Patents Examined by Meghan K. Dunwiddie
  • Incorporation of telltale warning indicators into driver information center
    Patent number: 7534000
    Abstract: A vehicle display having an LCD display that is employed to communicate a first type of vehicle information and a second set of vehicle information in which the information that is to be communicated can include or consist of symbols. A display light guide is employed to distribute light from two light sources to selectively illuminate portions of the display screen of the LCD display. The LCD display can be employed to generate telltale warning indicators. The LCD display provides flexibility in the display of information so that a relatively large quantity of telltale warning indicators can be handled without specifically dedicating a light source, a light tunnel and space on the vehicle display for each telltale warning indicator that may be employed in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaki Adachi, Ching Fong, Zinoviy Kelman, Joseph A Pasek, Brian Dehmlow
  • Backlight assembly and display apparatus having the same
    Patent number: 7530727
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a receiving container including a bottom plate having a lower face and an upper face opposite the lower face, a sidewall part protruding from edge portions of the bottom plate, and a plurality of light property controlling parts disposed on the upper face and having a substantially wedge shaped cross-section. The backlight further includes a light source disposed between adjacent light property controlling parts, and the light source is received by the receiving container, wherein a distance between a center of the light source and the upper face is substantially equal to a height of at least one of the plurality of light property controlling parts. The backlight assembly may increase the brightness and brightness-uniformity of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-Sik Choi, Dong-Lyoul Shin, Kui-Yong Choi, Jae-Hwan Chun, Doo-Won Lee
  • Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display module using the same
    Patent number: 7530711
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes light emitting diodes in patterns, a reflective sheet having a plurality of through holes through which the light emitting diodes protrude, and a sidewall dividing the patterns into a plurality of light emitting diode units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ju-Young Bang
  • Flat panel display
    Patent number: 7527398
    Abstract: A flat panel display can include a transparent substrate, a light emitting device formed on a surface of the transparent substrate, and a prism sheet formed on the other surface of the transparent substrate and having a plurality of polygonal protruding members having lengthwise axes parallel to one another to direct light output from the light emitting device in a predetermined direction. The sum of the thickness of the transparent substrate and the thickness of a portion of the prism sheet excluding the polygonal protruding members can be about 0.1 to about 0.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Woo Song, Young-Rag Do, Yoon-Chang Kim, Sang-Hwan Cho, Ji-Hoon Ahn, Joon-gu Lee, So-Young Lee
  • Backlight unit having heat dissipating layer, display device having heat dissipating layer, and method for manufacturing heat dissipating layer
    Patent number: 7527408
    Abstract: A backlight unit and a display device having heat dissipating layer, and a method for manufacturing the heat dissipating layer are provided. A backlight unit includes a light source for emitting a light; a reflector below the light source for reflecting the light emitted from the light source and absorbing heat generated by the light source; and a heat dissipating layer including thermal conductive particles, the heat dissipating layer being disposed on a first surface of the reflector for dissipating the heat transferred to the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kab Jin Hwang
  • Illuminating device, and projection type video display
    Patent number: 7524084
    Abstract: Three light sources are provided as a light source. A first light source emits a light in red, a second light source emits a light in green, and a third light source emits a light in blue. Each light source is a light source in which a plurality of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are arranged in the same plane surface. The first light source, the second light source, and the third light source are arranged on the same plane surface. Furthermore, lines connecting the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source form a triangle. Light fluxes (primary optical axes) of each light source are parallel with each other. The first light source, the second light source, and the third light source are arranged on one piece of a cooling plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ikeda, Hideyuki Kanayama
  • Light emitting panel assemblies
    Patent number: 7524101
    Abstract: Edge lit light emitting assembly includes a panel member having a light input surface at one end of a greater width than thickness and an array of LEDs positioned in close proximity to the light input surface that emit light out of the side of the LEDs closest to the light input surface. At least one reflector around one or more of the LEDs collects light emitted by the LEDs and is shaped to reflect and focus the light at an acceptable angle for entering the light input surface, the focused light being shaped to have a greater cross-sectional width than height corresponding to the width and thickness of the light input surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventor: Jeffery R. Parker
  • Backlight unit and method to uniform the brightness thereof
    Patent number: 7517134
    Abstract: A backlight unit has a frame, at least one optical film, and at least one light source accommodated in the frame. The frame has a top wall, a bottom wall opposite to the top wall, two opposite side walls, and at least one protuberance integrated on the top wall. The at least one optical film includes at least one through-hole with respect to the at least one protuberance. The at least one protuberance drills through the at least one through-hole for hanging the at least one optical film on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Che-Chang Hu
  • Light emitting panel assemblies
    Patent number: 7513672
    Abstract: Light emitting panel assembly includes an optically conductive panel member having at least one input surface and a greater cross-sectional width than thickness, and at least one light transition emitter having a light emitting surface in close proximity to the light input surface. The light emitting surface has an output distribution defined by a greater width component than height component, a thickness equal to or less than the thickness of the panel member and a greater width than thickness in the width direction of the panel member. A reflector extends around the light source and is shaped to reflect and focus the light emitted from the light source at an acceptable angle for entering the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Parker
  • Headlight control apparatus and method for vehicle
    Patent number: 7503677
    Abstract: A headlight control apparatus and method controls an irradiation direction of a headlight. This apparatus uses a navigation-based swivel angle calculated based upon the shape of a road in a navigation-based control period, and a steering-based swivel angle calculated based upon a steering angle in a steering-based control period. When the control period changes from the navigation-based control period to the steering-based control period, this apparatus uses a value between the navigation-based swivel angle and the steering-based swivel angle as a present control swivel angle for controlling the irradiation direction of the headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Morishita
  • System and method for providing ambient light to a display in an electronic device
    Patent number: 7500775
    Abstract: The invention provides a device and method for providing backlight to a display in an electronic device. The device comprises: a housing; an ambient light collector; a backlight panel; a shutter; and a photodetector. The ambient light collector has: a body having the first end and a second end, which is located within the housing. The body receives ambient light from around the electronic device and transmits it to the second end. The body is shaped to direct the ambient light from the first end towards the second end and has a turn in it between the first and second ends. In the body, each conduit has an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being connected to the second end of the body, and each conduit extending downward and away from the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Norman Ladouceur, Jason Griffin, Robert Lowles
  • Lighting system and method and reflector for use in same
    Patent number: 7497601
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for lighting are provided with a reflector with paraboloidal segments. One lighting system includes a reflector having one or more reflector segments. Each reflector segment is substantially paraboloidal and has a central axis of symmetry. The lighting system also includes an illumination portion having one or more light sources. Each light source corresponds to one of the reflector segments and has a central illumination axis. The central illumination axis is directed toward the corresponding segment and substantially perpendicular to the central axis of symmetry of the corresponding segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Underwater Kinetics, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Uke
  • Booster optic
    Patent number: 7497600
    Abstract: A booster optic is provided in an LED light assembly that includes a primary reflective surface to redirect light towards a desired location to form an illuminance pattern that when combined with a first illuminance pattern, which is formed by only the primary reflector, provides a combined illuminance pattern having a more uniform illuminance characteristic as compared to not having the booster optic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Lumination LLC
    Inventors: William Sekela, Alan Toot, Mark Mayer, Mathew Sommers
  • Document illuminator
    Patent number: 7494235
    Abstract: A document illuminator includes first and second cover portions, first and second illumination sources, and a power source. The first and second cover portions are connected and foldable along a spine portion. The first and second illumination sources are secured to a corresponding one of the first and second cover portions. The power source is electrically connected to the first and second illumination sources to selectively power the first and second illumination sources when a power switch is activated. When first and second translucent documents are secured to corresponding ones of the first and second cover portions and power is supplied to the first and second illumination sources, each of the first and second illumination sources direct illumination through a corresponding one of the first and second translucent documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: Franklin B. Floyd, Jr.
  • Selectable beam lens for underwater light
    Patent number: 7488084
    Abstract: A lens for a wet environment lighting device that has a fixture with an interior that has an opening, and at least one light source located within the fixture interior. Light from the light source proceeds out through the opening. The lens is for location in front of the fixture and the light source located therein and the lens encloses the opening from the wet environment. The lens has a first light-directing area for directing light in a first beam pattern. The lens also has a second light-directing area, distinct from the first light-directing area, for directing light in a second beam pattern, distinct from the first beam pattern. The lens is positioned relative to fixture and light source therein to select from the distinct beam patterns based on the alignment of the light-directing areas relative to the light source resulting from a positioning of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Potucek, Dennis Dunn
  • Prism sheet of back light unit for LCD
    Patent number: 7488095
    Abstract: Disclosed is a prism sheet structure that can control optical coupling between contact surfaces of two prism sheets in a backlight unit. The prism sheet includes: a structural surface (14) having non-planar peaks (11) with maximum height and minimum height along a length direction thereof; and a curved layer (17) having the same cycle as a cycle of height variation of the peak. The curved layer is formed at a boundary surface (16) between the structural surface 14 and the flat surface to maintain the right-angled isosceles triangular prisms formed due to a difference between the highest point and the lowest point of each of the peaks to have a predetermined size, so that distance between the valleys (12) is uniform along the length direction. Although shapes of prisms are identical, the cycle of the peak height variation allows the moiré´ patterns to be suppressed or removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: LMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Shig Shim, Sung-Min Cho, Soon-Ryong Park, Eun-Mi Lee
  • Track fixture with hinged accessory ring
    Patent number: 7488092
    Abstract: The track fixture described has an accessory ring hingedly attached to the main portion of the track fixture luminaire. The hinge interposed between the accessory ring and the support ring or luminaire housing allows for both rotational and outward movement such that the accessory ring may be moved outward and away from the lamp and rotate about the support ring without interference between the accessory ring and the support ring or luminaire housing. The two movement hinge design is compact and allows for a clean outer appearance of the track fixture luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC
    Inventors: Alejandro Mier-Langner, James E. Kuchar, Andrew E. Medeiros
  • Light source apparatus and image display apparatus
    Patent number: 7484862
    Abstract: A light source apparatus is disclosed which is capable of emerging predetermined linearly polarized light while a loss of light amount is reduced. The light source apparatus comprises plural light-emitting elements which are disposed so that their light-emitting surfaces face the direction of an emergence surface of the light source apparatus, and a polarization selective element which transmits a light component with a first polarization direction and reflects a light component with a second polarization direction different from the first polarization direction. The apparatus further comprises a reflecting surface which is disposed at a position closer to the light-emitting elements than the polarization selective element and reflects the reflected light from the polarization selective element to the polarization-selective element side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Yamazaki, Kazutaka Inoguchi
  • Direct type backlight module
    Patent number: 7481569
    Abstract: A direct type backlight module includes a frame, at least an optical sheet, and at least a light guide source. The frame includes a plurality of peripheral sidewalls, at least one holding portion defined in a top of the sidewalls, and an elastic member defined in the holding portion. The optical sheet having a positioning hole corresponding to the elastic member is fixed in the frame by the elastic member being mounted into the positioning hole thereby pushing an inner surface of the positioning hole towards an outer area of the optical sheet. The light source is disposed under the optical sheet. The optical sheet may be fixed on the frame tightly, and may avoid being deformed effectively due to a stretching force produced by the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • LED-based lamp equipped with a compact case and with multidirectional orientation
    Patent number: 7478918
    Abstract: A portable lamp comprises a LED-based lighting module, a rotary selector switch for selecting the operating mode, and a power supply battery, the whole assembly being housed in a compact case which is coupled to a fixing plate with multidirectional orientation. The lighting module and the selector switch are arranged side by side on the front face, the fixing plate being joined to the case by a ball and socket joint arranged in a housing provided at the base of the case between the selector switch and the lighting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Zedel
    Inventors: Paul Petzl, Raphael Bortolotti