Patents Examined by Kevin J. Spinella
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Patent number: 7806537Abstract: A backlight module includes a light guide plate (52), a light source (51), a reflecting sheet (53), a diffusion sheet (54), and a reflective polarizing beam splitter (57). The light guide plate includes a light input surface (521), a light output surface (522) adjacent to the light input surface, a reflecting surface (523) opposite the light output surface, and a number of microstructures (524) located on the reflecting surface. In the light guide plate, stress-induced birefringence is introduced to achieve a polarization state conversion, thereby facilitating efficient use of the light generated by the light source.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xing-Peng Yang, Ying-Bai Yan, Guo-Fan Jin
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Patent number: 7789548Abstract: An optical diffusion structure includes an optical diffusion structure comprising a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions. Each convex portion is adjacent to a plurality of concave portions and each concave portion is adjacent to a plurality of convex portions. The convex portions, the concave portions and each junction of the convex and concave portions have a curvature different from 0. The optical diffusion structure further includes a diffusion plate having a first surface, wherein the optical diffusion structure is formed on the first surface, and the convex portions are arranged in a two dimensional array along a first direction and a second direction, and the concave portions are arranged in a two dimensional array along a third direction and a fourth direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Chih-Chiang Chao, Po-Ling Shiao, Yu-Tsan Tseng, Cheng-Hsuan Lin, Mei Chun Lai
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Patent number: 7740383Abstract: An exemplary optical plate includes a transparent layer and a light diffusion layer. The transparent layer includes a light input interface, a light output surface opposite to the light input interface, and a plurality of micro-depressions formed on the light output surface. The micro-depressions are arranged along a plurality of imaginary, separate, circular arcs. Each micro-depression has at least three side surfaces connected to each other, and a transverse width of each side surface increases along a direction away from the light diffusion layer. The light diffusion layer is integrally formed in immediate contact with the light input interface of the transparent layer, and free of air or gas pockets trapped in an interface therebetween. The light diffusion layer includes a transparent matrix resin and a plurality of diffusion particles dispersed in the transparent matrix resin.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
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Patent number: 7682038Abstract: A portable light is provided having a reflector assembly configured to create multiple modes of light reflection. The reflector assembly surrounds a light source and has first and second reflectors that together define a substantially continuous reflective surface. The second reflector is mounted for axial movement relative to the first reflector. Thus, different modes of light reflection can be produced. In an exemplary embodiment, the second reflector is disposed within a central opening defined by the first reflector, and the reflectors combine to define a substantially parabolic reflective surface, with the light source disposed at a focal point.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2005Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: The Brinkman CorporationInventor: Brian Wood
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Patent number: 7637631Abstract: A dead front actuating assembly actuates a device in standard ambient light conditions. The dead front actuating assembly includes a housing defining a periphery and an interior volume. A cover plate is fixedly secured to the housing at the periphery. The cover plate defines an inboard surface facing the interior volume and an outboard surface opposite the inboard surface. The outboard surface is opaque in standard ambient light conditions. The dead front actuating assembly also includes a switch that is operatively connected to the inboard surface of the cover plate at a defined location for toggling the device between on and off conditions. Also included is a presence sensor identifying when an operator is disposed adjacent the cover plate. A back light inside the housing illuminates the cover plate such that light passes through the cover plate and out the outboard surface to illuminate the switch.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2007Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Magna International, Inc.Inventors: Daniel T. McDermott, Steven R. Giles, Sean E. Granger
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Patent number: 7618164Abstract: An optical substrate having a structured surface that enhances brightness and reduces moiré effect. The optical substrate has a three-dimensionally varying, structured light output surface that comprises an irregular prismatic structure. The irregular prismatic structure may be viewed as comprising longitudinal prism blocks or rows thereof, arranged laterally defining peaks and valleys. Adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or adjacent peak and valley may be parallel or non-parallel, in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or quasi-random manner. The lateral adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or adjacent peak and valley are not parallel. The adjacent irregular prism blocks may be irregular longitudinal sections having the same length, or random or quasi-random irregular sections having different lengths. The facets of each prism block may be flat, or curved (convexly and/or concavely).Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2006Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Ubright Optronics CorporationInventors: Kong-Hua Wang, Craig Lin, Daniel Yaw-Chung Ko
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Patent number: 7607814Abstract: A backlight includes a visible light transmissive body having a light guide portion and a light input portion. The visible light transmissive body primarily propagates light by TIR and includes a light input surface and a light output surface. The light guide portion has a light reflection surface and a light emission surface. The light input portion has opposing side surfaces that are not parallel. A light source is disposed adjacent to the light input surface and emits light into the light input portion. A specularly reflective layer is disposed adjacent to but not in intimate contact with the opposing side surfaces and reflects more than 80% of visible light incident on the specularly reflective layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2006Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Patrick R. Destain
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Patent number: 7607810Abstract: A compact vehicle signalling light having a multi-reflector concave mirror which provides maximum light yield. The mirror includes a first reflector which is convergent and enveloping with respect to the light source and a second reflector formed near the apex of the mirror which reflects light rays passing around the light source without interfering with it. The vehicle light further includes a lens which cooperates with the reflectors to generate a light beam which complies with regulatory standards.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2005Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Valeo VisionInventor: Patrice Collot
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Patent number: 7604368Abstract: An extension bar with built-in light includes an elongate body having an open first end and an engaging recess in a second end of the elongate body. A switch member extends through a transverse hole of the elongate body and includes first and second conductive members connected thereto. A power supply unit and a light bulb are received in the passage. The second conductive member is in contact between the power supply unit and a conductive hand tool inserted into the engaging recess to activate the light bulb. The light bulb is also activated when rotating the switch member to contact directly the first conductive member, the second conductive member and the power supply unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2007Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Inventor: Chin-Shun Cheng
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Patent number: 7588067Abstract: A system for reducing sun glare through an opening into a space, the system comprising an electrically controllable window treatment operable to alter the amount of daylight entering the space through the opening; a first sensor mounted within the space and characterized by a sensor gain, the first sensor operable to sense a level of illumination in the space; and a control system operable: to compare the sensed illumination level in the space to a dead-band having upper and lower thresholds; to adjust during a time period when glare from the sun can occur through the opening at least one of: (a) the upper threshold of the dead-band, (b) the lower threshold of the dead-band, and (c) the sensor gain of the first sensor; and to adjust the window treatment in response to the sensed level of illumination to reduce the sun glare.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2006Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventor: Dragan Veskovic
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Patent number: 7585086Abstract: A luminaire, in particular a wall or ceiling luminaire protected against sprayed or splashed water, for receiving at least one elongated gas-discharge lamp, having an enclosure able to be assembled into a closed form from a transparent lower part which can be mounted in a fixed position and which holds electrical gear and a transparent upper part, is so designed, with the aim of achieving a form for the upper part and lower part which is economical and meets the demands of the market and in which the two are matched to one another in relation to thermal stresses, that the lower part and the upper part are produced from the same batches of thermoplastic plastics material.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2004Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: IBV Holding GmbHInventor: Jürgen Vonhoff
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Patent number: 7575349Abstract: A CHMSL (16) or other lighting system feature of an automobile (10) includes a feature for presenting personal expressions in the form of words or symbols but is automatically deactivated when the regular vehicle lighting system is in use. The personal expression is fixed in a tangible medium by way of phosphor-coated indicia (34) placed within a UV impervious housing (18). A secondary UV light source (36) selectively energizes the phosphor-coated indicia (34) so that the irradiated material glows and is visible through a light transmissive screen (20). The light transmissive screen (20) is provided with a UV blocking agent so that harmful UV rays do not escape the housing (18). The phosphor-coated indicia (34) can be mounted on a removable transparent plate (30), on light dispersion optics (24, 26), or on the inner face of the light transmissive screen (20).Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2005Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.Inventors: Lloyd Keith Bucher, James Burr Anderson, Jr.
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Patent number: 7540650Abstract: A lamp holding apparatus for mounting a lamp to a base member includes a mounting plate having a pair of locking portions protruding to a base side. The locking portion is inserted into a mounting hole provided at the base and capable of being locked to a peripheral edge on its back side. Abutting portions, which protrude to the base side and are capable of abutting the base at the time of mounting, are provided on a bottom surface of the mounting plate that is an opposing surface to the base. The abutting portions are provided at three spots with one of the locking portions interposed therebetween. At the time of mounting, each of the abutting portions abut the base, and the mounting plate is elastically deformed so as to be warped, whereby the locking surface of the locking portion is kept in the state in which it is locked to a peripheral edge of a back side of the mounting hole by its elastic force.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2006Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroki Azuma, Tatsuya Kudari, Yoshiki Takata
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Patent number: 7513638Abstract: A solar-powered collapsible lighting apparatus includes a lighting element assembly having a lighting element, a solar cell, a battery unit, and a collapsible shade. The battery unit is electrically coupled to the solar cell and to the lighting element assembly. The solar cell is positioned proximate to the top of the collapsible shade. The lighting element assembly and the battery unit are positioned within the collapsible shade. The solar-powered collapsible lighting apparatus is deployed by connecting a support unit between a top portion and a bottom portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2007Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Allsop, Inc.Inventors: James D. Allsop, Jamey J. Allsop
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Patent number: 7500774Abstract: An annular light guide is provided. The annular light guide is made of optically transparent material, and is provided with an annular body that is an integrated combination of a light inlet and a light outlet. A light source is disposed in a cavity formed in the light inlet. Illumination light is emitted from the front surface 16c of the light outlet.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2006Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinori Nishiyama, Ayumu Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7497593Abstract: A rotational obstruction and beacon signaling apparatus, in which chip-on-board (COB) packaged light emitting diodes (LEDs) are employed to provide a flashed emission pattern with high luminous intensity. The flash sequence of individual LEDs is controlled by an electronic timing circuit to simulate a rotational or other motional signaling effect.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: BWT Property, Inc.Inventor: Sean Xiaolu Wang
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Patent number: 7438453Abstract: An exterior mirror assembly includes a mirror member, a housing and a light member. The mirror member is supported in the housing. The light member is attached to the housing to radiate light, having a luminous body and a lens mask configured to cover the luminous body. The housing has an outermost portion which lies outwardly furthest with respect to a width direction of a vehicle. The light member is disposed inside of the outermost portion with respect to a width direction of the vehicle and the lens mask is formed so that its shape smoothly continues to the outermost portion. A projection is formed on the lens mask so that a surface of the projection is inside of the outermost portion with respect to a width direction of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Saitoh, Tomohiko Sano, Takayuki Domon
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Patent number: 7422353Abstract: A light-emitting device is disclosed which enables efficient use of luminous flux and achieves a desired light emission characteristic. The light-emitting device has an optical member which has an emergence surface and a plurality of optical portions, each of the optical portions including a first surface which directs light incident thereon to the emergence surface. The plurality of first surfaces are inclined on the same side with respect to the emergence surface. The light-emitting device also has a light guiding member which directs light from a light source to the plurality of optical portions from one side of a direction in which the plurality of optical portions are arranged.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2006Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshiharu Tenmyo
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Patent number: 7401952Abstract: A foldable lamp shade includes a shade body, an upper support ring, a plurality of locking members, a lower support ring, a plurality of hanging hooks, and a plurality of support bars. Thus, the user only needs to hook the hook hole of each of the support bars on the respective hanging hook and to insert the insertion portion of each of the support bars into the locking slot of the respective locking member so as to mount the support bars between the upper support ring and the lower support ring by the respective hanging hook and the respective locking member so that the lamp shade is assembled easily and quickly, thereby facilitating the user assembling the lamp shade.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2006Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Inventor: Ting-Sheng Lee
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Patent number: 7357532Abstract: A lamp module mounted on a housing is provided. The lamp module includes a lamp and a lamp sleeve. The plane perpendicular to an optical of the lamp has an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction mutually perpendicular to each other. The lamp is mounted within the lamp sleeve, and a positioning piece is formed at one end of the lamp sleeve for mounting the lamp sleeve on the housing. The positioning piece at least includes a first surface and a second surface respectively parallel to the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. At least one of the first surface and the second surface is equipped with an adjustable apparatus for adjusting the alignment of the lamp by moving the positioning piece along the direction(s) of the x-axis or/and the y-axis. The adjustable apparatus comprises a positioning component, a fastener and an elastic component.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2006Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Qisda CorporationInventors: Ying-Fang Lin, Yueh-Jen Chen