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.

Abstract: A planar light source device includes a primary light source (1), a light guide (3) which leads the light emitted from the primary light source (1), and having a light incident face (31) to which the light emitted from the primary light source (1) comes in, and a light emitting face from which the led light goes out, a light deflection element (4) arranged adjacent to the light emitting face (33) of the light guide (3), and a polarization separation element (6) disposed on the side of a light outgoing surface (42) of the light deflection element (4), and having a function of transmitting one of polarization components of the incident light and reflecting the other of the polarization components. The full width at half maximum of the luminance distribution of the incident light upon the polarization separation element (6) in an XY plane parallel to the travel direction of the light in the light guide (3) is 25° or less. The reference symbol 7 indicates a liquid crystal display element.

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. The system further includes a light piping element that 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 comprises a semiconductor photo-sensor sensitive both to visible light and to infrared radiation. A spectral filter is disposed in front of the first photo-sensor to reduce the amount of infrared radiation incident thereat. The spectral filter preferably comprises at least one of a) a filter element having at least about 60% visible light transmission and having less than about 10% transmission in the near-infrared spectral region; and b) an infrared attenuating dye in a polymer material.

Abstract: A pool decorating system includes a selectively inflatable member that has a bottom side. A light assembly includes a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends between the top and bottom walls. The housing has a plurality of substantially transparent windows therein. A light emitter is mounted within the housing. A power supply is electrically coupled to the light emitter. An actuator is electrically coupled to the light emitter for selectively turning the light emitter on or off. A coupler is adapted for removably attaching the light assembly to the bottom side.

Abstract: An aquatic garment carries a safety light and circuit attached to the garment so that it may not be detached without damage. The circuit times an interval in response to change of state of an acceleration switch. The circuit causes the light to light at least once during said interval.

Abstract: A light for use in applications requiring conventional and specialized, dimmable lighting wherein the color of the emitted light can easily be switched. The light includes fluorescent and/or LED light sources which are dimmable by a control box. The control box further allows for switching between two light sources provided in the light. The light sources may provide white light or specialized light including red or blue “invisible” light required in some military applications or UV lighting.

Abstract: A battery powered flashlight is described that has a rotatable head that bears the light source assembly. The flashlight can have side-by-side batteries, and can be configured to also include a glass breaker, and a seat belt cutter.

Abstract: A light fixture is shown and described is for illuminating building surfaces or portions thereof, comprising a generally cup-shaped arcuate reflector (10) having an interior (21) provided with a lamp emitting light at least partially reflected or dispersed by an inner surface (27) of the reflector to the building surface or portion to be illuminated, the inner surface of the reflector being subdivided into a plurality of structured segments (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 32, 38). The novelty is that the segments each have a surface (31a, 31b, 31c, 36, 37, 40) that is curved toward the interior.

Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, light guides coupled to the light source, each including an input surface and an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from at least one light guide, and an interference reflector positioned such that the emissive material is between the output surfaces of the light guides 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.

Abstract: A portable, hand-held, electrically powered, high intensity directed light beam generating device for use as a replacement for a pyrotechnic flare for search and rescue, especially in a marine environment. The light intensity is generated by a xenon strobe flash tube in a covered, mirror reflective housing that allows for a directional beam of light of less than 6 steradians. The limited radiation light direction provides a safe optical solution for the user to prevent eye damage while increasing the beam intensity and range. The light and illumination section surrounding the strobe flash tube includes thermally conductive paths for the heat generated by the flash tube to be transmitted to the outside of the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for lighting and magnifying having a tubular housing containing a power means, an illumination means, and an illumination means cover; a magnifying lens, the said magnifying lens being substantially the same size and shape as the illumination means cover; and a hinge connecting the tubular housing and the magnifying lens, allowing the magnifying lens to rotate a maximum of 270 degrees.

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.

Abstract: A backlight module having a light diffusing device is disclosed, comprising a frame, a reflecting plate, a top plate and at least one light source module, in which the reflecting plate having an upper surface is mounted on a bottom side of the frame and the top plate is mounted on a top side of the frame to space a predetermined distance from the reflecting plate. The light source module is mounted on the upper surface of the reflecting plate, including a light source and a light diffusing device mounted between the light source and the top plate. The light diffusing device has an un-uniform thickness which is inversely proportional to the distance between the light source and the top plate. Thus, the problem of non-uniform luminance distribution caused by a change in the distance between the light source and the top plate is eliminated.

Abstract: A light guiding apparatus has a first transparent member, a second transparent member, and a transparent member holding portion. The first transparent member has a light entry surface, a first side surface at which guidance of light by way of complete reflection of the emitted light is performed when the second transparent member is separated, and the emitted light is transmitted into the second transparent member when the second transparent member is in contact, and a first light emitting end surface. The second transparent member has a second side surface, and a third side surface at which when the two side surfaces are in contact with each other, guidance of light toward at least the first light emitting end surface by way of complete reflection of the emitted light is performed.

Abstract: A light guide plate (300) for transmitting light beams from a light source to an LCD (liquid crystal display) includes: an incident surface (301) for introducing light beams into the light guide plate; an emitting surface (303) for uniformly transmitting light beams out from the light guide plate; and a bottom surface (302) opposite to the emitting surface for reflecting the light beams in directions toward the emitting surface. The light guide plate further provides a plurality of concavities (3031) on the emitting surface, for converging the light beams into the LCD. The light guide plate is a relatively simple, single integrated structure, and can obviate the need for a brightness layer in an associated LCD device.

Abstract: A compound rear light device includes a bottom base, a main light base, a backing light base, a license plate light base properly arranged in the interior of the bottom base, and a side light base fixed on an outer side. A main light cover is closed on the bottom base, and a backing light cover is fixed on an opening of the main light cover. A license light cover is closed on a front open side of the bottom base. Then all of the light bases respectively have a circuit board and plural LED sealed in their interior with waterproof glue to function as a single light respectively. Thus all the different lights are clearly separated to shine through respective covers, not to be misread for their functions.

Abstract: A rope light having a multi-circuit arrangement is disclosed. The light comprises a plurality of electrical wires longitudinally extended therealong; and one or more pairs of first and second illuminating units, each pair being electrically coupled between any two electrical wires, each illuminating unit including a plurality of LEDs coupled in series, and the first and the second illuminating units in each pair being connected in parallel. Applying AC source between any two electrical wires sequentially will lighten up the first and the second illuminating units in each pair alternately by enabling current to flow through the LEDs in each illuminating unit toward a predetermined direction when the LEDs are conducted. The invention can control on/off of a plurality of LEDs by means of a relative small number of electrical wires.

Abstract: A flashlight has a lens or lenses moveable relative to one or more LED or other light source. The beam of light provided by the LED can be focused and provides a uniform light pattern across the range of focus. The lenses are supported on a front housing section and the LED is supported on a back housing section threaded onto the front housing section. Twisting the front housing section closes a switch providing power to the LED, to turn the flashlight on. One or more circuit modules within the flashlight provides various operating modes including an automatic shut-off timer, to preserve battery life, a dimmer controlled by turning an end cap, a blinking function, a momentary bright function, and/or a current control function to provide maximum brightness regardless of battery condition.

Abstract: A lighting unit comprises a light source, a light guiding plate disposed in the vicinity of the light source for guiding light from the light source, a first reflecting sheet disposed so as to cover a rear surface of the light guiding plate, and a second reflecting sheet disposed so as to cover the light source and the light guiding plate covered with the first reflecting sheet, wherein the first reflecting sheet is interposed and held between the second reflecting sheet and the light guiding plate. The first reflecting sheet may be formed by a single layer or plural layers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multifunctional lighting fixture having at least one fluorescent lamp mounted inside a flat lighting fixture housing comprised of two rectangular frames. Each frame consists of preferably only one lateral wing running parallel to the fluorescent lamp, and front wings situated therebetween, whereby spacer elements and edged spacer edge connectors hold the lateral wings and front wings of both frames at a predetermined distance. The lighting fixture can be combined in many ways both during initial assembly as well as for a subsequent conversion and can be assembled in the form of a built-on lamp or suspended lamp, a vertically or horizontally mounted wall lamp, floor lamp standing lamp or cable lighting fixture without modifying the base body of the lighting fixture. In addition, different light distributing elements can be used in an exchangeable manner so that the light is both directly oriented onto a useful surface as well as deflected in an indirect and preferably colored manner.