Light Fiber, Rod, Or Pipe Patents (Class 362/551)
  • Patent number: 8393747
    Abstract: A faceplate lighting system and method for illuminating a faceplate that provides substantial illumination of the faceplate to provide a guidelight or nightlight effect for environments without providing electrical power to or through the faceplate itself. The faceplate comprises an assembly including: a clear or translucent or transparent outer faceplate, and, a lightpipe membrane disposed beneath the clear or translucent or transparent outer faceplate. A wall-mounted electrical device is configured to include a light source(s) integrated within the device itself, to provide light under certain operating conditions. The light source is disposed in a manner such that when the faceplate assembly is overlayed onto a surface-mounted electrical device, the clear lightpipe membrane is aligned to directly receive light from the electrical device light source(s). The lightpipe membrane incorporates light pipe features that distribute received light across the surface of the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Kevelos, James Richter
  • Publication number: 20130057788
    Abstract: A single piece light guide is disclosed herein. The single piece light guide may include a light rod and a lens. The single piece light guide may be formed using injection molding. The light guide may have one or more regions between the light rod and the lens. A housing may be provided for the light guide. The housing may have an opening that physically supports the light rod. Therefore, the light rod may be secured into place, which may prevent misalignment during use. The one or more regions between the light rod and the lens may assist in assembling and holding the light guide in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Chien-chih Hsiung, Yu-Hsiang Huang, Wen-Lang Hung, Hung Kuang Yang
  • Publication number: 20130058123
    Abstract: A single piece light guide is disclosed herein. The single piece light guide may include a light rod and a lens. The single piece light guide may be formed using injection molding. The light guide may have one or more regions between the light rod and the lens. A housing may be provided for the light guide. The housing may have an opening that physically supports the light rod. Therefore, the light rod may be secured into place, which may prevent misalignment during use. The one or more regions between the light rod and the lens may assist in assembling and holding the light guide in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Chien-chih Hsiung, Yu-Hsiang Huang, Wen-Lang Hung, Hung Kuang Yang
  • Publication number: 20130058124
    Abstract: Optical systems and components thereof are disclosed which may be used for efficiently coupling laser energy into an optical conduit while maintaining a homogenous beam output from the optical conduit. Some embodiments are directed more specifically to far field beam homogenization of optical fiber coupled radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: OCLARO PHOTONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Sang-Ki Park, Edmund L. Wolak, John K. Johnson, Serge Cutillas
  • Publication number: 20130058122
    Abstract: A single piece light guide is disclosed herein. The single piece light guide may include a light rod and a lens. The single piece light guide may be formed using injection molding. The light guide may have one or more regions between the light rod and the lens. A housing may be provided for the light guide. The housing may have an opening that physically supports the light rod. Therefore, the light rod may be secured into place, which may prevent misalignment during use. The one or more regions between the light rod and the lens may assist in assembling and holding the light guide in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Chien-chih HSIUNG, Yu-Hsiang HUANG, Wen-Lang HUNG, Hung Kuang YANG
  • Patent number: 8388204
    Abstract: An optical inspection system and method are provided. A workpiece transport moves a workpiece in a nonstop manner. An illuminator includes a light pipe and is configured to provide a first and second strobed illumination field types. First and second arrays of cameras are arranged to provide stereoscopic imaging of the workpiece. The first array of cameras is configured to generate a first plurality of images of the workpiece with the first illumination field and a second plurality of images of the feature with the second illumination field. The second array of cameras is configured to generate a third plurality of images of the workpiece with the first illumination field and a fourth plurality of images of the feature with the second illumination field. A processing device stores at least some of the first, second, third, and fourth pluralities of images and provides the images to an other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: CyberOptics Corporation
    Inventors: Carl E. Haugan, Timothy A. Skunes, Paul R. Haugen, Eric P. Rudd, Beverly Caruso
  • Patent number: 8379275
    Abstract: A scanner module and an image scanning apparatus includes an illuminator that includes a light source, a light guide extending in a main scanning direction to change a direction of the light from the light source, a guide holder recessed with a light guide mounting portion in which the light guide is mounted, and at least one supporting protrusion protruding from an entrance of the light guide mounting portion into the light guide mounting portion to support the light guide received in the light guide mounting portion. As the light guide is supported by the supporting protrusion formed at the entrance of the light guide mounting portion, it is possible to reduce deformation of the light guide and/or to prevent the light guide from being falling out of the light guide mounting portion when subjected to, e.g., a shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gyung Mo Tahk, Hyun Surk Kim, Kyung Rok Kim, Dong Hun Lee
  • Publication number: 20130039029
    Abstract: There is herein described a light engine that emits a light. The light engine includes a light source, a light guide, a plurality of extraction optical elements, and a plurality of phosphors. The light guide receives the light. The extraction optical elements are on the surface of the light guide. The extraction optical elements extract at least a portion of the light out of the light guide. The phosphors are disposed on top of at least some of the extraction optical elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
    Inventors: Dongxue Wang, Matthew A. Stough, Martin Zachau
  • Publication number: 20130039089
    Abstract: An optical display element (10) made up of selectively illuminatable concentric rings (14) is provided, in which the rings (14) are obtained by the light exit surface (20) of a respective optical waveguide body (18). Each optical waveguide body (18) has a light entry surface (22) which couples light in from an associated light source (24) which is adapted to be selectively activated. The light entry surface (22), as related to the common axis (12), has a larger radial extent than the light exit surface (20). Further, the optical waveguide bodies (18) have directly radially adjacent light-blocking side surfaces (30). Owing to this configuration, it is solely the optical waveguide bodies (18) which determine the geometry of the concentric rings (14). Since the optical waveguide bodies (18) can be manufactured with high precision, the intended close tolerances are obtained. In this way, radial distances between the rings (14) of only approximately 0.2 mm or less can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Joachim Korherr, Harald Koehnlein
  • Publication number: 20130039090
    Abstract: A variety of illumination devices are disclosed that are configured to manipulate light provided by one or more light-emitting elements (LEEs). In general, embodiments of the illumination devices feature one or more optical couplers that redirect illumination from the LEEs to a reflector which then directs the light into a range of angles. In some embodiments, the illumination device includes a second reflector that reflects at least some of the light from the first reflector. In certain embodiments, the illumination device includes a light guide that guides light from the collector to the first reflector. The components of the illumination device can be configured to provide illumination devices that can provide a variety of intensity distributions. Such illumination devices can be configured to provide light for particular lighting applications, including office lighting, task lighting, cabinet lighting, garage lighting, wall wash, stack lighting, and downlighting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Wilson Dau, Robert C. Gardner, George Lerman, Louis Lerman, Christopher H. Lowery, Brian D. Ogonowsky, George E. Smith, Ingo Speier, Robert V. Steele, Jacqueline Teng, Allan Brent York
  • Patent number: 8371736
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes first and second light direction changing faces that extend in a longitudinal direction, a light guiding member having first and second light emitting faces that are formed to respectively face the first and second light direction changing faces and a light source that is arranged on one end face of the light guiding member. A first vertical plane extending in a longitudinal direction with respect to the first light direction changing face and a second vertical plane extending in a longitudinal direction with respect to the second light direction changing face intersect. A groove which extends in a longitudinal direction of the light guiding member is formed between the first and second light direction changing faces. A surface forming the groove may be parabolic in a cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Inoue, Yutaka Shiozaki, Hiroshige Hata, Kiyoyuki Kabuki
  • Patent number: 8374498
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system comprising: a diffuser defining a camera lens hole in a top portion of said diffuser, said diffuser adapted to receive at least one set of low angle lights; and a plurality of lights mounted on said diffuser in proximity to said camera lens hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Microscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy M Pastore
  • Publication number: 20130033890
    Abstract: A light pipe includes a light guiding body and a light shielding. The light guiding body comprises an installing portion, a light incident portion, and a light emitting portion. The light incident portion and the light emitting portion oppositely formed in the two opposite ends of the installing portion. A light shielding member is made of pliable material, and fits over a side surface of the installing portion, an end surface of the installing portion adjoining the light emitting portion, and a side surface of the light emitting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FU TAI HUA INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: ZHI-HUA LIU
  • Publication number: 20130033847
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light source device for emitting concentrated light, which is prepared by concentrating light emitted from a light source, including: the light source; a reflective box in which the light source is provided; a plurality of light guides having a circular column shape or a polygonal column shape and having two end surfaces being different in area; and light separating means, the reflective box having a plurality of openings, each opening being provided with one of the light guides in such a way that the end surface smaller in area faces the light source, and each light separating means being provided at a position between the adjacent ones of the openings. With this, a small-sized light source device for emitting light with high output and high directivity, and a simulated solar light irradiation device including the same are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akiko Kobayashi, Kohji Minami, Hiroyuki Tadano, Norito Fujihara, Tamon Iden, Atsushi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130033888
    Abstract: There is provided a lighting device and a method to manufacture such a lighting device. The inventive concept is based on manufacturing a lighting device on an at least partly flexible sheet assembly which is rolled into a tube, such that the light source of the lighting device is arranged within the tube. The flexible sheet assembly is arranged such that the tube provides a light mixing chamber and light exit surface for the lighting device. Thus, the tube shaped lighting device instantly delivers the necessary optical and mechanical properties for easy assembly and the functionality of a light engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Joseph Clara Van Der Wel, Antonius Petrus Marinus Dingemans
  • Patent number: 8368981
    Abstract: Light modulator displays may be illuminated using a light guide comprising diffractive optics that directs light onto the light modulators. The light guide may comprise, for example, a holographic light turning element that turns light propagating within the light guide onto the array of light modulators. In some embodiments, the holographic element has multiple holographic functions. For example, the holographic element may additionally collimate ambient light or diffuse light reflected form the light modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Wayne Gruhlke, Ion Bita, Marek Mienko, Gang Xu
  • Publication number: 20130027964
    Abstract: In a head lamp 1, relative positions of a laser light guide path in a tapered light guide section 20 and a parabolic mirror 5 are fixed. An optical fiber 10 and the tapered light guide section 20 are each provided so as to have a receiving end part where laser light is received and an emitting end part where laser light is emitted. The emitting end part of the optical fiber 10 is located near the receiving end part of the tapered light guide section 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensei TOYOTA, Hiroshi Kijima, Koji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20130027963
    Abstract: The invention provides a textile product (1) having a lighting function. The textile product (1) comprises (a) a coated textile structure (2) comprising a textile (200) with a first textile coating (211) at a first side (210) and optionally a second textile coating (222) at a second side (220) of the textile (200); (b) a lighting unit (300) comprising a substrate (310) with a substrate surface (311) and a light source (330) comprised by the substrate surface (311), wherein the lighting unit (300) is arranged within the coated textile structure (2), wherein the lighting unit (300) is arranged to provide light (331) through the first textile coating (211), wherein the substrate surface (311) further comprises an electrically conductive connector part (340), and wherein the connector part (340) is arranged to supply electrical power to the light source (330) when electrically connected to an electrical power source (500).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Maarten Marinus Johannes Wilhelmus Van Herpen, Paulus Antonius Emil Jochijms, Oscar Hendrikus Willemsen
  • Patent number: 8358067
    Abstract: In a lighting apparatus which emits light of a desired wavelength by irradiating excitation light from a light source to a wavelength converting member, a structure is such that a part of wavelength-converted light which is launched from the wavelength converting member is made to launch from an irradiated-light emerging area without making the light incidence again to the wavelength converting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kamee, Takeshi Ito, Masahiro Nishio
  • Patent number: 8353612
    Abstract: An optical device, in particular for a motor vehicle, such as a lighting or signaling device, this device comprising at least one light guide which is designed to guide at least part of the light which is emitted by a source of light, the light guide comprising at least one output surface and at least one main reflection surface, which is designed to reflect towards the output surface light which is propagated in the guide, the light guide comprising a portion for coupling with the source of light, this coupling portion having a transverse axis (Y), wherein the coupling portion is arranged such that the light which is emitted from this coupling portion is propagated in the light guide, around the transverse axis, according to a total angular opening, measured around this transverse axis, which is strictly less than 360°, and in particular is less than 320° or 300°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Antoine De Lamberterie
  • Publication number: 20130010491
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes two opposite plate surfaces, two sides respectively connecting the plate surfaces. A light incident surface is defined in one side for allowing light from a light source to enter the light guide plate, and a light emission surface is defined in the other side for emitting the light. The distance between the light incident surface and the light emission surface gradually decreases as the distance between the light incident surface and the light source gradually increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YUAN-MING WANG, XUE-FENG WAN, ZHAO-YONG LI
  • Publication number: 20130010355
    Abstract: A transmission optic having a transparent sheet with opposing front and back faces and an end face adjacent the front and back faces. The separation between the back face and a nearest point on the front face varies as a conic function of distance along the front face from that point to the end face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Liying Chen, Timothy Large, Neil Emerton, Adrian Travis
  • Patent number: 8348448
    Abstract: Headgear for mounting a headlight on a surgeon's head includes a headband and a stabilizer. The headband encircles the wearer's head and the stabilizer is connectable to a rear section of the headband for engaging and cradling a substantial portion of at least a lower back region of a wearer's head when the headgear is worn by the wearer. The stabilizer includes a peripheral extending portion extending beneath the headband on opposite sides of the wearer's head corresponding to a location of a lower portion of an occipital bone of the wearer's head and a peripheral portion extending above the headband on opposite sides of the wearer's head corresponding to a location of a top of the occipital bone. The headgear can also include a connection element for removably connecting the stabilizer to the headband so that the headgear can be worn with or without the stabilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sunoptic Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Walter Antonio Orozco, James D. Hunter
  • Patent number: 8348488
    Abstract: Lighted refrigerated display case with remote light source comprises a closed container with an interior of the container refrigerated to a temperature below 7 C. The container is thermally insulated from ambient, having internal and external walls. A solid fiber optic luminaire is at least partially mounted within the container, having an elongated side-light emitting portion for emitting light from the side of the luminaire onto contents in an interior of the display case. The side-light emitting portion comprises an extractor of light arranged to preferentially extract light from the luminaire and direct the light in at least one radial direction along the length of the side-light emitting portion to at least one target area of said contents along a longitudinal axis of the side-light emitting portion. A light-delivery system provides light to the fiber optic luminaire, having a light source mounted remotely from the interior of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Energy Focus, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger F. Buelow, II, John M. Davenport, William J. Cassarly, Thomas L. R. Davenport, Gregory P. Frankiewicz, Chris H. Jenson, Robert H. Caywood
  • Publication number: 20130003405
    Abstract: An outside mirror lighting assembly (100) and method includes a housing (108) and a first glass panel (101) where one or more light emitting devices (107) are positioned at an edge of the first glass panel (101). Light rays from the at least one light emitting device (107) propagate within the glass panel for illumining its outer periphery. Words, logos, or other indicia (125) may be also be illuminated by direct or indirect light emitted into an etched area of the glass. The mirror assembly supplies a soft illuminated glow around the outer periphery and/or the indicia for proving a unique and pleasing appearance to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Edmund Fehn, David J. Cammenga, Richard T. Fish, JR., Darin D. Tuttle, Mark A. Snyder
  • Patent number: 8346035
    Abstract: A modular radiation integrator assembly including a radiation source that emits radiation, a first integrator module including a first input port and a first output port, an adjust tube configured to partially receive the first integrator module and engage the radiation source in a manner such that the radiation emitted by the radiation source travels to and enters the first input port, and a second integrator module including a second input port and second output port, the second integrator module couplable to the first integrator module outside the adjust tube in a manner such that the radiation exits the first output port and enters the second input port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Canada Limited
    Inventor: Blaise R. J. Robitaille
  • Publication number: 20120314443
    Abstract: A light collecting system flows light through a light receiving end of an optical fiber to a light emitting fixture. The light emitting fixture includes a collected lighting system, which includes a light emitting end of the optical fiber. The light emitting fixture includes a power storage system, which receives power in response to a first portion of the light flowing through the light emitting end of the optical fiber. The light emitting fixture includes a solid-state lighting system, which is powered by the power storage system. A second portion of the light flowing through the light emitting end of the optical fiber provides illumination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventor: Calvin Wesley Moyer
  • Patent number: 8330385
    Abstract: A light bar system for a vehicle compartment includes a circuit board having a plurality of capacitive-type, user-activated switches, an electrical power source coupled to the circuit board, a light emitting diode (LED) coupled to the circuit board, and a light bar affixed to the circuit board. The user-activated switches are coupled to a vehicle accessory to control the level of operation of the vehicle accessory. The most recently actuated one of the user-actuated switches is detected by the circuit board and the circuit board provides a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal to the LED with a duty cycle of the PWM signal based on the most recently actuated switch. A higher duty cycle PWM signal corresponds to a higher setting of the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Jeffrey Singer, Denis Patrick Igoe
  • Publication number: 20120307513
    Abstract: A lamp structure includes an electrical connection unit, a light emitting unit, and a light guiding unit. The electrical connection unit includes an electrical connection element. The light emitting unit includes at least one light emitting element disposed on the top side of the electrical connection unit and electrically connected to the electrical connection element. The light guiding unit includes a light guiding element disposed on the top side of the electrical connection unit. The light guiding element has a bottom light-input surface, a top light-output surface, and a surrounding light-output surface. The surrounding light-output surface has a first surrounding region gradually outwardly expanded from bottom to top, a second surrounding region connected to the first surrounding region and gradually inwardly contracted from bottom to top, and a third surrounding region connected to the second surrounding region and gradually outwardly expanded from bottom to top.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: LUSTROUS TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: YI-JU LI, CHIN-KAI HUANG, HUNG-WEI CHEN, SHIH-MIN WU, CHIA CHI LIU
  • Publication number: 20120305806
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light source apparatus. The light source apparatus has an MOPA configuration and comprises a seed light source, a pulse generator, an intermediate optical amplifier, a final stage optical amplifier, a delivery optical fiber, and a light output terminal. The delivery optical fiber is a PBG fiber having a photonic bandgap (PBG) structure in a core-surrounding portion located around the core. Light with a wavelength in a high loss band of the PBG fiber is inputted into the PBG fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinobu Tamaoki, Motoki Kakui
  • Patent number: 8322871
    Abstract: An optical fiber tracing system for efficiently tracing one or more optical fibers within a fiber-optic communication system. The optical fiber tracing system generally includes an optical fiber and a luminescent member positioned adjacent to the optical fiber. The luminescent member illuminates along the length thereof for allowing a selective visual tracing of an individual optical fiber or group of optical fibers. The luminescent member is preferably comprised of an electroluminescent wire (EL wire) that extends along the length of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Telect, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Knaggs, Chris A. Dinwoodie, Michael VanMansum
  • Publication number: 20120300488
    Abstract: A light source, for example a light emitting diode, can emit light and have an associated optical axis. The source can be deployed in applications where it is desirable to have illumination biased laterally relative to the optical axis, such as in a street luminaire where directing light towards a street is beneficial. The source can be coupled to an optic that comprises an inner surface facing the source and an outer surface that is opposite the inner surface. The inner surface can comprise a refractive surface that receives light headed away from the optical axis of the light source, for example opposite the street. The refractive surface can form the received light into a beam. The outer surface of the optic can reflect the beam back across the optical axis, for example so that light headed away from the street is redirected towards the street.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Kevin Charles Broughton
  • Patent number: 8317382
    Abstract: An ophthalmic illuminator is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: an illumination source and an optical fiber for transmitting a combined light beam from the illumination source to a site, such as a surgical site within an eye, wherein the illumination source comprises a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) chips optically coupled to a corresponding plurality of light pipes, the LED chips and light pipes arranged in a configuration such that the light pipes converge together at their distal ends to form a cubic box having five sides formed by the distal ends of the light guides and an open side from which the combined light beam, composed of light from a plurality of light beams generated by the LED chips and transmitted to the cubic box by the light guides, is emitted. The luminance of the combined light beam has a luminance greater than the luminance of any one of the plurality of LED chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ronald T. Smith
  • Patent number: 8317381
    Abstract: A vehicle light is provided having a light source, a fiber-optic light guide into which light of the light source is coupled on a coupling surface, an expander for expanding the aperture angle of an incident light beam, and deflectors, which are intended for deflecting incident light, disposed behind a rear side of the fiber-optic light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Juergen Heidinger
  • Patent number: 8318273
    Abstract: A glassware structure with metal cladding for decorative effect having a main body and a metal cladding incorporated onto the surface of the main body by means of vacuum vapor deposition. The main body has an assembly portion and an acting portion. The metal cladding is distributed at least within the range of the acting portion. The tensile strength of the main body ranges between 120 and 200MPa (N/mm2), the thickness of the metal cladding between 0.1 and 1.0?m, and the coverage ratio between 95% and 100%. The metal cladding material is selected from zirconium nitride, nickel nitride, molybdenum nitride, titanium nitride, chromium nitride and silicon nitride. As the metal cladding and the main body can be securely fixed, the present invention can be used instead of metal castings and tubes. The glassware produces light transmittance effect, improving shape design flexibility, novelty and value of the glassware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Shenter Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Hsiao Lai
  • Patent number: 8308329
    Abstract: An image display device may include a fiber optic plate. The fiber optic plate may comprise a plurality of parallel optical fibers, the terminal ends of the optical fibers combining to define a light input surface and an at least partially concave light output surface. An apparatus may include: a fiber optic plate; and a mechanism for affixing the fiber optic plate to a display device. A method for manufacturing a fiber optic plate may include: computing one or more viewing angles between one or more elements of an image display and a focal point; and shaping a fiber optic plate output surface according to the one or more viewing angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Vijay M. Sethna
  • Patent number: 8308328
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a design panel 12 made of a resin and a light guide lens 16 that is attached to the design panel 12 so as to guide light from a light source to the outside. An insert hole 20 that is a through hole whose shape is commensurate with the light guide lens 16 is formed in the design panel 12. The light guide lens 16 is inserted into the insert hole 20 by elastically deforming a rim of the insert hole 20 when the light guide lens 16 is pushed into the insert hole 20, to thus be attached to the design panel 12. Auxiliary grooves 22 that promote elastic deformation are formed in a neighborhood of the rim of the insert hole 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Fujimura
  • Patent number: 8303149
    Abstract: An assembled light-guiding module with high light-guiding efficiency is composed of a plurality of light-guiding structures. Each light-guiding structure includes a light-guiding body unit and a light-reflecting microstructure unit. The light-guiding body unit has a light-guiding portion, at least one concave light-entering portion is formed on one end of the light-guiding portion, and a hollow portion is formed on a plane surface of the light-guiding portion. The light-reflecting microstructure unit has a plurality of light-reflecting microstructures disposed in the hollow portion. Thereby, the light-guiding structures are assembled to form a light pipe, wherein the concave light-entering portions are mated to form a light-entering groove on one end of the light pipe, and the hollow portions are mated to form a cavity space that is embedded in the light pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Chien-Chung Chen
  • Publication number: 20120275005
    Abstract: A modular approach to a pattern illumination system for selective excitation of microparticles is used. A dual-channel pattern module having two single-channel pattern modules are oriented at a non-zero offset angle to each other. In this arrangement, a galvo-scanner based phase-shifting module is shared between the two channels. A set of tilt mirrors are used to direct the beams from the pattern modules onto the target plane. Additional layers of pattern modules can be added to accommodate any desirable number of additional channels. The additional layer(s) may be rotationally off-set from the other layer(s) by an angular amount to simplify the layout of optical components. A remote light source module may be connected to the pattern modules through optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: LightSpeed Genomics, Inc.
    Inventor: Chun-Sheu Lee
  • Publication number: 20120275178
    Abstract: Light-coupling systems and methods that employ light-diffusing optical fiber are disclosed. The systems include a light source and a light-diffusing optical fiber optically coupled thereto. The light-diffusing optical fiber has a core, a cladding and a length. At least a portion of the core comprises randomly arranged voids configured to provide substantially spatially continuous light emission from the core and out of the cladding along at least a portion of the length. A portion of the light-diffusing optical is embedded in an index-matching layer disposed adjacent a lower surface of a transparent sheet. Light emitted by the light-diffusing optical fiber is trapped within the transparent sheet and index-matching layer by total internal reflection and is scattered out of the upper surface of the transparent sheet by at least one scattering feature thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Stephan Lvovich Logunov
  • Patent number: 8297818
    Abstract: An optical system utilizing a light pipe in which light travels by total internal reflection (TIR) accurately controls the light exiting the pipe. The system achieves accurate control of the reflected light by selectively extracting light from a limited area of the light pipe. The configuration of the reflectors used for the selective extraction of the light determines the nature of the output light. The reflectors are preferably located on an output side of the light pipe. All light output by the system is directed by the reflectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian Edward Richardson
  • Patent number: 8297819
    Abstract: Disclosed is a light pipe structure configured for transmittal of light rays, the light pipe structure including a light entry end associated with a visible end via a light pipe body, the light entry end being configured for entrance of the light rays, and a depression disposed in a visible surface of the visible end, the depression being disposed substantially along a major axis of the visible surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sylvan R. Shemitz Designs Incorporated
    Inventors: David R. Pfund, Paul R. Ford, Joseph Mancinelli, Irving Schaffer
  • Patent number: 8297822
    Abstract: A scanner module and an image scanning apparatus employ an illuminator that includes at least one light emitting diode, a light guide to change the direction of the light from the light emitting diode, and a light source holder to which the light emitting diode is mounted, the light source holder being positioned in relation to the light guide such that the light source holder covers an incidence face of the light guide, on which the light from the light source is incident, the surface of light source holder facing the incidence face reflecting light incident thereupon. The reflection of light by the light source holder reduces the possibility of leakage of light, and can enhance luminous intensity of light of the illuminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Hun Lee, Gyung Mo Tahk, Hyun Surk Kim, Kyung Rok Kim
  • Patent number: 8297820
    Abstract: A signaling light source facilitates locating personnel under adverse conditions such as in a smoky environment and resists damage from exposure to a harsh user environment A lighting unit includes at least one, and preferably two, of the signaling light sources also includes at least one personnel identifying red-green-blue (“RGB”) light emitting diode (“LED”) Disclosed methods for operating the signaling light source include energizing operation of a LED light source by supplying a sequence of electrical current pulses which repeat at a rate which causes emitted light to pulse visually, supplying electrical current to a pair of LEDs alternatively connected either in series or in parallel depending upon battery operating condition, and monitoring smoke density in environment around the signaling light source and modulating the intensity of emitted light responsive to smoke density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Hathaway
  • Publication number: 20120268924
    Abstract: A light guide unit provided in this disclosure is used for performing a reversible optical conversion process on a light source. In an embodiment, the light guide unit is used for converting a planar light source into at least a linear light source, and then further to be converted into one point light source, while allowing beams emitted from the point light source to be guided and shot to a specific position by the use of a light-guiding element. Moreover, in another embodiment, the light guide unit is used for converting at least one point light source into at least a linear light source, and then further to be converted into a planar light source for emitting light. The light guide unit can be adapted for various applications, such as optical devices for illumination, entertainment, decoration or ornaments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Lattice Energy Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jong-Woei Whang, Ta-Yi Chien, Hai-Yin Hsu, Kuan-Pei Chen, Fen-Ling Hu, Kuan-Yu Chen, Wei-Yu Lee, Kun-Yi Lee, Yen-Juei Lin
  • Patent number: 8292483
    Abstract: An optical waveguide system with an electrodeless plasma lamp as the electromagnetic radiation source. The system includes an optic source coupling element that receives the electromagnetic radiation that is emitted from at least one electrodeless plasma lamp. The optic source coupling element is coupled to at least one optical waveguide element. The optical waveguide element includes at least one fiber optic cable that is capable of transmitting the emitted electromagnetic radiation. The fiber optic cable can be positioned such that the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted at a desired position away from the electrodeless plasma lamp source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Topanga Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Espiau, Mehran Matloubian
  • Publication number: 20120262938
    Abstract: A laser system can include an optical fiber having a spatial filter defined as a core extension coupled to or integrally formed in an optical fiber so as to reduce the coupling of optical radiation into a fiber cladding. Such a core extension can be formed by removing a length of the cladding from the optical fiber, leaving a portion of the core exposed at the end of the fiber. Alternatively, a core extension can be formed by coupling an end cap to the core of the optical fiber at a fiber end surface. By selecting a length of the core extension based on a beam divergence and beam diameter, radiation coupling into the fiber core can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: R. Kirk Price, Scott Karlsen, Rob Martinsen, Ronii C. Mehl
  • Publication number: 20120262900
    Abstract: An optical module includes a casing, a first light output unit that is fixed to the casing and generates a first light signal, a second light output unit that is fixed to the casing while an angle thereof is set to be different from that of the first light output unit and generates a second light signal having a wavelength different from that of the first light signal, a first branching filter that refracts at least any one of the first light signal and the second light signal so that optical axes of the first light signal and the second light signal are partially overlapped, and one isolator that is located at a portion where optical axes of the first light signal and the second light signal are overlapped and performs isolation on the first light signal and the second light signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Sugitatsu
  • Publication number: 20120261560
    Abstract: A light guide including: a body light guide portion including an incident end that light from a light source enters; and a branch light guide portion including a first light guide portion and a second light guide portion that each include an emission end that a light flux exits and are branched from the body light guide portion, the branch light guide portion being configured to cause, such that a first light flux emitted from the first light guide portion directly heads toward an irradiation object and a second light flux emitted from the second light guide portion heads toward the irradiation object via a reflection portion and joins the first light flux, the first light flux and the second light flux to be emitted from the emission ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koya Nomoto, Kazuhito Kunishima, Masayoshi Kawata
  • Publication number: 20120257404
    Abstract: A lighted exterior mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly and a signal light disposed in the exterior mirror assembly. The signal light includes at least one light emitting diode. The signal light is configured to emit a light pattern and the light pattern is defined at least between a forward leading edge and a rearward leading edge. The forward leading edge of the light pattern forms a forward angle that is in the range of about zero degrees to about 45 degrees relative to the side of a vehicle equipped with the lighted exterior mirror system, and the rearward leading edge of the light pattern forms a rearward angle that is in the range of about zero degrees to about 15 degrees relative to the side of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Todd W. Pastrick, Michiel P. van de Ven, Peter J. Whitehead, Rick Mousseau, Niall R. Lynam