Patents Examined by Mark Tsidulko
  • Patent number: 7641373
    Abstract: Disclosed is a backlight unit which illuminates a display panel from a rear surface thereof, including at least: tubular lamps arranged in parallel to the panel; and a reflecting member which reflects light from the lamps toward the panel, wherein the reflecting member is divided into a first region opposed to an area near an electrode provided in an end portion of the lamp and a second region nearer to a middle area than the first region, the first region having a higher reflectance than the second region. In another backlight unit, a reflecting member is divided, with respect to the arrangement direction of the lamps, into an end lamp near region which is opposed to a lamp arranged in end portion and a middle region which is nearer to a middle area than the end lamp region, the end lamp region having a higher reflectance than the middle region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Sugawara, Hiroshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 7637639
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes a light emitting diode (LED) and a structured surface. The structured surface has a plurality of prismatic structures arranged radially with respect to a reference point, and is disposed relative to the LED such that the reference point is substantially aligned with a light emission axis of the LED. Arrays of such assemblies and backlights and displays including same are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Epstein
  • Patent number: 7631985
    Abstract: The instant invention is a luminaire comprised generally of mounting plate including a plurality of mounting blocks secured to said mounting plate; and a plurality of LEDs, wherein at least one of said LEDs is positioned upon each of said mounting blocks. The mounting blocks include face portions having a plurality of pitches or angles and may be arranged in a plurality of configurations on said mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group, LLC
    Inventors: David W. Knoble, George V. Preston
  • Patent number: 7625112
    Abstract: A lamp-supporting unit includes a mold frame and a lamp-fixing member. The mold frame includes a bottom face, a side face upwardly extending from an edge of the bottom face, and a top face horizontally extending from an upper end of the side face and being opposite to the bottom face. The side face has openings through which lamps are moved. The lamp-fixing member is installed on the bottom face of the mold frame and fixes an end of each of the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Rok Ko, Jae-Hwan Chun, Jong-Ho Won
  • Patent number: 7625101
    Abstract: A lighting device has a light source, a light pipe, two convex magnifying lenses, and an adjusting mechanism for moving the two magnifying lenses relative to the light source. The light emitted from the light source is dispersed and directed into the light pipe by a reflector. The light pipe transfers collimated light through the first and second magnifier lenses which redirects the light to produce a circular spotlight beam having uniform intensity. The size of the spotlight beam is adjusted by an adjusting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Co., Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Alessio
  • Patent number: 7618154
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus providing a compact illumination device with interchangeable adaptable insert components and a light source heat sink feature are disclosed. A compact illumination device generates high quality illumination with interchangeable insert components enabling the illumination device to functioning independently or in conjunction with existing devices. The heat sink feature includes a heat sink module adaptable to single or multiple LED configurations to provide optimal light quality for differing applications. The heat sink feature provides optimal heat dissipation from the light source and circuitry to maximize functional life of both the components. The illumination device has multiple operational modes that are customizable for application-specific requirements and controlled through mechanisms fully integrated into the housing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Inventor: Keith M. Rosiello
  • Patent number: 7611253
    Abstract: A multiple function LED night light with air-freshener includes an LED display unit with light-medium properties to allow light beams from LED(s) located at LED input-ends of the display unit to travel within the light-medium and be uniformly emitted through a surface of the display for even brightness without hot spots. A housing of the night light includes a slot, space, room to allow an air-freshener, an LED display, a sealed-unit and all related electric components including a heat element or fan device to be disposed within the night light housing to provide multiple functions in addition to those of a conventional night light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Inventor: Tseng-Lu Chien
  • Patent number: 7600892
    Abstract: A multiparameter light is disclosed, which incorporates an LED (light emitting diode) tracking ring surrounding a main output lens. The LED tracking ring is capable of additive color mixing and in turn can simulate the color of the main projected light projecting from the main output aperture or output lens of the multiparameter light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Barco Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Belliveau, Michael Bell, David Dahly, David Karl Peck
  • Patent number: 7600891
    Abstract: A multiparameter light is disclosed, which incorporates an LED (light emitting diode) tracking ring surrounding a main output lens. The LED tracking ring is capable of additive color mixing and in turn can simulate the color of the main projected light projecting from the main output aperture or output lens of the multiparameter light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventors: Richard S. Belliveau, Michael Bell, David Dahly, David Karl Peck
  • Patent number: 7594746
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a light source, a light guide plate, and a receiving container having a combination guide part. The coupling guide part is inwardly protruded with respect to the sidewalls of the receiving container. The coupling guide part corresponds with a guide recess on the light guide plate to guide the light guide plate to a proper position. The coupling guide part may also include a screw thread to couple the receiving container with an external case. Therefore, the receiving container may be easily coupled with the external case and the light guide plate may be guided to a proper position via the combination guide part to thereby simplify a manufacturing process of the backlight assembly and reduce its size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Soo Shin, Jeoung-Gwen Lee, Young-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 7591572
    Abstract: A lighting device is disclosed. The lighting device can include a base, a light source housing, and a connection member connected between the base and the light source housing. The lighting device also can include a rotatable mounting plate. The light source housing can be elongated and can include one or more battery-powered lighting elements, such as light-emitting diodes. The lighting device can be convertible between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration. The light source housing and the connection member together can be rotatable relative to the base around a first axis. The light source housing also can be rotatable relative to the connection member around a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis and a third axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. Batteries to power the lighting elements can be positioned within a battery compartment of a removable battery pack within the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Levine
  • Patent number: 7588348
    Abstract: A lamp device and a projector having the lamp device eliminated of light leaking in a direction opposite to a reflecting direction at a rear end of an encapsulation fixing an arc tube on a reflection mirror is simply and inexpensively provided. An arc tube and a reflection mirror are provided. The arc tube has encapsulations one of which is inserted in a cylinder of the reflection mirror thereby securing the encapsulation and the cylinder together by an adhesive. The bulb of the arc tube and the other encapsulation are positioned on a side close to a reflection surface of the reflection mirror. The encapsulation inserted in the cylinder and positioned on a side opposite to the reflection surface has an end at least at an end face of which is covered with the adhesive thereby providing light shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei Fujisawa, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Toru Terashima, Kazuhiro Tanaka, Takeshi Takezawa, Tomonobu Machida, Yuji Takado
  • Patent number: 7568821
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) reflector optic comprises a reflector having a plurality of reflecting surfaces. The reflector is associated with at least one optical axis. In one embodiment, each reflecting surface has a linearly projected cross-section. In one embodiment, the LED reflector optic also has at least one LED positioned such that a central light-emitting axis of the at least one LED is angled relative to the at least one optical axis at about 90°. In one embodiment, the about 90° has a tolerance of ±30°. In one embodiment, each reflecting surface has at least one of: a conic or a substantially conic shape. In one embodiment, the at least one LED has a plurality of LEDs, the at least one optical axis has a plurality of optical axes, and each of the plurality of LEDs is angled relative to a respective one of the plurality of optical axes at about 90°. In one embodiment, a plurality of linear extrusion axes is angled relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Dialight Corporation
    Inventors: John Patrick Peck, William S. Leib, III
  • Patent number: 7568819
    Abstract: An optical navigation devices and methods that utilize an internal reflection surface to reflect and collimate sidelight from a light source are described. A light source is configured to emit light. The sidelight from the light source is reflected and collimated by an internal reflection surface towards a work surface. The light received by the sensor is used to measure movement of the optical navigation device relative to the work surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Boon Kheng Lee, Soon Chun Kuek, Sai Mun Lee
  • Patent number: 7566156
    Abstract: A backlight unit includes a light source emitting light and a light diffusing plate diffusing light emitted from the light source, the light diffusing plate having an ellipsoidal microlens, the ellipsoidal microlens being provided in a plural number and a major axis direction of the microlens being substantially orthogonal to a longer axis direction of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Hasei, Akira Inagaki
  • Patent number: 7553048
    Abstract: A hand-held laser pointer is disclosed wherein the laser beam is isolated from unwanted hand tremor motions of the laser pointer housing. A laser beam is directed toward a pair of passively inertially stabilized mirrors disposed within the housing that are biased to a neutral position by a spring and damper. Both the laser beam that exits the housing and the laser dot appearing at a target are minimally affected by laser jitter associated with hand tremor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dale Wilson, Daniel Steven Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7543955
    Abstract: A multiparameter light is disclosed, which incorporates an LED (light emitting diode) tracking ring surrounding a main output lens. The LED tracking ring is capable of additive color mixing and in turn can simulate the color of the main projected light projecting from the main output aperture or output lens of the multiparameter light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Barco Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Belliveau, Michael Bell, David Dahly, David Karl Peck
  • Patent number: 7534022
    Abstract: A backlight module includes a light box, at least one light guide tube, and at least one light source. The light box has a light exit side. The light guide tube has a plurality of microstructures which are spaced apart along a length of the light guide tube. The light guide tube and the microstructures are disposed in the light box in a particular arrangement so that the microstructures are placed substantially in a matrix array within the light box. The light source is disposed adjacent to the light guide tube, and is operable so as to emit a light beam to the light guide tube. The microstructures disperse the light beam from the light guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Young Lighting Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Jen Chou, Po-Chuan Kang
  • Patent number: 7534025
    Abstract: One or more LEDs are mounted within an LCD without the use of any printed circuit board (PCB), thus reducing the thickness of the LCD by about the thickness of the conventional PCB. In one embodiment, the LED and submount are mounted so that the submount is opposing the liquid crystal layer side of the LCD, so that the liquid crystal layers provide the mechanical support for the submount and LED die. The LED die (mounted on the submount) may be inserted into a cavity formed in the “top” surface of the light guide, and the top surface of the light guide is abutted against the liquid crystal layers. In such a configuration, the LED light source, including all supporting components, adds no thickness to the LCD. In another embodiment, on the “bottom” surface of the LCD opposing the LED die is an electrically switchable mirror that is either reflective or transparent. In its transparent state, the LED in the LCD may be used as a flash in a cell phone camera, while the LCD may be viewed to take the picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Philips Lumiled Lighting Company, LLC
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Oleg B. Shchekin, Serge Bierhuizen
  • Patent number: 7527389
    Abstract: A multiparameter light is disclosed, which incorporates an LED (light emitting diode) tracking ring surrounding a main output lens. The LED tracking ring is capable of additive color mixing and in turn can simulate the color of the main projected light projecting from the main output aperture or output lens of the multiparameter light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Barco Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Belliveau, Michael Bell, David Dahly, David Karl Peck