Abstract: A movable barrier operator mounts to a ceiling or a wall of a garage. The movable barrier operator includes an operator housing with a motor configured to open and close a movable barrier. The movable barrier operator also includes an LED light source mounted to the housing, a light cover, and a light distributing element. The light cover has several side surfaces that surround or covers the light source. The light distributing element mounts relative to the light source and is configured to scatter light projected by the LED light source so that some of the scattered light is directed toward one or more of the side surfaces of the light cover.

Abstract: An electrical fixture includes an electrical fixture housing having a mounting surface, an electrical connector disposed on the mounting surface, and an electrical fixture support. A corresponding cover plate or mounting strap includes an electrical connector configured to electrically connect to hot and neutral lines from a junction box and the corresponding electrical connector disposed on the mounting surface of the electrical fixture. An electrical fixture ground connection separate from the fixture electrical connector electrically connects to an electrical ground from the junction box.

Abstract: An electrical fixture includes an electrical fixture housing having a mounting surface, an electrical connector disposed on the mounting surface, and an electrical fixture support. A corresponding cover plate includes an electrical connector configured to electrically connect to hot and neutral lines from a junction box and the corresponding electrical connector disposed on the mounting surface of the electrical fixture. An electrical fixture ground connection separate from the fixture electrical connector electrically connects to an electrical ground from the junction box.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator mounts to a ceiling or a wall of a garage. The movable barrier operator includes an operator housing with a motor configured to open and close a movable barrier. The movable barrier operator also includes an LED light source mounted to the housing, a light cover, and a light distributing element. The light cover has several side surfaces that surround or covers the light source. The light distributing element mounts relative to the light source and is configured to scatter light projected by the LED light source so that some of the scattered light is directed toward one or more of the side surfaces of the light cover.

Abstract: An electrical fixture includes an electrical fixture housing having a mounting surface, an electrical connector disposed on the mounting surface, and an electrical fixture support. A corresponding cover plate includes an electrical connector configured to electrically connect to hot and neutral lines from a junction box and the corresponding electrical connector disposed on the mounting surface of the electrical fixture. An electrical fixture ground connection separate from the fixture electrical connector electrically connects to an electrical ground from the junction box.

Abstract: An electrical fixture includes an electrical fixture housing having a mounting surface, an electrical connector disposed on the mounting surface, and an electrical fixture support. A corresponding cover plate includes an electrical connector configured to electrically connect to hot and neutral lines from a junction box and the corresponding electrical connector disposed on the mounting surface of the electrical fixture. An electrical fixture ground connection separate from the fixture electrical connector electrically connects to an electrical ground from the junction box.

Abstract: A new method for chromaticity control in light fixtures in which the chromaticity of the light source in the fixture changes with temperature. Chromaticity variations in the light output of the fixture may be minimized by using thermochromic materials incorporated into various optical elements. As the temperature of the light source changes, the optical elements experience similar temperature changes. Changes in reflectance spectrum or transmission spectrum of the thermochromic optical elements modify the chromatic output of the light source in a manner to reduce the chromaticity of the light emitted by the fixture. This is a passive process that requires no additional control electronics or feedback. The method has particular advantages when used with so-called hybrid white light emitting diode products which include a nominally white light emitting diode and a red light emitting diode.

Abstract: Optical extraction efficiencies for GaN based light emitting diodes may be improved by forming titanium dioxide inclusions in a sapphire based substrate. These inclusions increase optical scattering of light that has been injected into the sapphire, thereby improving overall performance of the light emitting diode. A portion of the titanium dioxide inclusions may extend to one or more surfaces of the sapphire. Selective etching may be performed on the surface of the sapphire prior to epitaxial growth of the GaN based light emitting diode. This allows formation of a textured sapphire surface in a single process step without the use of photolithography. This process step as well as additional selective etching of exposed titanium dioxide on other surfaces of sapphire may be performed to further increase LED performance.

Abstract: A composite heat sink with improved mechanical strength and thermal conductivity can be made using a printed circuit board with machined recesses on the back side. The printed circuit board is mated to a heat sink with surface features that match the machined side of the printed circuit board. A thin layer of thermally conductive material such as a gap filler pad, thermal grease, thermal gel, thermal epoxy or the like may be added between the printed circuit board and the heat sink prior to joining them together. Mechanical attachments such as screws, rivets and snap features may be used to form the printed circuit board and the heat sink into a single composite structure. The machined recesses in the printed circuit board are machined from the areas under and near surface mount components that generate a significant amount of heat. This reduces the thickness of printed circuit board material under the surface mount components and significantly improves thermal conduction.

Abstract: A new method of soldering electronic components to printed circuit boards includes a layer of electrical traces with solder pad locations on the top layer. The printed circuit board also includes a series of electrical traces and high electrical resistivity components disposed adjacent to the solder pads. The process for attaching surface mount components includes at least the following steps: applying solder material to the solder pad locations, placing electronic components on the solder material applied to the solder pads, applying an electrical current to the electrical traces connected to the high electrical resistivity components disposed in proximity to the solder pads. This results in highly localized heat generation via Joule heating in the high resistivity electrical components. The electrical current is maintained long enough to heat the solder material to above its reflow temperature.

Abstract: A light guide projects light in an asymmetric pattern. The light guide is installable with respect to a light emitting diode (“LED”) and extends along an optic axis. The light guide projects light with respect to first and second parallel projection planes that are parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of an optic axis. The light guide includes an optic body that extends along the optic axis. The light guide has a proximal end surface configured to receive light from an LED. The light guide also has a distal end surface configured to distribute light emitted by the light emitting diode. The distal end surface can take on various shapes, patterns, and configurations to distribute light asymmetrically with respect to the first and second parallel projection planes.

Abstract: An electrical fixture includes an electrical fixture housing having a mounting surface, an electrical connector disposed on the mounting surface, and an electrical fixture support. A corresponding cover plate includes an electrical connector configured to electrically connect to hot and neutral lines from a junction box and the corresponding electrical connector disposed on the mounting surface of the electrical fixture. An electrical fixture ground connection separate from the fixture electrical connector electrically connects to an electrical ground from the junction box.