Patents by Inventor Eric W. Teather

Eric W. Teather has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11499683
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a housing that defines a light output aperture, a backlight apparatus that emits light toward the light output aperture, and an optical sheet of light transmissive material. The optical sheet is adjacent the backlight apparatus and modifies the light before it leaves the light output aperture. The optical sheet forms a first surface and an opposite second surface. At least one of the first surface or the second surface of the optical sheet includes a first spatial region that includes elliptical diffusers oriented predominantly in a first direction, a second spatial region that includes elliptical diffusers oriented predominantly in a second direction that is different from the first direction, and a third spatial region that includes at least one type of optical microstructure selected from the group consisting of Fresnel lenses, v-groove lenses, v-cut lenses, pyramidal lenses, lenticular lenses, donut lenses and conical diffusers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Eric W. Teather, Joel Mikael Petersen, Robert Michael Ezell
  • Patent number: 11473736
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a housing that defines a light output aperture, a backlight apparatus that emits light toward the light output aperture, and an optical sheet of light transmissive material. The optical sheet is adjacent the backlight apparatus and modifies the light before it leaves the light output aperture. The optical sheet forms a first surface and an opposite second surface. At least one of the first surface or the second surface of the optical sheet includes a first spatial region that includes elliptical diffusers oriented predominantly in a first direction, a second spatial region that includes elliptical diffusers oriented predominantly in a second direction that is different from the first direction, and a third spatial region that includes at least one type of optical microstructure selected from the group consisting of Fresnel lenses, v-groove lenses, v-cut lenses, pyramidal lenses, lenticular lenses, donut lenses and conical diffusers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Eric W. Teather, Joel Mikael Petersen, Robert Michael Ezell
  • Publication number: 20220003364
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a housing that defines a light output aperture, a backlight apparatus that emits light toward the light output aperture, and an optical sheet of light transmissive material. The optical sheet is adjacent the backlight apparatus and modifies the light before it leaves the light output aperture. The optical sheet forms a first surface and an opposite second surface. At least one of the first surface or the second surface of the optical sheet includes a first spatial region that includes elliptical diffusers oriented predominantly in a first direction, a second spatial region that includes elliptical diffusers oriented predominantly in a second direction that is different from the first direction, and a third spatial region that includes at least one type of optical microstructure selected from the group consisting of Fresnel lenses, v-groove lenses, v-cut lenses, pyramidal lenses, lenticular lenses, donut lenses and conical diffusers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Eric W. Teather, Joel Mikael Petersen, Robert Michael Ezell
  • Patent number: 11162652
    Abstract: A minimally complex, low cost/economical luminaire that distributes point source light for general lighting applications, the luminaire having a substrate with a linear array of discrete light sources positioned to emit light into an air-filled cavity and a light redirecting assembly on the other side the air-filled cavity, the assembly comprising a clear, light transmissive rigid cover and a clear, light transmissive semi-rigid flexible film positioned between the cover and the substrate, wherein the film is non-adhesively secured within the luminaire and flexed to generally conform to the shape of the cover and wherein the surface of the film facing into the air-filled cavity comprises an array of optical relief structures extending into the air-filled cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: John N. Magno, Eric W. Teather, Christopher C. Rich
  • Publication number: 20210262623
    Abstract: A minimally complex, low cost/economical luminaire that distributes point source light for general lighting applications, the luminaire having a substrate with a linear array of discrete light sources positioned to emit light into an air-filled cavity and a light redirecting assembly on the other side the air-filled cavity, the assembly comprising a clear, light transmissive rigid cover and a clear, light transmissive semi-rigid flexible film positioned between the cover and the substrate, wherein the film is non-adhesively secured within the luminaire and flexed to generally conform to the shape of the cover and wherein the surface of the film facing into the air-filled cavity comprises an array of optical relief structures extending into the air-filled cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: John N. Magno, Eric W. Teather, Christopher C. Rich
  • Patent number: 10883678
    Abstract: A minimally complex, low cost/economical luminaire that distributes point source light for general lighting applications, the luminaire having a substrate with a linear array of discrete light sources positioned to emit light into an air-filled cavity and a light redirecting assembly on the other side the air-filled cavity, the assembly comprising a clear, light transmissive rigid cover and a clear, light transmissive semi-rigid flexible film positioned between the cover and the substrate, wherein the film is non-adhesively secured within the luminaire and flexed to generally conform to the shape of the cover and wherein the surface of the film facing into the air-filled cavity comprises an array of optical relief structures extending into the air-filled cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: John N. Magno, Eric W. Teather, Christopher C. Rich
  • Publication number: 20200370714
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a housing that defines a light output aperture, a backlight apparatus that emits light toward the light output aperture, and an optical sheet of light transmissive material. The optical sheet is adjacent the backlight apparatus and modifies the light before it leaves the light output aperture. The optical sheet forms a first surface and an opposite second surface. At least one of the first surface or the second surface of the optical sheet includes a first spatial region that includes elliptical diffusers oriented predominantly in a first direction, a second spatial region that includes elliptical diffusers oriented predominantly in a second direction that is different from the first direction, and a third spatial region that includes at least one type of optical microstructure selected from the group consisting of Fresnel lenses, v-groove lenses, v-cut lenses, pyramidal lenses, lenticular lenses, donut lenses and conical diffusers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Eric W. Teather, Joel Mikael Petersen, Robert Michael Ezell
  • Publication number: 20200278092
    Abstract: A minimally complex, low cost/economical luminaire that distributes point source light for general lighting applications, the luminaire having a substrate with a linear array of discrete light sources positioned to emit light into an air-filled cavity and a light redirecting assembly on the other side the air-filled cavity, the assembly comprising a clear, light transmissive rigid cover and a clear, light transmissive semi-rigid flexible film positioned between the cover and the substrate, wherein the film is non-adhesively secured within the luminaire and flexed to generally conform to the shape of the cover and wherein the surface of the film facing into the air-filled cavity comprises an array of optical relief structures extending into the air-filled cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: John N. Magno, Eric W. Teather, Christopher C. Rich
  • Patent number: 10655803
    Abstract: A minimally complex, low cost/economical luminaire that distributes point source light for general lighting applications, the luminaire having a substrate with a linear array of discrete light sources positioned to emit light into an air-filled cavity and a light redirecting assembly on the other side the air-filled cavity, the assembly comprising a clear, light transmissive rigid cover and a clear, light transmissive semi-rigid flexible film positioned between the cover and the substrate, wherein the film is non-adhesively secured within the luminaire and flexed to generally conform to the shape of the cover and wherein the surface of the film facing into the air-filled cavity comprises an array of optical relief structures extending into the air-filled cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: John N. Magno, Eric W. Teather, Christopher C. Rich
  • Publication number: 20190277459
    Abstract: A minimally complex, low cost/economical luminaire that distributes point source light for general lighting applications, the luminaire having a substrate with a linear array of discrete light sources positioned to emit light into an air-filled cavity and a light redirecting assembly on the other side the air-filled cavity, the assembly comprising a clear, light transmissive rigid cover and a clear, light transmissive semi-rigid flexible film positioned between the cover and the substrate, wherein the film is non-adhesively secured within the luminaire and flexed to generally conform to the shape of the cover and wherein the surface of the film facing into the air-filled cavity comprises an array of optical relief structures extending into the air-filled cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: John N. Magno, Eric W. Teather, Christopher C. Rich
  • Patent number: 10317021
    Abstract: A minimally complex, low cost/economical luminaire that distributes point source light for general lighting applications, the luminaire having a substrate with a linear array of discrete light sources positioned to emit light into an air-filled cavity and a light redirecting assembly on the other side the air-filled cavity, the assembly comprising a clear, light transmissive rigid cover and a clear, light transmissive semi-rigid flexible film positioned between the cover and the substrate, wherein the film is non-adhesively secured within the luminaire and flexed to generally conform to the shape of the cover and wherein the surface of the film facing into the air-filled cavity comprises an array of optical relief structures extending into the air-filled cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: WhiteOptics LLC
    Inventors: John N. Magno, Eric W. Teather
  • Publication number: 20180245753
    Abstract: A minimally complex, low cost/economical luminaire that distributes point source light for general lighting applications, the luminaire having a substrate with a linear array of discrete light sources positioned to emit light into an air-filled cavity and a light redirecting assembly on the other side the air-filled cavity, the assembly comprising a clear, light transmissive rigid cover and a clear, light transmissive semi-rigid flexible film positioned between the cover and the substrate, wherein the film is non-adhesively secured within the luminaire and flexed to generally conform to the shape of the cover and wherein the surface of the film facing into the air-filled cavity comprises an array of optical relief structures extending into the air-filled cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: WhiteOptics LLC
    Inventors: John N. Magno, Eric W. Teather
  • Patent number: 8014066
    Abstract: A reflection-type projection screen is provided having uniformly high gain over a wide range of viewing angles. The projection screen includes a dual-purpose light reflective, supportive substrate including at least one unpigmented flash-spun plexifilamentary film-fibril sheet having a light reflectance of greater than about 85% and a gloss of less than about 10% when measured at a 60° incident angle, and an optical diffusion layer of a light transmissive melt-processible polymer containing diffusion-enhancing particles covering at least one surface of the substrate. The projection screen has an optical gain of between about 0.90 and about 2.0 and the optical gain deviates by no more than about 8% over viewing angles between ?60° and +60°. The projection screen has good drapeability, rollability the ability to lay and hang flat. The projection screen can also be recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Eric W. Teather, Steven William Macmaster
  • Publication number: 20110123782
    Abstract: Disclosed is a recyclable coated banner substrate comprising (1) a composition comprising (a) copolymers of ethylene and maleic anhydride or its functional equivalents and (b) ethylene copolymers with polar comonomers such as ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymers and ethylene/(meth)acrylate/carbon monoxide terpolymers, and (2) a planar polyolefin banner substrate wherein the composition is affixed to at least one side of the planar polyolefin banner substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: ERIC W. TEATHER, Seqwana T. Pryor, Richard T. Chou
  • Publication number: 20090225416
    Abstract: A reflection-type projection screen is provided having uniformly high gain over a wide range of viewing angles. The projection screen includes a dual-purpose light reflective, supportive substrate including at least one unpigmented flash-spun plexifilamentary film-fibril sheet having a light reflectance of greater than about 85% and a gloss of less than about 10% when measured at a 60° incident angle, and an optical diffusion layer of a light transmissive melt-processible polymer containing diffusion-enhancing particles covering at least one surface of the substrate. The projection screen has an optical gain of between about 0.90 and about 2.0 and the optical gain deviates by no more than about 8% over viewing angles between ?60° and +60°. The projection screen has good drapeability, rollability the ability to lay and hang flat. The projection screen can also be recycled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric W. Teather, Steven William Macmaster
  • Publication number: 20090173569
    Abstract: An acoustic absorber includes a core of acoustically absorbing material having two major surfaces, and a facing for covering the core on at least one major surface. The facing comprises a porous flash spun plexifilamentary film-fibril sheet having a coherent surface and comprising a plurality of pores having a pore diameter between about 100 nm and about 20,000 nm and a mean pore diameter of less than about 20,000 nm. The use of the facing improves the acoustic absorption of ambient sound at a frequency below about 1200 Hz. The facing provides a barrier to moisture and particles including microorganisms so that the absorber is suitable for use in environments in which cleanliness is critical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Natalia V. Levit, Eric W. Teather
  • Publication number: 20090173570
    Abstract: An acoustically absorbent ceiling tile includes a core of acoustically absorbing material having two major surfaces, and a facing for covering the core on at least one major surface. The facing comprises a porous flash spun plexifilamentary film-fibril sheet having a coherent surface and comprising a plurality of pores having a pore diameter between about 100 nm and about 20,000 nm and a mean pore diameter of less than about 20,000 nm. The facing has highly diffuse reflectance of light, and a reflectance of greater than about 86%. The use of the facing improves the acoustic absorption of ambient sound at frequencies below about 1200 Hz. The facing provides a barrier to moisture and particles including microorganisms so that the ceiling tile is suitable for use in environments in which cleanliness is critical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Natalia V. Levit, Eric W. Teather