Patents by Inventor Robert Don Bruhn

Robert Don Bruhn 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: 11831997
    Abstract: A sky sensor device for measuring direct normal illuminance (DNE) value is described. One sky sensor device includes a camera sensor to capture a series of images, an illuminance sensor to measure illuminance, and a processing device coupled to the camera sensor and the illuminance sensor. The processing device determines a DNE value using the series of images and the illuminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Halio, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Humann, Walter Thomas Barnum, John B. Bogdan, Robert Don Bruhn, Andrew McNiel, Michael Scott Moulton, Benjamin Nagel
  • Publication number: 20230238950
    Abstract: An electronic device for controlling switching timing is described. The electronic device includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure a load voltage to produce a load voltage measurement. The electronic device also includes a processor coupled to the load voltage measuring circuitry. The processor is configured to determine whether a load voltage spike is indicated by the load voltage measurement. The processor is configured to control switching timing based on whether a load voltage spike is indicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Don Bruhn, Timothy Paul Spens
  • Patent number: 11641195
    Abstract: An electronic device for controlling switching timing is described. The electronic device includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure a load voltage to produce a load voltage measurement. The electronic device also includes a processor coupled to the load voltage measuring circuitry. The processor is configured to determine whether a load voltage spike is indicated by the load voltage measurement. The processor is configured to control switching timing based on whether a load voltage spike is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Don Bruhn, Jr., Timothy Paul Spens
  • Patent number: 10925131
    Abstract: An electronic device is described. The electronic device includes current measuring circuitry configured to measure load current to produce a load current measurement. The electronic device also includes a processor coupled to the current measuring circuitry. The processor is configured to calculate an estimated load current slope based on the load current measurement and to determine a predicted zero-cross point based on the estimated load current slope to minimize damaging voltage spike creation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: WirePath Home Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Sidney Lyle King, Joseph M. Doubek, Gregory Scott Smith, Robert Don Bruhn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10904982
    Abstract: An electronic device for controlling switching circuitry is described. The electronic device includes line voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure a line voltage to produce a line voltage measurement. The electronic device also includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure a load voltage to produce a load voltage measurement. The electronic device further includes a processor coupled to the line voltage measuring circuitry and the load voltage measuring circuitry. The processor is configured to adjust a control signal for a transition of the switching circuitry based on the line voltage measurement and the load voltage measurement to minimize heat generation and electromagnetic interference creation by the switching circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: WirePath Home Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Smith, David Bytheway, Robert Don Bruhn, Jr., James K. Russell
  • Patent number: 10845425
    Abstract: An electronic device for detecting switching circuitry failure is described. The electronic device includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure a load voltage to produce a load voltage measurement. The electronic device also includes a processor coupled to the load voltage measuring circuitry. The processor is configured to detect switching circuitry failure based on the load voltage measurement. The processor is configured to control the switching circuitry based on whether switching circuitry failure is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: WirePath Home Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Don Bruhn, Jr., Timothy Paul Spens, Jon A. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10845397
    Abstract: An electronic device for detecting a load type is described. The electronic device includes zero-cross circuitry configured to detect a line voltage zero cross and includes switching circuitry configured to perform switching based on the line voltage zero cross to supply a load voltage. The electronic device further includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure the load voltage. The electronic device additionally includes a processor configured to determine a load type based on the load voltage measurement and configured to control the switching circuitry to drive the load based on the load type. An electronic device for detecting load coupling is also described. The electronic device includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure load voltage without activating the load voltage. The electronic device also includes a processor configured to determine whether a load is coupled based on the load voltage measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: WirePath Home Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Don Bruhn, Jr., Timothy Paul Spens
  • Patent number: 10708870
    Abstract: A method of adjusting power settings on a wireless device is described. The method includes applying a default power setting. The method also includes receiving region information from a central configuration device. The method also includes determining a power setting based on the region information. The method also includes applying the power setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: WirePath Home Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Doubek, Robert Don Bruhn, Jr., Luis F. Gomez
  • Publication number: 20200128638
    Abstract: An electronic device is described. The electronic device includes current measuring circuitry configured to measure load current to produce a load current measurement. The electronic device also includes a processor coupled to the current measuring circuitry. The processor is configured to calculate an estimated load current slope based on the load current measurement and to determine a predicted zero-cross point based on the estimated load current slope to minimize damaging voltage spike creation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Sidney Lyle King, Joseph M. Doubek, Gregory Scott Smith, Robert Don Bruhn, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200077490
    Abstract: An electronic device for controlling switching circuitry is described. The electronic device includes line voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure a line voltage to produce a line voltage measurement. The electronic device also includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure a load voltage to produce a load voltage measurement. The electronic device further includes a processor coupled to the line voltage measuring circuitry and the load voltage measuring circuitry. The processor is configured to adjust a control signal for a transition of the switching circuitry based on the line voltage measurement and the load voltage measurement to minimize heat generation and electromagnetic interference creation by the switching circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Smith, David Bytheway, Robert Don Bruhn, JR., James K. Russell
  • Patent number: 10473699
    Abstract: An electronic device is described. The electronic device includes line voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure a line voltage to produce a line voltage measurement. The electronic device also includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure a load voltage to produce a load voltage measurement. The electronic device further includes a processor coupled to the line voltage measuring circuitry and the load voltage measuring circuitry. The processor is configured to adjust a voltage ramp waveform for a transition of a first metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) and a second MOSFET based on the line voltage measurement and the load voltage measurement to minimize heat generation and electromagnetic interference creation by the MOSFETs. The first MOSFET and the second MOSFET control a current to a load in an alternating current configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Control4 Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Smith, Sidney Lyle King, Robert Don Bruhn, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180217658
    Abstract: An electronic device for controlling switching timing is described. The electronic device includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure a load voltage to produce a load voltage measurement. The electronic device also includes a processor coupled to the load voltage measuring circuitry. The processor is configured to determine whether a load voltage spike is indicated by the load voltage measurement. The processor is configured to control switching timing based on whether a load voltage spike is indicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Don Bruhn, JR., Timothy Paul Spens
  • Publication number: 20180219481
    Abstract: An electronic device for detecting a load type is described. The electronic device includes zero-cross circuitry configured to detect a line voltage zero cross and includes switching circuitry configured to perform switching based on the line voltage zero cross to supply a load voltage. The electronic device further includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure the load voltage. The electronic device additionally includes a processor configured to determine a load type based on the load voltage measurement and configured to control the switching circuitry to drive the load based on the load type. An electronic device for detecting load coupling is also described. The electronic device includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure load voltage without activating the load voltage. The electronic device also includes a processor configured to determine whether a load is coupled based on the load voltage measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Don Bruhn, JR., Timothy Paul Spens
  • Publication number: 20180217205
    Abstract: An electronic device for detecting switching circuitry failure is described. The electronic device includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure a load voltage to produce a load voltage measurement. The electronic device also includes a processor coupled to the load voltage measuring circuitry. The processor is configured to detect switching circuitry failure based on the load voltage measurement. The processor is configured to control the switching circuitry based on whether switching circuitry failure is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Don Bruhn, JR., Timothy Paul Spens, Jon A. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20140323108
    Abstract: A method of adjusting power settings on a wireless device is described. The method includes applying a default power setting. The method also includes receiving region information from a central configuration device. The method also includes determining a power setting based on the region information. The method also includes applying the power setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Control4 Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Doubek, Robert Don Bruhn, JR., Luis F. Gomez