Patents Assigned to Quarkstar LLC
-
Patent number: 9488323Abstract: In one embodiment, an LED lamp has a generally bulb shape. The LEDs are low power types and axe encapsulated in thin, narrow, flexible strips. The LEDs are connected in series in the strips to drop a desired voltage. The strips are affixed to the outer surface of a bulb form to provide structure to the lamp. The strips are connected in parallel to a power supply, which may be housed in the lamp. Since many low power LEDs are used and are spread out over a large surface area, there is no need for a large metal heat sink. Further, the light emission is similar to that of an incandescent bulb. In other embodiment, there is no bulb form and the strips are bendable to have a variety of shapes. In another embodiment, a light sheet is bent to provide 360 degrees of light emission. Many other embodiments are described.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Robert V. Steele, Louis Lerman, Allan Brent York, Wilson Dau, Jacqueline Teng, George Lerman
-
Patent number: 9459398Abstract: An illumination device includes a light source configured to emit, during operation, light with a prevalent direction of propagation different from a direction of an optical axis of the illumination device; and an optical coupler including a transparent material, the optical coupler having an input aperture, an exit aperture and a first side surface and a second side surface arranged between the input aperture and the exit aperture, the exit aperture being centered on the optical axis of the illumination device. The optical coupler receives the emitted light through the input aperture from the light source. Further, the first side surface and the second side surface redirect the received light via total internal reflection (TIR) to the exit aperture. Additionally, the redirected light is issued through the exit aperture.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventor: Ferdinand Schinagl
-
Patent number: 9420664Abstract: A light emitting device includes a light emitting diode (LED); a transparent optic having a refractive index noptic; and a phosphor layer spaced apart from the LED and positioned between the LED and the transparent optic. The phosphor layer has an effective refractive index nphosphor, where a gap between the LED and the phosphor layer has a refractive index ngap that is less than nphosphor. The transparent optic has an inner convex surface in contact with the phosphor layer. The inner convex surface has an inner radius of curvature r; and an outer convex surface facing away from the phosphor layer and being a surface through which the light emitting device emits light into a medium adjacent the outer convex surface. The medium has a refractive index nmedium. The outer convex surface has an outer radius of curvature R, such that r/R is equal to nmedium/noptic.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Steven C. Allen, Andrew J. Steckl
-
Patent number: 9410680Abstract: Illumination devices with adjustable optical elements configured to provide a variable illumination pattern of an area are described. The adjustable optical elements of the illumination devices can be traversed relative to a surface (e.g., a ceiling of a room) to vary the light distribution and/or intensity to the surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Andrew Tien-Man Ng, Ingo Speier, Wilson Dau, Louis Lerman, Hans Peter Stormberg
-
Patent number: 9354377Abstract: An illumination device includes a light-emitting element (LEEs); a light guide extending in a forward direction from a first end to a second end to receive at the first end LEE light and to guide the light to the second end, such that divergence of the light received at the first end and divergence of the guided light that reaches the second end are substantially the same; a light divergence modifier optically coupled to the light guide at the second end to receive the guided light, to modify the divergence of the guided light, such that the light provided by the light divergence modifier has a modified divergence different from the divergence of the guided light; and an optical extractor optically coupled to the light divergence modifier, to output into the ambient environment light provided by the light divergence modifier as output light in one or more output angular ranges.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Allan Brent York, Louis Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl, Wilson Dau, Hans Peter Stormberg
-
Patent number: 9348080Abstract: A light shaping article includes a solid optic having a cross-sectional profile including an input interface; a convex output surface opposite the input interface; a concave first side surface extending between the input interface and the convex output surface; and a second side surface opposite the concave first side surface extending from between input interface to the convex output surface. The concave first side surface and the convex output surface are configured such that, when the solid optic receives input light having an input angular range in a plane of the cross-sectional profile, the solid optic guides the light to and emits the light from the output surface in an output angular range in the plane. A prevalent propagation direction of output light in the output angular range is tilted toward the second side surface relative to a prevalent propagation direction of input light in the input angular range.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2015Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Ingo Speier, Victor E. Isbrucker
-
Patent number: 9345092Abstract: In a single lighting device including a large number of light-emitting elements (LEEs), the LEEs are divided into separately powered groups, and different combinations of the groups are fully energized to achieve the desired overall brightness. In some embodiments, the number of LEEs in each group has a binary relationship to the other groups. The resolution of the dimming is the brightness of the smallest group. In one example of five binary weighted groups of LEEs, 32 brightness levels can be achieved while the LEEs in the energized groups are fully ON. Thus, since there is no high frequency switching, there is substantially no power dissipation by the dimming control system, and there is limited noise or EMI created. The dimming control can be easily implemented with a logic circuit controlling a transistor switch for each group.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2015Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Wilson Dau, George Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl, Jacqueline Teng, Allan Brent York
-
Patent number: 9335462Abstract: A variety of luminaire modules are disclosed that are configured to output light provided by multiple light-emitting elements (LEEs). In general, embodiments of the luminaire modules feature at least two LEEs disposed on at least one substrate, at least two light guides that receive light from corresponding LEEs of the at least two LEEs, and at least one optical extractor that receives light from corresponding light guides from the at least two light guides.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2014Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventor: Allan Brent York
-
Light-emitting device with remote scattering element and total internal reflection extractor element
Patent number: 9291763Abstract: A variety of light-emitting devices are disclosed that are configured to output light provided by a light-emitting element (LEE). In general, embodiments of the light-emitting devices feature a light-emitting element, a scattering element that is spaced apart from the light-emitting element and an extractor element coupled to the scattering element, where the extractor element includes, at least in part, a total internal reflection surface. Luminaires incorporating light-emitting devices of this type are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Hans Peter Stormberg, Robert C. Gardner, Gregory A. Magel, Ferdinand Schinagl, Roland H. Haitz -
Publication number: 20160033109Abstract: An illumination device includes light-emitting elements (LEEs); a light guide extending in a forward direction from a first end to a second end, the light guide being positioned to receive at the first end light emitted by the LEEs and to guide the received light to the second end; and an optical extractor coupled to the second end to receive the guided light. The optical extractor is formed from a transparent, solid material and includes a first output surface including a transmissive portion arranged and shaped to transmit a first portion of the guided light to the ambient in a forward angular range and a reflective portion arranged and shaped to reflect via TIR all the guided light incident on the reflective portion; and a second output surface arranged to transmit, to the ambient in a backward angular range, light reflected by the reflective portion of the first output surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Applicant: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Allan Brent York, Ferdinand Schinagl, Wilson Dau, Louis Lerman, Hans Peter Stormberg
-
Publication number: 20160025300Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: January 28, 2016Applicant: QUARKSTAR LLCInventors: Allan Brent York, Hans Peter Stormberg, Louis Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl, Wilson Dau
-
Patent number: 9206956Abstract: A variety of illumination devices are disclosed that are configured and arranged to output a direct intensity distribution onto work surfaces and an indirect intensity distribution towards background regions. The illumination devices include direct and indirect optical components configured to provide direct and indirect illumination. The illumination devices can be configured to allow interdependent as well as independent control of the direct and indirect illumination, e.g., by a user or by pre-programmed internal or external control circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventor: Ingo Speier
-
Publication number: 20150301260Abstract: An illumination device includes a light-emitting element (LEEs); a light guide extending in a forward direction from a first end to a second end to receive at the first end LEE light and to guide the light to the second end, such that divergence of the light received at the first end and divergence of the guided light that reaches the second end are substantially the same; a light divergence modifier optically coupled to the light guide at the second end to receive the guided light, to modify the divergence of the guided light, such that the light provided by the light divergence modifier has a modified divergence different from the divergence of the guided light; and an optical extractor optically coupled to the light divergence modifier, to output into the ambient environment light provided by the light divergence modifier as output light in one or more output angular ranges.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Allan Brent York, Louis Lerman, Ferdinand Schinagl, Wilson Dau, Hans Peter Stormberg
-
Publication number: 20150219836Abstract: A variety of luminaire modules are disclosed that are configured to output light provided by multiple light-emitting elements (LEEs). In general, embodiments of the luminaire modules feature at least two LEEs disposed on at least one substrate, at least two light guides that receive light from corresponding LEEs of the at least two LEEs, and at least one optical extractor that receives light from corresponding light guides from the at least two light guides.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: QUARKSTAR LLCInventor: Allan Brent York
-
Publication number: 20150211710Abstract: A variety of illumination devices are disclosed that are configured and arranged to output a direct intensity distribution onto work surfaces and an indirect intensity distribution towards background regions. The illumination devices include direct and indirect optical components configured to provide direct and indirect illumination. The illumination devices can be configured to allow interdependent as well as independent control of the direct and indirect illumination, e.g., by a user or by pre-programmed internal or external control circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: Quarkstar LLCInventor: Ingo Speier
-
Patent number: 9081125Abstract: A variety of illumination devices are disclosed that are configured to manipulate light provided by one or more light-emitting elements (LEEs). In general, embodiments of the illumination devices feature one or more optical couplers that redirect illumination from the LEEs to a reflector which then directs the light into a range of angles. In some embodiments, the illumination device includes a second reflector that reflects at least some of the light from the first reflector. In certain embodiments, the illumination device includes a light guide that guides light from the collector to the first reflector. The components of the illumination device can be configured to provide illumination devices that can provide a variety of intensity distributions. Such illumination devices can be configured to provide light for particular lighting applications, including office lighting, task lighting, cabinet lighting, garage lighting, wall wash, stack lighting, and downlighting.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Wilson Dau, Robert C. Gardner, George Lerman, Louis Lerman, Christopher H. Lowery, Brian D. Ogonowsky, George E. Smith, Ingo Speier, Robert V. Steele, Jacqueline Teng, Allan Brent York, Hans Peter Stormberg
-
Patent number: 9078332Abstract: A light emitting device includes a light emitting diode (LED); a transparent optic having a refractive index noptic; and a phosphor layer spaced apart from the LED and positioned between the LED and the transparent optic. The phosphor layer has an effective refractive index nphosphor, where a gap between the LED and the phosphor layer has a refractive index ngap that is less than nphosphor. The transparent optic has an inner convex surface in contact with the phosphor layer. The inner convex surface has an inner radius of curvature r; and an outer convex surface facing away from the phosphor layer and being a surface through which the light emitting device emits light into a medium adjacent the outer convex surface. The medium has a refractive index nmedium. The outer convex surface has an outer radius of curvature R, such that r/R is equal to nmedium/noptic.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2014Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Steven C. Allen, Andrew J. Steckl
-
Publication number: 20150167940Abstract: Illumination devices with adjustable optical elements configured to provide a variable illumination pattern of an area are described. The adjustable optical elements of the illumination devices can be traversed relative to a surface (e.g., a ceiling of a room) to vary the light distribution and/or intensity to the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2014Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Andrew Tien-Man Ng, Ingo Speier, Wilson Dau, Louis Lerman, Hans Peter Stormberg
-
Publication number: 20150168626Abstract: An illumination device includes a light source configured to emit, during operation, light with a prevalent direction of propagation different from a direction of an optical axis of the illumination device; and an optical coupler including a transparent material, the optical coupler having an input aperture, an exit aperture and a first side surface and a second side surface arranged between the input aperture and the exit aperture, the exit aperture being centered on the optical axis of the illumination device. The optical coupler receives the emitted light through the input aperture from the light source. Further, the first side surface and the second side surface redirect the received light via total internal reflection (TIR) to the exit aperture. Additionally, the redirected light is issued through the exit aperture.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2014Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: Quarkstar LLCInventor: Ferdinand Schinagl
-
Patent number: D754980Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Quarkstar LLCInventors: Andrew Tien-Man Ng, Wilson Dau