Patents Examined by Jessica L. McMillan
  • Patent number: 7771097
    Abstract: A semi-standard threaded base lamp assembly may be formed with a substitutable optical housing. The assembly enables a standard set of components to be assembled as a threaded base lamp, but during construction any one of a variety of specialty reflector shells may be substituted in the assembly process to specialize the lamp for a particular market, need or interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Buschmann
  • Patent number: 7771105
    Abstract: Disclosed are a liquid crystal display device and a method for assembling the liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device has a display section for displaying images, a receiving container for receiving the display section, a power supplying section for supplying a power source to the display section, a signal converting section for converting signals from the display section and a fixing section for fixing the power supplying section and the signal converting section to the receiving container. The power supplying section and the signal converting section are disposed between the display section and the fixing section with directly facing to a rear surface of the receiving container. Accordingly, a total thickness and weight of the liquid crystal display device can be minimized and an assembly facility of the liquid crystal display device can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Ho Ha, Hee-June Kwak
  • Patent number: 7771083
    Abstract: Retrofitting lighting fixtures (e.g., HID based lighting fixtures) using a pin mounted PL style fluorescent based energy efficient light assembly and methods of installing retrofitting lighting fixtures are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Groom Energy Solutions
    Inventors: John F. Troller, Jonathan M. Guerster, Robert J. Kirby, Mark Wedell
  • Patent number: 7766506
    Abstract: In the case of a light influencing element (6) for directing the light emitted from a light source (4) to a predetermined angular region, which has a plurality of rib-like raster elements (7, 12), which have reflecting side walls and are arranged in regular structure, the raster elements (7, 12) have a height (H) of a maximum of 5 mm. Through this there arise on the one hand greater freedoms in the design of the luminaire. On the other hand, the luminaire is lent an optical appealing appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Zumtobel Staff GmbH
    Inventor: Katharine Keller
  • Patent number: 7762703
    Abstract: A heads-up display comprises a monochrome display device for generating an image and an optical device for generating a virtual image from the image of the display device. The monochrome display device comprises a display and a backlight for illuminating the display from its backside. The backlight comprises a first light source emitting light of a first color, a second light source emitting light of a second color, a first light guide coupled to the first light source, and a second light guide coupled to the second light source. The first and second light guides are disposed in such close juxtaposition behind the display so that they illuminate together the entire backside of the display and illuminate a first region of the display associated with the first light guide with the first color and a second region of the display associated with the second light guide with the second color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Aiko Böhme, Peter Brandt, Heiko Charle
  • Patent number: 7758218
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp including a light amount control device that controls the amount of light from at least two of a plurality of light source units each having a light-emitting element as the light source. The light amount control device performs a contrasting control of the lamp to increase the amount of light from at least one of the light source units and decrease the amount of light from the other light source unit, thus enhancing the visibility by increasing the amount of light from one light source unit and enhancing the brightness in an area that the unit illuminates, and decreasing the amount of light from the other light source unit that illuminates an area where visibility is required less, lowering the power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Mochizuki, Takashi Hori, Naohisa Tatara
  • Patent number: 7753539
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a plurality of lamps each having electrodes at opposite ends of a tube, and a bottom cover for receiving the plurality of lamps, the bottom cover having a bottom surface, first lateral sides that correspond to the ends of the plurality of lamps, and second lateral sides that correspond to a lengthwise direction of the plurality of lamps, wherein the first lateral sides have a first height above the bottom surface of the bottom cover that is less than a second height of the second lateral sides above the bottom surface of the bottom cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyu Bong Jung, Jae Won Shin, Jun Hyung Kim, Jin Woo Hong
  • Patent number: 7753579
    Abstract: In a light guide plate and a display apparatus having the light guide plate, the light guide plate includes an incident face and a first exiting face. The incident face receives a light provided from an exterior. The first exiting face includes a first area and a second area. A first light-controlling pattern is formed in the second area. The first exiting face guides the incident light to the first area by the first light-controlling pattern and exits the guided light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Kwang Kim
  • Patent number: 7748887
    Abstract: An assembly has a faceplate having inwardly extending pins and a housing having holes for receiving said inwardly extending pins. Vibration resistant means is provided for locking the faceplate to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Integrated Illumination Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Zampini, II, Thomas L. Zampini, Mark A. Zampini
  • Patent number: 7744261
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system includes a plurality of lamps having their own inherent respective light distribution characteristics. The plurality of lamps includes a first lamp to irradiate an area excluding a nearest field area just in front of a vehicle, and a second lamp which irradiates only the nearest field area. The plurality of lamps are operable to be simultaneously or selectively lit, and are operable so that irradiation lights of the lamps are combined so as to obtain a particular light distribution characteristic in accordance with various driving conditions of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Fukawa, Naohisa Tatara
  • Patent number: 7740385
    Abstract: A projector device-of the present invention includes a light blocking mechanism for blocking leak light from a lamp unit. The light blocking mechanism includes a first light blocking member having a plurality of first light blocking plates arranged therein at certain pitches, and a second light blocking member having a plurality of second light blocking plates arranged therein at certain pitches. The first light blocking plates and the second light blocking plates each define a gap providing an air flow passage. A flat inclined part of each second light blocking plate extends in an inverted direction to a flat inclined part of each first light blocking plate, with a predetermined angle of inclination, so that the first light blocking plates and the second light blocking plates block the light emitted from the lamp unit toward a vent of a casing in all orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Minami, Masaaki Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7736031
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved lightbulb housing installed inside of a canister transversely affixed to a ceiling plate of a ceiling fixture, wherein the lightbulb used is a plug-in fluorescent lightbulb and the visual effect is modified to cause the visual effect to simulate a reflector lightbulb. The lightbulb housing comprises a hollow reflector, a frosted and translucent lens, and a top hollow cylindrical ring cover which receives a translucent lens. The hollow cylindrical ring cover is attached to the reflector and incorporates means by which it is attached to the interior of the canister. The frosted and translucent lens is sandwiched between a transverse interior shelf on the ring cover and the top of the reflector. A plug-in fluorescent lightbulb is installed into an electric plug within the canister of the ceiling fixture, however, because of the translucent and frosted lens, the plug-in fluorescent lightbulb is concealed and lighting effect simulates a reflector lightbulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Hamid Rashidi
  • Patent number: 7736042
    Abstract: Provided is a back light unit. The back light unit includes a light guide plate having a light guide pattern part; at least one light emitting unit provided at a sidewall of the light guide plate, and irradiating light to the light guide plate; a keypad positioned over the light guide plate, and comprising a resin layer, a base resin layer, a character opening part having a character shape, a key assembly provided at one side, and a key adherence film provided on an upper surface of the base resin layer; and a printed circuit board comprising a metal dome switch positioned under a lower surface of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: LS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Deuk II Park, Choong Yop Rhew, Ki Yong Balk, Young Jin Hyun, Jun Kyu Lee, Hyun Jung Cho, Kyu Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 7731391
    Abstract: An illumination system includes an illumination source such as an array of LED's over which is provided a diffuser. The illumination source provides light which, because of light refraction, radiates generally uniformly from edge to edge of the diffuser. The diffuser may be a planar flat piece of may include a hollow, cup like structure formed by a frame with a cover. The illumination system may be scaled up to provide multiple such illumination devices side by side to provide a greater area or strength of illumination. Multiple systems may utilize multiple diffusers or a single diffuser covering multiple illumination sources. The illumination source may be mounted to a backplate or heatsink which is larger than the illumination source to facilitate the addition of further electronic circuitry and or mounting capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Microscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Messina, Sheila Bergeron Dunn
  • Patent number: 7722229
    Abstract: A frame includes a main frame and a receiving frame. The main frame includes a base and several circumferential sidewalls extending from the base. At least two opposite stepped elements are defined at the top of two opposite sidewalls. Each stepped element includes a tread portion extending from the sidewall toward an inner of the main frame, a riser portion extending from the end of the tread portion toward the opening. The receiving frame includes a frame body, a rim portion extending from a bottom of the frame body toward an inner of the frame body, and at least two grooves defined in the rim portion corresponding to the two stepped elements. Each groove of the receiving frame may be inserted into the corresponding stepped element. A backlight system using the frame is also provided, which has a narrow-framed, space-saving design, and also can be assembled easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7722220
    Abstract: First, second and third lighting devices each comprise a thermal conduction element, solid state light emitters and a reflective element. In the second device, the conduction element defines an opening; and the emitters and reflective element are mounted on a first side of the conduction element. In the third device, the conduction element defines an opening; a first portion of a first side of the conduction element is in contact with a contact region of a construction surface; and the emitters and reflective element are mounted on the first side. A fourth device comprises a conduction element and emitters; a first portion of a first side of the conduction element is in contact with a contact region of a construction surface; the emitters are mounted on a second portion of the first side of the conduction element; and a second side of the conduction element is exposed to ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Cree LED Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Antony Paul Van De Ven
  • Patent number: 7717602
    Abstract: An exemplary external electrode fluorescent lamp includes a tube filled with a discharge gas, and a first external electrode on an outer surface of the tube, the first external electrode having a line-like shape. Thus, the exemplary external electrode fluorescent lamp has a reduced non-fluorescent region and an enlarged fluorescent region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae-San Lim
  • Patent number: 7717592
    Abstract: An exterior auxiliary lighting system is provided including a light source for generating a beam of visible light, the light source having an aperture through which the beam of light is projected. A cover can be detachably connected to the light source to overlay at least a portion of the aperture. A sensor is provided for detecting whether the cover is attached to the light source. A switch responsive to an output signal from the sensor is adapted to selectively decouple the light source from a power supply when the sensor detects that the cover is attached to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Tyll, Jason Nantais, Chris Prisby, Tom Schumacher
  • Patent number: 7712908
    Abstract: A light-transmitting film that has a predetermined polarization split function, in addition to a light-collecting function is provided. The index of refraction nx in a prism extension direction and the index of refraction in a prism alignment direction differ from each other. By generating a difference in the indices of refraction in the prism extension direction and the prism alignment direction orthogonal thereto, for the light incident on the light-transmitting film, the polarization component Lx oscillating in the prism extension direction and the polarization component Ly oscillating in the prism alignment direction can have different transmission characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsunari Hoshi, Kei Obata, Akihiro Horii, Hiroshi Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7712946
    Abstract: The present invention is broadly directed towards a receiving container for an LCD apparatus for securing a lamp and lamp wiring connected to a lamp. The receiving container has features for substantially preventing the lamp wiring from being disconnected from the lamp. For example, a first through-hole for receiving the lamp wiring, a first trench, securing members, and securing projections are utilized to substantially prevent lamp wiring from being disconnected from a lamp. Additionally, the LCD apparatus is easily handled, dissipates heat effectively, and has a light weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Jin Lee, Jong-Dae Park, Jung-Soo Ok