Bizarre Patents
Decorative Jeweled Wheel Cover
An improved wheel is provided wherein decorative items such as gem stones are embedded in either the wheel surface, a special mounting section attached to the wheel surface, or to a spoke strap that wraps around each spoke and positions embedded gem stones on the outside surface of the spoke.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8164813 | Non-circular continuous variable aperture or shutter for infrared cameras A continuous variable non-circular aperture for an infra-red camera is formed by a plurality of positionable metal blades arranged to define there between an aperture of non-circular shape. A rotatable actuator plate positions the blades. Actuator rotation in one di... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8120832 | High speed electromechanical shutter An electromechanical shutter device comprising a base member and a shutter assembly comprising: an electrical current source member; a shutter member movable between a light beam blocked position and a light beam passed position; a light beam blocking member associa... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8014052 | System and method for illumination attenuation Generally speaking, the output brightness of an illuminator is varied by chopping an output light beam such that the beam is alternately interrupted and unhindered. An interrupter can be rapidly moved into and out of the transmission path of a light beam. The bright... | 09/06/2011 |
| 7995261 | Electromechanical display and backlight Electromechanical light modulators and backlight providing efficient, low cost and high performance displays. ... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7839553 | Light source module A light source module for a scanning projection apparatus is provided. The light source module includes a plurality of point light sources and at least one light blocking unit. Each point light source is capable of providing a color light beam. The color light beams... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7760411 | System and method for illumination attenuation Generally speaking, the output brightness of an illuminator is varied by chopping an output light beam such that the beam is alternately interrupted and unhindered. An interrupter can be rapidly moved into and out of the transmission path of a light beam. The bright... | 07/20/2010 |
| 7573629 | Blade actuating apparatus for optical instruments A base plate is provided with four guide pins and a rotor has four output pins so that each of four blades is provided with a plurality of slots. Individual slots provided to the blades are selectively fitted to the four guide pins and the four output pins so that w... | 08/11/2009 |
| 7417782 | Methods and apparatus for spatial light modulation Improved apparatus and methods for spatial light modulation are disclosed which utilize optical cavities having both front and rear reflective surfaces. Light-transmissive regions are formed in the front reflective surface for spatially modulating light. ... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7393793 | Tunable-wavelength optical filter and method of manufacturing the same A method of manufacturing a tunable wavelength optical filter. The method includes steps of forming a first sacrificial oxide film for floating a lower mirror on a semiconductor substrate; sequentially laminating conductive silicon films and oxide films for defining... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7389021 | Movable lens beam steerer Embodiments of a system are described herein, and include a controller, and an optoelectronic module coupled to the controller. The optoelectronic module has a substrate, and a stage having a lens. An electromechanical subsystem is coupled to the substrate and to th... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7375867 | Transmissive electromechanical light valve and system An apparatus, system, and method for a transmissive electromechanical light valve including a gate pivotable between a first position to allow light to pass through a valvelet and a second position to prevent light from passing through the valvelet are disclosed her... | 05/20/2008 |
| 7372616 | Complex microdevices and apparatus and methods for fabricating such devices Various embodiments of the invention are directed to various microdevices including sensors, actuators, valves, scanning mirrors, accelerometers, switches, and the like. In some embodiments the devices are formed via electrochemical fabrication (EFAB™). ... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7362493 | Micromirror and post arrangements on substrates A micromirror of a micromirror array of a spatial light modulator used in display systems comprises a mirror plate attached to a hinge that is supported by two posts formed on a substrate. Also the mirror plate is operable to rotate along a rotation axis that is par... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7352844 | Method and system for automatically scanning and imaging the contents of a moving target The system and method described herein facilitate back-to-back automatic scanning of moving vehicles without have the vehicles stop in the scanning zone. The system includes a scanning zone that comprises a radiation source and a radiation source detector. The syste... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7313298 | Tunable filter A method for implementing a truly hitless tunable filter for use in adding and/or dropping channels in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) network is disclosed. An exemplary method for filtering an optical signal may include providing a composite optical signal ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7310180 | Dielectric spacer for enhanced squeeze-film damping of movable members of MEMS devices In one embodiment, a capacitive micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device includes a dielectric spacer between a bottom electrode and a movable member. The movable member may serve as a top electrode. A gap separates the top electrode from the dielectric spacer... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7289156 | Optical data card reader A data card reader for an electronic apparatus is arranged to read an optical pattern printed upon a data card. The reader includes a card transport assembly to move the data card along a path and a reading assembly that traverses the path to read the pattern. The r... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7286764 | Reconfigurable modulator-based optical add-and-drop multiplexer An optical add and drop multiplexer system comprising a first module for providing a first signal; a second module for providing a second signal; and a modulator for receiving a channel of the first signal at a first location, the first location configured to actuat... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7283703 | Movable lens beam steerer An apparatus and system having an optoelectronic module, as well as a method of positioning the lens of the optoelectronic module in order to adjust the steering of a light beam are described herein. ... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7249856 | Electrostatic bimorph actuator An electrostatic bimorph actuator includes a cantilevered flexible bimorph arm that is secured and insulated at one end to a planar substrate. In an electrostatically activated state the bimorph arm is generally parallel to the planar substrate. In a relaxed state, ... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7248758 | Hitless tunable filter A method for implementing a truly hitless tunable filter for use in adding and/or dropping channels in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) network is disclosed. An exemplary method for filtering an optical signal may include providing a composite optical signal ... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7242012 | Lithography device for semiconductor circuit pattern generator General purpose methods for the fabrication of integrated circuits from flexible membranes formed of very thin low stress dielectric materials, such as silicon dioxide or silicon nitride, and semiconductor layers. Semiconductor devices are formed in a semiconductor ... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7242123 | Actuator, light quantity adjusting apparatus, and stepping motor An actuator maintains high efficiency, can react to an increase in pole, has a high part fit, and can be manufactured at low cost while it is thinned. The actuator includes a magnet which is formed in a ring shape, in which at least one surface perpendicular to a ce... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7239788 | Apparatus and method for inspecting optical fiber end face An adapter for use in the process of inspecting the end face of an optical fiber. The adapter is used as an interface between an inspection probe and a connector. The connector holds an the optical fiber end which has a surface. The adaptor comprises a positioning m... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7236279 | Digital optical switch apparatus and process for manufacturing same The present invention provides a digital optical switch apparatus and process for manufacturing the apparatus. The apparatus includes a mirror assembly coupled to a top cap and to a bottom cap. The top and bottom caps each include one or more electrodes that, when e... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7233421 | Data card reader A data card reader for optically reading data from a card includes a reader unit and a card transport assembly. The reader unit includes an elongated piece of transparent material formed with a longitudinal emit lens that is disposed to focus light from internal LED... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7221495 | Thin film precursor stack for MEMS manufacturing This invention provides a precursor film stack for use in the production of MEMS devices. The precursor film stack comprises a carrier substrate, a first layer formed on the carrier substrate, a second layer of an insulator material formed on the first layer, and a ... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7221247 | Magnetically actuated microelectromechanical systems actuator A microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) actuator having electrically conductive coils that create first magnetic fields that are opposed by a second magnetic field is disclosed. The actuator includes two coils having dual, interspersed Archimedean spirals. Within... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7218364 | Dual mode liquid crystal displays (LCDs) with electromechanical reflective array Liquid crystal displays and devices including the same are provided that include a micro-electromechanical reflective array; and a plurality of plates associated with the micro-electromechanical reflective array. The plates are movable between first and second posit... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7215738 | Method and system for automatically scanning and imaging the contents of a moving target The system and method described herein facilitate back-to-back automatic scanning of moving vehicles without have the vehicles stop in the scanning zone. The system includes a scanning zone that comprises a radiation source and a radiation source detector. The syste... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7210795 | Light quantity adjusting device and projector apparatus using the same A light quantity adjusting device for adjusting light quantity of a projector apparatus. The adjusting device includes a substrate having an optical path opening and a blade guide surface having level differences in a direction perpendicular to the optical path; a p... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7209290 | Diffractive thin-film piezoelectric micromirror and method of producing the same Disclosed is a diffractive micromirror and a method of producing the same. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a diffractive micromirror, in which a recess having a desired depth and width is precisely formed in a piezoelectric operation manner, and... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7196449 | Two-axis device and manufacturing method therefor A two-axis device is provided. The two-axis device includes a first substrate having a plurality of electrodes, a first connecting layer located on the first substrate, an actuating layer, a second connecting layer and a cover. The actuating layer is connected to th... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7181300 | Single use media device The present invention discloses an audio-visual retrieval and playback apparatus for a single use which has a housing having a viewing screen thereon 22 which can be sealed and packaged 14 having a headphone 16 with a pair of earpiecess 18 | 02/20/2007 |
| 7177081 | High contrast grating light valve type device A grating light valve has with a plurality of spaced reflective ribbons are spatially arranged over a substrate with reflective surfaces. The grating light valve is configured to optimized the conditions for constructive and destructive interference with an incident... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7168249 | Microelectrical mechanical structure (MEMS) optical modulator and optical display system A microelectrical mechanical out-of-plane thermal buckle-beam actuator is capable of providing transverse-plane movement of shutters. The actuator includes a pair of structural anchors secured to a substrate and one or more thermal buckle-beams secured at respective... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7167297 | Micromirror array In order to minimize light diffraction along the direction of switching and more particularly light diffraction into the acceptance cone of the collection optics, in the present invention, micromirrors are provided which are not rectangular. Also, in order to minimi... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7163872 | Tunable-wavelength optical filter and method of manufacturing the same An active type tunable wavelength optical filter having a Fabry-Perot structure is disclosed. A tunable wavelength optical filter which comprises a lower mirror in which silicon films and oxide films are sequentially laminated in a multi-layer and the silicon film i... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7164520 | Packaging for an interferometric modulator A package is made of a transparent substrate having an interferometric modulator and a back plate. A non-hermetic seal joins the back plate to the substrate to form a package, and a desiccant resides inside the package. A method of packaging an interferometric modul... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7154654 | Transmissive spatial light modulator and method of manufacturing the same A transmissive spatial light modulator having a light-transmission area, comprises: a transparent substrate; a pixel drive circuit provided on the transparent substrate to form an area other than the light-transmission area; and a transmissive light modulation secti... | 12/26/2006 |
