Patents Examined by James W. Cranson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7303315
    Abstract: An illumination assembly includes a heat dissipating member having a plurality of circuitized strips disposed thereon a spaced relationship. Each circuitized strip includes an electrically insulative substrate having at least one circuit trace on a first side of the substrate and an electrically and thermally conductive layer on a second side of the substrate, such that the at least one circuit trace is electrically insulated from the second side of the substrate. The circuitized strips have a plurality of vias extending from the first side to the second side of the substrate. A plurality of LEDs are disposed in the plurality of vias, such that each LEDs is disposed on the electrically and thermally conductive layer on the second side of the substrate and electrically connected to the at least one circuit trace on the first side of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Denny G. Aeschliman, Hung T. Tran, Kenneth A. Epstein, Michael A. Meis, John C. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7303313
    Abstract: A Christmas decoration assembly includes a plurality of parts overlapped to each other and each part is composed of rods. The parts have first connection devices on lower edges thereof and a second connection device on an upper edge thereof. The first and second connection devices connect the parts to each other. Each part includes rings connected thereto so as to position bulbs and a plurality of wires are wrapped to the parts and plastic beads or ribbons are attached to the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: Wen-Jui Ma
  • Patent number: 7303301
    Abstract: A submersible light fixture which includes a housing, and an LED light engine mounted to a heat-conducting plate, with the heat conducting plate being supported by the housing. The housing defines an opening adjacent to the heat-conducting plate, and the opening is designed to be in fluid communication with a body of water when the light fixture is submerged such that the water acts as a heat sink to the LED light engine. In one arrangement, the opening is a gap between the heat-conducting plate and a watertight container containing a control module for the LED light engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Nexxus Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Koren, Roy Archer, Stephen Faber, Michael Bauer
  • Patent number: 7296916
    Abstract: An illumination assembly including a thermally conductive substrate, a reflective layer proximate a first major surface of the thermally conductive substrate, a patterned conductive layer positioned between the reflective layer and the first major surface of the thermally conductive substrate and electrically isolated from the thermally conductive substrate, and at least one LED including a post that is attached to the thermally conductive substrate is disclosed. The at least one LED can be thermally connected to the thermally conductive substrate through the post and electrically connected to the patterned conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael A. Meis, Hung T. Tran, Joseph A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7290916
    Abstract: A light source (100) provided herein generally includes a substrate (110), a cathode (120), an isolating layer (122), a light-permeable anode (152), and at least one fluorescent layer (154). The substrate has a surface, and the cathode, with at least one solid electron emitter formed thereon, is located on the surface of the substrate. The isolating layer is formed on the cathode. The light-permeable anode faces the field emitters and is spaced from the cathode to form a vacuum chamber. The at least one fluorescent layer is formed on the anode. Such a light source can then be incorporated, e.g., into a backlight module (300) for an LCD device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 7290896
    Abstract: A blood tracking system, comprising a light source comprising a first LED configured to emit light of a first color and a second LED configured to emit light of a second color is disclosed. The light of the first color and the light of the second color are mixed to appear as light of a third color when the first LED and the second LED are activated; and wherein the light of a third color is effective for highlighting blood. A method of highlighting a red material comprising illuminating the red material with both red and blue light is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fiskars Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar A. Dallas, Scott C. Hartley, Frederick T. Karl
  • Patent number: 7284876
    Abstract: There is provided a display system for gaming cabinets comprising a backlit display and a mounting plate. The backlit display comprises a lighting source, an arcuate translucent face sheet, and a support frame for supporting said lighting source and said face sheet, said support frame comprising a hinged top cover, a base member, and an opposing pair of side clamp frame assemblies. The side clamp frame assemblies each retain a side edge of the arcuate face sheet. The mounting plate comprises a back panel for fixing to the back side of said backlit display and a base plate including a plurality of anchor holes for securing the display system to a cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Ericson Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Ericson
  • Patent number: 7281812
    Abstract: A backlight unit includes: common electrodes for applying a voltage to opposite ends of a plurality of lamps; a lower member for receiving the common electrodes and positioning the common electrodes at the opposite ends of the lamps; upper members for positioning opposite to the common electrodes, each upper member having air inlet/outlets at opposite sides of the upper members and an unobstructed space between two inner side surfaces of the upper members for allowing a free flow of air between the inlet/outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gi Bin Kim
  • Patent number: 7278762
    Abstract: Lenses for lamps can improve the quality of the light emitted through lens by interacting with the light bulb. Photoluminescent dyes as well as non-photoluminescent dyes may be incorporated into a polycarbonate lens in order to shift the chromaticity of the light source. Further, design features such as grooves or protrusions may be incorporated into the lens to allow light produced by the photoluminescent material to escape the lens and be added to the emitted beam to further shift the chromaticity. The emitted beam is of a legal color and intensity as defined per the SAEJ578 and SAEJ1383 standards. The lighting performance may also be improved in such manner as reducing discomfort glare, increasing brightness or producing a beam that enhances road visibility at night to the human eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Phillipe Schottland, Bart Terburg, David S Bryce
  • Patent number: 7275855
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle lamp having a lamp base, which is equipped with the electrical connections of the vehicle lamp, the lamp base (2) having a plastic base part (20) which has at least one integrally formed stud (21), which serves the purpose of mounting the vehicle lamp in the vehicle headlight and which is provided with reinforcing means (31) in order to increase its mechanical robustness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventors: Matthias Protsch, Thomas Schmidt-Lehmann
  • Patent number: 7270439
    Abstract: A compact, self-contained lighting system is attachable to a surgical tool to enable a user to selectively direct light at a site where the tool is to be applied. The system has a power unit that may contain rechargeable power cells, a malleable electrical connection element, and a light-emitting element powered thereby to emit high intensity white light, preferably from an LED. The system ensures against tissue damage due to inadvertent overheating by continuously removing byproduct heat from the light-emitting element, via the connection element, to the power unit with portions of each of these components serving as respective heat sinks and/or as thermal conduits to facilitate this process. The removed heat is dissipated to the ambient atmosphere, the surgical tool and even the user, and permits safe prolonged operations in confined regions of a patient's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Inventors: Robin S. Horrell, David Bibelhausen, Mickey M. Karram, John F. Love
  • Patent number: 7270435
    Abstract: A mobile phone holder includes: a bottom plate having a first coupling part; a top plate having a second coupling part; and a light emitting unit mounted on the top plate. The top plate is connected movably to the bottom plate, and is movable between an unfolded position and a folded position, where the top plate is disposed above the bottom plate and cooperates with the bottom plate to confine a receiving space. The top plate is formed with an access hole in spatial communication with the receiving space when the top plate is disposed at the folded position, thereby permitting insertion of a mobile phone into the receiving space via the access hole. The second coupling part is capable of removable engagement with the first coupling part when the top plate is disposed at the folded position, thereby retaining releasably the top plate at the folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Beta Emblems & Dies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Lin
  • Patent number: 7267468
    Abstract: A fiber display device (200) includes a light source (21), a fiber binding (27) for transmitting light beams from the light source and a brightness modulating system (29) for modulating the transmission of the light beams. The fiber binding includes a plurality of fibers (272), one terminal end of the fibers acting as a light incidence terminal for receiving light beams from the light source, the other terminal end of the fibers acting as a display terminal. The brightness modulating system is disposed between the light incidence terminal and the display terminal. This simplifies the structure and reduces the cost of the fiber display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Yu Lee, Ming-Chiang Tsai, Tsung-Wei Chiang
  • Patent number: 7265307
    Abstract: An illumination push switch unit is provided in which driving units for driving first and second detecting units are formed at side walls other than adjacent side walls of peripheral walls of first and second sliders with a barrier walls of a case interposed therebetween, notch portions are provided at the bottom surface side of the barrier wall and the bottom surface sides of the adjacent side walls of the peripheral walls with the barrier wall interposed therebetween, and a space portion, which becomes an optical path toward the display surfaces of the first and second operation members, is formed between the top surface of the insulating substrate and the notch portions through the notch portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Miyasaka, Jungkil Nam
  • Patent number: 7261445
    Abstract: A lighting kit includes all the components necessary to install a lighting fixture on a support post or pole. The components are made of polymeric materials to provide an electrically nonconducting enclosure attached to the support post and the fixture. A collar made of fiberglass reinforced polymer is attached to an electrical junction box. The collar has a tubular projection for connecting with the fixture. Spacer blocks are pivotally attached to the junction box and to the support post securing the kit to the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Inventors: Gary J. McBride, Penny Perini McBride
  • Patent number: 7255469
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned between the light source and the output surface of the light guide, and an interference reflector positioned between the emissive material and the output surface of the light guide 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: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7252426
    Abstract: A light guide device (1) and a backlight module (3) using the same. The light guide device includes a light guide plate (11) and a reflective mirror (10). The light guide plate has at least one light receiving surface (111), and two opposite light emitting surfaces (112,113). The reflective mirror is set between the light emitting surfaces, and is integrally manufactured with the light guide plate. The light guide device and backlight module using the same may be applied to optoelectronic devices, such as liquid crystal displays, overhead projectors, etc. The light guide device has a simple structure, and transforms light from at least one light source (31) into two surface light sources emitting light with uniform brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jhy-Chain Lin
  • Patent number: 7252420
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising a first light source focused on a first reflective zone and a second light source focused on second reflective zone. The first light source is able to emit light both in the direction of the first reflective zone and part of the second reflective zone, the light coming from the light source and reflected by the two reflective zones corresponding to a DRL daylight light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Etienne Pauty, Jean-Paul Ravier, Patrice Collot, Claude Penn
  • Patent number: 7252424
    Abstract: The provided backlight module includes a reflection sheet, a retardation plate, a light-guide plate, a light source, and a sub-wavelength grating plate. The retardation plate is set over the reflection sheet. The light-guide plate is disposed over the retardation plate, and the surface of the light-guide plate comprises a plurality of micro-structures. The light source is set beside the light-guide plate, and the light from the light source transferring into the light-guide plate passes through one of its end and out through the micro-structures. The sub-wavelength grating plate is disposed over the light-guide plate: (i) to transmit light having a polarization oriented parallel to the rows of bars and to define a transmitted light, corresponding to the light, as P-ray, and (ii) to reflect light having a polarization oriented perpendicular to the rows of bars and to define a reflected light, corresponding to the light, as S-ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Shih-Chia Hsu, Jyh-Haur Huang
  • Patent number: 7250718
    Abstract: The present invention is a active-driving organic EL light emission device comprising an organic EL element comprising an organic luminous medium between an upper electrode and a lower electrode, and a thin film transistor for driving this organic EL element, wherein light emitted from the organic EL element is taken out from the side of the upper electrode, and the upper electrode comprises a main electrode formed of transparent conductive material, and an auxiliary electrode formed of a low-resistance material. According to the active-driving organic EL light emission device of this structure, the numerical aperture can be made large. Additionally, the sheet resistivity of the upper electrode can be made low even if luminescence is taken out from the side of the upper electrode. Thus, it is possible to provide an active-driving organic EL light emission device making it possible to display images having a high brightness and a homogenous brightness; and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chishio Hosokawa