Patents by Inventor Timothy A. McCollum

Timothy A. McCollum 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: 9983340
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes a light emitting panel member having opposite sides and at least one input edge for receiving light from at least one light source, and a pattern of individual optical deformities on or in at least one of the sides for producing a light output distribution from a light emitting surface area of the panel member. Different sets of the optical deformities within the pattern each having at least one surface that is shaped or oriented to extract light propagating through the panel member in respective different directions from multiple regions of the light emitting surface area of the panel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Jeffery R. Parker, Robert M. Ezell
  • Publication number: 20180074257
    Abstract: A modular light-emitting panel assembly has first and second light guides edge lit by respective light sources. Each light guide has a light input edge, opposed side edges, opposed major surfaces and a pattern of light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces. The light guides are juxtaposed with a side edge of the first light guide abutting a side edge of the second light guide at a seam and with the major surfaces nominally coplanar. Various embodiments of the panel assembly additionally include respective structures that reduce visibility of the seam when the light sources illuminate the panel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Jeffery R. Parker, Gregg M. Podojil
  • Patent number: 9857520
    Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection and a light input edge. The light assembly also includes a light engine. The light engine has a heat conductive armature having a receptacle for a portion of the light guide that includes the light input edge and a light source retained by and thermally coupled to the armature. The armature functions as a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by the light source. The light guide is mechanically retained in the receptacle, and the light guide and the armature cooperate to align the light input edge with the light source for inputting light from the light source into the light guide through the light input edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery R Parker, Timothy A McCollum, Martin E Ligas, Joseph Crookston, Fumitomo Hide, Alexey Titov, Ian Hardcastle
  • Publication number: 20170343720
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes a light emitting panel member having opposite sides and at least one input edge for receiving light from at least one light source, and a pattern of individual optical deformities on or in at least one of the sides for producing a light output distribution from a light emitting surface area of the panel member. Different sets of the optical deformities within the pattern each having at least one surface that is shaped or oriented to extract light propagating through the panel member in respective different directions from multiple regions of the light emitting surface area of the panel member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Jeffery R. Parker, Robert M. Ezell
  • Patent number: 9778410
    Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light guide to propagate light by total internal reflection and having a light output region on a major surface thereof. The lighting assembly also includes an optical adjuster having a major surface juxtaposed with and conforming to the light guide's major surface. The optical adjuster has a first region and a second region, the first region having a light modifying characteristic. The optical adjuster and light output region are variably positionable relative to one another to selectively apportion light emitted from the light output region between the first region and the second region. In this way, light apportioned to the first region is modified by the light modifying characteristic so that light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on relative positioning of the optical adjuster and the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Fumitomo Hide, Alexey Titov, Ian Hardcastle
  • Patent number: 9772440
    Abstract: A modular light-emitting panel assembly has first and second light guides edge lit by respective light sources. Each light guide has a light input edge, opposed side edges, opposed major surfaces and a pattern of light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces. The light guides are juxtaposed with a side edge of the first light guide abutting a side edge of the second light guide at a seam and with the major surfaces nominally coplanar. Various embodiments of the panel assembly additionally include respective structures that reduce visibility of the seam when the light sources illuminate the panel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Jeffery R. Parker, Gregg M Podojil
  • Patent number: 9707641
    Abstract: Optical elements with small increments in average density are formed in a substrate by laser micromachining using a variable aperture and a pattern mask set of pattern masks each having of shape-defining elements whose density differs among the pattern masks in first density increments. A laser light beam passes through a combined mask formed by the variable aperture and one pattern mask selected from the pattern mask set. The variable aperture controls beam size and the pattern mask spatially modulates its intensity. A focusing element focuses light from the combined mask on a small averaging region of the substrate. Different combinations of the size of the aperture mask and the selected pattern mask are used in combination at respective averaging regions of the substrate. The resulting average densities of the optical elements vary among the averaging regions in increments that are small compared to the first density increments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A McCollum, Fumitomo Hide, Ian Hardcastle
  • Publication number: 20170176670
    Abstract: A modular light-emitting panel assembly has first and second light guides edge lit by respective light sources. Each light guide has a light input edge, opposed side edges, opposed major surfaces and a pattern of light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces. The light guides are juxtaposed with a side edge of the first light guide abutting a side edge of the second light guide at a seam and with the major surfaces nominally coplanar. Various embodiments of the panel assembly additionally include respective structures that reduce visibility of the seam when the light sources illuminate the panel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Jeffery R. Parker, Gregg M. Podojil
  • Patent number: 9625633
    Abstract: An optical assembly comprises light sources and a light emitting panel member having an input edge to which each of the light sources is optically coupled at a different location along the input edge. Different sets of individual optical deformities on or in at least one of the sides of the panel member each have at least one surface that is shaped or oriented to extract light propagating in the same direction through the panel member in different directions for viewing from different angles through one of the sides of the panel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Jeffery R. Parker, Robert M. Ezell
  • Patent number: 9563007
    Abstract: A modular light-emitting panel assembly has first and second light guides edge lit by respective light sources. Each light guide has a light input edge, opposed side edges, opposed major surfaces and a pattern of light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces. The light guides are juxtaposed with a side edge of the first light guide abutting a side edge of the second light guide at a seam and with the major surfaces nominally coplanar. Various embodiments of the panel assembly additionally include respective structures that reduce visibility of the seam when the light sources illuminate the panel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A McCollum, Jeffery R Parker, Gregg M Podojil
  • Patent number: 9551465
    Abstract: An LED lamp or LED lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces configured to propagate light by total internal reflection and a light input edge extending between the major surfaces. A light source is adjacent to the light input edge and is configured to edge light the light guide. In some embodiments, the light source is moveable relative to the light input edge, and the spectrum of the light output from the light guide may be adjusted by movement of the light source relative to the light input edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Laszlo A. Takacs, Gregg M. Podojil, Matthew R. Wancata, Fumitomo Hide, Christopher R. Ruhland, Jeffery R. Parker
  • Patent number: 9513428
    Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light engine and a light guide. The light engine edge lights the light guide and includes a control assembly that controls light output according to one or more parameters to produce light output from the lighting assembly with a desired characteristic. Lighting assemblies are combined to form a modular lighting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery R Parker, Timothy A McCollum, Matthew R Wancata, Fumitomo Hide, Alexey Titov, Ian Hardcastle
  • Patent number: 9477029
    Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions of different optical characteristics and at least one of which is associated with a corresponding one of the major surfaces. The lighting assembly also includes a light source located adjacent the light input edge. The light source and the light guide variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location on the light input edge at which the light is input to the light guide such that the light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions so that a characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery R Parker, Timothy A McCollum, Fumitomo Hide, Alexey Titov, Ian Hardcastle
  • Publication number: 20160282538
    Abstract: A lighting assembly comprises a light source and a light guide having a light input edge and a light output surface. Light from the light source enters the light input edge and is propagated within the light guide by total internal reflection. A light adjustment element is adjustable or selected to achieve a desired property of the light within the light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Michael D. Mayer
  • Publication number: 20160230944
    Abstract: An LED lamp or LED lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces configured to propagate light by total internal reflection and a light input edge extending between the major surfaces. A light source is adjacent to the light input edge and is configured to edge light the light guide. In some embodiments, the light source is moveable relative to the light input edge, and the spectrum of the light output from the light guide may be adjusted by movement of the light source relative to the light input edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Laszlo A. Takacs, Gregg M. Podojil, Matthew R. Wancata, Fumitomo Hide, Christopher R. Ruhland, Jeffery R. Parker
  • Patent number: 9383496
    Abstract: A lighting assembly comprises a light source and a light guide having a light input edge and a light output surface. Light from the light source enters the light input edge and is propagated within the light guide by total internal reflection. A spectrum adjuster is adjustable or selected to achieve a desired spectrum of the light within the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Michael D. Mayer
  • Patent number: 9310545
    Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light guide and light source. The light guide includes light input regions, at least one of the light input regions associated with an optical modifying characteristic, and the light guide is configured to propagate light by total internal reflection. The light source is located adjacent the light input regions. The light source and light input regions are variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location at which light is incident on the light input regions such that light emitted from the light source is selectively apportioned between the light input regions. A characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on the optical modifying characteristic of the at least one of the light input regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light input regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Fumitomo Hide, Alexey Titov, Ian Hardcastle
  • Publication number: 20160018588
    Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light engine and a light guide. The light engine edge lights the light guide and includes a control assembly that controls light output according to one or more parameters to produce light output from the lighting assembly with a desired characteristic. Lighting assemblies are combined to form a modular lighting assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum, Matthew R. Wancata, Fumitomo Hide, Alexey Titov, Ian Hardcastle
  • Patent number: 9169981
    Abstract: An LED lamp or LED lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces configured to propagate light by total internal reflection and a light input edge extending between the major surfaces. A light source is adjacent to the light input edge and is configured to edge light the light guide. In some embodiments, the light source is moveable relative to the light input edge, and the spectrum of the light output from the light guide may be adjusted by movement of the light source relative to the light input edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. McCollum, Laszlo A. Takacs, Gregg M. Podojil, Matthew R. Wancata, Fumitomo Hide, Christopher R. Ruhland, Jeffery R. Parker
  • Patent number: 9170364
    Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light source to emit on-axis light rays at smaller angles relative to an optical axis of the light source, and off-axis light rays at larger angles relative to the optical axis and spectrally different from the on-axis light rays. The lighting assembly additionally includes a light guide having a light input edge adjacent the light source and opposed major surfaces between which light from the light source propagates by total internal reflection. The light input edge has an edge feature aligned with the light source to receive light therefrom. The edge feature specularly redirects the on-axis light rays and the off-axis light rays differently to increase overlap between the on-axis light rays and the off-axis light rays within the light guide. The increased overlap reduces spatial color variation of light extracted from the light guide between locations at different angles from the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventors: Robert M Ezell, Martin E Ligas, Timothy A McCollum, Gregg M Podojil