Including Selected Wavelength Modifier (e.g., Filter) Patents (Class 362/293)
  • Publication number: 20070236955
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a thermally decoupled lighting component holder. The component holder includes a component holder body defining a fiber optic receptacle and a light source receptacle. The fiber optic receptacle is disposed in the lighting apparatus housing, and has an internal surface configured to retain at least a portion of a fiber optic cable. The light source receptacle is disposed in the lighting apparatus housing apart from the fiber optic receptacle by a predetermined distance so that the fiber optic receptacle is at least partially thermally decoupled from the light source receptacle. Such a light source receptacle has an internal surface configured to retain at least a portion of a light source that is disposed within the light source receptacle. The fiber optic receptacle and light source receptacle are arranged so that light emitted from said light source is directed into the light receiving end of the fiber optic cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Applicant: OPTILUME LTD
    Inventor: James A. Fowler
  • Patent number: 7278756
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) (10) includes a chip body (103), an encapsulation can (105) surrounding the chip body, and a base (106) supporting the encapsulation can and the chip body thereon. Numerous fluorescent particles (1050) are provided in the encapsulation can. With the fluorescent particles, light beams from the chip body are diffused and attain wider irradiation angles. A backlight system (900) includes a light guide plate (20), and a number of the above-described LEDs disposed adjacent to the light guide plate. Light beams having wide irradiation angles are emitted from the LEDs and enter the light guide plate. This enables a light emitting surface of the light guide plate to have highly uniform brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Charles Leu, Tai-Cherng Yu, Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 7278760
    Abstract: A light-emitting electronic component is described that includes at least one light-emitting element intended for the emission of light with a predetermined spectral distribution, at least one filter element arranged in a beam path of the light with the predetermined spectral distribution, the transmission property of the filter element with respect to the light with the predetermined spectral distribution determining the spectral distribution of the light emitted by the light-emitting component, with the transmission property of the filter element being tunable during operation of the light-emitting electronic component. The color of the light emitted by the component can be tuned by tuning the transmission property of the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Heuser, Karsten Diekmann
  • Publication number: 20070222918
    Abstract: A backlight module comprises a light guide plate, a light source disposed on one lateral side of the light guide plate, a reflector disposed under the light guide plate, and a color layer of a predetermined color disposed under the reflector. Light from the light source is guided by the light guide plate. A part of the light penetrates the reflector and is reflected by the color layer to generate colored light which is mixed to the light from the light source to create light of desired color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventor: Meng-Ju Chuang
  • Patent number: 7270445
    Abstract: A lighting system for illuminating artwork includes a housing; a lamp mounted within said housing and including a halogen bulb and a reflector, said reflector having a dichroic coating; a linear spread lens positioned in front of said lamp and having an etched portion covering less than one hundred percent of a first surface of said lens; and a door associated with said housing and defining an opening therein, said opening having a flattened portion and a rounded portion, said linear spread lens positioned over said opening, and the light emitted by the lighting system being directed through said linear spread lens and said opening. The resulting lighting system produces safe light diffused evenly substantially over the entire surface of a piece of artwork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Inventor: David Munson
  • Patent number: 7268940
    Abstract: An illuminating device, as for a microscope, includes a light source and a reflecting filter system. The beam of light of the light source undergoes a plurality of reflections in the reflecting filter system. The entering beam of the reflecting filter system has an optical beam offset and/or a change in direction relative to the exiting beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Vistec Semiconductor Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Veith, Lambert Danner
  • Patent number: 7262909
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus for an optical system is disclosed, the illumination apparatus (1) encompassing a single light source (2) that emits broad-band light into an illumination beam path (2a). Placed after the light source (2) in accordance with the present invention is a filter system (4), with which several wavelengths or wavelength regions are separable and are guided through a light-guiding means (22) to an optical system (5). The filter system possesses several reflecting filters (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) which are arranged in such a way that a selected wavelength is guidable by way of those reflection filters and leaves the filter system (4) parallel to the illumination beam path (2a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Artur Bösser, Wolfgang Sulik
  • Patent number: 7255457
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating essentially white light. In one example, a white light generating apparatus comprises at least one first white LED characterized by a first spectrum, and at least one second white LED characterized by a second spectrum, wherein the first spectrum is substantially different than the second spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated
    Inventors: Alfred D. Ducharme, Frederick M. Morgan, Ihor A. Lys, Kevin J. Dowling, George G. Mueller
  • Patent number: 7244049
    Abstract: A light assembly for a vehicle is provided with a light source capable of emitting rays including a visible ray and an infrared ray, a main reflector disposed so as to reflect the rays emitted by the light source forward, and a filter being reflective of the infrared ray and transparent to the visible ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7242543
    Abstract: A filter device including a red filter unit, a green filter unit, a blue filter unit and at least one of a yellow filter unit, a cyan filter unit and a magenta filter unit is provided. Red light, green light and blue light are produced when white light passes through the red filter unit, the green filter unit and the blue filter unit. In the CIE1931 color space coordinate, a triangle color space is formed through joining the points representing the red, green and blue light. Moreover, yellow light, magenta light and cyan light are produced when white light passes through the yellow filter unit, the magenta filter unit and the cyan filter unit. In the CIE1931 color space coordinate, the minimum distance from the points representing the yellow, magenta and cyan light to the edge of the triangle is not exceeding in 0.03.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Sheng-Chieh Yang, Chu-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 7229196
    Abstract: An illumination device has a light-transmitting member formed in the shape of a toroid having a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface, the light-transmitting member defining a central axis, a light source located along the light-transmitting member central axis, and a light-directing housing for guiding light from the light source into the light-receiving surface of the light-transmitting member. The light-transmitting member may have optical waveguide and light-scattering characteristics, whereby the light-transmitting member emits light having a substantially uniform intensity along the light-emitting surface. The light-directing housing has a top reflector member and a bottom reflector member positioned on opposing side of the light source and cooperating with the light-transmitting member such that light is emitted only through the light-transmitting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: iLight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: George R. Hulse
  • Patent number: 7222999
    Abstract: In a headlight for vehicles that emits light in the near-infrared range and that has both a light source, which projects not only in the infrared range but also in the visible range, and an infrared range-transmissive filter, a transition range of the filter extends from the infrared range into the red spectral range of the visible range, and further spectral components in the visible range are emitted in attenuated form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Eschler, Markus Hauk
  • Patent number: 7222988
    Abstract: A device and method for illuminating optical storage disks are disclosed. The device and method allow such disks to serve decorative and functional purposes, other than simply serving to store and transmit digital data. The display device is ideally suited to serve as a nightlight for children, and can also be utilized as an advertisement tool to promote the sale of optical storage disks or for any other suitable purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Inventor: David A. Gober
  • Patent number: 7211813
    Abstract: A portable high-intensity ultraviolet (UV-C) light gun is provided, the gun comprised of a high-intensity UV-C emitting light bulb mounted into a gun assembly. The gun assembly includes means for gathering and directing the high-intensity light emitted from the bulb and focusing the light into a beam that can be directed to a target. The gun assembly includes a light box that includes a bulb mount having electrical terminals for electrically connecting a UV bulb to a power source, and further includes a mirror for gathering and reflecting the emitted light towards an opening provided in the light box. One end of an elongated cylindrical hollow light tube is connected to the opening for channeling and focusing the emitted and reflected light from the light box toward the opposite open end of the tube. The tube can include a nozzle for further focusing and directing of the emitted light. Methods of using the gun to eradicate pathogens and other biological organisms are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Inventor: Erick C. Jensen
  • Patent number: 7212359
    Abstract: A method and a color rendering filter for compensating for deficiency in illumination light from a light source in display systems are provided. The color rendering filter has a color that is determined based upon the spectrum, sensitivity of viewer's eyes over the visible light range, and a pre-determined waveband threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter Richards, Andrew Huibers, Michel Combes
  • Patent number: 7210821
    Abstract: A light-splitting device comprises a filter element, a first transmission element, a second transmission element, and a power element. In this case, the first transmission element is disposed on one side of the filter element. The second transmission element connects with the first transmission element. The power element connects with the second transmission element, wherein the power element drives the rotation of the second transmission element, so that the second transmission element drives the rotation of the fist transmission element and the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Prodisc Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Li-Teng Keng
  • Patent number: 7209303
    Abstract: A method for balancing a color wheel. The rotational unbalance vector of a driving motor is measured, including its unbalance amount and direction. The unbalance of a color wheel is adjusted to make its unbalance amount to be the same of the driving motor. The color wheel is connected to the driving motor so that the unbalance direction thereof is opposite to each other to reach an expected balance. The color wheel structure includes a set of color filter and a ring, before starting the assembly, adjusting the unbalance vector of the ring and motor shaft first, and then to assemble it and make the unbalance vectors opposite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Premier Image Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chin-Ming Chung, Pi-Tsung Hsu, Chien-Chih Lai
  • Patent number: 7204611
    Abstract: A lamp for night sight applications includes a bulb that transmits both visible and infrared light. The lamp also includes a coating that reflects middle infrared radiation and is transparent to near infrared radiation to increase output efficiency in the near infrared spectral range. There may be a second coating that blocks visible light on part of the lamp—and the second coating may be on an external bulb, while the first coating is on an internal bulb. The lamp is preferably used as a vehicle headlamp with a reflector that reflects near infrared radiation and is transparent to visible light. The second coating and reflector may be on the lower part of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventor: Lukas Küpper
  • Patent number: 7204617
    Abstract: A lighting box has a housing with an open front and open rear and a bar such as a standard schedule 40 pipe or 1½? or 1?? pipe extending horizontally across the housing. Multiple lights are mounted on the bar and positioned to send light out the front of the box. The box also has a diffusion element (frame) disposed proximate its front end, and even may have multiple elements including having one element at an angle. The element or elements receive the light from the lighting instruments and diffuse it to provide a soft projected light from the box. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, this light may be used to provide diffused light as part of the key lighting for a stage or set, and may provide such soft projected lighting from a front (downstage) of the stage or set. The box may also have a soft shell, may hang overhead, on a stand or by a rotatable yoke, and may have lights fixed therein. The box may also have a rear cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Inventor: Bruce L. Finn
  • Patent number: 7201494
    Abstract: A lighting system capable of adjusting color temperature is provided. The lighting system mainly comprises a light source module and a mixing assembly. The light source module produces red-color, blue-color, and green-color lights so as to control the color temperature of a white light resulted from mixing the color lights. The mixing assembly is located at a side of the light source module and comprises a first, a second, and a third mixing device sequentially arranged along the light transmission path. The function of the first and third mixing devices is for light mixing by causing the lights to undergo multiple internal reflections. The second mixing device directs the lights passing through the first mixing device in a reverse direction (180 degrees) and enters into the third mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Opto Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Ju-Yuan You, Chien-Liang Yeh, Zong-Huai Lee, Han-Ping Shieh, Ko-Wei Chien, June-Jay Wang
  • Patent number: 7198384
    Abstract: A fluorescent structure is provided on a curved recess plane of a reflector. The fluorescent structure has a shape of a cylinder which is cut by a plane including its central axis and along its longitudinal direction. An inner wall of the fluorescent structure tapers in like a cone from both ends to the central portion of the fluorescent structure. The structure includes a fluorescent material, for example YAG, which converts blue light to white light and diffuses the white light. Blue LEDs are provided close to both ends of the structure. The blue LEDs are positioned such that blue light emitted from the blue LED enters from both ends and is led to the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Kakiuchi, Shuzo Seo
  • Patent number: 7195388
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a light source device having a reflector including a light source lamp and an opening for emitting light for reflecting light radiated from the light source lamp arranged within the reflector to emit the light from the opening, and a glass arranged ahead of the opening of the reflector inclinedly by a predetermined angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of light emitted from the reflector. According to the light source device, the light source lamp is prevented from temperature rise and consequent overheat caused by light reflected on the glass thereby to return into the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Hori
  • Patent number: 7192153
    Abstract: A lens, a light irradiation apparatus and a laser pointer to which the lens is applied to are provided, in which eccentricity, discrepancy of light axes, uneven gap of lens surfaces and the like are reduced without performing positioning of respective lenses; and cost of manufacturing a lens having a plurality of functions can be reduced. A lens according to the present invention is the lens, in which a light diameter expanding element for expanding a diameter of incident light and a light collimating element for projecting approximately collimated light after receiving the incident light having the diameter thereof expanded by the light diameter expanding element are integrally formed in advance as a lens of one unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Aoshima, Kyu Kanno
  • Patent number: 7192147
    Abstract: The invention provides a compact, thin, and lightweight lighting system and projector. A lighting system included in a projector according to the present invention is provided with an LED array having LEDs and a reflective plate at the rear side of the LEDs in the light emitting direction, retardation films, a taper rod lens array, a rod lens array, and a reflective polarizing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidefumi Sakata, Takashi Takeda
  • Patent number: 7192161
    Abstract: An illumination device for simulating neon or similar lighting uses fluorescent dyes, thus allowing for emission of light in colors that cannot ordinarily be achieved by use of LEDs alone. Such an illumination device is generally comprised of an elongated diffusing member enclosing a string of continuously mounted LEDs. An intermediate light-transmitting medium including a predetermined combination of one or more fluorescent dyes is interposed between the light source and the diffusing member, such that light from the LEDs is partially absorbed by each of the fluorescent dyes, and a lower-energy light is then emitted from each of the fluorescent dyes and into the light-receiving surface of the diffusing member, producing a substantially uniform light along the light-emitting surface of the diffusing member with perceived a color different than that of the LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: iLight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Cleaver, George R. Hulse
  • Patent number: 7188973
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a light-emitting tube having a light-emitting portion that generates a light beam by an electric discharge between electrodes and a sealing portion provided on both sides of the light-emitting portion; an ellipsoidal reflector having a substantially ellipsoidal reflecting surface and irradiating the light beam irradiated by the light-emitting tube after converging at a predetermined position; a sub-reflection mirror having a reflecting surface opposed to the reflecting surface of the ellipsoidal reflector and covering the front side of the light-emitting tube in the light-irradiation direction to reflect the light beam emitted by the light-emitting tube toward the ellipsoidal reflector; and a transparent member provided in front of the ellipsoidal reflector in the light-irradiation direction to transmit the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoji Katsuma
  • Patent number: 7190536
    Abstract: A process for making a unitary color filter disc includes the steps of preparing a disc member having an annular surface, and providing a plurality of differently colored segments on the annular surface. Each of the colored segments is provided by partially masking the annular surface to expose a part of the annular surface and by directly depositing a coloring film on the exposed part of the annular surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Zhou Jiang, Yu-Ting Jiang, Cai-Jin Mao, Zheng-Tao Yan
  • Patent number: 7188983
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first light source to project light outwardly from a vehicle. The light projected from the first light source is perceptibly dominant in a lower-frequency portion of a visible spectrum. The vehicle also includes a second light source to project light outwardly from the vehicle. The light projected from the second light source is perceptibly dominant in a higher-frequency portion of the visible spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Matthew Dunn
    Inventor: Matthew W. Dunn
  • Patent number: 7187509
    Abstract: There is provided a color wheel which includes: a color filter disk having a side surface; and a rotary member having a circumferential surface and adhesively attached to the center portion of the color filter disk. In the color wheel described above, a portion of an adhesive for fixing the rotary member to the color filter disk sticks out on the side surface of the color filter disk along the circumferential surface of the rotary member, and the portion of the adhesive sticking out, when hardened, functions as a barrier to prevent uncured portions, if any, of the adhesive present between the two components from getting scattered out in the radial direction on the side surface of the color filter disk when the color wheel is rotated at a high speed during the inspection process, thus improving the production yield rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Niwa, Toshinori Chino, Jiro Omori, Kuniyuki Takao
  • Patent number: 7186005
    Abstract: An illumination device for simulating neon or similar lighting is generally comprised of a rod-like member, a housing, a light source, and an intermediate light-transmitting medium extending along and positioned adjacent the light source with a light-receiving surface for receiving light emitted from said light source and a light-emitting surface for emitting light into the rod-like member. This intermediate light-transmitting medium is preferably composed of a matrix of a substantially translucent acrylic, polyurethane, or similar material tinted with a predetermined combination of one or more fluorescent and/or phosphorescent dyes. The intermediate light-transmitting medium is subdivided into independent sections, each of which is provided with differing combinations of fluorescent dye, phosphorescent dye, and/or no dye at all.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: iLight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: George R. Hulse
  • Patent number: 7178950
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a lamp housing is provided that blocks light and dissipates heat. The lamp housing encases or is integral to a reflector, and has an inner surface that absorbs radiation emitted by the lamp burner and an outer surface that allows for improved heat dissipation through radiation and convection means. The inner surface absorbs radiation and the outer surface is enlarged with a plurality of formations for improved heat dissipation through radiation and convection means. The housing also blocks stray visible light from escaping, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for light leakage systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Catharina R. Biber, Eric Immel, Dave Payne, William L. Emery
  • Patent number: 7175323
    Abstract: A reduced glare projector style headlight assembly (10) comprises a light source (14), a reflector (12) and an optical lens (18). An opaque mask (16) is positioned between the lens (18) and the reflector (12) for creating an upper shadow region in the focused beam pattern (28) to shield on-coming traffic. The mask (16) includes a transition region (32) proximate its top edge (22) for allowing a limited amount of projected light to pass through the mask (16), into the upper shadow region in the focused beam pattern (28). In several embodiments, the mask (16) is applied or otherwise affixed to a transparent substrate (20) which also supports the transition region (32). To combat undesirable chromatic effects, a color filter (38) can be positioned in the light path (26) for disrupting selective wavelengths of light energy. As alternative approaches, the transparent substrate (20) and/or the lens (18?) can be doped with a color filtering material or composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Federal Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventor: Lloyd Keith Bucher
  • Patent number: 7172303
    Abstract: A keyboard is provided having illuminating keys. The keyboard includes a light channeling membrane and key members constructed at least partially of translucent material so that light produced from a light source is channeled upwardly to the upper surfaces of the key members. The light source may include LED or LEC systems in adjoining relationship to the light channeling membrane or light pipe. In a preferred embodiment, the light source is constructed of a substantially planar illuminescent sheet which underlies the light channeling membrane. In an alternative preferred embodiment, a light pipe is constructed to illuminate light laterally along a portion of its length to illuminate a plurality of key members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Shipman, David G. Duckworth
  • Patent number: 7172326
    Abstract: An illumination system comprising a light source that emits light of a first sense and a second sense. The illumination system also comprises a collimator that collimates light from the light source along an optical axis and within a maximum angle with respect to the optical axis. The illumination system further comprises a filter that reflects light of the first sense, the filter positioned at an angle other than normal to the optical axis and other than 45 degrees from the optical axis. Further, the illumination system also includes an optical system positioned along the optical axis to accept light that passes through the filter and transmits the portion of the light within the maximum angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Saccomanno
  • Patent number: 7168833
    Abstract: Lenses for lamps can improve the quality of the light emitted through lens by interacting with the light bulb. Photoluminescent dyes as well as non-photoluminescent dyes may be incorporated into a polycarbonate lens in order to shift the chromaticity of the light source. Further, design features such as grooves or protrusions may be incorporated into the lens to allow light produced by the photoluminescent material to escape the lens and be added to the emitted beam to further shift the chromaticity. The emitted beam is of a legal color and intensity as defined per the SAE J578 and SAE J1383 standards. The lighting performance may also be improved in such manner as reducing discomfort glare, increasing brightness or producing a beam that enhances road visibility at night to the human eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Philippe Schottland, Bart Terburg, David S. Bryce
  • Patent number: 7168824
    Abstract: A utility light includes a housing having a storage section, a first light cover having a first color being removably attachable within the storage section, and a second light cover having a second color and being removably attachable within the storage section. The utility light also includes a light coupled to the housing, the light having a mounting section to interchangeably receive one of the first or the second light covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: IP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Tim Schnell
  • Patent number: 7163302
    Abstract: A lighting effects system comprises an arrangement of lamp elements, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or other light elements, on a panel or frame. The panel or frame may be relatively lightweight, and may include one or more circuit boards for direct mounting of the lamp elements. The panel or frame may have an opening through which a camera can view. A mounting bracket and assembly may be used for attaching the panel or frame to a camera. The lamp elements may be electronically controllable so as to provide differing intensity levels, collectively, individually, or in designated groups, and may be strobed, dimmed or otherwise controlled according to manually selected or programmable patterns. Different color lamp elements may be mounted on the same panel/frame, and, in particular, daylight and tungsten colored lamp elements may be mounted on the same panel/frame and their relative intensities selectively controlled by control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Litepanels LLC
    Inventors: Rudy G. Pohlert, Pat Grosswendt, Kevin Baxter, Ken S. Fisher
  • Patent number: 7157724
    Abstract: A light source for testing sites using a fluorescent dye is described. The light source can include a low voltage lamp or a low heat generating lamp. An emission from the fluorescent dye can be detected through a filter lens, which can include a primary filter and a trim filter. The filter lens can transmit the emission from the fluorescent dye and substantially block an excitation wavelength. The emission from the fluorescence dye is detected through a filter lens including a primary filter and a trim filter, through which the emission wavelength is transmitted, but the excitation wavelength is substantially blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Bright Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Miniutti, Terrence D. Kalley, John Raymond Burke, David Gentit
  • Patent number: 7157840
    Abstract: An illuminating device is made from a transparent hollow envelope that encloses a filler gas. The envelope has inner and outer surfaces. The illuminating device has a coating of a fluorescent material deposited on the inner surface of the transparent envelope where the fluorescent material emits light having a visible component and an ultraviolet component; and a titanium dioxide film having first and second opposing surfaces where the first surface of the titanium dioxide film is formed on the outer surface of the transparent envelope. A light transmittance of the titanium dioxide film is at least 50% for light having a wavelength of 550 nm, and the light transmitted from the fluorescent material through the transparent envelope and the first surface of the titanium dioxide film to the second surface thereof causes photocatalytic activity to be generated on the second surface of the titanium dioxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignees: Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology, Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Fujishima, Kazuhito Hashimoto, Tomokazu Iyoda, Shigemichi Fukayama, Tetsuo Yoshimoto, Tokuyoshi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7153011
    Abstract: A vehicle light arrangement, provided for producing a coloring effect on a vehicle body, wherein the vehicle light arrangement, incorporated with a light housing and a light source, comprises a plurality of polarizing segments provided for filtering lights at a predetermined wavelength to produce the coloring effect when the light source is switched on. When the light source is switched off, the vehicle light arrangement acts as a light screen to invisibly hide the light source. The polarizing segments can be formed on a polarizing filter layer, which is coated on an inner side of a lens body mounting at an opening of the light housing. A light reflective layer is also formed at a surrounding wall of the light housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: A.L Lightech Inc.
    Inventors: Penn Shen, Christof Schotte
  • Patent number: 7147350
    Abstract: A novel light modification device is described that includes an optical wheel having at least two light modification sections, the optical wheel being turned by an electric powered actuator and the electric power used to operate the actuator being provided by a light power to electric power converter. All of the optical wheel, actuator and light power to electric power converter being mounted on a housing. The housing being supported by a mounting mechanism so that light from a light source is aligned to illuminate the optical wheel and the light power to electric power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventor: David P. Schofield
  • Patent number: 7144134
    Abstract: A light projector is provided which includes an elliptical reflector, a first spherical retro-reflector, the first retro-reflector having an first aperture formed therein, the first aperture having a first diameter and a first center-point, a second spherical retro-reflector located between the elliptical reflector and the first retro-reflector, the second retro-reflector having a second aperture formed therein, the second aperture having a second diameter and a second center-point, the second diameter smaller than the first diameter, the first and second center-points lying along a common axis, and a light source, the light source located at a foci of the elliptical reflector, the light source lying along the common axis, the elliptical reflector reflecting light emitted by the light source, the reflected light passing through the first and second apertures, the first and second retro-reflectors being positioned so as to reflect light emitted by the light source back towards the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Morpheus Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Romano, Robert Fry, Wallace Daniels
  • Patent number: 7144133
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus, method and system for an illumination arrangement including a color recycling subsystem to receive reflected light from a transflective color filter along a reflectance axis that is non-coincident with an incident axis. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventor: Serge J. A. Bierhuizen
  • Patent number: 7140742
    Abstract: A lighting effects system comprises an arrangement of lamp elements, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or other light elements, on a panel or frame. The panel or frame may be relatively lightweight, and may include one or more circuit boards for direct mounting of the lamp elements. The panel or frame may have an opening through which a camera can view. A mounting bracket and assembly may be used for attaching the panel or frame to a camera. The lamp elements may be electronically controllable so as to provide differing intensity levels, collectively, individually, or in designated groups, and may be strobed, dimmed or otherwise controlled according to manually selected or programmable patterns. Different color lamp elements may be mounted on the same panel/frame, and, in particular, daylight and tungsten colored lamp elements may be mounted on the same panel/frame and their relative intensities selectively controlled by control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Litepanels LLC
    Inventors: Rudy G. Pohlert, Pat Grosswendt, Kevin Baxter, Ken S. Fisher
  • Patent number: 7140744
    Abstract: A lamp assembly for use in a pressure sensitive paint measuring system, such as for measuring pressure on a test air vehicle using pressure sensitive paint, is constructed and configured to provide (1) exceptional cooling for the various optical elements and the housing, (2) a combination of filters that minimizes heat load on the interference filter, yet provides a high beam intensity at the desired wavelength, (3) a mounting structure for the lamp assembly that allows the lamp assembly to be accurately aimed and positioned with little translation of the output aperture, and (4) easy access to the internal components, including the bulb-reflector assembly and optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David W. Armstrong, John F. Laramie, John F. Donovan, Steven R. Sutton, Robert P. Chase
  • Patent number: 7128440
    Abstract: The lighting fixture includes a housing having an interior cavity and a transparent cover. A color-changing electric light assembly is provided in the interior cavity. The light assembly emits a plurality of different colors of light through the transparent cover and cycles through the plurality of different colors of light to sequentially emit each of the plurality of different colors of light. A synchronization circuit responds to a timed interruption in the power for synchronizing the color-changing electric light assembly with a color-changing electric light assembly of another underwater lighting fixture connected to the same power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Mateescu, Kevin Potucek, Robert Bachman
  • Patent number: 7128441
    Abstract: The invention relates to a video projection system comprising at least a light source coupled to a reflector for focusing the light beam, a motor-driven color wheel having a plurality of light-transmitting segments, at least some of said segments being dichroic filters for the colors red, green, and blue, while the speed of rotation of said wheel can be modified by a control, a lens system imaging the focused light beam onto a display, a display system comprising at least a display and a display control, and a projection lens, wherein the video projection system has a video projection mode and a lighting mode, and in addition the color wheel is stationary in the lighting mode and at least one segment of the color wheel can be given a defined position in the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Holger Mönch
  • Patent number: 7122812
    Abstract: A light source for examining sites in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems for leaks using a fluorescent dye is described. The light source can include a low voltage lamp or a low heat generating lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Bright Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence D. Kalley, John R. Burke, David Gentit
  • Patent number: 7108402
    Abstract: Illumination exposure control systems comprising reflective pixelated spatial light modulators that reflect substantially all of the light impinging on them into at least two different light paths. At least one of the light paths acts as a propagating light path and transmits the light beam out of the lighting system. At least one other light path acts as a non-propagating light path and prevents the light beam from being transmitted out the system. The illumination exposure control systems provide high speed of exposure actuation and precision control of exposure duration and frequency or exposure sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Tidal Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas B. MacKinnon, Ulrich Stange
  • Patent number: 7108386
    Abstract: A high brightness LED phosphor coupling device. A semiconductor light source is encapsulated by a medium of first index of refraction, a layer of phosphor surrounded by a second medium of second index of refraction of optical index less than the first index and a light coupler for redirecting most of the light from the light source to an area of the phosphor about equal to the area of the light source multiplied by the square of the ratio of the first to the second index of refraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Illumitech Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Jacobson, Robert D. Gengelbach