Patents by Inventor Kurt S. Wilcox

Kurt S. Wilcox 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: 10234119
    Abstract: Light emitter packages, systems, and methods having multiple light emitter chips and operable at multiple voltages are provided. In some aspects, light emitter packages described herein include a submount having a plurality of contact pads and a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) chips disposed over one or more surfaces thereof. The plurality of contact pads are configured to pass electrical current into the plurality of LED chips for allowing the package to be operable in at least two different voltages. The package can be operable at approximately 3 volts (V) or more, approximately 6V or more, approximately 9 V or more, approximately 12V or more, approximately 18 V or more, or approximately 36 V or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10234616
    Abstract: A luminaire having a waveguide suspended beneath a mounting element, the waveguide has a first surface proximal to the mounting element, a second surface distal to the mounting element, and an edge between the first and the second surfaces. At least one cavity extends into the waveguide from the first surface to the second surface. A LED component is coupled to the waveguide so as to emit light into the cavity. LED support structures are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Tarsa, Hormoz Benjamin, Bernd P. Keller, Kurt S. Wilcox, Zongjie Yuan
  • Patent number: 10234121
    Abstract: A sensor module for a lighting fixture includes a light sensor and a sensor cover over the light sensor. The sensor cover includes a front surface and a light focusing surface opposite the front surface. The front surface is configured to face an area of interest that is generally illuminated by the lighting fixture. The light focusing surface is opposite the front surface and includes a number of lens sections, each of which is configured to focus light from a different portion of the area of interest toward the light sensor. By including a number of lens sections each focusing light from a different portion of the area of interest, a relatively large area of interest can be observed while maintaining desirable aesthetics of the sensor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Jin Hong Lim, Andrew Bendtsen, Mike Walters
  • Patent number: 10208923
    Abstract: An optical component has an elongate length extending between first and second ends and a width transverse to and substantially smaller than the length and extending between first and second sides. The optical component includes a refractive portion disposed between the first and second sides and extending along the length between the first and second ends, and a plurality of separate reflective portions. At least one of the plurality of separate reflective portions is spaced from the refractive portion and extending along the length between the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario A. Castillo, Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20180328553
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a waveguide comprises a waveguide body comprising an optically transmissive material and one or more extraction features disposed on a surface of the waveguide body such that the extraction features comprise a reflective material disposed on a portion of the surface of the waveguide body. Still further, in accordance with this aspect, the waveguide comprises a light source directing light into the waveguide body through a coupling cavity extending along the waveguide body wherein the light travels through the waveguide body and is redirected by the plurality of extraction features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Jin Hong Lim, Kurt S. Wilcox, Boris Karpichev
  • Patent number: 10119662
    Abstract: A lens for distribution of light from a light emitter having an emitter axis. The lens including an outer surface receiving light from the inner surface which defines an inner cavity and includes an axial inner-surface portion of a conical shape formed by a substantially cross-sectionally linear inner region extending outwardly from positions at the emitter axis toward an open end of the inner cavity. An LED light fixture comprising a mounting structure supporting a plurality of spaced LED light sources with a plurality of the lenses each in alignment with a corresponding one of the light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Craig Raleigh, Corey Goldstein
  • Publication number: 20180283629
    Abstract: Tenon-mounted lighting fixtures with high structural integrity are provided. In one embodiment, the lighting fixture has a housing that has an integrally formed tenon cradle, which is configured to receive a tenon of a light pole. A light source is also mounted on a bottom side of the housing. The tenon cradle is between a first bolt boss and a second bolt boss, and is in communication with a rear opening of the housing. The first and second bolt bosses may be integrally formed in the housing. The tenon cradle includes multiple ribs. An arcuate cross rib resides in a first plane in which a first bolt shaft of the first bolt boss and a second bolt shaft of the second bolt shaft reside. An axial rib intersects the arcuate cross rib and runs perpendicular to the first plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Scott Fisher, Jeremy Sorenson, Brad Thomas, Kurt S. Wilcox, John Roberts
  • Patent number: 10042106
    Abstract: A luminaire with a plurality of optical waveguides disposed in side-by-side relationship, together at least partially defining a closed path, and a plurality of optical coupling portions disposed adjacent to the optical waveguides. Further, each optical coupling portion is associated with one of the optical waveguides, and each coupling portion includes a refractive portion and a pair of reflective portions disposed on opposite sides of the refractive portion. Additionally, at least one LED is associated with each optical coupling portion and disposed at a first end of the associated optical coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., Brian Kinnune, Gary David Trott, Mario A. Castillo, Peter Lopez, S. Scott Pratt, Mark Dixon, William L. Dungan
  • Patent number: 10001266
    Abstract: A sensor module for a lighting fixture includes a housing configured to be mounted to a lighting fixture, a light sensor mounted in the housing, and a sensor cover over the light sensor. The sensor cover includes a parallel surface and an angled surface. The parallel surface is parallel to a task surface within an area of interest, and includes a first number of lens sections, each of which are configured to focus light from a different portion of a first subset of the task surface to the light sensor. The angled surface includes a second number of lens sections, each of which extend from an edge of the parallel surface to form a facet of the angled surface and are configured to focus light from a different portion of a second subset of the task surface to the light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Hong Lim, Jason Taylor, Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 9952372
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a housing, an optical waveguide disposed in the housing comprising a plurality of light coupling cavities, and a plurality of LEDs disposed in the housing adjacent the plurality of coupling cavities. A mounting apparatus is adapted to mount the luminaire on a roadway stanchion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., Zongjie Yuan, Andrew Dan Bendtsen, Nathan Snell, Jeremy Sorenson, Brian Kinnune, Craig D. Raleigh
  • Publication number: 20180066808
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a waveguide comprises a waveguide body having a coupling cavity defined by a coupling feature disposed within the waveguide body. A plug member comprises a first portion disposed in the coupling cavity and an outer surface substantially conforming to the coupling feature and a second portion extending from the first portion into the coupling cavity. The second portion includes a reflective surface adapted to direct light in the coupling cavity into the waveguide body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Bernd P. Keller, Eric J. Tarsa, Zongjie Yuan, Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20180045875
    Abstract: An optical waveguide comprising orthogonal x- and y-dimensions and developing an illumination distribution pattern comprising orthogonal x- and y-extents, comprising at least one coupling feature for directing light into the waveguide, at least one light redirection feature for redirecting light in an x-y plane within the waveguide, and at least one light extraction feature for extracting light out of the waveguide in an illumination pattern comprising at least one of the x- and y-extents that is offset with respect to the x- and y-dimensions, respectively. Additionally, the optical waveguide comprises optical features on at least first, second, and third sides thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR., Zongjie Yuan, Andrew Dan Bendtsen, Nathan Snell, Jeremy Sorenson, Brian Kinnune, Craig D. Raleigh
  • Publication number: 20180035506
    Abstract: An outdoor luminaire comprises a housing adapted to be mounted on an outdoor structure, an input disposed in the housing that receives AC power, and at least one rectification element coupled to the input and which produces rectified AC electrical power comprising a plurality of cycles. At least one LED driver circuit is coupled to the at least one rectification element and a plurality of LEDs is coupled to the at least one LED driver circuit. The LEDs are turned on at different points during each of the plurality of cycles and together develop an output level of at least about 2000 lumens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew Dan Bendtsen, Kurt S. Wilcox, John Sobieski
  • Patent number: 9879849
    Abstract: An LED light fixture including a heat-conductive overstructure having upper and lower surfaces and a plurality of upwardly-protruding elongate fins which extend along the upper surface adjacent to at least one opening through the fixture permitting air flow from beneath the lower surface to above the upper surface. An LED light source is secured with respect to the lower surface. The fins have heights which gradually increase toward fin-ends proximal to the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kinnune, David P. Goelz, Kurt S. Wilcox, Craig Raleigh
  • Patent number: 9874341
    Abstract: A sensor module for a lighting fixture includes a module housing configured to be mounted to a lighting fixture, a light sensor mounted in the module housing, and a sensor cover over the light sensor. The sensor cover includes a first surface oriented to face a task surface within an area of interest, and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface includes a first Fresnel lens having a number of Fresnel ridges oriented in a first direction. The second surface includes a second Fresnel lens having a number of Fresnel ridges oriented in a second direction, which is different from the first direction. Providing the first Fresnel lens and the second Fresnel lens with differently oriented Fresnel ridges allows the sensor cover to focus light from a relatively large portion of the task surface to the light sensor while remaining small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Hong Lim, Kurt S. Wilcox, Jason Taylor
  • Patent number: 9841154
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a luminaire comprises a luminaire housing, at least one LED disposed within the luminaire housing, and an LED driver circuit disposed within a driver housing. The driver housing comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein at least a part of the inner portion is disposed between the LED driver circuit and the outer portion and wherein the LED driver circuit is in thermal communication with the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Sorenson, Andrew Dan Bendtsen, Kurt S. Wilcox, David P. Goelz
  • Patent number: 9835317
    Abstract: According to one aspect, an optical waveguide comprises a plurality of coupling cavities for directing light into a waveguide body spaced from a particular point. Further, each of the coupling cavities comprises a dimension that varies with distance from the particular point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Zongjie Yuan, Corey J. Goldstein, Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20170336554
    Abstract: An optical waveguide includes a body of optically transmissive material having a width substantially greater than an overall thickness thereof and including a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a central bore extending between the first and second sides and adapted to receive a light emitting diode, and extraction features on the second side. A light diverter extends into the central bore for diverting light into and generally along the width of the body of material. The extraction features direct light out of the first side and wherein at least one extraction feature has an extraction surface dimension transverse to the thickness that is between about 5% and about 75% the overall thickness of the body of material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Zongjie Yuan, Kurt S. Wilcox, Eric J. Tarsa, Fabian Jean-Daniel Rol, James Ibbetson, Bernd P. Keller
  • Patent number: 9823408
    Abstract: An optical waveguide includes a body of optically transmissive material having a width substantially greater than an overall thickness thereof. The body of material has a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a plurality of interior bores extending between the first and second sides each adapted to receive a light emitting diode. Extraction features are disposed on the second side and the extraction features direct light out of at least the first side and at least one extraction feature forms a taper disposed at an outer portion of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Zongjie Yuan, Kurt S. Wilcox, Eric J. Tarsa, Fabian Jean-Daniel Rol, James Ibbetson, Bernd P. Keller, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9826581
    Abstract: Solid state lighting apparatuses, systems, and related methods are described. A solid state lighting apparatus includes an array of solid state light emitters arranged on or over the substrate and a plurality of driving components arranged on or over the substrate. The driving components are configured to independently activate and deactivate at least some of the solid state light emitters of the array of solid state light emitters during a portion of an alternating current (AC) cycle. A method of providing a solid state lighting apparatus includes providing a substrate, mounting an array of solid state light emitters on or over the substrate, and providing a plurality of driving components on or over the substrate. A solid state lighting system includes a solid state lighting apparatus having an array of solid state light emitters, driving components, and a rectifying circuit for rectifying current supplied to the driving components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Allen Johnson, Andrew Dan Bendtsen, Christopher P. Hussell, Kurt S. Wilcox, Craig William Hardin