Patents by Inventor Theodore Lowes
Theodore Lowes 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: 9057511Abstract: Solid state lamps and bulbs comprising different combinations and arrangements of a light source, one or more wavelength conversion materials, regions or layers which are positioned separately or remotely with respect to the light source, and a separate diffuser. These are arranged on a heat sink in a manner that allows for the fabrication of lamps and bulbs that are efficient, reliable and cost effective and can provide an essentially omni-directional emission pattern, even with a light source comprised of a co-planar arrangement of LEDs. Additionally, this arrangement allows aesthetic masking or concealment of the appearance of the conversion regions or layers when the lamp is not illuminated. Various embodiments of the invention may be used to address many of the difficulties associated with utilizing efficient solid state light sources such as LEDs in the fabrication of lamps or bulbs suitable for direct replacement of traditional incandescent bulbs.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2011Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventors: Long Larry Le, Ronan Letoquin, Bernd Keller, Eric Tarsa, Paul Pickard, James Michael Lay, Tao Tong, Mark Youmans, Theodore Lowes, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., Antony Van De Ven, Gerald Negley
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Patent number: 9048396Abstract: LED packages are disclosed that are compact and efficiently emit light, and can comprise encapsulants with planar surfaces that refract and/or reflect light within the package encapsulant. The packages can comprise a submount with one or more LEDs, and a blanket conversion material layer on the LEDs and the submount. The encapsulant can be on the submount, over the LEDs, and light reflected within the encapsulant will reach the conversion material, where it is absorbed and emitted omnidirectionally. Reflected light can now escape the encapsulant, allowing for efficient emission and a broader emission profile, when compared to conventional packages with hemispheric encapsulants or lenses. In certain embodiments, the LED package provides a higher chip area to LED package area ratio. By using an encapsulant with planar surfaces, the LED package can provide unique dimensional relationships between the various features and the LED package ratios, enabling more flexibility with different applications.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventors: Theodore Lowes, Eric J. Tarsa, Sten Heikman, Bernd Keller, Jesse Reiherzer, Hormoz Benjamin
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Patent number: 9012938Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for producing light emitting devices maximizing luminous flux output are disclosed. In one possible embodiment, a light emitting device comprises a substrate and a reflective layer at least partially covering the substrate. The reflective layer is non-yellowing, and may be substantially light transparent. One or more light emitting diode (LED) chips are disposed on the substrate. The light emitting device may emit white light. The reflective layer may comprise a silicone carrier with light reflective particles dispersed in the silicone carrier. A light diffusion lens may also be disposed on the substrate and surrounding the LED chips. Furthermore, one or more microspheres, light scattering particles, and/or phosphor particles may be dispersed in the lens. In one possible method for producing a light emitting device, a substrate is provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2010Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Cheng-Hsin Yuan, Bernd Keller, Ronan Le Toquin, Theodore Lowes
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Publication number: 20140367713Abstract: Light emitting diodes are disclosed that utilize multiple conversion materials in the conversion process in order to achieve the desired emission color point. Different embodiments of the present invention can comprise different phosphor types in separate layers on, above or around one or a plurality of LED chips to achieve the desired light conversion. The LEDs can then emit a desired combination of light from the LED chips and conversion material. In some embodiments, conversion materials can be applied as layers of different phosphor types in order of longest emission wavelength phosphor first, followed by shorter emission phosphors in sequence as opposed to applying in a homogeneously mixed phosphor converter. The conversion material layers can be applied as a blanket over the LED chips and the area surrounding the chip, such as the surface of a submount holding the LED chips.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: FAN ZHANG, James IBBETSON, Bernd KELLER, Theodore LOWES, Antony VAN DE VEN, Deborah KIRCHER, Tao GILBERT
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LED lamp or bulb with remote phosphor and diffuser configuration with enhanced scattering properties
Patent number: 8882284Abstract: An LED lamp or bulb is disclosed that comprises a light source, a heat sink structure and an optical cavity. The optical cavity comprises a phosphor carrier having a conversions material and arranged over an opening to the cavity. The phosphor carrier comprises a thermally conductive transparent material and is thermally coupled to the heat sink structure. An LED based light source is mounted in the optical cavity remote to the phosphor carrier with light from the light source passing through the phosphor carrier. A diffuser dome is included that is mounted over the optical cavity, with light from the optical cavity passing through the diffuser dome. The properties of the diffuser, such as geometry, scattering properties of the scattering layer, surface roughness or smoothness, and spatial distribution of the scattering layer properties may be used to control various lamp properties such as color uniformity and light intensity distribution as a function of viewing angle.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventors: Tao Tong, Ronan Le Toquin, Bernd Keller, Eric Tarsa, Mark Youmans, Theodore Lowes, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., Antony Van De Ven, Gerald Negley -
Publication number: 20140003048Abstract: LED based lamps and bulbs are disclosed that comprise a pedestal having a plurality of LEDs, wherein the pedestal at least partially comprises a thermally conductive material. A heat sink structure is included with the pedestal thermally coupled to the heat sink structure. A remote phosphor is arranged in relation to the LEDs so that at least some light from the LEDs passes through the remote phosphor and is converted to a different wavelength of light. Some lamp or bulb embodiments can emit a white light combination of light from the LEDs and the remote phosphor. These can include LEDs emitting blue light with the remote phosphor having a material that absorbs blue light and emits yellow or green light. A diffuser can be included to diffuse the emitting light into the desired pattern, such as omnidirectional.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: Cree, Inc.Inventors: Tao Tong, Ronan LeToquin, Bernd Keller, Theodore Lowes, Eric Tarsa, Mark Youmans
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Publication number: 20130329425Abstract: LED packages are disclosed that are compact and efficiently emit light, and can comprise encapsulants with planar surfaces that refract and/or reflect light within the package encapsulant. The packages can comprise a submount with one or more LEDs, and a blanket conversion material layer on the LEDs and the submount. The encapsulant can be on the submount, over the LEDs, and light reflected within the encapsulant will reach the conversion material, where it is absorbed and emitted omnidirectionally. Reflected light can now escape the encapsulant, allowing for efficient emission and a broader emission profile, when compared to conventional packages with hemispheric encapsulants or lenses. In certain embodiments, the LED package provides a higher chip area to LED package area ratio. By using an encapsulant with planar surfaces, the LED package can provide unique dimensional relationships between the various features and the LED package ratios, enabling more flexibility with different applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: CREE, INC.Inventors: THEODORE LOWES, ERIC J. TARSA, STEN HEIKMAN, BERND KELLER, JESSE REIHERZER, HORMOZ BENJAMIN
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Publication number: 20130329429Abstract: LED packages are disclosed having encapsulants which can have at least one reflective surface. Due to the reflection of light, the encapsulant can serve as a mixing chamber and thus can produce light of a more uniform color. The encapsulant can take many different shapes, including that of a cylinder and that of a rectangular prism. Encapsulants can also include scatterers to further mix the light.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2013Publication date: December 12, 2013Inventors: Theodore Lowes, Deborah Kircher
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Publication number: 20130328073Abstract: LED packages are disclosed that are compact and efficiently emit light, and can comprise encapsulants with planar surfaces that refract and/or reflect light within the package encapsulant. The packages can comprise a submount with a plurality of LEDs, which emit different colors of light, and a blanket conversion material layer on the LEDs and the submount. The encapsulant can be on the submount, over the LEDs, and light reflected within the encapsulant will reach the conversion material to be absorbed and emitted omnidirectionally. Reflected light can now escape the encapsulant, allowing for efficient emission and a broader emission profile, when compared to conventional packages with hemispheric encapsulants or lenses. The LED package can have a higher chip area to LED package area ratio. By using an encapsulant with planar surfaces, the LED package provides unique dimensional relationships between the features and LED package ratios, enabling more flexibility with different applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: CREE, INC.Inventors: THEODORE LOWES, Eric J. Tarsa, Sten Heikman, Bernd Keller, Jesse Reiherzer, Hormoz Benjamin
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Publication number: 20130328074Abstract: LED packages are disclosed that are compact and efficiently emit light, and can comprise encapsulants with planar surfaces that refract and/or reflect light within the package encapsulant. The packages can comprise a submount with one or a plurality of LEDs. In packages with a plurality of LEDs, each LED can emit the same or different wavelengths of light. A blanket conversion material layer can be included on at least some of the LEDs and the submount. The encapsulant with planar surfaces can be on the submount, over at least some of the LEDs, with the planar surfaces causing total internal reflection of light within the package. TIR light within the encapsulant can reach the conversion material, where it can be absorbed and emitted omnidirectionally. TIR light can now escape from the encapsulant and allow for efficient emission and a broader emission profile when compared to conventional packages with hemispheric encapsulants.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2013Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: CREE, INC.Inventors: THEODORE LOWES, ERIC TARSA, STEN HEIKMAN, BERND KELLER, JESSE REIHERZER, HORMOZ BENJAMIN
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Patent number: 8562161Abstract: LED based lamps and bulbs are disclosed that comprise a pedestal having a plurality of LEDs, wherein the pedestal at least partially comprises a thermally conductive material. A heat sink structure is included with the pedestal thermally coupled to the heat sink structure. A remote phosphor is arranged in relation to the LEDs so that at least some light from the LEDs passes through the remote phosphor and is converted to a different wavelength of light. Some lamp or bulb embodiments can emit a white light combination of light from the LEDs and the remote phosphor. These can include LEDs emitting blue light with the remote phosphor having a material that absorbs blue light and emits yellow or green light. A diffuser can be included to diffuse the emitting light into the desired pattern, such as omnidirectional.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventors: Tao Tong, Ronan Letoquin, Bernd Keller, Theodore Lowes, Eric Tarsa, Mark Youmans
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Publication number: 20130270581Abstract: Light emitter packages having multiple light emitter chips, such as light emitting diode (LED) chips, and related methods are provided. In one aspect, a light emitter package can include a submount, an array of light emitter chips disposed on a portion of the submount, and a lens provided over the submount and covering at least portions of the array. In some aspects, at least some of the light emitter chips can be adapted to emit light of a first dominant wavelength. In further aspects, at least some other light emitter chips are adapted to emit light of a second dominant wavelength that is different than the first dominant wavelength. In some aspects, the lens can be asymmetric. In some aspects, a collective center of the chips, or a center of an array of chips can be offset from a center of the asymmetric lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: October 17, 2013Inventors: Theodore Lowes, Bernd P. Keller
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Publication number: 20130256710Abstract: Light emitter packages having multiple light emitter chips, such as light emitting diode (LED) chips, and related methods are provided. In one embodiment, a light emitter package can include a ceramic submount. An array of light emitter chips can be disposed over a portion of the submount, and each light emitter chip can include a horizontal chip structure having positive and negative electrical contacts disposed on a same side. The positive and negative electrical contacts can be adapted to electrically communicate to conductive portions of the submount. Light emitter packages can further include a lens overmolded on the submount and covering a portion of the array.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Inventors: Peter S. Andrews, Kurt S. Wilcox, Theodore Lowes, Bernd P. Keller
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Publication number: 20130092960Abstract: A light-emitting device comprising (a) a submount having front and back sides and including a ceramic layer; (b) an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the front side; and (c) a lens overmolded on the submount and covering the LED array. In some embodiments, the submount comprises at least two electrically-conductive contact pads on the front side, and each LED in the array is secured with respect to one of the contact pads.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: RUUD LIGHTING, INC.Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Bernd Keller, Theodore Lowes, Peter S. Andrews
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Publication number: 20120235190Abstract: Emitter packages are disclosed having a thixotropic agent or material, with the encapsulant exhibiting significant reduction of thixotropic agent scattering. The packages exhibit a corresponding reduction or elimination of encapsulant clouding and increased package emission efficiency. This allows for the thixotropic agents to be included in the encapsulant to alter certain properties (e.g. mechanical or thermal) while not significantly altering the optical properties of the encapsulant. One embodiment of a light emitting diode (LED) package according to the present invention comprises an LED chip with an encapsulant over the LED chip. The encapsulant has an encapsulant refractive index and also has a thixotropic material with a refractive index that is substantially the same as the encapsulant refractive index.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2011Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventors: BERND KELLER, Theodore Lowes
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Publication number: 20120057327Abstract: Solid state lamps and bulbs comprising different combinations and arrangements of a light source, one or more wavelength conversion materials, regions or layers which are positioned separately or remotely with respect to the light source, and a separate diffuser. These are arranged on a heat sink in a manner that allows for the fabrication of lamps and bulbs that are efficient, reliable and cost effective and can provide an essentially omni-directional emission pattern, even with a light source comprised of a co-planar arrangement of LEDs. Additionally, this arrangement allows aesthetic masking or concealment of the appearance of the conversion regions or layers when the lamp is not illuminated. Various embodiments of the invention may be used to address many of the difficulties associated with utilizing efficient solid state light sources such as LEDs in the fabrication of lamps or bulbs suitable for direct replacement of traditional incandescent bulbs.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Inventors: LONG LARRY LE, Ronan Letoquin, Bernd Keller, Eric Tarsa, Paul Pickard, James Michael Lay, Tao Tong, Mark Youmans, Theodore Lowes, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR., Antony Van de Ven, Gerald Negley
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Patent number: D654193Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2010Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Cree. Inc.Inventors: Tao Tong, Ronan Letoquin, Bernd Keller, Eric Tarsa, Mark Youmans, Theodore Lowes, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., Antony Van De Ven, Gerald Negley, Zongjie Yuan
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Patent number: D711840Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventors: Theodore Lowes, Eric J. Tarsa, Sten Heikman, Bernd Keller, John A. Edmond, Jesse Reiherzer, Hormoz Benjamin
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Patent number: D718258Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventors: Theodore Lowes, Eric J. Tarsa, Sten Heikman, Bernd Keller, John A. Edmond, Jesse Reiherzer, Hormoz Benjamin, Christopher P. Hussell
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Patent number: D725613Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Cree, Inc.Inventors: Theodore Lowes, Eric J. Tarsa, Sten Heikman, Bernd Keller, John A. Edmond, Jesse Reiherzer, Hormoz Benjamin