Patents Examined by Stephen Husar
  • Patent number: 6811284
    Abstract: The invention is related to a method and apparatus for modifying the irradiation distribution of a radiation source. In accordance with the method the radiation source (1) is used to direct radiation to an essentially planar target surface (6). In accordance with the invention between the radiation source (1) and the target surface (6), several plates (4), which are essentially transparent to the radiation and have spaces between them, are placed close to the radiation source (1), in order to use the reflection and absorption of the transparent plates (4) to attenuate the radiation to desired areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Endeas Oy
    Inventors: Jaakko Hyvarinen, Folke Stenman
  • Patent number: 6811275
    Abstract: In a spread Illuminating apparatus basically comprising a light conductive plate and a lamp, the lamp comprises at least two light conductive bars and a spot-like light source disposed on one or both end surfaces of the light conductive bars, and is disposed close a side surface of the light conductive plate. An optical path conversion means comprising grooves and flat portions is formed on a side surface of each of the at least two light conductive bars. Light-and-dark striping generated on the light conductive plate by light reflected by one optical path conversion means of one light conductive bar of the at least two is corrected by light reflected by the other optical path conversion means of the other light conductive bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Suzuki, Toru Kunimochi
  • Patent number: 6808290
    Abstract: An LED flashlight assembly includes a body, a battery seat mounted in the body and provided with a plurality of LEDs, and a lamp seat mounted on the body and formed with a plurality of through holes for passage of the LEDs of the battery seat. The lamp seat is formed with an arcuate catch edge encompassing the periphery of the through holes. Thus, the arcuate catch edge encompasses the periphery of the through holes, so as to refract the beams of refracted and dispersed light emitted from the LEDs, so that the beams of refracted and dispersed light emitted from the LEDs are concentrated, collected and integrated into the beams of flat and smooth light, thereby enhancing the brightness of the LED flashlight assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Wen-Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 6808282
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a light guide positioned to receive light from a light source at a side end face. The light guide includes an exit surface that conveys light from the guide plate. Preferably, the exit surface has an anti-reflection layer having microscopic recesses or projections arranged in a lattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Ishitaka
  • Patent number: 6808299
    Abstract: The luminaire comprises a reflector body (1) which has a reflecting coating (2) on its reflection side (3), and means (4) for accommodating an electric lamp on the reflection side (3). The reflection side (3) has an area (31) with a metal reflecting surface. The area (31) may have a metal sheet cover (32). The cover (32) may follow the surface of the area (31), or it may be spaced apart therefrom. The luminaire benefits from the low absorption of light by the coating (2), and from the high specular reflection of metal in the area (31) to give a high light intensity in a direction determined by the position of the area (31) with respect to a lamp accommodated by the means (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik Wijbenga, Jean Entrop
  • Patent number: 6808287
    Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for hand-held portable illumination. A flashlight and corresponding method are described. The flashlight includes a housing, a plurality of LEDs, and an electrical circuit that selectively applies power from the DC voltage source to the LED units, wherein the flashlight is suitable for handheld portable operation by a user. In one embodiment, the first electrical circuit further includes a control circuit for maintaining a predetermined light output level of the LED units as a charge on a battery varies. In another embodiment, the control circuit maintains an average predetermined light output level of the LED units as the charge on the battery cell varies by changing a pulse width or frequency as the charge on the battery cell varies to maintain a given average light output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: PPT Vision, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Lebens, Charles T. Bourn, Charles A. Lemaire
  • Patent number: 6805472
    Abstract: The lighting directions of a plurality of lamps RL and LL are controlled independently or integrally corresponding to a running condition. When a vehicle changes a running direction, the direction of the optical axis of one of the lamps is deflected earlier in the running direction and the direction of the optical axis of the other lamp is maintained in a straight running direction in a running condition in which other cars or obstacles might be present in the straight running direction of the vehicle, and the direction of the optical axis of the other lamp is deflected with a delay upon receipt of a further steering operation. It is possible to carry out an illumination in the running direction and the straight running direction of the vehicle. In particular, the invention is very effective for maintaining the safety running of the vehicle on an intersection road or at time of a lane change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyotaka Fukawa
  • Patent number: 6805468
    Abstract: A prism member is interposed between an LED board and a light incidence surface of a light guide plate. The prism member includes a prism sheet consisting of minute prisms that are arranged along the LED board and that have a function of refracting light that is emitted from each LED and thereby inputting, to the light incidence surface, refracted light that is scattered to both sides in the longitudinal direction of the light incidence surface. As a result, chrominance or luminance unevenness can be prevented even if the distance between the LED board and the light incidence surface is short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Advanced Display
    Inventors: Atsushi Itoh, Ikuo Ogo, Shigeru Yachi
  • Patent number: 6805456
    Abstract: A planar light source unit has a transparent light leading plate and a light source provided opposite to the incidence surface of the lead plate. The light leading plate has a light discharge surface at an upper surface, and a lower plane. A prism is provided in the light leading plate at a position opposite to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisaku Okuwaki
  • Patent number: 6805462
    Abstract: A towable power plant is disclosed capable of supplying visible light for use at a worksite and at least on other power source. The power source may generate compressed air, electricity, or may pump water or a hydraulic fluid. The light tower may be coupled to the drawbar of an existing towable power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Sullivan-Palatek, Inc.
    Inventors: Lloyd Smith, Robert C. Dezan, Philip H. Dupuis
  • Patent number: 6802636
    Abstract: An illuminated recreational board including a board including a top side, bottom side and peripheral side extending between said top and bottom sides. A plurality of recesses extend into the peripheral side of the board and a plurality of removable LED's positioned within respective ones of the plurality of recesses. A transparent cover is positioned on the peripheral side for protecting and covering the LED's. The LED's are connected to a device for illuminating the plurality of LED's in any of a number of different illumination sequences. The predetermined sequences include a flashing sequence, a strobing sequence, a twinkling sequence and a constant and continuous sequence. The recreational board may be formed as either a skateboard or a snowboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Inventor: Richard B Bailey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6802621
    Abstract: A lamp comprises a light source (1), a battery (2) and a switch unit (3) which are electrically interconnected. The lamp's reliability, wear life and corrosion resistance are increased by the switch unit being a magnetic switch (3), which by an electrically insulating moulding material is moulded in the same unit as the light source (1) and the battery (2), and which is operated externally by a movable magnet (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Grabit AS
    Inventor: Kjell Adeler
  • Patent number: 6799880
    Abstract: Illumination devices comprising a light source and a light fiber are reported. The light fiber is optically coupled to the light source such that at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source impinges on the input end of the light fiber. The light fiber comprises an elongate polymeric core having an input end for receiving light from a light source, an output end for emitting light transmitted through the core, and a lateral surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the core between the input end and the output end. The light fiber includes a light-emitting region including at least one optical element that directs light traveling though the light fiber out of at least a portion the lateral surface of the light fiber in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis. A continuous outer cladding layer comprising a polymeric material having a lower index of refraction than the core extends over the lateral surface of the core and the optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John E. Gozum, Thomas J. Reid, Gerald L. Uhl
  • Patent number: 6799862
    Abstract: A miniature flashlight consists of a housing, a light emitting diode (LED), a pair of batteries, and a flexible cover and a contact clip that acts as a switch. The LED has a head portion and two contact arms. One of the contact arms is shorter than the other and is displaced at a slight angle relative to the longer contact arm. The LED is received in a seat formed in the housing with the head portion of the diode received in an aperture in the side wall of the housing. The longer contact arm is captured in a channel formed in the bottom wall. The shorter contact arm rests on a shoulder that forms part of the LED seat. A pair of coin cell batteries are received within another seat formed in housing. The lower battery sits on top of the longer contact arm captured in the channel of the bottom wall. A resilient plastic cover is assembled with the housing to maintain the diode and the batteries within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Robert D. Galli
  • Patent number: 6799879
    Abstract: An optical system forms an image of a light source, such as a short arc lamp, particularly of a high numerical aperture, via a spherical, concave reflector onto the entrance surface of a light guide. The reflector is asymmetrically arranged to the light source, and the latter has a relative large angular distance from the axis of symmetry of the reflector, so that the light guide in the path of reflected rays has also a large angular distance from this axis of symmetry and, hence, from the hot light source. In the path of rays between the light source and the spherical, concave reflector is a cylindrical lens, preferably a circular cylindrical lens, of positive diffraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Photonic Optische Geräte, Ges. m.b.H. & Co.KG
    Inventor: Helmut Zehetner
  • Patent number: 6799866
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a patterned frame of a lighting string, which includes several similar patterned frames with different dimensions. Each of the patterned frames can be independently use for connecting with the bulb of the lighting string as a decoration. Every patterned frame can be assembled as a single patterned frame for providing a various decorative display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Ching-Huai Chen
  • Patent number: 6799878
    Abstract: The present invention is a fiber-optic illuminator with a single or multiple internal turret used for connecting the illuminator with different fiber-optic cables. The internal turret may be incrementally rotated by a handle to present a customized predetermined port for a predetermined fiber-optic cable in optical communication with the light source. Incremental indexing rotation is accomplished through use of a biased bearing mechanism located inside the illuminator. The turret has cooling fins distant from the handle turned by the operator. The turret may carry a tubular lens for internal reflection of the illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Jack Klootz
  • Patent number: 6799877
    Abstract: An emergency light signal adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle using at least one motor vehicle license plate mounting bolt. The light signal is comprised of a signal housing having at least one high-intensity light-emitting diode deriving power from circuitry which when activated from within the passenger compartment of a vehicle, generates a brilliant flashing signal to draw the attention of nearby vehicles or pedestrians. The switch within the passenger compartment may be hardwired to the signal hot using or alternatively may be activated by remote control. The light signal may draw power from either the vehicle's own battery, or may be powered by a separate voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Don't Die, LLC
    Inventors: Leslie Watkins, Michael Alerich
  • Patent number: 6796685
    Abstract: A variable color filter for fluorescent lamps has a color tube supporting colored filter strips disposed longitudinally along the color tube so that the strips are circumferentially adjacent to each other. A motor rotates the color tube inside a mask so that an aperture in the mask limits emission to light filtered by only a circumferential portion of the color tube. A controller positions the color tube in relation to the aperture to achieve a desired coloring of light emitted by the lamp tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Bruce Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur T. Nemirow
  • Patent number: 6796669
    Abstract: The illuminating device includes a light source and a light guide plate. The light guide plate has a first side surface receiving light emitted from the light source, a second side surface facing the first side surface, a third side surface, a fourth side surface, an emitting surface and an opposing surface. The third and fourth side surfaces are located between the first and second side surfaces so as to face each other, and the emitting surface and the opposing surface face each other. The light guide plate is formed from a first light guide layer and a second light guide layer. The first light guide layer has a plurality of reflecting films therein for reflecting light entering the light guide plate through the first side surface toward the emitting surface. The second light guide layer has no reflecting film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Masuda