Patents Examined by Sandra L. O'Shea
  • Patent number: 7736033
    Abstract: A lamp base having an electrical device recharging receptacle configured to receive a plug from a recharging device for a portable rechargeable electronic device. The receptacle is configured as a standard automobile cigarette lighter receptacle. The receptacle includes standard cigarette lighter receptacle electrical contacts that are connected to a voltage and current conversion circuit for receiving standard household voltage and converting it into standard automotive voltage and current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Bharat Patel
  • Patent number: 7736009
    Abstract: This invention describes a hinged dust pan comprising a light source that is designed to illuminate a floor or other flat work surface in front of the dustpan for the purpose of locating and collecting small hard to see objects. This can be for the purpose of cleaning or simply locating a small valuable object. The light source is fashioned such that it provides a very low grazing angle of illumination that it skims across a surface. Small objects or particles are visible as being brighter than the surroundings and set off by a long shadow on the side of the particle away from the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Richard J. Quattrini
  • Patent number: 7736028
    Abstract: A light source apparatus comprising a lamp having a light emitting portion of generating light, a first concave mirror having a first opening provided on a light-using side on which the generated light is used and a second opening provided on an opposite side to the light-using side and having the light emitting portion of the lamp placed inside, and a second concave mirror having a predetermined size to reflect on the light emitting portion side of the lamp the light which comes or should come out of the second opening and placed at a predetermined position in relation to a position at which the second opening is provided, and wherein the size of the second opening is provided so that an amount of the used light becomes substantially maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Yusaku Shimaoka
  • Patent number: 7736031
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved lightbulb housing installed inside of a canister transversely affixed to a ceiling plate of a ceiling fixture, wherein the lightbulb used is a plug-in fluorescent lightbulb and the visual effect is modified to cause the visual effect to simulate a reflector lightbulb. The lightbulb housing comprises a hollow reflector, a frosted and translucent lens, and a top hollow cylindrical ring cover which receives a translucent lens. The hollow cylindrical ring cover is attached to the reflector and incorporates means by which it is attached to the interior of the canister. The frosted and translucent lens is sandwiched between a transverse interior shelf on the ring cover and the top of the reflector. A plug-in fluorescent lightbulb is installed into an electric plug within the canister of the ceiling fixture, however, because of the translucent and frosted lens, the plug-in fluorescent lightbulb is concealed and lighting effect simulates a reflector lightbulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Hamid Rashidi
  • Patent number: 7736021
    Abstract: A high performance, efficiency compact optical light beam and modifier system with reduced artifacts is presented. The design may incorporate a spiral entrance aperture with corresponding spiral masks where modification is accomplished by rotating the masks about the central axis relative to the entrance aperture. Light recapture or complex, continuous optics may be employed to increase the optical efficiency, reduce the physical dimensions, integrate condensing, or image projection functions in a reduced number of optical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Dennis J Solomon
  • Patent number: 7736042
    Abstract: Provided is a back light unit. The back light unit includes a light guide plate having a light guide pattern part; at least one light emitting unit provided at a sidewall of the light guide plate, and irradiating light to the light guide plate; a keypad positioned over the light guide plate, and comprising a resin layer, a base resin layer, a character opening part having a character shape, a key assembly provided at one side, and a key adherence film provided on an upper surface of the base resin layer; and a printed circuit board comprising a metal dome switch positioned under a lower surface of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: LS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Deuk II Park, Choong Yop Rhew, Ki Yong Balk, Young Jin Hyun, Jun Kyu Lee, Hyun Jung Cho, Kyu Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 7736043
    Abstract: Light emitting assemblies include a light emitting panel member having at least one light input surface for receiving light from at least one light source and a pattern of deformities that vary on or in at least one surface to cause light to be emitted from the panel member. At least a portion of the light input surface may have faceted reflective or refractive surfaces or a lens array in close proximity to each light source for maximizing or otherwise changing the light emitted from each light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeffery R. Parker
  • Patent number: 7736023
    Abstract: A multiparameter lighting apparatus is disclosed that allows an operator of a central controller to remotely choose a first rotation of a selected gobo of the multiparameter lighting apparatus. The first rotation is typically a substantially smooth rotation. A second rotation can also be chosen, wherein the second rotation causes an animation of the selected gobo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: BARCO Lightning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Belliveau, David K. Peck
  • Patent number: 7736037
    Abstract: A projector assembly having a light source and a reflector body positioned proximately to the light source for reflecting light forward along an axis of the projector assembly. Mounted to the reflector body is a lens. The lens is in front of and at a distance from the light source to focus the light into a beam pattern. An actuator is mounted to the reflector body and includes a pair of rotatable shafts extending from opposing ends along an axis that is perpendicular to and below the axis of the projector assembly. A light shield is mounted onto the rotatable shafts of the actuator and is rotatable between a first position, wherein substantially all of the light below the axis of the projector assembly is blocked, and a second position, wherein at least a portion of the light below the axis of the projector assembly is allowed to project forward through the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Libor Losak, Vladimir Dobrus, Jiri Kopenec
  • Patent number: 7731408
    Abstract: A system in at least some embodiments comprises a housing containing a processor and a base coupled and supporting the housing. The housing comprises a slot adapted to receive a removable template. A slot is provided within the housing. The slot is adapted to receive a removable template. The housing also comprises a light source that shines through the template on to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Szolyga, Ashwin V. Lodhia, Mark C. Solomon
  • Patent number: 7731409
    Abstract: An illumination device for use in display devices produces a spatial pattern of light at different wavelengths using multiple light sources and waveguides. Each light source emits light at a different wavelength. The waveguides define optical apertures that are spatially arranged in a predetermined pattern, and each waveguide is optically coupled to one of the light sources to produce the spatial pattern of light at wavelengths corresponding to the predetermined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ken A. Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7731400
    Abstract: A lighting or signaling device for a motor vehicle which is capable of emitting a linear beam in the direction of an optical axis and which comprises a point light source that emits light rays radially around a source; a light ray guiding plate; wherein the light guiding plate is shaped so that the light rays generally propagate in incident propagation planes normal to the plate between the light source and the reflection edge and in reflected propagation planes normal to the plate between the reflection edge and the output edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Christophe Dubosc, Antoine De Lamberterie
  • Patent number: 7731391
    Abstract: An illumination system includes an illumination source such as an array of LED's over which is provided a diffuser. The illumination source provides light which, because of light refraction, radiates generally uniformly from edge to edge of the diffuser. The diffuser may be a planar flat piece of may include a hollow, cup like structure formed by a frame with a cover. The illumination system may be scaled up to provide multiple such illumination devices side by side to provide a greater area or strength of illumination. Multiple systems may utilize multiple diffusers or a single diffuser covering multiple illumination sources. The illumination source may be mounted to a backplate or heatsink which is larger than the illumination source to facilitate the addition of further electronic circuitry and or mounting capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Microscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Messina, Sheila Bergeron Dunn
  • Patent number: 7731387
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting device (1) comprising a lighting unit (2) and a user interface (3) for controlling the lighting color and/or intensity of the lighting unit (2). The user interface (3) comprises a physical object (4), which is shaped as a polyhedron, for instance a cube. Orienting the physical object (4), i.e. choosing which side is up, serves to select the color, and rotating the physical object (4) about the side on which it rests serves to change the intensity setting. The user interface (3) generates an output signal, which is the input for a processing unit (9). This processing unit (9) converts this signal into a driving signal suitable for controlling the lighting unit (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Hubertus Maria Rene Cortenraad, Anthonie Hendrik Bergman, Elmo Marcus Attila Diederiks, Martijn Adrianus Bernardus Santbergen
  • Patent number: 7731406
    Abstract: A backlight assembly and an LCD having the same are disclosed to prevent wrinklings of optical sheets due to close contact of optical sheets or prism sheets. The backlight assembly includes multiple optical sheets disposed between a light guiding plate and a display unit, for the diffusion of light, collection of light and securing of horizontal viewing angle. The front surface or the rear surface of each of the optical sheets each has an embossing structure or a matte structure to decrease a contact area between the multiple optical sheets and to minimize frictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-Hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 7731405
    Abstract: A side-emission type light-emitting diode including: a first substrate having a concavity formed in one of side surfaces of the first substrate, the concavity including an inner surface which is configured to be a first reflecting surface; an LED-element-mounting board of thin plate shape, arranged on the lower surface of the first substrate, the board configured to close the concavity at the lower surface of the first substrate; an LED element mounted on the board and arranged in the concavity; and a light-transmitting resin filled in the concavity and configured to seal the LED element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsunori Ishizaka, Teppei Takano, Junji Miyashita
  • Patent number: 7731407
    Abstract: A display device includes: a light source; a light guide plate including a first plate surface that emits light incident from the light source, a second plate surface other than the first plate surface, and at least two protruding portions formed on the second plate surface; a light source board including the light source arranged thereon, the light source board arranged on the second plate surface; and an optical sheet including a first sheet surface arranged to face the first plate surface, a second sheet surface arranged to face the light source board, and at least two protruding portions formed on the second sheet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ito, Masayuki Kawano
  • Patent number: 7726858
    Abstract: A vehicle light can include a plurality of light projection units each having a replaceable LED lamp, a reflector unit, a projection lens, and a shielding member. A housing can be provided that includes a lens and a rear side part, with the housing configured to accommodate the light projection units. The rear side part can include a mounting opening therethrough with a base plate configured to be hermetically attached to the housing through the mounting opening of the rear side part. The replaceable LED lamp can be attached to the base plate, and an elastic connecting member can be configured to hermetically connect the housing and the base plate so that the LED lamps can be individually replaced. Since the LED lamps can be individually replaced, untrained persons can carry out the replacement operation. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the replacement cost and time as well as improve the rate of operation of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Sato, Yasuyo Ikeda, Qi Jing, Satoshi Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 7726868
    Abstract: A spread illuminating apparatus of side light type includes a transparent resin plate integrally composed of a light conductor plate portion and a housing frame portion, a light reflecting sheet, and a light source, wherein an opening for housing the light source is provided at a side portion of the transparent resin plate, slits are provided along a boundary between the light conductor plate portion and the housing frame portion, and wherein a gate for injecting resin into a molding die cavity for the transparent resin plate is positioned outside the boundary of the light conductor plate portion and the housing frame portion and is positioned also between the opening and one of slits which are provided toward the side portion of the transparent resin plate having the opening and which are located clear of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Terada, Motoji Egawa, Akinobu Sano
  • Patent number: 7726863
    Abstract: A medical handle device having an illumination apparatus with at least one optical semiconductor component and a method for manufacturing such a hand-held device are displayed. It is proposed that in order to adapt the hand-held device to the specific requirements of a medical application such as uniformly high light emission, high mechanical resistance, sterilizability and electric safety, the illumination apparatus is provided with a base body, at least one blind hole arranged in the base body, a light-emitting window which is formed by the part of the base body extending from the bottom of the blind hole to the first end of the base body and is connected to a cover device which is connected to the base body and with which the blind hole forms a hermetically sealed interior, whereby the at least one optical semiconductor component is arranged in the hermetically sealed interior and the base body and the cover device are made of an electrically non-conducting material that can withstand sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: W&H Dentalwerk Bürmoos GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Brandstaetter, Anton Schalda, Wolfgang Wendtner