Patents by Inventor Michael Zoller
Michael Zoller 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).
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Patent number: 10429565Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an optic, which comprises a light pipe extending from a proximal end to a distal end about an optical axis, said light pipe being adapted to receive at its proximal end at least a portion of light emitted by a light source. The optic further comprises a central reflector optically coupled to said distal end of the light pipe for receiving at least a portion of the light transmitted through the light pipe and reflecting said received light, a peripheral reflector optically coupled to said central reflector for receiving at least a portion of said reflected light, and an output surface. The peripheral reflect is configured to redirect at least a portion of the light received from the central reflector to said output surface for exiting the optic.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Fraen CorporationInventors: James Preston, Brien J. Housand, Michael Zollers
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Publication number: 20190145605Abstract: In one aspect, an optical lens assembly (herein referred to also as an optic) is provided that comprises a plurality of lenses (or lens segments) adapted to receive light from a light source, each of said lenses (or lens segments) having an input surface and an output surface and a lateral surface extending between the input and output surfaces. The lenses are arranged relative to one another and positioned relative to the light source such that each of the lenses receives at its input surface a different portion of light emitted by the source, e.g., each lens receives at its input surface light emitted by the source into an angular subtense (solid angle) different than an angular subtense associated with another lens. Each lens (or lens segment) guides at least a portion of the received light to its output surface via reflection, e.g., via total internal reflection (TIR).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Applicant: FRAEN CORPORATIONInventors: James Preston, Brien Housand, Michael Zollers
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Publication number: 20180195686Abstract: In one aspect, an optical lens assembly (herein referred to also as an optic) is provided that comprises a plurality of lenses (or lens segments) adapted to receive light from a light source, each of said lenses (or lens segments) having an input surface and an output surface and a lateral surface extending between the input and output surfaces. The lenses are arranged relative to one another and positioned relative to the light source such that each of the lenses receives at its input surface a different portion of light emitted by the source, e.g., each lens receives at its input surface light emitted by the source into an angular subtense (solid angle) different than an angular subtense associated with another lens. Each lens (or lens segment) guides at least a portion of the received light to its output surface via reflection, e.g., via total internal reflection (TIR).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Applicant: FRAEN CORPORATIONInventors: James Preston, Brien Housand, Michael Zollers
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Patent number: 9890926Abstract: In one aspect, an optical lens assembly (herein referred to also as an optic) is provided that comprises a plurality of lenses (or lens segments) adapted to receive light from a light source, each of said lenses (or lens segments) having an input surface and an output surface and a lateral surface extending between the input and output surfaces. The lenses are arranged relative to one another and positioned relative to the light source such that each of the lenses receives at its input surface a different portion of light emitted by the source, e.g., each lens receives at its input surface light emitted by the source into an angular subtense (solid angle) different than an angular subtense associated with another lens. Each lens (or lens segment) guides at least a portion of the received light to its output surface via reflection, e.g., via total internal reflection (TIR).Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2013Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Fraen CorporationInventors: James Preston, Brien Housand, Michael Zollers
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Publication number: 20170357046Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an optic, which comprises a light pipe extending from a proximal end to a distal end about an optical axis, said light pipe being adapted to receive at its proximal end at least a portion of light emitted by a light source. The optic further comprises a central reflector optically coupled to said distal end of the light pipe for receiving at least a portion of the light transmitted through the light pipe and reflecting said received light, a peripheral reflector optically coupled to said central reflector for receiving at least a portion of said reflected light, and an output surface. The peripheral reflect is configured to redirect at least a portion of the light received from the central reflector to said output surface for exiting the optic.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: James Preston, Brien J. Housand, Michael Zollers
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Patent number: 9746596Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an optic, which comprises a light pipe extending from a proximal end to a distal end about an optical axis, said light pipe being adapted to receive at its proximal end at least a portion of light emitted by a light source. The optic further comprises a central reflector optically coupled to said distal end of the light pipe for receiving at least a portion of the light transmitted through the light pipe and reflecting said received light, a peripheral reflector optically coupled to said central reflector for receiving at least a portion of said reflected light, and an output surface. The peripheral reflector is configured to redirect at least a portion of the light received from the central reflector to said output surface for exiting the optic.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Fraen CorporationInventors: James Preston, Brien J. Housand, Michael Zollers
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Patent number: 9255688Abstract: In some aspects, an optic is disclosed that includes a light input interface having a rippled surface that can mix the light incident thereon as the light propagates within the optic from the rippled surface to a peripheral surface of the optic, which is configured to redirect the light incident thereon to an output surface through which the light exits the optic.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2013Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Fraen CorporationInventors: Michael Zollers, James Preston, Brien J. Housand
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Publication number: 20150285980Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an optic, which comprises a light pipe extending from a proximal end to a distal end about an optical axis, said light pipe being adapted to receive at its proximal end at least a portion of light emitted by a light source. The optic further comprises a central reflector optically coupled to said distal end of the light pipe for receiving at least a portion of the light transmitted through the light pipe and reflecting said received light, a peripheral reflector optically coupled to said central reflector for receiving at least a portion of said reflected light, and an output surface. The peripheral reflector is con figured to redirect at least a portion of the light received from the central reflector to said output surface for exiting the optic.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2013Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: James Preston, Brien J. Housand, Michael Zollers
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Patent number: 9146016Abstract: Optics and optical devices and systems are disclosed that employ a plurality of refractive and/or reflective optical elements, such as lenses and mirrors, with different shapes to achieve a desired illumination pattern. In various aspects, a plurality of lenses in which at least two of the lenses have different boundary shapes are arranged, e.g., according to a predefined pattern, to receive light from one or more light sources and to redirect the received light to form collectively a desired far-field illumination pattern. For example, the lenses can be configured such that the far-field illumination pattern has a boundary shape that is different from the boundary shape of a far-field illumination pattern that can be provided individually by the lenses.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Fraen CorporationInventors: Michael Zollers, James Preston, Brien J. Housand
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Publication number: 20140036510Abstract: In one aspect, an optical lens assembly (herein referred to also as an optic) is provided that comprises a plurality of lenses (or lens segments) adapted to receive light from a light source, each of said lenses (or lens segments) having an input surface and an output surface and a lateral surface extending between the input and output surfaces. The lenses are arranged relative to one another and positioned relative to the light source such that each of the lenses receives at its input surface a different portion of light emitted by the source, e.g., each lens receives at its input surface light emitted by the source into an angular subtense (solid angle) different than an angular subtense associated with another lens. Each lens (or lens segment) guides at least a portion of the received light to its output surface via reflection, e.g., via total internal reflection (TIR).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: FRAEN CORPORATIONInventors: James Preston, Brien Housand, Michael Zollers
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Publication number: 20130286662Abstract: Optics and optical devices and systems are disclosed that employ a plurality of refractive and/or reflective optical elements, such as lenses and mirrors, with different shapes to achieve a desired illumination pattern. In various aspects, a plurality of lenses in which at least two of the lenses have different boundary shapes are arranged, e.g., according to a predefined pattern, to receive light from one or more light sources and to redirect the received light to form collectively a desired far-field illumination pattern. For example, the lenses can be configured such that the far-field illumination pattern has a boundary shape that is different from the boundary shape of a far-field illumination pattern that can be provided individually by the lenses.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: Michael Zollers, James Preston, Brien J. Housand
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Publication number: 20130265777Abstract: In some aspects, an optic is disclosed that includes a light input interface having a rippled surface that can mix the light incident thereon as the light propagates within the optic from the rippled surface to a peripheral surface of the optic, which is configured to redirect the light incident thereon to an output surface through which the light exits the optic.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: FRAEN CORPORATIONInventors: Michael Zollers, James Preston, Brien Zollers
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Publication number: 20050067555Abstract: A standalone gradient detector system, utilizing a gradient detector with a several photodetectors, is disclosed. A lamp emits light toward a screen. The light strikes the photodetectors on a photodector array, which communicate the light intensity to a gradient circuit. The gradient circuit compares the intensity values from each photodetector with the intensity value for the photodetector immediately adjacent, and computes a gradient value. The maximum gradient value is displayed using a display device, and the position of the photodetector with the maximum gradient value is indicated by an adjacent light source. The gradient of an automobile headlamp may thus be found easily, assisting in headlamp positioning during headlamp and vehicle manufacture.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2003Publication date: March 31, 2005Applicant: Guide Corporation, A Delaware CorporationInventors: James Roberts, Michael Zollers, Bo Stout
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Publication number: 20050030759Abstract: An automotive lamp assembly includes a light source and a hyperbolic reflector positioned to reflect light from the light source. A bifocal lens is positioned in front of the light source and hyperbolic reflector such that it receives light emitted from the light source and light reflected off the reflector. The bifocal lens includes a first portion having a focal point at the light source and a second portion having a focal point at a virtual focus of the reflector. When the light source is energized and emits light, direct light from the light source strikes the first portion of the lens and collimates the light substantially parallel to the optical axis. Light from the reflector strikes the second portion of the lens and is collimated substantially parallel to the optical axis. Altogether, the light passing through the bifocal lens provides a desirable light beam for an automotive vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2003Publication date: February 10, 2005Applicant: Guide CorporationInventor: Michael Zollers
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Patent number: 6103335Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for padding corners of, for example, equipment housings. The device has two arms joined to each other at an angle and cheeks. The cheeks are fitted to the outside of the arms. To enable a device of this kind to be used in a variety of applications, i.e., over a wide range of housing sizes, and still remain firmly in place, each arm of the device has a honeycomblike structure designed so that it can be stretched in the lateral direction of the device.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1997Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Storopack Hans Reichenecker GmbH + Co.Inventors: Michael Zoller, Heiko Hummel, Volker Schumacher