Patents by Inventor Nicholas W. Medendorp

Nicholas W. Medendorp 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: 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: 9241384
    Abstract: A solid state lighting device includes multiple solid state light emitters and a control circuit configured to adjust aggregated emissions to produce a mixture of light having an adjustable color point together with high luminous efficacy, wherein at least one color point is on or near the white body line WBL (line of minimum tint). Adjustment of color point may provide substantially constant 1931 CIE x-values; substantially constant 1931 CIE y-values, or substantially constant distance relative to the blackbody locus (e.g., with variation in CCT of at least 100K for the color points). An adjustable color point may be arranged to transition between one point near the BBL and another point on or near the WBL. An adjustable color point may provide a first color point on or near the WBL and another point having different CCT and luminous flux. Emitters selected solely from discrete bins or subregions of a CIE diagram may be used in combination to yield a point on or near the WBL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Antony Paul van de Ven, Benjamin A. Jacobson, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9217553
    Abstract: A lighting system may include a substrate and a light emitting device (LED) on the substrate, and the light emitting device may be configured to transmit light having a first wavelength along a path away from the substrate. A remote reflector may be spaced apart from the light emitting device, and the light emitting device may be between the substrate and the remote reflector. The remote reflector may also be in the path of the light having the first wavelength transmitted by light emitting device. A luminescent layer may be on a surface of the remote reflector, and the luminescent layer may be configured to convert a portion of the light having the first wavelength to light having a second wavelength different than the first wavelength. Moreover, the remote reflector may be configured to reflect light having the first and second wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9217542
    Abstract: A lamp comprising a solid state light emitter, the lamp being an A lamp and providing a wall plug efficiency of at least 90 lumens per watt. Also, a lamp comprising a solid state light emitter and a power supply, the emitter being mounted on a heat dissipation element, the dissipation element being spaced from the power supply. Also, a lamp, comprising a solid state light emitter and a heat dissipation element that has a heat dissipation chamber, whereby an ambient medium can enter the chamber, pass through the chamber, and exit. Also, a lamp, comprising a light emissive housing at least one solid state lighting emitter and a first heat dissipation element. Also, a lamp comprising a heat sink comprising a heat dissipation chamber. Also, a lamp comprising first and second heat dissipation elements. Also, a lamp comprising means for creating flow of ambient fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Pickard, Gerald H. Negley, Antony Paul Van De Ven, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9212812
    Abstract: An LED light fixture including a housing, a heat sink secured with respect to the housing and an LED illuminator secured with respect to the heat sink. The heat sink includes central and peripheral portions. The central portion has an LED-supporting surface and forward, rearward and lateral sides, the LED illuminator being at the LED-supporting surface. The peripheral portion extends laterally from the lateral sides. The central portion of the heat sink has downwardly-extending shield members at the lateral sides thereof configured and dimensioned to block illumination in a direction opposite the LED illuminator. In embodiments where the optical member is configured for directing emitter light predominantly toward the forward side, the central heat-sink portion has a downwardly-extending shield member at the rearward side thereof configured and dimensioned to block rearward illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kinnune, Nathan Snell, Corey Goldstein, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9215761
    Abstract: Solid state lighting devices include at least one electrically activated solid state light emitter and at least one lumiphor (or multiple electrically activated emitters optionally devoid of a lumiphor), with resulting emissions arranged to attain a color point in a desired CCT range (e.g., from 2,500K to 10,000K) that is non-coincident with a blackbody or Planckian locus, preferably with a negative Planckian offset Delta u?v? value (below the Planckian locus) according to a CIE 1976 chromaticity diagram, such as a value in a range of no greater than negative 0.01.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Antony Paul van de Ven, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9195095
    Abstract: A LED lighting device includes at least one waveguide element and multiple light-emitting sources such as LEDs or LED packages, which may be optically coupled though different light entry regions to the at least one waveguide. Multiple light solid state sources may be arranged in strips. A waveguide system includes first and second body structures each positioned to illuminate at least a portion of a target surface. One or more waveguides may be arranged to illuminate a LCD panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., Norbert Hiller, Russell G. Villard
  • Publication number: 20150334789
    Abstract: Solid state lighting devices include at least one electrically activated solid state light emitter and at least one lumiphor (or multiple electrically activated emitters optionally devoid of a lumiphor), with resulting emissions arranged to attain a color point in a desired CCT range (e.g., from 2,500K to 10,000K) that is non-coincident with a blackbody or Planckian locus, preferably with a negative Planckian offset Delta u?v? value (below the Planckian locus) according to a CIE 1976 chromaticity diagram, such as a value in a range of no greater than negative 0.01.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Antony Paul van de Ven, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150316249
    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: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Kinnune, Sandeep Pawar, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR., David P. Goelz, Nathan Snell
  • Publication number: 20150312990
    Abstract: A solid state lighting device includes multiple solid state light emitters and a control circuit configured to adjust aggregated emissions to produce a mixture of light having an adjustable color point together with high luminous efficacy, wherein at least one color point is on or near the white body line WBL (line of minimum tint). Adjustment of color point may provide substantially constant 1931 CIE x-values; substantially constant 1931 CIE y-values, or substantially constant distance relative to the blackbody locus (e.g., with variation in CCT of at least 100K for the color points). An adjustable color point may be arranged to transition between one point near the BBL and another point on or near the WBL. An adjustable color point may provide a first color point on or near the WBL and another point having different CCT and luminous flux. Emitters selected solely from discrete bins or subregions of a CIE diagram may be used in combination to yield a point on or near the WBL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Antony Paul van de Ven, Benjamin A. Jacobson, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR.
  • Patent number: 9151457
    Abstract: A lighting device comprising a junction box, a trim element and a solid state light emitter, at least a portion of a space defined by regions of the trim element within a space defined by regions of the junction box, the light emitter within the trim element space. A lighting device comprising a trim element (with at least two regions) and a solid state light emitter, in which at least a first part of the first region can be positioned in a first space with the second region outside the first space, the light emitter within the first part. A lighting device, comprising a trim element (which comprises at least two regions), part of an exterior of which defines a first space, at least a first part of the first region within the first space, a solid state light emitter within the first part. Methods of installing a light emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Pickard, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., Mark D. Edmond, Dong Lu, Curt Progl, Mark Dixon
  • Patent number: 9151477
    Abstract: A lighting device configured to be held relative to a space extending from an opening in a first surface. A distance between first and second emitters and/or a dimension of a lens is/are larger than a largest dimension of the opening and/or a largest dimension of a power supply. Also, a bracket comprising a body member and at least two mounting clips, the body member configured to be attached to a lighting device, each mounting clip pivotable about respective pivot axes at least from a first position, where a first end region of the clip does not extend farther from an axis of the body member than all portions of the body member, to a second position, where the first end region of the clip extends farther from the axis of the body member than all portions of the body member. Also, a lighting device comprising a removable bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Pickard, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr., Mark D. Edmond, Dong Lu, Curt Progl, Mark Dixon, Spencer Scott Pratt, Nathan R. Snell, James Michael Lay
  • Publication number: 20150276125
    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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: S. Scott Pratt, Nathan Snell, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150276137
    Abstract: An LED lamp includes an elongated at least partially optically transmissive enclosure having a first end and a second end. LEDs are located in the enclosure and are operable to emit light through the enclosure when energized through an electrical path. A first pair of pins are mounted to the first end of the enclosure and a second pair of pins are mounted to the second end of the enclosure, the pins being in the electrical path. The LEDs are mounted on an LED board. A support structure for supporting the LED board is formed as one-piece with the enclosure and is formed of an optical material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Randolph C. Demuynck, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150276140
    Abstract: An LED lamp includes an elongated at least partially optically transmissive enclosure. The LEDs are mounted on an LED board. The enclosure has a support structure for supporting the LED board. The support structure is formed as one-piece with the enclosure and of an optical material. A pair of end caps are secured to the ends of the enclosure using a snap-fit connection. The end caps retain pins for connecting to a light fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Randolph C. Demuynck, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR., John R. Rowlette, JR., David Power, Nick Nguyen, Bart P. Reier, Daniel J. VanEpps, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150253488
    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: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR., Zongjie Yuan, Andrew Dan Bendtsen, Nathan Snell, Jeremy Sorenson, Brian Kinnune, Craig D. Raleigh
  • Publication number: 20150252982
    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: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Randolph Cary Demuynck, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150241050
    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: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Brian Kinnune, Nathan Snell, Jeremy Sorenson, Corey Goldstein, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150236219
    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: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: BERND KELLER, Thomas Cheng-Hsin Yuan, Nicholas W. Medendorp, JR.
  • Patent number: D735902
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Pickard, Nicholas W. Medendorp, Jr.