Patents Issued in December 30, 2008
  • Patent number: 7470008
    Abstract: A simplified refilling assembly of DURABrite ink cartridge comprises an ink bottle connector, a pipe and an ink cartridge connector; the ink cartridge connector has a plug pipe to be connected with the refilling hole of the ink cartridge hermetically; the ink bottle connector is furnished with a L-shaped connector and a recovering cylinder, which are molded into one piece to be plugged into a bottle plug of the ink bottle; the ink cartridge and the ink bottle are connected each other by means of a refilling assembly; a syringe is plugged into the refilling hole of the ink cartridge; when the pull grip is pulled upward, the ink in the ink bottle will be drawn to flow into the ink chamber of the ink cartridge; then, the syringe is plugged into the recovering cylinder of the ink bottle connector so as to recover ink for re-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ti-Tsung Yan
    Inventor: Yi-Tsung Yan
  • Patent number: 7470009
    Abstract: An ink filling apparatus is constituted by an access unit (61) for reading an amount of ink consumed in an ink cartridge (10) which needs to be refilled from a storage unit (15) provided on the relevant cartridge and a filling controlling unit (60) for determining an amount of ink on the basis of the data. Ink in an amount corresponding to the amount of ink consumption stored in the storage unit of the ink cartridge (10) is filled by a filling apparatus (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yukiharu Suda, Hisashi Koike, Noboru Asauchi, Koichi Otsuki
  • Patent number: 7470010
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead with an array of ink chambers defined by sidewalls extending between a nozzle plate and an underlying wafer substrate, each chamber having a nozzle in the nozzle plate plurality of nozzles, and an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle, one of the sidewalls of each chamber having an opening to allow ink to refill the chamber; an ink conduit between the nozzle plate and underlying wafer, the ink conduit being in fluid communication with the openings of a plurality of the ink chambers; and, a plurality of ink inlets defined in said substrate; wherein, the ink conduit is in fluid communication with the plurality of ink inlets for receiving ink to supply to the ink chambers. Introducing an ink conduit that supplies several of the nozzles, and is in itself supplied by several ink inlets, reduces the chance that nozzles will be starved of ink by inlet clogging. If one inlet is clogged, the ink conduit will draw more ink from the other inlets in the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7470011
    Abstract: A liquid discharging head cartridge that prevents a discharging head from being damaged due to exposure to liquid held in a liquid container during storage including the distribution period of a liquid discharging head cartridge, and ensures the reliability of the liquid discharging operation by the discharging head. An ink jet head cartridge includes an ink blocking member that is provided in the middle of an ink flow path and blocks ink supply to a recording head. The ink held in an ink container does not enter a section of the ink flow path between the ink blocking member and the recording head due to blockage by the ink blocking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Manabu Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7470012
    Abstract: A reliable ink cartridge that reduce printing nonconformity even during high speed inkjet-recording with multiple nozzles by alleviating rapid external impact applied from the outside of the ink cartridge. Within a casing of an ink cartridge, a flexible bag forming an ink reservoir is accommodated. Between the surface of the flexible bag where a sheet member is bonded and a wall surface of the casing, a stress damping chamber is provided. The stress damping chamber communicates with the atmosphere outside the ink cartridge via an orifice formed on a wall surface of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kojima, Toshihiko Ujita
  • Patent number: 7470013
    Abstract: A recording liquid container for containing liquid for recording to be supplied to recording means, said recording liquid container being detachably mountable to a mounting portion of a recording device, said recording liquid container includes an information memory medium storing predetermined information; wireless sending means capable of wireless sending of a predetermined information in said information memory medium within a predetermined range; a wireless communication antenna for wirelessly sending radio wave; and communication property changing means for changing a communication property of the wireless sending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hatasa, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7470014
    Abstract: A print media and printing fluid cartridge is provided which is removably mounted to a support structure of a digital photofinishing system in juxtaposition with a printer mounted to the support structure together with a digital processor and print media drive mechanism for the printer. The cartridge has a roll of print media, a print media delivery arrangement arranged to couple with the print media drive mechanism so as to feed the print media from the roll to the printer on demand, and at least one removable printing fluid first cartridge for feeding printing fluid to the printer on demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7470015
    Abstract: A photopolymerization-curable inkjet-recording ink composition, including an ethylenic unsaturated monomer, a colorant, and a photopolymerization initiator containing an organic dye and an organic boron compound. The ethylenic unsaturated monomer is preferably a compound which polymerizes to form a polymer having an oxygen permeability coefficient at 25° C. of 2.6×10?13 [m3(STP)·m/(s·m2·kPa)] or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Yuuichi Fukushige
  • Patent number: 7470016
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a jetting assembly including a plurality of nozzles for ejecting droplets on a substrate; an enclosure defining a print zone within which the jetting assembly prints on the substrate, the enclosure including an inlet for introducing a material associated with controlling an environment of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Baker, Edward R. Moynihan
  • Patent number: 7470017
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ink liquid used in a printer device of the ink jet system for recording an image or letters/characters. A surfactant containing an organic compound represented by the following chemical formula 1: where m and n are integers not less than 1, is contained in an ink 2 to prevent blurring or bleeding from being produced at a point of deposition of an ink liquid droplet i.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Fukuda, Yuji Yakura, Masato Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7470018
    Abstract: A recording section is configured to perform a recording operation with respect to a recording medium. An ejector is configured to eject the recording medium transported from the recording section to the outside of the recording apparatus. The ejector is provided with a plurality of press members. A switcher selectively causes none or one of the press members to abut against the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Miyazaki, Kazuyuki Fujioka
  • Patent number: 7470019
    Abstract: A mobile device including: (a) an inkjet printhead; (b) a print media feed path for directing print media past the printhead in a feed direction during printing; and (c) a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between: a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead; and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead; wherein the capper is moved between the capped and uncapped position by an edge of the print media as it moves through the feed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Gregory Michael Tow
  • Patent number: 7470020
    Abstract: A print media and printing fluid cartridge is provided which is arranged to be removably mounted in juxtaposition to a printer of a digital photofinishing system. The cartridge has a tubular core to which a roll of print media is removably mounted so as to be fed on demand to the printer and within which at least one printing fluid first cartridge is removably located so as to feed printing fluid to the printer on demand, and a print media delivery arrangement for coupling with a print media drive mechanism of the digital photofinishing system so as to feed the print media from the roll on demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7470021
    Abstract: A hand-held printer includes an elongate body defining an ink ejection slot through which ink can be ejected. An ink cartridge defines a plurality of ink reservoirs for storing respective types of ink. A printhead module defines a plurality of ink distribution channels in fluid communication with respective reservoirs. The printhead module includes a printhead in fluid communication with the ink distribution channels and mounted within the body so that ink can be ejected through the ink ejection slot. A movement sensor is operatively mounted to the printhead module and senses movement of the printhead module along print media so that the printhead module can eject ink responsive to the sensed movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7470022
    Abstract: Glasses are provided having one temple which is clipped to a cap, preferably to the brim or visor of a cap. The temple is associated with at least one joint which permits the lens portions to be pivoted from a use position before a user's eyes to a storage position along the user's head over one ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventor: Bruce Lerner
  • Patent number: 7470023
    Abstract: The present invention relates to eyeglasses and containers for securing eyeglasses. In particular, the present invention relates to a device comprising an eyeglasses segment attached to an eyeglasses container, and related systems and kits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Glinert
  • Patent number: 7470024
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a system for obtaining a fundus image, constituted by optical means implemented in an equipment to observe and photograph the image of the wall fundus (16), comprising a capturing optical means composed by high sensibility digital camera, constituted by an image sensor (2) and focal optical system (3), said digital camera being used to register a captured image by an afocal optical system, composed by a capturing lens (13) and its afocal complement (6); a lighting optical means provided from a arrangement conformed with optical fiber bundle (7), (8), (9) and (10), halogen light source (23) or light emitting diode source (LED); wherein said light beam from the halogen light (23) or light emitting diodes has an annular form when it pass in the anterior part of eyeball (14) and focus in the pupil plan (15); both the means having the optical path partially common over the optical axle (1) from the optical fibers arrangement (7), (8), (9) and (10) to the fundus (16), region in t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Opto Eletronics S/A
    Inventors: Djalma Antonio Chinaglia, Mário Antonio Stefani, Érica Gabriela De Carvalho, Jarbas Caiado de Castro Neto, Daniel dos Santos Júnior, Rodrigo Gonzalez Modugno
  • Patent number: 7470025
    Abstract: There is disclosed an ophthalmic apparatus including a detection unit which detects a vision fixation state of an eye to be examined, a projection unit which projects a fixation mark onto a fundus of the eye, and a fixation mark control unit which controls the projection unit. The projection unit includes a changing unit which changes a fixation mark to be projected onto the fundus, and when a vision fixation state detected by the detection unit does not satisfy a predetermined criterion, the fixation mark control unit controls the changing unit to change a fixation mark to be projected onto the fundus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Iwanaga
  • Patent number: 7470026
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring operating vision. An optotype mark is displayed (step 103). A subject's response to the optotype mark is accepted via an input device (step 104). A determination is made as to whether or not the response is correct (step 105). When the current response of the subject is correct and the previous response or one of the previous response and the last-but-one response is incorrect, an optotype mark corresponding to the same visual acuity is presented (step 112). When the previous response is correct or both the previous response and the last-but-one response are correct, an optotype mark corresponding to a visual acuity one level higher is presented (step 110). When the current response is incorrect, an optotype mark corresponding to a visual acuity one level lower is presented (step 111).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignees: Qualitas Inc.
    Inventors: Minako Kaido, Kazuo Tsubota
  • Patent number: 7470027
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for improving and enhancing vision are disclosed. Adjustable lenses or optical systems may be used to provide adaptive vision modification. In some embodiments, vision modification may be responsive to the current state of the user's visual system. Certain embodiments provide correction of the subject's near and far vision. Other embodiments provide enhancement of vision beyond the physiological ranges of focal length or magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventors: W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7470028
    Abstract: A device for forming an image on a screen is described that comprises a coherent illumination means, an electrically addressed spatial light modulator means located in the path of light from the coherent illumination means, means for producing computer generated hologram images for display on the electrically addressed spatial light modulator means, and optics to direct light diffracted by the electrically addressed spatial light modulator means to the screen. The device is arranged so that a computer generated image or images displayed by the electrically addressed spatial light modulator means result in a two dimensional image being formed at the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventor: Richard J Miller
  • Patent number: 7470029
    Abstract: To provide an image processing system and the like which can correct a distortion of a projected image through only a single sensor, a projector has a calibration image information generating section which generates image information used to display a rectangular calibration image; an image projection section which projects the calibration image onto a projection target, based on the image information; a sensing section which senses a region including the projected calibration image plane and generates sensing information; a projection area information generating section which generates shortest-distance projection area information based on the sensing information in such a state that a distance between the projection section and the projection target is different from the distance in an actual operating condition, and generates actual projection area information based on the sensing information in the actual operating condition; and a correction information generating section which generates image distortion
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masanobu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7470030
    Abstract: A projection system includes a cabinet having a surface with an aperture therein, a projector disposed within the cabinet, adapted to project light through the aperture in the surface of the cabinet, and a lens disposed in the aperture to project the light onto a screen disposed generally non-parallel to the cabinet surface having the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John A. Devos, Gregory J. May, Rachel Fillmore Smythe
  • Patent number: 7470031
    Abstract: An image display device includes a light source that supplies beam-like light; a scanning portion that scans light from the light source to display an image by using light from the scanning portion; and a connecting portion that electrically connects the light source and an external power source that supplies electric power to the light source; wherein the connecting portion is disposed in an optical path of light from the light source past the scanning portion, and, when light is irradiated from the scanning portion at energy equal to or more than predetermined energy, disconnects an electrical connection between the light source and the external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Yamazaki, Masatoshi Yonekubo, Akira Shinbo
  • Patent number: 7470032
    Abstract: A method of displaying images with a display system includes receiving image data for the images. The method includes generating at least a first sub-frame and at least a second sub-frame corresponding to the image data. The first sub-frame is projected with a first projector onto a target surface. The second sub-frame is projected with a second projector onto the target surface at a temporal offset from the projection of the first sub-frame, wherein the first and second projectors are positioned to project sub-frames that spatially overlap on the target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Niranjan Damera-Venkata, Nelson Liang An Chang, Simon Widdowson
  • Patent number: 7470033
    Abstract: Projection-optical systems are disclosed that have a large image-side NA of, e.g., ?0.45, and that allow inspection for surface-shape errors of reflecting surfaces with prescribed precision. A first reflective image-forming optical system forms an intermediate image of a first surface. A second reflective image-forming optical system forms a reduced image, on a second surface, of the intermediate image. The first reflective image-forming optical system has a first concave mirror, a second convex mirror, a third mirror, and a fourth concave mirror. The second reflective image-forming optical system has a fifth concave mirror, a sixth mirror, a seventh convex mirror, and an eighth concave mirror. If the absolute value of the center radius of curvature of the reflective surface of the second mirror is RM2, and the maximum object height on the first surface is H0, then the condition 1<RM2/H0<6 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Tomowaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7470034
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an improved light guide having one or more light sources inserted into the light guide such that the light sources are perpendicular to the main axis of the light guide. The light sources are inserted into a cavity within the outer wall of the light guide. The cavity is positioned at one end of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Siew It Pang
  • Patent number: 7470035
    Abstract: A vision assistance apparatus that allows a removable cap on a plastic bottle to glow in the dark once it has been removed from the plastic bottle. The removable cap originally comes attached to the bottle on a binder through a series of attachments broken up by a series of perforations. Once the removable cap is removed, the attachments break, allowing the individual to detach the cap. Once the circular portion of the removable cap is removed, then two different sets of chemicals can be mixed together by having the individual manipulate the circular portion of the removable cap, thereby breaking a seal in between the two volumes of chemicals and causing the two different sets of chemicals to be mixed together. The two chemicals, when mixed together, are chemiluminescent and will produce an amount of light for a certain amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventor: Eduardo Benitez
  • Patent number: 7470036
    Abstract: A light head is mounted on a common base, and includes a light source in a mounting base. The base is mounted on a collapsible elongated pole, and the pole is for mounting on an outside wall of a carrying case. There is a carrying handle for the case, an electrical power outlet mounted on a wall, base or lid of the case and for plugging in an electrical wire to power the light head. The interior of the case is for locating a rechargeable battery, and the battery when charged, supplies power to the power outlet such that the light head can be powered. Recharging can be via either a 12V DC automobile or a 110 AC power supply. The carrying handle is extendible; and retractable, and in the retraction mode is essentially within the general perimeter space of the case. The case includes a pair of pulley wheels, the wheels being for facilitating the moving of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Pelican Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Deighton, Greg Rhoads
  • Patent number: 7470037
    Abstract: Disclosed is an airport light base including a light base container having an upper end with an inverted first flange having a first outer face, an opposing first inner face facing into the light base container, a continuous inwardly directed first edge bounding a first opening into the light base container, and ring segments affixed to the inner face of the first flange forming an inverted second flange under the first opening outboard of the first edge, the second flange for reception of an inset light fixture thereon and having a second outer face facing the first opening, an opposing second inner face facing into the light base container, and a continuous inwardly directed second edge bounding a second opening into the light base container, wherein the second opening is smaller than the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventors: Roger Bieberdorf, Gordon R. Fritz
  • Patent number: 7470038
    Abstract: A diffuser used in a backlight module including a plurality of light sources is disclosed. The diffuser according to the present invention makes a uniform light output. The diffuser includes a transparent substrate and a plurality of optical structures. The transparent substrate has an entrance surface and an exit surface. The plurality of optical structures is disposed on the exit surface, each optical structure is dented from the exit surface to the interior of the transparent substrate and forms a refractive convex within the transparent substrate, and each refractive convex corresponds to one of the plurality of the light sources. The maximum value of the included angle between the tangent to the refractive convex edge and the normal to the exit surface is smaller than 30 degrees, such that an incident light ray from the light sources refracts and deviates from the normal to the refractive convex through the refractive convex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ci-Guang Peng, Chih-Lin Wang, Jing-Huan Liao, Shau-Yu Tsai
  • Patent number: 7470039
    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: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Akio Sotokawa, Seiji Hachisuka
  • Patent number: 7470040
    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: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Akio Sotokawa, Seiji Hachisuka
  • Patent number: 7470041
    Abstract: A light fixture removably attachable to a stationary socket includes a lamp socket mounted for receiving a lamp and a connector which is electrically engageable with such stationary socket. The connector is attached in spaced relationship to the lamp socket and is electrically connected thereto. The light fixture may include a housing having the lamp socket mounted therein with the connector attached to the housing in one of a rigid, hinged and swivel manner. The light fixture is advantageous for converting a unidirectional recessed light fixture into a multidirectional light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventors: Mark Higgins, Vivian Hurd
  • Patent number: 7470042
    Abstract: To provide a luminescent light source that can increase the number of divisions of a reflecting mirror without reducing pitch interval of reflection areas. A luminescent light source comprises a reflecting mirror for reflecting light, a mold unit arranged on a light reflection surface of the reflecting mirror, and light emitting devices of three luminescent devices of red, blue and green that are placed in the central part and output light to the mold unit. In the reflecting mirror, rectangular reflection areas are arranged vertically and horizontally in a grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Ayabe, Akira Matsui, Hironobu Kiyomoto
  • Patent number: 7470043
    Abstract: A ventilation fan and light (10) is disclosed which includes a housing (12) and a light kit (13). The housing (12) includes an air intake 15 adjacent the light kit and an air exhaust port (16) coupled to an exhaust duct (17). The light kit has one or more light sources (20). A motorized fan (19) is mounted within the housing. The motorized fan is operated at a low speed whenever the light source is illuminated and a high speed whenever ventilation is required. The operation of the fan at a low speed prevents the build-up of heat within the housing. The ventilation fan includes an electric circuit (22) which includes a capacitor mounted between a light source electrical branch (23) and a fan motor electrical branch (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: Vinay Mehta
  • Patent number: 7470044
    Abstract: A light diffusion device permits a single light source to serve as both direct lighting and fill lighting for a photographic, theatrical or cinematographic subject. The light diffusion device partially reflects light emitted from a light source away from the subject, using a translucent panel. Additional translucent panels permit the reflected light to escape from the light diffusion device into the surrounding environment. The escaped light reflects from the surrounding environment, thereby creating fill light around the subject, thus reducing or eliminating undesirable shadowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: The Picture People
    Inventor: Manuel Maes
  • Patent number: 7470045
    Abstract: A device for shielding outside lights comprising an essentially cylindrical, transparent shield body with a surface which is provided with a zigzag-shaped profile in a vertical direction in order to deflect the radiation from a lighting source incident on the shield body in a desired direction. Triangular projections of the zigzag-shaped profile in a first portion are designed and configured in such a way that the radiation from the lighting source is fully reflected in a desired direction when passing through the first portion of the shield body and triangular projections of the zigzag-shaped profile in a second portion are designed and configured in such a way that the radiation from the lighting source is diffracted in the desired direction when passing through the second portion of the shield body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Semperlux AG
    Inventors: Udo Bansbach, Dieter Albert
  • Patent number: 7470046
    Abstract: A backlight module and an illumination device thereof. The illumination device of the backlight module comprises a light source and a lens, disposed over the light source with a predetermined gap therebetween. The lens comprises a bottom surface as an incident surface, a pair of upper refracting surfaces, and a pair of lateral refracting surfaces. The upper refracting surfaces form an included angle substantially in a range of about 80° to about 120°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ko-Chia Kao, Chih-Kuang Cheng, Jyh-Haur Huang, Jing-Huan Liao
  • Patent number: 7470047
    Abstract: A light device with integration sheet is disclosed, which comprises: a light source; and at least a sheet, each being disposed at the light emitting end of the light source and comprising a plurality of light diffusion zones; wherein each light diffusion zone has a plural arrays of microstructures arranged on the surface thereof, and each array of microstructures is capable of changing the diopter of the corresponding light diffusion zone. By controlling the distribution of the plural arrays of microstructures, the Gaussian distribution of the light source can be improved while collimating the scattered light beams to the intended illuminating area of the lighting device and diffusing the light beams emitting from the center of the light source to the same so that not only the luminous efficacy of the lighting device is enhanced, but also the uniformity of the illuminance of the lighting device is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jian-Shian Lin, Hsiu-Chen Hsu, Ming-Fong Chen, Ben-Sheng Lin
  • Patent number: 7470048
    Abstract: The fire-rated recessed downlight includes a mantle, and a light fixture which is fixed in the mantle, said mantle having at least one radiating hole, in which a dilatable fireproof piece is fixed. The radiating hole is connected with outside of the mantle through a radiating aperture. The radiating hole of the mantle and the dilatable fireproof piece could help to radiate the heat in ordinary situations and the dilatable fireproof piece will expand rapidly to close the radiating hole when on fire, therefore the fire inside the mantle will not spread to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventor: Liangju Wu
  • Patent number: 7470049
    Abstract: An apparatus including at least one LED mounted to a printed circuit board, a reflector including at least one heat stake, and a mounting plate comprising at least one aperture for receiving the at least one heat stake. The at least one LED is positioned between the reflector and the mounting plate such that the at least one LED is held in position when the at least one heat stake is received within the at least one aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Walser, Kenton J. Ypma, Daniel J. Bostwick, John K. Roberts, Robert Steel, Steven J. Miskelley, Darin D. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 7470050
    Abstract: A projector type vehicle light can provide an improved far distance visibility in a highway mode and other improved headlight performances by switching the low beam distribution and the highway mode light distribution while utilizing AFS functions. The projector type vehicle light can include a first lamp unit and a second lamp unit. The first lamp unit includes a light source, a reflector, a projection lens, and a light-shading member, and is configured to reflect light from the light source by means of the reflector and project light in the forward direction by the projection lens. The second lamp unit can have almost the same configuration as the first lamp unit and is located adjacent to the first lamp unit and either above or below it. The cut-off line formed by the first lamp unit can be located at an angular position below the horizontal line by 0.57 degrees in order to form a low beam distribution for an ordinary road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Futami
  • Patent number: 7470051
    Abstract: An optical device guides illuminating light from a light source and includes a columnar light-guiding unit having an incidence face which the illuminating light from the light source is incident upon, an emission face which emits the illuminating light and has a larger area than the incidence face, and reflection faces which guide rays of the illuminating light which is incident from the incidence face to the emission face while bringing the rays to total internal reflection, and holders which secure the columnar light-guiding unit in position with respect to the light source, in which the columnar light-guiding unit and the holders are connected together in a single piece only on the reflection faces on the emission face side of the columnar light-guiding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Godo
  • Patent number: 7470052
    Abstract: The light source device of a display device according to the present invention has an optical waveguide, a cone sheet, and a light source disposed along the side surface of the optical waveguide. The light-emitting surface of the optical waveguide is flat, and a tilted surface that is tilted towards the light source with respect to the light-emitting surface is formed on the light-diffusing surface. The cone sheet has a flat plate and a plurality of circular cones arranged two-dimensionally on the light-incident surface of the flat plate. The central axes of the circular cones are parallel to each other. The invention provides a light source device that can be made thin and is capable of increasing the directivity of emitted light in two dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Uehara, Masao Imai
  • Patent number: 7470053
    Abstract: Several optical mechanism designs for making luminance of the outer portion of a back light module of edge lighting type to become higher than luminance of the inner portion of the back light module are disclosed in accordance with the present invention. The disclosed optical mechanism designs can cooperate with each other to enhance the optical effect of the back light module. Additionally, the back light modules of the present invention are feasible for use in various scanners or liquid crystal displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Shih-Yuan Kuo
  • Patent number: 7470054
    Abstract: A light-guide board includes a light guide plate made out of an optically transmissive material and having a transparent layer and a back reflecting layer formed integral with the back side of the transparent layer, and a plurality of reflecting baffles respectively extending from the back reflecting layer and embedded in the transparent layer for reflecting light to enhance the intensity of light and the uniformity in light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Kun Dian Photoelectric Enterprise Co.
    Inventor: Cheng Sheng Lee
  • Patent number: 7470055
    Abstract: A mounting structure for LED lighting sources, includes a support body having attached on one side thereof a circuit board for mounting the LED lighting sources. The circuit board is preferably a printed-circuit board with conductive traces to feed electrical power to the LED lighting sources. The support body is in the form of an elongated bar or a box with a linear, round, square, hexagonal or octagonal shape. The support body is a drawn or molded body of a lightweight material and preferably exhibits good heat transfer properties. The support body includes a back side for mounting the structure on a supporting surface, such back side possibly having associated a heat dissipation fixture. Additionally, the support body may have free space inside and/or be at least partially apertured to permit cooling air flow for a driver circuit for driving the LED lighting source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur Elektrische Gluhlampen mbH
    Inventors: Christian Hacker, Alessandro Maschietto, Giovani Scilla, Alessandro Scordino
  • Patent number: 7470056
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for monitoring a condition of a cavity surface of an elongated member having a cavity therein. In particular, the example apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture emit a first ultrasonic signal that propagates from a first surface of an elongated member having a cavity therein toward a second surface of the cavity having a first temperature value. First and second echoes associated with the first ultrasonic signal are then obtained. At least one of the first and second echoes is associated with a recess in the second surface. A condition of the second surface is monitored by determining a second temperature value of the second surface based on the first and second echoes and the first temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Measurement Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Yuhas
  • Patent number: 7470057
    Abstract: A sensor for a heat flux differential scanning calorimeter in which the differential temperatures are measured between locations external to the regions of heat exchange between the sensor and sample containers. The measured differential temperatures respond to the magnitude of the heat flow rate between the sensor and the sample and reference containers and are rendered insensitive to variations in the magnitude and distribution of thermal contact resistance between the sensor and the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Waters Investments Limited
    Inventor: Robert L. Danley