Patents by Inventor Michael Lay

Michael Lay 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: 10823347
    Abstract: A modular troffer-style fixture particularly well-suited for use with solid state light sources. The fixture comprises a reflector that includes parallel rails running along its length, providing a mount mechanism and structural support. An exposed heat sink is disposed proximate to the reflector. The portion of the heat sink facing the reflector functions as a mount surface for the light sources. The heat sink is hollow through the center in the longitudinal direction. The hollow portion defines a conduit through which electrical conductors can be run to power light emitters. One or more light sources disposed along the heat sink mount surface emit light toward the reflector where it can be mixed and/or shaped before it is emitted from the troffer as useful light. End caps are arranged at both ends of the reflector and heat sink, allowing for the easy connection of multiple units in a serial arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ideal Industries Lighting LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Snell, James Michael Lay, Nick Nguyen, Patrick John O'Flaherty
  • Patent number: 10788176
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to LED based lighting systems, such as surface mounted lighting systems and lighting systems that can connected to an existing grid structure. These lighting systems can be utilized in many settings, for example, as primary lighting systems for a commercial building and for retrofit lighting improvement purposes. Devices according to the present disclosure provide lighting systems capable of mounting to an existing surface, such as a T-bar ceiling structure. These devices can further comprise modular elements which facilitate connections of multiple lighting body components, allowing for multiple lighting arrangements and providing a cost effective and easily configurable lighting design. In some embodiments, multiple lighting components can be attached together by movable joints, allowing further user control over light distribution from the lighting systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ideal Industries Lighting LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas William Medendorp, Jr., James Michael Lay, Randall Levy Bernard
  • Publication number: 20200271290
    Abstract: An edge lit fixture. A light engine comprises a compartment and at least one elongated lens that are attachable to a mount plate. The mount plate, an exterior surface of the compartment, and the lens define an internal optical cavity. A light strip is mounted to the mount plate within the optical cavity. One or more legs can be used to attach the fixture to an external surface, such as a ceiling T-grid. The light engine can be used with legs of varying size such that it can fit within ceiling openings having different dimensions. The assembled fixture defines an open area. One or more light engines are arranged around or through the open area such that light is emitted into the open area. The open area of the fixture allows for existing materials, such as a ceiling tile, for example, to function as a back side reflector panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Randy Bernard, Nathan Snell, James Michael Lay, S. Scott Pratt
  • Patent number: 10690305
    Abstract: An edge lit fixture. A light engine comprises a compartment and at least one elongated lens that are attachable to a mount plate. The mount plate, an exterior surface of the compartment, and the lens define an internal optical cavity. A light strip is mounted to the mount plate within the optical cavity. One or more legs can be used to attach the fixture to an external surface, such as a ceiling T-grid. The light engine can be used with legs of varying size such that it can fit within ceiling openings having different dimensions. The assembled fixture defines an open area. One or more light engines are arranged around or through the open area such that light is emitted into the open area. The open area of the fixture allows for existing materials, such as a ceiling tile, for example, to function as a back side reflector panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC
    Inventors: Randy Bernard, Nathan Snell, James Michael Lay, S. Scott Pratt
  • Patent number: 10688315
    Abstract: Modulated light therapy devices for treatment of dermatological disorders of the scalp are provided. An exemplary device includes a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) supporting at least one light emitting device having an emitter height. The FPCB includes multiple interconnected panels and bending regions defined in and between at least some of the interconnected panels as to allow the FPCB to be configured in a concave shape to cover at least a portion of a cranial vertex of the patient. At least one light-transmissive layer proximate to the FPCB is configured to transmit (e.g., incoherent) light emissions generated by at least one light emitting device. At least one standoff is configured to be arranged between the FPCB and the scalp of the patient, wherein the at least one standoff includes a standoff height that exceeds the emitter height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Know Bio, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas William Medendorp, Jr., Gerald H. Negley, Matthew Carl Reynolds, James Michael Lay
  • Publication number: 20200158315
    Abstract: Lighting retrofit systems and methods are disclosed that can be used with different light fixtures, but that are particularly adapted for use with retrofitting troffer-style fixtures with LED based light engines. The retrofit systems being assembled without disturbing the lighting or troffer pan or housing (“troffer pan”) for the lighting system being retrofitted. Some of these embodiments can comprise a mounting fixture or frame that can be mounted in an opening in a ceiling grid, and held in place between the grid and the troffer pan edge. The fixture or frame can comprise an opening for a light engine, with the engine being quickly and easily connected to electrical power in the troffer pan and then mountable within the frame opening. These embodiments can allow for the quick and easy construction of the retrofit system without the need for adhesives and fasteners such brackets and screws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: S. Scott Pratt, Patrick O'Flaherty, James Michael Lay, Nathan Snell
  • Patent number: 10584860
    Abstract: A modular troffer-style fixture that is well-suited for use with solid state light sources, such as LEDs, to provide a surface ambient light (SAL). The fixture comprises two structural components: a housing subassembly and a lighting subassembly. These two subassemblies may be removably attached to operate as a singular fixture. Many different lighting subassemblies may be compatible with a single housing subassembly and vice versa. The housing subassembly comprises a body that is mountable to an external structure. The lighting subassembly comprises the light sources and optical elements that tailor the light to achieve a particular profile. Electronics necessary to power and control the light sources may be disposed in the housing subassembly, the lighting subassembly, or both. Various mount mechanisms may be used to attach the fixture to a surface such as a ceiling or a wall. Multiple fixtures can be connected serially to provide an extended continuous fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: IDEAL INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Laird Dungan, James Michael Lay, Nathan Snell, Gary David Trott
  • Publication number: 20200056911
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a field device of automation technology, comprising a housing and a sensor unit sensitive for a process variable of a medium. The housing has a passageway to accommodate the sensor unit and the sensor unit protrudes from the housing through a terminal opening of the passageway. A clamping angle and a screw are introduced into the housing in a region of the housing adjoining the opening of the passageway. By means of the screw the clamping angle is shiftable in the housing a predeterminable distance in the direction of the sensor unit, and the clamping angle shifted in the direction of the sensor unit is embodied to press with a first clamping angle section of the clamping angle radially on a clamping region of the sensor unit arranged in the housing and facing the opening of the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Lais, Raphael Schonhardt
  • Patent number: 10544925
    Abstract: Lighting retrofit systems and methods are disclosed that can be used with different light fixtures, but that are particularly adapted for use with retrofitting troffer-style fixtures with LED based light engines. The retrofit systems being assembled without disturbing the lighting or troffer pan or housing (“troffer pan”) for the lighting system being retrofitted. Some of these embodiments can comprise a mounting fixture or frame that can be mounted in an opening in a ceiling grid, and held in place between the grid and the troffer pan edge. The fixture or frame can comprise an opening for a light engine, with the engine being quickly and easily connected to electrical power in the troffer pan and then mountable within the frame opening. These embodiments can allow for the quick and easy construction of the retrofit system without the need for adhesives and fasteners such brackets and screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ideal Industries Lighting LLC
    Inventors: S. Scott Pratt, Patrick O'Flaherty, James Michael Lay, Nathan Snell
  • Publication number: 20190360847
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a connecting element for electrical connecting two electrical modules arranged in a transmitter housing of a field device, into which transmitter housing the connecting element is insertable, the connecting element including: at least two essentially rod-shaped metal conductor elements, each with two opposing end sections, wherein the conductor elements are arranged in a defined separation relative to one another; and surrounding the conductor elements and electrically insulating them from one another, a multi-membered insulating body including two insulating body end segments of at least a first synthetic material and an insulating body intermediate segment of a second synthetic material different from the first synthetic material, wherein the first synthetic material has a modulus of elasticity greater than a modulus of elasticity of the second synthetic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Jürgen Tanner, Michael Lais, Philipp Reichert
  • Publication number: 20190206621
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for fastening a capacitor cup within which a capacitor is accommodated. The arrangement is for fastening a capacitor cup onto an opening of a mid-plate, wherein the capacitor cup comprises a cylindrical body having an opening end and an opposite end. The arrangement comprises: a collar provided on an outer surface of the cylindrical body, closely around the opening end; at least one first engagement feature formed at the outer surface of the cylindrical body and adjacent to the collar; and, at least one second engagement feature, corresponding to the first engagement feature, formed at an edge of the opening of the mid-plate; wherein, an engagement between the first and second engagement features fastens the capacitor cup onto the opening of the mid-plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Donovan Gray, George Miller, Shawn Rink, Michael Lai, Stephen Ray Larsen
  • Patent number: 10324693
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing multiple invocations of a graphics processing unit (GPU) program in Java. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a frontend component in a computer system and configured to compile Java bytecode associated with the a class object that implements a functional interface into Intermediate Representation (IR) code and store the IR code with the associated jogArray and (2) a collector/composer component in the computer system, associated with the frontend and configured to traverse a tree containing the multiple invocations from the result to collect the IR code and compose the IR code collected in the traversing into aggregate IR code when a result of the GPU program is explicitly requested to be transferred to a host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lai, Vinod Grover, Sean Lee, Jaydeep Marathe
  • Patent number: 10203088
    Abstract: A direct and back view LED lighting system is disclosed. Embodiments of a lighting system and example light fixture are described. LED devices provide the light source. The LED devices can be positioned with a heatsink at or near the top of the system proximate to a back reflector. In example embodiments, the LED devices emit light downward. The system can be used in a troffer style fixture with a support structure and a pan. The system or fixture can have a lens arrangement including lenses, lens plates or sections with differing optical characteristics, including a partially reflective lens plate or section that passes and diffuses some light from the LED light source, but reflects some light back to the back reflector. Additional lenses or lens plates serve as diffusers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Lay, Paul Kenneth Pickard
  • Patent number: 10168240
    Abstract: A measuring transducer for metrological registering of a pressure to be measured as relative pressure referenced to a reference pressure reigning in the environment of the measuring transducer, comprising: a housing; a relative pressure sensor arranged in the housing; a pressure supply, via which the pressure to be measured is fed to the relative pressure sensor, and a reference pressure supply, via which the reference pressure is fed to the relative pressure sensor. An entrance of and to the reference pressure supply communicates with an opening in a housing outer wall, on whose exterior the reference pressure acts, characterized in that a pressure equalizing element is applied in the entrance of the reference pressure supply, and the pressure equalizing element has a securement element, a filter element and a protective cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER SE+CO.KG
    Inventors: Raphael Schonhardt, Michael Lais
  • Publication number: 20180350350
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein are generally directed towards systems and methods relating to a crowd-sourced digital assistant system and related methods. In particular, embodiments facilitate techniques to crowdsource the training of a language model of the crowd-sourced digital assistant system. The digital assistant device can generate new action datasets based on manual inputs detected by the digital assistant device. The manual inputs can be recorded as a set of instructions, which can be interpreted by another digital assistant device to reproduce the detected manual inputs based on a command received by the other digital assistant device. The digital assistant server can receive action datasets, maintain action datasets, and distribute action datasets to one or more digital assistant devices. In various embodiments, the digital assistant device or server can also determine whether received action datasets are related.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Robinson, Michael Lai
  • Publication number: 20180184811
    Abstract: An adjustable base is provided that includes a fixed frame and an articulating frame connected to the fixed frame. The articulating frame includes an upper body frame pivotally connected to the upper section of the fixed frame, a seat frame pivotally connected to the upper body frame and movable along a central section of the fixed frame, and a leg frame pivotally connected to the fixed frame. An actuator is further included and has a first end connected to the seat frame adjacent to the leg frame and a second end that is connected to a linkage attached to the articulating frame. Upon activation of the actuator, the upper body frame is articulated upward and the seat frame moves linearly along the central section of the fixed frame toward the upper section of the fixed frame. Systems and methods for controlling an adjustable base assembly are further provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: Tempur-Pedic Management, LLC
    Inventors: Mario A.G. Nava, Horace R. Eskridge, III, Samuel K. Pollock, Daniel S. Powell, Michael Lay, Leslie A. Burton, Paul E. Griese, Daniel Boyko, Gerald J. Mullins, Voleti Lohit, Gary Lee Noe, Chi L. Chau, Heather P. Shimonishi, Jonathan D. Riley, Jean C. Deboard, Aaron M. Lambert, Shalom D. Greene, Joshua O. Coots
  • Patent number: 9958122
    Abstract: A driver module is configured to generate the drive signals necessary to drive an LED or an array of LEDs of one or more LED luminaires. The driver module may, but need not, be located remotely from the LED luminaires. Since the driver module provides the drive signals, the LED luminaires do not need to have their own driver electronics, and as such, can be rendered in a more aesthetically pleasing and cost effective manner. As an example, the driver module may be located within a junction box or escutcheon plate associated with a light fixture and the LED luminaires can be mounted in the existing sockets of the light fixture. The internal wiring of the light fixture may be used to carry the drive signals provided by the driver module to the LED luminaires via the sockets of the light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Demuynck, James Michael Lay
  • Patent number: D826416
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: PHOTONMD, INC.
    Inventors: James Michael Lay, Matthew Carl Reynolds, Owen Lewis Joyce, Ryan Goffrid Springer
  • Patent number: D833025
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: PHOTONMD, INC.
    Inventors: James Michael Lay, Nicholas William Medendorp, Jr., Owen Lewis Joyce
  • Patent number: D849959
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: PHOTONMD, INC.
    Inventors: James Michael Lay, Nicholas William Medendorp, Jr., Owen Lewis Joyce