Patents Examined by Jessica L. McMillan
  • Patent number: 7712910
    Abstract: Backlighting methods and apparatuses to backlight a device. The backlighting apparatus includes a flexible light guide, a light source, and a housing. The light source is disposed adjacent to a transmission interface of the flexible light guide to illuminate the flexible light guide. The housing at least partially encloses the flexible light guide and the light source. A surface area of the flexible light guide is visible through the housing. By using a flexible light guide to backlight the device, the size of the device is reduced compared to conventional devices. Alternatively, the device may accommodate additional components. Other advantages also may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Fook Chuin Ng, Choon Guan Ko, Sian Tatt Lee
  • Patent number: 7708424
    Abstract: A solar-powered gazing globe. A removable base is attached to the glazing globe by a stretchable, waterproof flange that also provides a water resistant seal while allowing the globe to sit in an existing support. The gazing globe further includes a rechargeable electrical power source coupled to an electrical charging system. The electrical charging system is in turn connected to a solar energy system that includes a system for collecting solar energy, a system for converting the solar energy into electrical energy, and a system for transferring the electrical energy to the charging system. A light source attached to the removable base is electrically coupled to the rechargeable electrical power source and situated so that light is emitted from the gazing globe via the light transmitting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Simon Nicholas Richmond
  • Patent number: 7708433
    Abstract: A light has a housing of plastic material and a light fixture that is arranged within the housing and that receives at least one light bulb. The housing is made from plates that each have outer edges that are beveled at an angle of 45 degrees and provide contact surfaces where the plates adjoin one another. The plates are glued to one another in the area of the contact surfaces over the entire surface area of the contact surfaces in such a way that the plates are joined flush without the outer edges projecting past one another. The housing has a bottom side provided with a circular cutout, wherein the light fixture projects through the circular cutout into the housing. A member is provided that releasably closes the circular cutout. The member is a base or a closure lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Ralf Korn
  • Patent number: 7703966
    Abstract: In one aspect, a light device is provided having an elongate body that has a high strength construction. The high-strength light device is especially well-suited for use as a work light. The work light includes a high-strength body that has a handle and an elongate light-transmissive portion extending from the handle. Preferably, the light-transmissive portion includes a one-piece tubular wall that is tapered and which is molded from a high-strength material. In another aspect, the light device includes anti-rolling surfaces axially between the handle and light transmission portion along the elongate body. The anti-rolling surfaces preferably have a flat configuration so that the flat surfaces keep the elongate body from rolling when placed on a support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Panther Vision, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Waters
  • Patent number: 7703934
    Abstract: A power outage socket device that may be installed on a variety of lamps or light fixtures. The bottom of the device has a male connector adapted to be inserted into the light socket on the lamp or light fixture, in place of the light bulb. A female socket adapted to receive the light bulb is located on the top of the device. The male connector may be recessed. When power is interrupted, emergency power is provided to one or more emergency light sources on the device to provide light. Emergency power is provided by one or more batteries, which may be rechargeable. The device also may include means for connecting a lamp harp, or for allowing a lamp harp to pass through the device. A photoelectric light sensor may be used to detect ambient light and control whether emergency light is provided when normal power is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Pape, Jeffrey Bowman, Ambreese Sharif Hill
  • Patent number: 7703942
    Abstract: A light emitting apparatus having a light source for emitting short wavelength radiation and an optic device configured to receive the radiation emitted from the light source. A device directs at least some of the short wavelength radiation emitted from the light source into the optic device and a down conversion material receives at least some of the short wavelength radiation directed into the optic device in one spectral region and emits the radiation in another spectral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Nadarajah Narendran, Jean Paul Freyssinier, Yimin Gu
  • Patent number: 7703951
    Abstract: Modular lighting fixtures that allow convenient installation and removal of LED-based light-generating modules and controller modules. In one example, a modular lighting fixture includes a housing configured to be recessed into or disposed behind an architectural surface such as ceiling, wall, or soffit, in new or existing construction scenarios. The fixture housing includes a socket configured to facilitate one or more of a mechanical, electrical and thermal coupling of the light-generating module to the fixture housing. The ability to easily engage and disengage the LED-based light-generating module with the socket, without removing the fixture housing itself, allows for straightforward replacement of the light-generating module upon failure, or exchange with another module having different light-generating characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Piepgras, Tomas Mollnow, Michael Blackwell, Brian Chemel, Frederick Morgan, Kevin McCormick, Michael A Bass, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7699506
    Abstract: Moving head projector comprising a base, to which base a yoke is rotationally connected, to which yoke a head is rotationally connected, the head having a light source partly inside a reflector that forms a light beam which passes through a light forming arrangement located on at least one rotating disc formed member that is rotated by at least a first motor, and at least one lens through which the light beam passes before leaving the projector. The light forming arrangement is exchangeable via an opening in the head of the projector located radially outward of the at least one rotating disc formed member for providing direct access thereto during operation of the projector, the projector having a cover for closing and exposing said opening, opening of the cover switching the projector from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Martin Professional A/S
    Inventors: Mads Holm Andersen, Morten Groenberg
  • Patent number: 7699489
    Abstract: An in-grade light fixture comprises a light fixture housing arranged to be buried substantially below grade level. The light fixture housing has a light opening substantially at grade level and an optical chamber having a light source arranged within the optical chamber and the optical chamber arranged within the housing with light from the light source passing through the light opening. The fixture further comprises a plurality of housing openings and one or more enclosures, each of which is removably mounted to a respective one of the housing openings. The enclosures accept external power and generate power to energize the light source causing it to emit light. The optical chamber can also comprise an anti-condensation valve and an air passageway between the optical chamber and one of the enclosures form a vacuum in the optical chamber and vacuum during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: Douglas W. Hagen
  • Patent number: 7695150
    Abstract: To provide a lighting unit which: does not greatly affect the design of a light guide plate; and has a long lifetime, high efficiency, and a wide color reproduction range by means of a phosphor. In view of the foregoing, the lighting unit of the present invention is constituted in such a manner that a phosphor bead or a phosphor film is arranged on at least one of the light irradiation plane of a light guide plate, the rear surface of the light guide plate, and the light incidence plane of the light guide plate. In addition, a phosphor film is constituted by using: a phosphor bead formed of a phosphor particle and a water-impervious material with which the phosphor particle is coated so that the particle is confined in the material; and a polymer film holding the phosphor bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Norihiro Dejima, Makoto Kurihara, Tomoki Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7695180
    Abstract: Illumination assemblies and systems using same are disclosed. The illumination assembly can include a reflective substrate, and a light source unit including one or more light sources capable of producing illumination light. The assembly can further include a first light extraction surface including an azimuthal beam widening topography, where the first light extraction surface is positioned such that the light source unit is between the first light extraction surface and the reflective substrate. The first light extraction surface can face the light source unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig R. Schardt, D. Scott Thompson, Kenneth A. Epstein, Brian W. Ostlie, Richard F. Griffith, Kenneth L. Smith
  • Patent number: 7690810
    Abstract: A plurality of LEDs are arrayed in the X-direction, and a light-guide plate is provided facing the LEDs. A plurality of prisms extending in the Y-direction are formed on a light-receiving surface of the light-guide plate. A plurality of prisms are additionally formed on a light-emitting surface of the light-guide plate. Light emitted from the LED is thereby divided into a plurality of light beams by the prisms, and a portion of the light is condensed toward the prisms. Light that is condensed toward the prisms is divided in a plurality of directions and transmitted in the light-guide plate. When the light reaches another prism, the light is reflected by the prism and emitted from the light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Goroh Saitoh, Masao Imai
  • Patent number: 7690803
    Abstract: A light emitting sheet module includes a light guiding sheet to cover a plurality of key switches, at least one LED disposed on at least one end portion of the light guiding sheet, and a circuit board disposed on the one end portion of the light guiding sheet on which the LED is disposed. When the light emitting sheet module is, mounted on a switch board, it is capable of adaptation to key switches in a wide variety of forms and to illuminate the key switches with light emission of high brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Miyashita, Kenshi Aihara
  • Patent number: 7690815
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable lighting device comprising a body, a light source coupled to the body and configured to emit a beam of light along a central axis, a head assembly rotatably coupled to the body, and a filter assembly rotatably coupled to the body. The filter assembly has a rotational axis and a plurality of filters offset from the central axis. Rotation of the head assembly rotates the filter assembly to align different filters of the plurality of filters along the central axis on an output side of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Fiskars Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar A. Dallas, Steve Rohman
  • Patent number: 7686488
    Abstract: Five lamp units with light emitting elements are supported by a common metal made support member. Heat generated by the respective light emitting elements is transferred to the metal made support member having a large heat capacity to restrain a temperature rise thereof. The lamp units including the light emitting elements having a relatively large heat generating amount are arranged on lower sides of the lamp units including the light emitting elements having a relatively small heat generating amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Inoue, Seiichiro Yagi
  • Patent number: 7677765
    Abstract: A light emitting device having an hermetically sealed package that includes a light source positioned in a metal can container on which is placed an optically-transparent cover. An enclosed space formed by the metal can container and the optically-transparent cover may be filled with an inert, heat-conducting gas or liquid and the inner surface of the metal can container may be coated with a high-reflector material that prevents absorption of the light emitted by the light source. A method of producing a light-emitting device having an hermetically-sealed package and a method of dissipating heat from a light-emitting device having an hermetically-sealed package is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Arosh Baroky Tajul, Janet BeeYin Chua
  • Patent number: 7677769
    Abstract: A displaying assembly (100) for use in a portable electronic device, includes a flexible circuit board (40), a light emitting diode (20) mounted on the flexible circuit board, and a light equalizer (10) having an optical attenuator (13) formed thereon. The light emitting diode is electrically connected to the flexible circuit board. The optical attenuator faces the light emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Chia-Hsin Chang
  • Patent number: 7677756
    Abstract: A backlight module including a plurality of lamps, a first circuit board, and a second circuit board is provided. Each lamp has a first electrode and a second electrode. The first circuit board has a plurality of first openings and first conductive clips. The first electrode is disposed to extend through the first opening and to be clamped by the first conductive clip. Furthermore, a plurality of current adjustment devices is disposed on the first circuit board. The current adjustment device is electrically coupled to the first electrode through the first conductive clips. In the backlight module, the conductive clips or clamping pins of the current adjustment devices are used to hold the electrodes of lamps, thereby facilitating the assembly process of backlight module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hong-Jye Hong, Yung-Tse Cheng, Chia-Hung Sun, Tsung-Shiun Lee
  • Patent number: 7677778
    Abstract: A projector lamp unit includes: a lamp; a lamp case, housing the lamp; a wire protective member, attached to the lamp case, and comprised from resin having a smaller thermal conductivity than the lamp case; and a resin-covering wire, led from the lamp to the outside of the lamp case through a hole provided with the wire protective member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7677779
    Abstract: A collapsible closeout for a gap between a vehicle lamp and closure, and particularly well suited for a gap between a headlamp and a hood, is disclosed. The closeout may include a base mounted to a lamp housing, a closeout wall extending from the base, and a contact flange extending under the hood and having a free end extending toward a headlamp lens. The closeout may also include first support ribs extending from the closeout wall toward the headlamp and opposed second support ribs extending from the closeout wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo F. Schwab