Patents Issued in April 8, 2014
  • Patent number: 8690390
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lamp and fan design to generate the comfort and freshness feeling in a room, wherein the lamp and fan is portable and has a lampshade which is not fixed to the lamp but rather remains mobile based on sustainability principles by favoring the arrangement of said lampshade at a variable height relative to the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: Luciano Matus Calleros
  • Patent number: 8690391
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a housing, a light emitter located in an interior region of the housing, a driver for the emitter, and a heat sink coupled to the driver. The heat sink includes a plurality of fins for cooling the driver. The apparatus further includes a driver mounting portion having a mounting surface and a side wall. The side wall is coupled to one of the heat sink and the driver so that the plurality of fins of the heat sink are exposed. The mounting surface of the driver mounting portion is coupled to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Stray Light Optical Technologies
    Inventors: Robert A. Drake, Gerald W. Rea
  • Patent number: 8690392
    Abstract: The light source unit is provided with a substrate and a decorative cover having thermal conductivity. The substrate includes a circuit pattern area, in which a plurality of LED chips are disposed, at the middle part thereof, has thermal conductivity, and transmits heat from the circuit pattern area to an area in the outer circumferential direction thereof. The decorative cover encloses the substrate, is electrically insulated from the circuit pattern area, and is thermally coupled to the surface side of the substrate at the periphery of the circuit pattern area by being face-contacted thereto. Heat of the substrate can be radiated by the decorative cover while securing an electric insulation property with respect to the circuit pattern area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kozo Ogawa, Kiyoshi Nishimura, Nobuhiko Betsuda, Hiroki Tamai, Akiko Saito
  • Patent number: 8690393
    Abstract: The invention discloses an LED lighting fixture, which comprises a heat sink, a reflection cup, an LED module, a supporting member, a heat pipe and a vapor chamber, wherein the heat sink is provided with a center hole section and radiating sections; a concave opening is formed at the front end by the surrounding of the radiating section; the reflection cup is arranged at the concave opening; the outside of the reflection cup is surrounded by the heat pipe and makes contact with the radiating section; the LED module is arranged at the bottom of the reflection cup; the supporting member makes contact with the LED module and is arranged at the tail end of the heat pipe; and the vapor chamber is provided with a smoothing section for receiving the LED module and interposing sections for being interposed into the center hole section of the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Zhongshan Weiqiang Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ke-Chin Lee, Hung-Chieh Chen
  • Patent number: 8690394
    Abstract: An illuminating device that can reduce illuminance unevenness of an irradiation target face with a simple construction is provided. In a pseudo sunlight illuminating device 1 having a lamp 22 for illuminating an irradiation target face 10A, a transmission light amount adjusting unit 60 for adjusting a transmission light amount so that the illuminance distribution on the irradiation target face 10a is made uniform is provided between the lamp 22 and the irradiation target face 10A, and the transmission light amount adjusting unit 60 is provided with a light transmission plate laminate member 64 which is constructed by stacking light transmission plates 65 which are constant in transmittance in a wavelength range of light to be transmitted and whose number corresponds to an adjustment amount of the transmission light amount so that incident light is reflected at each boundary of the front and back surfaces of each light transmission plate 65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Sakai, Tomohiro Iwazaki, Kazuo Sakuma, Ichirou Mori, Masaki Kanai, Maki Takenaga, Hiroyuki Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 8690395
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light emitting device (2) comprising a primary light source (10), a light converting medium (14) and an optical structure (16). The primary light source is disposed on a substrate (11). The light converting medium comprising phosphors (14) is arranged for converting at least a part of the primary light to secondary light (II) of a different wavelength. The light converting medium is in a remote phosphor configuration. The optical structure is arranged for receiving a part of the secondary light (II) from the light converting medium and is configured for redirecting the part of the secondary light in a direction towards the first plane but away for the primary light source (10). By providing an optical structure redirecting the secondary light away from the primary light source, absorption of the secondary light by the primary light source can be substantially reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Erno Fancsali, Willem Hendrik Smits, Pascal Jean Henri Bloemen
  • Patent number: 8690396
    Abstract: A projection lens for lighting equipment of an aspect of the present invention is characterized by formed in a shape where N of sector-shaped lens parts each of which corresponds to a central angle 2? degrees (?=180/N, N is an integer more than or equal to 3) and is bilaterally symmetric in a rotationally asymmetric elliptical collimator lens are circumferentially disposed. The projection lens for lighting equipment of such aspect is formed in the shape where N of the sector-shaped lens parts each of which corresponds to a central angle 2? degrees (?=180/N, N is an integer more than or equal to 3) and is bilaterally symmetric in the rotationally asymmetric elliptical collimator lens are circumferentially disposed. Accordingly, the projection lens for lighting equipment with a novel design which has a shape of a N-sided polygon (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Yatsuda, Ryotaro Owada
  • Patent number: 8690397
    Abstract: An optical package element includes: an optical functional element having an optical functional surface; a packaging resin having light transmitting properties in which the optical functional element is embedded and whose surface facing toward the optical functional surface of the optical functional element is a light transmitting surface; conductive members connected to the optical functional element embedded in the packaging resin; and a light blocking layer provided on a surface of the conductive members facing toward the light transmitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shoichi Muraguchi
  • Patent number: 8690398
    Abstract: A vertically adjustable cubicle lamp may be suspended on two vertical rods configured to grip the upper edge of a cubicle wall. The lamp may be vertically positioned and secured through a frictional fit, a mechanical interface, or a wirelessly controlled traction motor. Lamp intensity may be controlled through a microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Evolution Lighting, LLC
    Inventor: Carrie Ann Restel
  • Patent number: 8690399
    Abstract: In a luminaire, comprising a light source (2) having at least one LED and a heat sink (4) for cooling the LED, the light source (2) is arranged pivotably with respect to the heat sink (4), wherein three lever arms (6, 8, 10) that act on the light source (2) are provided and the luminaire is designed such that the light source (2) is pressed against the heat sink (4) by the three lever arms (6, 8, 10). Moreover, a spring element (12), which acts on a first (6) of the three lever arms (6, 8, 10), and an adjusting means (14) for adjusting a second (8) of the three lever arms (6, 8, 10) are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Zumtobel Lighting GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Ladstätter
  • Patent number: 8690400
    Abstract: A lamp assembly includes a base and a lamp socket supported by the base. The lamp socket has a cylindrical inner surface with screw threads formed thereon. A lamp holder has a socket portion and an arm portion. A lower part of the socket portion is inserted within the lamp socket and is held in place by the screw threads of the lamp socket. The arm portion extends laterally from an upper part of the socket portion. A lamp package containing a lamp at least partially encased in packaging is attached to the arm portion of the lamp holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Foltz, Laszlo Titkos, Jacob Strassburger
  • Patent number: 8690401
    Abstract: A lighting and/or signalling device arranged so as to provide at least a first photometric function and a second photometric function, wherein the device comprises at least one moveable element on which at least the first photometric function is installed and the movement of which is subject to the operation of the second photometric function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Malik Bakacha, Jean-Claude Puente, Pierre Albou
  • Patent number: 8690402
    Abstract: An illuminated grab handle assembly for a vehicle includes a handle body and at least one light source. The handle body has a center portion and two opposed ends and is adapted to be attached to a surface of the vehicle interior. The at least one light source is disposed within the center portion of the handle body for illuminating the vehicle interior. The illuminated grab handle assembly is operable to provide more than one mode of illumination for the vehicle interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jedidiah Paul Durkin, Luis Miguel Lopez Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 8690403
    Abstract: A multifunction vehicle light has a housing, at least one light emitter mounted within the housing, and a lens mounted in cooperation with the light and the housing. A filter has a first position and a second position, with the first position being in a light path and the second position being out of the light path. The lens has a first portion and a second portion, with the first portion having a first color and the second portion having a second color. In one embodiment, the filter also has the first color; for example red. The light from the lamp appears to be entirely in the first color when the filter is in its first position and the light from the lamp appears in both the first and second colors when the filter is in its second position, with the colors corresponding to the first and second portions of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hella KGAA Hueck & Co.
    Inventor: Sandeep Saxena
  • Patent number: 8690404
    Abstract: Disclosed is a headlamp LED lighting device including: a box 10 for accommodating a circuit board on which a circuit for lighting LEDs 130 is mounted, the box being fitted into and mounted to a rear opening 110b of a headlamp case 110; a first connector 40 which is disposed on a side of the box 10 fitted into and mounted to the rear opening 110b, the side facing towards an inside of the headlamp case 110, for connecting to the circuit board, and which is connected to the LEDs 130, for supplying electric power to the LEDs; and a second connector 50 disposed on another side of the box 10 fitted into and mounted to the rear opening 110b, for connecting to the circuit board and for supplying electric power to the circuit board, the other side facing towards an outside of the headlamp case 110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keiko Konishi, Takashi Ohsawa
  • Patent number: 8690405
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit is capable of improving the design freedom (such as that for forming a high-beam light distribution pattern) and to allow an observer to visually recognize the employed projection lens even when including a plurality of lens portions (including a plurality of rear-side focal points) as a single lens with high aesthetic feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 8690406
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device for generating output illumination having at least one directional characteristic. The lighting device includes at least one light-emitting device and at least one optical element disposed in an optical path of the light-emitting device. The lighting device also includes a screen-like member for changing at least one physical property of light passing therethrough and an optical device for generating an intermediate image on the screen-like member. The screen-like member and the optical device are located in the optical path between the light-emitting device and the optical element projecting the intermediate image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Ronald R. Drenten, Josef A. Schug, Adriaan Valster
  • Patent number: 8690407
    Abstract: An illumination unit includes an LED and a tabular light guide plate having a light emitting surface for emitting light from the LED as planar light, wherein a recessed portion is formed in the opposite surface of the tight emitting surface of the light guide plate, and wherein the LED is provided in the recessed portion so that the optical axis of the LED becomes parallel to the light emitting surface of the light guide plate. Further, a plurality of LEDs are arranged along the longer direction of the recessed portion, a dimming pattern is provided at a location corresponding to each of a plurality of LED of the light emitting surface of the light guide plate, and the shape or the size of the dimming pattern is varied with a location on the light emitting surface of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Shiraishi, Masayuki Tanabe, Mika Tanimura, Shoji Yamamoto, Kenji Takano, Yoshifumi Shimane, Yasuaki Ohara, Reiji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8690408
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products illuminate display devices. Light is injected into a waveguide and directed onto an array of picture elements. The light reflects from the array of picture elements through the waveguide, thus illuminating the array of picture elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventor: Kevin A. Li
  • Patent number: 8690409
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a light guiding plate and a plurality of first light sources. The light guiding plate includes a light exiting surface through which light can exit, a light guiding surface positioned opposite to the light exiting surface, and a first surface extending between the light guiding surface and the light exiting surface and inclined with respect to the light guiding surface by a first angle. The first angle is an acute angle. The first light sources can generate light, and are disposed under the light guiding plate. These first light sources are disposed adjacent to a first edge connecting the first surface with the light guiding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Lyoul Shin, Jae-Chang Choi, Tae-Ho Lee, Je-Won Woo, Su-Chang Ryu
  • Patent number: 8690410
    Abstract: Methods and aparatuses disclosed herein relate to backlit visual display elements. A visual display element may include a base layer defining one or more microperforations and a light guide coupled to a light source. The light guide may be positioned adjacent the base layer and include one or more microlenses in alignment with the one or more microperforations along at least one vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Gregory L. Tice
  • Patent number: 8690411
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a backlight device. The device includes: a light emitting element; a lens having an incident surface on which light emitted by the light emitting element is incident, and an outgoing surface which has an ability to converge the light and from which the light incident on the incident surface goes out; a light guide plate having a light incidence plane and introducing through the incidence plane the light going out from the outgoing surface, so as to perform surface light emission; and a reflective member operative to reflect a portion of the light going out from the outgoing surface of the lens, toward the incidence plane of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takeo Arai
  • Patent number: 8690412
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a liquid crystal display with backlight structures. The backlight structures may produce backlight that passes through the display layers in the display. The display layers may include a layer of liquid crystal material interposed between a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. The backlight structures may include a light guide plate. A plurality of light-emitting diodes mounted on a flexible printed circuit may be coupled to an edge of the light guide plate. The flexible printed circuit may be curled into a spring element to bias the light-emitting diodes against the edge of the light guide plate. A plurality of gaps may be formed in the flexible printed circuit and may be used to separate and mechanically decouple adjacent light-emitting diodes. Individual light-emitting diodes may independently register to the light guide plate to maximize optical efficiency in the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Derek Wright, Wenyong Zhu
  • Patent number: 8690413
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a transparent light guide plate and a light source that irradiates light onto the light guide plate, in which a plurality of dot-shaped light-emitting concave portions having light output surfaces that output incident light derived from the light source from light-emitting surfaces are formed on the light guide plate, and a diffraction grating, which is an assembly of grooves paralleled at a constant pitch, is formed on each of the light output surfaces of the dot-shaped light-emitting concave portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsura Kamikatano, Hideki Sasaki, Ren Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8690414
    Abstract: A plurality of display panels include a display region and a frame region. The plurality of display panels include first and second display panels adjoining each other; the frame region of the first display panel is overlapped by a side face of the second display panel so that an angle defined by viewer-side surfaces is more than 0° but less than 180°; first and second light guide elements are disposed on the viewer's side of peripheral display regions; the light guide elements have incident and outgoing faces and a plurality of light guiding portions; the distance between the incident and outgoing faces increases away from the peripheral display region toward the frame region; the volume of the first light guide element is larger than that of the second light guide element; and the outgoing faces of the first and second light guide elements are covered by a functional film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuma Tomotoshi, Hisashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8690415
    Abstract: An optical display element (10) made up of selectively illuminatable concentric rings (14) is provided, in which the rings (14) are obtained by the light exit surface (20) of a respective optical waveguide body (18). Each optical waveguide body (18) has a light entry surface (22) which couples light in from an associated light source (24) which is adapted to be selectively activated. The light entry surface (22), as related to the common axis (12), has a larger radial extent than the light exit surface (20). Further, the optical waveguide bodies (18) have directly radially adjacent light-blocking side surfaces (30). Owing to this configuration, it is solely the optical waveguide bodies (18) which determine the geometry of the concentric rings (14). Since the optical waveguide bodies (18) can be manufactured with high precision, the intended close tolerances are obtained. In this way, radial distances between the rings (14) of only approximately 0.2 mm or less can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Korherr, Harald Koehnlein
  • Patent number: 8690416
    Abstract: Provided are an optical member and a display device. The display device includes a light source, a plurality of wavelength converting particles, an approximately, and a display panel. The wavelength converting particles convert a wavelength of light emitted from the light source. The accommodating part accommodates the wavelength converting particles and has a curved surface. The display panel is configured to display images using light changed by the wavelength converting particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji Young Jung
  • Patent number: 8690417
    Abstract: A method for intermittent production and continuous supply of a resin-filler mixture in the course of production of plastic molded parts and an installation for intermittent production and continuous supply of a resin-filler mixture. A method and an installation, by which it is possible to ensure a continuous supply of a resin-filler mixture reliably and in continuous operation, an optimum and precise mixing ratio of the individual constituents of a resin-filler mixture, mostly consisting of a resin mixture and fillers, in which components, particularly portions of very small or highly viscous components, are dispersed finely and uniformly. Optimizing the production of resin-filler mixture for the supply of small components and achieving a continuous supply of the resin mixture that is reliable for continuous operation occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Dieffenbacher GmbH Maschinen- und Anlagenbau
    Inventors: Matthias Graf, Jochen Keitel
  • Patent number: 8690418
    Abstract: A method of mixing including providing a flexible container which comprises at least two components, assembling the components from outside the flexible container to form a centrally disposed magnetic driven shaft with at least one impeller, whereby the integrity of the flexible container is maintained, filling the flexible container having the centrally disposed magnetic driven shaft with one or more ingredients of the contents to be mixed; engaging a magnetic element of the centrally disposed magnetic driven shaft with an external magnetic drive element; analyzing the contents of the flexible container using at least one sensor or a sampling line on the flexible container; and draining the contents of the flexible container through a drain port at the bottom of the flexible container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Ludwig, Oscar-Werner Reif, Gerhard Greller, Wolfgang Kahlert, Guenther Pradel, Michael Bates, Magail Barbaroux, Stephane Baud, Isabelle Gay, Sebastian Chaussin
  • Patent number: 8690419
    Abstract: This invention finds application in the field of the devices and methods for physical or chemical mixing of products and particularly relates to a cartridge for storage and sterile delivery of a two-phase compound. The cartridge comprises a first tubular member (2) which defines a first chamber (3) for storage of a solid phase, having a bottom wall (6) with an opening (7) for the passage of the compound, a second tubular member (9) which defines a second hermetically sealed chamber (12) for storage of a liquid phase, and a piston which sealably slides within the first tubular member (2), means (8) for occluding said opening (7) which comprise at least one rupturable membrane (15) associated to the bottom wall (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Tecres S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Faccioli, Renzo Soffiatti
  • Patent number: 8690420
    Abstract: Mechanical watch movement comprising a mechanical chronograph with a regulator organ for regulating the running of the chronograph, characterized in that the regulator organ of the chronograph is placed in an imaginary circle (A) coaxial to the movement and having a radius (r1) smaller than 50% of the maximum outer radius of the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: LVMH Swiss Manufactures SA
    Inventor: Guy Semon
  • Patent number: 8690421
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for measuring a temperature of the core of a body for elevated ambient temperatures, comprising a heat stream sensor (14) having a surface adapted to be positioned in contact with a surface S of the body for detecting a body's inwards heat stream, said sensor being thermally insulated on all its other surfaces from the surroundings, a cooling element (15) for cooling the heat stream sensor, a heat buffer (13) being thermally insulated from surroundings and being arranged in a heat conducting communication with the cooling element, a control unit (19) for switching on the cooling element for compensating the body's inwards heat stream and a temperature sensor (20) for measuring the temperature of the body surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Merijn Wijnen, Marcus Benedictus Hoppenbrouwers
  • Patent number: 8690422
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring the temperature of a motor for a hybrid electric vehicle. In preferred embodiments, the method of the present invention can preferably ensure the stability and reliability of motor control by extending the linearity of a temperature sensor attached to the motor within a required measurement range. The present invention preferably provides a method for measuring the temperature of a motor for a hybrid electric vehicle, in which a required measurement range of motor temperature is divided into high and low temperature ranges and a hardware gain circuit is divided into first and second gain blocks such that the first gain block measures the temperature of the high temperature range and the second gain block measures the temperature of the low temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Chul Woo Kim, Bum Sik Kim, Tae Hwan Chung, Young Kook Lee, Jin Hwan Jung, Sang Hyeon Moon, Sung Kyu Kim, Jae Won Lee
  • Patent number: 8690423
    Abstract: A sensor configured to detect exhaust gas temperature of an exhaust, the sensor including a housing and a sensing element at least partially disposed within the housing. A filler material, including a first media and at least one additional media, is disposed within the housing and at least partially surrounds the sensing element. The first media is configured to be stable in reducing atmospheres up to 800° C. and in oxidizing atmospheres up to 850° C. and the second media is configured to provide oxygen storage capacity and enhance chemical stability and/or oxygen entrapment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Stoneridge, Inc.
    Inventors: Zaid Alnaqash, Ken Kubasek, Ronald N. Landis
  • Patent number: 8690424
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical x-ray imaging apparatus including a support structure (1) which supports a substantially ring-shaped structure, an O-arm (2) supporting imaging means (21, 22), to which O-arm (2) is arranged an examination opening (4). The ring-shaped structure (2) supporting the imaging means is arranged movable with respect to said support construction (1) at least in vertical direction. A patient stool (30) is arranged to be positioned in connection with the apparatus, as well as positioning means (32, 33, 34) in connection with said examination opening (4) for positioning the patient stool (30) in the examination opening (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Planmed Oy
    Inventor: Jouni Kinnunen
  • Patent number: 8690425
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining a digital dual mode mobile x-ray cart from an analog or single mode (e.g., film/CR) mobile x-ray cart. In some exemplary embodiments, a retrofit apparatus does not change interior components or certification of the single mode mobile x-ray imaging system. Further, a single operator switch can be used to initiate x-ray exposure in both operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Kopcienski, Robert J. Asento
  • Patent number: 8690426
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a portable x-ray detector includes coupling a gravity sensor to the portable x-ray detector and coupling a processor to the gravity sensor. The processor is programmed to receive an input from the gravity sensor, determine a physical orientation of the portable x-ray detector based on the received input, and generate an indication to reposition the portable x-ray detector. A portable detector and an imaging system including the portable detector are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Zhengshe Liu, Rowland Saunders, Kenneth Kump, Donald Langler, Roy Schley
  • Patent number: 8690427
    Abstract: Methods for inspecting contents of a container. High-energy penetrating radiation collimated into a fan beam illuminates an inspected container from one side, while a plurality of detector plates are disposed on the opposite side of the container. Each detector plate has a plurality of detector modules, each of which, in turn, is disposed on a remotely activated alignment and has multiple detector elements. A controller governs the orientation of each of the plurality of detector plates based at least on the detector signal generated by its detector elements such that each detector element of each detector module of each detector plate may be aligned to within a specified fraction of the transverse dimension of the fan beam as measured at the exit slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Mastronardi, Jeffrey M. Denker, Peter Rothschild, Dan-Cristian Dinca, Aaron D. Pailes, David R. Blake, Domenic Martignetti
  • Patent number: 8690428
    Abstract: A bag has two juxtaposed face panels of plastic film and each having two parallel side edges and top and bottom edges. A gusset extends between one of the side edges of one of the panels and the juxtaposed side edge of the other of the panels. The gusset is movable between a folded-in condition lying mainly between the panels and an extended condition projecting laterally past the panels and forming a spout generally at the top edges. A slide fastener at the top edges has two profile strips that can be locked to each other and that each have an attachment flap, and a slider shiftable along the profile strips in a closing direction to close the strips together and in an opposite opening direction to separate the strips. Joints secure the attachment flaps directly to inner faces of the respective face panels at the respective upper edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mondi Halle GmbH
    Inventors: Alfons Kruse, Jens Koesters
  • Patent number: 8690429
    Abstract: An improved receptacle liner bag is formed of two layers of thin flexible stretchable plastic sheets which are sealed along the sides and bottom, but are unsealed along the top of the bag. The sheets are die-cut to form a framed opening which defines a band between the sides and the top of the bag. When the bag is placed in the receptacle, the band may be disposed around the outside of the sides of the receptacle and stretched over the base of the receptacle so as to provide a hold-down for the bag in the receptacle. The sheets may be perforated along a line below the framed opening. The line, when opened, forms an auxiliary band which can be stretched over and placed behind a hinge of a lid of the receptacle to secure the back of the liner bag in the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: The Scensible Source Co., LLC
    Inventors: John W. Germanow, Ann D. Germanow
  • Patent number: 8690430
    Abstract: A storage bag has a first fastener strip positioned adjacent to an opening of the bag that includes at least one interlocking profile. A second fastener strip positioned adjacent to the opening of the bag also includes at least one interlocking profile. A slider includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a top wall connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The slider includes (a) a plurality of ridges extending from a first sidewall, the plurality of ridges extending farther from the first sidewall at the ends of the slider than at a position at the center of the length of the slider, and (b) a plurality of ridges extending from a second sidewall, the plurality of ridges extending further from the second sidewall at the ends of the slider than at a position at the center of the length of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventor: Keegan E. Burggren
  • Patent number: 8690431
    Abstract: The present invention provides a package (10) comprising an outer film layer (32) and at least one inner film layer (34,36), the inner and outer film layers being mutually laminated. The package also comprises a pair of mutually spaced lines of weakness (20) in at least the outer film layer, and means (22) for initiating tearing of the film layers. The lines of weakness and tear initiation means are disposed such that activation of the tear initiation means causes controlled tearing of all the film layers along the lines of weakness. The package is particularly suitable for block products such as chocolate bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mondelez UK Holdings & Services Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Vaughn St. Clair Hughes
  • Patent number: 8690432
    Abstract: A bearing assembly (2?) comprising a housing (3?) supporting first and second bearing ring portions (4, 4?) with bearing surfaces to engage an inner tubular member (1?) at axially spaced regions, characterized in that either: the bearing ring portions are provided by separate bearing rings (4?) supported in the housing member (3?) with bearing surfaces of different diameters; or the bearing ring portions are provided by a single bearing ring (4?) that is free to flex radially and is supported so that the second bearing ring portion is free to flex radially under load and its bearing surface than assumes a position with a greater diameter than that of the first bearing ring portion (4?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Messier-Dowty Limited
    Inventor: Ian Robert Bennett
  • Patent number: 8690433
    Abstract: A sliding device for an electronic apparatus includes a contact piece projecting outward in a widthwise direction from a sliding plate and a contacted part with which the contact piece is caused to come into contact when the sliding plate is caused to slide with a maximum displacement in a rear direction relative to a base plate. The contact piece includes a partially cylindrical surface and a connecting surface. The contacted part includes a contacted shape part configured to be contacted by a boundary part of the partially cylindrical surface and the connecting surface to provide the sliding plate with a rotational force to cause a front direction end portion of the sliding plate to move in the bottom direction relative to a rear direction end portion of the sliding plate, and an engaged shape part with which the partially cylindrical surface and the connecting surface are caused to engage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 8690434
    Abstract: A damper roller system is provided. The system includes an external rotating element connected to a bearing housing. The bearing housing is filled with a viscous fluid and includes at least one bearing element immersed in the viscous fluid. The bearing housing is connected to at least one sealing element sealing the viscous fluid inside the bearing housing. The bearing element is connected to a non-rotating shaft having opposite first and second ends. The shaft is held in place at the first end by the bearing element and is rigidly connectable at the second end to an object. The first end is nail-shaped and immersed in the viscous fluid. A rotation of the external rotating element drives a common rotation of the bearing housing and of the bearing element, and shears the viscous fluid, causing a damping motion proportional to a rotational speed of the external rotating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Enertec Consultants Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Desrosiers, Matthieu Pelchat
  • Patent number: 8690435
    Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing has a reduced axial dimension and is constructed to ensure smooth feeding of a lubricating oil. The dynamic pressure bearing includes a communicating hole and at least one tapered seal, and is constructed such that an opening angle of one of the at least one tapered seal through which oil feeding is possible is in a range of about 30 degrees inclusive to about 180 degrees exclusive, a tapered seal wall surface depth W1 of the tapered seal is about 0.3 mm or more, and a sum of distances over which the lubricating oil travels from both sides of an end portion of the communicating hole in a cross-section beyond a wall surface of the communicating hole along a wall surface opposite the end portion of the communicating hole exceeds an inside diameter of the communicating hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Kimura, Kyoko Horise, Ryota Ogino, Kunio Sakurada, Teiichi Hirono
  • Patent number: 8690436
    Abstract: A rotating hub and fixed spindle assembly with first and second fluid dynamic journal bearings and first and second fluid dynamic thrust bearings for a disc drive memory system has a pump seal and a radial ring seal at a first axial terminus for lubricant containment, and a capillary seal and a labyrinth seal at a second axial terminus for lubricant containment and storage. Lubricant fluid pressure differences between first and second seals are minimized through one or more lubricant fluid communicating channels in the hub assembly, in order to minimize lubricant fluid loss through a seal. Lubricant fluid can also be purged of any air bubbles by lubricant fluid circulation through the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jeffry Arnold LeBlanc, Troy Michael Herndon, Robert Alan Nottingham, Alan Lyndon Grantz
  • Patent number: 8690437
    Abstract: Disclosed is a connecting rod bearing for a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, the connecting rod bearing comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical bearings. In at least one of the semi-cylindrical bearings, a front side circumferential groove is formed from the front side circumferential end surface, and in the opposed semi-cylindrical bearing, a rear side circumferential groove is formed from the rear side circumferential end surface. A circumferential length of the front side circumferential groove is larger than a circumferential length of the front side crush relief, and a circumferential length of the rear side circumferential groove is smaller than a circumferential length of the rear side crush relief.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Ishigo
  • Patent number: 8690438
    Abstract: The sliding bearing has a metallic outer ring and a self-lubricating liner formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring. The self-lubricating liner has a self-lubricating resin composition consisting of a mixture of 60 to 80% by weight of polyetherketone-based resin, 10 to 30% by weight of polytetrafluoroethylene, 5 to 15% by weight of carbon fiber and not more than 15% by weight of aramid fiber, total amount of the carbon fiber and the aramid fiber being 10 to 25% by weight. The inner circumferential surface of the outer ring has a surface roughness in terms of center line average roughness not less than Ra 4.0 ?m and a surface roughness in terms of maximum height not less than Rmax 30.0 ?m; and the outer ring and the self-lubricating liner are unified. A method of producing the bearing is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiko Karaki, Kentaro Ishikawa, Motoharu Akiyama, Kunihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8690439
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing cover (3) for a split bearing arrangement (1) which, in addition to the bearing cover (3), comprises a bearing block (2), and the bearing cover (3) has a clamping surface (5) which lies against a co-operating clamping surface (6) of the bearing block (2) when the bearing arrangement (1) is in the assembled state, and at least one projection (7) is provided on the clamping surface (5) and protruding out from it which can be pushed into the co-operating clamping surface (6) of the bearing block (2). The at least one projection (7) has a cross-section (9) which varies across its extension on the clamping surface (5) and/or is of a conical or frustoconical or pyramid or truncated pyramid shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Miba Sinter Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Dickinger, Herbert Schmid, Alexander Mueller