Patents by Inventor Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.

Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr. 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: 10892383
    Abstract: An LED package comprising a submount having a top and bottom surface with a plurality of top electrically and thermally conductive elements on its top surface. An LED is included on one of the top elements such that an electrical signal applied to the top elements causes the LED to emit light. The electrically conductive elements also spread heat from the LED across the majority of the submount top surface. A bottom thermally conductive element is included on the bottom surface of said submount and spreads heat from the submount, and a lens is formed directly over the LED. A method for fabricating LED packages comprising providing a submount panel sized to be separated into a plurality of LED package submounts. Top conductive elements are formed on one surface of the submount panel for a plurality of LED packages, and LEDs are attached to the top elements. Lenses are molded over the LEDs and the substrate panel is singulated to separate it into a plurality of LED packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd Keller, Thomas Cheng-Hsin Yuan, Nicholas W Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10865958
    Abstract: A luminaire comprises a frame and a plurality of optical waveguides retained by the frame. The optical waveguides bound a cavity, and each comprises: a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end; a coupling portion disposed at the top end; an inner side facing the cavity; and an outer side opposite the inner side. The inner and outer sides are disposed between the top and bottom ends. The luminaire further comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED) associated with each optical waveguide. Each of the LEDs are disposed opposite, and configured to direct light into, the coupling portion of the associated optical waveguide. Each optical waveguide is configured to receive the light via the coupling portion and emit the light primarily from the outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC
    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
  • Publication number: 20200096704
    Abstract: A luminaire comprises a frame and a plurality of optical waveguides retained by the frame. The optical waveguides bound a cavity, and each comprises: a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end; a coupling portion disposed at the top end; an inner side facing the cavity; and an outer side opposite the inner side. The inner and outer sides are disposed between the top and bottom ends. The luminaire further comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED) associated with each optical waveguide. Each of the LEDs are disposed opposite, and configured to direct light into, the coupling portion of the associated optical waveguide. Each optical waveguide is configured to receive the light via the coupling portion and emit the light primarily from the outer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    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: 10527225
    Abstract: Frame and lens upgrade kits for lighting fixtures. A frame bracket defines the frame area, which can be rectangular, for example. A lens frame fits just inside the frame bracket with the lens frame being releasably attached thereto. The frame bracket can be constructed from collapsible frame bracket subassemblies. For example, a rectangular frame bracket may be assembled from first and second collapsible frame bracket subassemblies that fan out and lock together to create a rigid frame bracket. The subassemblies each comprise elongated side and edge brackets that are fastened together such that they can pivot about one another. In some embodiments, one side of the lens frame is attached to a corresponding side of the frame bracket with a rotatable clip that allows the lens frame to swing such that its other side can attach to the bracket frame with an attachment latch, which can be magnetic, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: IDEAL INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: S. Scott Pratt, Nathan Snell, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10502899
    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: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC
    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: 10436969
    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: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ideal Industries Lighting LLC
    Inventors: Zongjie Yuan, Kurt S. Wilcox, Eric J. Tarsa, Fabian Jean-Daniel Rol, James Ibbetson, Bernd P. Keller, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10379278
    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: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC
    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: 10352547
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a lighting device comprising two or more light sources and an optical device configured to enhance uniformity of light emitted from the light sources and emerging from a surface of the optical device, an average distance between light sources less than one half of the square root of the area of the surface divided by the number of light sources. In some embodiments, a fixture structure comprising a reflective structure and a heat conductor in contact with the reflective structure and covering not more than 30 percent of the surface area of the reflective structure. In some embodiments, a lighting device comprising a fixture structure, at least one light source mounted on one substrate, and at least one light source mounted on another substrate. Other fixture structures and lighting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting LLC
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Pickard, Gerald H. Negley, Antony Paul Van De Ven, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10310160
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    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: 10309627
    Abstract: Retrofit systems and methods are disclosed for lighting installations, and in particular, to retrofit systems and methods used to retrofit troffer-style lighting installations with LED light sources. Retrofit systems can be used with different light fixtures, but those described are particularly adapted for use with troffer-style fixtures. These retrofit systems can provide the same amount of light as traditional light fixtures already do, for example 1600-4000 lumens or more. The retrofit systems can be used with many different light sources but are particularly well-suited for use with solid state light sources or light engines, such as those utilizing LEDs. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise a mechanical mounting system for installing an LED light engine within an existing lighting system housing or pan, such as a troffer pan, without penetrating the ceiling plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Shawn Heeter, Vasavi Mandavilli, Yaote Huang, Mark Edward Dixon, Kurt W Wilcox, Nicholas W Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10228111
    Abstract: A direct troffer-style fixture for solid state light sources and pan structures for use in these fixtures. The fixture comprises a door frame assembly that is attached to the pan. The pan housing is defined by a base and two angled side walls. End caps are attached to the side walls. End reflectors extend at an angle away from the end caps and attach to the base. The end caps, the end reflectors, and the base define compartments at both ends of the housing in which components can be housed. A light board is attached to the base using alignment holes in the base and cutout portions of the end reflectors. The multifunctional end reflectors retain elements within the compartments, provide added structural stability to the pan, aid in aligning a light board, and they reflect light that impinges on them toward the open end of the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Randolph Cary Demuynck, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10199360
    Abstract: A wire-bond free semiconductor device with two electrodes both of which are accessible from the bottom side of the device. The device is fabricated with two electrodes that are electrically connected to the oppositely doped epitaxial layers, each of these electrodes having leads with bottom-side access points. This structure allows the device to be biased with an external voltage/current source, obviating the need for wire-bonds or other such connection mechanisms that must be formed at the packaging level. Thus, features that are traditionally added to the device at the packaging level (e.g., phosphor layers or encapsulants) may be included in the wafer level fabrication process. Additionally, the bottom-side electrodes are thick enough to provide primary structural support to the device, eliminating the need to leave the growth substrate as part of the finished device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd Keller, Ashay Chitnis, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., James Ibbetson, Max Batres
  • 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: 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: 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
  • Patent number: 9822951
    Abstract: Light fixtures having light bar elements therein. In order to mimic the size and appearance of fluorescent bulbs in existing troffer-style and surface-mount fixtures, LEDs are may be arranged on light bars with integrated lenses to both diffuse the light and shape the output beam. One or more LEDs can be mounted, sometimes in clusters, along the length of a base of the light bar which can then be inserted into a fixture. An elongated lens is mounted to the base over the LEDs so that light emitted from the LEDs interacts with the lens before it escapes the fixture. These elongated lenses may be extruded from a diffusive material, for example, and can be shaped in various ways. For example, the lenses may be shaped to disperse more light to the sides, i.e., in a direction away from a normal axis that is perpendicular to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Dong Lu, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., Randy Bernard, Paul Kenneth Pickard
  • 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: 9810421
    Abstract: An LED light fixture including at least one LED light source thermally coupled to a heat-conductive structure. The heat-conductive structure having an LED-supporting region and heat-dissipating surfaces extending away therefrom. The at least one LED light source is thermally coupled to the LED-supporting region. The heat-conductive structure defines venting apertures bordering the at least one LED light source to facilitate ambient fluid flow to and from the heat-dissipating surfaces. In some embodiments, the LED light fixture includes a protrusion extending into a corresponding one of the venting apertures and oriented to direct air flow. In certain embodiments, the heat-conductive structure defines a plurality of venting apertures adjacent the at least one LED light source, the heat-dissipating surfaces include fins increasing in height at positions adjacent to the at least one of the venting apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kinnune, Sandeep Pawar, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., David P. Goelz, Nathan Snell
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20170179088
    Abstract: A wire-bond free semiconductor device with two electrodes both of which are accessible from the bottom side of the device. The device is fabricated with two electrodes that are electrically connected to the oppositely doped epitaxial layers, each of these electrodes having leads with bottom-side access points. This structure allows the device to be biased with an external voltage/current source, obviating the need for wire-bonds or other such connection mechanisms that must be formed at the packaging level. Thus, features that are traditionally added to the device at the packaging level (e.g., phosphor layers or encapsulants) may be included in the wafer level fabrication process. Additionally, the bottom-side electrodes are thick enough to provide primary structural support to the device, eliminating the need to leave the growth substrate as part of the finished device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Bernd Keller, Ashay Chitnis, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR., James Ibbetson, Max Batres