ying, Hung-Lieh Hu
  • Patent number: 7326179
    Abstract: An illuminated display system and method for prioritizing medical care administered to an injured user, such a soldier in battlefield settings. The illuminated display system may be applied to triage scenarios whereby illuminated signals visually provide the triage status of an injured user at a distance and in low-visibility settings. In particular, the illuminated display system includes a plurality of light emitters. Each light emitter from the plurality of light emitters provides a different predetermined wavelength of light than the other light emitters from the plurality of light emitters. In operation, each respective predetermined wavelength of light provides information relating to the degree of injury or other information associated with the user such that a desired light emitter is selected to display the desired wavelength and, ultimately, the desired information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: Juan Enrique Cienfuegos
  • Patent number: 7322728
    Abstract: A structure for mounting a high-mounted stop lamp. An upper housing and a lower housing are not provided. A stop lamp having a reflector and a lens is placed in a space defined by a cover part of a tailgate trim which is formed to have a configuration for receiving the stop lamp therein. A pair of mounting sections protrudes from left and right portions of a rear wall of the reflector. By the medium of the pair of mounting sections, the reflector is locked by bolts to a tailgate inner panel which is positioned above the reflector and is coupled by clips to the cover part of the tailgate trim which is positioned below the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jung Kyu Yang
  • Patent number: 7322727
    Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination comprised of an illumination source of electromagnetic radiation and a multi-part reflector (10) to route and focus the electromagnetic illumination, whereby the function of the separation (Y) from the angle (?) across at least partial areas of the reflector (10) is not a constant function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlinger GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Lampen, Hermann Kellermann
  • Patent number: 7322736
    Abstract: An improved LED positioning structure includes a retaining holder and a cover; multiple slots being disposed on one side of the retaining holder; a slope externally extending beneath each slot gradually and externally extending a slope; a hole connecting through each slot being formed on the bottom of the slope; a positioning channel at the top of the retaining holder for LED pins to respectively penetrate each hole, thus each pin being placed in a slot; a bent part of each pin being formed by the curvature located between the slot and the positioning channel to position the LED mask in the positioning channel; and the cover being positioned at top of the slot to secure the LED in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Taiwan Oasis Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Shun Lee, Wen-Fa Kuo
  • Patent number: 7318657
    Abstract: A compact flashlight is configured such that it can be coupled to a key ring, as well as various other devices, and includes a locking mechanism that inhibits accidental opening and detachment from the ring or other device. The compact flashlight is further configured to allow the flashlight to be pointed in numerous directions while resting on a surface, and further allows for ease of battery replacement. The compact flashlight additionally includes a plurality of switches that are easy to operate, and includes both a momentary switch and an on-off switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Donald J. Booty, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7316491
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method for improving driver safety in an oversized highway vehicle or highway vehicle with an oversized load. The method includes obtaining an oversized highway vehicle or highway vehicle with an oversized load that includes safety indicia illuminated by one or more EL lighting surfaces, and driving the vehicle on an highway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Safe Lites, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Golle, John Golle
  • Patent number: 7316488
    Abstract: A beam shutter is disclosed that is affixed to an LED die submount or circuit board to sharply define the emitted pattern. The beam shutter may be a solid piece of aluminum or any other opaque material to block a portion of the light emitted from the LED die. The beam shutter is particularly advantageous for shaping the LED light for car headlamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Philips Lumileds Lighting Company, LLC
    Inventor: Franklin J. Wall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7314291
    Abstract: An LED lamp includes LED chips, an axle, and a lampshade. The LED chips are mounted on surface of the axle. The axle extends across the lampshade. A heat pipe is installed inside the axle for transferring the heat generated by the LED chips to exterior of the lampshade and obtaining a better heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ra-Min Tain, Shyi-Ching Liau, Tzong-Che Ho
  • Patent number: 7315405
    Abstract: As a reading light source, a cold-cathode tube having three wavelengths and an LED array are used in combination. The cold-cathode tube and the LEDs are lit up at different timings when reading a document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihito Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 7314293
    Abstract: A lamp including a holder having a base with a plurality of vertical walls extending upwardly therefrom. A window is formed in at least one of the walls. A panel, including an image, is removably disposed adjacent to the window. The panel is illuminated to highlight the image and create a desired effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventors: Frederick Steier, David Stein
  • Patent number: 7311423
    Abstract: A lighting fixture apparatus includes a frame portion, a louver portion and a diffuser lens. The louver portion includes a baffle system for passing unobstructed at least a portion of the light impinging thereon. The diffuser lens includes a surface for diffusing light rays. At least one directional lighting apparatus comprised of LED strips is attached to and supported by the frame portion. The LED strips are disposed between the louver portion and the diffuser portion. The LED assembly includes a rigid strip having a first end and a second end opposite the first end portion, and a first surface and a second surface opposite the second surface. A first rotary support member and a second rotary support member are connected to the strip portion at respective first and second ends. A plurality of electrical lighting elements are mounted on the first surface and are configured in at least one electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
    Inventors: Sandor A. Frecska, Jere W. Myers