Patents by Inventor Paul N. Winberg

Paul N. Winberg 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: 9854749
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for promoting plant growth that combine beam angle control with spectral control. In one embodiment, an optical device can be configured to emit multiple colors of light at particular wavelengths. The optical device may also be configured to generate an emission spectrum with multiple peaks. The spectrum can be selected based on stimulating biological processes of a plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Peter Klase, Dung T. Duong, Emil Radkov, Paul N. Winberg
  • Patent number: 9574743
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide separate optical devices operable to couple to a separate LED, the separate optical device comprising an entrance surface to receive light from a separate LED when the separate optical device is coupled to the separate LED, an exit surface opposite from and a distance from the entrance surface and a set of sidewalls. The exit surface can have at least a minimum area necessary to conserve brightness for a desired half-angle of light projected from the separate optical device. Furthermore, each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that rays having a straight transmission path from the entrance surface to that sidewall reflect to the exit surface with an angle of incidence at the exit surface at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung T. Duong, Paul N. Winberg, Matthew R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20150305252
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for promoting plant growth that combine beam angle control with spectral control. In one embodiment, an optical device can be configured to emit multiple colors of light at particular wavelengths. The optical device may also be configured to generate an emission spectrum with multiple peaks. The spectrum can be selected based on stimulating biological processes of a plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Nicholas Peter Klase, Dung T. Duong, Emil Radkov, Paul N. Winberg
  • Patent number: 9086211
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide optical systems that can mix colors to produce illumination patterns having a large area with uniform color. One embodiment of an optical system can include a set of optical units that each produces an illumination pattern with uniform color and intensity. The optical units are spaced so that the individual illumination patterns overlap to create an overall illumination pattern with an overlap area. In the overlap area, the colors emitted by the individual optical units mix to create a desired color. Embodiments of optical systems can provide beam control so that the optical units emit a high percentage of light in beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung T. Duong, Hyunchul Ko, Randall E. Johnson, Paul N. Winberg, Emil Radkov
  • Patent number: 9060468
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for promoting plant growth that combine beam angle control with spectral control. In one embodiment, an optical device can be configured to emit multiple colors of light at particular wavelengths. The optical device may also be configured to generate an emission spectrum with multiple peaks. The spectrum can be selected based on stimulating biological processes of a plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ILLUMITEX, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Peter Klase, Dung T. Duong, Emil Radkov, Paul N. Winberg
  • Publication number: 20150036358
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide separate optical devices operable to couple to a separate LED, the separate optical device comprising an entrance surface to receive light from a separate LED when the separate optical device is coupled to the separate LED, an exit surface opposite from and a distance from the entrance surface and a set of sidewalls. The exit surface can have at least a minimum area necessary to conserve brightness for a desired half-angle of light projected from the separate optical device. Furthermore, each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that rays having a straight transmission path from the entrance surface to that sidewall reflect to the exit surface with an angle of incidence at the exit surface at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Dung T. Duong, Paul N. Winberg, Matthew R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8896003
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide separate optical devices operable to couple to a separate LED, the separate optical device comprising an entrance surface to receive light from a separate LED when the separate optical device is coupled to the separate LED, an exit surface opposite from and a distance from the entrance surface and a set of sidewalls. The exit surface can have at least a minimum area necessary to conserve brightness for a desired half-angle of light projected from the separate optical device. Furthermore, each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that rays having a straight transmission path from the entrance surface to that sidewall reflect to the exit surface with an angle of incidence at the exit surface at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung T. Duong, Paul N. Winberg, Matthew R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140104832
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide optical systems that can mix colors to produce illumination patterns having a large area with uniform color. One embodiment of an optical system can include a set of optical units that each produces an illumination pattern with uniform color and intensity. The optical units are spaced so that the individual illumination patterns overlap to create an overall illumination pattern with an overlap area. In the overlap area, the colors emitted by the individual optical units mix to create a desired color. Embodiments of optical systems can provide beam control so that the optical units emit a high percentage of light in beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung T. Duong, Hyunchul Ko, Randall E. Johnson, Paul N. Winberg, Emil Radkov
  • Patent number: 8585253
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide optical systems that can mix colors to produce illumination patterns having a large area with uniform color. One embodiment of an optical system can include a set of optical units that each produces an illumination pattern with uniform color and intensity. The optical units are spaced so that the individual illumination patterns overlap to create an overall illumination pattern with an overlap area. In the overlap area, the colors emitted by the individual optical units mix to create a desired color. Embodiments of optical systems can provide beam control so that the optical units emit a high percentage of light in beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung T. Duong, Hyunchul Ko, Randall E. Johnson, Paul N. Winberg, Emil Radkov
  • Patent number: 8449128
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide optical systems utilizing photon conversion materials in conjunction with a light source and an LED. An LED can be positioned in a cavity defined by a base and one or more sidewalls. Phosphors can be disposed on the entrance face of a lens between the entrance face to the lens body and the LED so that light emitted from the LED will be incident on the phosphor and down converted before entering the lens body through the entrance face. The lens can positioned so that the phosphors are separated from the LED by a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunchul Ko, Randall E. Johnson, Dung T. Duong, Paul N. Winberg
  • Patent number: 8452150
    Abstract: An optical fiber holder assembly for holding an optical fiber having any one of several different fiber constructions comprises a base and a fiber clamping mechanism. The clamping mechanism includes a clamping portion configured to clamp the optical fiber, the clamping portion including a first clamping plate hingedly coupled to a portion of the base. A first fiber entrance guide is formed in an entrance end of the fiber clamping mechanism to receive and guide the optical fiber to a first fiber channel formed in the base. A second fiber entrance guide is formed in the entrance end of the fiber clamping mechanism to receive and guide the optical fiber to a second fiber channel formed in the base. The first clamping portion includes first and second compliant gripping pads, the first gripping pad disposed on the base and the second gripping pad disposed in the first clamping plate such that the gripping pads overlap each other when the first clamping plate is placed in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Paul N. Winberg, Donald K. Larson
  • Patent number: 8263993
    Abstract: Embodiments of an LED disclosed has an emitter layer shaped to a controlled depth or height relative to a substrate of the LED to maximize the light output of the LED and to achieve a desired intensity distribution. In some embodiments, the exit face of the LED may be selected to conserve radiance. In some embodiments, shaping the entire LED, including the substrate and sidewalls, or shaping the substrate alone can extract 100% or approximately 100% of the light generated at the emitter layers from the emitter layers. In some embodiments, the total efficiency is at least 90% or above. In some embodiments, the emitter layer can be shaped by etching, mechanical shaping, or a combination of various shaping methods. In some embodiments, only a portion of the emitter layer is shaped to form the tiny emitters. The unshaped portion forms a continuous electrical connection for the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung T. Duong, Paul N. Winberg, Matthew R. Thomas, Elliot M. Pickering, Muhammad Khizar
  • Publication number: 20120218750
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for promoting plant growth that combine beam angle control with spectral control. In one embodiment, an optical device can be configured to emit multiple colors of light at particular wavelengths. The optical device may also be configured to generate an emission spectrum with multiple peaks. The spectrum can be selected based on stimulating biological processes of a plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: ILLUMITEX, INC.
    Inventors: NICHOLAS PETER KLASE, DUNG T. DUONG, EMIL RADKOV, PAUL N. WINBERG
  • Publication number: 20120068615
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide optical systems that can mix colors to produce illumination patterns having a large area with uniform color. One embodiment of an optical system can include a set of optical units that each produces an illumination pattern with uniform color and intensity. The optical units are spaced so that the individual illumination patterns overlap to create an overall illumination pattern with an overlap area. In the overlap area, the colors emitted by the individual optical units mix to create a desired color. Embodiments of optical systems can provide beam control so that the optical units emit a high percentage of light in beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung T. Duong, Hyunchul Ko, Randall E. Johnson, Paul N. Winberg, Emil Radkov
  • Patent number: 8118494
    Abstract: An optical fiber connector comprises an outer housing configured to mate with a receptacle and a collar body disposed in the outer housing. The collar body receives and secures a ferrule in a first portion of the collar body. The ferrule includes a central bore that defines an axis. The ferrule further includes a fiber stub disposed in a portion of the central bore, the fiber stub comprising a first optical fiber having a first end proximate to an end face of the ferrule and a prepared second end terminating within the ferrule. The collar body further includes a second portion that includes a housing portion to house a gripping device that grips a second optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Donald K. Larson, Sidney J. Berglund, Paul N. Winberg, James R. Bylander, Takaya Yamauchi, Tomoyasu Oike, Yukino Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 8115217
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide packaged LED devices in which the majority of the emitted light comes out the top of each LED chip with very little side emissions. Because light only comes out from the top, phosphor deposition and color temperature control can be significantly simplified. A package LED may include a housing positioned on a supporting submount, sized and dimensioned to accommodate a single LED chip or an array of LED chips. The LED chip(s) may be attached to the submount utilizing the Gold-to-Gold Interconnect (GGI) process or solder-based approaches. In some embodiments, phosphor may be deposited on top of the LED chip(s) or sandwiched between glass plates on top of the LED chip(s). The phosphor layer may be inside or on top of the housing and be secured to the housing utilizing an adhesive. The housing may be adhered to the submount utilizing a thermal epoxy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung T. Duong, Paul N. Winberg, Oscar Vaz
  • Patent number: 8087960
    Abstract: Embodiments provide an LED comprising a quantum well region operable to generate light and a substrate having an interface with the quantum well region, wherein light generated by the quantum well region traverses the interface to enter the substrate and exit the LED through an exit face of the substrate. The exit face may be opposite from and a distance from the interface, with some portion or all of this LED being shaped to optimize the light extraction efficiency of the device. The exit face can have at least 70% of a minimum area necessary to conserve brightness for a desired half-angle of light. Sidewalls of the LED may be positioned and shaped so that rays incident on a sidewall reflect to the exit face with an angle of incidence at the exit face at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dung T. Duong, Paul N. Winberg, Matthew R. Thomas, Elliot M. Pickering
  • Patent number: 8070367
    Abstract: An LC format optical connector for terminating an optical fiber includes a housing configured to mate with an LC receptacle, the housing including a shell, a first resilient latch disposed on a surface of the shell, and a backbone. The LC format connector also includes a collar body disposed in the housing and retained between the outer shell and the backbone, wherein the collar body includes a fiber stub disposed in a first portion of the collar body. The collar body further includes a mechanical splice disposed in a second portion of the collar body, the mechanical splice configured to splice the second end of the fiber stub to a second optical fiber. The LC format connector further includes a trigger coupled to an outer surface of the housing backbone, the trigger including a second latch that engages the first latch when acted upon by a pressing force. An optical connector with a single piece latch structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Paul N. Winberg, Donald K. Larson, Wesley A. Raider
  • Publication number: 20110273894
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide separate optical devices operable to couple to a separate LED, the separate optical device comprising an entrance surface to receive light from a separate LED when the separate optical device is coupled to the separate LED, an exit surface opposite from and a distance from the entrance surface and a set of sidewalls. The exit surface can have at least a minimum area necessary to conserve brightness for a desired half-angle of light projected from the separate optical device. Furthermore, each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that rays having a straight transmission path from the entrance surface to that sidewall reflect to the exit surface with an angle of incidence at the exit surface at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Dung T. Duong, Paul N. Winberg, Matthew R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20110209825
    Abstract: This disclosure regards methods for protecting a die during shaping and polishing of optical devices. According to various embodiments, layers can be added and removed from a wafer to protect both sides of the wafer during various steps of a manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: Illumitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall E. Johnson, Hyunchul Ko, Dung T. Duong, Paul N. Winberg