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).

  • Publication number: 20160195252
    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: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Jin Hong Lim, Andrew Bendtsen, Mike Walters
  • Publication number: 20160187555
    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: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Zongjie Yuan, Corey J. Goldstein, Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20160186970
    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: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Jeremy Sorenson, Andrew Dan Bendtsen, Kurt S. Wilcox, David P. Goelz
  • Patent number: 9366799
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a luminaire comprises a waveguide body including a central section and first and second separate side sections extending away from the central section along first and second opposed directions, respectively. The central section includes a coupling portion and the waveguide body has a length and includes a plurality of light extraction features that extract light out of the side sections. At least one LED is disposed adjacent the coupling portion and is operated by a power circuit to produce light that is directed into the waveguide body by the coupling portion. At least one structural member extends along the length of the waveguide body for supporting the waveguide body and encloses at least one of the power circuit and the at least one LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, John W. Durkee, James Michael Lay, Shawn Heeter, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., James McBryde
  • Patent number: 9366396
    Abstract: An optical waveguide includes a body of optically transmissive material defined by outer edges and having a width substantially greater than an overall thickness thereof. The body of optically transmissive material includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side. An interior coupling cavity is defined by a surface intersecting the second side and extends from the second side toward the first side. The interior coupling cavity is disposed remote from edges of the body and is configured to receive an LED element. The body of optically transmissive material further includes a first array of light mixing cavities surrounding the interior coupling cavity and an extraction feature disposed on one of the first and second sides. The light extraction feature at least partially surrounds the interior coupling cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Zongjie Yuan, Jiayin Ma, Kurt S. Wilcox, Eric J. Tarsa
  • Publication number: 20160165680
    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: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Jeremy Allen Johnson, Andrew Dan Bendtson, Christopher P. Hussell, Kurt S. Wilcox, Craig William Hardin
  • Publication number: 20160153649
    Abstract: An LED light fixture including a housing portion and a base together defining an open space therebetween permitting air/water-flow therethrough. The housing portion forms a chamber enclosing at least one driver. The base extends from the housing portion and supports at least one LED illuminator outside the chamber. The housing portion and the base may each be formed as part of a one piece with the open space along at least three sides of the base. Alternatively, the base may be a separate structure secured with respect to the housing. Such base may be a single-piece extrusion supporting a plurality of LED modules or comprise a plurality of extruded heat sinks. Each heat sink may support one or more LED modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Brian Kinnune, Nathan Snell, Jeremy Sorenson, Corey Goldstein, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160124135
    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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: John W. Durkee, Kurt S. Wilcox, Eric J. Tarsa
  • Publication number: 20160116135
    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: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Bernd Keller, Ted Lowes, Peter S. Andrews, Christopher Strom
  • Patent number: 9300062
    Abstract: Attachment devices and methods for use with light emitting devices are provided. In one aspect, the light emitting device can include a submount and a light emission area disposed over the submount. The device can further include at least one attachment member provided on the submount. The attachment member can engage an electrical component thereby providing a gas-tight, solder free connection between the attachment member and electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher P. Hussell, Kurt S. Wilcox, Peter Scott Andrews, Jesse Colin Reiherzer
  • Publication number: 20160047969
    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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Jin Hong Lim, Jason Taylor, Kurt S. Wilcox, Zongjie Yuan, John W. Durkee
  • Patent number: 9261270
    Abstract: A light fixture comprising a chamber, at least one power-circuitry driver within the chamber, at least one LED module outside the chamber, and at least one air gap between the chamber and the at least one LED module, the air gap permitting air/water-flow therethrough. The chamber is defined by a housing. The at least one LED module is on an LED heat sink outside the chamber. The housing defines the air gap permitting air/water-flow to and from the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Kurt S. Wilcox, Steven R. Walczak, Wayne Guillien
  • Patent number: 9255705
    Abstract: An LED lighting fixture comprising a housing portion and a light-emitting portion supporting at least one illuminator, the housing portion and the light-emitting portion defining an open space therebetween permitting air/water-flow therethrough. In some embodiments, at least one wall extends within the open space and open for air/water-flow along at least two sides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Brian Kinnune, Nathan Snell, Jeremy Sorenson, Corey Goldstein, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9255686
    Abstract: Lighting apparatus having a first lens over the LED emitter and a second lens over the first lens, and including: a first optical surface which is a first-lens outer surface configured to refract light from the emitter; a second optical surface which is a second-lens inner surface spaced from the first optical surface; and a third optical surface which is a second-lens outer surface configured to refract light from the second optical surface toward a preferential side. One embodiment includes asymmetric primary and secondary lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Bernd Keller, Ted Lowes, Peter S. Andrews, Christopher Strom
  • Patent number: 9243794
    Abstract: An LED light fixture including a housing and an LED assembly secured with respect to the housing. The LED assembly includes a heat sink and an LED illuminator secured with respect to an LED-supporting region of the heat sink with heat-dissipating surfaces extending therefrom. The heat sink having front, rear and lateral sides and being open to ambient-fluid flow to and from the heat-dissipating surfaces along each of the sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Brian Kinnune, Nathan Snell
  • Patent number: 9243793
    Abstract: An LED lighting fixture including a one-piece housing portion having a hollow interior cavity defined by a substantially planar interior backwall surface and a surrounding wall extending therefrom to a forward edge. An LED illuminator is on the substantially planar interior backwall surface, a backwall being a heat sink for transferring heat away from the LED illuminator during operation. A one-piece reflector member extends forwardly from the backwall interior surface and substantially across the housing portion to the surrounding wall. The reflector member has a reflector cup and an outward flange secured with respect to the surrounding wall at the forward edge thereof. The reflector cup defines an aperture configured and positioned such that the LED illuminator is exposed therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Wayne Guillien, Frank Tsao
  • Publication number: 20160018584
    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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Zongjie Yuan, Kurt S. Wilcox, Eric J. Tarsa, Fabian Jean-Daniel Rol, James Ibbetson, Bernd P. Keller, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR.
  • Patent number: D749776
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, John W. Durkee, James Michael Lay
  • Patent number: D757348
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, John W. Durkee, James Michael Lay
  • Patent number: D757349
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, John W. Durkee, James Michael Lay