Patents by Inventor Kathleen D. Dunn Thompson

Kathleen D. Dunn Thompson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Accordion mount for solar cells including point-of-purchase display with leds
    Patent number: 5012160
    Abstract: A display assembly particularly for the point-of-purchase field utilizes a light source to power the display. A solar cell is electrically connected, through a simple flashing circuit, to an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The diodes have a current usage of about 2 ma or less; e.g., they may be double heterojunction AlGaAs/GaAs material. The circuit has a current drain of about 0.1 ma or less. The solar cell may be mounted between an artificial light source (such as a fluorescent bulb) and a surrounding metal housing by sheet material having an undulating (e.g., accordion) configuration. Transparent UV inhibited plastic film tape may attach the solar cell to a central undulation of the sheet material while magnets strips attach side edges of the sheet material to a metal housing, so that the solar cell is in close proximity to (e.g., touches) the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Colorado Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Kathleen D. Dunn Thompson