Patents Examined by Sharon Payne
  • Patent number: 8393752
    Abstract: A lighting device (100, 200, 300, 400) is disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of light sources (111, 119, 120, 211, 219, 220) providing light in different wavelengths, a collimating means (104, 204) having a receiving end (103, 203, 407) and an output end (114, 214, 409), wherein said light sources are arranged at said receiving end. The collimating means comprises a set of wavelength selective filters (109, 110, 115, 116, 117, 118, 215, 217) arranged as sub-collimators (106, 107, 108, 206, 207, 208) to each of said plurality of light sources such that, for each light source, said sub-collimator collimates the light from its light source, and said wavelength selective filter of said each light source is translucent for light from adjacent light sources of different wavelength, wherein said wavelength selective filters are high pass or low pass filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Ramon Pascal Van Gorkom, Christoph Gerard August Hoelen, Marco Van As, Cornelis Adrianus Henricus Antonius Mutsaers, Huib Cooijmans
  • Patent number: 8388175
    Abstract: A lighting device (100, 200, 300, 400) is disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of light sources (111, 119, 120, 211, 219, 220) providing light in different wavelengths, a collimating means (104, 204) having a receiving end (103, 203, 407) and an output end (114, 214, 409), wherein said light sources are arranged at said receiving end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Ramon Pascal Van Gorkom, Christoph Gerard August Hoelen, Marco Van As, Cornelis Adrianus Henricus Antonius Mutsaers, Huib Cooijmans
  • Patent number: 8388193
    Abstract: A lens for directing light from a light emitter in a preferential-side off-axial direction with respect to the emitter axis. The lens includes an emitter-adjacent base end forming an opening, an inner surface extending from the base end and forming a void, an output-end surface configured to direct light toward the preferential side, and an outer lateral surface configured for TIR to direct light toward the output-end surface, whereby substantially all light from the emitter exits the output-surface predominantly toward the preferential side. Another aspect of this invention is a recessed lighting fixture utilizing the inventive lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Mario A. Castillo
  • Patent number: 8360607
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for providing illumination. A lighting unit may have a support structure, and one or more light emitting elements supported by a circuit board contacting the support structure. A first optical element and a second optical element may be provided. A remote luminescent material may be provided on one or more optical elements. Light emitting elements configured to excite the luminescent material such as highly efficient light emitting diodes may be directed towards the luminescent material. The support structure may be a heat dissipating element, which may conduct heat from a heat source to a surface of the support structure. The heat dissipating element may have a passageway permitting the formation of a convection path to dissipate heat from the support structure. Such lighting units may be used to replace conventional fluorescent light tubes or other lighting devices, or may be provided as standalone lighting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: NEXT Lighting Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Bretschneider, Zach Berkowitz, Randall Sosnick, Lisa Pattison, P. Morgan Pattison
  • Patent number: 8356924
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a light source from which, excitation light is emitted, an optical fiber which is optically connected to the light source, and which guides the excitation light, and a wavelength converting member which is optically connected to an emitting end portion of the optical fiber, and which receives the excitation light emitted from the emitting end portion, and makes emerge light of a wavelength area different from a wavelength area of the excitation light. The light source apparatus has a diverging unit which is arranged in an optical path of the excitation light, between the emitting end portion of the optical fiber and the wavelength converting member, and a holding member for holding the emitting end portion of the optical fiber, the diverging unit, and the wavelength converting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshie Fukui, Takeshi Ito
  • Patent number: 8348451
    Abstract: Emergency cabin illumination for an aircraft, including: at least one cabin component of an aircraft and at least one emergency lighting device, the at least one emergency lighting device being arranged in the cabin component so that the emergency lighting device in its switched-off state has no contrast to its environment, and in the switched-on state of the emergency lighting device, the light emitted emerges from the cabin component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Kohlmeier-Beckmann, Anja Niemeyer
  • Patent number: 8322898
    Abstract: A bulb-type lamp having both heat dissipation and size/weight reduction properties with a lower thermal load on a lighting circuit. An LED module is mounted in a case with a base member to allow dissipation of heat. An LED mount member closes another end of the case and allows conduction of heat to the case. A lighting circuit receives power via the base member. The lighting circuit is disposed inside a circuit holder. An air space exists between the circuit holder and both the case and the mount member. The lighting circuit is isolated from the air space by the circuit holder. A relationship 0.5?S1/S2?3.0, is satisfied where S1 denotes an area of a portion of the mount member in contact with the case and S2 denotes an area of the portion of the mount member in contact with a substrate of the LED module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenzi Takahasi, Yasushige Tomiyoshi, Takaari Uemoto, Hideo Nagai, Mamoru Takeda, Yoshio Manabe
  • Patent number: 8317383
    Abstract: A fastening device for fastening a light pipe assembly including a number of light pipes includes a chassis including two opposite hooks, and two pairs of blocks extending from two of the number of light pipes, respectively. When the light pipe assembly is compressed to be elastically deformed, the light pipe assembly is able to be placed between the hooks. When the light pipe assembly restores, each hook is able to be sandwiched between two blocks of a corresponding pair of blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lei Zheng, Zhen-Xing Ye
  • Patent number: 8317385
    Abstract: An ultra thin lighting element including at least one light source. A lightguide element includes one lightguide layer comprising a plurality of discrete fine optic surface relief structures on at least one portion of at least one surface. Each surface relief structure includes basic structural features on the order of about 10 microns or less in height, and on the order of about 10 microns or less in each lateral dimension. The number, arrangement and size of each surface relief structure and height and lateral dimensions of the structural features of the surface relief structures being varied to provide a desired degree of outcoupling modulation of light incoupled into the light guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Modilis Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Kari Rinko
  • Patent number: 8313205
    Abstract: An optical member 16 capable of light transmission and having a sheet-shape is installed in a chassis 13 of a backlight device 10 around an opening of the chassis 13. A cold cathode tube 15 capable of emitting light and having a substantially circle cross-section is installed behind the optical member 16 inside the chassis 13. A reflecting sheet 14 that reflects light emitted from the cold cathode tube 15 is installed behind the cold cathode tube 15 inside the chassis 13. The reflecting sheet 14 has a concave portion that surrounds the cold cathode tube 15 from the rear. The reflecting sheet 14 has an arch surface 26 at least in an area that faces the cold cathode tube 15 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the optical member 16. The arch surface 26 is formed in a concentric manner as the cold cathode tube 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shiyoshi Cho
  • Patent number: 8313213
    Abstract: An assembly structure for a LED lamp includes a cover plate, a LED module, fasteners and a mask. An inner surface of the cover plate is provided with a fixing portion. Both sides of the cover plate are formed with a slot respectively. The LED module has a substrate and a plurality of LED mounted on the substrate. The substrate is provided with an insertion hole. One end of the fastener is detachably connected into the insertion hole of the substrate and the other end thereof is fixed to the fixing portion. The mask is made of transparent materials and has an accommodating space for allowing the LED module to be disposed therein. Both sides of the mask defining the accommodating space are formed with a locking flange for inserting into the slot of the cover plate. With the above arrangement, the operator can assemble or detach the LED lamp quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignees: Cpumate Inc., Golden Sun News Techniques Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Len Lin, Chen-Hsiang Lin, Mong-Hua Hung, Hwai-Ming Wang, Ken Hsu, Chih-Hung Cheng
  • Patent number: 8297770
    Abstract: Discharge tubes, each of which includes a glass tube and a ferrule that has a substantially cylindrical shape and is fitted to each end portion of the glass tube, are supported by a plurality of pairs of relay connectors (or supporting members) provided on the front side of a chassis having substantially a plate-shaped configuration. When a discharge tube is supported by relay connectors, stoppers provided on the relay connectors lock the ferrules so that axial movement of the discharge tube relative to the relay connectors is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takata, Kenichi Iwamoto, Takaaki Kudo, Naofumi Ikenaga
  • Patent number: 8292454
    Abstract: An illuminated inflator for inserting into the neck of a balloon includes a gas-tight flange having a periphery, a center, and upper and lower surfaces. A filler tube has upper and lower ends and extends through the flange, with the lower end of the filler tube extending below the lower surface the flange and the upper end of the filler tube extending above the upper surface of the flange. A one-way valve is in flow communication with the filler tube. A light assembly includes a power source and at least one light element electrically connected to the power source. The light assembly is operably mounted to the flange at the upper surface thereof. A switch is operably connected to the power source and the at least one light element for providing power to and isolating power from the at least one light element. The inflator is inserted into the balloon with the flange in the neck of the balloon defining a pressure region boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Chemical Light, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Schrimmer
  • Patent number: 8282236
    Abstract: A light fixture including a turbine generator having one or more vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) for generating energy and a plate located above and/or below each turbine for focusing and converging the wind inwardly. The plate is 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 and a controller is included to manage the flow of electricity and ensure that the light fixture is powered during periods of darkness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Syracuse University
    Inventors: Paul M. Pelken, Thong Dang
  • Patent number: 8277063
    Abstract: A general purpose energy saving light amplification unit suitable as a lantern, guide light, background light, safety light, ornament or decorative object, said unit adapted to harness external surrounding ambient light, or other remote energy sources from at least two directions, employing a plurality of reflector members to receive and concentrate energy in in order to luminesce or fluoresce an optimally placed mutually shared luminescent or fluorescent body member, lodged in a tapered or convergent section of a hyperbola or between at least two juxstaposed reflectors, stimulating photon and electron activity resulting in maximum amount of transmitted visible light from at least two directions, irrespective of receptive direction or angle of origin of light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Leif eric tobias Levon
  • Patent number: 8235571
    Abstract: A direct-type backlight unit having a plurality of light emitting diodes and a liquid crystal display device having the same are disclosed. The backlight unit includes a printed circuit board (PCB); a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) formed on the PCB for emitting light; and a light diffusion unit included in each of the LEDs for diffusing light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee Jeong Park
  • Patent number: 8235549
    Abstract: A solid state lighting assembly includes a socket having a base wall having a first side and a second side, and a first cavity outward of the first side and a second cavity outward of the second side. Contacts are held by the base wall. The contacts have mating fingers extending into the first and second cavities. A lighting printed circuit board (PCB) is removably positioned within the first cavity with at least one lighting component configured to be powered when electrically connected to corresponding mating fingers of the contacts. The lighting PCB is initially loaded into the first cavity in an unmated position and moved in the first cavity to a mated position. A driver PCB is positioned within the second cavity and is electrically connected to corresponding mating fingers of the contacts. The driver PCB has a power circuit configured to supply power to the lighting PCB when electrically connected to the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Raymond Gingrich, III, Matthew Edward Mostoller
  • Patent number: 8220941
    Abstract: A solar simulator for testing photovoltaic cells is disclosed herein. The solar simulator includes a housing having an opening through which light is emitted. The solar simulator employs a plurality of concave cylindrical mirrors and a plurality of flat mirrors that reflect and redirect images of an illuminated light source such that an observer at a target area outside the housing will perceive multiple instances of the illuminated light source. The housing also contains a flat top cover mirror and a flat bottom cover mirror that function to reflect additional light through the opening and toward the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Douglas Jungwirth
  • Patent number: 8206001
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing sources of light, or mechanical and/or electrical connections for light sources, via a grid system of a suspended ceiling. All or a portion of a grid system for a suspended ceiling may be configured to support the generation of light. Lighting units may be coupled to various portions of the grid system in a removable and modular fashion, so as to be completely or substantially recessed above the ceiling surface, or as pendant components hanging below the ceiling surface. Lighting interface components of the grid system also may be configured to facilitate significant thermal dissipation from lighting units. In one exemplary implementation, one or more LED-based lighting units may be coupled to one or more lighting interface components of the grid system so as to provide controllable multi-color and/or essentially white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Piepgras, Tomas Mollnow, Frederick Morgan, Kevin Dowling
  • Patent number: 8201982
    Abstract: A planar illumination device is provided with a plurality of light guide paths, on which scanned light in different scanning sections of a scanning range by a scanning unit is respectively incident, and an illumination unit having a plurality of emission regions for emitting the light guided by the respective light guide paths. The number of the emission regions is 2 or more and 1000 or less, and the respective emission regions successively become luminous as the scanned light is incident on the respective light guide paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Nagata, Kazuhisa Yamamoto, Tatsuo Itoh