Patents by Inventor Neal R. Verfuerth

Neal R. Verfuerth 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: 20230003368
    Abstract: A lighting fixture with a pole and a lighting source. The pole can be hollow and can have a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The lighting source can be mounted to the first end of the pole. The lighting source can have a housing and a driver mount. The housing can have a base wall with a hole, and the driver mount can have a hole covered by a removable door. The driver mount can be arranged within the housing with the removable door accessible through the hole in the base wall. At least one of a camera, a photocell sensor, or a motion sensor can be attached to the removable door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon J. King
  • Patent number: 11432390
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a system for operating a plurality of streetlights in response to motion from a vehicle. The system includes a sensor associated with at least one of the streetlights and configured to detect the presence of a moving vehicle and to provide a signal representative of the moving vehicle. The system further includes a radio frequency transceiver associated with each of the streetlights. The system yet further includes processing electronics configured to receive the signal representative of the moving vehicle from the sensor and to cause the radio frequency transceiver to transmit a command to one or more of the plurality of the streetlights to change lighting states along a pathway for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: ORION ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Patent number: 11391450
    Abstract: A lighting fixture with a pole, a lighting source, and a driver. The pole can be hollow and has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The lighting source can be mounted to the first end of the pole. The driver can be mounted within the pole at the second end. Electrical wiring can be provided within the pole extending between the lighting source and the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon J. King
  • Patent number: 11382193
    Abstract: A light fixture and a lighting system including the light fixture is disclosed. The light fixture can include a first light emitting diode (LED) on a printed circuit board (PCB) sized and configured to receive direct current power directly from a photovoltaic (PV) panel and sized to accommodate a maximum voltage output from the PV panel. The lighting system can include the PV panel and the light fixture with the first light emitting diode (LED) on the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Patent number: 11202355
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to an outdoor lighting fixture that includes a ballast for controlling the amount of current provided to a lamp. The lighting fixture also includes a fixture housing at least partially surrounding the ballast and the lamp and a mounting system for holding the fixture housing to at least one of a wall and a pole. The lighting fixture yet further includes a camera coupled to the housing and a control circuit wired to the camera. The lighting fixture also includes a radio frequency transceiver wired to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to cause information from the camera to be wirelessly transmitted by the radio frequency transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: ORION ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Patent number: 11026302
    Abstract: A system for controlling lighting includes a control module coupled to a driver, a light source coupled to the driver, a first sensor configured to cooperate with the control module to detect occupancy and control the power delivered to the light source according to a signal provided by the first sensor, and a second sensor configured to cooperate with the control module to detect ambient light and control the power delivered according to a signal provided by the second sensor. A GUI executing on a controller device wirelessly coupled to the control module communicates with the control module to configure the operation thereof, executes on a touch-sensitive display configured to facilitate user interaction with the controller, and creates one or more control groups. The GUI is also operable to control the driver to control the state of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: ORION ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Daniel J. Czaja, Jr., Michael J. Potts, Ryan M. Franzen, Eric A. Smasal
  • Patent number: 10955095
    Abstract: A lighting fixture that can be installed in a ceiling or retrofitted into a ceiling containing ceiling tiles mounted in a grid, while providing a more pleasing aesthetic appearance than prior art lighting fixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon James King
  • Publication number: 20210054993
    Abstract: A lighting fixture with a pole, a lighting source, and a driver. The pole can be hollow and has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The lighting source can be mounted to the first end of the pole. The driver can be mounted within the pole at the second end. Electrical wiring can be provided within the pole extending between the lighting source and the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon J. King
  • Patent number: 10830419
    Abstract: A lighting fixture with a driver housing assembly indirectly coupled to a heat sink through an offset mounting bracket. The heat sink having at least one light source attached thereto and the driver housing assembly housing a driver for powering the at least one lighting source. The lighting fixture may include a number of heat sinks with lighting sources to provide various levels of lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon J. King
  • Publication number: 20200323067
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a system for operating a plurality of streetlights in response to motion from a vehicle. The system includes a sensor associated with at least one of the streetlights and configured to detect the presence of a moving vehicle and to provide a signal representative of the moving vehicle. The system further includes a radio frequency transceiver associated with each of the streetlights. The system yet further includes processing electronics configured to receive the signal representative of the moving vehicle from the sensor and to cause the radio frequency transceiver to transmit a command to one or more of the plurality of the streetlights to change lighting states along a pathway for the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Publication number: 20200323055
    Abstract: A system for controlling lighting includes a control module coupled to a driver, a light source coupled to the driver, a first sensor configured to cooperate with the control module to detect occupancy and control the power delivered to the light source according to a signal provided by the first sensor, and a second sensor configured to cooperate with the control module to detect ambient light and control the power delivered according to a signal provided by the second sensor. A GUI executing on a controller device wirelessly coupled to the control module communicates with the control module to configure the operation thereof, executes on a touch-sensitive display configured to facilitate user interaction with the controller, and creates one or more control groups. The GUI is also operable to control the driver to control the state of the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Daniel J. Czaja, JR., Michael J. Potts, Ryan M. Franzen, Eric A. Smasal
  • Patent number: 10731800
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a frame, a plurality of LED mounting panels that are removably coupled to the frame, a plurality of LEDs that are disposed on each of the plurality of LED mounting panels, and a plurality of drivers. Each of the plurality of drivers is disposed on a corresponding one of the plurality of LED mounting panels and is electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs disposed on each of the plurality of LED mounting panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Wang, Kenneth J. Wetenkamp, Matthew S. Tlachac, Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Patent number: 10694605
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a system for operating a plurality of streetlights in response to motion from a vehicle. The system includes a sensor associated with at least one of the streetlights and configured to detect the presence of a moving vehicle and to provide a signal representative of the moving vehicle. The system further includes a radio frequency transceiver associated with each of the streetlights. The system yet further includes processing electronics configured to receive the signal representative of the moving vehicle from the sensor and to cause the radio frequency transceiver to transmit a command to one or more of the plurality of the streetlights to change lighting states along a pathway for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ORION ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Patent number: 10694594
    Abstract: A system for controlling lighting includes a control module coupled to a driver, a light source coupled to the driver, a first sensor configured to cooperate with the control module to detect occupancy and control the power delivered to the light source according to a signal provided by the first sensor, and a second sensor configured to cooperate with the control module to detect ambient light and control the power delivered according to a signal provided by the second sensor. A GUI executing on a controller device wirelessly coupled to the control module communicates with the control module to configure the operation thereof, executes on a touch-sensitive display configured to facilitate user interaction with the controller, and creates one or more control groups. The GUI is also operable to control the driver to control the state of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ORION ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Daniel J. Czaja, Jr., Michael J. Potts, Ryan M. Franzen, Eric A. Smasal
  • Patent number: 10660172
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a fixture body, a support structure, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) a driver, a cover, and a connector. The fixture body includes a first raceway, a second raceway, and a channel. The second raceway is substantially parallel to the first raceway. The channel is coupled to the first raceway and the second raceway such that the channel is substantially orthogonal to the first raceway and the second raceway. The support structure is coupled to the first raceway and the second raceway. The plurality of LEDs is coupled to the support structure and spaced apart along a length of the support structure between the first raceway and the second raceway. The driver is positioned within the channel and electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs. The cover is detachably coupled to the channel and extends from the first raceway to the second raceway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Ernst, Neal R. Verfuerth, Kenneth J. Wetenkamp
  • Patent number: 10652964
    Abstract: A lighting system incorporating both direct current power produced by a photovoltaic panel and direct current power converted from alternating current power and a controller for determining the mixture of the two power sources to deliver to a plurality of light fixtures to provide a predetermined suitable light level within a space. The lighting system also providing regulation and monitoring of energy usage of electronic devices through at least one control device accessible through a user interface and at least one controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Publication number: 20200072425
    Abstract: A lighting fixture that can be installed in a ceiling or retrofitted into a ceiling containing ceiling tiles mounted in a grid, while providing a more pleasing aesthetic appearance than prior art lighting fixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon James King
  • Publication number: 20190309934
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a frame, a plurality of LED mounting panels that are removably coupled to the frame, a plurality of LEDs that are disposed on each of the plurality of LED mounting panels, and a plurality of drivers. Each of the plurality of drivers is disposed on a corresponding one of the plurality of LED mounting panels and is electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs disposed on each of the plurality of LED mounting panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Wang, Kenneth J. Wetenkamp, Matthew S. Tlachac, Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Patent number: D869694
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Energy Bank, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon J. King
  • Patent number: D910228
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth