Patents Examined by Ronald E. Delgizzi
  • Patent number: 6431738
    Abstract: An automobile signal lamp having at least one light emitting unit including a light source whose main light emitting direction substantially agrees with the irradiation axis of the automobile signal lamp, a first reflecting surface corresponding to at least irradiation direction side half of a parabolic reflecting surface obtained by rotating around said irradiation axis a parabola taking said light source as focal point, and a direction orthogonal to said irradiation axis of the automobile signal lamp as central line, and a second reflecting surface separated from said irradiation axis by a convenient distance respectively in the reflection direction of said first reflecting surface, disposed radially not to interfere each other, and reflecting light from said first reflecting surface in a direction parallel to said irradiation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kondo, Hidetaka Okada
  • Patent number: 6431727
    Abstract: This specification discloses an illuminating device in which lights emitted from a plurality of light sources are made into substantially parallel lights and are made to enter a lens array system, and illumination is effected by the lights from the lens array system, characterized in that an optical system in which the action of compressing the incident light in the direction of arrangement of the plurality of light sources is greater than the action of compressing the incident light in a direction perpendicular thereto is provided between the light sources and the lens array system. The specification also discloses a projection type display apparatus including such illuminating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Saburo Sugawara, Atsushi Okuyama
  • Patent number: 6431724
    Abstract: The invention is a bag having a glow stick incorporated into the hem of the bag. The glow stick is horizontal and extends across the majority of the bag's width. It provides a light source without an independent power source and makes the bag visible from a great distance in the dark. In this way, a driver will see the light of the bag and know that a person carrying the bag is also present. In such a way, the safety of the user is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas A. Tedham, Juli K. Tedham, Diane S. Brown
  • Patent number: 6428195
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is equipped with a shade driving unit 24 for moving a movable shade 22, which is capable of shading part of light incident on a reflector 20 from the discharge light emitting portion 18a of a discharge bulb 18, between at least two positions where the incident light is shed in different degrees. The discharge bulb 18 is fixedly supported by the reflector 30 via a bulb supporting base 26 and the movable shade 22 and the shade driving unit 24 are fitted to the bulb supporting base 26. Thus, the light source bulb 18, the movable shade 22 and the shade driving unit 24 together with the bulb supporting base 26 can be operated integrally as a unit. The unit is prefabricated before being fitted to the reflector 20 to facilitate the assembling of the lamp. Moreover, the precision of placement of the movable shade 22 with respect to the discharge light emitting portion 18a can also be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohiko Ohshio, Michio Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 6428192
    Abstract: An adjustable front lamp assembled between a tube and a handlebar of a bicycle. The lamp has a stem having a chamber defined therein, and a battery seat received in the chamber. A cover is provided on a top of the stem and has a bar laterally formed on an inner face of a front end thereof. A lamp seat is movably assembled on the front end of the stem. The lamp seat includes an upper housing and a lower housing, and has a lamp switch provided therein and electrically connected with the battery seat. The upper housing has a tongue extending between the cover and the stem, and a lamp button provided at a top face thereof and engaged with the lamp switch. An illuminating member is assembled in the lamp seat and electrically connected with the lamp switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Pao-Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 6425680
    Abstract: A unitary reflector trim to shield a viewer's line of sight past a lamp into a lighting fixture, eliminating the material and assembly expense of additional components. Included in the reflector trim are a cylindrical socket cup receiving neck which transitions into a waist section having a smaller diameter than the neck. A reflector section transitions from the waist section. A trim ring extends from the base of the reflector section to cover the edges of a ceiling opening. All of the elements are integral with each other, forming a single piece reflector trim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC
    Inventors: Graham M. Rippel, Mark O. Jones
  • Patent number: 6422713
    Abstract: An optical element, a lighting system utilizing the optical element and a method of manipulating light from a source to provide an illumination pattern suitable for use in a night vision system and exterior lighting applications is disclosed. The optical element has an input surface and an output surface disposed at approximately perpendicular to the input surface. A stepped surface angles between the input surface and the output surface intersecting the light inside the optical element. Multiple facets are formed in the stepped surface to reflect the light towards the output surface. The input, stepped and output surfaces are arranged such that the light reflects only from the stepped surface. The optical element has a rectangular shape in one embodiment and a wedge shape in a second embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Fohl, Jeffrey Thomas Remillard, Willes H. Weber
  • Patent number: 6424083
    Abstract: A field emission device (100) includes a cathode (110) and a ballast resistor (112) connected to cathode (110). Ballast resistor (112) includes a thin metallic layer (113) and a protective layer (114) disposed on metallic layer (113). Metallic layer (113) is made from chromium and has a thickness of about 40 angstroms. Protective layer (114) is made from sputtered silicon and has a thickness of about 500 angstroms. A portion of metallic layer (113) makes physical contact with cathode (110) and is sandwiched between cathode (110) and protective layer (114). Protective layer (114) is positioned to shield metallic layer (113) from high transient voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Tam, Ganming Qin, Barry P. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6411023
    Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus performs processing such-as a pattern depiction with a charged beam within a process chamber evacuated to a high vacuum by an ion pump. The vacuum processing apparatus, which makes it possible to prevent the accuracy of the charged beam pattern depiction from being deteriorated by ions and electrons leaking from the ion pump, has a conductor and a voltage applying unit. The conductor is arranged in the vicinity of the suction port of the process chamber communicating with the ion pump such that the conductor is electrically insulated from the process chamber. The voltage applying unit imparts a potential differing from that of the process chamber to the conductor. Because of the potential difference between the conductor and the process chamber, the ions and electrons leaking from the ion pump are reflected or adsorbed by the conductor so as to suppress leakage of the ions and electrons into the process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhito Ogura, Ryoichi Hirano, Toru Tojo
  • Patent number: 6406172
    Abstract: A headlamp (2; 3) of a vehicle (1) has a light source (4; 5) comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14), preferably light-emitting diodes (LEDs). At least one of these opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14) has, in operation, a luminous flux of 5 lm or higher. According to the invention, the spatial distribution of the light beam (6, 6′, . . . ; 7, 7′, . . . ) generated by the light source (4; 5) is continuously adjustable. Preferably, the light source (4; 5) comprises opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14) only. Preferably, the spatial distribution is influenced by the speed of the vehicle (1), the rotational position of the steering wheel of the vehicle (1), the weather conditions, and it can also be influenced by the driver of the vehicle (1). Preferably, the spectral characteristics of the light beam (6, 6′, . . . ; 7, 7′, . . . ) generated by the light source (4; 5) depend on the position in the light beam (6, 6′, . . . ; 7, 7′, . . . ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Simon H. A. Begemann
  • Patent number: 6402356
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp having a body, a lens, a first light source, a reflector, and a second light source. The body has a front face, a side, and an opening face, wherein the opening face is curved from the front face to the side. The lens covers the opening face of the body. A lighting chamber is defined by the body and the lens. The first light source and the reflector are arranged in the lighting chamber. The reflector includes a front side for reflecting the rays of the first light source substantially in the front direction, and also includes a reverse side. The second light source is arranged adjacent the reverse side of the reflector so that rays of the second light source are reflected by the reverse side of the reflector and are irradiated substantially to the side of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Gotou
  • Patent number: 6402354
    Abstract: A direct lighting unit fits in opposition to an opening of a roof of a vehicle's cabin so as to illuminate a light directly the cabin. An indirect lighting unit is disposed around the outer circumference of the direct lighting unit. The indirect lighting unit contains a plurality of LEDs disposed at fixed intervals so as to emit light outward. The LEDs are controlled to indirectly illuminate the roof. When the direct lighting unit is mounted to the roof, a fixing piece supports a grooved edge portion of the indirect lighting unit so that the indirect lighting unit is immovably held between the fixing piece and the roof. Thus, the direct and indirect lighting units are simultaneously secured to the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Tatewaki, Tadanobu Iwasa, Osamu Yamanaka, Hiroshi Sugihara, Akihiro Misawa, Tetsuo Tanabe, Takao Mukogawa
  • Patent number: 6398397
    Abstract: A pool lighting apparatus including a sealed lens assembly attached to a light emitting end of a fiber optic cable. The sealed lens assembly is installed into a standard pool wall fixture and is provided with redundant seals for preventing the passage of water there between. A glass lens is provided to be either flat or convex to provide the desired field of lighting. One or more removable protective covers may be applied to the lens to provide a desired color effect within the pool. A metal cutting ring is disposed about the fiber optic cable within the sealed lens assembly to provide a flat surface for guiding a cutting tool for forming a planer light emitting end on fiber optic cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Super Vision International, Inc.
    Inventor: Pinhas Paul Koren
  • Patent number: 6398386
    Abstract: A decorative structure including a crab-eye style lamp without a lamp holder, has a lamp bulb on a bottom surface connected with a pair of conductors separated and positioned by means of an insulation block. A thin sleeve is combined by heat shrinking with a connecting area between the exposed conductor sections of the lamp bulb and the conductors sections. A light penetrable decoration member of any of various configurations has a positioning hole in communication with the outside and extending into the decoration member for a predetermined depth. The crab-eye style lamp completely enters the positioning hole of the decoration member to provide a safer structure and a more attractive decorative effect when the lamp bulb is illuminated and shining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Shining Blick Enterprises Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter K. H. Huang
  • Patent number: 6386729
    Abstract: The apparatus disclosed and claimed herein comprises an outdoor lighting fixture having a post extending down into the ground, with a short length of the post extending up above the ground. A lighting fixture, which receives a lamp, is disposed on the upper rim of the ground post. An upper post or lens diffuser is in turn disposed on the fixture, and an outer post housing is disposed over or about the ground post, the fixture, and the upper post or lens diffuser. A lens is appropriately secured to the upper post and lens diffuser and to the outer post housing. If desired, the ground post may be disposed on the surface of the ground or on a hard surface, such as a deck, or the like. Moreover, a weed guard and stabilizer cylindrical element may be disposed about the housing and on the ground to help prevent inadvertent damage from lawn care equipment, inadvertent bumping, and the like. The fixture, of course, may use a compact fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, or any other desired light emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: Michael L. Bober
  • Patent number: 6382821
    Abstract: A flexible and ornamental vehicle light cover comprises a flexible piece of sheet material with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer applied to a back surface for bonding the sheet to a vehicle lens that surrounds one of the lamps e.g., an electric tail lamp of the vehicle. The sheet material has an outline depicting a design or symbol that can be seen by an observer whether the light is on or off. The sheet has the multiplicity of punched openings in it to enable light from the vehicle lamp to pass through the sheet for preventing an unacceptable reduction in the luminous flux provided by the vehicle lamp. The sheet is thus able to be applied to the vehicle lens over the lamp by pressing the sheet onto the lens so as to intercept and block no more than the predetermined fraction of the luminous flux impinging thereon while serving to decorate the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Excel Products Inc.
    Inventors: Cecelia M. Heyer, Beth M. Jerde
  • Patent number: 6371627
    Abstract: A cold cathode tube having a fluorescent material coated along the inner wall thereof and the tube being filled with a small amount of gas, characterized in that the inner wall of the tube is coated with a ultra-violet ray reflective film capable of reflecting ultra-violet light, and the light emission surface at the inner side of the ultra-violet light reflective film does not coat with a fluorescent material, and the remaining region of the light emission surface at the outer wall is coated with a visible light-reflective layer. In addition, the length of the parallel section of the tube can be extended to increase lighting area, and thus the efficiency of light energy output is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Radiant Opto-Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hsiu-Wen Chen, Kazuhiro Miyashita
  • Patent number: 6367946
    Abstract: An accessory lighting assembly for selectively illuminating user selected areas such as, for example, compact computer devices, books and other desired areas. The light source is directed away from user selected area for illumination and a reflective surface is selectively positionable to intercept the light emanating from the light source and re-direct it toward the user selected area. The directing of the light away from the user selected area for illumination and subsequent reflecting back toward the user selected area results in an evenly diffused light being applied to the user selected area, while completely eliminating the otherwise experienced hot spots or dark spots common in prior art accessory light assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Arista Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Leifer, Gabe Neiser
  • Patent number: 6361189
    Abstract: An operating theater luminaire having at least two discharge lamps, which can be switched on and off, can be started and alternatively can be switched on by means of a starting device, and illuminate an operating area via optical means, in particular at least one reflector. A plurality of, in particular two discharge lamps, equipped with individual starting devices, of different powers are provided, as a result of which the intensity of illumination in the operating area can be varied when switching over from one discharge lamp to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Gebrueder Berchtold GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Manfred Scholz
  • Patent number: 6361195
    Abstract: A reflective surface 10a of a reflector 1 in a vehicle lamp is formed in such a way that a free-formed surface 20 is created as a basic shape so as to satisfy light uniformity out of functional conditions and thin shape as a shape condition and that a reflective surface element 14 created so as to satisfy light diffusibility out of the functional conditions and transparency as an appearance condition is assigned to each of segments obtained by dividing the free-formed surface 20 into an array pattern. Particularly, the free-formed surface 20 or the reflective surface 10a is created so that luminous exitances M specified in a direction along the optical axis satisfy the condition of Mmax/Mmin≦6, whereby the above conditions can be suitably substantiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Natsume