Patents by Inventor Ferdinand Schinagl

Ferdinand Schinagl 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: 11873974
    Abstract: A plant growth lighting system includes a plant support and a light guide luminaire module, the plant support being configured to hold one or more plants. The light guide luminaire module includes at least one light-emitting element (LEE), a light guide arranged to receive light emitted by the at least one LEE at a first end of the light guide and guide the received light in a forward direction to a second end thereof, and an extractor arranged to receive light from the second end of the light guide and configured to output light. The light guide luminaire module is disposed relative to the plant support such that at least a portion of the light output by the extractor impinges on the plants in predetermined directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Allan Brent York, Louis Lerman, Hans Peter Stormberg, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Publication number: 20230408748
    Abstract: A luminaire module includes light-emitting elements (LEEs) arranged to provide light; a light guide including a receiving end and an opposing end, the receiving end arranged to receive light provided by the LEEs, a core including a first transparent material with a first refractive index, the core having a pair of opposing side surfaces extending along a length of the light guide between the receiving and opposing ends, and a cladding including a second material having a second smaller refractive index, the cladding extending across and being in contact with at least a portion of the opposing side surfaces forming a cladding-core interface. The cladding-core interface is optically smooth. Additionally, the luminaire module includes an optical extractor arranged to receive guided light from the opposing end of the light guide and configured to output into the ambient environment at least some of the received guided light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Bretschneider, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Patent number: 11693174
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements (LEEs); a light guide extending in a forward direction from a first end to a second end to receive at the first end light emitted by the LEEs and to guide the received light to the second end; an optical extractor optically coupled to the second end to receive the guided light, the optical extractor including a redirecting surface to reflect a first portion of the guided light, the reflected light being output by the optical extractor in a backward angular range, and the redirecting surface having one or more transmissive portions to transmit a second portion of the guided light in the forward direction; and one or more optical elements optically coupled to the transmissive portions, the optical elements to modify the light transmitted through the transmissive portions and to output the modified light in a forward angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Allan Brent York, Hans Peter Stormberg, Louis Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl, Wilson Dau
  • Publication number: 20230184407
    Abstract: A luminaire includes multiple light-emitting elements (LEEs); a base supporting the LEEs; and a first wall and a second wall each extending along a first direction from a respective first end facing the LEEs to a respective second end. The first and second walls have light-reflective surfaces facing each other. In one or more cross-sectional planes parallel to the first direction, the light-reflective surfaces of the first and second walls have first portions that curve in opposite directions, second portions that are parallel, and third portions that curve in like directions. The first portions are arranged facing the LEEs to provide an input aperture that receives light from the LEEs. The third portions are arranged to provide an exit aperture that outputs output light into an ambient environment. The first and second walls are configured to propagate light from the input aperture to the exit aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Bretschneider, Louis Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Patent number: 11668445
    Abstract: A vehicle light includes a lighting unit with multiple light-emitting elements (LEEs), one or more couplers, a light guide and an extractor. The lighting unit has a curved elongate extension. Each of the couplers has an input aperture coupled with one or more of the LEEs and an exit aperture coupled with a first edge of the light guide and is configured to couple light from the LEEs into the light guide. The light guide is configured to propagate light via total internal reflection to a second edge of the light guide. The extractor has an input aperture coupled with the second edge of the light guide and an exit aperture configured to emit light into an ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Hans Peter Stormberg, Victor E. Isbrucker, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Patent number: 11561337
    Abstract: A luminaire module (100) includes light-emitting elements (LEEs) (110) arranged to provide light; a light guide (130) including a receiving end (131a) and an opposing end (131b), the receiving end (131a) arranged to receive light provided by the LEEs (110), a core (134) including a first transparent material with a first refractive index (n1), the core (134) having a pair of opposing side surfaces (132a, 132b) extending along a length of the light guide (130) between the receiving and opposing ends (131a, 131b), and a cladding (136) including a second material having a second smaller refractive index (n2), the cladding (136) extending across and being in contact with at least a portion of the opposing side surfaces (132a, 132b) forming a cladding-core interface. The cladding-core interface is optically smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Eric Bretschneider, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Publication number: 20220283356
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements (LEEs); a light guide extending in a forward direction from a first end to a second end to receive at the first end light emitted by the LEEs and to guide the received light to the second end; an optical extractor optically coupled to the second end to receive the guided light, the optical extractor including a redirecting surface to reflect a first portion of the guided light, the reflected light being output by the optical extractor in a backward angular range, and the redirecting surface having one or more transmissive portions to transmit a second portion of the guided light in the forward direction; and one or more optical elements optically coupled to the transmissive portions, the optical elements to modify the light transmitted through the transmissive portions and to output the modified light in a forward angular range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Allan Brent York, Hans Peter Stormberg, Louis Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl, Wilson Dau
  • Publication number: 20220228724
    Abstract: A plant growth lighting system includes a plant support and a light guide luminaire module, the plant support being configured to hold one or more plants. The light guide luminaire module includes at least one light-emitting element (LEE), a light guide arranged to receive light emitted by the at least one LEE at a first end of the light guide and guide the received light in a forward direction to a second end thereof, and an extractor arranged to receive light from the second end of the light guide and configured to output light. The light guide luminaire module is disposed relative to the plant support such that at least a portion of the light output by the extractor impinges on the plants in predetermined directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Allan Brent York, Louis Lerman, Hans Peter Stormberg, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Patent number: 11391438
    Abstract: A luminaire (100) includes a base (102) supporting multiple light-emitting elements (LEEs) (122); and a first wall (150-i) and a second wall (150-o) each extending along a first direction (101). The first and second walls (150-i, 150-o) have light-reflective surfaces facing each other and forming a hollow channel (152). The light-reflective surfaces have first portions (120) that curve in opposite directions, second portions (130) that are parallel, and third portions (140) that curve in like directions. The first portions (120) are arranged facing the LEEs (110) to provide an input aperture (122) that receives light from the LEEs (110). The third portions (140) are arranged to provide an exit aperture (142) that outputs output light into an ambient environment. The first and second walls (150-i, 150-o) are configured to propagate light from the input aperture (122) to the exit aperture (142).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Eric Bretschneider, Louis Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Publication number: 20220034463
    Abstract: A vehicle light includes a lighting unit with multiple light-emitting elements (LEEs), one or more couplers, a light guide and an extractor. The lighting unit has a curved elongate extension. Each of the couplers has an input aperture coupled with one or more of the LEEs and an exit aperture coupled with a first edge of the light guide and is configured to couple light from the LEEs into the light guide. The light guide is configured to propagate light via total internal reflection to a second edge of the light guide. The extractor has an input aperture coupled with the second edge of the light guide and an exit aperture configured to emit light into an ambient environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Hans Peter Stormberg, Victor E. Isbrucker, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Publication number: 20210405275
    Abstract: A solid-state luminaire module includes one or more light-emitting elements (LEEs) arranged to provide light; and a light guide including a receiving end arranged to receive the light provided by the LEEs and an opposing end, a pair of opposing side surfaces extending along a length of the light guide to guide the received light in a forward direction to the opposing end, and a redirecting end-face located at the opposing end and configured to reflect the guided light—that reaches the opposing end—back into the light guide as return light, such that substantially all the return light impinges on the pair of opposing side surfaces at incident angles larger than a critical incidence angle and transmits through the pair of opposing side surfaces into the ambient as output light of the luminaire module, the output light to propagate in backward directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Louis Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl, Allan Brent York
  • Publication number: 20210341129
    Abstract: A luminaire (100) includes a base (102) supporting multiple light-emitting elements (LEEs) (122); and a first wall (150-i) and a second wall (150-o) each extending along a first direction (101). The first and second walls (150-i, 150-o) have light-reflective surfaces facing each other and forming a hollow channel (152). The light-reflective surfaces have first portions (120) that curve in opposite directions, second portions (130) that are parallel, and third portions (140) that curve in like directions. The first portions (120) are arranged facing the LEEs (110) to provide an input aperture (122) that receives light from the LEEs (110). The third portions (140) are arranged to provide an exit aperture (142) that outputs output light into an ambient environment. The first and second walls (150-i, 150-o) are configured to propagate light from the input aperture (122) to the exit aperture (142).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Eric Bretschneider, Louis Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Patent number: 11150400
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements (LEEs); a light guide extending in a forward direction from a first end to a second end to receive at the first end light emitted by the LEEs and to guide the received light to the second end; an optical extractor optically coupled to the second end to receive the guided light, the optical extractor including a redirecting surface to reflect a first portion of the guided light, the reflected light being output by the optical extractor in a backward angular range, and the redirecting surface having one or more transmissive portions to transmit a second portion of the guided light in the forward direction; and one or more optical elements optically coupled to the transmissive portions, the optical elements to modify the light transmitted through the transmissive portions and to output the modified light in a forward angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Allan Brent York, Hans Peter Stormberg, Louis Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl, Wilson Dau
  • Patent number: 11102937
    Abstract: A plant growth lighting system (500) includes a plant support (503) and a light guide luminaire module (501), the plant support being configured to hold one or more plants (502). The light guide luminaire module includes at least one light-emitting element (LEE) (510), a light guide (511) arranged to receive light emitted by the at least one LEE at a first end of the light guide and guide the received light in a forward direction to a second end thereof, and an extractor (512) arranged to receive light from the second end of the light guide and configured to output light. The light guide luminaire module is disposed relative to the plant support such that at least a portion of the light output by the extractor impinges on the plants in predetermined directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Allan Brent York, Louis Lerman, Hans Peter Stormberg, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Publication number: 20210173138
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements (LEEs); a light guide extending in a forward direction from a first end to a second end to receive at the first end light emitted by the LEEs and to guide the received light to the second end; an optical extractor optically coupled to the second end to receive the guided light, the optical extractor including a redirecting surface to reflect a first portion of the guided light, the reflected light being output by the optical extractor in a backward angular range, and the redirecting surface having one or more transmissive portions to transmit a second portion of the guided light in the forward direction; and one or more optical elements optically coupled to the transmissive portions, the optical elements to modify the light transmitted through the transmissive portions and to output the modified light in a forward angular range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Allan Brent York, Hans Peter Stormberg, Louis Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl, Wilson Dau
  • Patent number: 10948150
    Abstract: A vehicle light includes a lighting unit (300) with multiple light-emitting elements (LEEs) (310), one or more couplers (320A,320B,320C), a light guide (300A,300B,300C) and an extractor (340A,340B,340C). The lighting unit has a curved elongate extension. Each of the couplers has an input aperture coupled with one or more of the LEEs and an exit aperture coupled with a first edge of the light guide and is configured to couple light from the LEEs into the light guide. The light guide is configured to propagate light via total internal reflection to a second edge of the light guide. The extractor has an input aperture coupled with the second edge of the light guide and an exit aperture configured to emit light into an ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Hans Peter Stormberg, Victor E. Isbrucker, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Publication number: 20210055472
    Abstract: A luminaire module (100) includes light-emitting elements (LEEs) (110) arranged to provide light; a light guide (130) including a receiving end (131a) and an opposing end (131b), the receiving end (131a) arranged to receive light provided by the LEEs (110), a core (134) including a first transparent material with a first refractive index (n1), the core (134) having a pair of opposing side surfaces (132a, 132b) extending along a length of the light guide (130) between the receiving and opposing ends (131a, 131b), and a cladding (136) including a second material having a second smaller refractive index (n2), the cladding (136) extending across and being in contact with at least a portion of the opposing side surfaces (132a, 132b) forming a cladding-core interface. The cladding-core interface is optically smooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Eric Bretschneider, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Publication number: 20200393109
    Abstract: A lighting device includes (1) one or more solid-state lighting (SSL) devices, (2) a thick, for example prism- or cylinder- or spherical- or dome-shaped scattering element, and (3) an optical extractor with a convex output surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Roland H. Haitz, Ferdinand Schinagl
  • Publication number: 20200374995
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a first light source and a second light source, the first and second light source operatively configured to provide amounts of light independently controllable during operation; and an optical system having an input aperture system and an output aperture system. The output aperture system is displaced by a predetermined distance along a forward direction from the input aperture system. The optical system is operatively coupled with the first and second light source and configured to direct light received at the input aperture system to the output aperture system. The output aperture system is configured to output light from the first light source in first directions and light from the second light source in second directions at least in part different from the first directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Eric Bretschneider, Louis Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl, Andrew Stuart Gladwin
  • Patent number: 10811576
    Abstract: A variety of light-emitting devices for general illumination utilizing solid state light sources (e.g., light-emitting diodes) are disclosed. A light-emitting device can include a first light-emitting element (LEE) for emitting light having a first spectral composition, a second LEE for emitting light having a second spectral composition, and a scattering element surrounding at least in part the first and second LEEs to scatter light emitted from the first and second LEEs. The light-emitting device can also include electrical connections for connecting the first and second LEEs to a power source, where the electrical connections are arranged such that power to the first LEE is separately adjustable relative to power to the second LEE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Hans Peter Stormberg, Roland H. Haitz, Ferdinand Schinagl