Patents Examined by Sharon E. Payne
  • Luminaire having light emitting diodes (leds) directed to a reflector
    Patent number: 7841738
    Abstract: A luminaire is described having a pot-shaped housing for the reception of electrical components and for the releasable mounting of a functional unit having at least one main lighting surface and whose special features consist of the facts that the preferably planar main lighting surface of the functional unit extends parallel to the base wall of the housing or its mounting surface and is bounded at the marginal side by a peripheral flat frame made of heat conducting material; and that the flat frame is connected in a heat conducting manner to at least one LED carrier which is located in the functional unit in the region of the rear side of the flat frame and its surface carrying the LEDs is directed to a reflector arranged between the base wall of the housing and the main lighting surface such that the main lighting surface is illuminated substantially uniformly by diffuse light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventor: Hartmut S. Engel
  • Ambient lighting in surgical environments
    Patent number: 7841737
    Abstract: An ambient lighting system for a hospital operating room environment and a method of using said system is described. An apparatus comprising the combination of a translucent sheet and a backlight LED panel or colored light source (colored lamp(s) or LED(s) in an alcove) provides a diffuse light when light from said panel, alcove, or other source is presented to the translucent sheet, is scattered, and represented as unfocused light on the exposed surface of the translucent sheet. Usage of the apparatus in an operating room provides a calming environment. The method and apparatus may be adapted to include wireless control over the intensity, color, and on/off state of the light. Further, usage of known translucent materials provides a sterile and safe surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Optimus Services LLC
    Inventor: John R. Manglardi
  • Pediatric adapter for transillumination
    Patent number: 7841751
    Abstract: A transillumination device can use an adapter to make it more appropriate for neonatal and pediatric application. The adapter attaches to the bottom of the transillumination device and covers the illumination source. An aperture in the adapter allows part of the light generated by the illumination source through the adapter and blocks the remaining light. The reduces light enhances the transillumination device's ability for viewing pediatric patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventor: Nizar A. Mulani
  • Lighting system using multiple colored light emitting sources and diffuser element
    Patent number: 7837348
    Abstract: A light emitting apparatus has a radiation source for emitting multi-colored radiation. A diffuser material receives at least a portion of the multi-colored radiation emitted by the radiation source and converts the multi-colored radiation into forward transferred radiation and back transferred radiation. An optic device is coupled to the diffuser material and is adapted to receive the back transferred radiation and extract at least a portion of the back transferred radiation from the optic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Nadarajah Narendran, Yimin Gu
  • Louver assembly for a light fixture
    Patent number: 7828468
    Abstract: A louver assembly is disclosed for use in an overhead lighting system. The louver assembly comprises a series of thin, lightweight stringers and blade ribs arranged perpendicular to one another such that the respective side surfaces of the respective stringers are positioned at an acute angle with respect to a ceiling plane and the reflective faces of the blade ribs are positioned substantially transverse with respect to the ceiling plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Acuity Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: John Thomas Mayfield, III, Stephen Haight Lydecker, Charles T. Faircloth, II
  • Carry bag modular organizer system
    Patent number: 7828457
    Abstract: A modular organizer system including a first pouch having an opening for securely receiving and positioning an item in a preferred position. A fastening mechanism is disposed on the first pouch and is adapted to modularly fasten a second pouch to the first pouch in any preferred orientation surrounding the first pouch. The modular organizer may be arranged within a carrying bag and molded to fit within an open compartment of the carrying bag. The modular organizer system can easily transfer the pouches with all of the contents from one carrying bag to another carrying bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventors: Debbie Lee Davidoff, Colleen Margaret Haratsis
  • Wind powered device
    Patent number: 7824060
    Abstract: A turbine generator having one or more wind turbines for generating energy and a series of plates located above and below each turbine for focusing and converging the wind inwardly. The plates are aerodynamically-designed to converge the wind onto the turbine and provide a strong wind current. The turbine generator is incorporated into a light fixture to provide self-sustaining light energy. Solar panels may be provided in conjunction with the turbine generator to provide an additional source of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Syracuse University
    Inventors: Paul Michael Pelken, Thong Dang
  • High efficiency light source using solid-state emitter and down-conversion material
    Patent number: 7819549
    Abstract: A light emitting apparatus includes a source of light for emitting light; a down conversion material receiving the emitted light, and converting the emitted light into transmitted light and backward transmitted light; and an optic device configured to receive the backward transmitted light and transfer the backward transmitted light outside of the optic device. The source of light is a semiconductor light emitting diode, a laser diode (LD), or a resonant cavity light emitting diode (RCLED). The down conversion material includes one of phosphor or other material for absorbing light in one spectral region and emitting light in another spectral region. The optic device, or lens, includes light transmissive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Nadarajah Narendran, Yimin Gu, Jean Paul Freyssinier
  • Ultra-thin backlight
    Patent number: 7815358
    Abstract: A backlight for a display device, such as a liquid crystal display device, includes a light guiding plate having a front and a rear surface. The front and rear surfaces may be parallel to one another, or may instead be non-parallel. To the extent that such surfaces are non-parallel, one surface may be inclined at a single, or multiple angles with respect to the other surface. The backlight further includes a light source that is coupled to an edge of the light guiding plate by means of an energy conserving coupling section, and which provides light that is conditioned and transmitted through the light guiding plate. Light extractors are disposed on at least one side of the light guiding plate to assist in the transmission and conditioning of the light that is provided to the light guiding plate by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Benzion Alter Inditsky
  • Direct-lit backlight having light recycling cavity with concave transflector
    Patent number: 7815355
    Abstract: Direct-lit backlights and associated methods and components are disclosed in which a transflector that partially transmits and partially reflects incident light is shaped to form at least one concave structure facing a back reflector of the backlight. This provides at least one recycling cavity therebetween, the at least one recycling cavity substantially filling the output area of the backlight. At least one light source is disposed behind the output area to inject light into each cavity, and can be positioned in the recycling cavity or behind an aperture in the back reflector. The cavities are preferably shallow and wide, having a width-to-depth ratio of at least 5 or 10, and can provide uniform brightness and color at the output area with sparsely distributed light sources and in a thin profile backlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David Scott Thompson, Craig R. Schardt, Brian W. Ostlie, Scott J. Kienitz, John A. Wheatley
  • Heat removal system and method for light emitting diode lighting apparatus
    Patent number: 7810965
    Abstract: A heat removal assembly for a light emitting diode lighting apparatus is described. One embodiment of the heat removal assembly includes a plurality of fins configured to receive heat from a light emitting diode. In the plurality of fins, two adjacent fins are separated by a gap width, and each fin has a fin length. The heat removal assembly also includes a duct configured to draw a stack-effect airflow through the plurality of fins to remove heat from the plurality of fins. The gap width separating two adjacent fins and the fin length of each of the fins are configured to prevent boundary layer choking the plurality of fins. In one embodiment, the heat removal assembly also includes a conductor and a thermal storage system configured to receive heat from the light emitting diode. A lighting apparatus including the heat removal assembly, a light emitting diode, and a connector plug is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Lumenetix, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Weaver
  • LED lamp assembly
    Patent number: 7810957
    Abstract: An LED lamp assembly includes an LED lamp and a supporting member supporting the LED lamp. The LED lamp includes a plurality of LED modules and a heat sink supporting and cooling the LED modules. The supporting member includes a pair of supporting arms supporting the LED lamp and pivotably engaging with the heat sink of the LED lamp. The heat sink is rotatable relative to the supporting arms of the supporting member to vary an illumination angle of the LED lamp assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Hua Zeng, Yong-Dong Chen, Shih-Hsun Wung
  • Adjustable light connection
    Patent number: 7810945
    Abstract: An adjustable light connection comprising a flexible member having a first end and a second end, a contact base connected to the first end of the flexible member, a mounted socket connected to the second end of the flexible member, and an electrical connection disposed within the flexible member and having a first end connected to the contact base and a second end connected to the mounted socket. The contact base is engageable with a light socket and the mounted socket is engageable with a light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Randy J. Mize
  • Thermal layer, backlight unit and display device including the same
    Patent number: 7798694
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal layer, as well as a backlight unit and a display device including the same. A composition for the thermal layer comprises a thermally conductive material, about 10 to 40 parts by weight of a binder based on 100 parts by weight of the thermally conductive material, about 5 to 30 parts by weight of a filler based on 100 parts by weight of the thermally conductive material, and about 5 to 40 parts by weight of a curing agent based on 100 parts by weight of the binder. A backlight unit according to the present invention comprises a light source, a reflector reflecting a light emitted from the light source and the present thermal layer disposed on one surface of the reflector. The thermal layer is formed by applying a mixture of the thermally conductive material, the binder, the filler and the curing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kab Jin Hwang
  • Optical plate and backlight module using the same
    Patent number: 7798693
    Abstract: An exemplary optical plate includes at least one transparent plate unit. The transparent plate unit includes a light output surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of spherical depressions, a diffusion layer, and at least one lamp-receiving portion. The bottom surface is opposite to the light output surface. The diffusion layer is formed on the light output surface. The spherical depressions are formed at the bottom surface. The lamp-receiving portion is defined in the bottom surface. A backlight module using the present optical plate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Corner mount light fixture
    Patent number: 7798668
    Abstract: A corner mount light fixture has an extruded housing base with two mutually perpendicular housing walls and a wire channel coextruded with the housing base. A lamp holder snap mounts to the wire channel and pierces the insulation of a conductor pair press fitted in the channel. The conductor pair runs between two terminal blocks also snap mounted to the wire channel near opposite ends of the housing, so that multiple lamp holders can be installed at intervals along the conductor pair. Plastic housing covers snap onto the extruded housing base on either side of each lamp holder, and a glass lens is supported over each lamp holder in guideways molded on the housing covers. The lens slides along the guideways to open the housing for access to the lamp holder. Multiple fixtures can be daisy chained by interconnecting terminal blocks of adjacent fixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Troy-CSL Lighting, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff R. Cunius
  • Illumination unit for projection systems
    Patent number: 7798677
    Abstract: An illumination unit for emitting light along an optic axis for a projection system includes an LED die and a collimator lens. The collimator lens includes a central part and a peripheral part. The central part has a first light transmission surface and a second light transmission surface opposite to the first light transmission surface. The peripheral part which is around the central part has an inner refraction wall coupled to the first light transmission surface to form a hollow for situating the LED die, an outer reflection wall opposite to the inner refraction wall, and a refraction surface connecting to the second light transmission surface and the outer reflection wall. Both the central part and the peripheral part of the collimator lens are rotationally asymmetrical corresponding to the optic axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Himax Display, Inc.
    Inventors: Ho-Chi Huang, Baolong Zhang
  • Luminous element comprising at least one substrate and a light-emitting coating
    Patent number: 7794125
    Abstract: A flat luminous element with at least one substrate and one coating, applied onto the surface of the substrate and emitting light, and including plural luminous elements configured to be separately electrically connected next to one another, in different parts of the surface, so as to obtain different luminous effects. At least one separate luminous element is provided with an enhanced luminous power relative to the luminosity of the surface and with a light emission that is directed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Volkmar Offermann, Dieter Linnhofer, Helmut Maeuser
  • Vehicle headlight assembly
    Patent number: 7789545
    Abstract: A headlight assembly includes a housing, a light source, a light shielding plate, and a light guiding plate. The housing defines a compartment, and includes a reflector and a lens disposed in front of the reflector. The light source is mounted in the compartment and is disposed on an optical axis. The light shielding plate is mounted between the light source and the lens. The light guiding plate is disposed below the optical axis. A first portion of light beams emitted upwardly is reflected by the reflector, passes over the light shielding plate and through the lens, which refracts the first portion of the light beams to form a first illuminating pattern. A second portion of the light beams passes through the light guiding plate and through the lens, which refracts the second portion of the light beams to result in a second illuminating pattern that is directed forwardly and upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: T.Y.C. Brother Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Tien Cheng, Liang-Ren Huang, Chi-Ching Huang, Chen-Kang Hsu
  • Modular light fixture with power pack with latching ends
    Patent number: 7784966
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a raceway, a lampholder, and a power pack. The raceway includes an aperture and a locking aperture. The lampholder is electrically connected to a lampholder connector. The power pack includes a power pack cover and a ballast. The power pack cover includes a latching end. The ballast includes a power input connector adapted to electrically connect to a power cord and a ballast output connector adapted to electrically connect to the lampholder connector. The latching end includes a flange adapted to mate with the aperture of the raceway and a locking protrusion adapted to mate with the locking aperture of the raceway such that the power pack is detachably mountable to the raceway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Anthony J. Bartol, Kenneth J. Wetenkamp, Troy M. Johnson