Patents Issued in November 6, 2007
  • Patent number: 7290865
    Abstract: Individual electrodes each substantially shaped like a parallelogram are arranged on a piezoelectric sheet in an actuator unit. A land portion is electrically connected to one of acute-angled portions of each individual electrode. Each land portion is disposed between other two adjacent individual electrodes. A C-shaped groove portion is formed around each land portion so as to pierce the piezoelectric sheet along the outer shape of the land portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Hibi, Atsuo Sakaida
  • Patent number: 7290866
    Abstract: An ink discharging apparatus includes a channel unit and actuators. The channel unit has a manifold and separate ink channels, and includes an actuator plate. The ink channels extend from the manifold, each via a pressure chamber to a nozzle. The actuators are fixed to the channel unit, each of which changes the volume of one of the pressure chambers. Each of the pressure chambers is fitted with a barrier block in its bottom surface. The barrier block crosses the line segment connecting an ink inlet port and an ink outlet port. The barrier block has a height which makes no contact with the actuator plate, which is displaced partially when one or more of the actuators are driven. The ink discharger is low in power consumption and can be manufactured at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 7290867
    Abstract: A liquid delivering apparatus including: at least one piezoelectric element; a plurality of electrodes which generate an electric field for deforming the at least one piezoelectric element; a drive circuit which supplies a drive voltage to the plurality of electrodes; a plurality of liquid chambers which store liquid, the liquid being given pressure by deformation of the at least one piezoelectric element, so that the liquid is delivered from the plurality of liquid chambers to an exterior of the apparatus; and an insulating sheet and a plurality of wires which connect the plurality of electrodes to the drive circuit, the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of wires being formed on the insulating sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Kobayashi, Chikamasa Hattori
  • Patent number: 7290868
    Abstract: There are provided driving electrodes (25) on walls (24) separating both sides of individual ink chambers (22) formed in the form of an array of multiple grooves. External circuit connecting electrodes (11) for connecting these driving electrodes (25) to an external circuit are formed on exposed surface regions of electrically conductive material (10) filled in the individual ink chambers (22) at a rear end portion of a head. Each of the aforesaid exposed surface regions has an area larger than the cross-sectional area of each ink chamber as measured along a direction perpendicular to the ink chamber array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sakamoto, Tomoyuki Sagara, Shigeaki Kakiwaki, Hirotsugu Matoba
  • Patent number: 7290869
    Abstract: A multicolor-use ink cartridge 1 has obverse surface-side ink chambers 5(1) and 5(2) formed on an obverse surface side of a horizontal plate portion 31 of a rigid plastic plate 3 and reverse surface-side ink chambers 6(1) and 6(2) formed on a reverse surface side thereof. Since these ink chambers are arranged in a breadthwise direction so as to be staggered in a mutually overlapping state with the horizontal plate portion 31 interposed therebetween, it is possible to make small the dimension in a direction in which the ink chambers are arranged. The respective ink chambers are formed by joining flat portions 53b to 64b of three-dimensionally molded flexible plastic films 53, 54, 63, and 64 to obverse surface-side recesses 51 and 52 formed on the obverse surface of the horizontal plate portion 31 and reverse surface-side recesses 61 and 62 formed on the reverse surface thereof, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to form ink chambers having high sealability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiro Hanaoka
  • Patent number: 7290870
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a communication path coupled to an ink supply portion and configured to dispense ink from an interior of an ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber via an opening, and the communication path has a center line. The ink cartridge also includes a movable member which has a signal blocking portion provided at a first end of the movable member, ant the signal blocking portion is disposed within an inner space of a translucent portion. The movable member also includes a float provided at a second end of the movable member opposite the first end of the movable member, and the float is disposed within the ink chamber and has a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of the ink within the ink chamber. Moreover, the float is configured to move between a first position and a second position based at least on an amount of ink disposed within the ink chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Hattori, Tomohiro Kanbe, Toyonori Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7290871
    Abstract: An ink cartridge having ink reservoirs and foam located in a pocketed lid that fits into a cartridge body. Each pocket has an orifice located such as to deliver ink to as ejection device. The ink reservoirs are filled with ink when the pocketed lid is apart from the cartridge body by injecting the ink into the foam through the orifices in the pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Greer, Christopher W. Pevahouse
  • Patent number: 7290872
    Abstract: A system and method for delivering phase change ink to a plurality of printheads is provided. The system includes an ink source having a housing for holding solid phase change ink, an ink melter assembly having a heated ink contact portion for melting the solid phase change ink and a drip point. The system also includes a first conduit for transferring the melted ink to a first printhead, and a second conduit for transferring the melted ink to a second printhead. The method includes melting a solid phase change into the liquid phase, transferring the liquid phase change ink to the first printhead in a first conduit, transferring liquid phase change ink to the second printhead in a second conduit. The solid phase change ink can be stored in a single ink source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Calamita, Daniel W. Costanza, Roger G. Leighton, Michael E. Leo
  • Patent number: 7290873
    Abstract: Ink jet recording is performed using an ink that is adjusted such that the thickness dependence rate determined by dividing the difference in optical density between images having an ink layer thickness of 30 ?m and 15 ?m by the ink layer thickness difference of 15 ?m is less than 0.043 per unit layer thickness of 1 ?m or ?Eab* between the same hues is 8 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Printing Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akemi Ouchi, Tsutomu Maekawa, Hidetoshi Fujii, Kunihiro Tamahashi, Yutaka Shoji
  • Patent number: 7290874
    Abstract: Ink jet printing is provided onto rigid panels such as foamboard and contoured material using ultraviolet (UV) light curable ink, which is first at least partially cured with UV light and then may be subjected to heating. Printhead-to-panel spacing is controllable to maintain a predetermined constant distance from the printing element to the surface of the panel where the ink is to be applied. Each of a plurality of printheads may be independently moveable to control the spacing of the printheads from the substrate surface. Sensors on the printhead carriage measure the shape, or vertical position of, the printhead's distance from the printhead carriage to the surface of the substrate being printed. The position or focal length of the UV light curing head may be varied to maintain focus of the UV light on the ink on a contoured surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Richard N. Codos
  • Patent number: 7290875
    Abstract: A composite lens assembly comprising an electro-active lens assembly, a first lens wafer, and a second lens wafer is provided. The electro-active lens assembly has an upper substrate layer with a planar upper surface and a lower substrate layer with a planar lower surface. The first lens wafer has a planar lower wafer surface adjacent and parallel to the planar upper surface of the upper substrate layer of the electro-active lens assembly. The second lens wafer has a planar upper wafer surface adjacent and parallel to the planar lower surface of the lower substrate layer of the electro-active lens assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventors: Ronald D. Blum, William Kokonaski
  • Patent number: 7290876
    Abstract: A method and system for designing electro-active lenses adapted to correct for a higher-order aberration, whereby a desired pixel size is determined. In certain embodiments, the desired pixel size may be determined by identifying a desired pixel size for an electro-active lens adapted to correct for a conventional aberration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: E-Vision, LLC
    Inventors: Dwight P. Duston, William Kokonaski
  • Patent number: 7290877
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-lens vision correction method and its apparatus that use two lenses to form a lens module as a basic structure, and a lens closer to an eye is a concave lens preferably disposed close to the eye as much as possible for correcting the focusing, so that a myopic person can see an object at a far distance. The invention also corrects myopia with excessive minus optical power compensation, and the lens at a distance farther from the eye is a convex lens having opposite characteristics with the lens at a distance closer to the eye according to the excessive compensation, and the invention uses and selects a lens combination with appropriate optical power, so that the final image is produced at a position closer to the front along the central optic axis, and the virtual image of an object converted by the lens module is designed, controlled and converted at a farther distance to change the previous habit of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventor: Hong-Hsiang Wu
  • Patent number: 7290878
    Abstract: A process for formatting rivalrous fusible images having similarly shaped stimuli of similar binocular luminance and having other similarly shaped stimuli of different binocular luminance, which metamorphose during perception into identifiable shapes that distinguish fusion from suppression. The preferred embodiment is an invertible stereoscope for viewing rivalrous images, non-rivalrous images, and stereograms, having adjustable eyepieces, lighting control of front and rear chambers, and lighting control of right and left sides. In a further preferred embodiment, rivalrous stimuli in a complementary color scheme are viewed on printed material or on a computer screen through lenses of complementary colors. Neutral density filter placement that asymmetrically attenuates light to the eyes for detection of sub-threshold afferent defects is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventor: Albert John Hofeldt
  • Patent number: 7290879
    Abstract: The present invention provides a compound device having an eye refractive power measurement function and an eye accommodation function state measurement function, preventing an increase in size and cost in comparison with a known eye refractive power measurement device, and convenient for the operator even when the measurement type is changed. An eye refractive power measurement device includes a measurement type select switch (30) which selects one of at least two types of measurements including normal refractive power measurement, which measures the refractive power of the subject s eye including spherical power, cylinder power, and astigmatism axis, and eye accommodation function state measurement, which determines a change in the refractive power of the subject s eye for high-frequency components. A refractive power measurement section (40) is a multiple meridian direction refractive power measurement section which can measure the eye refractive power in two or more meridian directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Right Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Nagata, Eishi Aizawa, Tetsurou Nishida
  • Patent number: 7290880
    Abstract: A stereoscopic opthalmoscope for producing a stereoscopic image of an eye fundus, the stereoscopic opthalmoscope including a light source, for emitting a light beam, a light deflector, optically coupled with the light source, for deflecting the light beam into an eye, thereby illuminating the eye fundus of the eye, a relay lens, optically coupled with the eye, for receiving light beams reflected from the eye fundus, thereby producing a relayed three-dimensional image of the fundus, and a stereoscopic imaging apparatus, optically coupled with the relay lens, for stereoscopically acquiring the relayed three-dimensional image. The stereoscopic imaging apparatus includes a dual aperture element, a pixel array image detector and a lenticular lens layer, optically coupled with the pixel array image detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Visionsense Ltd.
    Inventors: Avi Yaron, Mark Schechterman
  • Patent number: 7290881
    Abstract: There is provided an ophthalmologic apparatus that prevents ghost light from generating. In the ophthalmologic apparatus, on an optical path commonly used for an eye fundus illumination optical system and an image taking optical system including an image taking diaphragm, an objective lens for forming an image of the image taking diaphragm onto an anterior ocular segment of an eye to be examined is provided. The objective lens is formed such that the entire light beam from the center of the image taking diaphragm is substantially perpendicularly incident thereon. The objective lens is a refractive index distributed lens in which a refractive index is high in a vicinity of an optical axis and reduces as a distance from the optical axis increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7290882
    Abstract: A hand held device for examining a patient's retina. In one example, the device generates visible or non-visible illuminating beams having desired spectral content. The illuminating beams are then polarized to generate polarized light beam(s) that are directed towards the patient's retina. At the patient's eye, a portion of the polarized beam is partially reflected by the cornea and travels back to the device, and another portion of the polarized beam enters the eye through the undilated pupil, illuminates the patient's retina, and generates a reflected retinal image (generally de-polarized) which also travels back to the device. The device receives the retinal image and transmits certain portions of the retinal image on through to an image detector (i.e., CCD or CMOS); and the device deflects the received polarized corneal reflections away from the image capture device. Hence, the image capture device receives retinal images but does not receive the polarized corneal reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Ocutronics, LLC
    Inventors: William J. Collins, Robert E. Levine
  • Patent number: 7290883
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for projecting video onto a screen. A video unit (10) may comprise a color wheel (14), a light source (12) configured to project light through the color wheel (14) during a spoke time, and a digital micromirror device (18) configured to reflect the projected light (30) onto a screen (26). The method may comprise the acts of shining a generally white light (28) through a region on a color wheel (14) to create a colored light (30), the region comprising two color filters, reflecting the colored light (30) off of a micromirror disposed on a digital micromirror device (18), and projecting the reflected colored light (34) onto a screen (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: TTE Tchnology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent William Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7290884
    Abstract: A concept of improving a resolution by using human's visual characteristics is provided. Bu the present invention, an image can be displayed at a more improved resolution than an actual physical resolution, thereby obtaining the same effect that the resolution is physically improved. An image signal corresponding to one frame is split into a first image signal and a second image signal, and a first image and a second image are formed based on the first image signal and the second image signal. Then, the first image and the second image are respectively displayed at a first location and a second location. As a result, a viewer can view the image at an improved resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In Ho Choi, Sam Nyol Hong, Young Joong Kim, Hee Sool Koo
  • Patent number: 7290885
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a projector assembly including a projection device adapted to project an image, and a user-interface in communication with the projection device. The user-interface may be adapted to privately present user-readable information to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip H. Salvatori, R. David Woolf
  • Patent number: 7290886
    Abstract: An illuminating system and method for improving asymmetric projection includes a light source producing a light beam to form a light path, a projection lens disposed in the light path, a light valve inserted in the light path between the light source and the projection lens, and at least one anamorphic surface unit placed in the light path between the light source and the light valve. The anamorphic surface unit offsets a distortion of a light spot resulted from obliquely incidence on the light valve, thus an asymmetric light spot can be improved as a more symmetric one to increase illuminating collection efficiency and uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chu-Ming Cheng, Yi-Hao Kang
  • Patent number: 7290887
    Abstract: The present invention is addresses to the conventional problem that when the distortion of a projected image that is obliquely projected onto a screen is corrected, an imaging device that is installed near a projection lens for performing an electronic blackboard function directly captures the distortion-corrected image but fails to perform the electronic blackboard function. According to the present invention, an image which is distorted from a rectangular shape into a horizontal and trapezoidal shape in a direction opposite to the direction of the distortion on the screen is displayed on a light bulb and projected through the projection lens. The distortion of the image displayed on the screen is corrected, and the image is visually perceived as a corrected projected image having a rectangular profile. At this time, the imaging device which has captured the corrected projected image outputs a captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd
    Inventors: Youichi Tamura, Kiyohide Takagi
  • Patent number: 7290888
    Abstract: The projection system includes a plurality of projection apparatus including a frame. The frames of adjacent projection apparatus are interconnected by at least one bracket connected to vertical members of the adjacent projection apparatus. Adjacent projection apparatus define a viewing area defined by the upper members of the frames of the projection apparatus, the lower members of the frames of the projection apparatus and the outer frame edges of each of the adjacent projection apparatus. A viewing screen is disposed over this viewing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Technological Systems Sales, Inc.
    Inventors: Le Roy Francis Kepley, Jr., William K King, Scott A Herkimer, Robert Wescomb Jones
  • Patent number: 7290889
    Abstract: An arrangement (2) provided for projecting images, represented by image data, onto a projection surface has a projection system (24) that transmits the images that are to be projected and a scaling unit (22) for scaling the image data and a movement detection device (28) for detecting an undesirable movement of the projection system (24) and for transmitting at least one movement information item (MI) that signifies an undesirable movement of the projection system (24) and a processing device (25) for processing the movement information item (MI) in order to generate a scaling control information item (SCI) as a function of the movement information item (MI) and a scaling influencing stage (33) for influencing the scaling of the image data scaled with the aid of the scaling unit (22), as a result of which an undesirable movement of the images projected onto the projection surface, caused by the undesirable movement of the projection system (24), can at least be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Paul Ullmann
  • Patent number: 7290890
    Abstract: A retracting mechanism for storing or erecting a mirror includes, at a coupled portion of an output shaft of a drive motor and a worm gear, coupling retaining portions fitted together in a press-fitted state and rotational force transmitting portions opposing each other in a state where a predetermined gap is present between them. The coupling retaining portions are configured by a circular shaft portion and a circular fitting hole, and the rotational force transmitting portions are configured by a double D-cut portion and double D-protruding portions. The rotational force of the output shaft is transmitted by the rotational force transmitting portions, and the coupled state of the output shaft and the worm gear is retained on the same axial line and the slanting of the worm gear is prevented by the coupling retaining portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Shigeki Yoshida, Yoshio Tsujiuchi
  • Patent number: 7290891
    Abstract: A mirror mounting assembly for mounting a mirror on a vehicle bulkhead. The assembly includes a generally Z-shaped mirror mounting bracket configured for attachment to a structural portion of the vehicle inside an engine bay of the vehicle, and a support member connected to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes a first flange and a second flange extending laterally in opposite directions from opposed edges of a connecting web. The first flange has two through-holes sized and positioned for connection to the structural portion inside engine bay by existing body panel mounting screws. The second flange and the connecting web are sized and configured so that the second flange extends out of the engine bay upon installation of the bracket. The support member carries a pivot element sized and configured to pivotally support a first support arm assembly for a rear view mirror unit and a second support arm assembly for a cross view mirror unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventor: Benjamin Englander
  • Patent number: 7290892
    Abstract: An angle adjustable mirror support for a bathroom includes a mirror, a shaft mounted on the frame of the mirror, two connecting members each mounted on the frame of the mirror and each secured to the respective end of the shaft, two fixing seats each mounted on the respective connecting member, and two locking members each mounted on the respective fixing seat and each secured to the respective connecting member. Thus, the shaft has two ends each rested on the inner face of the respective side of the frame of the mirror, so that the shaft is mounted on the frame of the mirror easily without the possibility of breaking the mirror face of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Horng Lai Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Dang Shieh
  • Patent number: 7290893
    Abstract: Lighting apparatus for an image-gathering device, includes a light frame supporting a plurality of light emitting diode lamps configured to emit light at a tungsten balanced colour temperature, and a focussing frame comprising a plurality of light focussing lenses configured to focus light emitted from said light frame into an elliptical beam. The focussing frame is configured to focus light into an elliptical beam to complement a subject illumination area frame having a ratio 16:9. The light emitting diode lamps are configured to emit light at a colour temperature of 3200 Kelvin or 5600 Kelvin, and to emit light having a colour rendering index of 90. The focussing frame is releasably mountable to the light frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Gekko Technology Limited
    Inventor: David Richard Amphlett
  • Patent number: 7290894
    Abstract: An indicating apparatus transmits beams from an indicating lamp and includes a panel. The panel has an open area defined thereon. The open area includes a C-shaped slot and an upright slot. The C-shaped slot generally surrounds an opaque area, and the upright slot is defined in the opaque area. A center of the opaque area is generally aligned with the indicating lamp, and the opaque area has a protrusion pointing toward the indicating lamp. The preferred shape of the protrusion is either a conical or pyramidal, and reflects the beams from the indicating lamp to the open area. One exemplary application of the indicating apparatus is to indicate a “power on” status of an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuan-Hong Hsieh, Te-Hsu Wang
  • Patent number: 7290895
    Abstract: A file system for a stage lighting system that maintains the different files associated with the stage lighting system. Each of the files that can represent an effect are maintained within the system within a configuration file. The configuration file can be updated on each start of the system so that the system can maintain information indicative of current configuration files. A test mode can also be entered in which a pre-formed show can be tested against the current state of the configuration files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Mark A. Hunt
  • Patent number: 7290896
    Abstract: A blood tracking system, comprising a light source comprising a first LED configured to emit light of a first color and a second LED configured to emit light of a second color is disclosed. The light of the first color and the light of the second color are mixed to appear as light of a third color when the first LED and the second LED are activated; and wherein the light of a third color is effective for highlighting blood. A method of highlighting a red material comprising illuminating the red material with both red and blue light is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fiskars Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar A. Dallas, Scott C. Hartley, Frederick T. Karl
  • Patent number: 7290897
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes a base having a bottom surface and a mounting portion that is operably disposed above the bottom surface by between about one and one hundred centimeters, and a lamp device having a housing and a lamp, and being secured to the mounting portion in an orientation enabling radiant energy to be emitted from the lamp device in a predetermined direction. The lamp device further includes an actuation mechanism disposed at one or more of the housing and the base, such that the lamp may be selectively energized and de-energized by a user through a hands-free operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventor: Randy Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7290898
    Abstract: A mobile illumination apparatus. A universal clamp for attaching to wide range objects such that a broad range of clamping abilities are achieved. Incorporating into the clamp a self-locking ratcheting mechanism for adjusting over a range of spans and fold-out fingers for applying force to the object; the clamp folds up against or into the apparatus for transport or storage. An extendable-and-retractable neck mounting for a transducing-element head thereon, for activating-deactivating the transducing-element, and moving the head to hold an orientation so as to illuminate a region-of-immediate-interest or a particular target. Drive and control circuitry to maintain the illumination intensity substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Biz Research Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Wallace Martin, Brian Thomas Zender, John Craig McCoy, David James Albers
  • Patent number: 7290899
    Abstract: A light source device includes a discharge tube, a reflector for reflecting a light radiated from the discharge tube, and support members for supporting the discharge tube to the reflector. The support member or the discharge tube is formed of a heat insulating structure so as to prevent a temperature drop of a portion of the discharge tube near electrodes thereof. By this arrangement, it is possible to prolong the operational life of the discharge tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Akio Sotokawa, Seiji Hachisuka
  • Patent number: 7290900
    Abstract: The light-string ornamental frame assembly has at least one frame, multiple slices, multiple strips, a string of light having multiple bulbs. The slices are bound on the frame with the multiple strips. The string of light is wound on the frame. When the string of light emits light, the light will be refracted by the slices to provide 3-D visual effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventor: George Tsai
  • Patent number: 7290901
    Abstract: A light source device includes a discharge tube, a reflector for reflecting a light radiated from the discharge tube, and support members for supporting the discharge tube to the reflector. The support member or the discharge tube is formed of a heat insulating structure so as to prevent a temperature drop of a portion of the discharge tube near electrodes thereof. By this arrangement, it is possible to prolong the operational life of the discharge tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Akio Sotokawa, Seiji Hachisuka
  • Patent number: 7290902
    Abstract: The present invention provides A direct-type backlight having: a resin sealing member including at least one resin layer, which has a light reflecting section formed on the outermost surface of the resin sealing member; an optical semiconductor element sealed by the resin sealing member; and plural circular light scattering grooves formed concentrically on at least one surface of the resin layer, wherein an area of a circle in the center and an area among the respective concentric circles are substantially the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Suehiro, Yuji Hotta, Naoki Sadayori, Noriaki Harada, Kazuki Uawada
  • Patent number: 7290903
    Abstract: A projection display includes a housing, a display panel, a power plug for electrically connecting to an external power source and receiving power provided by the external power source, a light source electrically connected to the power plug for emitting light onto the display panel when receiving power from the power plug, a heat-ventilating device for ventilating heat generated by the light source to a region outside of the housing, a power storage device for storing power, and a power detector electrically connected to the heat-ventilating device, the power storage device, and the power plug for selectively electrically connecting the heat-ventilating device either to the power plug or to the power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Chih Tai, Shih-Tsung Yang, Chia-Lin Liu, Chi-Neng Mo
  • Patent number: 7290904
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lighting system including a light fixture with a bracket attached thereto and an elongated flange comprising a body portion and a coupling member extending from the body portion. The coupling member is adapted to interact with the bracket to secure the light fixture to the flange. The present invention is also a method of installing a lighting system including the steps of: providing a light fixture with a bracket attached thereto; providing an elongated flange including a body portion, a coupling member configured to mate with the bracket of the light fixture extending from the body portion and a stop member extending substantially perpendicular to the body portion; forcing the elongated flange into a structure until the stop member is in contact with the structure; and securing the light fixture to the elongated flange by mating the bracket with the coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventor: Randy George Miller
  • Patent number: 7290905
    Abstract: A trim panel assembly having a first housing, a second housing, and a pivotal light mechanism configured to swivel relative to the first and second housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Tiesler
  • Patent number: 7290906
    Abstract: A lamp can include LED lamps as a light source. An optical guide path including a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface can be provided between the LED lamp and a lens that radiates an illumination light. The optical guide path can be integrally composed of a high-refractivity material. Thus, the light passing through the optical guide path can more efficiently reach the lens. In addition, the integral optical guide path requires less assembly and thus can improve accuracy of assembly and can possibly result in a large gain in the amount of light emitted from the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Suzuki, Hiroyuki Chikama, Hidetaka Okada
  • Patent number: 7290907
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp. The headlamp comprises a light source and a reflector to direct light received from the light source out of the headlamp. A movable shade is positionable to control the light received by the reflector. A shade driver is coupled to the movable shade to position the shade. A first shade position configures the headlamp for high beam lighting. A second shade position configures the headlamp for low beam lighting. A third shade position configures the headlamp for daytime running lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Steven Kovach
  • Patent number: 7290908
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including a light-emitting element 10 that emits light at a greater diffusion angle in the lateral direction than in the vertical direction, thus enabling the light to be incident on the rear face 34a of a horizontally elongated inner lens 34 with high efficiency. The rear face 34a has a cylindrical surface that extends in the lateral direction, and the curvature of a convex curve, which forms the cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical surface taken along the vertical plane parallel to the optical axis Ax, gradually reduces according to the increase in the distance from the optical axis Ax in the lateral direction, thus allowing the curvature of the convex curve to be maintained at a substantially constant value in the lateral direction and further preventing the diffusion angle of the light into the lens in the vertical direction from increasing in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Amano, Tsutomu Machida
  • Patent number: 7290909
    Abstract: Light emitted from a light source 12a is sequentially reflected on a first, second, and third additional reflectors in this order. By emitting light in the order of the reflectors, this allows the light to be parallel to an optical axis by an additional lens. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the light-emitting area of the entire headlamp, thereby improving the appearance of the headlamp with respect to the driver of the oncoming vehicle. The additional lens is formed to have a substantially wedge-shaped cross-section, and is provided along the surface shape of a projection lens. Furthermore, since the light emitted from the light source is sequentially reflected by the first, second, and third additional reflectors in this order, the light emitted from the light source can be focused and the quantity of the light passing through the additional lens is not excessively increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohiro Komatsu, Kazuki Okui
  • Patent number: 7290910
    Abstract: A light source system is arranged about an axis, and includes a planar member having top and bottom surfaces with a central aperture and a plurality of electrical conductors spaced about the central aperture and extending beyond the top and bottom surfaces. A portion of the electrical conductors extending beyond the top surface have electrical insulators. A base having passages to receive the electrical conductors extends beyond the bottom surface and includes a boss on the top surface fitted through the aperture. A body has a first part coaxial with the axis and a second part transverse to the axis. A light source is positioned near an end of the first part. The base is positioned at an opposite end of the body and a plurality of rod-like members project from the second part parallel to the axis; and a light emitting diode is positioned adjacent the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc
    Inventors: Angela Hohl-AbiChedid, Miguel Galvez, Thomas Tessnow, Charles M. Coushaine, Robert H. Colburn
  • Patent number: 7290911
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including a luminescent element module made of a flexible parallel wiring body, which is made of a plurality of flexible wiring conductors that are disposed parallel to each other and sheathed by soft plastic, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes, which are mounted on the flexible parallel wiring body, so that the luminescent element module has a conductive path formed by notching a part of the wiring conductors of the flexible parallel wiring body and/or by connecting a plurality of the wiring conductors together, and the luminescent element module is provided on the lamp body so that the light-emitting diode faces in the direction of radiation of the vehicular lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Tsukamoto, Kaoru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7290912
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly includes a case, and a bulb cassette for mounting the a light bulb in the case. The case is formed of a resin material having a low thermal resistance and defines an interior space. The case includes at least one partition wall defining a planar partition wall surface to partition the interior space respectively into one and another chambers. The bulb cassette is received in an opening of the case for accommodating a light bulb within the one chamber thereof and includes at least one planar heat shield wall formed of a heat resistant resin which extends in adjacent contact along the planar partition wall surface so as to shield the at least one partition wall and the other chamber from heat generated by the light bulb in the one chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha T an T
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ochiai, Yuji Shimoda
  • Patent number: 7290913
    Abstract: A lighting unit to be used for illumination includes an LED unit having a semiconductor light emitting unit, a radiating board for directly fixing the semiconductor light emitting unit to an upper surface, and a contact formed on the radiating board and serving to input a power to cause the semiconductor light emitting unit to emit a light, an attachment having a power supply portion for surrounding and holding the LED unit and supplying a power to cause the semiconductor light emitting unit to emit a light from an external power plug to the contact in a state in which at least a part of lower and side surfaces of the radiating board and an upper part of the semiconductor light emitting unit are open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Watanabe, Hironori Tsukamoto, Yukio Nomura
  • Patent number: 7290914
    Abstract: A light source device including a light-guiding pillar, an opaque layer, and a light source is provided. The light-guiding pillar has a light incident surface and a light emitting surface, and the light incident surface is adjacent to the light emitting surface. In addition, the opaque layer is disposed on the surfaces of the light-guiding pillar outside the light incident surface and the light emitting surface. The light source is disposed near the light incident surface. The light emitted from the light source propagates into the light-guiding pillar through the light incident surface, and then emits from the light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Rong Yang