Patents by Inventor Gerald H. Negley

Gerald H. Negley 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: 9084328
    Abstract: A lighting device comprising first and second groups of solid state light emitters, which emit light having wavelength in ranges of from 430 nm to 480 nm and from 600 nm to 630 nm, respectively, and a first group of lumiphors which emit light having dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm. If current is supplied to a power line, a combination of (1) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the first group of emitters, and (2) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the first group of lumiphors would, in an absence of any additional light, produce a sub-mixture of light having x, y color coordinates within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by points having coordinates (0.32, 0.40), (0.36, 0.48), (0.43, 0.45), (0.42, 0.42), (0.36, 0.38). Also provided is a method of lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald H. Negley, Antony Paul Van De Ven
  • Patent number: 9074737
    Abstract: LED lighting systems operate their LED above a junction temperature of 85° C. and space apart from the LED, components of the LED lighting system that reduce an expected lifetime of the LED lighting system to less than 25,000 hours as a result of operating the LED above the junction temperature of 85° C. Accordingly, the LED itself may be driven hotter than is conventionally the case, without impacting its lifetime. By allowing the LED to operate hotter, reduced heat sinking may be needed for the LED itself, which can decrease the cost, size and/or complexity of the thermal management system for the LED lighting system and/or can allow a thermal budget for the LED lighting system to be used elsewhere. Related structures are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Antony P. van de Ven, Gerald H. Negley
  • Patent number: 9052093
    Abstract: A lamp has an optically transmissive enclosure and a base. At least one LED is located in the enclosure and are operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base. A heat sink comprises a heat dissipating portion having a first part that is located inside of the enclosure and that is thermally coupled to the LED and a second part that is exposed to the ambient environment. The second part comprises a plurality of stems connected to the first part where each stem supports a first overhang that extends over a portion of the enclosure and a second overhang that extends over a portion of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Pickard, Bart P. Reier, Curt Progl, Gerald H. Negley
  • Patent number: 9030120
    Abstract: A lamp comprising a solid state light emitter, the lamp being an A lamp and providing a wall plug efficiency of at least 90 lumens per watt. Also, a lamp comprising a solid state light emitter and a power supply, the emitter being mounted on a heat dissipation element, the dissipation element being spaced from the power supply. Also, a lamp, comprising a solid state light emitter and a heat dissipation element that has a heat dissipation chamber, whereby an ambient medium can enter the chamber, pass through the chamber, and exit. Also, a lamp, comprising a light emissive housing at least one solid state lighting emitter and a first heat dissipation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Pickard, Gerald H. Negley, Antony Paul Van De Ven
  • Patent number: 8998444
    Abstract: A solid state lighting apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) including at least a first LED and a second LED. Chromaticities of the first and second LEDs are selected so that a combined light generated by a mixture of light from the pair of LEDs has about a target chromaticity. The first LED may include a first LED chip that emits light in the blue portion of the visible spectrum and a phosphor that emits red light in response to blue light emitted by the first LED chip. The second LED emits light having a color point that is above the planckian locus of a 1931 CIE Chromaticity diagram, and in particular may have a yellow green, greenish yellow or green hue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: John Roberts, Gerald H. Negley, Antony P. van de Ven, Arpan Chakraborty, Bernd Keller, Ronan P. Le Toquin
  • Patent number: 8994045
    Abstract: A lighting device comprising a light emitter chip, a reflective cup and a lumiphor positioned between the chip and the cup. Also, a lighting device comprising a light emitter chip, a wire bonded to a first surface of the chip and a lumiphor which faces a second surface of the chip. Also, a lighting device comprising a light emitter chip, and a lumiphor, a first surface of the chip facing a first region of the lumiphor, a second surface of the chip facing a second region of the lumiphor. Also, a lighting device comprising a light emitter chip and first and second lumiphors, a first surface of the chip facing the second lumiphor, a second surface of the chip facing the first lumiphor. Also, methods of making lighting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald H. Negley
  • Patent number: 8981677
    Abstract: A lighting device comprises groups of solid state light emitters, a sensor and circuitry. If the emitters are illuminated, the sensor is exposed to combined light from the groups, and senses only a portion of the combined light. The circuitry adjusts current applied to at least one of the emitters based on an intensity of the light sensed. Also, a device comprising emitters, a circuit board and a sensor, at least one of the emitters being positioned on the first circuit board and the sensor being spaced from the circuit board. Also, a lighting device comprising emitters, a sensor, and circuitry which adjusts current applied an emitters based on detection by the first sensor, the circuitry comprising a differential amplifier circuit. Also, a lighting device, comprising light emitters and circuitry which adjusts current applied to only some of the emitters based on ambient temperature. Also, methods of lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Jay Myers, Michael Harris, Gerald H. Negley
  • Patent number: 8946755
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes an active region that is configured to emit light responsive to a voltage applied thereto. A first encapsulation layer at least partially encapsulates the active region and includes a matrix material and nanoparticles, which modify at least one physical property of the first encapsulation layer. A second encapsulation layer at least partially encapsulates the first encapsulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald H. Negley, Eric Tarsa
  • Patent number: 8932886
    Abstract: A light emitting die package and a method of manufacturing the die package are disclosed. The die package includes a leadframe, at least one light emitting device (LED), a molded body, and a lens. The leadframe includes a plurality of leads and has a top side and a bottom side. A portion of the leadframe defines a mounting pad. The LED device is mounted on the mounting pad. The molded body is integrated with portions of the leadframe and defines an opening on the top side of the leadframe, the opening surrounding the mounting pad. The molded body further includes latches on the bottom side of the leadframe. The lens is coupled to the molded body. A composite lens is used as both reflector and imaging tool to collect and direct light emitted by LED(s) for desired spectral and luminous performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Ban P. Loh, Gerald H. Negley
  • Patent number: 8921876
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a semiconductor light emitting device (LED) configured to emit light having a first peak wavelength upon the application of a voltage thereto, an element in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the LED, and a pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions on a surface of, or within, the element. The lumiphor-containing regions are configured to receive light emitted by the LED and convert at least a portion of the received light to light having a longer wavelength than the first peak wavelength. The remote element may be a lens, a reflective element, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Antony P. van de Ven, Gerald H. Negley
  • Patent number: 8919975
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to lighting device configurations that render colors well and provide high quality white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Antony Paul van de Ven, Gerald H Negley
  • Publication number: 20140368117
    Abstract: Lighting devices comprising first, second and third strings of solid state lighting devices. One aspect further comprises means for supplying first fixed current through the first string, means for supplying second fixed current through the second string, and means for supplying current through the third string. In a second aspect, the first and second strings emit light within a specific area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, and the third string emits light of dominant wavelength 600-640 nm. A third aspect further comprises a power line and a power supply configured to supply a first and second fixed currents through the first and second strings, respectively, and supply a current to the third string. A method of making a lighting device, comprising measuring color output, adjusting current to first, second and/or third strings, and permanently setting currents to the first and second strings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gerald H. NEGLEY, Antony Paul VAN DE VEN, Kenneth R. BYRD, Peter J. MYERS, Michael HARRIS
  • Publication number: 20140362582
    Abstract: A heat pipe configured to transfer heat from a central portion of a lighting device to an edge portion of the lighting device, the heat pipe comprising one region which extends along a portion of a diameter of a substantially circular, substantially annular shape and another region that extends along a diameter of the shape. Also, a lighting device comprising a housing, a reflector, a light emitter and a heat pipe as described above. Also, a self ballasted lamp comprising a solid state light source, an electrical connector, an AC power supply, a reflector configured to receive light from the source and emit reflected light from an aperture, and a thermal management system. Also, a lighting device, comprising a housing, a reflector, a light emitter comprising an array of solid state light emitters, a heat pipe and a sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Antony Paul VAN DE VEN, Gerald H. Negley
  • Patent number: 8901829
    Abstract: A solid state lighting apparatus according to some embodiments includes a circuit including a plurality of light emitting devices, and a configurable shunt configured to bypass at least some current around at least one light emitting device of the plurality of light emitting devices. The configurable shunt may include, for example, a tunable resistor, a fuse, a switch, a thermistor, and/or a variable resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Cree LED Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Antony P. van de Ven, Gerald H. Negley
  • Patent number: 8896197
    Abstract: A lighting device comprising first and second groups of non-white light sources emitting light outside a first area on a 1976 CIE Chromaticity Diagram bounded by a curves 0.01 u?v? above and below the blackbody locus and within a second area enclosed by saturated light curves from 430 to 465 nm and from 560 to 580 nm and segments from 465 to 560 nm and from 580 to 430 nm and a supplemental light emitter in the range of 600 to 640 nm. Also, a lighting device, comprising a first string of non-white phosphor converted light sources with excitation sources having dominant wavelengths that differ by at least 5 nm, a second string of non-white light sources, and a third string of supplemental light emitters in the range of 600 to 640 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald H. Negley, Antony Paul Van De Ven
  • Patent number: 8896005
    Abstract: A lighting device, comprising a solid state light emitter and a removable encapsulant element. A lighting device element, comprising a solid state light emitter and an encapsulant holding element configured to releasably hold a removable encapsulant element. A lighting device component, comprising a removable encapsulant element. A method, comprising removing a first removable encapsulant element from a lighting device that comprises at least a first solid state light emitter and inserting a second removable encapsulant element into the lighting device. An encapsulant element comprising a substantially transparent first material and a luminescent material within the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Antony Paul Van De Ven, Gerald H. Negley
  • Patent number: 8884508
    Abstract: A solid state lighting device includes a solid state light emitter combined with a lumiphor to form a solid state light emitting component, at least one lumiphor spatially segregated from the light emitting component, and another lumiphor and/or solid state light emitter. The solid state light emitting component may include a blue shifted yellow component with a higher color temperature, but in combination with the other elements the aggregated emissions from the lighting device have a lower color temperature. Multiple white or near-white components may be provided and arranged to stimulate one or more lumiphors spatially segregated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Pickard, Gerald H. Negley
  • Patent number: 8878429
    Abstract: A lighting device comprising sources of visible light comprising solid state light emitters and/or luminescent materials emitting three or four different hues. A first group of the sources, when illuminated, emit light of two hues which, if combined, would produce illumination having coordinates within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by points having coordinates: 0.59, 0.24; 0.40, 0.50; 0.24, 0.53; 0.17, 0.25; and 0.30, 0.12. A second group of the sources is of an additional hue. Mixing light from the first and second groups produces illumination within ten MacAdam ellipses of the blackbody locus. Also, a lighting device comprising a white light source having a CRI of 75 or less and at least one solid state light emitters and/or luminescent material. Also, methods of lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Antony Paul Van De Ven, Gerald H. Negley
  • Patent number: 8866410
    Abstract: Lighting devices comprising first, second and third strings of solid state lighting devices. One aspect further comprises means for supplying first fixed current through the first string, means for supplying second fixed current through the second string, and means for supplying current through the third string. In a second aspect, the first and second strings emit light within a specific area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, and the third string emits light of dominant wavelength 600-640 nm. A third aspect further comprises a power line and a power supply configured to supply a first and second fixed currents through the first and second strings, respectively, and supply a current to the third string. A method of making a lighting device, comprising measuring color output, adjusting current to first, second and/or third strings, and permanently setting currents to the first and second strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald H. Negley, Antony Paul Van De Ven, Kenneth R. Byrd, Peter J. Myers, Michael Harris
  • Patent number: 8858032
    Abstract: A heat pipe configured to transfer heat from a central portion of a lighting device to an edge portion of the lighting device, the heat pipe comprising one region which extends along a portion of a diameter of a substantially circular, substantially annular shape and another region that extends along a diameter of the shape. Also, a lighting device comprising a housing, a reflector, a light emitter and a heat pipe as described above. Also, a self ballasted lamp comprising a solid state light source, an electrical connector, an AC power supply, a reflector configured to receive light from the source and emit reflected light from an aperture, and a thermal management system. Also, a lighting device, comprising a housing, a reflector, a light emitter comprising an array of solid state light emitters, a heat pipe and a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Antony Paul Van De Ven, Gerald H. Negley