Patents by Inventor Zdenko Grajcar

Zdenko Grajcar 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: 9695995
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light emitting diode lighting assembly that includes producing a heat sink and securing a platform assembly having a plurality of light emitting diode dies on a single plane. A bulb is formed by securing a first lens section made of a first material to a second lens section made of a second material such that only the bulb determines the lamp type of the light emitting diode lighting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Once Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Zdenko Grajcar
  • Patent number: 9696011
    Abstract: A light source is provided with extended persistence and reduced flicker characteristics by using a light capacitive filter. In general, a light source can include an illumination source which converts electrical energy into emitted light. The illumination source, however, is generally powered by an AC waveform, and the periodic variations inherent in the AC waveform may cause flicker in the emitted light. To reduce the flicker, a light capacitive filter is included in the light source to filter the light emitted by the illumination source and produce a light output with reduced flicker. In some examples, the light capacitive filter includes a medium persistence phosphor having a decay constant (or half-life) of between 1 milliseconds and 2 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ONCE INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Zdenko Grajcar
  • Patent number: 9675054
    Abstract: Lighting assemblies that provide spectrum specific underwater lighting to aquatic life. Each assembly has a vessel that receives a substrate secured to a heatsink and is enclosed by an end cap that provides a water tight seal. The end cap is sealingly secured to the vessel by a sealing element and has opening disposed therethrough for receiving an electrical connector that electrically connects lighting elements on the substrate to an exterior power source. The connector is sealingly disposed through the opening in the end cap to prevent the ingress of water within the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Once Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Zdenko Grajcar, Julie Delabbio, Kevin Payne
  • Publication number: 20170156186
    Abstract: A circuit having a series interconnection of a light-emitting diode (LED) group, a first transistor, a second transistor and a first resistor. The series interconnection has a cathode coupled to a drain terminal of the first transistor and a source terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a first terminal of the first resistor wherein voltage across the first resistor to provide a biasing voltage for the first transistor. A source terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a first terminal of the first resistor wherein voltage across the second resistor provides a biasing voltage for the second transistor and ancillary circuitry bypasses the series interconnection. The ancillary circuitry has a capacitor to provide current to the series interconnection to increase the amount of light emitted during an electrical excitation cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Once, Inc.
    Inventors: Zdenko Grajcar, David Haskvitz
  • Publication number: 20170135325
    Abstract: A method of experimenting on aquatic life in an indoor facility and lighting assembly for accomplishing the same. The lighting assembly includes a lighting device that emits light at a predetermined wavelength that provides a minimum water penetration depth and is positioned in a manner to provide uniform lighting at the air and water interface within a containment unit housing the aquatic life. The on and off function are also controlled by the lighting assembly to provide a gradual turn on and off to prevent interference of effects of lighting with experimental results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: Once Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Zdenko Grajcar, Juliette Delabbio
  • Publication number: 20170105391
    Abstract: Various apparatus and associated methods involve a light source that provides light at wavelengths that substantially correlate to local maxima in the spectral sensitivity of a diurnal avian. In an illustrative example, the light source may output light primarily in wavelength bands that are not substantially absorbed by colored oil droplets and/or visual pigment in at least one type of cone in the eye of a diurnal avian. In some embodiments, the light source may include a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. Exemplary light sources may output spectral components to illuminate diurnal avians with local maxima of intensity at wavelengths that substantially correspond to local maxima in a spectral sensitivity visual response characteristic of the diurnal avians.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventor: Zdenko Grajcar
  • Publication number: 20170071166
    Abstract: A system and method to promote biological responses within incubated eggs using lighting devices within an incubation chamber. A light supporting device is installed within the incubation chamber in spaced relation to an incubation device housing a plurality of eggs. The light supporting device is positioned to direct light at pre-determined wavelengths into the interior cavity of the incubation device to irradiate the plurality of eggs to promote a biological response within the eggs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Zdenko Grajcar, Kevin Payne, Karol Licko, Peter Simko, Josef Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20170071167
    Abstract: A system and method to promote biological responses within incubated eggs using lighting devices within an incubation chamber. A light supporting device is installed within the incubation chamber in spaced relation to an incubation device housing a plurality of eggs. The light supporting device is positioned to direct light at pre-determined wavelengths into the interior cavity of the incubation device to irradiate the plurality of eggs to promote a. biological response within the eggs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Zdenko Grajcar, Kevin Payne, Karol Licko, Peter Simko, Josef Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20170074464
    Abstract: A system and method to promote biological responses within incubated eggs using lighting devices within an incubation chamber. A light supporting device is installed within the incubation chamber in spaced relation to an incubation device housing a plurality of eggs. The light supporting device is positioned to direct light at pre-determined wavelengths into the interior cavity of the incubation device to irradiate the plurality of eggs to promote a. biological response within the eggs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Zdenko Grajcar, Kevin Payne, Karol Licko, Peter Simko, Josef Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20170071168
    Abstract: A system and method to promote biological responses within incubated eggs using lighting devices within an incubation chamber. A light supporting device is installed within the incubation chamber in spaced relation to an incubation device housing a plurality of eggs. The light supporting device is positioned to direct light at pre-determined wavelengths into the interior cavity of the incubation device to irradiate the plurality of eggs to promote a biological response within the eggs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Zdenko Grajcar, Kevin Payne, Karol Licko, Peter Simko, Josef Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9578705
    Abstract: A lighting assembly to be primarily used in an agricultural setting to illuminate farm animals with different colors of lighting. The assembly has a circuit for emitting light with different colored light emitting diodes that are arranged in networks of LEDs. The second and third networks are arranged in parallel to a first network of LED forming three separate current paths for lighting the LEDs. Each path has controllable impedance element arranged in series with the network of LED in that particular path and is controlled by a dynamic impedance control element that is coupled to the controllable impedance element to direct current through the individual paths of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Once Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Zdenko Grajcar
  • Patent number: 9554562
    Abstract: A method of experimenting on aquatic life in an indoor facility and a lighting assembly for accomplishing the same. The lighting assembly includes a lighting device that emits light at a predetermined wavelength that provides a minimum water penetration depth and is positioned in a manner to provide uniform lighting at the air and water interface within a containment unit housing the aquatic life. The on and off functions are also controlled by the lighting assembly to provide a gradual turn on and turn off to prevent interference of effects of lighting with experimental results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Once Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Zdenko Grajcar, Juliette Delabbio
  • Publication number: 20170000163
    Abstract: A method of increasing feed consumption in avian and aquatic life utilizing an artificial light source. For both avian and the aquatic life an enclosure is provided that houses the animal. An artificial lighting source is utilized to cause feed to emit light having a spectrum under 400 nm such that the animals locate and are attracted to the feed for consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventor: Zdenko Grajcar
  • Publication number: 20160381756
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods involve operation of an LED light engine in which a relative intensities of selected wavelengths shift as a function of electrical excitation. In an illustrative example, current may be selectively and automatically diverted substantially away from at least one of a number of LEDs arranged in a series circuit until the current or its associated periodic excitation voltage reaches a predetermined threshold level. The diversion current may be smoothly reduced in transition as the excitation current or voltage rises substantially above the predetermined threshold level. A color temperature of the light output may be substantially changed as a predetermined function of the excitation voltage. For example, some embodiments may substantially increase or decrease a color temperature output by a solid state light engine in response to dimming the AC voltage excitation (e.g., by phase-cutting or amplitude modulation).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Zdenko Grajcar, Brad Klassen, Leif Erickson
  • Patent number: 9505665
    Abstract: A system and method of forming high nutritional fertilizer form swine feces in a reservoir underneath a swine facility. A pump system has a pump that conveys the feces to a remote location where the swine feces first goes through a filter and then into a treatment tank. The treatment tank has sugars or carbohydrates therein that combine with oxygen provided by a aerating device within the treatment tank and ammonia produced by the swine feces to create byproducts, including proteins having high nutritional value that is used for fertilizing plants and animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Once Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Zdenko Grajcar
  • Publication number: 20160316727
    Abstract: A method of increasing the probability of breeding swine via a lighting system with a programmable timing device. The lighting system is programmed to present differing photoperiods such that the amount of light observed by a swine every day or week gradually decreases, mimicking a seasonal change, typically from summer to fall. As a result, swine psychologically and physiologically believe that seasons are changing resulting in increased probability of breeding for the swine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Zdenko Grajcar, Juliette Delabbio
  • Publication number: 20160323960
    Abstract: A light emitting diode lighting assembly that receives an electrical excitation signal that is varied from a dimming device. Driving circuitry receives the varying input and has first and second paths that each have a plurality of light emitting diodes. Each plurality of light emitting diodes has a threshold voltage with the threshold voltage of the first plurality of diodes being less than the threshold voltage of the second plurality of lighting emitting diodes. The current within the first path is controlled by a current limiting device that is controlled by a resistor that receives input from the second path to gradually turn off the first plurality of light emitting diodes as the second plurality of lighting emitting diodes increase in intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventor: Zdenko Grajcar
  • Patent number: 9485823
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods reduce harmonic distortion of a excitation current by diverting the excitation current substantially away from a number of LEDs arranged in a series circuit until the current or its associated periodic excitation voltage reaches a predetermined threshold level, and ceasing the current diversion while the excitation current or voltage is substantially above the predetermined threshold level. In an illustrative embodiment, a rectifier may receive an AC (e.g., sinusoidal) voltage and deliver unidirectional current to a string of series-connected LEDs. An effective turn-on threshold voltage of the diode string may be reduced by diverting current around at least one of the diodes in the string while the AC voltage is below a predetermined level. In various examples, selective current diversion within the LED string may extend the input current conduction angle and thereby substantially reduce harmonic distortion for AC LED lighting systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Once Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Zdenko Grajcar
  • Patent number: 9482397
    Abstract: Various apparatus and associated methods involve a light source that provides light at wavelengths that substantially correlate to local maxima in the spectral sensitivity of a diurnal avian. In an illustrative example, the light source may output light primarily in wavelength bands that are not substantially absorbed by colored oil droplets and/or visual pigment in at least one type of cone in the eye of a diurnal avian. In some embodiments, the light source may include a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. Exemplary light sources may output spectral components to illuminate diurnal avians with local maxima of intensity at wavelengths that substantially correspond to local maxima in a spectral sensitivity visual response characteristic of the diurnal avians.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Once Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Zdenko Grajcar
  • Patent number: 9433194
    Abstract: A lighting assembly for enhancing the growth of aquatic life in an ecosystem and method of enhancing the growth of aquatic life in such an ecosystem. The assembly includes a vessel submerged within water of the ecosystem. A substrate is disposed within and surrounded by the vessel and provides electronics to provide a conditioned current to a plurality of light emitting diodes also contained on the substrate. The light emitting diodes emit light within the water of the ecosystem that provides for growth, not only in a larger volume of the ecosystem, but in addition enhances the growth of the aquatic life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ONCE Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Zdenko Grajcar, Michael J. Ostaffe