Patents by Inventor James Gourlay

James Gourlay 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: 11947151
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a light guide having a light output surface, one or more LED packages having two or more spatially separated LED chips, and two or more wavelength dependent modification features located on the output surface of the light guide. Each wavelength dependent modification features is configured to modify the intensity of light from one or more of the LED chips to provide homogeneous colored light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Design LED Products Limited
    Inventors: James Gourlay, Marius Jankauskas
  • Publication number: 20230258858
    Abstract: A pixelated lighting device (8) comprising one or more light sources (10) embedded within a composite light-guide is disclosed. The pixelated lighting device incorporates refractive light barriers (15) to achieve contrast between adjacent pixels (16a, 16b). These features combine to provide a pixelated lighting device with an acceptable contrast ratio and with a very high fill factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: James GOURLAY, Marius JANKAUSKAS
  • Publication number: 20230185012
    Abstract: A lighting device (21) comprising a light guide (12) and LED packages (1) having two or more spatially separated LED chips (2,3,4) is described. The LED packages (1) generate two or more light outputs at two or more separate wavelengths which are optically coupled into the light guide (12). A portion of the two or more light outputs exit the light guide (12) via a light output surface (14). Wavelength dependent modification features (22) are arranged to modify the intensity of at least one of the two or more light outputs to provide the lighting device (21) with a homogeneous colour light output. The LED packages (1) may comprise RGB LED packages, and the wavelength dependent modification features (22) are arranged to provide a homogeneous white light output. This provides a lighting device (21) capable of providing low intensity light levels over a large surface area which are thinner and cheaper to produce than those devices known in the art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: James GOURLAY, Marius JANKAUSKAS
  • Patent number: 11460721
    Abstract: An illuminated eyewear device is described. The illuminated eyewear device comprises a transparent substrate and one or more light sources mounted around the perimeter of the transparent substrate. The output of the one or more light sources is arranged to be coupled into, and propagates within, the transparent substrate. Applied to an inner surface of the transparent substrate are a plurality of refractive light scattering means designed to break the condition for total internal reflection of the light generated by the one or more light sources. As well as being mobile, compact and easy to integrate into everyday life, the above described illuminated eyewear device address the known problem of glare experienced by users of those devices known in the art since the light sources are not directly imaged into the user eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Design Led Products Limited
    Inventors: Adám Rosero, James Gourlay
  • Patent number: 10939836
    Abstract: A modular light panel includes a transparent base substrate, an array of light sources, at least one environment sensor unit mounted on the base substrate, and a transparent protecting layer encapsulating the light sources and the environment sensor unit(s). The refractive index of the transparent protecting layer is equal or less than that of the base substrate. The modular light panel might also include a wireless communication module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: DESIGN LED PRODUCTS LIMITED
    Inventors: James Gourlay, Stuart Bain, Derek Peden
  • Publication number: 20200026101
    Abstract: An illuminated eyewear device is described. The illuminated eyewear device comprises a transparent substrate and one or more light sources mounted around the perimeter of the transparent substrate. The output of the one or more light sources is arranged to be coupled into, and propagates within, the transparent substrate. Applied to an inner surface of the transparent substrate are a plurality of refractive light scattering means designed to break the condition for total internal reflection of the light generated by the one or more light sources. As well as being mobile, compact and easy to integrate into everyday life, the above described illuminated eyewear device address the known problem of glare experienced by users of those devices known in the art since the light sources are not directly imaged into the user eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: Design Led Products Limited
    Inventors: Adám ROSERO, James GOURLAY
  • Publication number: 20190150766
    Abstract: A modular light panel is described that comprises a transparent base substrate, upon a first surface of which is mounted an array of light sources, and a transparent protecting layer arranged to encapsulate the light sources upon the first surface. The refractive index of these layers is such that they form a composite structure for guiding light produced by the light sources within the composite structure. The modular light panel also comprise a wireless communication module and or environment sensor units located on the first surface to measure one or more physical properties of a volume illuminated by the light sources. The modular light panel exhibits increased levels of light output, are easier to manufacture than known devices while offering increased functionality. In addition, they remove the need for separate dedicated environment sensor units to be employed in a room while providing a means for thermally mapping the room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: James GOURLAY, Stuart BAIN, Derek PEDEN
  • Patent number: 9709721
    Abstract: This invention relates to a light guide plate and methods of manufacture. The light guide plate is suitable for use in a range of applications, particularly those which require backlighting for display units, for example, liquid crystal displays. The light guide plate comprises a combination of light guide layers and one or more scattering features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: DESIGN LED PRODUCTS LIMITED
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Patent number: 9625641
    Abstract: This invention relates to light guide devices and methods of manufacture. The light guide device is suitable for use in a range of applications, particularly in connection with the backlighting of displays, for example, liquid crystal displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: DESIGN LED PRODUCTS LIMITED
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Patent number: 9164223
    Abstract: This invention relates to light guide devices and methods of manufacture. The light guide device is suitable for use in a range of applications, particularly in connection with the backlighting of displays, for example, liquid crystal displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ITI SCOTLAND LIMITED
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Publication number: 20150260898
    Abstract: This invention relates to a light guide plate and methods of manufacture. The light guide plate is suitable for use in a range of applications, particularly those which require backlighting for display units, for example, liquid crystal displays. The light guide plate comprises a combination of light guide layers and one or more scattering features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Patent number: 9086516
    Abstract: A light-guide apparatus comprising a light-guide plate for guiding light rays and a plurality of light extraction features is described. The light extraction features comprise a transparent material applied to the light-guide plate so as to form an uneven surface. The transparent material may comprise a textured ink applied to the surface of the light-guide plate via a printing process. The incorporation of an uneven surface provides micro-lens like elements on the surface of the extraction feature which have a higher aspect ratio and so lend themselves to the refraction of the light out of the light-guide plate. In this way a device is produced wherein the size, height, location and surface profile of the extraction features can be carefully controlled. As a result the described light-guide apparatus provides for a highly efficient and relatively uniform light output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: DESIGN LED PRODUCTS LIMITED
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Patent number: 9077345
    Abstract: A capacitive sensing apparatus is described that incorporates a light guide having a light scattering means for illumination of the apparatus. The apparatus has a capacitive sensor mounted on a substrate that provides a capacitive sensing area for generating an electric field that emanates from the apparatus. A light source is arranged in optical communication with the light scattering means via the light guide. This arrangement acts to mitigate the effects of interference between the capacitive sensor and the light source. When an opaque substrate is employed an air gap is located between the substrate and the light guide so as to provide a substantially uniform illumination across the light guide. Appropriate selection of the refractive indices of the light guide, ng, and a transparent substrate, ns, provides the same desired uniform illumination in alternative embodiments. The capacitive sensing apparatus finds particular application within a touch sensitive display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: DESIGN LED PRODUCTS LIMITED
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Patent number: 9010983
    Abstract: A light guide device for illumination, lighting and display purposes that exhibits an output light having a predetermined, and preferably uniform, angular luminance profile is described. The device comprises a light guide (13) suitable for guiding light coupled thereto and a plurality of extraction features (10, 11) located on one or more surfaces of the light guide. The plurality of extraction features comprises an interleaved pattern of first (11) and second extraction features the arrangement of which provides a means for defining the predetermined angular and spatial luminance profiles for the output light. The device allows for a uniform angular luminance profile to be produced that is maintained even when the light guide is curved or bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Publication number: 20150043243
    Abstract: A lighting panel that provide an alternative means for producing a “spot light” like illumination from an LED is described. The lighting panel comprising a transparent substrate upon a first surface of which are mounted a plurality of transparent prism structures and upon a second surface of which is mounted a light emitting diode (LED). A transparent guide layer is arranged so as to encapsulate the light emitting diode upon the second surface such that the transparent base substrate and the transparent guide light form a composite structure for guiding light emitted from the LED. The transparent prism structures are configured to extract a first and a second light output from the lighting panel, the first and second light outputs having output angles and beam widths determined by the structure of the plurality of transparent prism structures. The lighting panels exhibit high optical efficiencies and long operating lifetimes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Publication number: 20140328082
    Abstract: A lighting panel and method of production thereof is described. The lighting panel comprises a transparent substrate (7), upon a first surface of which are mounted one or more light sources (1) is described. The lighting panel further comprises a guide layer (9) wherein the guide layer is arranged so as to encapsulate the one or more light sources upon the first surface. The one or more light sources comprise top emitting LEDs side mounted upon the first surface. In this way the described apparatus provides an optically efficient means for providing “warm white” backlighting of products that can be manufactured on a commercial scale while offering acceptable levels of reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Publication number: 20130201723
    Abstract: A light guide device for illumination, lighting and display purposes that exhibits an output light having a predetermined, and preferably uniform, angular luminance profile is described. The device comprises a light guide (13) suitable for guiding light coupled thereto and a plurality of extraction features (10, 11) located on one or more surfaces of the light guide. The plurality of extraction features comprises an interleaved pattern of first (11) and second extraction features the arrangement of which provides a means for defining the predetermined angular and spatial luminance profiles for the output light. The device allows for a uniform angular luminance profile to be produced that is maintained even when the light guide is curved or bent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: DESIGN LED PRODUCTS LIMITED
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Patent number: 8467013
    Abstract: This invention relates to a light guide device and methods of manufacture. The light guide device is suitable for use in a range of applications, particularly in connection with the backlighting of displays, for example, liquid crystal displays. The light guide device comprises a combination of guide layers and one or more scattering structures in order to mask the appearance of one or more light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: ITI Scotland Limited
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Patent number: 8419986
    Abstract: A light guiding device and in particular to a light guiding device that can be used for illumination, backlighting, signage or display purposes is described. The light guiding device comprises a transparent base substrate, upon a first surface of which are mounted light sources, and a guide substrate arranged so as to encapsulate the light sources upon the first surface. In this way the guide substrate provides a means for guiding light produced by the one or more light sources over the first surface. The incorporation of scattering structures along with appropriate choice of the refractive indices of the various layers provides a highly flexible light guiding device that is typically less than 1 mm thick. The described light guiding device provides particular application as a seven segment display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Design LED Products Limited
    Inventor: James Gourlay
  • Publication number: 20120268963
    Abstract: This invention relates to light guide devices and methods of manufacture. The light guide device is suitable for use in a range of applications, particularly in connection with the backlighting of displays, for example, liquid crystal displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: James Gourlay