Patents Issued in July 1, 2003
  • Patent number: 6585349
    Abstract: A cleaning system and method for an optical apparatus of a printer. A heating apparatus and a cleaning apparatus are provided in the printer to dry deposits on an optical surface of the optical apparatus and to remove them through mechanical engagement. In an inkjet printer, these deposits are typically stray aerosol ink droplets. In some embodiments the optical apparatus is movable, while the cleaning apparatus is fixed; in other embodiments the cleaning apparatus is movable, while the optical apparatus is fixed; in still other embodiments both apparatuses are movable. The cleaning apparatus typically includes a wiper, brush, scraper, or pad. The optical apparatus typically includes one or more optical elements such as a light source, a light sensor, and a lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Damon Howard Lou, Arthur K Wilson, Mark Alan McCluskey
  • Patent number: 6585350
    Abstract: A printing mechanism includes a print module having a printhead, and includes a wiper assembly having a wiper to clean the printhead of ink residue when the wiper and the printhead are in contact and move relative to each other in a first direction. The wiper and the printhead also move relative to each other in a second direction to release a contact tension between the wiper and the printhead. The first direction and the second direction define an arc path that the wiper and/or printhead moves along to controllably release the wiper contact tension to prevent ink residue on the wiper from being deposited in a location that will impair or degrade a desired print quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: John A. Barinaga
  • Patent number: 6585351
    Abstract: An angular wiping system is provided for removing ink residue from an inkjet printhead installed in an inkjet printing mechanism. By canting a wiper blade in opposite directions as the blade moves through a bi-directional wiping stroke, a nozzle portion of the ink-ejecting orifice plate is wiped on both passes of the blade. A pair of non-ink-ejecting side cheeks of the orifice plate laying on opposite sides of the nozzle portion are each wiped once during the bi-directional wiping stroke, with one cheek being wiped while the blade travels in a first direction, and the other cheek being wiped when the blade travels in a direction opposite to the first direction. An inkjet printing mechanism having the angular wiping system and method of wiping using this system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Takaaki Nakagawa, Richard J. Gerth
  • Patent number: 6585352
    Abstract: A compact monochrome ink jet printhead having a staggered high-density arrangement of ink drop generators for high-performance printing. The present invention provides a high-performance design that enable high-resolution and high-speed printing while reducing cost due to an efficient use of printhead space. In particular, the compact, high-performance printhead of the present invention includes several thermally-efficient aspects that allow a large number of ink drop generators to be placed on a compact printhead while minimizing problems such as thermal excursions. In a preferred embodiment, the ink drop generator density on the compact printhead exceeds 10 ink drop generators per square millimeter and the compact printhead contains at least 350 nozzles. The ink drop generators are arranged in at least four parallel rows. Each row is staggered (or offset) relative to an adjacent row to provide a greater effective pitch that a non-staggered arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Torgerson, Angela W. Bakkom, Mark H. MacKenzie
  • Patent number: 6585353
    Abstract: A printing information processing system provided in the present invention calculates the total of printing signal values for printing onto at least one boundary area of the upper and lower adjacent boundary areas included in the upper and lower adjacent scanning print areas formed by print heads, and responding to the magnitude of this total of printing signal values performs correction on the magnitude of the print signal value for printing onto the boundary by the use of the print signal for at least one area of the upper and lower adjacent boundary areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daigoro Kanematsu, Kentaro Yano, Masao Kato, Minako Kato, Mitsuhiro Ono
  • Patent number: 6585354
    Abstract: An image printing apparatus and method capable of preventing any smearing that occurs in printing at the same landing position using nozzles of different colors with a smaller RAM capacity are provided. For this purpose, for example, to prevent any ink smearing that occurs when K (black) ink and color ink are printed at the same landing point, K data in raster data transferred in accordance with the order of drive of the printing elements of a printing head is temporarily stored. In printing color data on the same raster, it is determined whether color data to be printed at the same landing point as that of the K data in the temporary storage area is present. If such data is present, smearing preventing processing is performed. In this way, any smearing between the K (black) ink and color ink can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Otani
  • Patent number: 6585355
    Abstract: An ink-jet printhead having a hemispherical ink chamber and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the ink-jet printhead includes a substrate, in which a manifold for supplying ink, an ink chamber having a substantially hemispherical shape, and an ink channel for supplying ink from the manifold to the ink chamber are integrally formed; a nozzle plate having a multi-layered structure, in which a first insulating layer, a thermally conductive layer formed of a thermally conductive material, and a second insulating layer are sequentially stacked, and having a nozzle, formed at a location corresponding to the center of the ink chamber; a nozzle guide having a multi-layered structure and extending from the edge of the nozzle to the inside of the ink chamber; a heater formed on the nozzle plate to surround the nozzle, and an electrode formed on the nozzle plate to be electrically connected to the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-wook Lee, Hyeon-cheol Kim, Yong-soo Oh
  • Patent number: 6585356
    Abstract: Cylindrically curved slopes successively inner-reflect illumination light which reaches a back face or emission face of a light guide plate via an upper edge of an incidence face. The curved slopes give the light diverse propagation directions after inner-reflection. This avoids the viewer from observing a strongly irradiated edge, thereby reducing reflective appearance. Inner-reflection by the curved slopes also gives diverse propagation directions to illumination light coming via other edges, thereby reducing reflective appearance. Curved surface profile is given to valleys involved in a great number of projection rows running in a direction approximately perpendicular to the incidence face, and may be further given to the projection rows. The valleys are provided with curved surface profile within a curved-surface-profile-giving-area around the incidence face or, in addition to this, around flank faces of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 6585357
    Abstract: An ink jet head has a first cover member having an ink chamber for storing ink. A piezoelectric body is connected to the first cover member and has channels disposed in communication with the ink chamber of the cover member for receiving ink. A plate member has a first surface connected to the first cover member and the piezoelectric body, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, an outer peripheral edge, and openings extending through the first and second surfaces and disposed in communication with a respective one of the channels of the piezoelectric body. A second cover member has a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, and an opening extending from the first surface to the second surface. The plate member is disposed in the opening so that the second cover member surrounds at least a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Shigeharu Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6585358
    Abstract: An ink cartridge (1) for supplying the ink in an ink reserving chamber (3) via an ink supply port (4) into a recording head (21) has a differential pressure valve mechanism (5) disposed between an ink flow port (7) and the ink supply port (4) in the ink reserving chamber (3), whereby the ink is supplied an adequate amount to the recording head (21) by opening or closing the differential pressure valve mechanism (5) in accordance with an ink pressure of the recording head (21). As a result, it is possible to supply the ink at a substantially constant pressure to the recording head without regard to the variation in the amount of ink or the movement of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Usui, Hisashi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 6585359
    Abstract: An ink container for an off-carriage printing system including an ink supply station. The ink container contains a collapsible reservoir filled with ink that is in fluidically connectable to a conduit that leads to a pressure regulator. The outlet of the regulator delivers ink to a printhead. A pressure vessel surrounds the reservoir. The system pressurizes the pressure vessel, which results in pressurized ink being delivered to the regulator. The ink container has a sensor that infers the actual volume of ink in the reservoir by sensing the relative position of the reservoir walls. This sensor is mounted between the pressure vessel and the collapsible reservoir. The sensor is electrically connected to pads that are accessible from the outside of the ink container. Leads route from the pads, through a seal zone, and to the sensor. The seal is provided by a compressed o-ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric L. Gasvoda, Susan M. Hmelar, David O. Merrill, Norman E. Pawlowski, Jr., Rhonda L. Wilson, Dennis W. Houpt, David C. Kamp, Thomas J. Krall, William E. Fillmore
  • Patent number: 6585360
    Abstract: An ink tank, having an ink reservoir separated from an ink supply chamber which contains at least one foam element, is provided with one or more pipes in the partition which separates the ink reservoir from the ink supply chamber. The pipes transport ink from the ink reservoir to a portion of the ink supply chamber which does not contain the at least one foam element. This results in both minimizing leakage from the ink tank when the ink tank's protective seal is removed prior to inserting the ink tank into a print engine, and in more predictable ink supply pressure and accuracy from the ink tank to a print device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Dietl
  • Patent number: 6585361
    Abstract: An ink tank cartridge (A) includes a housing (10) having a plurality of walls forming a cavity. Divider walls (22, 24) divide the cavity into first, second and third chambers (26, 29, 30). Removable spacers (40, 70, 90) further divide each chamber into substantially equally sized sub-chambers (42, 47, 48, 44, 45, 46). Ink absorbing members (100, 102, 104) are inserted into the sub-chambers. The ink absorbing members are compressed by the removable spacers to regulate the flow of ink therethrough. Each of the chambers is filled with inks of different viscosities. The ink absorbing members are compressed in proportion to the viscosity of the ink carried by the ink absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce S. Jones
  • Patent number: 6585362
    Abstract: An ink composition and an ink cartridge having the ink composition are provided. The ink composition includes a colorant and an aqueous carrier, the ink composition having a dissolved gas content of less than 3 ppm as measured on the basis of the amount of dissolved oxygen gas at 20° C. and a static surface tension at 25° C. of greater than 34 dynes/cm. The ink cartridge includes an ink container filled with a liquid ink, the liquid ink having a dissolved gas content of less than 3 ppm as measured on the basis of the amount of dissolved oxygen gas at 20° C. and a static surface tension at 25° C. of greater than 34 dynes/cm. The ink container can be a collapsible bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James W. Blease, L. Ronald Whitlock
  • Patent number: 6585363
    Abstract: In order to deposit a liquid for improving fixing ability and water resistance of an ink at an optimal position in an appropriate amount, to maximize an effect of the liquid, and to easily generate a driving data for ejecting the liquid, low resolution printing data for respective of four printing heads is read out from a frame memory. A logical sum of the printing data is calculated by an OR circuit. Then, the logical sum is processed by a look-up table to generate the driving data for the liquid ejecting head corresponding to high resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Tanaka, Shinji Takagi, Hiroyuki Hyotani, Takehiko Kasamatsu
  • Patent number: 6585364
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for in-line conditioning of swellable print media prior to printing. Treatment with an amphiphilic solvent increases the hydrophilicity of the media surface, thereby accelerating ink penetration and improving image quality in high throughput printing. In addition, ionic components in the treatment fluid can be used to accelerate precipitation of pigment or dye from the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Vladek P Kasperchik, William J Allen
  • Patent number: 6585365
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved paper coating system for ink jet printing applications. The system includes an ink jet printer containing an ink jet pen and a paper coating device for coating a print media with an effective amount of coating composition prior to printing thereon. The coating composition preferably includes from about 0.25 to about 20% by weight of a first component selected from the group consisting of polyvalent metal salt and organic acid, a second component consisting of from about 1 to about 20% by weight amine polymer, from about 0.25 to about 2.0% by weight surfactant and from about 25 to about 96% by weight glycol-based solvent having a surface tension ranging from about 25 to below about 45 dynes/cm. Since the coating composition is free from ethylene glycol-based components, the composition is safer to use and less harmful to humans and the environment. The composition has also been found to provide improved ink drying with less bleeding or smearing of image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: David Starling MacMillan
  • Patent number: 6585366
    Abstract: Provide is a process for forming images comprising the steps of forming images on a recording medium provided with an ink-receiving layer containing inorganic particles using an ink-jet recording method, and laminating a coat layer onto said ink-receiving layer with images formed thereon, wherein said ink-receiving layer is calendered either before forming images on said ink-receiving layer or before laminating said coat layer after forming images on said ink-receiving layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Nagata, Kenji Suzuki, Hiroshi Ochiai, Hiroshi Miyamura, Yoshinari Yasui
  • Patent number: 6585367
    Abstract: Production of a permanent ink-jet image with a fusible, wettable, toner and ink-jetted ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Makarand P Gore
  • Patent number: 6585368
    Abstract: A gear assembly for a print device includes an input gear connected to a drive shaft of a motor, a first output gear and a second output gear. The first output gear operates a transfix roller in the print device and is spaced relative to the input gear to allow teeth of the input gear to mesh with teeth of the first output gear. The first output gear includes a first toothless portion that does not mesh with teeth of the input gear when the input gear is adjacent the first toothless portion. The second output gear operates a drum maintenance system in the print device and is spaced relative to the input gear to allow teeth of the input gear to mesh with teeth of the second output gear. The second output gear includes a second toothless portion that does not mesh with teeth of the input gear when the input gear is adjacent the second toothless portion. The gear assembly further includes a swing arm for rotating the first output gear when the input gear is adjacent the first toothless portion and the.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel C. Park
  • Patent number: 6585369
    Abstract: A method of printing on a household surface can comprise the steps of selecting a household surface for ink-jet printing; preparing the household surface by applying a pre-coat material to the household surface, wherein the pre-coat material can be configured to adhere to the household surface and accept a water-based ink-jet ink composition to a degree greater than the household surface in an uncoated condition; optionally, allowing the pre-coat material to substantially dry on the household surface; and ink-jet printing a color-containing ink-jet ink onto the pre-coat material after the pre-coat material has substantially dried on the household surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Otto K Sievert, David C Tribolet, Stephan W. Emmenegger
  • Patent number: 6585370
    Abstract: Eyeglasses having a lens frame removably attached to an eyewear platform using different attachment devices such as magnets, clips, or other attachment devices that provide effective resistance from said lens frame from becoming involuntarily detached from said eyewear platform. This eyewear allows the user to quickly and easily change lenses or sunglasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Gary M. Zelman
  • Patent number: 6585371
    Abstract: The structure of changeable spring of industrial glasses comprises a plastic glasses frame; a hinge means comprising a first hinge member and a second hinge member, the first hinge member fixed on one the of the glasses frame and pivotally connected with one side of the second hinge member by a screw, the other side of the second hinge member being form a hole of the screw thread; a spring; a rivet pin connected to the hole of the second hinge member and fixed by screw thread; two glasses temples formed a tunnel in the top, located the spring and the rivet pin, and the side of the glasses temple top located a pit; and a assembly element which the part of it put into the tunnel of the glasses temple and located a recess, the dimension the same as the rivet pin, connected with the spring and the rivet pin and the portion of it as a cap filled with the pit of the glasses temple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Gazelle Corporation
    Inventor: Kuo-Tseng Lin
  • Patent number: 6585372
    Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a link structure between a temple arm and a bracket capable of giving an appropriate resistance to the deploying and folding motion of the temple arm and of producing a characteristic variation of deploying and folding motion of the temple arm with the minimum number of parts and without screwing or soldering, to provide a link structure between a temple arm and a bracket presenting a visually simple and esthetic appearance to eyeglasses, and to provide eyeglasses having such a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Koji Nagayoshi
  • Patent number: 6585373
    Abstract: An optical-quality part such as an ophthalmic lens is provided having a PET polarizing film integrally bonded thereto and, optionally, a hard coating integrally bonded to either the PET polarizing film or to the optical construct containing the PET polarizing film. In a preferred construction, the lens material or film may be surface treated, either physically and/or chemically, for integrally bonding the film to the lens material. Similarly, in another preferred construction, the film may be physically and/or chemically surface treated for integrally bonding a hard coating to the PET film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Younger Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Russell E. Evans, Thomas Balch, Edward A. Beeloo, Nancy L. S. Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 6585374
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus includes a diaphragm, a photo taking system, having a mirror system with a deflection mirror, for taking an eye fundus through the mirror which is disposed in a position nearer to an eye to be examined than to the diaphragm on an optical path, and a controller. The controller controls the photo taking optical system so as to perform photo taking plural times by changing directions of the mirrors, so that a plurality of images for the eye fundus are obtained from a plurality of directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6585375
    Abstract: A method of producing intra-ocular lenses or contact lenses including the following steps: a) mechanically forming a lens blank such that it is suitable for correcting an ametropic visual defect, b) measuring the aberration of an eye to be corrected, c) calculating an ablation profile with respect to the lens blank on the basis of the measured aberration, and d) ablating material of the lens blank in accordance with the calculated ablation profile by means of laser radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Wavelight Laser Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christof Donitzky, Maximilian Reindl
  • Patent number: 6585376
    Abstract: Test charts for metamorphopsia comprises a plurality of dotted lines of predetermined lengths, preferably of the same length. The dotted lines consist of a dotted line (a) having a smallest constant inter-dot interval, a dotted line (b) (see FIG. 10) having a largest constant inter-dot interval, and remaining dotted lines (cn) (see FIGS. 2-10) having constant inter-dot intervals, respectively, which fall within an intermediate interval range between the smallest constant inter-dot interval and the largest constant inter-dot interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Inami & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chota Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6585377
    Abstract: Device and method that allows an objective measure to be taken of the size and morphological pattern of the degradation of the image in scotopic vision. It consists of a black front screen (1) which has a central luminous source (2) surrounded by a grid of circular light spots (3) which at the beginning of the test light up sequentially or at random, according to the method selected, from the nearest to the central source of glare in a centrifuge fashion to the outermost, and a trigger which the patient will press every time he can discriminate the presence of each of the spots in 12 meridians. The non-discriminated or hidden spots will border an area which is interpreted as being occupied by the light aberration and is used as a basis for calculating the glare index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Novosalud, S.L.
    Inventors: Angel Ramón Gutiérrez Ortega, Miguel Ortega Tomás, Salvador Santos Pacheco, Emilio Sanz Amorós, Félix Santatecla Carro, Vicente Castelló Picó, José Rubira Fernández, Santiago Fombuena Gómez, Emilio Villaseca Buitrago, Javier Mares Antón, Jose Luis Rodriguez Rodriguez, Jaime Miralles del Imperial Mora
  • Patent number: 6585378
    Abstract: A digital cinema projector (100) for projection of color images onto a display surface comprises a light source (116), which produces a beam of light. Beam-shaping optics (130) homogenize and focus the beam of light and color splitting optics (132) separate focus beam of light into separate color beams. A first modulation optics system comprises a prepolarizer (212), which prepolarizes a first color beam; a wire grid polarization beamsplitter (224), which transmits a first predetermined polarization state of the prepolarized beam; a reflective spatial light modulator (204), which alters the transmitted prepolarized beam with information and reflects the image bearing first color beam through the wire grid polarization beamsplitter (224); and a wire grid polarization analyzer (228), which transmits the image bearing first color beam and attenuates unwanted polarization components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew F. Kurtz, Joshua M. Cobb, David Kessler, Barry D. Silverstein, Michael E. Harrigan
  • Patent number: 6585379
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a light modulation device that does not produce scattered reflection comprising: a step of forming a release layer whereby a release layer that produces separation in response to irradiation with incoming light is formed on a heat-resistant substrate having the capability of withstanding heat; a step of forming a piezoelectric layer whereby a piezoelectric layer is formed on the release layer; a patterning step whereby an electrode pattern is formed in respect of the piezoelectric layer and mirror elements are formed at each pixel; a connection step of electrically connecting the active element substrate wherein active elementary elements are provided for each pixel and the piezoelectric layer laminated on the heat-resistant substrate such that the active elements correspond to mirror elements; and an irradiating separation step whereby separation is produced in the release layer by irradiating the release layer with irradiating light from the side of the heat-resis
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Yokoyama, Tatsuya Shimoda, Satoru Miyashita
  • Patent number: 6585380
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus comprises a plurality of light source sections, an integrator section, and a mirror element. Each light source section is constituted by a luminous body and a reflector comprising an ellipsoidal surface having one focal point located near the center of gravity of the luminous body. The integrator section is constituted by at least two integrator plates, arranged in the optical axis direction of light, for homogenizing the quantity of light emitted from the light source sections. The mirror element has a reflecting surface near the other focal point of the ellipsoidal surface of at least one reflector, and reflects the luminous flux from the light source group toward the integrator section. The optical axis of the illumination apparatus as a whole and the optical axis of at least one reflector form a predetermined angle therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chikara Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6585381
    Abstract: The presentation and storage folder (10) allows filing of transparencies in a normal binder (1) and in addition allows projecting these on an overhead projector (2) without detaching these from their binder. The folder is composed of at least three leaves the first of which (11) allows to file it in a classical binder, the last (13) being composed of the transparency or of a transparent pocket which can contain the transparency proper whereas the leaf or leaves in between (12) allow to unfold the folder and place the transparency on the glass of an overhead projector without needing to detach the folder from the binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Albert Jan Ijspeert
  • Patent number: 6585382
    Abstract: An optical system having at least one switched mirror for switching and routing at least one incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The switched mirrors are controlled by a voltage source and based upon the desired controllability of the switched mirrors and wide range of switching and or routing of an optical signal can be effected. In addition by the selective placement of components with the optical system polarization effects can be controlled with the optical system to more effectively provide for subsequent signal transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas W. Stone
  • Patent number: 6585383
    Abstract: A micromachined apparatus for reflecting light is described that is designed to reduce losses in quality or intensity of light. Mirrors are used having lengths that are longer than their widths to reduce clipping of light when a mirror is located at an angle with respect to light falling thereon. Relatively long mirror torsion components are used to reduce forces required to pivot the mirrors. Regardless of the dimensions of the mirrors and the use of long torsion components, the mirrors are still located relatively close to one another. The relatively close positioning of the mirrors is due to a combined use of notches formed in support frames to which the torsion components are secured, oval shapes of the mirrors which take up less space than rectangular shapes, matching oval openings in the support frames, and the arrangement of the support frames in a non-rectangular array wherein tips of the support frames are located between one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Calient Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Jonathan Helkey
  • Patent number: 6585384
    Abstract: A wireless remote controlled mirror enabling a user to selectively adjust a view from a remote location. A preferred embodiment enables a driver to remotely control a mirror attached to a rear seat of a vehicle to remotely adjust the view of a child in a rear-facing safety seat. A preferred embodiment includes a base that mounts to an object (such as the safety seat or the rear seat), a reflective lens that moves relative to the base, one or more electric motors to drive the reflective lens, and a receiver that detects a command signal from a wireless remote controller and energizes the one or more motors to reorient the reflective lens to view the child. The mirror can alternatively be mounted on other portions of a vehicle, e.g., as a remote controlled side mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: N-K Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Erik R. Nielsen, Paul R. Illian, Sr., John H. Moselage, Adam L. Smith, Gordon Keller
  • Patent number: 6585385
    Abstract: A light conducting body has a generally conical through bore defined therein. The conical through bore includes a front bore part defined by a sloped surface and a rear bore part defined by a concave surface. A light conducting dial board is installed in the conical through bore with its front face facing forward and positioned in the vicinity of the junction portion between the front and rear bore parts. The dial board has a peripheral edge separated from the inner wall surface of the conical through bore thereby to define therebetween a circumferentially extending space. A light conducting supporting plate is attached to a rear surface of the dial board. The supporting plate is formed with a light transmitting portion which extends rearward and has an rear end intimately received in a recess formed in the rear end of the light conducting body. A plurality of light sources are positioned behind the rear end of the light conducting body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Nakagawa, Tatsuo Sato
  • Patent number: 6585386
    Abstract: A light pipe in which light incident on an incident side surface (13) is outputted from a lower surface (12) through a light output means formed on an upper surface (11), the direction of the largest intensity of the light outputted from the lower surface is within an angle of 30 degrees to a normal line with respect to a reference plane of the lower surface, the largest intensity of light leaking from the upper surface in the direction within the angle of 30 degrees is not higher than 1/5 as high as the largest intensity at the lower surface, and the light pipe has a hard coat layer-on the upper surface so that light incident on the lower surface is transmitted from the upper surface; a surface light source device having a light source disposed on the incident side surface of the light pipe; and a reflection type liquid-crystal display device having a liquid-crystal cell provided with a reflection layer disposed on the lower surface side of the surface light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Shuuji Yano, Seiji Umemoto
  • Patent number: 6585387
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hanging bubble lamp, which includes a conductive receiver with a sleeve to receive a water tube therein and two conductive wires extended downward. The ends of the tube and the sleeve are engaged within a holder, which has two conductive slices to electrically contact with the conductive wires and a heating bulb in a connector in the holder. By used of the conductive, the water tube of the bubble lamp will be kept in a hanging position for providing a special decorative effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Chun Teng Lee
  • Patent number: 6585388
    Abstract: A ball pen including a light emitting device is provided. In the ball pen, a light emitting diode (LED) is enclosed in a figurine attached to the end of the ball pen and two electric wires are connected to the LED. One of the wires is connected to one electrode of a battery and the other is in contact with a cone-shaped spring positioned at the lower portion of the battery. The cone of the cone-shaped spring is pushed up by an ink cartridge, making the cone-shaped spring come into contact with one electrode of the battery, so that an electric current flows through a circuit including the battery and the LED, thereby illuminating the LED. A stick is firmly engaged with the push button member and thus, the push button member is pushed to make inclined surfaces of a cylinder-rotation sawtooth and an inclined protruding stopper, which are formed in a rotational cylinder, glide along the inclined surfaces of the cylinder-rotation side protrusions, thereby rotating the rotational cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Jin-woong Kim
  • Patent number: 6585389
    Abstract: A luminaire, of the ceiling-mounted type or of the type for recessed fitting in ceilings and walls for interior lighting, comprising a hollow body which is shaped like a paraboloid and forms a back on an upper part and an opening on a lower part, the body accommodating a light source in its internal cavity; the internal surface of the body is divided into sectors which form receptacles that can be engaged detachably by a plurality of reflective laminar elements in order to form various hues, chromatic compositions and/or light distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: 3F Filippi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Romano Bonazzi
  • Patent number: 6585390
    Abstract: An illuminated decorative purse, structured partially or fully of transparent material, whether it be of clear transparency, or colored transparency, may include within its interior a battery pack and circuitry, into which one or more cable-like electroluminescent light source may locate, be plugged into, and for illuminating the interior of the purse, and radiating its light waves exteriorly, to furnish a colorful display of white or other colored light from the purse as a novelty and attention gathering item. A false bottom or other compartment may be provided within the purse, for containment of the battery pack and its circuitry, and into which the cable-like sources may be plugged into, during usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventors: Eric Craig Stone, Ann Lindberg Stone
  • Patent number: 6585391
    Abstract: A flashlight with unique flashlight electrical connections, including a switch structure featuring a switch requiring a small amount of force, and a short stroke distance to actuate, attached to a member on which a circuit adding additional functions to the flashlight may be located. The member has conductive springs attached to either end that are used to complete the electrical circuit with the battery and the lamp, while their compressive force is absorbed by a housing protecting the switch structure. A conductive strip is used to improve the conductivity of the circuit in a metal flashlight which has been provided with an electrically resistive protective coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nordic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg W. Koch, Bruce K. Bangerter, Kevin E. Collier, Darrell B. Steinicke
  • Patent number: 6585392
    Abstract: A portable dual lamp set consists of a base frame and a lamp casing mounted to the base frame for housing a germicidal lamp and a black-glass lamp. The base frame has a pedestal and a flange for fastening the lamp casing through an adjustment screw bolt and a screw nut to form an upright position or tilted at selected angles to suit different utilization. The lamp casing may also be detached for using separately. The lamp set provides dual effects for inspection and sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventors: Jong-Jiing Shiau, Chi-Te Su
  • Patent number: 6585393
    Abstract: A light fixture uses printed circuit boards and is adapted to be modularly connected to other similar light fixtures to allow for any configuration of a light fixture to be provided. The light fixture may include a plurality of printed circuit boards which are removably provided in the light fixture and which simplify the manufacturing, substantially reduce the cost and size of the lighting system. More specifically, the light fixture includes a housing having first and second ends, electrical endcaps located at the first and second ends of the housing and at least one printed circuit board disposed inside of the housing and electrically connected to at least one of the electrical endcaps, the printed circuit board including a socket containing a lamp contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Satco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Brandes, Stephen E. Blackman
  • Patent number: 6585394
    Abstract: An outdoor light string support system for supporting and organizing string lights beneath an eave of a building. The outdoor light string support system, includes a support member having a first member, a second member extending downwardly from an edge of the first member, a third member traversely extending from the second member, and a plurality of apertures within the third member for receiving a plurality of bulbs or branch wires from a light string. The first member is formed to be frictionally received between the lower edge of the fascia and the soffit of a building eave. The plurality of bulbs are sufficiently exposed from within the apertures to be seen from the front of the building with the main wire of the light string hidden behind the second member. In an alternative embodiment, an S-shaped hook member is attached to each of the apertures for supporting the light string a finite distance below the third member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Raffaele Diaco
  • Patent number: 6585395
    Abstract: A light source for stage, theatrical and architectural lighting that includes a plurality of separate flat and rigid panels for mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit light beams to a common focus area, each separate panel having grouped diodes of the plurality of diodes, and having inner and outer panel portions. A housing for the panels has a center base portion and an aperture/plane rim transverse to an axis aligned with the center base portion. A first connection flexibly secures each outer panel portion to the rim. A screw positions the panels at selected positions wherein each is oriented at a selected angle relative to the axis and the diodes emit light beams transverse to each separate panel. A second connection flexibly secures each inner panel portion to the screw. The panels hold the diodes and include circuit boards for powering the diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Altman Stage Lighting Co., Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Luk
  • Patent number: 6585396
    Abstract: Disclosure is made of a fluorescent light fixture having longitudinal light reflectors and each end of the light reflectors attached to socket mount/wire raceway arms attached to ends of ballast channel assembly and sockets for fluorescent light tubes mounted on socket mount/wire raceway arms at each end of the longitudinal light reflectors on the concave side, and fluorescent light tubes inserted into fluorescent light tube sockets on the concave side of the light reflectors. The geometry of the cross section parabola of the reflectors is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Patent number: 6585397
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to effectively utilize the light rays emitted from a light source lamp 1, and, for accomplishing this object, a reflector 2 is made up of a first parabolic reflector 3 designed for reflecting light rays coming from the light source lamp 1 to be outputted as light rays parallel to the optical axis 6, second parabolic reflector 4 designed for reflecting light rays coming from the light source lamp 1 as outwardly inclined parallel light rays, and circular truncated conic reflector 5 for reflecting light rays coming from the second parabolic reflector 4 and outputted as light rays parallel to the optical axis 6. In this fashion, light rays which cannot be outputted due to being in the shadow of the spherical light source lamp can be outputted as light rays parallel to the optical axis 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventor: Naoki Ebiko
  • Patent number: 6585398
    Abstract: A post top deck light fixture having a user adjustable reflector which allows a user to adjust light distribution in a desired manner. The fixture comprises a base, a refractor having at least one prismatic surface, a reflector having a light blocking member depending therefrom by a perforated connection, and a roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group, LLC
    Inventor: Eric O. M. Haddad