Patents Assigned to Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
  • Patent number: 10135207
    Abstract: A communication plug configured to be mated with a communication outlet. The plug has first contacts configured to physically contact and form electrical connections with second contacts of the outlet. The plug also includes a substrate with wire contacts and first, second, third, and fourth layers. The first layer includes first conductors connecting a first portion of the first contacts with a first portion of the wire contacts. The fourth layer includes second conductors connecting a second portion of the first contacts with a second portion of the wire contacts. The second layer includes a first plurality of capacitor plates electrically connected to first selected ones of the first contacts. The third layer includes a second plurality of capacitor plates electrically connected to second selected ones of the first contacts. Each of the first plurality of capacitor plates forms a capacitor with at least one of the second plurality of capacitor plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Cui, Jon Clark Riley, Bret Taylor, Kenn Peterson, Stephen M. Morton, Phil R. Mansur, Ryan C. Moore
  • Patent number: 10136493
    Abstract: A system monitors operational status of a lighting element. A lighting fixture processor instructs a lighting element to illuminate at a predetermined time, receives sensed light level information from the light sensing element, and transmits a message including information representing the sensed light level. A room controller can control some or all of these steps. A daylighting arrangement includes a room controller that instructs the lighting fixtures of a lighting group to illuminate their lighting elements at a predetermined time of day. Sensed light level information is obtained and transmitted to the room controller, which determines an initial daylighting target for the lighting fixture group based on an average of the sensed light level information. The room controller instructs the lighting fixtures to illuminate their respective lighting elements in accordance with the initial daylighting target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventor: Robert L. Hick
  • Patent number: 10116102
    Abstract: A wiring device includes a strap having mounting holes to facilitate fastening of the wiring device to an electrical box, a housing having a face accessible once the wiring device is fastened to the electrical box, the face having an area divided into a first region and a second region, a first line voltage electrical outlet accessible through a first set of apertures on the first region of the face and a user-interchangeable module accessible on the second region of the face, the user-interchangeable module including a low voltage port configured to receive a male charging connector of a charging cable connected to an external device. The wiring device comprises charging circuitry within the housing, the charging circuitry being configured to provide charging current to the external device. The charging circuitry has an electrical operating parameter configurable automatically by a characteristic of the user-interchangeable module or the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: William Randall, Ronald Jansen, Eugene Frid, Scott Freeman
  • Publication number: 20180259211
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides controls, apparatus, systems and methods for controlling a ventilation mechanism to efficiently manage the relative humidity of an area. The controls, apparatus, systems and methods utilize sensed relative humidity information and one or more inputs to provide for efficient automatic and/or manual control a ventilation mechanism in response to high humidity events within the area. The controls, apparatus, systems and methods provided herein efficiently automatically activate a ventilation mechanism through the use of sensed relative humidity information and user input. The controls, apparatus, systems and methods provided herein efficiently automatically deactivate a ventilation mechanism through the use of sensed relative humidity information and user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael OSTROVSKY, Marc GALLO, Paul SOCCOLI, Alfred LOMBARDI
  • Patent number: 10076012
    Abstract: A system and method provide fail-safe operation of a lighting system. A lighting level detector is used to obtain a baseline lighting level for a low-intensity light. If the detector measures less than the baseline level when an occupancy sensor determines the space is unoccupied, a high-intensity light is energized and an indication is provided to a user that the low-intensity light has failed. A method provides daylighting operation of a lighting system. An occupancy sensor can have Wi-Fi functionality to enable remote configuration of the sensor. A line voltage occupancy sensor can include an interface with low voltage devices. An occupancy sensor can include an integral interface to enable an external control system to override the sensor's normal logic under emergency conditions. An occupancy sensor can include an active temperature compensation feature. An occupancy sensor can also incorporate an automatically adjustable coverage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jaiganesh Balasubramainian, Justin Morton
  • Patent number: 10062528
    Abstract: An electrical load controller includes an electrical switching device and an actuator assembly having at least one user actuator for use in turning power on and off to the load and for use in adjustably controlling the level of power to the load. A frame attached to the actuator includes an integrally formed backlightable indicator region having an outer continuous solid surface. Light from an illumination assembly related to the level of power to the load is directable onto a portion of an inner surface of the backlightable indicator region, transmittable through the backlightable region from the inner surface to the outer surface, emittable from a portion of the outer surface, and observable by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Kevelos, Renjith Mathew
  • Patent number: 10063003
    Abstract: A tamper resistant (TR) mechanism for use in a receptacle is disclosed. The TR mechanism movable between a first or blocking position and a second position wherein a two-bladed plug with a ground pin may contact the underlining conductive terminals so that electricity can flow to the electrical plug. The TR mechanism may include first and second sliders for blocking the openings formed in the receptacle, first and second locking tabs, and a ground pin slider partially located with a ground plug opening formed in the receptacle. In use, inserting the ground pin causes the ground pin slider to move to a second ground pin slider position, which causes the first and second locking tabs to align with a stem portion of the ground pin slider. Thereafter, contacting the first and second sliders with the two-bladed plug causes the first and second sliders to move to their second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Vikramsinh P. Bhosale, Michael Mattei
  • Patent number: 10063021
    Abstract: A connector assembly that includes an outer shell and a first communication connector. The first communication connector and/or the outer shell is/are movable about one or more degrees of freedom. The first communication connector is configured to form a first electrical or optical connection with an external communication connector. Optionally, the connector assembly includes a second communication connector. The first communication connector may be connected to a cable or the optional second communication connector by a flexible substrate positioned inside the outer shell. The first communication connector may be implemented as a fiber optic connector optically connected to either a fiber optic cable or the second communication connector, which may also be implemented as a fiber optic connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Dean S. Lipke, Jon Clark Riley, Ryan C. Moore, Elizabeth G. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 10051715
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system that utilizes Power over Ethernet (PoE) to supply low voltage direct current (DC) power to a PoE enabled track lighting system. The system facilitates communications with individual track heads located in a PoE enabled low voltage track channel so that the operational characteristics of the individual track heads can be controlled (e.g., dim, brighten, change color), so that feedback on functional status of individual track heads can be obtained, and so that total system current can be regulated. The PoE track lighting system includes a PoE track interface (PTI) device that receives current and communication signals. The PTI device receives the digital communication signals, converts them to a second digital commination signal in a format more suitable for transmission along the communication conductors in the track channel, and transmits the second digital communication signal to the communication conductors of the track channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Hick, Kenneth Eidsvold, Thomas W. Leonard
  • Patent number: 10045422
    Abstract: An occupancy sensor preferably includes an occupancy sensing element configured to detect moving objects within an area of coverage, and a wireless transceiver configured to facilitate wireless coupling of the occupancy sensor to a remote device to facilitate remote wireless configuration and/or commissioning of the occupancy sensor. The wireless transceiver can be configured to be activated in response to a light sensing element of the occupancy sensor being exposed to one or more flashes of light. The wireless transceiver can be de-activated after configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Jason Betourney, Nathaniel Morrison
  • Publication number: 20180220515
    Abstract: An advanced lighting control system including systems for commissioning a network of lighting fixtures preferably includes a plurality of lighting fixtures, each having a sensor and control module. The sensor and control module includes occupancy and light sensing elements, and a first transceiver. The lighting fixtures can send wireless signals to a second transceiver located in a room controller and/or a network coordinator. The room controller being configured to interpret the occupancy and light sensing information and make decisions thereon, while the network coordinator can rank the lighting fixtures according to a determined signal strength. The network coordinator can command each of the lighting fixtures to illuminate, and based on an observation of the lighting fixture, a determination is made about whether the lighting fixture is located in a particular room. The network coordinator can also include a third transceiver for receiving wireless commands from a remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Richard A. Leinen, Robert L. Hick
  • Patent number: 9976764
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides controls, apparatus, systems and methods for controlling a ventilation mechanism to efficiently manage the relative humidity of an area. The controls, apparatus, systems and methods utilize sensed relative humidity information and one or more inputs to provide for efficient automatic and/or manual control a ventilation mechanism in response to high humidity events within the area. The controls, apparatus, systems and methods provided herein efficiently automatically activate a ventilation mechanism through the use of sensed relative humidity information and user input. The controls, apparatus, systems and methods provided herein efficiently automatically deactivate a ventilation mechanism through the use of sensed relative humidity information and user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ostrovsky, Marc Gallo, Paul Soccoli, Alfred Lombardi
  • Publication number: 20180136620
    Abstract: An occupancy sensor is disclosed including a passive infrared (PIR) sensing element, a temperature sensing element, and a processor. The processor receives temperature signals from the temperature sensing element and configures the occupancy sensor into a selected operating mode based the received temperature signal. The operating mode may be associated with a predetermined sensing threshold of the PIR sensing element. The processor controls an associated load based on the selected operating mode and the received occupancy signals. The occupancy sensor can alternatively include an occupancy sensing element and a photodetector. Based on the amount of light detected by the photodetector over time, the occupancy sensor can calculate a rough estimate of time of day, and can automatically adjust one or more sensing and/or operational characteristics based on that time of day determination. A photosensor may implement daylight harvesting based on different light levels associated with different times of day.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Hick, Richard A. Leinen
  • Patent number: 9971100
    Abstract: A dust cap for use with a fiber optic connector. The connector has a ferrule comprising an optical fiber. The ferrule has an end portion that includes an end surface of the optical fiber through which optical signals are transmitted. The dust cap includes a cover and wiping material. The cover is removably positionable over the end portion of the ferrule. The wiping material is positioned at least partially inside the cover. The wiping material may be adjacent the end surface of the optical fiber when the cover is positioned over the end portion of the ferrule. The wiping material may be wiped across the end surface of the optical fiber when the cover is positioned over the end portion of the ferrule. The wiping material may be moveable with respect to the end surface of the optical fiber and may wipe thereacross when moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Bryan L. Sparrowhawk, Bret Taylor, Evan Gustafson, Ryan Moore, Brian Engelhardt
  • Patent number: 9974145
    Abstract: A system and method provide fail-safe operation of a lighting system. A lighting level detector is used to obtain a baseline lighting level for a low-intensity light. If the detector measures less than the baseline level when an occupancy sensor determines the space is unoccupied, a high-intensity light is energized and an indication is provided to a user that the low-intensity light has failed. A method provides daylighting operation of a lighting system. An occupancy sensor can have Wi-Fi functionality to enable remote configuration of the sensor. A line voltage occupancy sensor can include an interface with low voltage devices. An occupancy sensor can include an integral interface to enable an external control system to override the sensor's normal logic under emergency conditions. An occupancy sensor can include an active temperature compensation feature. An occupancy sensor can also incorporate an automatically adjustable coverage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Subramanian Muthu, Robert Hick, Jaiganesh Balasubramanian, John Elzie
  • Patent number: 9971729
    Abstract: A power conversion device is configured to convert power-over-Ethernet (PoE) power to universal serial bus (USB) power to yield a USB charging port. The conversion device can conform to a number of modular and/or portable form factors, allowing existing Ethernet data ports to be easily converted to USB charging ports. Embodiments include a modular conversion device configured to mount in a window of an existing wall plate as a replacement for an unused Ethernet data port, and a portable conversion device that can be plugged into an existing Ethernet data port. The conversion device receives PoE power from the Ethernet network, converts the PoE power to an appropriate USB standard, and delivers the power to an integrated USB charging port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: William J. Lauby, Ryan Moore, Dean S. Lipke
  • Patent number: 9974152
    Abstract: There is set forth herein a dimmer circuit for controlling delivery of input line voltage to a load. The dimmer circuit can include a switch coupling an input line voltage terminal to a load terminal. The dimmer circuit can be operative to provide one or more switch firing control scheme for latching the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ostrovsky, Ozgur Keser
  • Publication number: 20180122600
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a load control device with a light indicator is disclosed. The load control device may include an actuator assembly and a light source. The actuator assembly may include a frame, a light pipe, and an actuator having two surfaces. The light pipe may be arranged within the actuator and include first and second legs. The first leg may extend towards the first surface, and the second leg may extend towards the second surface. When the actuator is in a first position, the light source may be optically aligned with one of the first and second legs; and, when the actuator is in a second position, the light source may be optically aligned with the other of the first and second legs. When the light source is illuminated, the light pipe may direct the light towards the respective surface of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald JANSEN, Alfred LOMBARDI, Adam KEVELOS
  • Patent number: 9961750
    Abstract: An advanced lighting control system including systems for commissioning a network of lighting fixtures preferably includes a plurality of lighting fixtures, each having a sensor and control module. The sensor and control module includes occupancy and light sensing elements, and a first transceiver. The lighting fixtures can send wireless signals to a second transceiver located in a room controller and/or a network coordinator. The room controller being configured to interpret the occupancy and light sensing information and make decisions thereon, while the network coordinator can rank the lighting fixtures according to a determined signal strength. The network coordinator can command each of the lighting fixtures to illuminate, and based on an observation of the lighting fixture, a determination is made about whether the lighting fixture is located in a particular room. The network coordinator can also include a third transceiver for receiving wireless commands from a remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Richard A. Leinen, Robert L. Hick
  • Patent number: D818469
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Bragg, Ryan C. Moore, Dean S. Lipke