Patents by Inventor Charles R. Derk, JR.
Charles R. Derk, JR. 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).
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Publication number: 20230167679Abstract: A motorized shade for covering an architectural opening comprising a roller tube and a shade material comprising an upper end attached to the roller tube and a lower end. The shade material at least partially comprises electrically conductive material and the roller tube comprises an electrically conductive material that creates an electrically conductive path between the conductive material of the shade material and the roller tube. The motorized shade further comprises a capacitive touch sensor electrically connected to the roller tube via at least one electrical contact, and a controller electrically connected to the capacitive touch sensor and adapted to detect a touch of the shade material via the capacitive touch sensor and in response generate a command.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2023Publication date: June 1, 2023Applicant: Crestron Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Michael Campagna, Charles R. Derk, JR., Benjamin Slivka
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Publication number: 20230112345Abstract: A battery-operated motorized roller shade that can be charged through an installation bracket. The roller shade comprises a roller tube, a motor and at least one battery disposed within the roller tube, and a motor head disposed at a terminal end of the roller tube having a motor head interface. The installation bracket comprises an installation bracket interface and an exterior wall comprising an installation bracket connector adapted to removably connect to and electrically interface with a power adapter. The motor head is adapted to removably attach to the installation bracket wherein the installation bracket provides electrical power to the at least one battery within the roller tube when the installation bracket is connected to the power adapter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Applicant: Crestron Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Victor M. Menendez, Michael Campagna, Charles R. Derk, JR.
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Patent number: 11591850Abstract: A motorized shade for covering an architectural opening that can be actuated by touching its shade material. The motorized shade comprises a shade material extending between an upper end and a lower end and a motor drive unit operably connected to the upper end of the shade material and comprising a motor and a motor control module adapted to control the motor to raise or lower the shade material. The shade material comprises at least partially comprises electrically conductive material. The motor control module comprises a capacitive touch sensor that is electrically connected to the upper end of the shade material via at least one electrical contact. The motor control module is adapted to detect a touch of the shade material via the capacitive touch sensor and in response control the motor to raise or lower the shade material.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Crestron Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Michael Campagna, Charles R. Derk, Jr., Benjamin Slivka
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Patent number: 11002071Abstract: A battery operated shade is provided adapted to adjustably cover a structural opening. The shade generally comprises a shade material extending from a top end to a bottom end and a motor drive unit operably connected to the top end of the shade material and adapted to raise and lower the shade material between an upper limit and a lower limit to adjustably cover and uncover the structural opening. The shade also comprises a shade housing adapted to at least partially conceal the motor drive unit, wherein the shade housing defines a bottom opening at a bottom of the shade housing from which the shade material exits the shade housing. The shade further comprises a battery compartment adapted to removably retain batteries for providing power to the motor drive unit. The battery compartment is attached to the shade housing proximate to the bottom opening below the motor drive unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Crestron Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Michael Campagna, Charles R. Derk, Jr., Stan Wisniewski
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Publication number: 20210131179Abstract: A motorized shade for covering an architectural opening that can be actuated by touching its shade material. The motorized shade comprises a shade material extending between an upper end and a lower end and a motor drive unit operably connected to the upper end of the shade material and comprising a motor and a motor control module adapted to control the motor to raise or lower the shade material. The shade material comprises at least partially comprises electrically conductive material. The motor control module comprises a capacitive touch sensor that is electrically connected to the upper end of the shade material via at least one electrical contact. The motor control module is adapted to detect a touch of the shade material via the capacitive touch sensor and in response control the motor to raise or lower the shade material.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2019Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: Crestron Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Michael Campagna, Charles R. Derk, JR., Benjamin Slivka
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Patent number: 10612301Abstract: A motorized window treatment configure for automatically determining and reporting the tilt level of a motorized window treatment. The motorized window treatment comprises a window covering material, a motor configured for moving the window covering material from an opened position to a closed position, an accelerometer configured for measuring gravitational forces, and a controller configured for reporting the tilt level of the motorized window treatment. Particularly, the controller receives gravitational force measurements from the accelerometer, determines a tilt level of the motorized window treatment using the gravitational force measurements, compares the tilt level to a first threshold value, and issues an error signal when the tilt level exceeds the first threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Crestron Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Charles R. Derk, Jr., Luis J. Rivera, Michael Campagna, Benjamin Slivka
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Publication number: 20190301241Abstract: A battery operated shade is provided adapted to adjustably cover a structural opening. The shade generally comprises a shade material extending from a top end to a bottom end and a motor drive unit operably connected to the top end of the shade material and adapted to raise and lower the shade material between an upper limit and a lower limit to adjustably cover and uncover the structural opening. The shade also comprises a shade housing adapted to at least partially conceal the motor drive unit, wherein the shade housing defines a bottom opening at a bottom of the shade housing from which the shade material exits the shade housing. The shade further comprises a battery compartment adapted to removably retain batteries for providing power to the motor drive unit. The battery compartment is attached to the shade housing proximate to the bottom opening below the motor drive unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Applicant: Crestron Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Michael Campagna, Charles R. Derk, JR., Stan Wisniewski
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Patent number: 10221623Abstract: A shade motor power bracket assembly for a shade system is provided comprising a first electrical and mounting interface adapted to provide electrical power to a shade motor and to provide a quick connect-disconnect mounting surface for a shade system that comprises the shade motor, and wherein the first electrical and mounting interface comprises a first bracket adapted to be mounted on a mounting surface and that comprises a plurality of first electrical contacts, and a shade end cap adapted to enclose a first end of a shade tube, the shade motor disposed within the shade tube, the shade end cap comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts adapted to electrically interface with respective ones of the plurality of first electrical contacts.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Crestron Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Charles R. Derk, Jr., Benjamin Slivka, Michael Campagna
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Publication number: 20190024452Abstract: A motorized window treatment configure for automatically determining and reporting the tilt level of a motorized window treatment. The motorized window treatment comprises a window covering material, a motor configured for moving the window covering material from an opened position to a closed position, an accelerometer configured for measuring gravitational forces, and a controller configured for reporting the tilt level of the motorized window treatment. Particularly, the controller receives gravitational force measurements from the accelerometer, determines a tilt level of the motorized window treatment using the gravitational force measurements, compares the tilt level to a first threshold value, and issues an error signal when the tilt level exceeds the first threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2017Publication date: January 24, 2019Applicant: Crestron Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Charles R. Derk, JR., Luis J. Rivera, Michael Campagna, Benjamin Slivka
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Patent number: 10058205Abstract: A drapery track assembly is disclosed that performs an automatic and dynamic torque calibration to enable automatic detection of pulling of the drape as well as obstacles in order to minimize damage to the drapery track assembly and users. The drapery track assembly comprises a track, a drape attached to the track, a motor configured for moving the drape along the track, a sensor configured for sensing a position of the drape along the track, a current sensing circuit configured for detecting current levels, and a controller configured for controlling the motor and comprising at least one memory. The controller is configured for determining and storing a multi-point overcurrent threshold (OCTH) profile in each direction of travel comprising a plurality of overcurrent threshold (OCTH) values for each segment of travel along the track.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2017Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Crestron Electornics, Inc.Inventors: Luis Rivera, Benjamin Slivka, Charles R. Derk, Jr.
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Patent number: 9970234Abstract: A motorized roller shade that detects obstacles in its travel that create excess torque by sensing the current draw from a motor and method by which the motor can calibrate itself to detect excess torque. During the roller shade's travel, it will record the instantaneous torque being generated at various points. For example, it will store the greatest value in the shade motor's non-volatile memory as the normal operating torque.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Crestron Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Charles R. Derk, Jr., Benjamin Slivka, Luis Rivera
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Publication number: 20180112463Abstract: A shade motor power bracket assembly for a shade system is provided comprising a first electrical and mounting interface adapted to provide electrical power to a shade motor and to provide a quick connect-disconnect mounting surface for a shade system that comprises the shade motor, and wherein the first electrical and mounting interface comprises a first bracket adapted to be mounted on a mounting surface and that comprises a plurality of first electrical contacts, and a shade end cap adapted to enclose a first end of a shade tube, the shade motor disposed within the shade tube, the shade end cap comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts adapted to electrically interface with respective ones of the plurality of first electrical contacts.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Charles R. Derk, JR., Benjamin Slivka, Michael Campagna
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Publication number: 20170112316Abstract: A drapery track assembly is disclosed that performs an automatic and dynamic torque calibration to enable automatic detection of pulling of the drape as well as obstacles in order to minimize damage to the drapery track assembly and users. The drapery track assembly comprises a track, a drape attached to the track, a motor configured for moving the drape along the track, a sensor configured for sensing a position of the drape along the track, a current sensing circuit configured for detecting current levels, and a controller configured for controlling the motor and comprising at least one memory. The controller is configured for determining and storing a multi-point overcurrent threshold (OCTH) profile in each direction of travel comprising a plurality of overcurrent threshold (OCTH) values for each segment of travel along the track.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2017Publication date: April 27, 2017Applicant: Crestron Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Luis Rivera, Benjamin Slivka, Charles R. Derk, JR.
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Publication number: 20170074038Abstract: A motorized roller shade that detects obstacles in its travel that create excess torque by sensing the current draw from a motor and method by which the motor can calibrate itself to detect excess torque. During the roller shade's travel, it will record the instantaneous torque being generated at various points. For example, it will store the greatest value in the shade motor's non-volatile memory as the normal operating torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Applicant: Crestron Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Charles R. Derk, JR., Benjamin Slivka, Luis Rivera