Patents Issued in January 20, 2015
  • Patent number: 8936339
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an ink discharge part, a first drive part that drives a rotation of a roll body in which the recording medium is wound, a second drive part that drives the conveyance part that conveys the recording medium, and a control part that controls operations of the first drive part and the second drive part. The control part drives the first drive part in a halted state of the second drive part and executes a measurement that measures a relationship between a load and a drive speed when conveying the recording medium and the control part executes the measurement for a single rotation of the roll body. The control part also provides a first measurement mode to execute the single rotation which is divided into plural number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Seijun Horie, Kenji Hatada, Junya Kato, Hideo Uruma, Koji Niioka, Shinichi Kamoshida, Takuya Fujita
  • Patent number: 8936340
    Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus, including: an image-data storage; a droplet ejection head; a post-processing mechanism configured to perform drying processing and curl correction processing by a common processing technique on an image-formed recording medium; and a controller configured to: calculate a liquid ejection amount for each evaluation region on the recording medium; determine a first processing amount required for the drying processing, based on a maximum liquid ejection amount; determine, for each evaluation region, a second processing amount for the curl correction processing, based on the liquid ejection amount and a position of the evaluation region on the recording medium; and control the post-processing mechanism to perform the drying processing and the curl correction processing according to a maximum control amount of the post-processing mechanism among the first processing amount and the second processing amounts of the respective evaluation regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Itogawa
  • Patent number: 8936341
    Abstract: In the present invention, a first calculation unit calculates, based on image data obtained by reading with a reading unit a plurality of patches formed on a printing medium by a plurality of nozzle regions constituting nozzle array of a printing head, respective color specification values of a plurality of correction regions corresponding to a plurality of nozzle regions constituting the nozzle array. Then, a target value setting unit sets, based on the calculated color specification values of the plurality of correction regions, a target color specification value of the patch. Further, a second calculation unit calculates a difference between each of the color specification values of the plurality of correction regions and the target color specification value as a correction amount. After that, based on the correction amount calculated, image data corresponding to an image printed by each of the plurality of nozzle regions are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetsugu Kagawa, Nobutaka Miyake, Tohru Ikeda, Akitoshi Yamada, Mitsuhiro Ono, Fumitaka Goto, Ryosuke Iguchi, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Junichi Nakagawa, Senichi Saito
  • Patent number: 8936342
    Abstract: An aspect of a recording defect inspection method for an image recording apparatus includes: a recording step of sequentially recording test patterns of respective recording heads onto a recording medium, an image capturing step of capturing an image of a test pattern recorded on the recording medium by means of a scanner, an analysis step of analyzing the captured test pattern and detecting a recording defect of the recording head which has recorded the test pattern, an evaluation frequency setting step of setting an evaluation frequency for each of the recording heads on the basis of a recording defect occurrence frequency for each recording head, and a control step of setting a frequency of each of the recording heads in the test patterns to the set evaluation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Ueshima
  • Patent number: 8936343
    Abstract: There is provided a control device configured to control a drive system including a motor and a driven object. The control device includes a controller configured to compute an operation amount, to measure a control amount of the controlled object, to input a measurement signal of the control amount to an inverse model of a model indicating input-output characteristics of the controlled object, and to generate a differential signal between an output of the inverse model and the operation amount; and a filter configured to filter the generated differential signal, and which has frequency characteristics of attenuating a vibrational component which is developed due to mechanical characteristics of the controlled object, from the differential signal. The controller is configured to make a judgment of whether or not a defect has occurred in the controlled object, based on an output of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoaki Hazeyama, Kenichi Iesaki
  • Patent number: 8936345
    Abstract: A capping mechanism selectively takes a capped state in which an ejection space opposing an ejection surface is covered or an uncapped state in which the ejection space is not covered. A controller is configured to: determine whether a first change of the capping mechanism from the capped state to the uncapped state occurred while air moisturized by a moisturization mechanism is being moved to the ejection space by a ventilator or not; and when a second change of the capping mechanism from the uncapped state to the capped state occurred after the first change occurred, control the ventilator to move the air moisturized by the moisturization mechanism to the ejection space when a first uncapped time is shorter than a first predetermined time, and control a discharger to discharge the liquid through ejection openings when the first uncapped time is not shorter than the first predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Tamaki
  • Patent number: 8936346
    Abstract: A liquid removing device which removes liquid attached to an abutment section in a cap having the abutment section which is capable of abutting a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle ejecting the liquid onto a target, includes a transfer section which abuts the abutment section to transfer the liquid attached to the abutment section of the cap, wherein a contact angle between a surface of the transfer section and the liquid is smaller than a contact angle between a surface of the abutment section of the cap and the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Kawakami, Eiji Kumai, Shuichiro Nakano
  • Patent number: 8936347
    Abstract: A driving apparatus includes an endless belt supported by a drive pulley configured to be driven by a motor and an idler pulley, and a moving member configured to be coupled to the endless belt and moved by driving the drive pulley by the motor, wherein a first limit value of electric power to be supplied to the motor when the moving member is moved in a first direction approaching the drive pulley is set larger than a second limit value of electric power to be supplied to the motor when the moving member is moved in a second direction approaching the idler pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Sekino
  • Patent number: 8936348
    Abstract: A sliding section that slides on a guide rail to which grease is applied while integrally moving with a carriage is provided in a side surface of the carriage that is equipped with a liquid ejecting head and reciprocates in a moving direction. The sliding section has one side edge section extending so as to cross the moving direction in a position of one side in the moving direction, and the other side edge section extending so as to cross the moving direction in a position of the other side in the moving direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakata, Hitoshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 8936349
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus forming an image on a recording medium includes a head unit which includes an ejecting unit which ejects photo-curable color ink which is cured by being irradiated with light, an ejecting unit which ejects photo-curable transparent ink which is cured by being irradiated with light, and a light irradiation unit which radiates the light; a moving unit which moves the recording medium and the head unit relatively in reciprocating movements; and a controller which causes the transparent ink to be ejected toward the recording medium while causing the head unit to move in one direction in the reciprocating movements, and causes the transparent ink which is applied in the one direction to be irradiated with the light while causing the head unit to be moved in the other direction in the reciprocating movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masahisa Otake
  • Patent number: 8936350
    Abstract: A print head includes an energy generating element, a chamber for accommodating liquid, and an ejection opening for ejecting liquid from the chamber, thus applying the energy to the liquid in the chamber from the energy generating element to eject the liquid from the ejection opening, wherein the ejection opening includes at least two projections convex to an inside of the ejection opening in a cross section perpendicular to a liquid ejecting direction and has a tapered angle ?1 in regard to the liquid ejecting direction, enabling a meniscus of the liquid to be formed therebetween at the liquid ejecting time, and an outer edge portion has a tapered angle ?2 in regard to the liquid ejecting direction, wherein the tapered angles ?1 and ?2 are defined to meet a formula of 0°??1?10° and a formula of ?2>?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunori Takei, Kenji Yabe, Takuma Kodoi, Ken Ikegame, Isamu Horiuchi, Hyou Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8936351
    Abstract: A silicon nozzle plate has excellent liquid resistance on an inner surface of a nozzle opening and a discharge surface. A plurality of the nozzle openings are disposed in a silicon substrate of the nozzle plate. A first tantalum oxide film is disposed by atomic layer deposition on both surfaces of the silicon substrate and the inner surface of the nozzle opening, and a second tantalum oxide film that is formed by plasma CVD is stacked on the first tantalum oxide film of the discharge surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Midori Misawa, Tamotsu Goto
  • Patent number: 8936352
    Abstract: A printer includes a nozzle hole plate including a plurality of nozzle holes, the nozzle hole plate being rotatable; and a nozzle part including a sleeve having a leading passage corresponding to one of the plurality of nozzle holes of the nozzle hole plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ye-Seul Na, Kyoung-Wook Min
  • Patent number: 8936353
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser array structure includes a liquid dispensing channel. A first liquid supply provides a carrier liquid that flows continuously through an outlet of the liquid dispensing channel during a drop dispensing operation. A plurality of liquid dispensers, located on a common substrate, includes a liquid supply channel and a second liquid supply that provides a functional liquid, immiscible in the carrier liquid, to the liquid dispensing channel through the liquid supply channel. A drop formation device, associated with an interface of the liquid supply channel and the liquid dispensing channel, is selectively actuated to form a discrete drop of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Thomas W. Palone, Jeremy M. Grace, Michael A. Marcus, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Kathleen M. Vaeth
  • Patent number: 8936354
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing system includes a liquid dispenser array structure. A first liquid supply provides a carrier liquid that flows continuously through an outlet of a liquid dispensing channel during a drop dispensing operation. A plurality of liquid dispensers, located on a common substrate, includes a second liquid supply that provides a functional liquid, immiscible in the carrier liquid, to the liquid dispensing channel through a liquid supply channel. A drop formation device, associated with an interface of the liquid supply channel and the liquid dispensing channel, is selectively actuated to form discrete drops of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel. A receiver conveyance mechanism and the liquid dispenser array structure are positioned relative to each other such that the discrete drops of the functional liquid are applied to a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Thomas W. Palone, Jeremy M. Grace, Michael A. Marcus, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Kathleen M. Vaeth
  • Patent number: 8936355
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head suppresses erosion of silicon substrates by liquid, and whereby suppresses leakage of liquid, discharging failure of liquid droplets, and peeling-off of laminated substrates. The liquid ejecting head includes at least a nozzle plate on which nozzle openings for discharging liquid are provided, and a flow path formation substrate on which a pressure generation chamber communicating with the nozzle openings is provided. The nozzle plate is formed with a silicon substrate. At least the flow path formation substrate and the nozzle plate are bonded to each other after providing a tantalum oxide film formed by atomic layer deposition on the entire surfaces including a bonded surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kosuke Wakamatsu, Nobuhiro Naito, Satoshi Nagatoya, Michiya Nakamura, Takeshi Yasoshima
  • Patent number: 8936356
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an ink storage unit; a print head unit which has an ink reception port, an ink discharging device, and an ink exhaust port; an ink return path which is connected to the ink exhaust port and which returns ink exhausted from the ink exhaust port to the ink storage unit; and a cooling device which is arranged in the ink return path and which cools ink which passes through the ink return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8936357
    Abstract: An inkjet printer contains an aqueous inkjet ink exhibiting good jetting reliability and ink storage stability, including: a) water; b) colored pigment exhibiting a median volume weighted 50th percentile particle size of less than 0.11 microns; c) from 0.1% to 4% by weight of a compound I represented by the following Structure (I): d) and a polyurethane latex binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Karen M. Kosydar, Richard P. Szajewski
  • Patent number: 8936358
    Abstract: An ink composition for ink jet textile printing at least includes a disperse dye and a solvent represented by the following Formula (1): (in Formula (1), R1 denotes an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms). The solvent represented by the Formula (1) has an HLB value of 10.5 or more and 20.0 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihito Sao, Shinichi Itaya, Shushi Makita
  • Patent number: 8936359
    Abstract: An ink composition including one or more ester resins, the ink composition containing an optional colorant; at least one crystalline phase-change agent; an amorphous binder agent; and optionally one or more additives; where the at least one amorphous binder agent includes at least one ester compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Adela Goredema, Jennifer L. Belelie, Rina Carlini, Naveen Chopra, Kentaro Morimitsu, Corey L. Tracy, Nathan M. Bamsey
  • Patent number: 8936360
    Abstract: A nozzle surface (nozzle plate) of a printing head which ejects UV-curable ink from a nozzle is tilted with a predetermined inclination angle ? with respect to the recording surface of a recording sheet so as to face the opposite side to an ultraviolet irradiator. In this manner, it is difficult for the ultraviolet light which is radiated from the ultraviolet irradiator, and is reflected on the recording sheet to input to the nozzle plate, and it is possible to prevent ink in the nozzle from being thickened, or being cured due to the ultraviolet light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8936361
    Abstract: An image forming system has a first image forming section to form an image on a sheet, wherein the first image forming section heats the sheet to fix the image on the sheet, a second image forming section to form an image to the sheet on which the image has been formed by the first image forming section, and a transporting section to transport the sheet from first image forming section to the second image forming section. The transporting section has a first transporting part to transport the sheet to a predetermined position, and a second transporting part to reverse a surface of the sheet which has been transported by the first transporting part as transporting the sheet from the predetermined position to an area below the predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Okamoto, Hideki Nakamura, Kenji Yamamoto, Akifumi Isobe, Hiroyuki Futami, Katsuyuki Ikuta
  • Patent number: 8936362
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a non-deforming contact lens for keratoconus patients having a displaced central zone. In particular, the central zone is displaced from the geometric center of the lens. The shape of the central zone is egg or spoon-shaped and is rotationally asymmetrical with one semi-meridian that is shorter than a corresponding semi-meridian. An intermediate transition zone is formed integral with the periphery of the central zone, and a peripheral zone is formed integral with the periphery of the intermediate transition zone, forming a round contact lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Vicoh, LLC
    Inventor: Jerome A. Legerton
  • Patent number: 8936363
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polarizing lens molded by inserting a polarizing sheet bent into a sphere or an asphere after having an aromatic polycarbonate sheet bonded via an adhesive layer to both surfaces of a film with polarized nature into a mold, and injecting aromatic polycarbonate, wherein heat treatment at a temperature not less than a temperature of 50° C. lower than the glass transition point and less than the glass transition point for an appropriate time has been performed after injecting aromatic polycarbonate to approximate a designed value of the lens curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc., MGC Filsheet Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terutaka Tokumaru, Katsunori Suzuki, Ken Shimomai, Masaki Yagoura, Kyousuke Nakamura, Akio Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 8936364
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide apparatuses and methods utilized in optics, and more specifically to apparatuses and methods for adaptive optics correction and imaging. Real-time wavefront sensorless adaptive optics correction and imaging is used with the living human eye to produce optical quality rivaling that of wavefront sensor based control in the similar systems. Using an optimization algorithm that is based on an image quality metric, the apparatus and method optimize the optical quality in ocular image frames acquired with an adaptive optics system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Jason Porter, Heidi Hofer, Nripun Sredar, Hope Queener, Chaohong Li, Lukasz Sterkowicz
  • Patent number: 8936365
    Abstract: An ophthalmological device (1) comprises an optical transmission system (5) for transmitting femtosecond laser pulses to a projection objective (3) for projecting the femto-second laser pulses onto or into eye (2) tissue. The ophthalmological device (1) further comprises an objective changing device (4) for changing and connecting the projection objective (3) to the optical transmission system (5). The objective changing device (4) comprises more than one different projection objectives (3) connected mechanically with each other, and the objective changing device (4) is configured to convey one of the projection objectives (3) to the optical transmission system (5) for connecting the respective projection objective (3) to the optical transmission system (5). The objective changing device (4) makes it possible to adapt the laser-based ophthalmological device (1) for new applications without the need for extensive reconfigurations and/or costly vario-lense objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Ziemer Holding AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 8936366
    Abstract: There is provided a robot that includes a processor executing instructions that determine a desired image to be displayed. The processor issues control signals corresponding to the desired image to be displayed. The robot also comprises a display assembly including a visual projector, a mirror, and a display surface. The visual projector and mirror are disposed within the robot. The visual projector projects light corresponding to the desired image onto the mirror. The mirror receives the light from the projector, and reflects the light onto the display surface. The display surface receives the light. The image is visible on the display surface from outside the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Efstathios Papaefstathiou, Russell Sanchez, Nathaniel T. Clinton
  • Patent number: 8936367
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are related to projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, Jr., Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8936368
    Abstract: This invention realizes an illumination optical system with a small etendue that has a longer lifetime and a high degree of brightness. The invention includes: a laser light source that generates excitation light having a first wavelength; a phosphor wheel including a blue fluorescent light generation region that generates fluorescent light having a second wavelength by means of the excitation light, and a green fluorescent light generation region that generates fluorescent light having a third wavelength by means of the excitation light; an LED light source that generates light having a fourth wavelength; and a dichroic mirror that reflects fluorescent light having the second wavelength and fluorescent light having the third wavelength and allows light having the fourth wavelength to pass therethrough, to thereby emit each of the lights in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Saitou, Atsushi Katou, Motoyasu Utsunomiya, Akihiro Osaka, Masateru Matsubara
  • Patent number: 8936369
    Abstract: An illuminator includes: a light source section including a laser light source; an optical element through which a laser beam from the laser light source passes; a driving section oscillating the optical element; and a control section controlling, in a driving operation performed by the driving section, the driving operation to allow an oscillating amplitude value of the optical element in a startup period of the optical element to be equal to or less than the oscillating amplitude value of a steady-state operation period of the optical element that is subsequent to the startup period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 8936370
    Abstract: A lens cover module includes a rail member, a lens cover movably mounted on the rail member, a first driving device, and a second driving device. The lens cover reciprocates between a first position where the lens cover covers the lens, and a second position, where the lens cover uncovers the lens. The first driving device moves the lens cover from the first position to a third position, and moves the lens cover from the second position to a fourth position. After the first driving device, the second driving device keeps moving the lens cover to the second position from the third position, or moving the lens cover to the first position from the fourth position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Tung-Yao Cheng
  • Patent number: 8936371
    Abstract: A sufficient light-shielding property is obtained by a wafer level lens having at least one lens module having a substrate and a plurality of lenses formed on the substrate in which the wafer level lens has a black resist layer formed on the surface of the lens module or on the surface of the substrate and the black resist layer is formed with a pattern having an opening at a part intersecting the optical axis of the lens, and generation of defects such as ghosts, flares and the like due to a reflected light can be prevented and an increase in the production cost can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8936372
    Abstract: A door mirror for a vehicle includes a foldable unit to be provided turnably on a stay mounted to a vehicle-body side and a mirror housing for housing the foldable unit therein. A stopper of the foldable unit is configured to regulate a turning operation of the foldable unit by abutting a stopper receiver of the stay. The mirror housing includes positioning portion which is a cut out on the peripheral edge of the unit-mounting hole which fits over the stopper to connect the foldable unit and the mirror housing to each other in a predetermined positional relationship. The foldable unit and the mirror housing are configured such that screwing a setscrew into a screw-fixing hole of the foldable unit through the screw-insertion hole of the mirror housing, in a state in which a position portion is fitted over the stopper, attaches the foldable unit to the mirror housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8936373
    Abstract: A light emitting device comprises a substrate (61) and an arrangement of light emitting elements (62) provided over the substrate. The substrate has a contoured surface which defines at least first and second regions (60a, 60b, 60c), having normal directions which face in different directions. The light emitting elements (62) comprise directional light emitting elements, and are provided on the first and second regions (60b, 60c), thereby to define first and second light emission directions. This arrangement provides light source elements on a structured (topographically non-flat) substrate in a device, such that the angular distribution of light emitted by the device can be electronically adapted by controlling the light emission per light-emitting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Gerardus Petrus Karman, Marc Wilhelmus Gijsbert Ponjee
  • Patent number: 8936374
    Abstract: A turf protection system that includes lights to continue providing turf lighting requirements, so as to reduce and even prevent turf deterioration. The system includes at least one flooring section having a top, bottom, four sides formed to mate sides of another of the at least one flooring section. The flooring section includes ground supports extending from an inside surface of flooring section to support the at least one flooring section on a surface. The flooring section includes voids between the ground supports to receive attachment of the lights between the ground supports such that the ground supports protect the lights contacting the surface the flooring sections is supported from. The at least one flooring section in combination with the ground supports being construction to support weight of heavy equipment such as vehicle and event stages in order to protect the lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: John P. Royse
  • Patent number: 8936375
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a light housing, a base mount, an extension member, and a lighting arrangement. The light housing includes a first housing member moveably supported such that the first housing member is capable of rotating about a first longitudinal axis thereof, and a second housing member movably supported such that the second housing member is capable of rotating about a second longitudinal axis thereof. The lighting arrangement is provided in the light housing for forming a plurality of light sources of predetermined intensity, wherein when the first housing member and the second housing member are pivotally moved with respect to each other and rotatably moved about the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis respectively, the light sources are arranged to selectively and simultaneously provide illumination towards two illumination directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: Ping Sun Lau
  • Patent number: 8936376
    Abstract: The fixing device of the present invention comprises a base, at least one light guide pillar, and at least one light-blocking element. The base comprises at least one through hole, which obliquely penetrates the base. The at least one light guide pillar is disposed on the base. The at least one light-blocking element corresponds to the at least one through hole; therefore, when the at least one light-blocking element passes through the at least one through hole, the base and the light guide pillar are fixed by the at least one light-blocking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Yang-Shang Liu, Te-Hsiung Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8936377
    Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary illumination device for enhancing the brightness of wavelength converting element. The illumination device includes a wavelength converting element operable for receiving light from a light source at a first wavelength range and converting the light to a second wavelength range. The wavelength converting element includes a first face, a second face opposite the first face, and a side edge extending between the first and second faces. A reflective optical element is arranged adjacent the side edge of the wave converting element. The reflective optical element is configured to reflect light in at least the first wavelength range toward the wavelength converting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael James Papac, Christopher Horvath
  • Patent number: 8936378
    Abstract: A LED light source, comprising a heat-dissipation base, a circuit base is fixed on the heat-dissipation base, and luminous LED(s) is fixed on the circuit base, a light-distribution lens is sealed connected outside the heat-dissipation base, a housing is fixed outside the light-distribution lens, and front ends of the housing and the light-distribution lens are separately fixed jointed to a light-transmitting cover, the light-transmitting cover is sealed connection with the heat-dissipation base, the circuit base and LEDs are located within a sealed first chamber formed by the heat-dissipation base, light-distribution lens and light-transmitting cover, at least a channel is further arranged on the heat-dissipation base, each channel is disconnected to the first chamber, and two opposite openings of each channel are connected to the exterior. The LED light source has a good heat-dissipation performance, particularly to be used for high-power LED illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Chongqing Shangchuan Investments Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Changxing Li
  • Patent number: 8936379
    Abstract: A lighted artificial tree includes a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, first branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string. The first trunk portion has a trunk connector and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk wiring assembly is electrically connectable to the first light string and the trunk connector, and at least a portion of the first wiring assembly is located inside the first portion. The second tree portion includes a second trunk portion, second branches, and a second light string. The second trunk portion has a trunk connector and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connectable to the second lighting string and the trunk connector. The second tree portion may be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the first tree portion by coaxially coupling the first trunk portion to the second trunk portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Willis Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Johnny Chen
  • Patent number: 8936380
    Abstract: The improvements include a reflector having an optical axis and a focus on the optical axis; a plasma lamp generating a light emitting plasma ball; and a G-force diaphragm shock mount coupling the lamp to the reflector while maintaining precise and stable positioning of the plasma ball of the lamp at or near the focus of the reflector to preserve optical performance despite application of G-force shocks to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Surefire LLC.
    Inventor: Gregory Z. Jigamian
  • Patent number: 8936381
    Abstract: The invention relates to an LED light module for a motor vehicle, or for a headlight for a motor vehicle, wherein the light module comprises a lens and an LED light source, wherein according to the invention a diffusion disk is disposed between the LED light source and the lens as viewed in the light exit direction, wherein the diffusion disk has at least one aperture for the direct passage of at least one component of the light emitted by the LED light source, and wherein the direct component of the light emitted by the LED light source, which component emerges through the aperture of the diffusion disk, is projected through the lens so as to generate a lighting function in the region in front of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Zizala Lichtsysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Luger, Andreas Moser
  • Patent number: 8936382
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an attachment system for communicating light energy from a light source to a light-conducting fiber includes a light pipe body sufficiently designed to engage a distal end of a light pipe, the light pipe body comprising at least one opening configured to dissipate heat buildup from light energy; a front assembly sufficiently designed to engage the light pipe body, the front assembly comprising an orifice and at least one opening configured to dissipate heat buildup from light energy; a light-conducting fiber body sufficiently designed to engage the front assembly and to hold a proximal portion of a light-conducting fiber, the light-conducting fiber body positioned in the orifice of the front assembly; and an optical taper assembly sufficiently designed to hold an optical taper, the optical taper assembly positioned between and spaced apart from the front assembly, and positioned between and spaced apart from the light pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: IlluminOss Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony W. O'Leary, Robert A. Rabiner, Dennis P. Colleran, Justin G. Dye, Douglas A. Kornbluth, Narissa Y. Chang, Joshua M. Morin
  • Patent number: 8936383
    Abstract: A position light and light guide that serve as a light source are disposed on a front cover. The light guide extends in a width direction and receives and reflects light from the position light that is emitted in the width direction of the chassis. The light guide has first and second emission faces. The first emission face emits a first portion of the reflected light and faces upward or downward. The second emission face emits a second portion of the reflected light and faces forward. A length of the light guide in a front and back direction and a length of the light guide in a normal direction of the first emission face that is normal to the first emission face are both shorter than a length of the light guide in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Sumi, Masumi Tachibana
  • Patent number: 8936384
    Abstract: A planar light guide includes a main body with a back face and a radiation outcoupling face opposite thereto, a main direction of light guidance parallel to the radiation outcoupling face, at least one plurality of identically shaped and identically oriented outcoupling structures formed on at least one of the main faces, and at least one structure main face per outcoupling structure, wherein an angle-dependent emission characteristic is provided asymmetrically in a first plane parallel to the main direction of light guidance and perpendicular to the radiation outcoupling face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Barth, Julius Muschaweck, Uli Hiller, Michael Sailer
  • Patent number: 8936385
    Abstract: A side-light type spread illuminating apparatus includes a light guiding plate; a light source arranged along a light entering face of the light guiding plate; a double-sided prism sheet arranged at a light emitted face side of the light guiding plate; and an optical member arranged at a back face side facing the light emitted face of the light guiding plate. The optical member includes a light absorption member allowing prevention of reflection of light that has been introduced into the optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taku Yamada, Shinji Kawai, Tomoko Ohara
  • Patent number: 8936386
    Abstract: A decorative lamp comprises a base, a light-emitting component, a transparent plastic housing, and a light-transmitting hollow column. The base is provided with an electrical connection portion for connecting to a public electrical source. The light-emitting component is mounted to a top of the base and electrically connected to the electrical connection portion of the base. The transparent plastic housing defines a bottom opening and a top opening and is provided with a laser-engraving pattern, wherein the housing is fixed to the base via the bottom opening thereof and accommodates the light-emitting component therein. The light-transmitting hollow column contains slightly-viscous flowable liquid therein and is securely fixed to the housing by providing a bushing at a bottom of the column and inserting the busing into the top opening of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: Chin-Sheng Yang
  • Patent number: 8936387
    Abstract: A hand mixer includes a container with an open end closed by a head. A passageway through the head receives a screw slidable through but rotationally engaged with the passageway. A handle is rotationally mounted on one end of the screw. A mixer wheel is fixed to the other end of the screw in the container. The mixer wheel includes a hub with two sets of blades. Both sets extend radially and each is inclined away from the other. Rings are disposed at the distal ends of each of the sets of blades. Stops at the bottom of the container and at the underside of the head limit the stroke of the wheel. The bottom end of the container receives a skid resistant cover. A conical flange extends outwardly and away from the open end of the cylindrical container. Charging passages selectively accessible extend fully about the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: MASTRAD, S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Venot, Mathieu Lion
  • Patent number: 8936388
    Abstract: A disposable beverage cup, comprising: a wall, in a form of a rolled foil; a bottom; and a mixing device made of substantially the same material as the wall, the mixing device comprising: an adherent strip adhered at a relatively low portion of the wall; a movable flap, extending from the adherent strip, for mixing a beverage; and a tab, extending from the flap substantially to a top of the cup, for moving said flap, wherein a mixing capability of the movable flap disposed at a low portion of the cup is significantly larger than a mixing capability other portions of said mixing device, thereby without tearing the mixing device, mixing substantially the bottom only of the beverage, thereby not splashing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventors: Shay Kossovsky, Ori Hershkovitz
  • Patent number: 8936389
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding livestock is presented. The method includes providing a mobile feed preparation apparatus that includes a feed container containing a base feed, a conveying assembly that receives the base feed from the feed container, a feed additive assembly comprising a reservoir containing a feed additive, where the feed additive assembly is in flowable communication with the conveying assembly, a weight sensitive platform having a weigh cell, where the reservoir is mounted on said platform, and a controller in communication with the conveying assembly and the weigh cell. The method further includes weighing the reservoir to determine a first weight, dispensing from the mobile feed preparation apparatus a feed ration, and weighing the reservoir to determine a second weight. Additionally, the method includes calculating a distributed amount of the feed additive using the first weight and the second weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: Ganado Technologies Corp., Nutrition Physiology Co., LLC
    Inventors: Stephen E. Bachman, Michael E. Hubbert, Dale Garcia, Michael L. Ray, Troy Brunson