With Or Including Translucent Or Transparent Modifier Patents (Class 362/307)
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Publication number: 20080252819Abstract: A backlight module includes a reflection sheet and a film structure disposed above the reflection sheet with a gap therebetween. A light source is disposed in the gap between the reflection sheet and the film structure so as to provide light. The film structure includes a first region for reflecting light incident thereupon from the light source and the reflection sheet, and a plurality of second regions for transmitting at least partially light incident thereupon from the light source and the reflection sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2008Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: CHI MEI OPTOELECTRONICS CORP.Inventor: Chen-Pin HUNG
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Publication number: 20080239750Abstract: An exemplary LED lamp includes a housing, a printed circuit board, at least one LED, a light reflective module and a lamp cover. The printed circuit board is positioned on a bottom of the housing. The LED electrically connects with the printed circuit board. The light reflective module includes at least one light-shielding sheet and a bottom reflective plate disposed between the printed circuit board and the light-shielding sheet. The bottom reflective plate defines at least one through hole. The LED passes through the at least one through hole correspondingly. Each light-shielding sheet defines a plurality of light holes and covers the LED correspondingly. The lamp cover is fixed on the opening of the housing. The LED lamp has a uniformity brightness.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: SHAO-HAN CHANG
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Publication number: 20080239725Abstract: An LED lighting apparatus includes an LED provided on a base, a rod-like light-guiding body having translucency that protrudes from the base, and a light reflector disposed in a vicinity of an upper end of the rod-like light-guiding body. Light from the LED is incident on a lower end of the rod-like light-guiding body, exits from the upper end via the rod-like light-guiding body, and is reflected by the light reflector.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuro ISHIKURA, Yutaka FUJIYAMA
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Patent number: 7416315Abstract: A faceted reflector includes a plurality of individual reflectors embedded in a carrier, one main area of the carrier being a light entry side, and another main area being a light exit side. The individual reflectors may be cavities in the carrier, which, preferably, have a prismatic form. The radiation to be reflected is subjected to total reflection at a part of the cavity interfaces.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2002Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Osram OPTO Semiconductors GmbHInventor: Simon Blümel
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Publication number: 20080174717Abstract: An optical unit, includes a light conductive plate having a first surface and a second surface, at least one optical sheet on the first surface of the light conductive plate, and a light reflective sheet extending over the entire second surface of the light conductive plate and fastened on a portion of a first surface of the optical sheet adjacent the periphery thereof to fasten the light conductive plate, the optical sheet, and the light reflective sheet as an optical unit, and to define a light discharge region on the first surface of the optical sheet and the first surface of the light conductive plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: NEC LCD TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.Inventor: Toshihisa Ogawa
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Patent number: 7401947Abstract: A lighting device with a light source followed by an optical apparatus in an emission direction, and a primary optics element with a light inlet and a light outlet being arranged between the light source and the optical apparatus. The primary optics element is designed such that desired characteristics of the light beam are formed within the primary optics element by deliberate reflections on specially shaped reflective surfaces of the primary optics element.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2005Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbHInventors: Mario Wanninger, Alexander Wilm
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Patent number: 7403691Abstract: A light guide plate (10) includes a pair of opposite incidence surfaces (101, 103), an emission surface (108) and a bottom surface (109) opposite to the emission surface. A plurality of dots (11) is distributed on the bottom surface, and each dot is shaped as a rectangle or a square with two cutouts formed at two opposite sides thereof respectively. Thus, a clearance between adjacent dots is relatively small. That is, a distribution of the dots is relatively compact, and this ensures that the light guide plate can provide emission of light beams with good uniformity. Furthermore, adjacent rows of dots are offset, and this can avoid bright lines. Thus, the light guide plate can provide improved display quality. Therefore, the light guide plate can be advantageously applied in back light systems of liquid crystal display devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ming-Yi Liao
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Publication number: 20080170384Abstract: A lamp which includes a gas inflatable housing which, when inflated, defines an interior pocket. The housing is constructed of a translucent material. A plurality of electrically powered lights are disposed in the pocket and these lights are spaced apart from each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2008Publication date: July 17, 2008Inventors: Jing (Jim) Zhu, Yue Zhou
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Publication number: 20080158889Abstract: A highly adaptable system for creating colorful spectral displays or for achieving a prismatic effect using visible light is provided. The invention includes a fixed-angle or monolithic prismatic element fabricated from plate glass mirror material. A compound version of this monolithic element wherein multiple single elements have been affixed to one another for the purpose of creating a more complex spectral display is also provided. The invention also includes a prism-like device that utilizes a standard mirror, mirrors, or other materials with highly reflective surfaces and water or a similar fluid that disperses light in a predictable manner at or on a specific target. Both the fixed prismatic elements and the adjustable light dispersing elements may be arranged into one or more arrays that may be used to create complex spectral displays on a variety of surfaces while utilizing one or more available light sources or a moving light source such as the sun.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventor: James F. Nagy
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Publication number: 20080151550Abstract: A light-emitting assembly for conditioning the light output of at least one light-emitting source for light guide coupling, comprising a lens and at least one light-emitting source, the light-emitting source having an optical output axis and the lens comprising a beam diverging portion for diverging or spreading light about the output axis, wherein the beam diverging portion of the lens is along the optical output axis and forward of the light-emitting source, and at least one beam converging portion for converging or compressing light away from the optical axis is adjacent the beam diverging portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2006Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd.Inventors: Ying Liu, Danding Huang, Shou Lung Chen, Chen-Jung Tsai
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Publication number: 20080144314Abstract: A light emitting element is mounted on the surface of a board. The light emitting element emits light. The light passes through a translucent optical member. The light enters the translucent optical member through a incident surface. The lines of protrusions make the incident surface jagged. The jagged surface resulting from the protrusions enables diffusion of the light entering through the incident surface. The light spreads along the surface of the board. Simultaneously, the emitted light is partly reflected on the incident surface. The reflected light is reflected on a reflecting surface placed behind the light emitting element. The reflected light then enters the translucent optical member. The translucent optical member is thus allowed to illuminate over a wide range with a sufficient brightness. An impressive illumination can be realized.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2007Publication date: June 19, 2008Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Takehisa ISHIKAWA, Yoshifumi KAJIWARA, Hiroaki SAKASHITA, Yoshiya MATSUMOTO, Kazunori MURAYAMA, Atsuko YAMAMOTO, Hiroyuki TANAKA
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Publication number: 20080123337Abstract: It is a lighting apparatus 10 that has a light emitting element 16, a light emitting element housing 15 having a concave portion 28 that accommodates the light emitting element 16, and an optically transparent member 18 that airproofs a space B formed by the concave portion 28 and transmits light emitted from the light emitting element 16. The concave portion 28 is shaped to become wider toward the optically transparent member 18 from the bottom surface 28A of the concave portion 28. The lighting apparatus 10 is provided with a light shielding member 12 for shielding a part of light emitted from the light emitting element 16 is provided on the optically transparent member 18.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2007Publication date: May 29, 2008Inventors: Mitsutoshi Higashi, Kei Murayama, Yuichi Taguchi, Masahiro Sunohara, Akinori Shiraishi
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Patent number: 7378686Abstract: The invention is an illumination system that incorporates a light emitting diode and a side-emitting light-recycling lens. The side-emitting light-recycling lens recycles part of the light internally generated by a light emitting diode back to the light emitting diode as externally incident light. The light emitting diode reflects a portion of the recycled light, thereby increasing the effective brightness of the light emitting diode. The light reflected by the light emitting diode is directed though the side-emitting light-recycling lens and exits the illumination system, thereby increasing the output brightness and efficiency of the illumination system. The light emitting diode reflects externally incident light with a reflectivity greater than 40 percent.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Goldeneye, Inc.Inventors: Karl W. Beeson, Scott M. Zimmerman
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Publication number: 20080117617Abstract: A horticultural light fixture for reducing the temperature impact of the light source on growing plants, including a hollow sheet metal tube, having first and second round hollow ends and a cutaway portion on the underside open towards the plants with at least one lamp socket mounted within said metallic tube, locating the lamp over the cutaway portion, further including a reflector mounted within the metallic tube and extending out through the cutaway portion, constructed and arranged to deflect light from the lamp toward the plants, having a transparent portion fittingly attached to the reflector between the lamp and the plants being impermeable to the heated atmosphere while allowing light to pass through.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2006Publication date: May 22, 2008Inventors: Craig Hargreaves, Darrin McDonald
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Patent number: 7367692Abstract: The present light bulb uses electronic light generating sources and serves as a replacement for incandescent lamps or other lamps or so-called “light bulbs.” The light bulb is comprised of a plurality of individual light sources, such as light emitting diodes (LED's), capable of emitting white light or blue light or light of any other desired color. These light emitting elements are enclosed in an outer bulb housing that may include an optical tuning element and provided with the proper base for connection to a power source, e.g. a socket. The light bulb is characterized by a housing having a round top and a somewhat funnel-shaped side wall connected to the base. The side wall is constructed with the desired angle of taper in order to obtain the desired angle of dispersion of the light. The interior of the tapered portion is provided with a mirrored surface so as to reflect light in the interior of the bulb and thereby obtain a wide angle of dispersion.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2004Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Lighting Science Group CorporationInventor: Fredric S. Maxik
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Publication number: 20080094840Abstract: A reflector window includes a light transmission window having a center and an outer edge and an optical coating of at least first and second materials having differing refractive indices deposited on a proximate side of the light transmission window. The optical coating includes a plurality of alternating layers of the first and second materials with each layer having a thickness which increases from the center to the outer edge of the light transmission window.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2006Publication date: April 24, 2008Inventor: Kuohua Angus Wu
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Patent number: 7350930Abstract: An illuminating unit includes a reflector including a parabolic reflecting surface and an incident portion and an exit portion intersecting with each other a light source to emit a beam onto the reflecting surface through the incident portion, a light source deviation compensator disposed between the reflector and the light source to focus an image of the light source is focused to a focal point of the reflecting surface, and a light path changer to direct at least a portion of a beam with a radiation angle less than an angle of the exit portion toward the reflecting surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2005Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kye-hoon Lee, Dae-sik Kim, Su-gun Kim
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Publication number: 20080030987Abstract: A luminaire for providing broad uniform surface illumination and sharp cutoff which has at least one quasi point light source, such as an LED, located on an optical axis. There is at least one collimating ring lens which, at least partially surrounds the quasi point light source. The collimating ring projects a radial collimated beam and there is at least one reflective ring, at least partially surrounding the collimating ring lens. The reflecting ring reflects and redirects the collimated radial beam as a canted radial beam through the optical axis. In another embodiment at least one off axis collimating ring lens at least partially surrounds at least one quasi point light source, and projects a canted radial beam away from the optical axis. There is at least one ring reflector which at least partially surrounds the optical axis and is positioned to reflect the canted radial beam toward and through the optical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2006Publication date: February 7, 2008Inventor: Jerome H. Simon
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Publication number: 20080002412Abstract: There is explored the structure of an illumination device having a board, an interconnection and a reflector plate arranged on the aforementioned board, an LED element connected to the aforementioned interconnection, and a transparent resin part sealing the aforementioned LED element; wherein the aforementioned transparent resin part has a recess in the top face and the aforementioned recess has a shape taking as the major axis some axial direction in the plane of the aforementioned board. Further, the structure of a liquid crystal display device using this illumination device is explored. With the illumination device or a liquid crystal backlight light source module, it is possible to implement a light source for implementing an area control function and having the required homogeneous brightness and chromaticity distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2007Publication date: January 3, 2008Inventors: Toshiaki Tanaka, Hiroki Kaneko, Ikuo Hiyama
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Patent number: 7314292Abstract: A lighting device (1) comprising at least one light source (3) as well as a light reflector disposed beside the light source (3) for reflection of at least part of the light radiated from the light source (3), a special feature being the fact that the light reflector comprises at least one light-transmitting element (4) bounding a space (5) at least in part, as well as a diffusely reflective powder (6) present inside said space (5).Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2003Date of Patent: January 1, 2008Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.Inventors: Johannes Marra, Bas Van Der Heijden
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Patent number: 7275849Abstract: A LED bulb and light module utilizes a LED light source and directs light therefrom in a manner which improves efficiency and illumination. Ideally, the LED bulb is structured to create a virtual image whereby the efficiency of light directed out of the module is greatly improved, even with a single LED light source. The LED bulb generally includes a light pipe receiving light from the LED light source and guides the light downstream to a downstream portion which redirects the light radially outwardly.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2005Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jeyachandrabose Chinniah, Jeffrey Allen Erion, Chris Eichelberger, John Li
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Patent number: 7270445Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 8, 2005Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Inventor: David Munson
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Patent number: 7261441Abstract: A LED device including a first encapsulant that at least partially encapsulates a LED and resides within a light reflecting cavity, and a second encapsulant residing above the first encapsulant—wherein the first encapsulant is partially comprised of a first percentage of a first light reflecting substance. In addition, there is provided a method for constructing a LED device.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Kee Yean Ng, Teong Heng Sim, Keh Chin Seah, Mohammad Zamri Zainal Abidin, Fakhrul Arifin Mohd Afif, Noor Azian Mat Jiwa
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Publication number: 20070171650Abstract: A lamp unit as a vehicle lamp is structured by a compact constitution including a lens arranged on an optical axis extending in a front and rear direction of the lamp, and a light emitting element arranged rearward from the lens. The light emitting element is arranged at a vicinity of the rear side focal point in a state of inclining a light emitting chip in a skewed upper direction relative to a direction of a front face of the lamp. A vicinity of the light emitting element is arranged with a reflector for reflecting light from the light emitting chip to the lens. Light directed in a direction proximate to the optical axis emitted from the light emitting chip is incident on the lens, and also most of other light is made to be incident on the lens by being reflected by the reflector.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2007Publication date: July 26, 2007Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiroyuki ISHIDA
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Publication number: 20070139931Abstract: The invention relates to an LED package having a large beam angle of light emitted from an LED, simplifying a shape of a lens and an assembly process, and to a backlight unit using the same. The LED package includes a housing with a seating recess formed therein and at least one LED seated in the seating recess. The LED package also includes a lens having a predetermined sag on an upper side thereof, covering an upper part of the LED. The LED package and the backlight unit using the same can emit light uniformly without bright spots formed in an output screen, uses a simpler shaped lens with an increased beam angle, and minimizes a color mixing region to achieve miniaturization.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2006Publication date: June 21, 2007Inventors: Dae Yeon Kim, Young Sam Park
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Patent number: 7188970Abstract: An illumination device for simulating neon lighting comprises a rod-like member having a predetermined length and a curved light emitting surface, an elongated light source extending substantially along the predetermined length of the rod-like member at a fixed distance from the light emitting surface, and a housing for said elongated light source. The housing includes opposing and substantially parallel side walls with internally light reflecting surfaces, such that the housing serves to collect and direct light emitted by said light source into the rod-like member, with such light then passing through and being scattered by the rod-like member so as to exit the curved light emitting surface in a substantially uniform light intensity pattern.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2005Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: iLight Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mark Joseph Cleaver, Eric Olav Eriksson, George R. Hulse
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Patent number: 7182480Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination optical system that enables the direction and mixing of light from light emitting devices. The optical system comprises a plurality of light emitting devices that are spatially arranged in an array, wherein this array comprises one or more sections, such that the light emitting devices in a particular section emit light within a predetermined wavelength range. Through the use of a combination of macroscopic and microscopic optical systems, the illumination created by the array can be manipulated such that a desired illumination distribution is created. The macroscopic optical system provides a means for redirecting the illumination in one or more desired directions, wherein this redirection is provided by a collection of appropriately shaped and positioned reflective optics.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2003Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: TIR Systems Ltd.Inventor: Peter Kan
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Patent number: 7178944Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of enhancing illumination by a variety of lamp types through the use of reflective technologies, for example, replacement of expensive high intensity density or mercury vapor lamps with low wattage flourescent tubes having at least one and in some cases, up to three reflective surfaces for focusing otherwise lost light toward a target illumination area. Further, the placement of light sources at the focal point of said reflective surfaces aids in optimizing the amount of light focused in a desired direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2003Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Inventor: Randal D. Walton
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Patent number: 7178949Abstract: The lighting device comprises a light source and an associated hollow reflector of transparent material having an internal surface and an external surface which are close to and far away from the source respectively. The inner surface of the reflector has in cross section at least one transverse plane passing through the source a discontinuous profile forming a plurality of adjacent steps each of which has a first face through which rays originating from the source can pass and a second face essentially parallel to the rays originating from the source. The outer surface of the reflector has a profile comprising one or more arcs of curves.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2004Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per AzioniInventors: Stefano Bernard, Piermario Repetto, Pietro Perlo, Davide Capello, Denis Bollea
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Patent number: 7172314Abstract: A solid state light bulb for attachment to a lamp socket. The light bulb uses a number of super bright LEDs or color LEDs mounted within a hollow housing to replace a standard bulb such as a 60 Watt bulb. A stepped, reverse conical interior wall distributes and diffuses the light to project the appearance of a normal bulb. An upper lens of the housing may be removable to form a spot light effect.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2004Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: Plastic Inventions & Patents, LLCInventors: Robert M. Currie, Eliot Sorella
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Patent number: 7172317Abstract: A reflector lamp which is structurally compact in its axial direction has a light capsule surrounded by a tubular shield with electric leads which are anchored or fixed in a base at one end of the lamp with the leads structurally arranged to support opposite ends of the light capsule and urge the shield against a wall through which the leads extend adjacent said base.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2003Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: SLI Lichtsysteme GmbHInventors: Rudy Geens, Lode Derhaeg, Marc van den Broeck
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Patent number: 7168839Abstract: A LED bulb and light module utilizes a LED light source and directs light therefrom in a manner which improves efficiency and illumination. Ideally, the LED bulb is structured to create a virtual image whereby the efficiency of light directed out of the module is greatly improved, even with a single LED light source.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jeyachandrabose Chinniah, Christopher L. Eichelberger, Jeffrey Allen Erion, John Li
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Patent number: 7118260Abstract: In a lamp unit for a vehicle, light incident into a translucent member from a light emitting element is reflected by the inner surface of the translucent member reflecting surface and irradiated from the irradiating surface of the translucent member in the forward direction of the lamp unit. The reflecting surface is vertically shaped as a concave curved formed by a hyperbola. The focusing point is the light emitting center of the light emitting element, whereby the reflecting light is irradiated as spread light from the virtual image position of the light emitting element formed by the reflecting surface within the vertical section. The irradiating surface is vertically shaped as a convex curve formed by an ellipse which focusing point is the virtual image position. The irradiating light can be made substantially parallel rays within the vertical section.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2004Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michio Tsukamoto, Naoki Uchida
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Patent number: 7118262Abstract: Optical elements for semiconductor light emitting devices include a body that is configured to attach to a semiconductor light emitting device. The body includes an integral lens. A mirror is provided in and/or on the body. The body, the lens and the mirror are positioned such that, in operation, light that is emitted from the semiconductor light emitting device enters the body, is reflected from the mirror and passes through the lens to emerge from the body.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2004Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventor: Gerald H. Negley
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Patent number: 7118253Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a quasi-point lamp, a ring lens at least partially surrounding the source to provide a radial beam of light shaped in the form of a disk of sectionally diverging light, and at least one refracting ring to redirect and/or change the beam divergence, and/or at least one reflecting ring to redirect or change the divergence of the beam. A baffle system may be used in conjunction with or in substitution for the refractor or reflector rings to eliminate glare and stray light from the lens or redirect and/or change divergence of the lens. The ring lens surrounding the quasi-point source may be used to divide the illuminating light into radial beams diverging from each other, in which case each radial beam has its own refraction, reflection or baffle assembly. Each radial beam and its attending refraction, reflection and/or baffle assembly is used for specific lighting functions, such as down lighting, ambient lighting, spot or flood lighting and indirect lighting.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2002Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Inventor: Jerome H. Simon
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Patent number: 7077550Abstract: An automotive lamp having an excellent outer design along with a simple structure and easy production. The automotive lamp can comprise a light source (21), a housing (22), a light-emitting opening and a light-transmissive lamp cover (23), in which a non-light-emitting area of the lamp cover, which does not substantially concern the emission of the light generated from the light source (21), is provided with a light transmissive colored member (10) through which, under unlit conditions, outer light is transmitted to the housing (22), to thereby reflect the transmitted light at the inner wall of the housing (22) and emit the colored and reflected light out of the housing (22).Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2002Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Ken Egashira
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Patent number: 7070307Abstract: A replaceable lamp assembly includes a lamp coupled to a lamp header; and a cap coupled to the lamp header that at least partially covers the lamp. The cap minimizes contamination of the lamp and is configured to allow selective exposure of the lamp.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2004Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: John M. Koegler
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Patent number: 7021805Abstract: A translucent member is arranged so as to cause light originating from an LED light source oriented toward the front of a lamp to enter the translucent member. Outgoing LED light that has entered the translucent member is reflected rearward by a front surface, and then the light is reflected forward by a rear surface, to thereby exit forward of the lamp from the translucent member. At that time, an area on the front surface located in the vicinity of an optical axis Ax is formed as a normal reflection section subjected to reflection surface treatment. The other area of the front surface is formed as an internal reflection section which causes the outgoing LED light to undergo internal reflection. A plurality of reflection elements are formed on the rear surface of the translucent member so as to cause the outgoing LED light reflected from the front surface to enter the internal reflection section at an incidence angle which is smaller than or equal to a critical angle.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2003Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuyuki Amano, Yasuo Teranishi, Hiroya Koizumi
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Patent number: 6974235Abstract: Prismatic structures having at least certain conventionally linear surfaces thereof configured in a non-linear fashion to control the direction of light exiting said structures, the invention functions to reduce light losses in a luminaire or the like while facilitating the emanation of light from the luminaire at an acceptable viewing angle and with a reduction in glare. Prisms, particularly splitter prisms, configured according to the invention are formed with at least portions of conventionally linear surfaces as arcuate, curvilinear or generally curving segmented surfaces so as to direct light out of the luminaire for useful illumination rather than in a wasteful direction back into the luminaire. Prisms configured according to several embodiments of the invention function to increase light efficiencies either upwardly or downwardly depending on illumination requirements.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2002Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: Acuity Brands, Inc.Inventor: Gregory J. Subisak
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Patent number: 6964497Abstract: A lighting device is described which comprises a light emission surface (11) and a plurality of substantially point-shaped light sources (21) such as, for example, LEDs, and which is suitable in particular for backlighting liquid crystal displays such as LCD picture screens, or for use as a planar light radiator. The lighting device is characterized in particular in that an optical waveguide plate (1) is provided with a plurality of cavities (20) for the light sources (21), which cavities are covered with a first reflecting layer (204) on their upper sides (203) facing the light emission surface (11), while the coupling of the light into the optical waveguide plate takes place through side walls (201) of the cavities. A very homogeneous distribution of the luminous intensity on the light emission surface is achieved thereby.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: November 15, 2005Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: Horst Greiner
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Patent number: 6945680Abstract: A light assembly, particularly for a motor vehicle, essentially consists of a housing covered by a clear, optically inactive covering pane in which at least one light unit is arranged which is formed of a light with a pertaining reflector. A screen, which is constructed as a semireflecting mirror, is arranged between the covering pane and the light unit. The screen separates a rearward light unit space accommodating the light unit from a forward light unit space formed by the screen and the covering pane, so that the rearward light unit space cannot be seen on the inside by a viewer looking in the direction of the light unit. The screen is transparent for the light emitted by the light when the light is switched on.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2003Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Hans-Peter Holzmann, Marek Djordjevic
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Patent number: 6942366Abstract: The invention provides a light fixture for illuminating a sign. The light fixture has a lamp and one or more reflectors to provide for substantially uniform illumination of a sign with a minimum number of light fixtures. One or more of the reflectors of some embodiments can formed from a material having predetermined pattern for reflecting and transmitting light from the lamp. For example, the reflectors can be made from a neutral density polymeric material consisting of a translucent or substantially transparent polymeric substrate with a pattern of reflective media disposed on or within the substrate. In some embodiments, one of the reflectors can be a specular reflector. Some embodiments of the light fixture can also include a thermal shield to at least partially prevent thermal convection along a portion of the lamp.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2003Date of Patent: September 13, 2005Assignee: Everbrite, LLCInventor: Ferenc Mohacsi
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Patent number: 6916107Abstract: A lighting system for illuminating artwork includes a housing; a lamp mounted within the housing and including a halogen bulb and a reflector, said reflector having a dichroic coating; a linear spread lens positioned in front of the lamp, said lens having an etched first portion and a lighter etched second portion of a first surface, and said lens further having a color-adjusting tint and an ultraviolet filter coating; and a door associated with the housing directing the light emitted by the lighting system through the linear spread lens. The resulting lighting system produces safe light diffused evenly substantially over the entire surface of a piece of artwork.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2003Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Inventor: David Munson
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Patent number: 6908205Abstract: A lighting device is described with an optical waveguide plate that has a light emission surface and a plurality of channels each with at least one substantially linear light source. The device is suitable in particular for use as a backlight in a liquid crystal display, such as an LCD picture screen, or for use as a planar light source. The channels are provided with a reflecting first layer at their upper sides facing the light emission surface. The coupling of light into the optical waveguide plate takes place through side walls of the channels.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2004Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: Horst Greiner
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Patent number: 6899443Abstract: A light module includes a light source and a reflective light transformer. The light source emits light with a limited angle omnidirectionally in a plane perpendicular to a light source optical axis. The reflective light transformer is located around the light source, and collects most of the light emitted by the light source and redirects and redistributes the collected light in a direction parallel to the light source optical axis. The light transformer includes a reflective surface with a precalculated arbitrary profile that transforms a light source spatial light distribution into a specific pattern with a generally different angular spread in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2003Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: Farlight LLCInventors: Alexander Rizkin, Robert H Tudhope
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Patent number: 6871988Abstract: A lamp for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, has a light source and at least one light-guide arrangement associated with the light source for guiding the light radiated by the light source and coupled into the light-guide arrangement in a specified direction toward an outcoupling point. The lamp further has a light-diverting device in the light-guide arrangement for diverting and/or splitting the light. The light-diverting device is formed as a recess in the light-guide arrangement, and the diversion takes place by means of reflecting the light on one of the lateral surfaces of the recess. The recess is closed by means of a cover element, such that the recess is covered as viewed from the outside of the light-guide arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2002Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbHInventors: Matthias Gebauer, Petra Heinbuch, Kurt Schuster
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Patent number: 6837593Abstract: A reflector (8, 9) for a lamp (24), including at least one reflective surface (12), the reflector being designed such that the light which is emitted by a luminous element (1) of the lamp (24) and reflected at the reflective surface (12) does not impinge on the luminous element (1).Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2000Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Lighting Innovation Center AGInventors: Ottokar Schütz, Werner Maurer, Urs Schürmann, Ralph Wichmann
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Publication number: 20040233673Abstract: A scanner includes a light source, a reflect piece, a lens, and a sensor. The light source generates light. The reflective piece includes one protrusion for reflecting the light from the light source. The lens transmits the light from the light source and the reflect piece. The sensor detects the light from the lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Inventor: Zheng Wang
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Publication number: 20040228131Abstract: An optical device for coupling the luminous output of a light-emitting diode (LED) to a predominantly spherical pattern comprises a transfer section that receives the LED's light within it and an ejector atop it that receives light from the transfer section and spreads it spherically. The base of the transfer section is optically coupled to the LED so that the LED's light goes inside the transfer section, which comprises a compound elliptic concentrator operating via total internal reflection. The ejector section can have a variety of shapes, and can have diffusive features on its surface as well. The device is circularly symmetric, with a height preferably only a few times its diameter. An important application is for use at the focus of the parabolic reflectors in flashlights. This version of the invention further comprises a base-can identical in outer shape and electric contacts to those of flashlight bulbs. Within the can is the current-control circuitry the interfaces the LED with battery voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2003Publication date: November 18, 2004Applicant: LIGHT PRESCRIPTIONS INNOVATORS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability companyInventors: Juan C. Minano, Pablo Benitez, William A. Parkyn, Waqidi Falicoff
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Publication number: 20040218391Abstract: A reflector for a circular array of LEDs each having a housing and a front portion for emitting a main beam of light, the reflector comprising a body defining a plurality of radially extending cavities in which the LEDs may be at least partially located, comprising:Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2003Publication date: November 4, 2004Inventor: Jeffrey K. Procter