Patents Examined by James W. Cranson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7025487
    Abstract: A lamp system, especially for a motor vehicle, has a casing that is covered by a clear, optically neutral lens and that contains at least one light source composed of a light bulb and an associated reflector. A screen in the form of a semireflecting mirror is positioned between the lens and the light source in such a way as to separate a posterior lamp section that accommodates the light source from an anterior lamp section defined by the screen and the lens. Consequently, to an observer looking in the direction of the light source, the posterior lamp section is indiscernible while the screen is transparent to the light emitted by the light bulb when the lamp is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Holzmann, Marek Djordjevic
  • Patent number: 7021794
    Abstract: A lighting unit including a light source lamp having a light emitting tube and an ellipsoid reflector, and an optical lens to parallelize illumination light released from the reflector, characterized in that: a first focal point P1, which is one of the two focal points P1 and P2 positioned inside and outside the reflector and is located on the side of the reflecting surface of the reflector, is contained within the light emitting tube, and a light emission center Q of the light emitting tube is offset in a virtual plane perpendicular to a reflector central axis OC; and a parallelizing lens has a lens optical axis on a reference axis L parallel to the reflector central axis OC, and the lens optical axis of the parallelizing lens is offset in a direction opposite to a direction where the emission center Q of the light emitting tube is offset from the reflector central axis OC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei Fujisawa, Takeshi Takezawa
  • Patent number: 7021792
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: Yuan Lin
  • Patent number: 7021803
    Abstract: A headlight housing (10) is provided. The housing is adapted to be mounted upon a vehicle, the vehicle adapted to ride upon a ground surface (20). The housing includes a front section (12) adapted to emit light from a headlight (24). The housing also includes a top surface (14) of a substantially constant width extending aft of a top edge (11) of the front section, wherein the top surface is oriented substantially parallel with the ground surface when mounted upon the vehicle in an illuminating position. The housing further includes a bottom surface (16) of a substantially constant width extending aft of a bottom edge (34) of the front surface, wherein the bottom surface approaches the top surface as the top and bottom surfaces extend aft to taper a height of the housing. The method of positioning a headlight housing in an aerodynamic position is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Alec C. Wong, Daniel Farmer
  • Patent number: 7018059
    Abstract: A direct type backlight module. The backlight module includes a reflector, a diffuser plate, lamps, and a light-distributing device. The diffuser plate is disposed on the reflector, and the lamps are disposed between the reflector and the diffuser plate. The light-distributing device is disposed between the lamp and the diffuser plate, and guides light from the lamp to the diffuser plate. A space is defined between the light-distributing device and the diffuser plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chuan-Pei Yu, Chien-Hung Kuo, Han-Chou Liu
  • Patent number: 7018064
    Abstract: A miniature flashlight consists of a housing, a light emitting diode (LED), a pair of batteries, and a flexible cover and a contact clip that acts as a switch. The LED has a head portion and two contact arms. One of the contact arms is shorter than the other and is displaced at a slight angle relative to the longer contact arm. The LED is received in a seat formed in the housing with the head portion of the diode received in an aperture in the side wall of the housing. The longer contact arm is captured in a channel formed in the bottom wall. The shorter contact arm rests on a shoulder that forms part of the LED seat. A pair of coin cell batteries are received within another seat formed in housing. The lower battery sits on top of the longer contact arm captured in the channel of the bottom wall. A resilient plastic cover is assembled with the housing to maintain the diode and the batteries within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Emissive Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Robert D. Galli
  • Patent number: 7014338
    Abstract: A spray booth has an enclosure structure, a ventilation system and overhead lighting. An upper region of the structure defines an air inlet plenum. Air exits the inlet plenum into the work area of the booth through an array of filter elements. The resistance to airflow of the filter elements may be tuned to encourage non-uniform airflow in the workspace, and, in particular, to create a proportionately large inflow in a central region, and a flow near the walls. Part of the inflow may be located outboard of the overhead lighting assemblies, and part of the inflow may be located inboard of the lighting assemblies. The overhead lighting assemblies may be spaced apart by a distance that may be greater than the width of objects to be coated in the spray booth, and the lighting assemblies may be canted inward at an oblique angle relative to the horizontal, such that the wash of light from the spaced apart light sources may tend to be convergent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Global Finishing Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos F. Pippa, Allan C. Day, John Marcinkowski
  • Patent number: 7011426
    Abstract: A self standing or base supportable modular cylindrical electric candle with multiple battery compartments of parallel pairs and dual end plate terminal contacts, which are compressed with a screwed compression to complete a lighting circuit with a bulb, LED or other lighting source. The plates are adapted to prevent incorrect battery placement. A candle emulating lighting source is contained within a transparent cylinder of the candle with the contact plates electrically connected to terminals of a flicker circuit emulating board. The board is adaptable to LEDs of different colors (e.g., red, green, blue or yellow). One end of the cylinder is closed with a cavity member having peripheral space for placement of visible indicia. A compression screwing handle is provided with a turn locking member to prevent unauthorized battery removal. The base is configured to be engaged by a supporting member or ground anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventor: Lederer Gabor
  • Patent number: 7011433
    Abstract: A reflector assembly includes a reflector in which a reflector opening is defined therein. The reflector assembly has a datum structure having a plurality of a datum surfaces coupled to the reflector opening. The datum structure is configured to align a lamp with respect to a focal point of the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John M. Koegler, P. Guy Howard
  • Patent number: 7008095
    Abstract: An LED lamp and a method of making an LED lamp in which the lamp includes a heat conductive post with a base and a top, an insulative body within the post that includes plural wireways and plural electrical leads that each extend through a different one of the wireways and whose ends emerge from the top and the base of the post, a head with plural LED assemblies on the top of the post, and a circuit board for the LED assemblies at the base of the post, the leads being connected to respective LED assemblies and to the circuit board. During manufacture, the leads are mounted in the wireways of the insulative body and the assembled body is inserted into the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Paul R. Lyman
  • Patent number: 7004601
    Abstract: A signaling device for sighting systems, for example for rescue crafts in the nautical field and the like, comprising at least two lamps arranged so that their respective filaments are mutually perpendicular, so as to achieve a circular luminous emission that is uniform over 360°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: S.I.E.M. S.r.l.
    Inventor: Jorge Miguel Aguglia
  • Patent number: 7001055
    Abstract: An illuminator for uniformly illuminating an entrance pupil of an inspection system in order to increase inspection resolution and sensitivity and improve system-to-system matching is described. The illuminator incorporates at least two lightpipes for spatially and angularly distributing light rays from the illuminator uniformly across the entrance pupil. The illuminator also results in spatial and angular uniformity at the field stop plane. In one embodiment, one lightpipe has a circular shape and a second lightpipe has a rectangular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Steven R. Lange
  • Patent number: 7001038
    Abstract: In an object verifier having a housing and an object holder, an object may be placed in the object holder for observation by an operator. The object is illuminated using a collimated beam of white light that is generated by a light generator. The collimated beam of white light is passed through a beam splitter with the two portions of the collimated beam of white light presented to the object at a 90 degree angle one from the other. The interior of the housing includes a reflective surface for maximal illumination of the object. The observer may view the illuminated object through a viewing window and/or through a magnification window. The magnification window provides for the viewing of the object in greater detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Inventors: Joel N. Bock, Ronald R. Erickson, Eliezer D. Sandler
  • Patent number: 7001053
    Abstract: A rotary motion powered system for energizing light emitting diodes is taught that utilizes a permanent magnet generator (20) located within a vehicle wheel (64) for producing the requisite electric power. The generator consists of two main elements: a rotating portion (26) and a stationary portion (28). The rotating portion utilizes a base (30) that is attached directly to an adapter base (72) attached to the vehicle wheel, and the stationary portion includes a counter weight (62), thus permitting this portion to remain horizontal when the wheel is rotating. An ac/dc bridge rectifier (22) is in electrical communication with the generator output to change the alternating current produced by the permanent magnet generator to direct current. A number of light emitting diodes are disposed within a vehicle wheel member and are powered by the direct current power, thereby producing an unusual and unique visual effect when the wheel is rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Inventors: Peter T. C. Chieh, Zhen Qiu Huang
  • Patent number: 6997572
    Abstract: A pushbutton switch mechanism has board 28 incorporating an electronic circuit thereon, metal sheet contact 26 disposed on board 28, a light-transmissive pushbutton disposed in an opening defined in a casing of the electronic device for being pressed from outside, the light-transmissive pushbutton having outer key top 22 and presser 25 formed with rubber sheet 24 for contacting metal sheet contact 26, and light-emitting elements 27 disposed on board 28 around presser 25 for applying light to a side surface of the presser 25. Presser 25 has a conical shape having an upper surface as a bottom surface substantially aligned with a lower surface of key top 22 and a vertex for contacting metal sheet contact 26. Light emitted from light-emitting elements 27 is applied to the entire side surface of presser 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Ono, Mitsuru Kuroda
  • Patent number: 6994458
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for operation of a vehicle headlight as well as a vehicle headlight (1) with a housing and a light source (3) provided within the housing. In accordance with the invention the housing of the vehicle headlight (1) is designed to be pressure-tight and the headlight (1) is associated with a controller (7), which controls the headlight (1) depending upon the pressure within the housing. The controller (7) brings about that the headlight, depending upon the pressure within the housing, is switched off, is adapted in its light intensity and/or is changed in its emission characteristic. Thereby a headlight is produced characterized by being safe for the eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Michael Holz, Joerg Moisel, Manfred Rode
  • Patent number: 6991353
    Abstract: In a conventional vehicle headlamp, when improvement in the visibility at the time of turning the vehicle is attempted by turning the light distribution characteristic, if a part of the light is turned, the quantity of light becomes insufficient as a whole, and if the whole light distribution is turned, the visibility straight ahead becomes insufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroo Oyama
  • Patent number: 6991346
    Abstract: A compact signal light is provided with LEDs arrayed across its front face, and a magnet and/or suction cup on its rear face so that a user may readily mount it on a refrigerator door or the like. The front face of the signal light may bear the name and telephone number of a delivery or emergency service so that a user may resort to the signal light when making an emergency or delivery call. The user may then turn on the signal light so that its LEDs are illuminated (with one or more of the LEDs preferably flashing), and place the signal light on a door or window where the delivery or emergency service is to be rendered, so that the location is more easily found by the delivery or emergency personnel without “hunting.” The signal light provides a particularly valuable tool for pizza delivery companies and the like because it serves as an advertising tool reminding the consumer of the company, as well as providing the company with a way to more quickly and efficiently render its delivery services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Beacons LLC
    Inventors: Alex Saban, Ned F. Lafon
  • Patent number: 6988818
    Abstract: A lighting system for wheel 3 having a tyre, comprises at least one powered light emitter 1, wherein the at least one light emitter 1 is at least partly embedded in a part of the tyre of wheel 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Inventor: James Tristram
  • Patent number: 6988812
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus comprises a light source, a hollow hollow module, and a rectangular lens. The hollow module has a concave, a opening, and an inner reflective surface. The light source is disposed in the concave. The rectangular lens with a semi-translucent incident surface and a display surface is seated in the opening. Light rays emitted from the light source are reflected by the inner surface. Subsequently, the light rays enter the incident surface and exit the lens through the display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: BenQ Corporation
    Inventor: Shih-Lung Hsu