Patents Issued in July 31, 2012
  • Patent number: 8231228
    Abstract: A method for illuminating the surface of an object by using a source beam is provided. The source beam is partitioned into as many illumination sub-beams as there are surface elements to be illuminated, and their aperture is modulated as a function of the predetermined luminous intensity to be assigned to the surface element. Each surface element is illuminated with the aid of one of said illumination sub-beams. Used for illuminating the imagers of projection devices, this method makes it possible to add a second modulation stage allowing the display contrast of the images to be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Valter Drazic, Khaled Sarayeddine
  • Patent number: 8231229
    Abstract: A mounting structure for a temperature sensor, which detects the temperature of a wall surface. The mounting structure includes a groove formed in the wall surface and having an inlet from which the temperature sensor is inserted. The temperature sensor includes a main body, which has a temperature detection surface that detects the temperature of the wall surface, and a lead wire connected to the main body. A support supports the main body. A wire bender bends the lead wire of the temperature sensor extending out of the inlet to press the temperature detection surface of the temperature sensor against the wall surface with an elastic force of the lead wire that is produced when the lead wire is bent. A stopper restricts movement of the main body of the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Kanbara, Taichi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8231230
    Abstract: The invention relates to an image projection device having a light source (1) from which light at a different wavelength originates sequentially, having an image modulation arrangement (4) and a projection surface (6) on which images are perceived visually. The invention also relates to a light source drive circuit (2) for an image projection device such as this. An image projection device of this type is provided, in which the image modulation arrangement (4) comprises a polarization beam splitter (11) and two reflective display areas (12.1, 12.2), each display area (12.1, 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: dilitronics GmbH
    Inventor: Gerrit Wächter
  • Patent number: 8231231
    Abstract: An image display device includes a light source which emits laser light; an optical element which is operable to switch between a first state for reducing a coherence of the laser light and a second state for substantially maintaining the coherence of the laser light; a switching control circuit which controls the optical element; an imager which modulates the laser light transmitted through the optical element; and a modulation control circuit which controls the imager based on an image signal. The modulation control circuit causes the imager to render an image pattern for generating an image by changing alight amount at each pixel position when the optical element is in the first state, and causes the imager to render a hologram pattern for generating an image by diffraction when the optical element is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiro Okuda, Yoshihiro Yokote, Ryoko Kubo, Takaaki Abe, Shinya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8231232
    Abstract: A circuit board is attached in a displaceable manner to a lamp holder. When the lamp holder is attached to a holder housing, ends of pins extending from the holder housing are inserted into holes of the circuit board. At the time, the circuit board is guided and corrected for a positional shift by inclines at ends of the pins. Accordingly, a connector on an under surface of the circuit board is opposed to a connector on a circuit board in the holder housing side, whereby the two connectors can be properly connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Kanbara, Taichi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8231233
    Abstract: A portable electronic device implements power management to accommodate operation of a projector from the device's power source. The portable device includes a power source, a memory, a user interface, and a processor. The memory stores an image file and associated content metadata. The user interface receives a request to use the projector to perform a projection task, wherein the task includes projecting images from the image file onto a display surface. The processor is operable to: (i) retrieve the content metadata from the memory responsive to the request; (ii) project, based at least on the content metadata, whether the power source has sufficient power remaining for the projector to complete the task; and (iii) if there is not sufficient power remaining, modify parameters associated with the task and/or functionality of the portable device in an attempt to enable the power source to supply sufficient power to the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Francesca Schuler, Krishna Jonnalagadda
  • Patent number: 8231234
    Abstract: A retroreflective sheeting (10) comprising a cube layer (20) having a front light-receiving surface (30) and a rear retroreflecting surface (32), and a metallic layer (22) covering the rear retroreflecting surface (32). The rear surface (32) comprises an array of retroreflective elements (34) and diffusing patches (36) within such array (without retroreflective elements (34)). The metallic layer (22) covers the retroreflective elements (34) and the diffusing patches (36), whereby diffusing patches (36) scatter incoming light increasing daytime brightness to a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Chapman, Feng Wu, Kejian (Kevin) Huang
  • Patent number: 8231235
    Abstract: In order to attach a lens hood to a lens body while positioning the lens hood, fixing convex portions are provided on the lens hood and fixing uneven portions are provided on the lens body. On the fixing uneven portion of the lens body, a positioning slope coming into contact with the fixing convex portion of the lens hood upon attachment is provided on a position where a convex portion and a recessed portion are continuously formed on the lens body. Thus it is possible to facilitate attaching and detaching with a simple configuration while obtaining placement accuracy in the circumferential direction of a lens and in a thrust direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Kitakata
  • Patent number: 8231236
    Abstract: The invention provides a light guiding plate. The light guiding plate is transparent and applied to an input apparatus. A surface of the light guiding plate comprises a first region and a second region. The first region is covered by a non-transparent material. If a light is emitted into the light guiding plate, the light can be emitted out from the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Dafron Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiang Chiang, Chih-Chung Yen, Liang-Ta Yeh
  • Patent number: 8231237
    Abstract: A sub-assembly matable to a waveguide having a recess therein includes a structure comprising a discrete light source disposed on a carrier, and a substrate and a heat spreader disposed beneath the structure. The structure has a contour complementary to the recess, such that, when the sub-assembly is joined to the waveguide, the discrete light source is within the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Oree, Inc.
    Inventors: Micha Zimmermann, Noam Meir
  • Patent number: 8231238
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for enhancing light directivity of a lighting apparatus. The method for enhancing light directivity of a lighting apparatus, comprising providing a light source module that comprises at least one light emitter; and providing a reflecting device that surrounds said light emitter or said light source module to reflect light emitted from said light emitter and direct the light toward a same direction, wherein said reflecting device comprises a first surface, said first surface comprises at least two planes in which every two planes are connected with an included angle more than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, said reflecting device surrounds one light emitter or surrounds said light source module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Chung Yuan Christian University
    Inventors: Yi-Hua Fan, Rong-Jhe Chen, Yi-Lin Liao, Sheng-Kai Chang, Kai-Yin Huang
  • Patent number: 8231239
    Abstract: The present invention is a portable illuminated display device. The device includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that provide light to the device, a substrate that is lit by the LEDs, a plurality of batteries that power the display, an image that includes a message or other indicia and a color insert that can change the LEDs light color. The device also includes a core with an electronics component, a light panel that receives the light from the LEDs and provides a homogenous area of light, a cover with a cover surface, a casing with a back lid, a front lid and an opening between the lids, a vertical and horizontal attachment point, a on and off push button and a metal plate and a plurality of magnets to allow a user to attach the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Terrence Peter Hickey
  • Patent number: 8231240
    Abstract: Surface lighting devices including at least one light source, at least one energy storage device, and a thermoelectric power generation unit electrically coupled to the at least one energy storage device are disclosed herein. The at least one energy storage device is charged by the thermoelectric power generation unit, and the stored energy is used to illuminate the at least one light source. The surface lighting devices include a voltage step-up circuit that converts a DC voltage produced by the thermoelectric power generation unit into a higher-level DC voltage. Methods for illuminating a surface utilizing the surface lighting devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: TXL Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Rubio, Stanley S. Hirsh, David C. Nemir
  • Patent number: 8231241
    Abstract: A self-leveling bracket assembly for suspending a lighting fixture from a ceiling of a structure. The light fixture comprising a frame having a first and second ends, the self-leveling bracket assembly having two brackets, each bracket comprising a connector member adapted to be attached to the ceiling and a hangar having one end pivotally attached to the connector member and another end adapted to receive the light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Larry D. Hopkins, Trustee
    Inventor: Larry D. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 8231242
    Abstract: A variety of lighting apparatuses are described that utilize reflection as a basis for lighting a desired area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventors: Irwin Kotovsky, Serge Cornelissen, Robert Cornelissen
  • Patent number: 8231243
    Abstract: A luminaire is provided with a housing having an attachment element and a LED mounting element. A plurality of LEDs are also provided and are supported by the LED mounting element of the housing. A plurality of reflectors are positioned proximal to the plurality of LEDs and reflect light emitted by the LEDs toward an illumination surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Philips Koninklijke Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Chris Boissevain, Joseph Garcia
  • Patent number: 8231244
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a lateral reflector, wherein the lateral reflector has a bottom opening, a light source arranged on a base plate can be accommodated in the bottom opening; a reflecting surface is arranged on two opposite sides of the light source in the lateral reflector, and the reflecting surface is configured to reflect a light emitted from the light source and arriving at the reflecting surface, so that the light arriving at the reflecting surface is deflected toward a direction that is parallel to the opposite sides. Various embodiments further provide an array of such lateral reflectors. Further, various embodiments disclose a lamp unit and a lamp containing such lateral reflector, and puts forward a method for producing such lateral reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Xi Yuan He, Yabin Luo, Chin You Yue
  • Patent number: 8231245
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a light emitting diode lighting fixture. In one embodiment, the light fixture includes an extrusion, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a lens coupled to the extrusion. The plurality of LEDs has a uniform spacing between each one of the plurality of LEDs along the extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Dialight Corporation
    Inventors: David Weimer, Chakrakodi Vishnu Shastry, Gordon Routledge, Samual David Boege, William S. Leib, III
  • Patent number: 8231246
    Abstract: An LED night light has a laser or hologram optics-element and is suitable for night time or dark area use over an extended time period. The night light may be a plug-in wall outlet night light or direct current (DC) operated night light having an image, message, or logo shown on the surface of the optics element. The LED night light parts that may include a housing member, optics-lens, openings, cut-outs, and/or plastic parts to create a preferred image. The night light can be designed with added features to enable adjustment of the angle, distance, position, or orientation of the LED(s) with respect to the optics-means to provide eye-catching light effects by varying the image size, dimensions, etc. The power source may be interchanged between an AC powered sealed-unit and a DC powered battery-pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Tseng-Lu Chien
  • Patent number: 8231247
    Abstract: A moveable barrier operator includes a motor for moving a moveable barrier and a housing is disposed around the motor. The moveable barrier operator also includes a plurality of light sources and the plurality of light source are coupled to the housing along a periphery of the housing and being individually directable so as to illuminate at least one predetermined area outside the housing. The at least one predetermined area is proximal to a moveable barrier operator. A controller disposed in the housing and coupled to the motor. The controller is arranged and configured to automatically selectively actuate the motor to move the moveable barrier according to received user instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert John Olmsted
  • Patent number: 8231248
    Abstract: An LED unit includes an LED and a lens receiving the LED. The lens includes a first light-incident face confronting the LED to refract the light emitted from the LED with a small angle into the lens, a second light-incident face surrounding the LED to refract the light emitted from the LED with a large angle into the lens, a light-reflecting face to reflect the light from the second light-incident face towards a top of the LED, a first light-emergent face to refract the light from the first light-incident face out of the lens, and a second light-emergent face to refract the light from the light-reflecting face out of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ren-Tao Fu, Chin-Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 8231249
    Abstract: A lighting system is provided that includes: an optical device including a cylindrical lens made up of a liquid lens, an emission unit including an axis line in the Z-axis direction, and a reflecting mirror configured to reflect light emitted from the emission unit. The cross-sectional shape of a light reflecting portion when cutting away the reflecting mirror at a virtual plane perpendicular to the Z axis is a part of a parabola. The axis line of the emission unit is positioned between the vertex-of the parabola and a focal point. Thus, there is provided a lighting system in which an optical device, which is made up of a liquid lens employing an electrowetting phenomenon, having an arrangement and configuration whereby high optical power can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Miki Tsuboi, Yuichi Takai, Mariko Obinata
  • Patent number: 8231250
    Abstract: The present invention relates to warm white light engines including combinations of blue, cyan, and red, red-orange, or amber emitters and one or more phosphors that produce a white light pleasing to the human eye through the use of improved color uniformity and improved collimation of light. Specifically, a micro-lenslet array having an optimized surface is used to disperse light from the light emitter; an innercollimation lens having an optimized cross-sectional shape and micro-ridges is used to disperse light; a TIR reflector having an optimized cross-sectional shape and micro-ridges is used to disperse and redistribute phase as well as provide collimation; and a final micro-lenslet layer includes optimized lenslet design placement and randomization factor to homogenize light to produce a uniform warm white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Bailey
  • Patent number: 8231251
    Abstract: Collection optics are used with one or more light emitting diodes to produce, e.g., collimated light. The collection optics are produced in multiple pieces including a small reflective ring that surrounds the one or more light emitting diodes. The reflective ring may be positioned relative to the LEDs, using a mesa upon which the LEDs are mounted, as a lateral positioning guide. A separate upper reflector uses the reflective ring as a lateral positioning guide during assembly. The reflective ring and the upper reflector include reflective sidewalls that are approximately continuous when the reflective ring and upper reflector are assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Philips Lumileds Lighting Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory W. Eng, Mina Farr, Matthijs Keuper, Stefan Eberle, Franklin J. Wall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8231252
    Abstract: A projector includes a light source, a pump which supplies a compressed gas to cool the light source, and an ejector member having a hole, in which, a tube connects the pump to the ejector member, the compressed gas is discharged from the hole, and a diameter of the hole is in a range from 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Nishimura, Hiroaki Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 8231253
    Abstract: An adjustable window candle includes a candlestick, a positioning member mounted inside the shank body and having retaining flanges extending around the periphery thereof at different elevations, a candle shaft axially slidably sleeved onto the positioning device and having a locating groove extending around the inside wall thereof and selectively engageable with one retaining flange of the positioning member to secure the candle shaft to the positioning member in the candlestick in one of a series of elevational positions, and a lampshell mounted on a top end of the candle shaft and holding a LED lamp module therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Ching-Chao Chen
  • Patent number: 8231254
    Abstract: A lighting unit for vehicle headlights comprising a light-emitting diode device (500), and a housing (200), in the interior of which are arranged components of an operating circuit for operating the light-emitting diode device (500), wherein the housing (200) is composed of electrically insulating material, electrical connections (222) for the voltage supply of the lighting unit are embedded in the housing (200), and the housing (200) has adjustment means (213a, 213b, 213c) for orienting the lighting unit in a vehicle headlight; wherein the light-emitting diode device (500) is arranged on a surface (112) of a heat sink (100) composed of thermally conductive material; and wherein the heat sink (100) forms a bearing surface (120a) for an external cooling system, said bearing surface being arranged at an outer side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Beck, Siegfried Foerstner, Peter Frey, Christian Meier
  • Patent number: 8231255
    Abstract: A vehicle light can electrically change over between a horizontally wide light distribution pattern and an AFS suitable light distribution pattern for projecting light beams leftward (or rightward according to the traffic system). The vehicle light can include a projection lens having a light incident surface and a light exiting surface; and a horizontally long rectangular surface light source including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices that are horizontally disposed on both sides with respect to a focus of the projection lens and are independently controlled to be turned on/off. The projection lens can vertically converge and horizontally diffuse light beams for projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sadayuki Konishi
  • Patent number: 8231256
    Abstract: In one embodiment of this invention, a light fixture comprises a light source, a collimating element, an optical cavity and a multi-functional non-imaging optical component (MNOC) comprising an anisotropic light scattering film. In another embodiment of this invention, the MNOC further comprises a surface relief feature which redirects a portion of the incident light. The present invention provides a system and method of controlling the output of light from a light fixture. One or more volumetric anisotropic diffusing components are utilized to control both the photometric distribution and visual appearance of the light fixture. A high degree of optical control is obtained with durable components that can be easily customized to optimize optical performance in light fixtures designed as pendants, wall sconces, wallwashers, downlights, and tasklights. The luminance and color uniformity as well as the illuminance and color uniformity of illumination can be controlled and improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventors: Zane Coleman, Timothy Kelly
  • Patent number: 8231257
    Abstract: Embodiments of a panel lighting apparatus and methods of its manufacture are described. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include a light source, an at least partially transparent panel comprising a planar front surface and a planar back surface, the panel disposed in conjunction with the light source such that light from the light source is input into at least one edge of the panel and guided therein, and a plurality of light extraction dots disposed on the planar back surface, the plurality of light extraction dots configured to reflect light incident on the planar back surface and extract light from the light source propagating in the panel through the planar front surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan C. Griffiths, Gaurav Sethi, James R. Webster
  • Patent number: 8231258
    Abstract: A lighting module includes a case including an opening where a light emits from, a base portion corresponding to the opening, and a seat on at least one side of the base portion. The lighting module further includes a light source unit disposed on the seat, a light guide plate placed within the case and optically connected with the light source unit, and a diffusing plate placed within the case and placed below the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han Gyoul Kim, Hwayoung Kim, Il Yeong Kang, Hyunha Shin, Sang Hoon Lee, Jin Wook Kim, Hyong Jin Kim, JunYoung Byun, Jaemyeong Noh
  • Patent number: 8231259
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a luminaire, which comprises a plate-shaped light guide, and first lamps disposed on one or more narrow sides of the light guide and configured to couple light into the plate-shaped light guide, wherein the light coupled into the light guide is emitted via a flat side of the light guide in a first irradiating direction of the luminaire. Said luminaire is characterized in that the first lamps are formed by a plurality of light-emitting diodes and that the luminaire furthermore comprises second lamps and a reflector arrangement associated therewith, by way of which the light of the second lamps is emitted in a second irradiating direction opposite the first irradiation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Zumtobel Lighting GmbH
    Inventors: Katherina Keller, Manfred Petschulat
  • Patent number: 8231260
    Abstract: An LED light has a pinhole-imaging function for dark area use as a plug-in wall outlet light, direct current (DC) operated light, or interchangeable power source light to project a shaped image to a surrounding environment. Tiny shaped pinholes can create a fine image of desired message, data, logo, or time on a ceiling, walls, floor, optics means surface or other desired surface. At least one pinhole-means may be incorporated with an LED and parts selected from a housing-member, plastic film openings, cut-outs, transparent material piece, translucent material piece, adjust-means, sealed-unit, battery-pack, paper material, plastic material, metal material, wood material, geometric shape substrate, AC adaptor and jack means, and/or solar power or wind power generator to project the desired image, message, data, logo, to the surrounding environment, which may include any combination of ceiling, walls, floor, or other desired surfaces(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Tseng-Lu Chien
  • Patent number: 8231261
    Abstract: A LED module and interconnection system is disclosed. The LED module includes a lens, a housing, and a printed circuit board PCB having at least on LED disposed within the housing. The housing includes a plurality of openings providing physical and electrical access to the PCB. The interconnection system includes at least one LED module and a cable assembly. The cable assembly is configured to provide electrical connectivity to the LED module through an opening in the LED module housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Daniel Gherardini, Matthew Edward Mostoller
  • Patent number: 8231262
    Abstract: Recycled asphalt product is heated within an indirectly heated recycled asphalt product heater by passing heated gases through heat exchange members within a drum while the recycled asphalt product is moved through the drum from one end to the other end of the drum. The heat exchange members provide conduits for the heated gases, the conduits extending from an inlet adjacent a source of heated gases to an outlet communicating with an exhaust, each conduit following a looped path and having two or more segments each with a longitudinal length extending from adjacent one end of the drum to adjacent the other end of the drum. The segments are arranged serially in a serpentine configuration, are generally parallel to one another, and are spaced apart radially within the interior of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventors: Russell W. Anderson, Lawrence C. Hanlon, Gordon F. Martin
  • Patent number: 8231263
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for making a foam having a controlled size distribution of gas bubbles in a liquid matrix. The invention utilizes a porous material having a controlled pore size and pore distance to produce a substantially uniform size distribution of gas bubbles; a gas pumping device for directing a flow of gas to and through the porous material to form the gas bubbles; a fluid pumping device for directing a flow of liquid matrix past the porous material and a rotating element moving in the vicinity of the membrane surface causing an additional flow to detach, collect accumulate and entrain the gas bubbles in the liquid matrix to form a foam having gas bubbles of generally uniform size and a substantially uniform gas bubble size distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Erich Josef Windhab, Nadina Patrizia Müller-Fischer, Karl Uwe Tapfer
  • Patent number: 8231264
    Abstract: Extruder (1) for processing material, comprising an extruder barrel (3) containing a bore (5) and at least one extruder screw (11) positioned within said bore, the bore having an upstream inlet portion for feeding the material to be processed and a downstream outlet portion connectable to an extruder exit (7) for material processed through the extruder, the at least one extruder screw has a length:diameter ratio of less than 20:1, the extruder further comprising at least one recycling channel (13, 15) running through the barrel from the outlet portion of the bore and at least two recycling exits (19, 21, 23) that connect a recycling channel to the bore upstream of the outlet portion by and further comprising means for directing the material through the at least one recycling channel and the recycling exits and/or the extruder exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: DSM IP Assets B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Ijsbrand Tiesnitsch
  • Patent number: 8231265
    Abstract: A microchip for forming an emulsion has a first glass substrate, a second glass substrate and a silicon substrate. The silicon substrate has formed therein a first fluid flow path through which a first fluid flows and a second fluid flow path through which a second fluid that is not mixed with the first fluid flows. The first fluid flow path has a plurality of branched flow paths that join at a joint portion. The second fluid flow path communicates with the joint portion. The silicon substrate has formed therein an emulsion formation flow path that faces an edge portion of the second fluid flow path at the joint portion. An emulsion composed of the first fluid and the second fluid that is surrounded by the first fluid is formed in the emulsion formation flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ozawa, Ryoichi Ohigashi, Koji Fujimoto, Shoji Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8231266
    Abstract: An apparatus for ascertaining and/or monitoring at least one temperature. The apparatus includes, according to a first variable, at least one temperature sensor, at least one reference temperature sensor and at least one heating/cooling unit, which is thermally coupled with the temperature sensor and with the reference temperature sensor. According to a second variant, the invention includes that at least one reference temperature sensor and the temperature sensor and the reference temperature sensor are embodied and placed in such a manner that they measure essentially the same temperature. At least one head transmitter is provided, which connects the temperature sensor and the reference temperature sensor with the head transmitter in such a manner that the head transmitter receives the data measured by the temperature sensor and the reference temperature sensor. At least one memory unit is provided, in which the measured data of the temperature sensor and the reference temperature sensor are storable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Wetzer GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Schulze
  • Patent number: 8231267
    Abstract: Control systems and calorimeters using them are provided. In certain examples, a calorimeter comprising a thin film sample sensor, a thin film reference sensor, a first controller configured to receive a temperature signal from only the reference sensor and to generate a first control signal, based on the received temperature signal, to provide average power to the sample sensor and to the reference sensor, and a second controller configured to receive temperature signals from both the sample sensor and the reference sensor and to generate a second control signal, based on the temperature signals received from both the sample sensor and the reference sensor, to provide differential power to only the sample sensor is described. Methods using the control systems and calorimeters are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph E. G. Schick, Evgeny Zhuravlev
  • Patent number: 8231268
    Abstract: A screening device and a method are described herein which can automatically handle and measure (interrogate) a plurality of sensor carriers (i.e., multiwell plates, microplates) with multi-dimensionally arranged, temperature-compensated or temperature-compensatable optical sensors, while maintaining a substantially constant temperature gradient for a relatively long period of time around the optical sensors where temperature compensation has been performed on the sensor carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark F. Krol, Thomas C. Moore, David A. Pastel, Gordon M. Shedd
  • Patent number: 8231269
    Abstract: The invention relates to a culinary article (100) having a bottom (101) in which heat-sensitive means (130) made of electrically conductive materials are placed. According to the invention, the heat-sensitive means (130) are made of non-ferromagnetic materials having a temperature-variable resistivity (p).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: SEB SA
    Inventors: Jocelyn Bonnel, Noël Burais
  • Patent number: 8231270
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of mobile sensors to collect temperature information used to control, inter alia, rail vehicle speed, acceleration, or scheduling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Concaten, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin K. Groeneweg, Christopher J. Rennie
  • Patent number: 8231271
    Abstract: A removable protective cover for an insertion probe of a medical instrument. The cover contains a flexible tubular body that compliments the probe geometry and a radially disposed flange that surrounds the proximal end of the body. A series of snap-on fasteners removably connect the cover to the instrument. A camming surface is located on the outer face of the flange which coacts with a cam follower that is movably mounted upon the instrument to flex the cover sufficiently to open the fastener and release the cover from the instrument and move the cover axially toward the distal end of the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Lane, David E. Quinn, Ray D. Stone, Scott A. Martin, John R. Strom
  • Patent number: 8231272
    Abstract: A package made of a flexible material for containing liquid, viscous, pasty, granular or powdered products has a supporting base from which rise two opposite side walls joined to the perimeter of the base and joined to each other along the side edges. Each side wall includes an upper flap joined thereto by a fold line. The package also includes a top wall joined peripherally to the upper flaps of the sidewalls and a peelable closure in at least one portion of the perimeter of the top wall joined to the upper flaps of the sidewalls. The peelable closure is destined to be opened so as to form an opening for discharging the product. On the top wall there are provided gripping elements adapted to be gripped and raised by the user so as to cause the separation of the peelable closure to create the opening for discharging the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Goglio S.p.A.
    Inventors: Franco Goglio, Giorgio Bottini
  • Patent number: 8231273
    Abstract: A pouch includes first and second pouch walls that define an interior of the pouch, and an opening to the interior of the pouch is provided in at least one of the first and second pouch walls. A flow channel profile is disposed on an inner surface of the first pouch wall, and a complementary groove is disposed on an inner surface of the second pouch wall. The complementary groove releasably engages the flow channel profile so as to define a flow channel between the first and second pouch walls. The flow channel profile extends between the opening and a portion of an interior of the pouch that is spaced from the opening. When the flow channel profile is releasably engaged with the complementary groove, a tip of the flow channel profile contacts a surface the complementary groove, and a surface of the flow channel profile that is adjacent to the tip also contacts a surface of the complementary groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Turvey, Brian C. Dais, Daniel P. Zimmerman, Kelly M. Griffioen
  • Patent number: 8231274
    Abstract: A motion guide device that has a novel damping structure different from the conventional damping structure is provided. The present invention comprises a raceway member (1) having a rolling-element rolling part (1a); a moving member (2) having a loaded rolling-element rolling part (2a) facing the rolling-element rolling part (1a) and being allowed to make a linear or curved movement relatively to the raceway member (1); and a plurality of rolling elements (3) intervening between the rolling-element rolling part (1a) of the raceway member (1) and the loaded rolling-element rolling part (2a) of the moving part (2). A gap (16) between the raceway member (1) and the moving member (2) is filled with a layer of oil contacting the raceway member (1) and the moving member (2). Viscosity resistance of the oil is utilized to apply a braking force to the moving member (2) or the raceway member (1) in proportion to a speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Masahiko Yoshino, Mitsuaki Homma, Satoru Nagai
  • Patent number: 8231275
    Abstract: A slide bearing bush with an integrated sealing element permits a relatively simple and economical production of the slide bearing bush. The slide bearing bush includes a bush part and a cover part. The bush part and/or the cover part is provided with an annular groove formed for holding the sealing element, and the slide bearing bush comprised of the bush part and the cover part possesses a cylindrical outside contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Thomas Krause, Burkard Beck, Peter Schmehr
  • Patent number: 8231276
    Abstract: A sliding material sliding material includes: a sliding plane member; a base member made of a material different from that of the sliding plane member; an intermediate member provided between the sliding plane member and the base member and formed with a plurality of spaces; and a joining member for bonding the intermediate member to the base member, in which a portion of the space formed to the intermediate member is impregnated with a portion of the sliding plane member so that the sliding plane member is bonded to the intermediate member, and a residual portion of the space of the intermediate member is impregnated with a portion of the joining member so that the base member is bonded to the intermediate member with the joining member therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Long Than Trong, Satoshi Namba, Nobuyuki Yasu, Kazuma Mukai
  • Patent number: 8231277
    Abstract: A sliding bearing, such as a journal bearing, includes at least two bearing elements, the bearing surfaces of which are slidably supported with respect to each other. At least one of the surfaces is provided with a first type of cavity which may comprise a lubricating substance, the first type of cavity being defined by a specific range of geometric properties. At least one surface is provided with at least a second type of cavity which may comprise a lubricating surface, the second type of cavity being defined by geometric properties which are different from the geometric properties of the first type of cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventors: Guillermo Enrique Morales Espejel, Eric Robert, Frederic Ponson