Diffusing Type Patents (Class 362/246)
  • Patent number: 8251549
    Abstract: An LED module includes an LED and a lens fixed with the LED for refracting light emitted by the LED. The lens has a center axis and a concaved inner face for incidence of the light and an opposite convex outer face for the light refracting out thereof. A peak intensity for light generated by the LED occurs within 52-67 degrees off the center axis when the light leaves the outer face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hai-Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 8246231
    Abstract: A backlight module includes at least one light emitting element capable of emitting a light beam and a light diffusion brightness enhancement film. The brightness enhancement film includes a light transmissive substrate, a plurality of prism rods, and at least one light diffusion structure. The light transmissive substrate has a first and a second surfaces opposite to each other. The first and the second surfaces are disposed in a transmission path of the light beam. The first surface is disposed between the light emitting element and the second surface. Each of the prism rod extends along a first direction. The prism rods are disposed on the first surface and are arranged along a second direction. The light diffusion structure is disposed on the first surface and between the two adjacent prism rods, and has a rough surface. The light diffusion structure and the rough surface extend along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Young Lighting Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Hao-Jan Kuo
  • Patent number: 8240878
    Abstract: An LED waterproof diffuser has an LED substrate housing, a diffusing portion and an embedded locating portion. The housing is of a 3D holding space formed by an end wall and a periphery. An LED inlet is formed at the other end of the periphery. The hollow diffusing portion is protruded from the center of the end wall of the LED substrate housing in a reducing pattern. The embedded locating portion is formed externally onto the diffusing portion, and can also be embedded securely into the hole of an existing shell plate. The diffuser allows one to assemble a single or several LED units, thus reducing the manufacturing cost and realizing excellent waterproofing effects, while enabling partial replacement or maintenance of LED elements. Moreover, since the outer diameter of the diffusing portion is smaller than that of the LED substrate housing, a smaller hole area for assembly can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Safety Traffic Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yi-Qun Chen
  • Patent number: 8240902
    Abstract: A linear light source device includes a light guiding member formed of a transparent body and an LED element arranged to face an end of the light guiding member. A plurality of recesses or projections are formed in a circumferential direction on the transparent body. Light from the LED element incident on the recesses or projections is reflected by the recesses or projections and travels toward the side of the light guiding member opposite to the recesses or projections to be emitted to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Fujimoto, Takaya Nagahata
  • Publication number: 20120200786
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a lighting device enabled to reduce a cost. A plurality of light source units U, formed by arranging a plurality of light source modules 30A on an LED board 18, arranged parallel to each other constitutes a backlight unit 12. In the backlight unit 12, the plurality of light source modules 30 in one LED board 18 includes a light source module 30A and a light source module 30B. The light source module 30A has an optical directivity directing light therefrom into a first direction in a plan view. The first direction is along an arrangement direction of the light source units U. The light source module 30B has an optical directivity directing light therefrom into a second direction opposite to the first direction in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Kamata
  • Patent number: 8220962
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of LED street lamp, in particular to structure of a reflector panel of the LED lamp. A reflector panel comprises a base, the base has multiple reflector cups, which are divided into two groups according to the direction of their openings, all reflector cups in each group have the same direction of their openings, the directions of the openings of the reflector cups in two different groups are opposite. The reflector panel of the present invention can form the illumination band with even illuminance on the street and cause small light loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Zhejiang Jingri Lighting Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shiyou Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120176793
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a light fixture useful for area lighting. The light fixture includes a housing having a base and a top, and a light emitting diode (LED) light emission module disposed within the housing. The light emission module includes a centrally disposed aperture that receives a centrally disposed power lead for powering the light emission module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: LIGHTING SCIENCE GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fredric S. Maxik, Zach Gibler, Eric Bretschneider, David Henderson, Addy Widjaja
  • Patent number: 8215786
    Abstract: An elongated flexible lighting system according to the present invention comprises an array of light sources that are illuminated by electric power. It further comprises an elongated translucent extrusion of flexible material. The array of light sources is integral to the extrusion with said extrusion transmitting and dispersing the light from the array such that the lighting system gives the appearance that the array of light sources is a continuous light source. The elongated lighting system can be used for many different applications including, but not limited to, the lighting of structural features and illumination of sign features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: The Sloan Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Sloan, Bruce Quaal
  • Publication number: 20120170263
    Abstract: In one general aspect, the invention features an illumination source that comprises a housing and a plurality of LED illumination elements that are mounted proximate each other in a central cluster with respect to the housing and leaving a peripheral space around the cluster, with the peripheral space being significantly larger than a separation between the LED illumination elements in the cluster. A transparent housing cover is mounted with respect to the housing in front of an axis of illumination of the LED illumination elements. A tinted transparent housing cover and/or a smoothing LED can also be employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: Edward Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20120140470
    Abstract: A lighting device may be provided that includes a case including: a bottom plate; walls extending from ends of the bottom plate; and louvers coupled to and inclined from respective edges of the walls; a light emitter disposed on the bottom plate; and a diffuser plate spaced apart from the light emitter and disposed between the walls, wherein each of the louvers is oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the diffuser plate and wherein the light emitter includes an LED.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Kim Dong Soo, Kim Yun Ha
  • Patent number: 8194125
    Abstract: A radiance source includes a housing having an interior wall, wherein at least a spherical portion of the interior wall of the housing is spherical, an interior volume, and an exit port. A light source is disposed within the interior volume of the housing. A calibration structure blocks and reflects a light ray that would otherwise travel directly from the light source to the exit port without reflecting from the interior wall. The calibration structure has a calibration body having a curved back surface facing the light source and a curved front surface facing the exit port. There is an optically diffuse, lambertian reflecting surface on at least the spherical portion of the interior wall of the housing, the back surface of the calibration body, and the front surface of the calibration body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: John A. Mack, Marion N. Todd, David F. Rock
  • Patent number: 8182110
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a light source having a plurality of light-emitting-diodes and a lens assembly with a lens and a lens holder. The lens includes a body member having an outer surface shaped to provide total internal reflection and an interior open channel extending longitudinally through the body member. The body member has a first end region for accommodating the light source and a second end region that includes a plurality of refractive surface regions positioned around the open channel. The lens holder has a concave interior surface shaped to accommodate the optical body member of the lens and a convex exterior surface. The holder has multiple clips for securing the lens and three or more support members extending from the exterior surface toward the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: LedEngin, Inc.
    Inventors: Wu Jiang, Justin Ware
  • Patent number: 8172426
    Abstract: A flexible sheet includes a plurality of sheaths adapted to receive individual elongated light sources, and forming a collapsible backlight system having expanded and collapsed configurations. In expanded configuration, the flexible sheet is generally planar and the elongated light sources are spatially dispersed, while in the collapsed configuration, the elongated light sources are maintained proximal to each other in generally parallel fashion. The flexible sheet may have front and rear layers, each such layer possessing selected optical qualities such as translucency, reflectivity and diffusivity, depending on the desired application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Moss, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Frey
  • Publication number: 20120099027
    Abstract: A backlight unit (49) for a display device (69) provided with a liquid crystal display panel (59) comprises a chassis (41), a diffusion plate (43) supported by the chassis, and point-like light sources supported by mounting substrates (21) provided on the chassis. The point-like light sources comprise LEDs (22) mounted on the mounting substrates. The mounting substrates are connected to each other by connectors (25) to form rows (26) of the mounting substrates, and the rows (26) are arranged side by side. The rows of the mounting substrates each consist of two, short and long mounting substrates, and the rows are arranged in a mixed state in such a manner that each row consisting of the two, short and long mounting substrates is reversed with respect to each other. As a result, the positions of the connectors are not aligned rectilinearly in the direction in which the rows of the mounting substrate are arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Kasai
  • Publication number: 20120086886
    Abstract: A lighting device configured to produce light in a substantially uniform overall color includes a plurality of light source boards and a plurality of point light sources. The point light sources are mounted on the light source boards. An average color of the point light sources is in an equivalent color range. The equivalent color range is defined by a square with two sides that are opposed sides each having an X-axis coordinate length of 0.015 and two sides that are opposed sides each having a Y-axis coordinate length of 0.015 in the CIE 1931 color space chromaticity diagram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirokazu Mouri
  • Publication number: 20120081630
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a light source unit enabling cost reduction. A light source unit of the present invention includes a plurality of LEDs 16, and an elongated LED board 17 having a plurality of arranging portions 18 on which each LED 16 is arranged, and a plurality of connecting portions 19 connecting the adjacent arranging portions 18. Each connecting portion 19 has a width smaller than a width of each arranging portion 18 in a short direction of the LED board 17.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi Yokota
  • Patent number: 8142041
    Abstract: A backlight module can comprise: a backlight source, a diffuser plate adjacent the backlight source, and a lenticular film having a convex lenticular feature on a viewing side, wherein the diffuser plate is located between the lenticular film and the backlight source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: Weijun Liao, Philip M. Peters
  • Patent number: 8132941
    Abstract: Disclosed is a portable terminal having a transparent member at an outside thereof, including a terminal body having at least one light emitting member, and a transparent cover member partially forming an outer appearance of the terminal body and transmitting light from the light emitting members to the outside. The transparent cover member includes a light diffusion pattern portion for scattering light from the light emitting members so as to minimize an occurrence of a case in which a specific position where the light emitting member is formed is brightly illuminated but other position is dimmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bum-Seok Shon, Young-Hwan Kim, Joon-Hee Yoo
  • Patent number: 8115385
    Abstract: A light source having a lead frame, a body, and a plurality of dies, each die having an LED thereon is disclosed. The body includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces. The lead frame includes first, second, and third sections, the first section includes a die mounting area having a first protrusion that passes through the body and terminates in a pad on the bottom surface. The second and third sections each include a protrusion that is bent to form first and second leads that run along one of the side surfaces. Each die is bonded to the die mounting area such that a first contact is electrically connected to the die mounting area, and a second contact is connected to one of the second and third sections. The first protrusion of the first section provides improved heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Aizar Abdul Karim Norfidathul, Chiau Jin Lee, Kheng Leng Tan, Keat Chuan Ng, Kiam Soon Ong
  • Patent number: 8087800
    Abstract: This invention relates to optical devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a collimated optical light source assembly that produces a uniform white light. Specifically, light from a multi-cavity RGB LED array is dispersed in a reflecting cavity having a Lambertian texture on the interior surface. The light is then emitted though a lenslet array and a cone lens which together further disperses the light emitted by the individual LEDs. The dispersed light is then collimated by a reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Bailey
  • Patent number: 8070315
    Abstract: An illumination arrangement comprising a plurality of light-emitting semiconductor components (1), arranged in a row, a diffuser (2), which is illuminated by the light-emitting semiconductor components during operation of the illumination arrangement, intermixes light emitted by the semiconductor components during operation and has a light coupling-out area (200) remote from the semiconductor components, and two mutually opposite, reflective longitudinal side faces (3), between which the row of light-emitting semiconductor components is arranged, which run perpendicular or obliquely with respect to the light coupling-out area, and which reflect at least part of the light emitted by the light-emitting semiconductor components during operation in the direction toward the light coupling-out area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung
    Inventor: Katrin Schroll
  • Patent number: 8057066
    Abstract: A backlight assembly and a display apparatus having the backlight assembly are disclosed. A diffusion plate is provided above a plurality of lamps. Diffusion patterns that cause contrast inversion and diffusion patterns that do not cause contrast inversion are arranged on a surface of a diffusion plate, in an alternating manner along a longitudinal direction of the lamps. Thus, a brightness difference between a first area in which the lamps are positioned and a second area between two adjacent lamps is reduced, thereby improving a brightness uniformity of light from the backlight assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Yun Joo, Min-Young Song, Sang-Hoon Lee, Dong-Kwan Kim, Jin-Sung Choi
  • Patent number: 8029149
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for illuminating an object and projecting its image on a ground glass screen. Optical comparators conventionally use incandescent illumination, either mercury arc or halogen. The use of an array of high intensity LED devices, provides many options for packaging the required optical components used in comparators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Dorsey Metrology International
    Inventor: Peter Donald Klepp
  • Patent number: 8023067
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device that reduces manufacturing cost, contributes to a thin profile, and generates uniform brightness, and a fabricating method thereof are disclosed. In the liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal display panel is prepared. A backlight includes a plurality of lamps, a diffusion plate which is located on the lamps, and an intermediate diffusion medium located between the lamps and the diffusion plate to diffuse light from the lamps, and irradiates light to the liquid crystal display panel. Furthermore, in the method of fabricating the liquid crystal display device, a diffusion material is molded using a mold to form an intermediate diffusion medium that includes a plurality of ribs connected to an external band of square type and both sides of the external band of square type, respectively. The intermediate diffusion medium is located between lamps and a diffusion plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong Min Moon, Eun Ju Kim
  • Patent number: 8016452
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments comprise static and dynamic advertising displays where the backlight is provided by any one of the following: LED's, organic light emitting diodes (OLED), field emitting display (FED), light emitting polymer (LEP), and organic electro-luminescence (OEL). The backlights for both the static and dynamic advertising displays may be constructed of multiple tiles of lights, such that a single tile may be replaced without having to replace the entire backlight assembly. The display may be mounted on a vertical surface, and components may be repaired or replaced without having to remove the entire display from its mounted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
    Inventor: William Dunn
  • Patent number: 7988332
    Abstract: A flexible, integrally formed single piece light emitting diode (LED) light wire that provides a smooth, uniform lighting effect from all directions of the LED light wire. The integrally formed single piece LED light wire contains a conductive base comprising first and second bus elements formed from a conductive material. The bus elements distribute power from a power source to LEDs that are mounted on the first and second bus elements so that it draws power from and adds mechanical stability to the first and second bus elements. The flexible, integrally formed single piece LED light wire is assembled so that the first and second bus elements are connected to each other prior to the LED being mounted and such integrally formed single piece LED light wire is formed without a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Huizhou Light Engine Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul Lo, Teddy Yeung Man Lo, Eddie Ping Kuen Li
  • Patent number: 7976187
    Abstract: Light emitting device multi-chip lighting fixtures are disclosed. According to one aspect, a lighting fixture is provided, the lighting fixture having a plurality of light-emitting devices operable for emitting light onto a light diffuser. Where each of the light-emitting devices produces light having a non-uniform luminous intensity, each of the light-emitting devices is positioned with respect to one another to illuminate the surface of the light diffuser with an aggregate light having a substantially uniform luminous intensity. In this way, the light cast by the lighting fixture appears to have a substantially uniform luminous intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell G. Villard
  • Patent number: 7976186
    Abstract: A light emitting die package includes a substrate, a reflector plate, and a lens. The substrate has traces for connecting an external electrical power source to a light emitting diode (LED) at a mounting pad. The reflector plate is coupled to the substrate and substantially surrounds the mounting pad, and includes a reflective surface to direct light from the LED in a desired direction. The lens is free to move relative to the reflector plate and is capable of being raised or lowered by the encapsulant that wets and adheres to it and is placed at an optimal distance from the LED chip(s). Heat generated by the LED during operation is drawn away from the LED by both the substrate (acting as a bottom heat sink) and the reflector plate (acting as a top heat sink).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Ban P. Loh
  • Patent number: 7959319
    Abstract: A lamp includes a tube-shaped lamp shade with a space, a first light-emitting diode (LED) light source, a first diffuser, a second LED light source, a second diffuser, and two covers. A spacer extending along the direction of the length of the tube-shaped lamp shade is disposed in the space. The spacer has a first surface and a second surface, and the tube-shaped lamp shade has a first slot and a second slot. The first LED light source is disposed on the first surface. The first diffuser is disposed in the first slot, and a first hole is formed at the first diffuser. The second LED light source is disposed on the second surface. The second diffuser is disposed in the second slot. The two covers are disposed at two ends of the tube-shaped lamp shade respectively, and each cover has a second hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Connectek Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Hsiang Chien
  • Patent number: 7954969
    Abstract: Light which tries to enter a diffuser plate 3 at an angle which exceeds an angle at which a percentage of reflected light increases rapidly (that is, the incidence angle ?=70 degrees) is all reflected by a reflecting surface 21 and then enters the diffuser plate 3. Therefore, a pseudo light source is formed by light which was collected near a connection point between adjacent reflecting surfaces 21 out of the emitted light of the discharge lamps 1. So, the brightness between the adjacent discharge lamps 1 is increased, and it is possible to reduce unevenness in brightness. Furthermore, since the discharge lamp 1 is housed inside the reflecting surface 21 whose cross-sectional shape is a parabola, it is possible to reduce the distance between a reflecting plate 2 and the diffuser plate 3, as compared with the prior art, and to reduce the thickness dimension in the anteroposterior direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Matsukawa, Masao Kamada, Wataru Tanaka, Kazuki Watanabe, Isao Nara, Yasuo Uemoto
  • Patent number: 7946730
    Abstract: The invention is a replacement for a conventional incandescent or halogen light bulb. Besides providing regular illumination, it has advantages over a conventional bulb while maintaining the bulb's decorative function, such as visual effects associated with the bulb's envelope or shade. The invention comprises a connector equivalent to a standard light bulb base, at least one light emitting diode (LED), and a driving circuit hosted on a module such as a printed circuit board and adapting the supply voltage to the requirements of the LED. Compensation for the effects of temperature may be included. The invention may also include other circuitry to support various enhanced features such as novel decorative features or control over the brightness, color, or other characteristics—all potentially varying over time or being controlled remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: TerraLUX, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Catalano, Daniel Harrison
  • Patent number: 7926966
    Abstract: An illuminable accessory device for use with a vessel. A pliable, generally cylindrical sidewall can slidingly receive and hold a bottom portion of a vessel. The received vessel bottom portion is slidingly removable from the sidewall. An electrically powered light source surrounded by the sidewall lies beneath the received vessel bottom portion. The light source is enclosed in a light disk through at least a portion of which light from the light source is transmissible. The light disk supports the received vessel. This accessory device can produce various lighting effects, e.g., in a liquid held in a bottle, cup or other container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: WE Glowsource, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory E. Winters
  • Patent number: 7926975
    Abstract: A fluorescent light tube retrofit with light emitting diodes (LEDs) that evenly distribute light to avoid bright spots is disclosed. One LED lighting unit includes a tubular housing and a plurality of LED assemblies mounted about a circumference of the tubular housing. LEDs face inward from a mounting surface that is angled offset of the tube. Alternatively, at least one LED can be oriented to emit light parallel to a tangent of the housing into a light pipe that curves inside at least a portion of the tubular housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Altair Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Siemiet, John Ivey, Francis Palazzolo
  • Patent number: 7918573
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a compact light guide device and a light guide apparatus having high productivity and an even light emission property. A light guide device is made of a translucent material, and LED is disposed in a notch step portion formed by cutting at least a part of an inner peripheral surface, thereby guiding light from LED to emit the light to the outside. Particularly, in a surface and a backside of a sidewall portion of the notch step portion, the sidewall portion facing a light-emitting portion of the light-emitting element, at least an inward surface constitutes a reflecting surface diffusing the light, and a pair of facing surface adjacent to each other on both sides of the sidewall portion constitutes a light acceptance surface receiving the light reflected from the reflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Fujiwara, Atsushi Sawada, Kosuke Sanari, Yusuke Akioka
  • Patent number: 7901103
    Abstract: A backlight unit includes a fluorescent lamp to illuminate a liquid crystal panel, a reflection unit for causing the light from the fluorescent lamp to exit toward a certain direction, and a diffusion unit for diffusing the light from the fluorescent lamp and reflection unit, and reflectance or transmittance in the horizontal and vertical directions is controlled by applying a dot pattern that gradually increases densities from the central portion toward the peripheral portion to the reflection unit or diffusion unit, or by applying a dot pattern that gradually increases densities from the central portion toward the both ends in the longitudinal direction on the surface of the fluorescent tube of the fluorescent lamp. By doing this, brightness gradient is formed in the horizontal and vertical directions so that the brightness in the central portion of the liquid crystal panel is relatively higher than the brightness of the peripheral portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Inoue, Kohji Ohtsuka, Kazuyoshi Izumi, Takashi Yoshii
  • Patent number: 7901096
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for illuminating an object and projecting its image on a ground glass screen. Optical comparators conventionally use incandescent illumination, either mercury arc or halogen. The use of an array of high intensity LED devices, provides many options for packaging the required optical components used in comparators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Dorsey Metrology International
    Inventor: Peter Donald Klepp
  • Patent number: 7883232
    Abstract: An LCD device includes an LED backlight assembly, a liquid crystal display panel over the LED backlight assembly, a bottom cover covering a rear side of the LED backlight assembly, a reflecting sheet on an inner side of the bottom cover, the reflecting sheet having a plurality of through-holes corresponding to the plurality of LEDs, a main cover enclosing edges of the liquid crystal display panel and the LED backlight assembly, and a top cover covering edges of a front side of the liquid crystal display panel and combined with the main cover. The LED backlight assembly includes a plurality of LED lamps, a diffusion plate spaced apart from the plurality of LED lamps and having a light transmittance within a range of about 50% to about 90%, and a plurality of optical sheets over the diffusion plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ju-Young Bang
  • Patent number: 7878688
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lamp assembly (1) for illuminating a surface (S) comprising a chamber (3) accommodating a plurality of light-emitting diodes (11R, 11G, 11B) capable of emitting visible light. The lamp assembly comprises diffusing means (12) capable of diffusing said visible light of said light-emitting diodes to produce diffuse light (D), and said chamber further accommodates collimation means (5) arranged to collimate at least a portion of said diffused light for illuminating said surface. The lamp assembly is especially suitable for ambiance and atmosphere lighting applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Elvira Johanna Maria Paulussen, Peter Alexander Duine, Denis Joseph Carel Van Oers, Antonius Cornelis Van Den Broek, Johannes Trudo Cornelis Van Kemenade, Wouter Lambertus Petrus Willaert
  • Patent number: 7878690
    Abstract: A light diffusing plate integrally formed with an optical element array on the front and rear surfaces thereof, and a direct lighting device having this light diffusing plate installed on a light reflection plate having a box type shape and provided therein with a light source, whereby a light diffusing plate and a thin direct lighting device are provided which eliminate luminance non-uniformity among a number of light sources (inter-light-sources distance) at a practical level (making luminance uniform), and realize higher luminance (delivering luminance equal to that when conventional prism sheets are laminated).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawato, Masami Kogure
  • Patent number: 7872711
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical sheet for a backlight unit of a TFT-LCD and a TFT-LCD including the same. The optical sheet of the present invention includes a transparent base sheet, and a light diffusion layer in which a diffusion pattern comprised of a plurality of protrusions is formed on the transparent base sheet. The diffusion pattern satisfies an aspect ratio of 0.8 or more, the aspect ratio being a ratio of a radius (l) of a unit body portion of the protrusion, which is formed on the transparent base sheet, to a thickness (d) of the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Toray Advanced Materials Korea Inc.
    Inventors: Jeong Tae Seo, Moon Bok Lee, Jun Sang Park
  • Patent number: 7866844
    Abstract: A light flux control member has a back face provided with a first recess portion and ventilation grooves. Output light of the light emitting element arranged as to correspond to the first recess portion enters into the light flux control member via the first recess portion and ventilation grooves being emitted from a light control emission face of the light flux control member after inner-propagation. Refraction of incident light to second recess portions formed in the ventilation grooves hardly generate inner-propagation light which has travelling directions near to a direction of reference optical axis L. This avoids emission from the light control emission face from providing a ring-like bright part. In addition, heat emitted from the light emitting element can be released at a high efficiency because a space in the first recess portion communicates with the outside of the light flux control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7862209
    Abstract: A barrier movement operator controls movement of a movable barrier. The barrier movement operator includes a head unit, including a chassis, for commanding the movable barrier to perform movable barrier functions. A plurality of closely mounted light emitting elements are fixedly mounted onto the head unit. A heat sink is in thermal communication with the set of light emitting elements and with the chassis of the barrier movement operator to dissipate thermal energy from the set of light emitting elements. A controller is utilized for controlling the head unit to provide power to the set of light emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Fitzgibbon, Keith Johnson, David Thomas Mack, Robert J. Olmsted
  • Patent number: 7857471
    Abstract: The optical sheet includes a first lens sheet having a plurality of first three-dimensional structures arrayed to extend to one surface thereof, and a reflective polarizer sheet for transmitting either one of p-polarization component and s-polarization component of incident light and reflecting the other of p-polarization component and s-polarization component of the incident light. Head portions of the first three-dimensional structures are bonded to the reflective polarizer sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Ohta, Shigehiro Yamakita, Makoto Aoki, Toru Abiko
  • Patent number: 7837349
    Abstract: A lens has a main body for use with at least one light source. The main body has a light-emitting face, a light-collecting face disposed opposite the light-emitting face, and a plurality of focal points, the latter of which form a focal ring. A central axis extends through the light-collecting face and the light-emitting face. The main body is substantially radially symmetrical about the central axis and the focal ring extends around the central axis of the main body of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeyachandrabose Chinniah, Edwin Mitchell Sayers, Christopher L. Eichelberger
  • Patent number: 7837350
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) illumination device (10) includes an LED (11), a frustum-shaped light guide member (12) and a light diffusing plate (13). The frustum-shaped light guide member (12) has a light input surface (120) and a light output surface (122) opposite to the light input surface (120). The light guide member (12) tapers from the light output surface (122) to the light input surface (120). The light input surface (120) is optically coupled to the LED (11), and the light diffusing plate (13) is optically coupled to the light output surface (122) of the light guide member (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Foxsemicon Integrated Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Chung Tsao, Mei-Jiun Lin, Hung-Chih Yang, Jui-Wen Fang, Shu-Hui Hsieh, Chih-Ming Lai
  • Patent number: 7824066
    Abstract: A prism member, a backlight assembly having the same, and a display device having the same, wherein the prism member includes a plate-type body portion having a thickness, and a plurality of unit light-concentrating portions formed on the body portion and arranged along a first direction and in a second direction crossing the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joong-Hyun Kim, Seock-Hwan Kang, Seong-Yong Hwang
  • Patent number: 7810979
    Abstract: An illumination device including a first light source for emitting light of a first primary color, a second light source for emitting light of a second primary color, and a third light source for emitting light of a third primary color, wherein the first light source is a light emitting diode, the second light source is a fluorescent tube, and the third light source is either a light emitting diode or a fluorescent tube. The illumination device generates white light by mixing the light emitted by the first, second and third light sources. A liquid crystal panel is illuminated with the white light generated by the illumination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Oku
  • Patent number: 7810949
    Abstract: An exemplary optical plate (20) includes a transparent plate unit. The transparent plate unit includes a light output surface (202), a bottom surface (203), a plurality of microstructures (206), a diffusion layer (205), and a lamp-receiving portion (204). The bottom surface is opposite to the light output surface. The microstructures are formed on the bottom surface. Each microstructure includes four side surfaces connected with each other. A transverse width of each side surface decreases along a direction away from the base surface of the microstructure. The diffusion layer is formed on the light output surface. The lamp-receiving portion is defined in the bottom surface. A backlight module (200) using the present optical plate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7802893
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a backlight assembly comprises: a bulb having a bulb first side and a bulb second side located on a side of the bulb opposite the first side, a reflector plate disposed on the bulb first side, and a front bulb reflector disposed over the bulb second side. The front bulb reflector has a partially reflective member capable of reflecting greater than or equal to 60% of light from the bulb toward the reflector plate, and an inner surface on a reflector second side located opposite the reflector first side. The overall geometry of the front bulb reflector is concave on the reflector second side and convex on the reflector first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: SABIC Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: John Frederick Graf, Dennis Joseph Coyle
  • Patent number: 7800709
    Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet according to a preferred embodiment includes a transparent main body. The transparent main body includes a light input surface and a light emitting surface opposite to the light input surface. A plurality of curved elongated V-shaped protrusions are formed on the light emitting surface. Each of the curved elongated V-shaped protrusions extends along a circular arc. The circular arcs have a same curvature, and centers of the circular arcs are aligned apart and in a straight line. A liquid crystal display device using the prism sheet is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang