Patents Examined by Sandra O'Shea
-
Patent number: 7503673Abstract: A light source module including: at least one lighting seat bodies equipped with light-emitting diodes, the light-emitting diodes being connected with a lighting circuit, whereby after the lighting circuit is closed, the light-emitting diodes are driven and lighted; and a light guide medium, at least one face of the light guide medium being defined as an incident face right facing light-projecting faces of the light-emitting diodes. A back face of the light guide medium is printed with multiple reflective sections. The light coming into the light guide medium is reflected by the reflective sections to a front face of the light guide medium and goes out from the front face.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Beauty Up Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hsien-Chung Chou
-
Patent number: 7503670Abstract: A novelty flashlight in the form of a sparkplug, with a set of LEDs (or other appropriate light emitting devices) included in the conventional “spark” emitting end of the plug. A battery source and micro-controller are included within the sparkplug housing and used to turn the LEDs “on” and “off”. In particular, the LEDs may be controlled to strobe at a rate that simulates the actual sparking of an automotive sparkplug. Alternatively, the pulsing of the LEDs may be fast enough such that the LEDs appear to be always “on”. An activation button is included on the outer housing the sparkplug for a user to control the operation of the flashlight.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Inventor: Tobi D. Mengle
-
Patent number: 7503685Abstract: Illumination unit UT is used for the illumination of an LCD panel 1 from the rear side of the LCD panel 1. Illumination unit UT includes light source 2, rear cover 6 to cover light source 2 and resin frame 7 assembled with rear cover 6. Resin frame 7 is provided with stopper 73 and rib 74 disposed to restrict the movement of stopper 73 perpendicularly to rib 74. Rear cover 6 has first and second apertures 64 and 65 provided correspondingly to receive stopper 73 and rib 74, respectively. Resin frame 7 and rear cover 6 are assembled with each other by the engagement of stopper 73 and rib 74 with first and second apertures 64 and 65, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshihiko Ura, Yoshinori Yasuda, Makoto Shimizu, Hiromi Kaneda
-
Patent number: 7500765Abstract: A light fixture allows individual light bulbs to be arranged in compact fashion to maximize the number of bulbs per given area in the fixture. To facilitate replacement or exchange of the bulbs, the bulbs are mounted in alternating succession on a pair of separately movable supports, reorientation of which serves to remove the bulbs from the tight packed arrangement, to one in which the bulbs are sufficiently separated from one another to allow hand access for removal and installation of the bulbs. A distinct aspect of the aforementioned feature of the invention independent of the movable supports resides in the ability to utilize two of more of the fixtures to multiply the light produced. Advantageously, the fixtures can be arranged in direct physical series, side by side, or to form an array extending in orthogonal directions.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2006Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Inventor: Lawrence I. Wechsler
-
Patent number: 7500769Abstract: A front lighting device for a vehicle includes a speed detection unit for detecting a vehicle speed, a steering angle detection unit for detecting a steering angle, and a swivel angle determination unit. The swivel angle determination unit determines a swivel angle based only on the detected steering angle when the detected speed is within a first speed range, and based on both the detected steering angle and the detected speed when the detected speed is within a second speed range which is higher than the first speed range. An actuator controls a direction of light from a head light of the vehicle, so that the direction of the light changes in accordance with the determined swivel angle.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2006Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Kazuhiko Kaiba
-
Patent number: 7497608Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned between the light source and the output surface of the light guide, and an interference reflector positioned between the emissive material and the output surface of the light guide is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The interference reflector substantially transmits light having the second optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the first optical characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2007Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: John A. Wheatley, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
-
Patent number: 7497585Abstract: A light assembly includes an electrically powered light source, a hand-powered electric dynamo and a rechargeable battery. The hand-powered electric dynamo has the capability to power the light source and recharge the battery. A fastener is used to detachably mount the light source, dynamo and battery to the user. In providing the user with a detachably mounted light assembly having the capability to recharge the batteries thereon, a more reliable light source is provided for the user working under extreme and often dangerous conditions.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2005Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Inventor: Sun Yu
-
Patent number: 7494246Abstract: High power white light LEDs are distributed within a thin reflective cavity. The cavity depth may be less than 3 cm and, in one embodiment, is about 1 cm. A light output surface of the cavity is a flat reflector with many small openings. A small plastic lens is positioned over each opening for causing the light emitted from each opening to form a cone of light between approximately 50-75 degrees. Alternatively, each hole may be shaped to be a truncated cone to control the dispersion. The light emitted by the LEDs is mixed in the cavity by reflecting off all six reflective walls of the cavity. The light will ultimately escape through the many holes, forming a relatively uniform pattern of light on a surface to be illuminated by the luminaire.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Philips Lumileds Lighting Company, LLCInventors: Gerard Harbers, Serge Bierhuizen
-
Patent number: 7490964Abstract: A retro-fit lighting system includes a pole having a base plate at one end, the pole is disposed in a substantially upright orientation, a base cover disposed over the base plate and around the pole, at least one spacer positioned along the pole, a sleeve disposed over the pole, above said base cover and engaged by the at least one spacer, the sleeve having a length at least about half the length of the pole.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2006Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLCInventors: Eric O. M. Haddad, Donald G. Fentress
-
Patent number: 7490956Abstract: An illumination system, reflector and method for producing a beam with a substantially circularly symmetric irradiance distribution from a light source having a plurality of linear light emitting elements arranged with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with each other and spaced substantially symmetrically about a central longitudinal axis. The reflector includes a plurality of reflecting zones corresponding to, and aligned with, the plurality of light emitting elements. A surface of a reflecting zone may be defined by rotating a generator curve around an axis of rotation that is not coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the light source.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Whiterock Design, LLCInventor: Thomas A. Hough
-
Patent number: 7490954Abstract: A LED signal includes a housing and a cover. At least one LED is arranged on a PCB and mounted within the housing. A collimator that collimates light energy emitted by the at least one LED is positioned adjacent to the at least one LED. A diffuser is positioned adjacent to the collimator and spreads collimated light transmitted through the collimator. The PCB, the collimator, and the diffuser are disposed between the cover and the housing, and the cover provides a protective barrier between environmental conditions and the collimator and diffuser.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Lumination LLCInventors: Mark J. Mayer, Eden Dubuc, Patrick Martineau
-
Patent number: 7484869Abstract: To improve visibility by expanding a light emitting range without increasing a size of a light source, in a lighting unit for a vehicle using a projector lamp. A front light has a projector lamp arranged behind an outer lens. A light guiding body is provided from a side surface of the projector lamp to the front. A front surface of the light guiding body emits light along a bottom surface of the front light. A first reflector and a second reflector constituting an isolated extension section extending upwards are arranged opposite to each other holding a distance between them, at a side surface of the projector lamp. The periphery of the first reflector extends out slightly more than the second reflector to form a fringe light emitting section. This causes emission of light of the light guide path in a fringe shape.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Kogo, Hayato Ohashi
-
Patent number: 7484875Abstract: A light guide unit for a point light source includes a light incident portion, a first reflecting portion and a second reflecting portion. The light emitted from the point light source enters to the light incident portion. The light incident portion includes an optical pattern diffusing an incident light corresponding to the point light source. The first reflecting portion reflects a first light of the incident light. The second reflecting portion roundly connects the first reflecting portion to the light incident portion and reflects a second light of the incident light.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hwan-Jin Kim, Sang-Hee Lee, Kyoung-Don Lee, Se-In Chang, Jae-Kwang Kim, In-Hyuk Choi, Wal-Hee Kim, Jae-Lok Cha, Ji-Hwan Jang
-
Patent number: 7484872Abstract: A vehicle lamp can include a plurality of light source modules each having an LED as a light source, and optical systems for distributing light from each of the light source modules frontward toward predetermined areas or predetermined patterns that are different from each other and which make up a light distribution pattern. Each of the optical systems can be optimized to emit light to a predetermined area, and each of the light source modules' LEDs can be optimally arranged for each of the corresponding optical systems.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2007Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasushi Yatsuda, Teruo Koike, Takuya Kushimoto, Takashi Futami, Ryotaro Owada
-
Patent number: 7481546Abstract: An energy-efficient lighting apparatus is disclosed. The lighting apparatus includes a ballast cover. The ballast cover includes a plurality of ballast cover holes. The lighting apparatus also includes a circuit board comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes. The circuit board is positioned adjacent the ballast cover so that the plurality of light-emitting diodes protrude through the plurality of ballast cover holes in the ballast cover. The lighting apparatus may also include a battery for supplying power to the plurality of light-emitting diodes.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2006Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: SAFEEXITS, Inc.Inventors: Lyman O. Nielson, Norman B. Hess
-
Patent number: 7481565Abstract: A light guide plate a light incidence surface, a light-emitting surface joining with the light incidence surface, a diffraction grating having a plurality of grating slots formed on the light-emitting surface, and a bottom surface on an opposite side of the light guide plate to the light-emitting surface. The diffraction grating converts light that has been dispersed by reflection and refraction into plane parallel light thus increasing brightness.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tai-Cherng Yu
-
Patent number: 7481559Abstract: The present invention is an improved apparatus to very rapidly install a lightbulb socket assembly within the housing of a recessed lighting fixture. Through the present invention, the lightbulb socket assembly is removed from the housing fixture during shipment so that it will not be damaged and when the fixture is ready to be installed, the present invention permits the socket assembly to be very rapidly installed and affixed to the base plate of the lightbulb housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2007Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Inventor: Hamid Rashidi
-
Patent number: 7481554Abstract: A battery powered LED lamp including an array of high-performance LEDs disposed in a lightweight directionally oriented shade. Converting electronics are provided which may include a step-down DC voltage switching regulator for converting a higher voltage of the battery power source to a lower voltage required to drive the LEDs at greater than 90% efficiency. The converting electronics may also include an LED current monitoring circuit for preventing thermal runaway of the LEDs and for reliably operating the LEDs near their maximum rating so to provide the maximum amount of brightness from the LED array and maximum battery life.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2006Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Inventors: Gary Anderson, Ron Rothman
-
Patent number: 7478937Abstract: A reflector has a curved part covering the light source and a pair of end parts extending at the two sides of the curved part. The inside surface of each end part has a plurality of substantially parallel projections or depressions. The light-guiding plate has an incident surface and an emission surface substantially perpendicular to the incident surface, the incident surface having a plurality of projections or depressions extending substantially parallel to the emission surface. Also, the reflection surface of the light-guiding plate has projections.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2005Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Yasushi Hara, Chikara Nishio, Makoto Abe, Masashi Hirabayashi, Hiroshi Yamada, Toshikazu Takahashi, Akira Tanaka
-
Patent number: 7478935Abstract: A safety sign and methods are shown with advantages such as being more visible in poor conditions such as snow, dust, fog, low light, etc. Safety signs as shown can be seen from farther away than conventional signs.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2007Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Safe Lites, LLCInventors: Aaron Golle, John Golle