Patents Examined by Meghan K. Dunwiddie
  • Patent number: 7976183
    Abstract: A backlight unit capable of preventing its mis-operation and the generation of sparks due to electrical connection defects is disclosed. The backlight unit includes: a plurality of lamps emitting lights; a lamp printed-circuit board including a power supply portion electrically connected to the plural lamps and a connector wiper transferring a drive voltage to be applied to the power supply portion; a connector including a connector housing, engaged with the connector wiper and electrically connected to the connector wiper, and wires electrically connected to the connector housing; and another printed-circuit board, electrically connected to the wires, applying the drive voltage to the lamp printed-circuit board. The connector housing includes stoppers extruded toward the lamp printed-circuit board. The stoppers prevent a contact defect of the connector wiper and the lamp printed-circuit board which is caused by the connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Hong Park, Jang Won Yoon
  • Patent number: 7976182
    Abstract: An light emitting diode lamp assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a base, a ballast circuit mounted on a circuit board and operable to provide a desired output current and a light emitting diode electrically connected to the ballast and driven by the output current of the ballast circuit to provide light. The base is filled with a thermally conductive substance and the circuit board is mounted in the base and in thermal contact with the thermally conductive substance such that heat is drawn away from the light emitting diode through the circuit board and into the thermally conductive substance to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Ribarich
  • Patent number: 7972048
    Abstract: A window mounted solar powered night light has a structural attachment fastener, a lighting module; and a holder for attaching the lighting module to the attachment fastener. The lighting module includes a light emitting diode, a rechargeable battery, a solar cell for recharging the battery, and a switch for turning the light emitting diode on and off. A housing maintains the various elements of the lighting module in circuit communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Sarah Jane Lamborn
  • Patent number: 7972037
    Abstract: A light fixture, comprising a matrix, a plurality of electrical sockets fixedly secured to the matrix and forming a rigid matrix of electrical sockets electrically interconnected in two dimensions. One or more light emitting diode modules are individually removable and replaceable within any individual electrical socket within the matrix. Each individual light emitting diode module includes a base and a light emitting diode, wherein the base is configured and arranged for fitted electrical engagement within the electrical socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Deloren E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7972051
    Abstract: Described are a backlight, a backlight assembly for use in an electronic device and an electronic device configured to activate the backlight's first light source and to activate the backlight's second light source independently of one another. The described double-sided backlight may illuminate either the primary display or the secondary display. The disclosed backlight includes two light sources, each used to direct light in opposite directions from the double-sided backlight. The light guide of the backlight is configured to direct light from the first light source in a first direction to exit the light guide via its first face, and to direct light from the second light source in a second direction different from the first direction to exit the light guide via its second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Wang, Sen Yang, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Patent number: 7967468
    Abstract: A lighting device is disclosed. The lighting device can be battery-powered and can include one or more LEDs within a light assembly. The device also can include a battery compartment, a first frame element, and a second frame element. The light assembly can be supported by the first frame element and free to tilt on a first axis relative to the first frame element. The light assembly can be free to rotate relative to the second frame element on a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The second frame element can be, for example, a plate configured to be fixedly mounted to a surface, such as a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Levine
  • Patent number: 7963688
    Abstract: The present invention has a configuration is one example in which a second body is connected to be rotatable around a rotational axis to a first body. A light emitting element that emits light and a first light guiding member, which propagates light emitted from the light emitting element as well as irradiating light from an irradiating unit, are housed in the first body. A light receiving element that receives light and a second light guiding member, which lets in light from the light collecting portion irradiated by the irradiating unit as well as propagates light in the light receiving element, are housed in the second body. Complimentary location regions of the irradiating units and light collecting portions are multiply provided between the first light guiding member and the second light guiding member, thereby multiply forming propagating paths of light from the irradiating units to the light collecting portions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Kanji Satake
  • Patent number: 7954967
    Abstract: A stereoscopic display apparatus includes a liquid-crystal display device that has display pixels arranged in a matrix and displays an elemental image array formed from a plurality of field images on the display pixels to render stereoscopic display, a parallax creating unit provided on the front surface or the rear surface of the liquid-crystal display device, and a directional backlight that emits light through the liquid-crystal display device then through the parallax creating unit and switches directions of the thus-emitted light among a plurality of directions according to a display of the field image is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masako Kashiwagi, Tatsuo Saishu, Rieko Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7954974
    Abstract: A casing for a downlight having a tubular body from which the light of a lamp when installed in the body is emitted from the front of the body and having a rear end wall closing the body from the rear, wherein intumescent material is placed within the tubular body lining the tubular wall of the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Aurora Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Joseph Johnson
  • Patent number: 7950817
    Abstract: Display cases having lighting assemblies and methods of illuminating display cases with such lighting assemblies. Embodiments of the lighting assemblies may be used in display cases of any type and particularly in those where the purchaser selects via an external mechanism (e.g., buttons) a product from a variety of products stored inside the display, such as a vending machine. Lighting assemblies are installed within a vending machine, such as on or within the vending machine shelves or product dividers, and their light emission controlled depending on the product being selected from the vending machine. In on embodiment, all light sources within the vending machine except those illuminating the selected product are dimmed. In this way, the product being selected by the purchaser can be emphasized. In other embodiments, color or multi-color LEDs are used to emit light that best compliments the color of products housed within the vending machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Dalibor Zulim, Mark Anthony Hand, Forrest Starnes McCanless
  • Patent number: 7946736
    Abstract: A cover that may be attached directly to the ceiling around a recessed down-light fixture to change the appearance of the recessed light fixture to an external light fixture without losing access to the fixture. The cover includes a first lens with an outer dome, a flange lying in a plane extending from a first periphery of the first lens and a central circular hole through the outer dome. Notches are arranged about the periphery of the central circular hole. A second lens includes an cup which has a circular periphery with a diameter of noninterference fit with the central circular hole. Tabs extend radially outwardly from the circular periphery and are configured and arranged to fit through the notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: Richard C. Horian
  • Patent number: 7946747
    Abstract: A backlight unit is disclosed. The backlight unit includes a light source unit generating light, a beam profile changer at the side of the light source unit, a reflective plate under the beam profile changer, and an optical film positioned on the beam profile changer and the reflective plate. The beam profile changer includes an incident surface facing the light source unit and an emitting surface positioned in a direction parallel to the incident surface. The reflective plate includes a first reflective surface having a first reflective area and a second reflective surface having a second reflective area. The second reflective surface is inclined from an end of the first reflective surface to an upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jigon Kim, Jeongmin Moon, Gibin Kim, Gilwon Han, Jigeun Nam, Chounsung Kang
  • Patent number: 7946729
    Abstract: An LED-based light for replacing a conventional fluorescent tube in a fixture is provided. The LED-based light includes an elongate light transmitting rod defining a bore and at least one LED positioned at one or both ends of the rod and oriented to produce light longitudinally into a portion of the rod radially outward of the bore. At least one connector is physically coupled to an end of the rod and electrically coupled to the at least one LED. The at least one connector is adapted for physical and electrical connection to the fixture. In operation, the directional light produced by the at least one LED is dispersed by way of reflection, refraction, and/or diffusion while traveling longitudinally through the rod to reduce the appearance of bright spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Altair Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ivey, David L Simon
  • Patent number: 7946726
    Abstract: An input device capable of enhancing symbol readability for an electronic product includes a plurality of keypads for displaying a plurality of first kind symbols and a plurality of second kind symbols; a detection unit for detecting an operation mode of the electronic device; and a control unit coupled to the detection unit and the plurality of keypads for controlling the plurality of keypads to display the plurality of first kind symbols or the plurality of second kind symbols according to a detection result of the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Jen-Hsiang Chiang, Hsin-Chuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 7946734
    Abstract: A low upright cutoff classification acorn style luminaire is described. The acorn style luminaire has a globe which has a top positioned thereon and which is mounted to a pole. Integrated within the luminaire is the lamp support and lamp, the lamp substantially surrounded and enclosed by a reflector. The interior surface of the globe has a plurality of substantially vertically extending prisms along a curved surface thereof, the prisms working in conjunction with the reflector to provide cutoff classification for the acorn style luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Philips Electronics LTD
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Laporte
  • Patent number: 7934854
    Abstract: A light fixture (100) comprises a base (101) and at least a first arm (102) having a first end (103) that couples to this base. A housing (105) then couples to the second end (203) of this first arm and can serve to house both a light source (901) (such that emanated light will tend to be directed towards a primary area of coverage) and an animate object detector (902) (such that the latter will be aimed towards, and will tend to be sensitive to, objects that move within the primary area of coverage). By one approach, this arm couples to the base and/or the housing in a manner that permits an end user to adjust a position of the housing with respect to the base without requiring any hand tools. The housing can comprise a heat sink (906) if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: HeathCo LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Edward Anglikowski, David Scott Bullard, William Calvin Raper, Jeremy Lee Prichard
  • Patent number: 7931392
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a fork assembly and a headlight. The fork assembly is provided with a cavity. The headlight is at least partially disposed within the cavity in the fork assembly and is configured to selectively provide illumination ahead of the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Nagao, Kenji Tamura
  • Patent number: 7922346
    Abstract: An object of the preset invention is to provide a medical lighting apparatus capable of illuminating an affected part with proper illuminance while assuring a work space for an operator near the affected part. A medical lighting apparatus for irradiating an affected part with light includes: a light source (a light emitting element); a light condenser (a collimate lens and a condenser lens) for condensing light emitted from the light source; an image forming unit (an image lens) for forming an image on the affected part from the light condensed by the light condenser; and an aperture portion provided between the light condenser and the image forming unit and regulating passage of the light condensed by the light condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: J. Morita Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Katsuda, Shusuke Hashimoto, Kazunari Matoba, Shinichi Okawa, Hiroaki Kusakabe, Yuzo Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7922357
    Abstract: Disclosed are an external light-shielding layer for a display filter preventing occurrence of ghosting using a difference between refractive indexes of a base substrate and an external light-shielding part, and a display filter and display apparatus including the external light-shielding layer. The external light-shielding layer for the display filter comprises a base substrate made of a transparent resin; and at least one external light-shielding part arranged on a surface of the base substrate and filled with an external light-absorption material, wherein ny of a refractive index of the base substrate is less than or equal to nx of a refractive index of the external light-shielding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Nim Jo, Sang Cheol Jung, Eun Young Cho
  • Patent number: 7914188
    Abstract: A rearview minor system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror mount for attaching the mirror assembly to an attachment element at an interior of a vehicle. The mirror assembly includes a base portion disposed generally at a windshield of the equipped vehicle when the mirror mount is attached to the attachment element at the interior of the equipped vehicle. The mirror assembly includes a video camera disposed at the base portion, and the video camera has, when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, a field of view towards the windshield of the equipped vehicle. The base portion of the interior rearview mirror assembly encompasses a rain sensor when the mirror mount of the mirror assembly is attached to the attachment element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan E. DeLine, Roger L. Veldman, Niall R. Lynam