Patents Examined by Thomas Sember
  • Patent number: 8573813
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming a LED-based light for replacing a conventional fluorescent bulb in a fluorescent light fixture including providing a heat sink of highly thermally conductive material having opposing longitudinally extending edges, mounting a plurality of LEDs in thermally conductive relation with the heat sink and enclosing the plurality of LEDs within a light transmitting cover such that the longitudinally extending edges engage an interior of the cover to support the heat sink within the light transmitting cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: iLumisys, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ivey, David L. Simon
  • Patent number: 8573822
    Abstract: In a vehicular lamp, a first zone includes a first incident portion disposed on a radiation axis. A first light guide portion guides light incident from the first incident portion forward. A first radiation portion formed from a first concave surface and a second concave surface deflects the light from the first light guide portion toward a lamp optical axis side and radiates such light forward in a diffused manner. A second zone includes a cylindrical second incident portion disposed on an outer side of the first incident portion. A second light guide portion that is longer in the direction of the radiation axis than the first light guide portion guides light incident from the second incident portion forward. A cylindrical second radiation portion radiates the light from the second light guide portion forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuuji Ishihara
  • Patent number: 8573797
    Abstract: A lighting device is mounted onto a support structure, e.g., helmet. The lighting device includes a light body having forward facing light sources including a visible white light source, visible colored light source, an infrared light source and a side facing IFF light source. The light body includes switches for activating the visible light sources and a three-position switch for activating the IR and light sources. The light body mounts onto a mount assembly and includes a connector arrangement for slidably connecting to a platform of the mount assembly. A base member of the mount assembly includes a clamp that connects to a support structure. The light body and platform member may be swivelly moved relative to the base member by forcing the light body and platform member away from the base member and rotating the same. Also disclosed is boost circuitry, battery chemistry detection and control modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Spartano, Frank F. Huang, Peter F. Hoffman, Mark A. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8568011
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a daylighting apparatus comprising an internally reflective tube configured to direct daylight from a first end of the tube to a second end of the tube opposite the first end. A diffuser can be positioned at the second end of the tube. The diffuser can comprise a first optical structure configured such that, when the daylighting apparatus is installed with the first end positioned outside a room and the second end positioned to provide light to the room, a reflected portion of the daylight is directed towards at least one upper region (e.g., a ceiling or upper wall surface) of the room and a transmitted portion of the daylight is directed towards at least one lower region (e.g., a floor surface) of the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Windsor Rillie, Keith Robert Kopitzke, Ding Yao Shay, Paul August Jaster
  • Patent number: 8562158
    Abstract: A device having built-in digital data means is powered by an unlimited power source for a lamp-holder, LED bulb, light device connected to unlimited power source by prongs or a base that can be inserted into a socket that would otherwise receiving a bulb. The device may take the form of a webcam having auto tracking functions and retractable prongs that plug directly into a wall outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: Tseng-Lu Chien
  • Patent number: 8550665
    Abstract: A backlight unit capable of emitting heat smoothly and a display device including the same are disclosed. The backlight unit includes a bottom cover, a light emitting module arranged in a predetermined area of the bottom cover, a reflective sheet provided on the bottom cover, the reflective sheet spaced apart a predetermined distance from the bottom cover, a plurality of first heat radiating members provided between the reflective sheet and the bottom cover, the plurality of the first heat radiating members spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other, a second heat radiating member arranged between the light emitting module and the first heat radiating members, and a projected part located in the second heat radiating member below the reflective sheet, the projected part supporting the reflective sheet to locate the reflective sheet spaced apart a predetermined distance from the first heat radiating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: LG Innotex Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Kug Yu, Sung Yong Park, Young Bae Jang
  • Patent number: 8545041
    Abstract: A mounting clip for attaching objects, such as flashlights to an article, such as a hat or belt, includes a clip portion dimensioned for attaching the clip to the article and an object mounting portion formed with the clip portion. Objects of different widths are removably yet snugly grasped within the object mounting portion. The clip portion includes upper and lower members defining a slot for receiving the article through a lip of the slot and frictionally securing the clip to the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: MSB Incorporated
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Brown
  • Patent number: 8534886
    Abstract: An exterior mirror vision system for a vehicle includes driver-side and passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assemblies including respective driver-side and passenger-side light modules and driver-side and passenger-side cameras. The light modules are sealed so as to be substantially water-impervious, and the light modules provide at least one of (a) a driver-side floodlight and a passenger-side floodlight and (b) a driver-side indicator and a passenger-side indicator. The driver-side camera and the passenger-side camera are part of a multi-camera vision system of the vehicle, and the multi-camera vision system has a display device that is operable to display images for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. The displayed images displayed by the display device include an image portion derived from image data captured by at least one of the driver-side camera and the passenger-side camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Pastrick, Michiel P. van de Ven, Peter J. Whitehead, Rick Mousseau, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 8534890
    Abstract: A light pipe assembly includes a light pipe and an optical concentrator. The light pipe is elongated between opposite ends along a longitudinal axis. The light pipe is formed from a light transmissive material. The optical concentrator is joined to the first end of the light pipe and includes an end section and an opposite coupling end connected to the first end of the light pipe. The end section is configured to receive light generated by a light source. The optical concentrator is formed from a light transmissive material that conveys light through the optical concentrator. The optical concentrator focuses the light generated by the light source into the first end of the light pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Canada ULC
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Goto, Dragos Luca
  • Patent number: 8529092
    Abstract: An assembled type lamp wall comprises a base, at least one fastening holder and at least one lamp panel, wherein the fastening holder has a fitting portion provided for joining the base and a bottom portion that is stably in contact with ground. The fitting portion of the fastening holder is disposed with at least one screw through hole. The base has a plurality of screw holes aligning the at least one screw through hole and respectively and circularly disposed at a location of joining the fastening holder so that the several lamp panels can be horizontally extended and arranged on the base, and other screw holes align the screw through holes on the fastening holder, and a purpose of easily regulating the lamp panels 30 can be easily achieved by means of screwing the screw into the screw hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Ming-Tsun Lin
  • Patent number: 8523382
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp fixture for mounting a ballast and at least one fluorescent lamp and a method of dissipating heat from the same is disclosed. The fixture comprises a molded housing defining a groove and a hat-shaped metal strip having an outer wall with at least two surfaces in contact with the sides of the groove and at least one flange in contact with the top of the housing. The metal strip also has a pair of inner walls positioned relative to the outer wall so as to define a chamber. At least one fastener is slidably held by the strip such that a portion of the fastener is retained within the chamber and slides along the inner walls. The fastener secures a ballast in direct contact with the flanges whereby heat from the ballast is transferred to the metal strip and dissipated from the housing during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Koller Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bush, Charles S. Oldani
  • Patent number: 8523388
    Abstract: A planar LED lighting apparatus includes a housing and multiple LEDs. The housing includes a reflective face and a light output surface opposing the reflective face. The multiple LEDs are mounted on sidewalls of the housing, and the axial light of the multiple LEDs is incident on the reflective face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nan Ya Photonics Inc.
    Inventor: Bor-Jen Wu
  • Patent number: 8523423
    Abstract: An LED mounting seat includes a main body having a supporting surface that abuts against a light emitting portion of an LED, a connecting end that is connected to a circuit board, and a side surface that interconnects the supporting surface and the connecting end. The side surface is formed with a pair of lateral grooves. Each of the lateral grooves is defined by a groove-defining surface that has an abutting surface portion facing an opening of the corresponding one of the lateral grooves. The LED has two leads extending respectively through the lateral grooves and abutting respectively against the abutting surface portions of the groove-defining surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Quan Mei Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kuo-Hsien Huang
  • Patent number: 8511863
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a luminaire includes a thermal radiation member, and a light source unit provided on a front side of the thermal radiation member. The thermal radiation member has plural support walls provided on a rear surface radially about a substantially central portion of the rear surface toward an outer periphery, and plural thermal radiation fins provided on the rear surface, being away from each other and substantially parallel to each other toward the outer periphery from neighboring wall surface sides of the plural support walls. The light source unit includes a light-emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Masuda, Kazunari Higuchi, Ryotaro Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8511847
    Abstract: A portable light may comprise: a generally rectangular light body having a pair of opposing extensions or projections thereon, the light body having a generally rectangular cavity for receiving a source of electrical power therein; a generally cylindrical light head rotatably supported between the extensions of the light body adjacent the light body, the light head including a light source for producing light; and a switch for selectively actuating the light source. The light may include interchangeably a generally rectangular battery or a plural cylindrical batteries, and the battery or batteries may be rechargeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond L. Sharrah, Peter J. Ziegenfuss, Brian Orme
  • Patent number: 8511864
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is characterized by providing an optical transfer function between a predetermined illuminated surface pattern, such as a street light pattern, and a predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source, such as that from an LED. A lens is formed having a shape defined by the optical transfer function. The optical transfer function is derived by generating an energy distribution pattern using the predetermined energy distribution pattern of the light source. Then the projection of the energy distribution pattern onto the illuminated surface is generated. The projection is then compared to the predetermined illuminated surface pattern to determine if it acceptably matches. The process continues reiteratively until an acceptable match is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Illumination Management Solutions
    Inventors: Ronald G. Holder, Greg Rhoads
  • Patent number: 8506140
    Abstract: A safety illumination device that is mountable to an edge of a ski or snowboard is provided. The device has a curved exterior housing with a front window panel along the convex front portion, an upper window panel along the top and a concave cutout along the rear portion. A circuit board containing control circuitry, a power source and two arrays of lights is housed within the exterior housing. When the device is turned on, light is emitted through the window panels. This assists persons uphill and downhill from the user to see the user in the dark. Selection of an illumination pattern is controlled by a magnetic wand that the user waves over the upper surface of the device. Users may thus easily operate the device and customize their lighting experience. The device is secured to a ski or snowboard via the concave cutout and a pair of screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Roland Edmisten
  • Patent number: 8506148
    Abstract: A backlight unit 12 includes an LED 16 and a light guide plate 18. The LED 16 has light emitting surfaces 16d, 16e. The light guide plate 18 has light entrance surfaces 18b, 18c and a light exit surface 18d. The light entrance surfaces 18b, 18c are provided to face the light emitting surfaces 16d, 16e respectively and rays of light emitted from the light emitting surfaces 16d, 16e enter the light entrance surfaces 18b, 18c. The rays of light entering the light entrance surfaces 18b, 18c exit from the light exit surface 18d. The light emitting surfaces 16d, 16e include a first light emitting surface 16d substantially parallel to the light exit surface 18d and second light emitting surfaces 16e. A plane on the first light emitting surface 16d crosses a plane on each second light emitting surface 16e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaharu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8491142
    Abstract: Provided is a backlight assembly which can be assembled with increased efficiency and has improved reliability. The backlight assembly includes a fluorescent lamp which includes a fluorescent lamp tube and a pair of lamp leads formed at each end of the fluorescent lamp tube, end caps which surround each end of the fluorescent lamp tube and fix the lamp leads in place, and a power supply terminal units which supply power to the lamp leads, wherein an end cap exposes at least part of each of the lamp leads corresponding thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-Chul Bae
  • Patent number: 8485692
    Abstract: A luminaire with an LED based illumination device having at least one LED includes a transmissive lens element that in combination with reflector is able to generate an output beam with a sharply defined large angle intensity profile. The reflector element is mounted to the LED based illumination device. The transmissive lens element includes first and second interior surfaces and third and fourth exterior surfaces. A portion of light emitted from the LED passes through the first interior surface and the third exterior surface and refracts towards an optical axis of the LED based illumination device, and the reflector element without interacting with the reflector element. Another portion of light emitted from the LED passes through the second interior surface and fourth exterior surface and refracts away from the optical axis to be reflected by the reflector element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventor: Jim W. Li