Patents by Inventor Jake D. Swensen

Jake D. Swensen 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: 10082283
    Abstract: A method for a light bulb or fixture to emit light and measure ambient light. The method includes driving solid state light sources, such as LEDs, in the bulb with a cyclical signal to repeatedly turn them off and on, where the light sources are turned off and on at a rate sufficient for the bulb to appear on. The method also includes measuring ambient light via a light sensor in or on the bulb during at least some times when the light sources are off, and outputting a signal related to the measured ambient light. In some cases the light sensor saturates when the solid state light sources are active and measures the ambient light level when the solid state light sources are not active. The ambient light level signal can be used to control when the light bulb is on and an intensity of light output by the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark G. Mathews, James F. Poch, Kayla A. McGrath, Jake D. Swensen, Blake R Shamla, James C. Medek
  • Publication number: 20180087759
    Abstract: A method for a light bulb or fixture to emit light and measure ambient light. The method includes driving solid state light sources, such as LEDs, in the bulb with a cyclical signal to repeatedly turn them off and on, where the light sources are turned off and on at a rate sufficient for the bulb to appear on. The method also includes measuring ambient light via a light sensor in or on the bulb during at least some times when the light sources are off, and outputting a signal related to the measured ambient light. In some cases the light sensor saturates when the solid state light sources are active and measures the ambient light level when the solid state light sources are not active. The ambient light level signal can be used to control when the light bulb is on and an intensity of light output by the bulb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Mark G. Mathews, James F. Poch, Kayla A. McGrath, Jake D. Swensen, Blake R. Shamla, James C. Medek
  • Patent number: 9750103
    Abstract: A method for a light bulb or fixture to emit light and measure ambient light. The method includes driving solid state light sources, such as LEDs, in the bulb with a cyclical signal to repeatedly turn the solid state light sources off and on, where the light sources are turned off and on at a rate sufficient for the bulb to appear on. The method also includes measuring ambient light via a light sensor in or on the bulb during at least some times when the light sources are off, and outputting a signal related to the measured ambient light. The ambient light level signal can be used to control when the light bulb is on and an intensity of light output by the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark G. Mathews, James F. Poch, Kayla A. McGrath, Jake D. Swensen, Blake R. Shamla, James C. Medek
  • Publication number: 20160323956
    Abstract: A method for a light bulb or fixture to emit light and measure ambient light. The method includes driving solid state light sources, such as LEDs, in the bulb with a cyclical signal to repeatedly turn the solid state light sources off and on, where the light sources are turned off and on at a rate sufficient for the bulb to appear on. The method also includes measuring ambient light via a light sensor in or on the bulb during at least some times when the light sources are off, and outputting a signal related to the measured ambient light. The ambient light level signal can be used to control when the light bulb is on and an intensity of light output by the bulb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Mark G. Mathews, James F. Poch, Kayla A. McGrath, Jake D. Swensen, Blake R. Shamla, James C. Medek