Patents Examined by Renee Chavez
  • Patent number: 9557024
    Abstract: A light guide for an optical device, notably for lighting and/or signaling, comprising: at least one light output portion having a top face and a bottom face linked together by a light output rim, at least one collimation subassembly suitable for receiving light emitted by a light source and for directing at least a part of this light toward the light output portion, the collimation subassembly having a top face and a bottom face linked together by a rim, and a coupling portion coupling the light output portion to the subassembly, the coupling portion having a top face and a bottom face, the bottom and top faces of the collimation subassembly extend substantially in mutually parallel planes, and in that the top face of the coupling portion and at least one of the top face of the collimation subassembly and of the top face of the light output portion meet at an edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Sylvain Giraud
  • Patent number: 9554125
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to a stereoscopic projection system and methods. An exemplary disclosed projection system includes an optical component disposed between the lenses of a lens arrangement. An exemplary lens arrangement includes a first power group, a second power group, and an aperture stop. In an embodiment, the optical component is disposed between the first power group and the aperture stop. In an exemplary embodiment, the optical component is proximate to the aperture stop. By disposing the optical component closer to or proximate to the aperture stop in the lens arrangement, various benefits may be realized, including improved contrast uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Miller H. Schuck, Michael G. Robinson, Gary D. Sharp
  • Patent number: 9546768
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a lamp unit including a light source and being disposed inside a lamp outer casing, an actuator including a drive shaft and being detachable from a certain portion, a joint including a coupling portion and being detachable from the lamp unit, the coupling portion being coupled to the drive shaft in a state in which the joint is attached to the lamp unit. The lamp unit includes a plurality of unit configuration portions including the light source. The lamp unit is formed with a communication space which opens at least downward. At least one of the unit configuration portions can be removed at least downward through the communication space in a state in which the actuator has been detached from the certain portion and the joint has been detached from the lamp unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kikuchi, Teppei Muramatsu, Masayuki Kondo, Shigeru Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 9541241
    Abstract: A lamp comprises an optically transmissive enclosure and a base. An LED assembly is located in the enclosure and is operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base. The LED assembly comprises an LED and a lumophoric dome that surrounds the LED. A partially reflective pad is on the lumophoric dome for manipulating the pattern of light emitted from the lumophoric dome. A heat sink comprises a heat dissipating portion that is at least partially exposed to the ambient environment and a heat conducting portion that is thermally coupled to the LED. An optically transmissive lens emits light from the enclosure where the lens comprises an annular area defined by a textured surface and a transparent area interior of the annular area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Pickard, Elizabeth Rodgers
  • Patent number: 9541270
    Abstract: An integral LED light fixture for installation in an incandescent light bulb socket includes a housing with a forwardly-extending portion and peripheral outer walls defining a recess, a rearwardly-extending socket base to be screwed into an incandescent light bulb socket, electrical components having an LED driver component, a driver cover and a printed circuit board having a set of LED bulbs and an orifice for receiving the central portion of the housing, which are nested into a compact set of electrical components, and a lens for covering the printed circuit board and being attached to the housing. The integral LED flight fixture cover can also be installed in a junction box. An AC version is also provided which lacks the driver component and the driver cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ETi Solid State Lighting Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Van Winkle
  • Patent number: 9533615
    Abstract: An interior door trim component for an automotive vehicle. The door trim component includes a main body having an exterior surface for facing the interior of the vehicle and a door pull configured to allow for pulling thereon and closing of the door of the vehicle. The door pull is spaced apart from the main body by a distance that allows the fingers of a vehicle occupant's hand to extend into the area between the door pull and the main body. A light emitting assembly is mounted adjacent to the door pull and is oriented to emitt light in a direction away from the door pull and toward the exterior surface of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua L. Moberg, Nicholas K. Middleton
  • Patent number: 9535157
    Abstract: A proximity sensor includes a radiation source configured to emit a primary radiation beam and a primary detector configured to pick up a reflected primary radiation beam. The radiation source is further configured to emit stray radiation. The sensor further includes a reference detector arranged to receive the stray radiation. The stray radiation may, for example, be emitted from either a side of the radiation source or a bottom of the radiation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Adam Caley, Pierre-Jean Parodi-Keravec, Olivier Le Briz, Sandrine Lhostis
  • Patent number: 9534768
    Abstract: A light convergence module with a heat dissipation function is revealed. It comprises a substrate, an assembling unit, a light convergence lampshade, and a heat sink, wherein the assembling unit with a first surface assembling to the substrate and a second surface assembling to the light convergence lampshade comprises a locating block and a plurality of position limiting blocks for respectively engaging with a locating slot and a plurality of position limiting slots of the substrate, and two buckles for correspondingly clasping two concave slots of the substrate to limit the substrate in position, and wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of interspaces formed between every two adjacent heat dissipation fins for securing the buckles of the assembling unit and allowing the heat sink to closely dispose on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Kuo-Chin Huang
  • Patent number: 9534936
    Abstract: A reference signal generation circuit generates a reference signal from a reading result of the reference point detection pattern. The first light-receiving element array includes a first light-receiving element that outputs a first signal, and a second light-receiving element that is disposed in a first direction of the first light-receiving element and outputs a second signal. A second light-receiving element array includes a third light-receiving element that outputs a third signal, and a fourth light-receiving element that is disposed in the first direction of the third light-receiving element and outputs a fourth signal. The second light-receiving element array is disposed in a second direction of the first light-receiving element array. The reference signal generation circuit outputs a reference signal that starts at a period when levels of the first and second signal become equal and ends at a period when levels of the third and fourth signal become equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihide Kimura
  • Patent number: 9535285
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a direct-type backlight module and a display apparatus. The direct-type backlight module may comprise: a backplane; a plurality of LED lamps distributed in an array which are positioned on the backplane; a diffusion plate above the plurality of LED lamps; and multiple optical fibers connecting two adjacent LED lamps of the plurality of LED lamps, each optical fiber being provided with a plurality of light transmission openings distributed at intervals towards the diffusion plate along its extension direction. Wherein part of light emitted from each LED lamp can be propagated along the optical fiber and transmitted to the diffusion plate via the light transmission openings. The direct-type backlight module directs part of the light emitted from the LED lamps through the plurality of light transmission openings to the diffusion plate using the optical fibers, which changes the LED lamps in the form of point light sources into area light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE VISION-ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiao Zhang, Jianmin He
  • Patent number: 9534934
    Abstract: A measurement system (22) for measuring the position of a work piece (28) along a first axis includes a grating (234), and an encoder head (238) that directs a first measurement beam (240) at the grating (234) at a first angle, and directs a second measurement beam (242) at the grating (234) at a second angle. An absolute value of the first angle relative to a normal (244) of the grating (234) is different from an absolute value of the second angle relative to the normal (244) of the grating (234). Additionally, the first measurement beam (240) has a first wavelength, and the second measurement beam (242) has a second wavelength that can be different from the first wavelength. Further, the first measurement beam (240) and the second measurement beam (242) can impinge at approximately the same location on the grating (234).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eric Peter Goodwin
  • Patent number: 9528690
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to suppress uneven brightness in the lighting device. The lighting device according to this invention includes LEDs 17, an LED board 18, a chassis 14, a reflection sheet 22, an optical member 15, a supporting pin 20, and a rivet 21. The reflection sheet 22 has a supporting pin through hole 22a and a rivet through hole 22b. The supporting pin 20 is mounted to the chassis 14 through the supporting pin through holes 22a. The supporting pin 20 supports the optical member 15. The rivet 21 is mounted to the chassis 14 through the rivet through hole 22b. The reflection sheet 22 has an opening 23. The opening 23 is arranged adjacent to or close to any one of the supporting pin through hole 22a and the rivet through hole 22b. The LED board 18 has a colored portion 24 arranged thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Kamata
  • Patent number: 9523470
    Abstract: A simulated flame structure comprises a bracket, a simulated flame element, a first magnetic element and a light-emitting element. The bracket is formed with a position limiting hole. The simulated flame element is restricted in the position limiting hole through a position limiting portion. The first magnetic element is disposed on the simulated flame element. The light-emitting element is disposed on the bracket and outputs light toward the simulated flame element. By magnetic attractive actions between the first magnetic element and a metal element in the position limiting hole, the simulated flame element may be suspended in the position limiting hole and naturally swing relatively to the bracket, thereby achieving visual effects of optimized flame combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Inventor: Wen-Cheng Lai
  • Patent number: 9523797
    Abstract: Provided are a microlens array film and a display device including the same. The microlens array film includes a first transparent electrode and a second transparent electrode facing each other and a flexible polymer layer placed between the first and the second transparent electrodes. Lenses may be freely deformed by regulating voltages applied to the first and second transparent electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sung Ryul Yun, Ki-Uk Kyung, Suntak Park, Bong Je Park, Young Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 9515475
    Abstract: An electro-optical (EO) radiation collector for collecting and/or transmitting EO radiation (which may include EO radiation in the visible wavelengths) for transmission to an EO sensor. The EO radiation collector may be used with an arc flash detection device or other protective system, such as an intelligent electronic device (IED). The arc flash detection device may detect an arc flash event based upon EO radiation collected by and/or transmitted from the EO radiation collector. The EO radiation collector may receive an EO conductor cable, an end of which may be configured to receive EO radiation. A portion of the EO radiation received by the EO radiation collector may be transmitted into the EO conductor cable and transmitted to the arc flash detection device. The EO radiation collector may be adapted to receive a second EO conductor cable, which may be used to provide redundant EO transmission and/or self-test capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Kesler, Douglas M. Trout, Gary W. Scheer
  • Patent number: 9512994
    Abstract: Provided is a fire rated or resistant recessed lighting assembly including a metal housing inside of which a lighting unit is placed, the housing being fire resistant for 120 minutes when tested according ASTM E119-12a without a protective fire resistant cover on outside of the housing. The fire resistant recessed lighting assembly can include a metal housing inside of which a light is placed and one or both of: i) an object made of a fire resistant material, such as an intumescent material, placed inside of the housing in between a trim and a closed end of the housing; and ii) an ring made of a fire resistant material, such as an intumescent material, placed outside of the housing, wherein in event of a fire, the intumescent material expands to slow spread of the fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Hamid Rashidi Doust
  • Patent number: 9515112
    Abstract: Within examples, devices and methods for providing optical element field of view functionality by providing an optical element into and out of an optical receiving path are described. In one example, a device is provided that comprises an imager die having an optical receiving path, and an actuator coupled to an optical element and configured to cause a change in a position of the optical element into and out of the optical receiving path of the imager die. The actuator is configured to cause the change in the position of the optical element to change a given field of view setting of the device. In some examples, a device may be configured to include dual-setting field of view functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Roman Lewkow
  • Patent number: 9512984
    Abstract: A replacement lamp for an airport runway sign. Light is produced by a linear array of white-light LEDs. A cylindrical lens is mounted longitudinally adjacent to the LEDs, and collects a central portion of the light emitted from the LEDs. A pair of inclined surfaces extend from the lateral edges of the LEDs to respective lateral edges of the cylindrical lens. The inclined surfaces have a rough surface texture and reflect light diffusely. The inclined surfaces collect a peripheral portion of the light emitted from the LEDs, and direct the reflected light toward the cylindrical lens. The LEDs, cylindrical lens and inclined surfaces are all mechanically supported by a heat sink. The replacement lamp is placed into a runway sign near its top or bottom edge, and illuminates both viewing surfaces of the runway sign simultaneously without a diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Tessnow, Kim Albright, Ronald E. Boyd, Jr., Aaron Plaza
  • Patent number: 9507049
    Abstract: An object detection method comprises transmitting a plurality of signals from a transmitter into a region; measuring a plurality of signals, each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of the transmitted signals, received by a sensor; determining whether each of the plurality of received signals satisfies a condition (such as that a received signal is above a threshold level for indicating that an object is located in the region, or below a threshold level for indicating that an object is not located in the region); determining whether noise of at least a threshold amount is present; and determining whether an object is located within the region depending on whether at least a number of received signals meet the condition, the number being different when noise of at least a threshold amount is determined to be present than not present. For example, the required number of received signals that meet the condition when noise is present can be higher than when noise is absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: BANNER ENGINEERING
    Inventors: John Alyn Stecker, Keith Donald Carlsten, David Steven Anderson
  • Patent number: 9507135
    Abstract: A super-resolution microscope includes a modulation optical element (10) that is disposed in an illumination optical system along a light path traveled by first illumination light and second illumination light and spatially modulates the second illumination light. In the modulation optical element (10), a plurality of optical substrates exhibiting anisotropy in a refractive index distribution are joined in a coplanar manner, and at least two of the optical substrates have a different refractive index with respect to a polarization direction of the second illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Iketaki