Patents by Inventor Daniel L. Twaddell

Daniel L. Twaddell 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).

  • Publication number: 20220312575
    Abstract: A first wireless control device may be associated with a second wireless control device in response to the movement of the first wireless control device in relation to the second wireless control device. The second control device may determine whether the signal strength of the wireless signals received from the first wireless control device has changed, and may associate the first wireless control device with the second wireless control device if the signal strength of the received wireless signals has changed. The second control device may be disassociated with the first control device by moving the first wireless control device in relation to the second wireless control device. The second control device may disassociate the first control device when the signal strength of subsequent wireless signals received from the first wireless control device has changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason C. Killo, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20220279640
    Abstract: A control device may have a plurality of buttons that may be backlit to multiple levels, such as first, second, and third adjacent buttons positioned in order, and first, second, and third LEDs positioned to illuminate a respective button. The control device may be configured to illuminate the first LED to a first LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to a first surface illumination intensity; illuminate the third LED to a second LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to a second surface illumination intensity; and illuminate the second LED to a third LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to the second surface illumination intensity. The third LED illumination intensity may be less than the second LED illumination intensity, which may be less than the first LED illumination intensity, and the second surface illumination intensity may be less than the first surface illumination intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell, Jason C. Killo
  • Patent number: 11363703
    Abstract: A first wireless control device may be associated with a second wireless control device in response to the movement of the first wireless control device in relation to the second wireless control device. The second control device may determine whether the signal strength of the wireless signals received from the first wireless control device has changed, and may associate the first wireless control device with the second wireless control device if the signal strength of the received wireless signals has changed. The second control device may be disassociated with the first control device by moving the first wireless control device in relation to the second wireless control device. The second control device may disassociate the first control device when the signal strength of subsequent wireless signals received from the first wireless control device has changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason C. Killo, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20220157541
    Abstract: A control device configured for use in a load control system to control an external electrical load may provide simple feedback regarding the operation of the control device. For example, the control device may comprise a base portion configured to be mounted to an electrical wallbox or over a mechanical switch, and a control unit connected to the base portion. The control unit may comprise a rotation portion rotatable with respect to the base portion, an actuation portion, and a light source. The control unit may be configured to control the light source to illuminate at least an illuminated portion of the actuation portion in response to actuations of the rotation portion and the actuation portion. In addition, the control unit may provide a limit indication on the illuminated portion by blinking the illuminated portion when the electrical load has reached a limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory S. Altonen, Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Knauss, Michael W. Pessina, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20220159798
    Abstract: A control device may comprise a plurality of buttons, a plurality of light sources located behind the respective buttons and configured to illuminate the buttons, a light detector circuit configured to measure an ambient light level around the control device, and/or a control circuit configured to control the light sources to adjust surface illumination intensities of the respective buttons in response to the measured ambient light level. Each button may comprise indicia indicating a function of the button. The control circuit set the first button as active and the second button as inactive in response to an actuation of the first button. The control circuit may, based on the measured ambient light level, control the light sources to illuminate the first button to an active surface illumination intensity, and to illuminate the second button to an inactive surface illumination intensity that is less than the active surface illumination intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Daniel L. Twaddell, Matthew Philip McDonald, Jason C. Killo, Jonathan Robert Quayle
  • Patent number: 11337287
    Abstract: A control device may have a plurality of buttons that may be backlit to multiple levels, such as first, second, and third adjacent buttons positioned in order, and first, second, and third LEDs positioned to illuminate a respective button. The control device may be configured to illuminate the first LED to a first LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to a first surface illumination intensity; illuminate the third LED to a second LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to a second surface illumination intensity; and illuminate the second LED to a third LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to the second surface illumination intensity. The third LED illumination intensity may be less than the second LED illumination intensity, which may be less than the first LED illumination intensity, and the second surface illumination intensity may be less than the first surface illumination intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell, Jason C. Killo
  • Publication number: 20220148827
    Abstract: A remote control device is provided that is configured for use in a load control system that includes one or more electrical loads. The remote control device includes a mounting structure and a control unit, and the control unit is configured to be attached to the mounting structure in a plurality of different orientations. The control unit includes a user interface, an orientation sensing circuit, and a communication circuit. The control unit is configured to determine an orientation of the control unit via the orientation sensing circuit. The control unit is also configured to translate a user input from the user interface into control data to control an electrical load of the load control system based on the orientation of the control unit and/or provide a visual indication of an amount of power delivered to the electrical load based on the orientation of the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Alexander Wade Gage, Matthew V. Harte, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20220115190
    Abstract: A control device may be configured to control one or more electrical loads in a load control system. The control device may be a wall-mounted device such as dimmer switch, a remote control device, or a retrofit remote control device. The control device may include a gesture-based user interface for applying advanced control over the one or more electrical loads. The types of control may include absolute and relative control, intensity and color control, preset, zone, or operational mode selection, etc. Feedback may be provided on the control device regarding a status of the one or more electrical loads or the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Matthew V. Harte, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20220110197
    Abstract: A battery-powered control device may be configured to control an amount of power delivered to one or more electrical loads and provide various feedback associated with the control device and/or the electrical loads. The feedback may indicate a low battery condition and/or the amount of power delivered to the one or more electrical loads. The control device may include a light bar and/or one or more indicator lights for providing the feedback. The control device may operate in different modes including a normal mode and a low battery mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Chris Dimberg, Matthew V. Harte, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20220078895
    Abstract: A load control device may be configured to control multiple characteristics of one or more electrical loads such as the intensity and color of a lighting load. The load control device may switch from controlling one characteristic of the electrical loads to controlling another characteristic of the electrical loads based on the position and/or orientation of one or more components of the load control device. Such a position and/or orientation may be manipulated by moving the one or more components relative to a base portion of the load control device. The load control device may be a wall-mounted device or a battery-powered remote control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: 11264184
    Abstract: A remote control device is provided that is configured for use in a load control system that includes one or more electrical loads. The remote control device includes a mounting structure and a control unit, and the control unit is configured to be attached to the mounting structure in a plurality of different orientations. The control unit includes a user interface, an orientation sensing circuit, and a communication circuit. The control unit is configured to determine an orientation of the control unit via the orientation sensing circuit. The control unit is also configured to translate a user input from the user interface into control data to control an electrical load of the load control system based on the orientation of the control unit and/or provide a visual indication of an amount of power delivered to the electrical load based on the orientation of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Alexander Wade Gage, Matthew V. Harte, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: 11264187
    Abstract: A control device configured for use in a load control system to control an external electrical load may provide simple feedback regarding the operation of the control device. For example, the control device may comprise a base portion configured to be mounted to an electrical wallbox or over a mechanical switch, and a control unit connected to the base portion. The control unit may comprise a rotation portion rotatable with respect to the base portion, an actuation portion, and a light source. The control unit may be configured to control the light source to illuminate at least an illuminated portion of the actuation portion in response to actuations of the rotation portion and the actuation portion. In addition, the control unit may provide a limit indication on the illuminated portion by blinking the illuminated portion when the electrical load has reached a limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory S. Altonen, Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Knauss, Michael W. Pessina, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: D949804
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Gregory M. Snyder, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: D951211
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: D958761
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Gregory M. Snyder, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: D962876
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: D962878
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: D965540
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: D969758
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: D969759
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Daniel L. Twaddell