Including Light Emitting Diode Patents (Class 362/545)
  • Patent number: 9353919
    Abstract: A white LED lamp secondary encapsulation structure capable of reducing blue-light hazards has a substrate (3), a blue light LED chip (4) fixed on the substrate (3), and a YAG yellow fluorescent powder layer (6) overlaid on the blue light LED chip (4). A fluorescent outer lampshade (1) covering the blue light LED chip (4) and the YAG yellow fluorescent powder layer (6) is further fixed on the substrate (3). YAG yellow fluorescent powder is provided on the fluorescent outer lampshade (1). The structure allows emission of more uniform, soft and harmonious colors of white light, and reduces the influence of heat dissipated by the blue light chip on the performance of the fluorescent powder, thus preventing color temperature drift due to the heat of the chip, prolonging the lifespan of the fluorescent powder, reducing blue-light radiation dosage, scattering blue-light radiation, and reducing potential hazards to human and organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventor: Zhengming Wu
  • Patent number: 9321395
    Abstract: A vehicle puddle lamp assembly is provided and includes a plurality of light projectors located on a vehicle and configured to illuminate different lighted image patterns on a ground surface adjacent to the vehicle. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly also includes a controller for sequentially activating the plurality of light projectors to generate an animated lighted image on the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Ammar, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Stuart C. Salter
  • Patent number: 9320088
    Abstract: An LED-based lighting unit (10) with substantially sealed LEDS (30) is disclosed. The LED-based lighting unit (10) includes a plurality of LEDs (30)coupled to a mounting surface, a plurality of optical pieces (52) each placeable adjacent the mounting surface about at least one of the LEDs (30), and an elastomeric layer (60) abutting and extending between the optical pieces (52). Optionally, an adhesive layer (40) may be interposed between the mounting surface and the optical pieces (52) and/or the elastomeric layer (60). Optionally, a rigid layer (70) may be provided atop the elastomeric layer (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Jean-François Laporte
  • Patent number: 9291326
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device includes a light emitting unit, a holding unit, a light guide, a cover and an attachment unit. The light emitting unit has one or more light emitting elements. The holding unit holds the light emitting unit. The light guide guides light emitted from the light emitting unit and emits the light from a tip which is on a tip side opposite to a light emitting unit side. The cover has a first fixation unit to be fixed to the holding unit and a second fixation unit which has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the first fixation unit and internally fixes the light guide thereto in a state of exposing the tip. The attachment unit is formed in the second fixation unit in a shape attachable to a reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Kosugi, Ryuji Tsuchiya, Toshihiro Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 9267657
    Abstract: A vehicular lighting assembly is provided that includes a chamber defined by isotropically luminant back and side surfaces, a depth, and a front surface having a lens aperture. The lighting assembly also includes LED sources on the back surface. In addition, each source has a beam angle?a light exit angle, and is spaced from the other sources?the depth divided by a predetermined factor between approximately 1.0 and 2.5. In certain aspects, the front surface also includes a diffuser. In other aspects, each source is spaced from the other sources?the depth divided by a predetermined factor of approximately 2.5 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arun Kumar, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Martin Witte, Richard Joseph Michaels, III
  • Patent number: 9265100
    Abstract: In a conventional driving circuit, it has been inefficient and difficult to measure, classify, and rank (Vf) characteristics of a light emitting element that is in a bare-chip state. According to the present invention, a semiconductor-type light source is made of four light emitting chips (41 to 44) that are in a bare-chip state, the light emitting chips being randomly mounted on a board (3) without classifying (Vf) characteristics in advance. As the resistors, opening resistors (R2, R4, R6) and trimming resistors (R1, R3, R5) are disposed in parallel and then are connected in series to the four light emitting chips. Values of the resistors are adjusted so that a predetermined set current value or luminous flux value is reliably obtained with respect to the four light emitting chips. As a result, the present invention is capable of efficiently and easily mounting the four light emitting elements (41 to 44) and the resistors (R1 to R7) on the board (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: ICHIKOH INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuaki Nakano, Masateru Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9255702
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) lightning module is disclosed. The LED lighting module includes a heat sink, a circuit board, a carrier, semiconductor chips such as LEDs arranged on an upper surface of the carrier, and at least one holding device pressing a lower surface of the substrate against an upper surface of the heat sink. The semiconductor chips are electrically connected to the carrier. The carrier is electrically connected to the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Singer, Thomas Haug, Alexander Sauerer, Hagen Luckner, Stefan Groetsch
  • Patent number: 9236551
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a light-emitting device including a light-emitting section, a thermal radiation member, and a heat conduction layer. The light-emitting section includes a mounting substrate section and a light-emitting element section. The mounting substrate section includes a substrate, a first metal layer, and a second metal layer. The substrate includes a first principal plane including a mounting region and a second principal plane. The first metal layer includes mounting patterns provided in the mounting region. The light-emitting element section includes semiconductor light-emitting elements and a wavelength conversion layer. The semiconductor light-emitting elements are connected to the mounting patterns. The luminous existence of the light-emitting element section is equal to or higher than 10 lm/mm2 and equal to or lower than 100 lm/mm2. The thermal radiation member has an area equal to or larger than five times the area of the mounting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Nishimura, Kazuo Shimokawa, Nobuhiko Betsuda, Akihiro Sasaki, Miho Watanabe, Hirotaka Tanaka, Takuya Honma, Katsuhisa Matsumoto, Hideki Okawa
  • Patent number: 9228710
    Abstract: A light projection apparatus that can produce an elongate light projection pattern is provided. The light projection apparatus includes a fluorescent member which is excited with exciting light and a light projecting member which reflects or transmits the light emanating from the fluorescent member to project it outside. The fluorescent member includes an irradiated region which is irradiated with the exciting light, and the length of the irradiated region in a first direction is greater than its length in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Takahira
  • Patent number: 9227555
    Abstract: An asymmetric geometry headlamp for vehicular use is built as a multifaceted three dimensional body which has multiple light emitting devices (LEDs and/or laser emitters) installed on its angled facets, hence forming a multipurpose illumination apparatus within a single assembly which is designed to provide; a low beam with a wide illuminated area covering 2 PiSteradians, a high beam all position and signaling lights. A microprocessor based system runs real time, continuously adaptive control routines for day and night conditions and provides the electric signals necessary for the independent control of the luminous intensity, direction and color spectrum to each facet of the headlamp's LEDs (light emitting diodes) and for the high beam. Multiple photo-sensors, CCD or CMOS video cameras, position encoders and accelerometers provide the feedback signals used in the automation of all lighting functions in a system designed to completely replace the manual actuation of lights on vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: IP CONSULTING LLC
    Inventor: Dramos I. Kalapodas
  • Patent number: 9200760
    Abstract: An optical module, in particular for a lighting and/or indicating device for a vehicle, comprises a lens, at least two light sources, in particular two LEDs, arranged facing the same face of the lens, and means for controlling the lighting-up of at least one of the sources independently of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Meyrenaud
  • Patent number: 9188293
    Abstract: A body panel is provided for use in the body of a vehicle, comprising: a main panel having a first side and a second side, the main panel including a recess in the first side, the recess having a set shape and a depth less than a thickness of the main panel, and a hole from a bottom of the recess to the second side; a flexible lighting strip formed in the recess, the flexible lighting strip having the set shape and a thickness within ±10% of the depth of the recess, the flexile lighting device being secured in the recess; a power connector connected to the flexible lighting strip; a control connector connected to a device controller; and a clear coating formed on the first side of the main panel over the main panel and the flexible lighting strip, the clear coating having a smooth top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Grote Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Jay Corporon, Donald L. Gramlich, Jr., Gerald Nix, Larry Bennett
  • Patent number: 9175824
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle headlamp that can be miniaturized and that can form a synthetic light distribution pattern (for example, a low-beam light distribution pattern) in which a hot zone is brighter. The vehicle headlamp that forms the synthetic light distribution pattern including the hot zone and a diffusion region diffused from the hot zone, includes at least one first lighting fixture unit including a laser light source and a first optical system that forms a first light distribution pattern to irradiate light forward from the laser light source and irradiate the hot zone, and at least one second lighting fixture unit including an LED light source and a second optical system that forms a second light distribution pattern to irradiate light forward from the LED light source and irradiate the diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Nakazato, Yoshiaki Nakaya
  • Patent number: 9163822
    Abstract: Provided is a light source assembly including: a frame including a device region; a radiator mounted on the device region and detachable therefrom; and a light source including a light emitting device disposed at a position corresponding to the device region above the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Kwan Song, Young Jeong Yoon
  • Patent number: 9164218
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an illumination structure includes a discrete light source disposed proximate a bottom surface of a waveguide and below a depression in a top surface thereof. A top mirror may be disposed above the discrete light source to convert modes of light emitted from the discrete light source into trapped modes, thereby increasing the coupling efficiency of the illumination structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Oree, Inc.
    Inventors: Yosi Shani, Tania Kosburd, Dafna Bortman Arbiv
  • Patent number: 9163807
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a member having a substantially frusto-conical shape. A channel extends between a wide top end of the member and a narrower bottom end of the member. The member includes multiple surfaces (“facets”) disposed around its outer surface. Each facet is configured to receive one or more light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) in a linear or non-linear array. Each facet can be integral to the member or coupled to the member. The channel is configured to transfer heat generated by the LEDs through convection. Fins can be disposed within the channel, extending from the inner surface of the member to an inner channel. The fins are configured to transfer heat away from, and provide a greater surface area for convecting heat away from, the member. For example, one or both of the channels can transfer heat by a venturi effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: Ellis W. Patrick
  • Patent number: 9157606
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an optical system for LEDs for control of light output from the LEDs. A plurality of optical pieces may be provided with each being over one or more LEDs and configured to direct a majority of light output from such one or more LEDs toward a desired illumination direction. A shield array may be placed over the optical pieces and include a plurality of openings each sized to at least partially receive one of the optical pieces and a plurality of blocking shields extending upward from and provided partially over one of the openings and one of the individual optical pieces. The blocking shields block stray light rays that are transmitted from one of the individual optical pieces in a backlight direction away from the desired illumination direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Joseph Garcia
  • Patent number: 9133999
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor-type light source 2, a reflector 3, and a lens 4. The semiconductor-type light source 2 has a light emission surface 24. The reflector 3 has a first reflection surface 31 and a second reflection surface 32. The lens 4 has a plurality of convex surfaces (emission surfaces 46 and 47), a first lens portion 41, and a second lens portion 42. As a result, according to the present invention, an appropriate light distribution pattern for low beam LP can be obtained in a lamp unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: ICHIKOH INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiya Abe, Kotoka Inoue, Yasuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 9120421
    Abstract: A light projection device that can change a light projection pattern is provided. The light projection device includes: a plurality of excitation light sources that emit excitation light; a fluorescent member that is excited by the excitation light from the excitation light sources; a control portion that controls outputs of the excitation light sources; and a light projection member that projects light emitted from the fluorescent member. The fluorescent member includes a plurality of application regions to which the excitation light is applied, and the control portion controls the outputs of the excitation light sources so as to individually control the excitation states of the application regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9115880
    Abstract: A luminaire, such as a ceiling suspended luminaire, that can change its shape or some other state or characteristic based on user-input. The changes of shape or other state or characteristic can be achieved by hand gestures, such as moving the hand up and down in the detection field of a sensor. In one aspect of the invention, a suspended luminaire having a flexible sheet form is provided. The shape or attitude of the sheet form luminaire can be changed by exerting a force on one or more attachment points on the luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Mathew Engel-Hall, Peter Y. Y. Ngai, Michael Trung Tran, Darren Blum
  • Patent number: 9109785
    Abstract: Provided is an LED traffic signal which can inhibit snow accretion, ice accretion, frost accretion, freeze of snow, freeze of ice, freeze of frost, and the like promptly without fail and which can obtain satisfactory visibility. The snow-melting LED signal includes: an LED signal light including in order: a lens cover; a heat generating sheet; an LED mask plate; an LED lens module; and a printed board protection cover; and a signal body for housing the LED signal light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: HARD GIKEN KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Suzuki, Michiaki Imao
  • Patent number: 9111777
    Abstract: Provided is a light emitting device and light unit using the same. The light emitting device comprises: a body that includes a horizontal surface; an electrode at least partially disposed in the body; two or more mounting parts protruding from the horizontal surface, wherein the two or more mounting parts are separated from each other by a space, and wherein each of the at least two or more mounting parts includes a surface that is inclined relative to the horizontal surface; and two or more light emitting diodes, each mounted on the inclined surface of a corresponding one of the two or more mounting parts and electrically connected to the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Kee Youn Jang
  • Patent number: 9097416
    Abstract: This invention relates to a lighting device having a light source (102, 103), a light output unit, a drive unit (106a) arranged to drive the light source, an electrical connection unit connected with the drive unit and arranged to receive input power, and a heat sink (112), which has been provided with multiple reception portions (115, 116). At least the light source and the drive unit are mounted at a first respectively a second reception portion of the heat sink. The heat sink is a formed sheet structure, which has been formed into a predetermined shape from a sheet shaped heat sink blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Remco Yuri Van De Moesdijk, Marcus Joannes Van Den Bosch
  • Patent number: 9091406
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a laser lighting source and a controlled reflector module. The controlled reflector module is arranged on a light path of the laser lighting source to reflect a laser beam emitted from the laser lighting source to an outside of an vehicle to illuminate. The controlled reflector module includes a motor, a rotor and a reflector. The rotor is used for connecting the motor with the reflector. The reflector rotates rapidly with the rotor controlled by the motor to change the illuminated area of the reflector. The headlamp has a uniformly distributed lighting beam and high luminance, and the size of the headlamp is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yi-Zhong Sheu
  • Patent number: 9066403
    Abstract: An LED lamp assembly includes a power supply configured to receive an input power signal and provide a DC lamp current, a dimming controller coupled to the power supply and configured to adjust the DC lamp current, and an LED lamp coupled to the DC lamp current. The dimming controller is configured to determine if full brightness or dimmed brightness is required based at least in part on the input power signal. The DC lamp current is maintained at a first level when full brightness is required and at a second level when dimmed brightness is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Morne Neser, Louis Bacon, Truong-Khoa Nguyen, Christian Poirier
  • Patent number: 9056578
    Abstract: A single board is adaptable to lamps for a vehicle of various designs. A lamp for a vehicle includes: an LED light source; a board having a mounting portion on which the LED light source is mounted; and a reflector member which is arranged such that the reflector member covers the LED light source, the reflector member reflecting light emitted from the LED light source with the directivity, wherein the mounting portion is formed of a plurality of mounting portions which are arranged at least in one direction out of the vehicle longitudinal direction and the vehicle lateral direction such that the arrangement of the LED light source is selectable from plural kinds of arrangements, and the reflector member is detachably attached to the board such that the reflector member having a shape corresponding to the arrangement of the LED is selectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Oguchi, Yoshihisa Hirose, Yosuke Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 9057489
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing a light emitting diode and driving circuitry integrated into a component module that will retrofit common incandescent lightbulb applications. The disclosed embodiments will perform with high efficiency at a wide operating voltage range with a very small size allowing for the incorporation within the envelope and form of existing lightbulb bases. Therefore, a single universal LED light bulb module can be used to replace the dozens of conventional LED and incandescent lights currently being used. The electronic circuitries used to drive the LEDs are extremely compact and consequently can be incorporated in nearly any standard bulb base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: TERRALUX, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Catalano, Daniel J. Harrison
  • Patent number: 9050926
    Abstract: The present invention includes a lamp unit for low beam and a lamp unit for high beam. A respective one of the lamp units is made of: a semiconductor-type light source; and a reflector that has reflection surfaces configured to emit forward of a vehicle a light from the semiconductor-type light source, as a predetermined light distribution pattern. As a result, the present invention is capable of fully utilizing the light from the semiconductor-type light source and facilitating a light distribution design for forming the light in a predetermined light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: ICHIKOH INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yasufumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9033563
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight assembly includes a housing, a lens, a radiation member and a circuit board. The housing has a first hole, and multiple first and second fixing tubes extend from the inside of the housing. The lens is located in the first hole of the housing and has at least two legs which are fixed to the first fixing tubes by multiple first fixing members. The lens has a multiple-focus curved surface on the front side thereof. The radiation member is located in the housing and behind the lens. The radiation member is connected to the second fixing tubes by multiple second fixing members. The radiation member has multiple fins and a fixing board to which the circuit board is connected. The circuit board has multiple Light Emitting Diodes whose beams pass through the multiple-focus curved surface of the leans and are spread to desired angles and areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Chen-Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 9022629
    Abstract: An LED automobile lamp includes a light source, a light guiding plate and a lens. The light guiding plate is adjacent to the light source. The lens is spaced from the light source and the light guiding plate. The light guiding plate includes a top surface which includes a horizontal section and an inclined section extending upward from one end of the horizontal section. Light generated by the light source enters the light guiding plate and is regulated to a preset luminance shape with cut-off lines at a top thereof by the horizontal section and the inclined section of the top surface of the light guiding plate. Light from the light guiding plate radiates out via the lens. A prism plate assembly is located between the lens and the light guiding plate for aligning the light from the light guiding plate to the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Po-Chou Chen
  • Patent number: 9022626
    Abstract: A signal assembly is provided that includes a chamber defined by isotropically luminant back and side surfaces, and a front surface having a lens and a diffuser. The signal assembly also includes LED light sources having a beam angle ?70° coupled to the back surface. The back and front surfaces are separated by a depth, and each source is located at a spacing from the other sources ?the depth divided by a predetermined factor. The predetermined factor may be set to approximately 2.5 or 2.0 when the divergence angle of the diffuser is ?20° or ?30°, respectively. The signal assembly and its components can be configured to operate as a vehicular signal lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arun Kumar, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Martin David Witte, Richard Joseph Michaels, III
  • Patent number: 9022625
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp that is capable of optically distributing a spot portion of a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line to a cruising lane side is provided. The present invention includes semiconductor-type light sources 2L and 2R and lenses 3L and 3R. On emission surfaces 31L and 31R of the lenses 3L and 3R, peak portions 32L and 32R that form a spot portion SP of a light distribution pattern for low beam LP are respectively provided in given locations that are close to a cruising lane side with respect to optical axes ZL and ZR of the lenses 3L and 3R. As a result, the present invention can provide the vehicle headlamp that is capable of optically distributing the spot portion SP of the light distribution pattern for low beam LP having a cutoff line CL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 9010975
    Abstract: A lamp for the rear of a vehicle is disclosed with a light transmissive cover having a red first illuminated surface area and a clear second illuminated surface area. It has a first LED light emitter located directly beneath the red first area, a second LED light emitter located directly beneath the clear second area, and a third LED light emitter, also located directly beneath said clear second area. The third red LED light emitter is for emitting red light through the clear second area simultaneously with light transmitted through the red first area, whereby the first and second areas are adapted to collectively form a contiguous red illuminated surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Norris, Randall Staggs, Nakul Anand, Shawn S. Smith, Christopher C. Riley, Mark D. Noe
  • Patent number: 9013319
    Abstract: A vehicle inlet is disclosed for use in charging a battery of an electric vehicle or a hybrid-electric vehicle. The vehicle inlet includes a housing, a luminance engine having at least one light emitting diode, and a luminance member configured for attachment to the housing and for cooperation with the luminance engine. The luminance member is adapted for illumination by the at least one light emitting diode of the luminance engine based on an ambient light level having a value less than a threshold for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Reinhard Pusch, Keith R. Kwasny, John F. Nathan
  • Patent number: 9010976
    Abstract: An illuminated vehicular sign is provided including a vehicle and luminescent planar sheet. The luminescent planar sheet is constructed to provide illuminated alpha-numeric characters which are mounted to the horizontal planar surfaces of a vehicle. The alpha-numeric characters are mounted substantially horizontally so as to be seen from the air such as by helicopters or planes. The illuminated vehicle sign includes a switching system electrically connected to the luminescent planar panels for selectively controlling the transfer of power from said power source to the luminescent planar panels. The switching system including one or more adjustable variable resistors electrically connected to the luminescent planar panels for allowing one to selectively adjust the wattage provided to them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Shipman
  • Patent number: 9000953
    Abstract: A solar powered navigational light including: a casing; at least one illuminated lenses on a front side of the casing; a battery compartment within the casing, where the battery compartment houses a rechargeable battery; and a solar panel array on a top side of the casing, where the solar panel array produces energy to charge the rechargeable battery. The solar panel array may function as a sensor to activate the illumination of the at least one illuminated lenses. In one particular embodiment, the illuminated lenses may emit a combination of red, green or white lights. The illuminated lenses may include a first lenses and a second lenses in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventors: Linda Dauphin, Kenneth Dauphin
  • Patent number: 8985824
    Abstract: An automotive lamp is provided with: a lamp chamber formed so as to include a lamp body having a front end opening portion and a translucent cover provided on the lamp body so as to cover the front end opening portion; a lamp unit that is housed inside the lamp chamber and includes a semiconductor light emitting device as a light source; a bracket that includes a light source mounting portion having a mounting surface for the semiconductor light emitting device and a plurality of radiating fins, thermally in contact with the light source mounting portion and arranged such that ventilation passages extend from the lamp body side toward the translucent cover, are formed, and that supports the lamp unit; and a fan that blows air such that air flows through the ventilation passages from the lamp body side toward the translucent cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayasu Ito, Tsukasa Tokida
  • Patent number: 8987991
    Abstract: A sub headlight unit for use in a vehicle that leans into turns includes a sub headlight light source that illuminates an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to a width direction of the vehicle. The sub headlight light source is configured to, when the vehicle is in an upright state, produce an illumination range including an area above a horizontal plane. The sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle. At a time of parking or stopping or at a time of running straight ahead, the sub headlight light source is turned on or caused to flash with the amount of light per unit of time being reduced as compared with the amount of light per unit of time emitted when the sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with the lean angle of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Ikeda, Yasuhiko Kino, Takehiro Inoue, Makoto Kosugi
  • Patent number: 8985823
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a lamp body having an opening, a front cover attached to the lamp body to close the opening, and a first optical unit disposed inside a lamp chamber defined by the lamp body and the cover. The first optical unit includes a printed wiring board having a first section formed with a first conductor pattern and a second section formed with a second conductor pattern electrically coupled to the first conductor pattern, an LED mounted on the first section of the printed wiring board, and a lighting control circuit provided on the second section of the printed wiring board to control a lighting of the LED. The first optical unit further has a bracket supporting the printed wiring board in a horizontal manner, and a drip-preventive cover covering the lighting control circuit. The drip-preventive cover is provided on the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8979337
    Abstract: A lighting module (1) comprising at least one light emitting device (3) arranged on a first carrier (10); driving electronics (4) for driving the at least one light emitting device (3) arranged on a second carrier (11); and an optical interface (5) for outputting light emitted by the at least one light emitting device (3), wherein the second carrier (11) is arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the first carrier (10), wherein the first (10) and second (11) carriers are configured such that a projection of the first carrier (10) onto the plane is substantially non-overlapping with the second carrier (11) so as to form a non-overlapping region, wherein the driving electronics is at least partially arranged in the non-overlapping region. The inventive lighting module enables more efficient use of the space in the lighting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Martinus Petrus Creusen
  • Patent number: 8979336
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp apparatus is provided. The vehicle headlamp apparatus includes a lamp unit, a first additional lamp unit which forms a first light distribution pattern, a second additional lamp unit which forms a second light distribution pattern overlapping with the first light distribution pattern, and a controller. The first light distribution pattern includes at least one first partial region, and the first additional lamp unit adjusts a luminous intensity of a light to be irradiated toward the first partial region. The second light distribution pattern includes at least one second partial region which partially overlaps with the first partial region, and the second additional lamp unit adjusts a luminous intensity of a light to be irradiated toward the second partial region. The controller controls the first additional lamp unit and the second additional lamp unit to adjust the luminous intensity of the partial regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 8974098
    Abstract: A bicycle light for securing to a handlebar or other part of a bike, or to a rider's helmet, has an angled front face that allows use of a single, flat LED circuit board with one or more deep conic or parabolic reflectors positioned in front of the upper part of the board and one or more shallow reflectors in front of the bottom part of the board. This provides for both a spot beam produced by the deep reflector and flood light produced by the shallow reflector, in a compact and efficient assembly. Another important feature of the device is side lighting which can be independently controlled, important in affording the rider side lighting while in street traffic but the option to pulse or switch off the side lighting when riding on a trail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Light & Motion Industries
    Inventors: Christopher McCaslin, Greg Weisenfeld, Beau Jesse Robertson, Roxanne Lo
  • Patent number: 8974097
    Abstract: A method for controlling an aircraft having a plurality of LEDs, light so as to emit a desired light intensity includes the steps of providing a reference LED located within or outside of the aircraft light, providing thermal conditions resulting in a thermal stress for the reference LED similar to the maximum thermal stress, and observing the reference LED by means of an optical sensor for monitoring the optical aging behavior of the reference LED throughout its lifetime. The desired light intensity of the aircraft light is achieved by controlling the plurality of LEDs in accordance with the monitored aging behavior of the reference LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Hessling, Robert Trinscheck, Siegfried Schmees, Mike Herberhold, Stefan Thomassin
  • Patent number: 8974099
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight having a plurality of semiconductor emitters for the alternative production of a low-beam light distribution and a daytime driving light distribution is provided. For producing the low-beam light distribution, a low-beam light luminous surface is generated by the vehicle headlight. For producing the daytime driving light distribution, a daytime driving light luminous surface is generated by the vehicle headlight. The low-beam light luminous surface and the daytime driving light luminous surface are essentially identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sebastian Morgenstern, Stefan Danner, Christopher Weil, Helmut Erdl
  • Patent number: 8967840
    Abstract: A vehicle auxiliary lighting system (VALS 10) having attached to the side of a vehicle a set of side lights that automatically illuminate in synchrony with a corresponding set of vehicle lights are activated by a vehicle driver. The side lights are attached to four moisture-resistant enclosures namely: a left front light enclosure (12), a right front light enclosure (28), a left rear light enclosure (38) and a right rear light enclosure (54). The enclosures, which are attached to a structure adjacent a set of disk brakes and a set of drum brakes, are viewed through openings on a set of spoked vehicle wheels. The side lights, which correspond to the vehicle's front facing lights, produce an amber light; the side lights that correspond to the vehicle's rear facing lights produce a red light; and the side light that corresponds to a vehicle's reverse light produces a white light. By utilizing the VALS (10) the margin of safety for both pedestrians and other motorists is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventor: Curtis J. Haney
  • Patent number: 8960978
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp (100) including a first lamp unit (10) provided with a first LED (11) and a first translucent member (13) internally reflecting light from the first LED (11) twice and then emitting the reflected light, a second lamp unit (20) provided with a second LED (21) and a second translucent member (23) internally reflecting light from the second LED (21) twice and then emitting the reflected light, and a third lamp unit (30) provided with a third LED (31) and a third translucent member (33) internally reflecting light from the third LED (31) twice and then emitting the reflected light. The first translucent member (13), the second translucent member (23), and the third translucent member (33) are coupled together at their ends in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Uchida, Masashi Tatsukawa
  • Patent number: 8963410
    Abstract: A LED bulb includes a bulb head, a power PCBA of which a bottom is equipped with power pins, a LED PCB mounted to a top of the power PCBA and electrically connecting with the power PCBA, and a cover covered on the LED PCB. The bulb head includes a housing, electrical terminals disposed in the housing and including an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, and a power connection unit mounted to a bottom of the housing and including a bulb base and an anode element. One end of the anode terminal is electrically connected with a top end of the anode element. One end of the cathode terminal projects outside the housing to be electrically connected with the bulb base. The power PCBA is mounted on the housing. The power pins are electrically connected with another two ends of the anode terminal and the cathode terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Well Shin Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jui Hsiung Wu
  • Patent number: 8956030
    Abstract: Automotive bulbs and including at least one printed circuit board electrically connected to a standard automotive bulb base, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged on the circuit board to project light in at least two opposite directions. In some embodiments, circuit boards are arranged in an X pattern, and the LEDs are arranged to project light in substantially all directions about the longitudinal axis of the automotive bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Jam Strait, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Wesson
  • Patent number: 8950918
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp having a housing and an illumination unit arranged within the housing is provided. The illumination unit comprises at least one light-emitting diode as light source. The at least one light-emitting diode is thermally coupled to a cooling element. The cooling element has a surface region arranged within the housing. On the surface region a decorative element is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Frank Langkabel, Carina Scheider, Patrick Arkenbosch, Steve Kozma, Ingolf Schneider, Ullrich Hochmuth
  • Patent number: 8950912
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp system having a headlamp module and a processor. The headlamp module may include a light source and a reflector. The light source may include a plurality of light emitters which are individually controllable by the processor. The reflector may include a plurality of facets for reflecting the light received from the light source. The headlamp module is capable of switching between high and low beam light without mechanically movable components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventor: Xiaolu Chen