Other

Riake Corporation

Hathaway, Kevin Joseph

Kevin Joseph Hathaway

Robert E Fischer

David W Kappel

Biljana Tadic-Galeb

Richard M Knox

A thermal ballast temporarily stores heat generated during a heat generating device's operation thereby extending the device's operating time during an interval of adverse thermal operating condition. The thermal ballast () includes:

Thermal ballast

An improved LCD backlighting unit ('BLU'), preferably having white light emitting diode ('LED') light sources, enhances a liquid crystal display's ('LCD's') readability in sunlight. The improved BLU briefly increases a display screen's brightness, typically 2-6&#xd7; greater than the BLU's maximum continuous operating brightness. The BLU brightness substantially increases brightness for a predefined and relatively short interval, typically 2 to 60 seconds, without damage. The LED driver control prevents boosting the display brightness too frequently or for too long thereby avoiding damaging the LEDs by adequately dissipating increased heat. The BLU may include a thermal sensor on or near the LEDs to provide real time temperature feedback to the LED driver control. The BLU preferably includes a thermal ballast that absorbs excess heat generated by the LEDs during intervals of increased brightness.

Boost enabled LED backlight for enhancing sunlight visibility of a liquid crystal display

A LCD illuminator (), when energized, emits light which impinges upon an input surface of a light pipe included in a LCD module (). The LCD illuminator () includes a thermally-conductive housing () to which a thin, thermally conductive printed circuit board ('PCB') () is mechanically and thermally bonded. The PCB () has an array of LED die () mounted thereon that face away from the thermally conductive housing (). A layer of thermal interface material () interposed between an outer surface of the thermally conductive housing () and the LCD module () facilitates conducting heat generated by the LED die () out of the LCD module (). Also disclosed is an improved LCD module () that includes the disclosed LCD illuminator ().

High output LED based illuminator that replaces CCFLS for LCD backlights

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.

Light-pipe based identification and location signaling light

Systems and methods for providing illumination suitable for imaging devices such as laser projection systems, wherein the illumination pattern is adjustable by modifying one or more characteristics of a controlled angle diffuser. In one embodiment, a highly collimated (e.g., laser light) beam is passed through a holographic diffuser to create a well defined cone angle for the light emanating from each point on the diffuser. This light is focused into an illumination image that is controlled by the prescription of the diffuser. In one embodiment, the diffuser can be positioned to alternately place different regions having different prescriptions in the optical path corresponding to the illumination image. In one embodiment, the diffuser can be continually moved to eliminate speckling and 'worminess' in the illumination image.

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Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Kevin Joseph Hathaway