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: 9798072
    Abstract: According to one aspect, an optical waveguide comprises a waveguide body exhibiting total internal reflection, a substrate, and a plurality of light extraction features disposed on a surface of the substrate. The light extraction features are non-adhesively bonded to the waveguide body or may be disposed on opposing sides of the substrate. A method of forming an optical element is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Wilcenski, Kurt S. Wilcox, Theodore Lowes
  • Patent number: 9788378
    Abstract: According to one aspect, an LED operating network comprises a first circuit board made of a fiberglass reinforced epoxy laminate having power connection terminals that receive AC power, a rectification element, and at least one of a surge protection element and a fuse element. A second circuit board is made of a heat-dissipative material that receives rectified AC electrical power comprising a plurality of cycles from the first circuit board and having a plurality of LED dies and at least one LED driver circuit. The LEDs are turned on at different points during each of the plurality of cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Dan Bendtsen, Kurt S. Wilcox, John Sobieski
  • Patent number: 9773760
    Abstract: According to one aspect, an LED package comprises a plurality of LEDs and a primary optic disposed adjacent the LEDs wherein the primary optic includes protrusions for mixing light developed by the plurality of LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd P. Keller, Eric J. Tarsa, Zongjie Yuan, Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20170219762
    Abstract: A waveguide body comprises a body of optically transmissive material further comprising an input surface for light to enter the body of optically transmissive material along a light path. The body of optically transmissive material is curved and has an inflection region that extends transverse to the light path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, John W. Durkee, Craig D. Raleigh, Joseph P. Chobot
  • Publication number: 20170212291
    Abstract: A luminaire comprises an optical element. The optical element comprises a coupling portion that comprises a coupling cavity that extends along a length of the optical element. The coupling cavity is configured to receive at least one light emitting diode. The optical element further comprises first and second sections extending away from the coupling portion of the optical element along the length of the coupling cavity. The first section comprises a first thickness closer to the coupling portion and a second thickness further from the coupling portion. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The second section comprises a third thickness closer to the coupling portion and a fourth thickness further from the coupling portion. The third thickness is greater than the fourth thickness. Light is extracted out of extraction features of opposing sides of at least one section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: John W. Durkee, Kurt S. Wilcox, Eric J. Tarsa
  • Patent number: 9709725
    Abstract: An optical waveguide having orthogonal x- and y-dimensions includes at least one coupling feature for directing light into the waveguide, at least one light redirection feature extending in the x- and y-dimensions for redirecting light in the waveguide, at least one first light extraction feature extending in the x-dimension for extracting light out of the waveguide, and at least one second light extraction feature extending in the y-dimension for extracting light out of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    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
  • Patent number: 9690029
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a waveguide comprises a waveguide body further comprising a first face and a second face opposite the first face and a coupling cavity comprising an extent between the first and second faces and defined by at least one light coupling feature that extends between the first and second faces. The coupling cavity is adapted to receive a light emitting diode and the coupling cavity is noncircular and nonrectangular in a cross-section perpendicular to the extent of the coupling cavity. Further, the at least one light coupling feature comprises at least one protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd P. Keller, Eric J. Tarsa, Zongjie Yuan, Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 9689552
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus including an LED light emitter having an axis. The apparatus comprising a first lens over the emitter a second lens spaced over the first lens. The first lens is configured to direct LED-emitted light primarily toward a preferential radial side with respect to the emitter axis. The first lens may be an asymmetric primary lens. The first lens may have a centerline which is offset from the emitter axis toward the preferential radial side. Alternatively or in addition, the first lens may have an outer surface configured to direct LED-emitted light primarily toward the preferential radial side. The second lens may be asymmetric and be configured to further direct the light primarily toward the preferential radial side. The secondary lens may include inner and outer surfaces each shaped to direct received light primarily toward the preferential side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Bernd Keller, Ted Lowes, Peter S. Andrews, Christopher Strom
  • Publication number: 20170168221
    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: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    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: 9657918
    Abstract: A lighting fixture includes a front end-portion having an edge defining a light opening and a back end-portion spaced from the opening which has a centerline. At least one LED emitter on the mounting board disposed at the back end-portion for directing light toward the opening, the emitter(s) being off-centerline in a first lateral direction. A lens for the emitter(s), the lens being configured for distribution of light from the emitter(s) primarily in a second lateral direction which is opposite the first lateral direction such that the light passes through the light opening at a portion of the edge that is off-centerline in the second lateral direction, thereby to widen the illumination angle from the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Mario Alberto Castillo
  • Patent number: 9625636
    Abstract: A waveguide body comprises a length from a first end to a second end. The waveguide body further comprises a central section extending along the entire length of the waveguide body and comprising a first thickness. First and second opposed side sections extend away from the central section along the length of the waveguide body and comprise second and third thicknesses, respectively, less than the first thickness. A coupling portion is located in the central section, wherein the coupling portion comprises first and second coupling surfaces defining at least in part an elongate coupling cavity extending along the length of the waveguide body. The coupling portion further comprises first and second control surfaces, and the first and second coupling surfaces are configured to direct light onto the first and second control surfaces. The first and second control surfaces are configured to direct light into at least one of the first and second side sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Durkee, Kurt S. Wilcox, Eric J. Tarsa
  • Publication number: 20170082269
    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: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Mario A. Castillo, Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 9587790
    Abstract: Solid state light emitting devices include lumiphor elements that are spatially segregated from electrically activated solid state emitters with an intermediately arranged optical element (including but not limited to a dichroic filter). Curved or faceted optical elements, and curved or faceted reflectors, may be employed. Multiple solid state emitters may be arranged in multiple reflector cups or recesses. Characteristics of optical elements and/or lumiphor elements of such devices may be varied with respect to angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Pickard, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 9581751
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Zongjie Yuan, Kurt S. Wilcox, Eric J. Tarsa, Fabian Jean-Daniel Rol, James Ibbetson, Bernd P. Keller
  • Patent number: 9581750
    Abstract: A luminaire for use in lighting a large open space such as a parking lot or deck of a parking garage includes a plurality of optical waveguides disposed in side-by-side relationship and together defining a closed path and at least one LED associated with each optical waveguide and disposed at a first end of the associated optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    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: 9568662
    Abstract: An optical waveguide body includes first and second pluralities of light extraction features disposed on a first side of the waveguide body and adapted to direct light out of the waveguide body through a second side of the waveguide body opposite the first side. Each of the first plurality of light extraction features has a linear shape and each of the second plurality of light extraction features has at least one of a piecewise linear shape and a nonlinear shape. The piecewise linear shape comprises two adjacent planar surfaces with an angle therebetween of at least about 30 and at most about 180 degrees. The waveguide body further has a light coupling cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Hong Lim, Jason Taylor, Kurt S. Wilcox, Zongjie Yuan, John W. Durkee
  • Patent number: D777368
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Scott Pratt, William L. Dungan, Kurt S. Wilcox, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., Brian Kinnune, Gary David Trott, Mario A. Castillo
  • Patent number: D781486
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Scott Pratt, William L. Dungan, Kurt S. Wilcox, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Brian Kinnune, Gary David Trott, Mario A. Castillo
  • Patent number: D782725
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kinnune, David P. Goelz, Kurt S. Wilcox, Andrew Dan Bendtsen, Sandeep Pawar
  • Patent number: D783885
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kinnune, David P. Goelz, Kurt S. Wilcox, Andrew Dan Bendtsen, Sandeep Pawar