Patents by Inventor Robert C Newman

Robert C Newman 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: 11574754
    Abstract: A control device includes a moving portion, a magnetic element coupled to the moving portion, at least one magnetic sensing circuit responsive to magnetic fields, and at least one magnetic flux pipe structure. The magnetic element may comprise alternating positive and negative sections configured to generate a magnetic field. The magnetic element may be any shape, such as circular, linear, etc. The magnetic sensing circuit may be radially offset from the magnetic element, and the magnetic flux pipe structure may be configured to conduct the magnetic field generated by the magnetic element towards the magnetic sensing circuit. The magnetic element may generate the magnetic field in a first plane, and the magnetic sensing may be responsive to magnetic fields in a second direction that is angularly offset from the first plane. The magnetic flux pipe structure may redirect the magnetic field towards the magnetic sensing circuit in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Alexander Wade Gage, Stephen M. Ludwig, Jr., William Taylor Shivell
  • Publication number: 20230014160
    Abstract: A motorized window treatment for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window includes a covering material, a drive shaft, and a motor coupled to the drive shaft for raising and lowering the covering material. The window treatment also includes a spring assist unit for assisting the motor by providing a torque that equals the torque provided by the weight on the cords that lift the covering material at a position midway between fully-open and fully-closed positions to minimize motor usage and conserve battery life. The window treatment may comprise a photosensor for measuring the amount of daylight outside the window and temperature sensors for measuring the temperatures inside and outside of the window. The position of the covering material may be automatically controlled in response to the photosensor and the temperature sensors, or in response to an infrared or radio-frequency remote control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason O. Adams, Edward J. Blair, Andrew Karl Cooney, Soumya Jain, David A. Kirby, Stephen Lundy, Justin J. Mierta, Daniel W. Mistarz, Robert C. Newman, JR., Peter W. Ogden, JR., Jonathan L. Roe, Chen Ming Wu, Justin M. Zernhelt
  • Patent number: 11490248
    Abstract: Devices that record data from a space, such as audio or video devices having microphones and/or cameras, may have a privacy mode which allows a user to temporarily prevent the device from recoding audio or video of the space. The privacy mode may be a privacy cover, button, airgap, or other mechanism to obfuscate the acoustic or video signal, or to remove power and/or communication from the camera, microphone, control circuit, or to the entire device itself. Additionally, the privacy mode may be remotely enabled for multiple devices in a space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, Robert C. Newman, Jr., John B. Nill
  • Patent number: 11480012
    Abstract: A motorized window treatment for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window includes a covering material, a drive shaft, and a motor coupled to the drive shaft for raising and lowering the covering material. The window treatment also includes a spring assist unit for assisting the motor by providing a torque that equals the torque provided by the weight on the cords that lift the covering material at a position midway between fully-open and fully-closed positions to minimize motor usage and conserve battery life. The window treatment may comprise a photosensor for measuring the amount of daylight outside the window and temperature sensors for measuring the temperatures inside and outside of the window. The position of the covering material may be automatically controlled in response to the photosensor and the temperature sensors, or in response to an infrared or radio-frequency remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason O. Adams, Edward J. Blair, Andrew Karl Cooney, Soumya Jain, David A. Kirby, Stephen Lundy, Justin J. Mierta, Daniel W. Mistarz, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Peter W. Ogden, Jr., Jonathan L. Roe, Chen Ming Wu, Justin M. Zernhelt
  • Publication number: 20220329675
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may include a controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also include a first wireless communication circuit that may be operable to communicate on a first wireless communication network via a first protocol and the first communication circuit may be in communication with the controller. The apparatus may also include a second communication circuit that may be operable to communicate on a second communication network via a second protocol. The controller may be further operable to control the first wireless communication circuit to communicate configuration data with the first wireless communication network via the first protocol. The controller may also be operable to control the second wireless communication circuit to communicate operational data with the second communication network via the second protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, JR., Lawrence R. Carmen, JR., John H. Bull
  • Publication number: 20220327917
    Abstract: A load control system may include control devices for controlling electrical loads. The control devices may include load control devices, such as a lighting device for controlling an amount of power provided to a lighting load, and controller devices, such as a remote control device configured to transmit digital messages for controlling the lighting load via the load control device. The remote control device may communicate with the lighting devices via a hub device. The remote control device may detect a user interface event, such as a button press or a rotation of the remote control device. The remote control device or the hub device may determine whether to transmit digital messages as unicast messages or multicast messages based on the type of user interface event detected. The remote control device, or other master device, may synchronize and/or toggle an on/off state of lighting devices in the load control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, JR., Shan Shi, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Patent number: 11470187
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may include a controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also include a first wireless communication circuit that may be operable to communicate on a first wireless communication network via a first protocol and the first communication circuit may be in communication with the controller. The apparatus may also include a second communication circuit that may be operable to communicate on a second communication network via a second protocol. The controller may be further operable to control the first wireless communication circuit to communicate configuration data with the first wireless communication network via the first protocol. The controller may also be operable to control the second wireless communication circuit to communicate operational data with the second communication network via the second protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Lawrence R. Carmen, Jr., John H. Bull
  • Publication number: 20220307321
    Abstract: A motorized window treatment may provide a low-cost solution for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window. The window treatment may include a covering material (e.g., a cellular shade fabric or a roller shade fabric), a drive assembly for raising and lowering the covering material, and a motor drive unit including a motor configured to drive the drive assembly to raise and lower the covering material. The motorized window treatment may comprise one or more battery packs configured to receive batteries for powering the motor drive unit. The batteries may be located out of view of a user of the motorized window treatment (e.g., in a headrail or in a battery compartment). The motorized window treatment may use various power-saving methods to lengthen the lifetime of the batteries, e.g., to reduce the motor speed to conserve additional battery power and extend the lifetime of the batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason O. Adams, Edward J. Blair, Andrew Karl Cooney, Soumya Jain, David A. Kirby, Stephen Lundy, Justin J. Mierta, Daniel W. Mistarz, Robert C. Newman, Peter W. Ogden, Jonathan L. Roe, Chen Ming Wu, Justin M. Zernhelt, Samuel F. Chambers
  • Publication number: 20220286533
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may include a controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also include a first wireless communication circuit that may be operable to communicate on a first wireless communication network via a first protocol and the first communication circuit may be in communication with the controller. The apparatus may also include a second communication circuit that may be operable to communicate on a second communication network via a second protocol. The controller may be further operable to control the first wireless communication circuit to communicate configuration data with the first wireless communication network via the first protocol. The controller may also be operable to control the second wireless communication circuit to communicate operational data with the second communication network via the second protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, JR., Lawrence R. Carmen, JR., John H. Bull
  • Publication number: 20220279637
    Abstract: A controllable lighting device may utilize a controllable impedance circuit to conduct a load current through an LED light source. The controllable impedance circuit may be coupled in series with a first switching device, which may be rendered conductive and non-conductive via a pulse-width modulated signal to adjust an average magnitude of the load current. The controllable lighting device may further comprise a control loop circuit that includes a second switching device. The second switching device may be rendered conductive and non-conductive in coordination with the first switching device to control when a feedback signal is provided to the control loop circuit and used to control the LED light source. The control loop circuit may be characterized by a time constant that is significantly greater than an operating period of the load current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Stuart W. DeJonge, Robert C. Newman, JR.
  • Publication number: 20220263340
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein provide examples of an electrical panel (e.g., a modular electrical panel) that is configured to control a plurality of electrical loads. The electrical panel may include a control circuit, memory, a communication circuit, and an alternating current (AC) line feed and/or a direct current (DC) line feed. The electrical panel may also include a plurality of power supplies and a plurality of control modules, where more than one control module is associated with each of the plurality of power supplies. Each control module may configured to receive DC power from the associated power supply and provide an output voltage to at least one electrical load. The electrical panel provides flexibility as to whether each stage of conversion, regulation, and/or control is performed at a control module located within the electrical panel or performed at an accessory module located at an electrical load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Stuart W. DeJonge, Robert C. Newman, JR., Matthew W. Nuhfer, Michael W. Pessina, Thomas M. Shearer
  • Patent number: 11417203
    Abstract: A load control system may include control devices for controlling electrical loads. The control devices may include load control devices, such as a lighting device for controlling an amount of power provided to a lighting load, and controller devices, such as a remote control device configured to transmit digital messages for controlling the lighting load via the load control device. The remote control device may communicate with the lighting devices via a hub device. The remote control device may detect a user interface event, such as a button press or a rotation of the remote control device. The remote control device or the hub device may determine whether to transmit digital messages as unicast messages or multicast messages based on the type of user interface event detected. The remote control device, or other master device, may synchronize and/or toggle an on/off state of lighting devices in the load control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Shan Shi, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20220243907
    Abstract: A lighting device (e.g., a controllable light-emitting diode illumination device) may have a light-generation module that may be assembled and calibrated prior to the light-generation module being installed in a finished good. The light-generation module may include an emitter module having at least one emitter mounted to a substrate and configured to emit light. The light-generation module may include a first printed circuit board on which the emitter module may be mounted and a second printed circuit board on which those circuits that are essential for powering the emitter module may be mounted. The light-generation module may include a heat sink located between the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board. The emitter module may be thermally-coupled to the heat sink through the substrate and the first printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Ryan M. Bocock, Robert Bollinger, JR., Richard S. Camden, Kevin L. Gascho, Robert C. Newman, JR., Peter W. Ogden, JR.
  • Publication number: 20220240360
    Abstract: If there is an interruption of power to an electrical load while the electrical load is operating at low end, the electrical load may not turn back on when power is restored. This undesired operation may be avoided by detecting the application of power to the electrical load, and automatically increasing the magnitude of a control signal being applied to the electrical load by a sufficient amount for a short period of time after power has been applied. This way, the electrical load may be turned back on to low end, instead of erroneously operating in an electronic off condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. Mosebrook, Robert C. Newman, JR.
  • Publication number: 20220230533
    Abstract: Provided herein are examples of a remote control device that provides a retrofit solution for an existing switched control system. The remote control device may comprise a control circuit, a rotatable portion, a magnetic ring coupled to the rotatable portion, and first and second Hall-effect sensor circuits configured to generate respective first and second sensor control signals in response to magnetic fields generated by the magnetic elements. The control circuit may operate in a normal mode when the rotatable portion is being rotated, and in a reduced-power mode when the rotatable portion is not being rotated. The control circuit may disable the second Hall-effect sensor circuit in the reduced-power mode. The control circuit may detect movement of the rotatable portion in response to the first sensor control signal in the reduced-power mode and enable the second Hall-effect sensor circuit in response to detecting movement of the rotatable portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Stephen M. Ludwig, JR., Robert C. Newman, JR., Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20220199307
    Abstract: A control device includes a moving portion, a magnetic element coupled to the moving portion, at least one magnetic sensing circuit responsive to magnetic fields, and at least one magnetic flux pipe structure. The magnetic element may comprise alternating positive and negative sections configured to generate a magnetic field. The magnetic element may be any shape, such as circular, linear, etc. The magnetic sensing circuit may be radially offset from the magnetic element, and the magnetic flux pipe structure may be configured to conduct the magnetic field generated by the magnetic element towards the magnetic sensing circuit. The magnetic element may generate the magnetic field in a first plane, and the magnetic sensing may be responsive to magnetic fields in a second direction that is angularly offset from the first plane. The magnetic flux pipe structure may redirect the magnetic field towards the magnetic sensing circuit in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, JR., Alexander Wade Gage, Stephen M. Ludwig, JR., William Taylor Shivell
  • Publication number: 20220183125
    Abstract: A load control device may be configured to control an electrical load, such as a lighting load. The load control device may include a first terminal adapted to be coupled to an alternating-current (AC) power source, and a second terminal adapted to be coupled to the electrical load. The load control device may include a bidirectional semiconductor switch, a filter circuit, and a control circuit. The bidirectional semiconductor switch may be coupled in series between the first terminal and the second terminal, and be configured to provide a phase-control voltage to the electrical load. The filter circuit may be coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control circuit may be configured to render the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive to control an amount of power delivered to the electrical load, and be configured to adjust the impedance and/or filtering characteristics of the filter circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Robert C. Newman, JR.
  • Patent number: 11343894
    Abstract: A controllable lighting device may utilize a controllable impedance circuit to conduct a load current through an LED light source. The controllable impedance circuit may be coupled in series with a first switching device, which may be rendered conductive and non-conductive via a pulse-width modulated signal to adjust an average magnitude of the load current. The controllable lighting device may further comprise a control loop circuit that includes a second switching device. The second switching device may be rendered conductive and non-conductive in coordination with the first switching device to control when a feedback signal is provided to the control loop circuit and used to control the LED light source. The control loop circuit may be characterized by a time constant that is significantly greater than an operating period of the load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Stuart W. DeJonge, Robert C. Newman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11335185
    Abstract: Provided herein are examples of a remote control device that provides a retrofit solution for an existing switched control system. The remote control device may comprise a control circuit, a rotatable portion, a magnetic ring coupled to the rotatable portion, and first and second Hall-effect sensor circuits configured to generate respective first and second sensor control signals in response to magnetic fields generated by the magnetic elements. The control circuit may operate in a normal mode when the rotatable portion is being rotated, and in a reduced-power mode when the rotatable portion is not being rotated. The control circuit may disable the second Hall-effect sensor circuit in the reduced-power mode. The control circuit may detect movement of the rotatable portion in response to the first sensor control signal in the reduced-power mode and enable the second Hall-effect sensor circuit in response to detecting movement of the rotatable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Stephen M. Ludwig, Jr., Robert C. Newman, Jr., Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Patent number: D956003
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Daniel Curtis Raneri, Jaykrishna A. Shukla