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).

  • Patent number: 10352511
    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: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon James King
  • Patent number: 10334704
    Abstract: A method of reducing electricity usage during peak demand periods includes the steps of establishing predetermined load reduction criteria representative of a desire by a power provider to reduce loading on an electricity supply grid, and coordinating with a facility having lighting equipment to permit the power provider to turn-off one or more of the lighting equipment by sending instructions to a master controller at the facility in response to the predetermined load reduction criteria, and establishing a list of lighting equipment to be turned-off in response to the instructions, and configuring the master controller to send an override control signal to the lighting equipment to implement the instructions, and configuring the lighting equipment to send a response signal to the master controller providing a status of the lighting equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ORION ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Potts, Neal R. Verfuerth, Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 10330298
    Abstract: A light fixture suitable for use with fluorescent light bulbs as a fluorescent light fixture includes a frame, a plurality of LED mounting strips that are removably coupled to the frame, a plurality of LEDs that are disposed on each of the plurality of LED mounting strips, and a plurality of drivers. Each of the plurality of drivers is disposed on one of the plurality of LED mounting strips and electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs disposed on each of the plurality of LED mounting strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Wang, Kenneth J. Wetenkamp, Matthew S. Tlachac, Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Publication number: 20190174608
    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: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Publication number: 20190174586
    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: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Ernst, Neal R. Verfuerth, Kenneth J. Wetenkamp
  • Publication number: 20190158712
    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: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Publication number: 20190137082
    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: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon J. King
  • Patent number: 10206265
    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: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: ORION ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Patent number: 10206251
    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: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Ernst, Neal R. Verfuerth, Kenneth J. Wetenkamp
  • Publication number: 20190045610
    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: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Daniel J. Czaja, JR., Michael J. Potts, Ryan M. Franzen, Eric A. Smasal
  • Patent number: 10187557
    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: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: ORION ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Patent number: 10113725
    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: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon J. King
  • Patent number: 10098213
    Abstract: A lighting fixture system for lamps includes one or more lamps and one or more ballasts configured to provide controlled power to the one or more lamps. The lighting fixture further includes a controller wired to the lighting fixture. The controller includes one or more relays configured to turn power provided to the one or more ballasts on and off such that the one or more lamps turn on and off with the switching of the one or more relays. The controller further includes a logic circuit configured to control the switching of the one or more relays, wherein the logic circuit is configured to log usage information for the lighting fixture in memory. The controller yet further includes communications electronics configured to output the logged usage information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: ORION ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Daniel J. Czaja, Jr., Michael J. Potts, Ryan M. Franzen, Eric A. Smasal
  • Patent number: 9995469
    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: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon J. King
  • Publication number: 20180119894
    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: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Ernst, Neal R. Verfuerth, Kenneth J. Wetenkamp
  • Patent number: 9951933
    Abstract: A system for mounting a light fixture to a structure includes a pivot base and a mount. The pivot base is pivot base coupled to the structure. The mount is configured for securing to the light fixture and for pivotally coupling to the pivot base, so that the light fixture is adjustably positionable in any one or more of a plurality of positions. The mount includes a plurality of adjustment points configured to allow the mount to be fixed in any of the one or more of a plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ORION ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Wetenkamp, Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Patent number: D833052
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon James King
  • Patent number: D833664
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon James King
  • Patent number: D855862
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon James King
  • Patent number: D856567
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Energy Bank Incorporated
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Brandon James King