Patents by Inventor George G. Mueller

George G. Mueller 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: 8080819
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for LED modules that include an LED die integrated in an LED package with a submount that includes an electronic component for controlling the light emitted by the LED die. The electronic component integrated in the submount may include drive hardware, a network interface, memory, a processor, a switch-mode power supply, a power facility, or another type of electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: George G. Mueller, Kevin J. Dowling, Frederick M. Morgan, Ihor A. Lys
  • Patent number: 7959320
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating and modulating white light illumination conditions. Examples of applications in which such methods and apparatus may be implemented include retail environments (e.g., food, clothing, jewelry, paint, furniture, fabrics, etc.) or service environments (e.g., cosmetics, hair and beauty salons and spas, photography, etc.) where visible aspects of the products/services being offered are significant in attracting sales of the products/services. Other applications include theatre and cinema, medical and dental implementations, as well as vehicle-based (automotive) implementations. In another example, a personal grooming apparatus includes one or more light sources disposed in proximity to a mirror and configured to generate variable color light, including essentially white light, whose color temperature may be controlled by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: George G. Mueller, Alfred D. Ducharme, Kevin J. Dowling, Ihor A. Lys, Frederick M. Morgan, Charles H. Cella
  • Patent number: 7845823
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for providing controlled lighting, including methods and systems for providing both white and non-white colored lighting, including color temperature controlled lighting. Such methods and systems include optical facilities for modifying light from a lighting unit, such as an LED-based lighting unit, including variable optical facilities and fixed optical facilities. Also provided are methods and systems for using multi-color lighting units in a variety of commercial applications. Also provided are methods and systems for lighting control, including methods to assist lighting designers and installers to improve the quality of lighting in environments. Also provided are intelligent dimmers, switches, sockets and fixtures, as well as facilities for programming and using them. Also provided are various sensor-feedback applications of lighting technology, including sensor-feedback involving light sensors and forward voltage sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: George G. Mueller, Ihor A. Lys, Kevin J. Dowling, Charles H. Cella, Frederick M. Morgan
  • Patent number: 7764026
    Abstract: In computer games, there is typically a display that represents a view into a virtual world of some type. There is also typically a user in a real world environment that surrounds the display screen interacting with the virtual world. Disclosed herein are systems and methods for using lighting systems, in particular LED based lighting systems, to allow a user to receive information from the virtual world in coordination with, in addition to, and/or instead of the information received from the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Dowling, Ian Lane Davis, George G. Mueller, Ihor A. Lys
  • Publication number: 20100171145
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for LED modules that include an LED die integrated in an LED package with a submount that includes an electronic component for controlling the light emitted by the LED die. The electronic component integrated in the s submount may include drive hardware, a network interface, memory, a processor, a switch-mode power supply, a power facility, or another type of electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Frederick M. MORGAN, Ihor A. LYS, Kevin J. DOWLING, George G. MUELLER
  • Patent number: 7659674
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus involving at least two LEDs configured to generate at least two different spectra of radiation that are combined to produce white light. At least one parameter of the at least two different spectra of radiation generated by the at least two LEDs is controlled, based at least in part on at least one lighting control signal received by the apparatus over at least one wireless communication link, so as to control at least a color temperature of the white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: George G. Mueller, Ihor A. Lys, Kevin J. Dowling, Frederick M. Morgan, Michael K. Blackwell, Alfred D. Ducharme, Ralph Osterhout, Colin Piepgras, Dawn Geary, Timothy Holmes
  • Patent number: 7646029
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for LED modules that include an LED die integrated in an LED package with a submount that includes an electronic component for controlling the light emitted by the LED die. The electronic component integrated in the submount may include drive hardware, a network interface, memory, a processor, a switch-mode power supply, a power facility, or another type of electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: George G. Mueller, Kevin J. Dowling, Frederick M. Morgan, Ihor A. Lys
  • Patent number: 7598686
    Abstract: Organic light emitting diode (OLED) methods and apparatus in which at least one first OLED generates first radiation having a first spectrum, and at least one second OLED generates second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum. In one example, an addressable controller is coupled to the first OLED and the second OLED for independently controlling a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation based on a network signal including lighting information for a plurality of light-generating apparatus. An OLED controller may be in communication with a user interface to control different OLED-generated spectrums in response to user operation of the user interface. In one aspect, a controller may be configured to implement a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique to control the OLEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ihor A. Lys, Frederick M. Morgan, George G. Mueller
  • Patent number: 7572028
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating and modulating white light illumination conditions. Examples of applications in which such methods and apparatus may be implemented include retail environments (e.g., food, clothing, jewelry, paint, furniture, fabrics, etc.) or service environments (e.g., cosmetics, hair and beauty salons and spas, photography, etc.) where visible aspects of the products/services being offered are significant in attracting sales of the products/services. Other applications include theatre and cinema, medical and dental implementations, as well as vehicle-based (automotive) implementations. In another example, a personal grooming apparatus includes one or more light sources disposed in proximity to a mirror and configured to generate variable color light, including essentially white light, whose color temperature may be controlled by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: George G. Mueller, Alfred D. Ducharme, Kevin J. Dowling, Ihor A. Lys, Frederick M. Morgan, Charles H. Cella
  • Patent number: 7525254
    Abstract: Vehicle lighting methods and apparatus, in which an LED-based light source is configured to generate at least visible radiation associated with a vehicle. The light source is controlled such that the generated visible radiation has a variable color over a range of colors including at least three different perceivable colors. Examples of vehicles in which such methods and apparatus may be used include, but are not limited to, an automobile, airplane, boat, non-motorized vehicle, etc. The LED-based light source may be disposed inside the vehicle (e.g., dashboard, instrument panel) or outside the vehicle (e.g., brake lights, undercarriage lighting), and may be controlled to generate white light as one of the perceivable colors. A user interface may be employed to facilitate an adjustment of the variable color of the generated visible radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ihor Lys, George G. Mueller
  • Patent number: 7520634
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus in which at least one first LED generates first radiation having a first spectrum, and at least one second LED generates second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum. One or more controllers control at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation so as to control at least a color temperature of visible radiation. In one example, one or more sensors monitor at least one characteristic of sample radiation and provide one or more sensor signals to the one or more controllers, which in turn control at least the color temperature of the visible radiation based at least in part on the at least one sensor signal. In various implementations, the sample radiation may be ambient illumination (e.g., natural-light and/or light from other light sources), may be the visible radiation itself (e.g., to provide feedback to the one or more controllers), or generally any desired lighting condition to simulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred D. Ducharme, Frederick M. Morgan, Ihor A. Lys, Kevin J. Dowling, George G. Mueller
  • Patent number: 7482764
    Abstract: Light sources for illumination of liquids in a variety of environments. In one example, multi-color LED-based light sources are adapted to engage mechanically and electrically with various types of conventional light sockets, including light sockets conventionally found in a pool or spa environment. In another example, a light fixture for a pool or spa is particularly adapted to engage mechanically and electrically with a wedge type socket supported by a pool or spa. In another example, a light fixture for illumination of liquids includes an encapsulant to protect the light fixture from moisture, due to the characteristically humid environment encountered in liquid illumination applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Morgan, Ihor A. Lys, George G. Mueller, Kevin J. Dowling
  • Patent number: 7462997
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems including one or more first LEDs, each first LED configured to generate first radiation having a first spectrum, and one or more second LEDs, each second LED configured to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum. A diffuser is employed to blend the first radiation and the second radiation, when generated, so as to provide a uniform color of light having a visible spectrum based on a combination of the first spectrum and the second spectrum. One or more controllers are configured to control the first LED(s) and the second LED(s) such that visible light provided by the diffuser is perceived as one or more colors. In different aspects, the apparatus/systems may be configured to generate white light and/or multicolor light, may be formed to resemble conventional light bulbs, and may be arranged as a linear chain of nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: George G. Mueller, Ihor A. Lys
  • Patent number: 7453217
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing illumination in a marketplace. In one example, radiation comprising variable color light is generated using a plurality of LEDs. One or more articles in the marketplace are illuminated with the generated radiation, and the spectral content of the generated radiation is controllably varied over a period of time so that a customer of the marketplace perceives a change in color and/or an illusion of motion associated with the article(s) due to a selective color interaction between the generated radiation and the article(s). Examples of marketplaces include, but are not limited to, consumer environments, work environments, sporting environments, entertainment environments, retail establishments, restaurants, museums, art galleries and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ihor A. Lys, George G. Mueller, Michael K. Blackwell
  • Patent number: 7427840
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling illumination. In one example, one or more multi-color light sources are controlled based on one or more interruptions of power supplied to the light source(s). In another example, a pool or spa is illuminated by one or more multi-color light sources that may be employed as individually and independently controllable devices that may be controlled based on one or more interruptions in power. In another example, the selection of a particular illumination program for such light sources (e.g., by one or more interruptions in power) is indicated to a user via the radiation generated by the light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Morgan, Ihor A. Lys, George G. Mueller, Kevin J. Dowling, Timothy Holmes, John Warwick
  • Publication number: 20080183081
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for illuminating various materials using an LED system. These methods and systems can be applied to a plurality of materials, including biological entities, and may be employed to effect one or more changes in the illuminated material. Exemplary systems may be particularly configured and suitable for use in medical applications, including diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions
    Inventors: Ihor Lys, George G. Mueller, Frederick Marshall Morgan
  • Patent number: 7387405
    Abstract: Lighting apparatus and methods involving a plurality of light-emitting devices configured to emit radiation having at least two different spectra, in which the plurality of light-emitting devices are controlled to produce composite radiation having at least one resulting spectrum that simulates a desired spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred D. Ducharme, Frederick M. Morgan, Ihor A. Lys, Kevin J. Dowling, George G. Mueller
  • Patent number: 7364488
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhancing an inflatable device. In one example, a first component adapted to generate at least one of light and sound is coupled to a second component that is adapted to facilitate insertion into an inflatable device. The first component may be an LED-based light source configured to generate single or multi-colored light in an interior space of the inflatable device once inserted into the inflatable device. The second component may be particularly configured with one or more valves or seals to facilitate a transfer of a substance (e.g., an inflating substance) into the inflatable device once the first and second components are inserted into the inflatable device. The second component also may be configured to conveniently facilitate an effective seal between the second component and the inflatable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Philips Solid State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: George G. Mueller, Ralph Osterhout, Kevin J. Dowling
  • Patent number: 7358929
    Abstract: A tile lighting system is provided in which an interior space of a tile is lit by LEDs, such as in a grid or edge-lit formation, and a light diffusing panel is disposed over the interior space. The tile lighting system can be combined with others to tile any surface, such as a floor, ceiling, wall, or building exterior. Lighting control signals can be supplied to generate a wide range of effects on the tile lighting units, including effects coordinated among different tile lighting units. Two- and three-dimensional embodiments are contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: George G. Mueller, Ihor A. Lys, Frederick M. Morgan, Colin Piepgras, Brian Roberge, Hern Kim, Kevin J. Dowling, Derek Logan, Charles H. Cella
  • Patent number: 7350936
    Abstract: LED-based light bulbs having one or more white LEDs, for replacing/retrofitting conventional light bulbs. An exemplary bulb includes at least one first white LED and at least one power connection having a form configured to engage mechanically and electrically with one of a conventional Edison-mount (screw-type) light bulb socket, a conventional fluorescent tube coupler arrangement, and a conventional halogen MR-16 socket arrangement. The bulb further includes at least one voltage transformation device configured to electrically transform a first voltage applied to the at least one power connection (via the corresponding conventional socket/coupler) to a second voltage that provides operating power to at least the white LED(s). The LED-based light bulb substantially corresponds in shape to a corresponding one of a conventional Edison-mount screw-type light bulb, a conventional fluorescent tube, and a conventional halogen MR-16 light bulb, based on the form of the at least one power connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred D. Ducharme, Frederick M. Morgan, Ihor A. Lys, Kevin J. Dowling, George G. Mueller