Patents Examined by Sharon E. Payne
  • Surface light source device
    Patent number: 7946746
    Abstract: A surface light source device includes a plurality of light guide plates spliced together side by side and forming a plurality of jointing interfaces. A plurality of LEDs is attached to a side face of each of the light guide plates. The LEDs are arranged in a linear LED array along the side face of each of the light guide plates. At most one linear LED array is arranged at the jointing interface between each two neighboring light guide plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Foxsemicon Intergrated Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shu-Hui Hsieh, Jyh-Ming Chen, Chih-Ming Lai
  • System for mounting a headlight on a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising such a system
    Patent number: 7946745
    Abstract: A system for mounting a headlight on a motor vehicle comprising a rigid housing closed by a protective glass. The system comprising: a first connecting element fixed to the headlight, a second connecting element fixed to the motor vehicle, the first and second connecting elements being assembled so as to slide one in the other. The first and second connecting elements are curved and mounted at least partially about a center of rotation of the headlight providing rotational movement of the headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Christophe Baert, Malik Bakacha
  • Color tunable light source
    Patent number: 7942540
    Abstract: A lighting module includes a light output window, at least one side wall that defines a cavity and a mounting plate, and at least one light source, and at least one reflector that is within the cavity. The light output window may be one of the side walls in a side-emitting configuration. The spectral distribution of the light coming out of the light output window may be changed by manipulating the relative position of the side wall to the at least one reflector that is within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Mark A. Pugh, Menne T. de Roos, Peter K. Tseng
  • Illuminating device and gaming machine having the same
    Patent number: 7934857
    Abstract: An illuminating device includes: an illuminating board having a plate-like transparent board, a reflector provided on a back surface of the transparent board to reflect light, and a cloudy, translucent medium provided on a front surface of the transparent board; a support member supporting an end of the illuminating board in a cantilever fashion, so as to provide a free end for the other end of the illuminating board; a light emitting portion, arranged beside the supported end of the illuminating board, that emits light to the transparent board at the supported end; and an emission control unit that causes the light emitting portion to emit light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Noritoshi Kukita
  • Dial control with LED light ring
    Patent number: 7926964
    Abstract: An illuminated control for a gas range or the like provides arcuate reflective chambers capped by diffusers to create a substantially continuous glowing circular sector indicating the status of a possibly low visibility gas flames. Line power may be used for direct drive of light emitting diodes illuminating the reflective chambers through the use of discrete series-connected voltage dropping resistors distributed to prevent heat concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Edward J. Claprood
  • Device and method for emitting output light using multiple light sources with photoluminescent material
    Patent number: 7922352
    Abstract: A device and method for emitting output light utilizes multiple light sources to produce original light having different peak wavelengths. A first light source of the device is configured to generate first light having a peak wavelength in the blue wavelength range, while a second light source of the device is configured to generate second light having a peak wavelength in the red wavelength range. Some of the original light emitted from at least the first light source is converted into light having a peak wavelength longer than the peak wavelength of the original light using a photoluminescent material to produce the output light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Janet Bee Yin Chua, Yue Hoong Lau
  • Portable light
    Patent number: 7922349
    Abstract: A versatile, low profile, lightweight, compact, body mounted lighting system includes a housing mountable to a person's body and a light module in the housing. The light module may include at least one LED producing a beam. There is a lens in front of the LED and a mechanism is configured to move the lens to adjust the distance between the lens and the LED to vary the size of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: GoMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Hunnewell, Jonathan M. Craig, Benoit Devinat, Troy Schubert, Son Long
  • Backlight suitable for display devices
    Patent number: 7905650
    Abstract: A backlight suitable for use in a display device includes an illumination device having at least one light source and a back reflector stack including a reflective layer and a transparent layer having substantially uniform refractive index and having a plurality of light-directing protrusions disposed in a matrix array. The transparent layer is disposed between the reflective layer and the illumination device with the plurality of light-directing protrusions facing away from the reflective layer. The plurality of light-directing protrusions are configured and disposed in a configuration that is not registered to any light source of the illumination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jiaying Ma, Quinn Sanford, Ming Cheng
  • Lighting unit and display equipment provided therewith
    Patent number: 7905646
    Abstract: A light-guiding member is provided with two light source groups on its both terminals and the light-guiding board comprises two light mixing areas which have a cross section form which is symmetry for its center line, and a light outputting area between these. The light mixing areas function as an area in which the lights from each adjacent light source group are mixed and at the same time function as an area to output the mixed lights from each remote light source group. The light outputting area functions as an area to pass a part of the mixed lights from the two light source groups and at the same time functions as an area to output the rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Adachi, Tatsuya Sugita
  • LED lamp tube
    Patent number: 7887226
    Abstract: An LED lamp tube is disclosed to include a tube that admits light, circuit boards respectively mounted inside the tube, each circuit board carrying an array of LEDs, two end caps respectively capped on the ends of the tube to hold the circuit boards inside the tube and connectable to connectors of a conventional fluorescent bulb holder to secure the tube to the conventional fluorescent bulb holder, and a power cord extending from the circuit boards out of the tube for connection to power supply to obtain the necessary working voltage for the LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ledtech Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ming-Chung Huang, Yu-Yang Liu, Fu-Hsung Ou, Ying-Hsuan Chen
  • Multiple door display merchandiser with lighting enhancement
    Patent number: 7887207
    Abstract: The display space of a multiple door display merchandiser is illuminated by one or more vertically extending lamps (80) disposed intermediate the vertical sides of an access opening to the display space. A multiple door assembly (44) covers the access opening. To enhance the illumination of the display space, a pair of vertically extending side reflectors (92) are provided, one extending along one side of the access opening and the other extending along the other side of the access opening. An additional reflector may be mounted to an interior facing surface of the door along an upper front region of the door and/or a lower front region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Riad Saraiji, Mark A. Daniels, Robert J. Reese, Stephen Kenney, Thomas E. Drago
  • Optical unit, backlight assembly with the optical unit, and display device with the backlight assembly
    Patent number: 7887206
    Abstract: An optical includes an optical body including a plurality of side faces where one of the plurality of side faces defines a light entrance face onto which a blue light is incident. A light exit face is connected to at least one of the side faces, and a yellow fluorescent layer is disposed on the light entrance face and is configured to convert the blue light into a white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Young Lee
  • Direct-type backlight unit having surface light source
    Patent number: 7887225
    Abstract: In a direct-type backlight unit, a board has upper and lower surfaces defining a thickness therebetween. A plurality of unit light sources are disposed on the board. Here, in each of the unit light sources, a wiring pattern is formed on the board. A light emitting device is disposed on the wiring pattern to electrically connect thereto. A non-conductive side wall surrounds, without interruption, the light emitting device at a predetermined interval therefrom, the non-conductive side wall having a height lower than that of the light emitting device. Also, an encapsulant is formed in a dome shape inside the side wall. In this fashion, the light emitting devices are mounted on the board by a chip-on-board technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung LED Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Joon Lee, In Tae Yeo, Hun Joo Hahm, Young Sam Park, Kyung Taeg Han, Ho Sik Ahn, Chang Ho Song
  • Glass breaking cap
    Patent number: 7887211
    Abstract: A glass breaking cap for flashlights, batons and the like is provided. The glass breaking cap has a cylindrical sidewall and a conical top portion. The conical top portion has an apex having an included angle between 86° and 136°. More preferably, the apex has an included angle of 106° to 126° with a preferred included angle of about 116°. Preferably, the glass breaking cap has male or female threads for replacing threaded end caps found on traditional flashlights and batons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Todd Summers
  • Electrical actuator system for articles of furniture
    Patent number: 7874695
    Abstract: An electrical actuator system, especially for hospital and care beds and patient beds, comprising a number of actuators (6,7; 10,11), a control box (12) with a mains-based power supply, and typically also a rechargeable battery package and a control unit with a microprocessor, a number of controls (15,16), an orientation light (17) for mounting under the bed. The system comprises at least one junction box (13,14) and the orientation lighting is, with its own control unit, located in this. This enables a flexible location of the lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventor: Svend Erik Knudsen Jensen
  • Fiber optical display systems and related methods, systems, and computer program products
    Patent number: 7866866
    Abstract: A key system includes a display surface, a light source, and a plurality of optical fibers having first and second ends and a longitudinal sheath. The plurality of optical fibers are connected to the light source at the first ends thereof and configured to transmit light from the light source to the display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mible Communications AB
    Inventor: Per Magnus Orjan Wahlstrom
  • Ceramic packaging for high brightness LED devices
    Patent number: 7854535
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a light emitting diode package comprising a ceramic cavity comprising a substrate for mounting a light emitting diode and substantially vertical sidewalls for reducing light leakage. The ceramic LED package further includes a metallic coating on a portion of the ceramic substrate for reflecting light in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Lee Kong Weng, Ng Kee Yean, Lee Meng Ee
  • Illuminated toy balloon
    Patent number: 7850328
    Abstract: An apparatus for illuminating the interior of a balloon includes a cylindrical plug with an integrally-formed radially extending integral flange insertable within the balloon neck. A light element is affixed to the plug and disposed within the neck. A battery is electrically connected to the light element and is typically mounted next to the light element, or includes the light element in a single assembly. Switching is provided to turn the lighting element on and off which, in the preferred embodiment is effected by inflating the balloon with the apparatus inserted into the balloon neck. The light element may be affixed to the head of the apparatus by magnetic means, by means of a screw-on cap, or by other well-known techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Michael Schrimmer
    Inventor: Domenic Carito
  • Showcase
    Patent number: 7845818
    Abstract: There is disclosed a showcase provided with a light device capable of simplifying a maintenance operation and improving a cooling efficiency in a display chamber. In a showcase 1 of the present invention, a display chamber 11 is formed in an insulating wall 2 to display commodities on a plurality of steps of shelves 32 disposed in the display chamber 11 and cool the commodities, the showcase includes LED lights 40 which illuminate the inside of the display chamber 11 from the upside, and light guide plates 48 provided on lower surfaces of the shelves 32, light inlet portions 49 of the light guide plates 48 are provided so as to protrude forward from the shelves 32, and a light emitting surface 52 of each light guide plate 48 faces the shelf 32 under the shelf 32 provided with the light guide plate 48.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sakumi Shibusawa, Atsushi Todoroki, Masaru Sekine, Seiji Kataoka, Yoshiki Makishima, Tetsuya Oketani, Katsuya Kobayashi
  • Vehicle interior lighting systems using electroluminescent panels
    Patent number: RE42340
    Abstract: A vehicle interior component and lighting assembly that includes a vehicle interior component having a fabric disposed over a substrate or foam layer, or both. An electroluminescent panel is located between the fabric and substrate/foam layer and directs light from the panel through the fabric. In this way, the light source can be effectively hidden when not in use and can be incorporated into the interior component in a manner that requires little space. The vehicle interior component can be any of a number of different interior articles, including, for example, a headliner, door panel, vehicle seat, rear deck, sun visor, and trunk panel. Also disclosed are vehicle interior illumination systems using touch switches and electroluminescent panels to provide back lighting of the switch and/or vehicle interior illumination through the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Federal Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: James Burr Anderson, John Christopher Brown