Patents by Inventor Horace C. Ho

Horace C. Ho 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: 10159130
    Abstract: An illumination system and method is provided for readily mapping a plurality of scenes along a dimcurve form a natural show for one or more groups of LED illumination devices. Mapping can be performed using a graphical user interface on a remote controller wirelessly linked to the illumination devices. A keypad is preferably configured for button control of changes to color temperature as a function of brightness along each of the various dimcurves for each of the various groups of illumination devices controlled by a corresponding keypad to allow momentary or persistent override and reprogram of the natural show. Modification to a scene further comprises modifications to scenes before and after the currently modified scene to provide a smoothing dimcurve modification. Global keypad can be used to control multiple zones arranged throughout a structure to switch between a natural show that emulates outdoor sunlight conditions to a panic show when an intruder is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Ketra, LLC
    Inventors: Nav Sooch, Horace C. Ho, Rebecca Frank, Jason E. Lewis, Ryan Matthew Bocock
  • Publication number: 20180233030
    Abstract: A system, remote control device and method are provided herein for communicating with and controlling various devices using visible light communication (VLC). According to one embodiment, a method is provided for extending a communication range of a visible light communication system comprising a remote control device and a plurality of controlled devices. Such a method may include, for example, transmitting a communication message from a remote control device to a first controlled device located within range of the remote control device, wherein the communication message is transmitted through free space using visible light, and extending the communication range of the visible light communication system to a second controlled device, which is located outside of the range of the remote control device, by using the first controlled device to retransmit the communication message through free space using visible light to the second controlled device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Knapp, Horace C. Ho
  • Publication number: 20180177016
    Abstract: An illumination system and method is provided for readily mapping a plurality of scenes along a dimcurve form a natural show for one or more groups of LED illumination devices. Mapping can be performed using a graphical user interface on a remote controller wirelessly linked to the illumination devices. A keypad is preferably configured for button control of changes to color temperature as a function of brightness along each of the various dimcurves for each of the various groups of illumination devices controlled by a corresponding keypad to allow momentary or persistent override and reprogram of the natural show. Modification to a scene further comprises modifications to scenes before and after the currently modified scene to provide a smoothing dimcurve modification. Global keypad can be used to control multiple zones arranged throughout a structure to switch between a natural show that emulates outdoor sunlight conditions to a panic show when an intruder is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Nav Sooch, Horace C. Ho, Rebecca Frank, Jason E. Lewis, Ryan Matthew Bocock
  • Patent number: 9930742
    Abstract: An illumination system and method is provided for readily mapping a plurality of scenes along a dimcurve form a natural show for one or more groups of LED illumination devices. Mapping can be performed using a graphical user interface on a remote controller wirelessly linked to the illumination devices. A keypad is preferably configured for button control of changes to color temperature as a function of brightness along each of the various dimcurves for each of the various groups of illumination devices controlled by a corresponding keypad to allow momentary or persistent override and reprogram of the natural show. Modification to a scene further comprises modifications to scenes before and after the currently modified scene to provide a smoothing dimcurve modification. Global keypad can be used to control multiple zones arranged throughout a structure to switch between a natural show that emulates outdoor sunlight conditions to a panic show when an intruder is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Nav Sooch, Horace C. Ho, Rebecca Frank, Jason E. Lewis, Ryan Matthew Bocock
  • Publication number: 20180077770
    Abstract: An illumination device, system and method are provided herein for emulating sunlight along a daytime or nighttime locus. Sunlight is emulated depending on the path length of the sun relative to a structure containing the illumination device and system. One or more illumination devices can be grouped together and perform the sunlight emulation along the locus by producing different color temperatures throughout the day by all illumination devices within that group producing the same color temperature changes throughout the day. Moreover, a particular advantage of the preferred embodiments is the ability to manually change at any time the emulated natural sunlight output from the one or more groups of illumination devices and advantageously change the color output more so at certain times than at other times by simply actuating a trigger on a dimmer associated with a virtual or physical keypad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Nav Sooch, Horace C. Ho, Rebecca Frank, Jason E. Lewis, Ryan Matthew Bocock
  • Publication number: 20180077783
    Abstract: An illumination device, system and method are provided herein for emulating sunlight along a daytime or nighttime locus. Sunlight is emulated depending on the path length of the sun relative to a structure containing the illumination device and system. One or more illumination devices can be grouped together and perform the sunlight emulation along the locus by producing different color temperatures throughout the day by all illumination devices within that group producing the same color temperature changes throughout the day. Moreover, a particular advantage of the preferred embodiments is the ability to manually change at any time the emulated natural sunlight output from the one or more groups of illumination devices and advantageously change the color output more so at certain times than at other times by simply actuating a trigger on a dimmer associated with a virtual or physical keypad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Nav Sooch, Horace C. Ho, Rebecca Frank, Jason E. Lewis, Ryan Matthew Bocock
  • Publication number: 20180077766
    Abstract: An illumination system and method is provided for readily mapping a plurality of scenes along a dimcurve form a natural show for one or more groups of LED illumination devices. Mapping can be performed using a graphical user interface on a remote controller wirelessly linked to the illumination devices. A keypad is preferably configured for button control of changes to color temperature as a function of brightness along each of the various dimcurves for each of the various groups of illumination devices controlled by a corresponding keypad to allow momentary or persistent override and reprogram of the natural show. Modification to a scene further comprises modifications to scenes before and after the currently modified scene to provide a smoothing dimcurve modification. Global keypad can be used to control multiple zones arranged throughout a structure to switch between a natural show that emulates outdoor sunlight conditions to a panic show when an intruder is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Nav Sooch, Horace C. Ho, Rebecca Frank, Jason E. Lewis, Ryan Matthew Bocock
  • Publication number: 20180077771
    Abstract: An illumination device, system and method are provided herein for emulating sunlight along a daytime or nighttime locus. Sunlight is emulated depending on the path length of the sun relative to a structure containing the illumination device and system. One or more illumination devices can be grouped together and perform the sunlight emulation along the locus by producing different color temperatures throughout the day by all illumination devices within that group producing the same color temperature changes throughout the day. Moreover, a particular advantage of the preferred embodiments is the ability to manually change at any time the emulated natural sunlight output from the one or more groups of illumination devices and advantageously change the color output more so at certain times than at other times by simply actuating a trigger on a dimmer associated with a virtual or physical keypad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Nav Sooch, Horace C. Ho, Rebecca Frank, Jason E. Lewis, Ryan Matthew Bocock
  • Publication number: 20180075714
    Abstract: An illumination system and method is provided for readily mapping a plurality of scenes along a dimcurve form a natural show for one or more groups of LED illumination devices. Mapping can be performed using a graphical user interface on a remote controller wirelessly linked to the illumination devices. A keypad is preferably configured for button control of changes to color temperature as a function of brightness along each of the various dimcurves for each of the various groups of illumination devices controlled by a corresponding keypad to allow momentary or persistent override and reprogram of the natural show. Modification to a scene further comprises modifications to scenes before and after the currently modified scene to provide a smoothing dimcurve modification. Global keypad can be used to control multiple zones arranged throughout a structure to switch between a natural show that emulates outdoor sunlight conditions to a panic show when an intruder is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Nav Sooch, Horace C. Ho, Rebecca Frank, Jason E. Lewis, Ryan Matthew Bocock
  • Publication number: 20170318635
    Abstract: Illumination devices with improved color mixing optics are disclosed herein for mixing the colors produced by a multi-colored LED emitter module to produce uniform color throughout the entire beam angle of the output light beam, along with smoother edges and improved center beam intensity. Embodiments disclosed herein include a unique arrangement of multi-color LEDs within an emitter module, a unique exit lens with different patterns of lenslets on opposing sides of the lens, and other associated optical features that thoroughly mix the different color components, and as such, provide uniform color across the output beam exiting the illumination device. Additional embodiments disclosed herein include a unique arrangement of photodetectors within the primary optics structure of the LED emitter module that ensure the optical feedback system properly measures the light produced by all similarly colored emission LEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Fangxu Dong, Horace C. Ho, David J. Knapp
  • Patent number: 9795000
    Abstract: An illumination device, system and method are provided herein for emulating sunlight along a daytime or nighttime locus. Sunlight is emulated depending on the path length of the sun relative to a structure containing the illumination device and system. One or more illumination devices can be grouped together and perform the sunlight emulation along the locus by producing different color temperatures throughout the day by all illumination devices within that group producing the same color temperature changes throughout the day. Moreover, a particular advantage of the preferred embodiments is the ability to manually change at any time the emulated natural sunlight output from the one or more groups of illumination devices and advantageously change the color output more so at certain times than at other times by simply actuating a trigger on a dimmer associated with a virtual or physical keypad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Nav Sooch, Horace C. Ho, Rebecca Frank, Jason E. Lewis, Ryan Matthew Bocock
  • Patent number: 9769899
    Abstract: An illumination device and method is provided herein for controlling individual light emitting diodes (LEDs) in an LED illumination device, so that a desired luminous flux and a desired chromaticity of the device can be maintained over time as the LEDs age. According to one embodiment, the method comprises applying drive currents to a plurality of LED chains substantially continuously to produce illumination, measuring a photocurrent induced on the photodetector in response to the illumination produced by each LED chain, one LED chain at a time, and received by the photodetector, and measuring a forward voltage developed across the photodetector by applying a non-operative drive current to the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Horace C. Ho, Jason E. Lewis, David J. Knapp
  • Publication number: 20170238398
    Abstract: A lighting control system and method is disclosed for not only controlling visual content loaded within a group set of illumination devices configured within a wireless network, but also for ensuring minimal control delay to those grouped devices. The lighting control system can include a lighting controller device that controls a plurality of lamps within a mesh network, not only to group those lamps but also to assign content to lamps within that group. The combination of a guaranteed groupcast to each of the group of lamps and an acknowledge back from those lamps that is aggregated over a single path achieves the improved lighting control system disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Horace C. Ho, Mark Quilling, Rebecca Frank, Rebecca M. Ho, Nav Sooch
  • Patent number: 9736903
    Abstract: An illumination device described herein includes at least a phosphor converted LED, which is configured for emitting illumination for the illumination device, a first photodetector and a second photodetector. A spectrum of the illumination emitted from the phosphor converted LED comprises a first portion having a first peak emission wavelength and a second portion having a second peak emission wavelength, which differs from the first peak emission wavelength. The first photodetector has a detection range, which is configured for detecting only the first portion of the spectrum emitted by the phosphor converted LED. The second photodetector has a detection range, which is configured for detecting only the second portion of the spectrum emitted by the phosphor converted LED. Methods are provided herein for calibrating and controlling each portion of the phosphor converted LED spectrum, as if the phosphor converted LED were two separate LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason E. Lewis, Horace C. Ho, David J. Knapp
  • Patent number: 9736895
    Abstract: Illumination devices with improved color mixing optics are disclosed herein for mixing the colors produced by a multi-colored LED emitter module to produce uniform color throughout the entire beam angle of the output light beam, along with smoother edges and improved center beam intensity. Embodiments disclosed herein include a unique arrangement of multi-color LEDs within an emitter module, a unique exit lens with different patterns of lenslets on opposing sides of the lens, and other associated optical features that thoroughly mix the different color components, and as such, provide uniform color across the output beam exiting the illumination device. Additional embodiments disclosed herein include a unique arrangement of photodetectors within the primary optics structure of the LED emitter module that ensure the optical feedback system properly measures the light produced by all similarly colored emission LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Fangxu Dong, Horace C. Ho, David J. Knapp
  • Patent number: 9674917
    Abstract: An illumination system and method is provided for readily mapping a plurality of scenes along a dimcurve form a natural show for one or more groups of LED illumination devices. Mapping can be performed using a graphical user interface on a remote controller wirelessly linked to the illumination devices. A keypad is preferably configured for button control of changes to color temperature as a function of brightness along each of the various dimcurves for each of the various groups of illumination devices controlled by a corresponding keypad to allow momentary or persistent override and reprogram of the natural show. Modification to a scene further comprises modifications to scenes before and after the currently modified scene to provide a smoothing dimcurve modification. Global keypad can be used to control multiple zones arranged throughout a structure to switch between a natural show that emulates outdoor sunlight conditions to a panic show when an intruder is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Nav Sooch, Horace C. Ho, Rebecca Frank, Jason E. Lewis, Ryan Matthew Bocock
  • Patent number: 9655215
    Abstract: A lighting control system and method is disclosed for not only controlling visual content loaded within a group set of illumination devices configured within a wireless network, but also for ensuring minimal control delay to those grouped devices. The lighting control system can include a lighting controller device that controls a plurality of lamps within a mesh network, not only to group those lamps but also to assign content to lamps within that group. The combination of a guaranteed groupcast to each of the group of lamps and an acknowledge back from those lamps that is aggregated over a single path achieves the improved lighting control system disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Horace C. Ho, Rebecca Frank, Mark Quilling, Rebecca M. Ho, Nav Sooch
  • Patent number: 9651632
    Abstract: An illumination device comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a method for calibrating the illumination device is provided herein. According to one embodiment, the method may include subjecting a first LED to a first ambient temperature, measuring a forward voltage developed across the first LED upon applying a relatively small drive current to the first LED, detecting at least a first, a second and a third luminous flux output from the first LED upon successively applying at least a first, a second and a third drive current to the first LED, and storing results of the measuring and detecting steps within the illumination device to calibrate the first LED at the first ambient temperature. In some embodiments, the first LED may be subjected to a second ambient temperature, which is different from the first ambient temperature, and the method may repeat the steps of measuring, detecting and storing to calibrate the first LED at the second ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Knapp, Horace C. Ho, Joseph A. Savage
  • Patent number: 9578724
    Abstract: An illumination device comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a method for controlling the illumination device while avoiding flicker in the LED output is provided herein. According to one embodiment, the method may include driving the plurality of LEDs substantially continuously with drive currents configured to produce illumination, periodically turning the plurality of LEDs off for short durations of time during a first period to take measurements or communicate optical data, and increasing the drive currents supplied to the plurality of LEDs by a small amount when the LEDs are on during the first period to compensate for lack of illumination when the LEDs are periodically turned off during the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Knapp, Horace C. Ho, Joseph A. Savage
  • Patent number: 9557214
    Abstract: An illumination device and method is provided herein for calibrating individual LEDs in the illumination device, so as to obtain a desired luminous flux and a desired chromaticity of the device over changes in drive current, temperature, and over time as the LEDs age. The calibration method may include subjecting the illumination device to a first ambient temperature, successively applying at least three different drive currents to a first LED to produce illumination at three or more different levels of brightness, obtaining a plurality of optical measurements from the illumination produced by the first LED at each of the at least three different drive currents, obtaining a plurality of electrical measurements from the photodetector and storing results of the obtaining steps within the illumination device to calibrate the first LED at the first ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ketra, Inc.
    Inventors: Horace C. Ho, Jason E. Lewis, David J. Knapp