Patents by Inventor Derek Miller

Derek Miller 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).

  • Publication number: 20240120452
    Abstract: Solid-state lighting devices including light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and, more particularly, reflectors for support structures in LED packages are disclosed. Support structures include arrangements of dielectric reflectors relative to LED chips and electrically conductive traces that are patterned on a submount. Dielectric reflectors include multiple dielectric layer structures that form a distributed Bragg reflector or, in some instances, an aperiodic Bragg reflector. Such dielectric reflectors may be arranged one or more of the electrically conductive traces and on portions of the submount uncovered by the electrically conducive traces to provide increased reflectivity across a variety of wavelengths provided by LED chips, including wavelengths in the ultraviolet spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Derek Miller, Michael Check, Colin Blakely
  • Patent number: 11953623
    Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may have an effective field of view created by individual sensors with overlapping fields of view. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly installed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle and collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Adams, Daniel Glenn Johnson, Christopher William Labadie, Ryan McMichael, Daniel Miller, Peter Thomas Mitros, Anubhav Thakur, Joseph Patrick Warga, Austin In-Jei Yi
  • Publication number: 20240110811
    Abstract: Techniques are discussed for modifying map elements associated with map data. Map data can include three-dimensional data (e.g., LIDAR data) representing an environment, while map elements can be associated with the map data to identify locations and semantic information associated with an environment, such as regions that correspond to driving lanes or crosswalks. A trajectory associated with the map data can be updated, such as when aligning one or more trajectories in response to a loop closure, updated calibration, etc. The transformation between a trajectory and an updated trajectory can be applied to map elements to warp the map elements so that they correspond to the updated map data, thereby providing automatic and accurate techniques for updating map elements associated with map data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Derek Adams, Patrick Blaes, Aleksandrs Ecins, Jesse Sol Levinson, Daniel Miller
  • Publication number: 20240088337
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for providing a liquid metal alloy in a light-emitting diode device that can both heal cracks formed in solder joints on the light-emitting diode (LED) device as well as improve thermal energy dissipation from the LED chips to improve the performance, reduce wear, and prolong the life of the LED chips. In an embodiment, a light-emitting diode device can include a liquid metal alloy containing gallium next to a solder joint, and when one or more cracks form, the liquid metal alloy can enter the cracks and solidify, healing the cracks. The liquid metal alloy can also be placed adjacent to, and in contact with the LED chip to transfer energy away from the LED chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Derek Miller, Ryan Zienert, Colin Blakely
  • Patent number: 11894499
    Abstract: Solid-state lighting devices including light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and lens arrangements for packaged LED devices are disclosed. An LED package may include one or more LED chips on a submount with a lens positioned on the submount to form a cavity. The one or more LED chips may reside in the cavity without direct encapsulation materials that would otherwise contact the one or more LED chips and any corresponding wirebonds. In this manner, the one or more LED chips may be driven with higher drive currents while reducing degradation and mechanical strain effects related to differences in coefficients of thermal expansion with typical encapsulant materials. LED packages may also be configured with one or more apertures that allow air flow between an interior volume of a cavity and an ambient environment outside the LED package to promote heat dissipation at higher drive currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: CreeLED, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wilcox, Derek Miller, Kyle Damborsky, Aaron Francis, Colin Blakely
  • Patent number: 11894496
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a LED having a light emitting first surface and a light emitting second surface that define a corner. A support layer is disposed to receive light emitted by the light emitting second surface and is disposed adjacent the corner. A luminophoric medium layer at least partially covers the light emitting first surface and the light emitting second surface where the luminophoric medium layer is at least partially supported by the support layer to prevent a narrowing of the luminophoric medium layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: CreeLED, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wilcox, Sarah Trinkle, Derek Miller, Peter Andrews, Colin Blakely
  • Patent number: 11791441
    Abstract: Solid-state lighting devices including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and more particularly support structures for LED packages are disclosed. Support structure arrangements are provided for LED packages with increased reflectivity. Support structures may include patterned electrically conductive materials that provide electrical connections and bonding surfaces for LED chips within the package, and bonding surfaces for cover structures in certain arrangements. Depending on the wavelengths of light emitted by the LED package, light reflectivity tradeoffs can exist for conductive materials that provide suitable electrical connections and bonding surfaces. Additional patterned layers with increased reflectivity may be provided on underlying patterned electrically conductive materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: CreeLED, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Miller, Robert Wilcox, Colin Blakely
  • Publication number: 20230317686
    Abstract: Light-emitting diode (LED) packages and more particularly LED packages with directional emission intensity and color uniformity are disclosed. LED packages include one or more LED chips on a submount with arrangements of light-altering materials and lumiphoric material layers that provide directional light emissions with improved color over angle uniformity. Light-altering materials are provided that cover sidewalls of LED chips while lumiphoric material layers cover LED chips and light-altering materials. Such LED packages may avoid the need to include encapsulation materials and/or lenses that would otherwise cover the lumiphoric material layers. As such, exterior light-exiting faces of LED packages are formed by surfaces of lumiphoric material layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Aaron Francis, Derek Miller
  • Publication number: 20230260972
    Abstract: Light-emitting diode (LED) packages, and more particularly arrangements of multiple LED chips in LED packages are disclosed. Arrangements include different types, different dimensions, and/or different orientations of LED chips within LED packages and corresponding electrical connections. Further arrangements include individual cover structures having different dimensions for various LED chips to accommodate thickness variations of LED chips and/or thickness variations attributed to different elements of individual cover structures. Different cover structure elements may include lumiphoric materials, antireflective layers, filter layers, and polarization layers. By accounting for dimensional variations between LED chips and/or between cover structures within multiple-chip LED packages, aggregate light-emitting surfaces may be provided with improved emission uniformity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Celano, Alexis Rile, Derek Miller, David Suich, Colin Blakely, Sarah Trinkle, Robert Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20230245303
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining pixel classification information using images depicting at least a portion of a whole slide image (WSI) of a stained tissue sample. A system can store a first image of the tissue sample at a first resolution, a second image of the tissue sample at a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution, and a third image of the tissue sample at a third resolution that is higher than the second resolution, the first, second, and third images depicting at least a portion of a same area of the tissue sample. The system can include be configured to generate first feature information based on the first image, generate second feature information based on the second image, and determine pixel classification information of at least a portion of the WSI based on the third image, the first feature information and second feature information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Derek Miller, Chad Salinas
  • Patent number: 11705542
    Abstract: Solid-state lighting devices including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and more particularly binder materials for light-emitting devices are disclosed. A lumiphoric material for a light-emitting device may include lumiphoric particles embedded within a binder material. The lumiphoric material may be formed according to sol-gel chemistry techniques where a solution of binder precursors and lumiphoric particles is applied to a surface, dried to reduce liquid phase, and fired to form a hardened and dense lumiphoric material. The binder precursors may include metal oxide precursors that result in a metal oxide binder. In this manner, the lumiphoric material may have high thermal conductivity while also being adaptable for liquid-phase processing. In further embodiments, binder materials with or without lumiphoric particles may be utilized in place of conventional encapsulation materials for light-emitting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: CreeLED, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Weare, Derek Miller, Brian T. Collins, Colin Blakely
  • Patent number: 11688832
    Abstract: Solid-state lighting devices and more particularly light-emitting devices including light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with light-altering material arrangements are disclosed. LED devices may include light-altering materials that are provided around peripheral sidewalls of LED chips without the need for a supporting submount or lead frame. The light-altering materials may be provided with reduced thicknesses along peripheral sidewalls of LED chips. An exemplary LED device as disclosed herein may be configured with a footprint that is close to a footprint of the LED chip within the LED device while also providing an amount of light-altering material around peripheral edges of the LED chip to reduce cross-talk. Accordingly, such LED devices may be well suited for use in applications where LED devices form closely-spaced LED arrays. Fabrication techniques are disclosed that include laminating a preformed sheet of light-altering material on one or more surfaces of the LED chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: CreeLED, Inc.
    Inventors: Tucker McFarlane, Matthew Brady, Derek Miller, Colin Blakely
  • Publication number: 20230140302
    Abstract: Solid-state lighting devices including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and more particularly polarization structures for LED devices are disclosed. Polarization structures are disclosed that are integrated within light-emitting devices and are capable of receiving unpolarized light and providing polarized light that exits the light-emitting devices. Polarization structures may be formed on or in various surfaces within light-emitting devices, such as one or more surfaces of cover structures and/or LED chips. LED packages with multiple LED chips and multiple polarization structures are also disclosed. The LED chips may be arranged to be electrically activated and deactivated independently of one another such that corresponding LED packages are capable of electronically switching between different orientations of polarized and/or unpolarized light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Derek Miller, Colin Blakely
  • Publication number: 20230120890
    Abstract: Solid-state lighting devices including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and more particularly integrated secondary optics into LED chip cover structures for improved optical emission of high intensity LEDs is disclosed. Optical elements are integrated as a secondary optic onto one or both surfaces of a chip cover structure, where the chip cover structure may be referred to as a primary optic. The integrated secondary optic may be formed directly on one or both surfaces of the chip cover structure. The integrated secondary optic is purposely built to be coupled with the light emission of the LED to emit a desired emission profile. In this regard, a final luminaire may be provided with increased efficiency either by improving the coupling of the LED into a conventional secondary optic or in some cases by removing the need for a conventional secondary optic all together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Kamp, Derek Miller, Colin Blakely
  • Publication number: 20230080947
    Abstract: Solid-state lighting devices including light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and more particularly cover structure arrangements for packaged LED devices are disclosed. Cover structures include light-absorbing layers configured to absorb certain wavelengths of light while permitting other wavelengths to pass therethrough. Light-absorbing layers may include pigment materials of colors that absorb intended wavelengths of light. In certain aspects, an LED package may include an LED chip configured to emit light of a first peak wavelength and a cover structure that includes a light-absorbing layer with a pigment of a color that absorbs the first peak wavelength. Such an arrangement may be useful for embodiments that also include a lumiphoric material that converts a portion of the first peak wavelength to light of a second peak wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Colin Blakely, Eric Kamp, Derek Miller
  • Patent number: 11547063
    Abstract: Solid-state lighting devices and more particularly light-emitting devices for horticulture applications are disclosed. Light-emitting devices are disclosed with aggregate emissions that target chlorophyll absorption peaks while also providing certain broader spectrum emissions between the chlorophyll absorption peaks. The aggregate emissions may be provided by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit wavelengths that correspond with certain chlorophyll absorption peaks and lumiphoric materials that provide broader spectrum emissions. The aggregate emissions are configured to have reduced emissions from lumiphoric materials in ranges close to certain chlorophyll absorption peaks, such as above 600 nanometers (nm). In this regard, light-emitting devices according to the present disclosure provide the ability to efficiently target specific chlorophyll absorption peaks for plant growth while also providing suitable lighting for occupants in a horticulture environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: CreeLED, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Scheidt, Anna Costine, Derek Miller, Colin Blakely
  • Publication number: 20220378231
    Abstract: A magnetic wall-mounted assembly includes: an anchor configured to be secured to a wall; a spacer configured to be magnetically coupled to the anchor; a base configured to be magnetically coupled to the spacer; and one or more decorative items configured to be magnetically coupled to the base. Alternatively, a magnetic wall-mounted assembly includes: an integral anchor-spacer component secured to a wall and extending away from the wall; a base configured to be magnetically coupled to the integral anchor-spacer component; and one or more decorative items configured to be magnetically coupled to the base. One or more decorative items preferably is configured to receive and retain an air plant. The base may have a triangular, circular, or rectangular profile. Preferably, a plurality of bases of different profiles and sizes are provided, each of which is configured to be magnetically coupled to the same spacer or integral anchor-spacer component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Paul Derek Miller, Emily Marie Siganowich, Paul David Miller
  • Patent number: 11430243
    Abstract: Provided herein are processing systems including a camera that is arranged to capture an image of a delivery item. The system also includes a hardware processor that is operably connected to the camera and that is configured to perform operations that include capturing, using the camera, an image of a delivery item that is undeliverable to an intended recipient or at an intended delivery location, where the image includes an address of the intended recipient. The operations also include embedding, by the hardware processor, processing data with the image of the delivery item to thereby generate an embedded image, and notifying a sender of the delivery item that the delivery item is undeliverable using the embedded image. Also provided herein are related computer readable media and methods of processing delivery items that are undeliverable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
    Inventors: Derek Miller, Thomas J. Graham
  • Publication number: 20220262989
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a LED having a light emitting first surface and a light emitting second surface that define a corner. A support layer is disposed to receive light emitted by the light emitting second surface and is disposed adjacent the corner. A luminophoric medium layer at least partially covers the light emitting first surface and the light emitting second surface where the luminophoric medium layer is at least partially supported by the support layer to prevent a narrowing of the luminophoric medium layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Wilcox, Sarah Trinkle, Derek Miller, Peter Andrews, Colin Blakely
  • Patent number: D996377
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: CreeLED, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Celano, Alexis Rile, Derek Miller, David Suich, Colin Blakely, Sarah Trinkle, Robert Wilcox