Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Brenner
Thomas W. Brenner 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).
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Publication number: 20230232515Abstract: A load control device coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load may operate in a three-wire mode or a two-wire mode based on whether the load control device is connected to a neutral side of the AC power source. The load control device may further comprise first and second zero-cross detect circuits to be respectively used in the two-wire mode or the three-wire mode, and a neutral wire detect circuit configured to generate a neutral-wire detect signal indicating whether the load control device is connected to the neutral side of the AC power source. A control circuit of the load control device may determine whether the load control device should operate in the two-wire mode or in the three-wire mode in response to the neutral-wire detect signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Mark A. Benning, Thomas W. Brenner, Quinn Brogan, Donald F. Hausman, JR., Peter MacLellan, Matthew Kyle Olsen, Matthew Pennock
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Patent number: 11641704Abstract: A load control device coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load may operate in a three-wire mode or a two-wire mode based on whether the load control device is connected to a neutral side of the AC power source. The load control device may further comprise first and second zero-cross detect circuits to be respectively used in the two-wire mode or the three-wire mode, and a neutral wire detect circuit configured to generate a neutral-wire detect signal indicating whether the load control device is connected to the neutral side of the AC power source. A control circuit of the load control device may determine whether the load control device should operate in the two-wire mode or in the three-wire mode in response to the neutral-wire detect signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2021Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Mark A. Benning, Thomas W. Brenner, Quinn Brogan, Donald F. Hausman, Jr., Peter MacLellan, Matthew Kyle Olsen, Matthew Pennock
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Publication number: 20210212181Abstract: A load control device coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load may operate in a three-wire mode or a two-wire mode based on whether the load control device is connected to a neutral side of the AC power source. The load control device may further comprise first and second zero-cross detect circuits to be respectively used in the two-wire mode or the three-wire mode, and a neutral wire detect circuit configured to generate a neutral-wire detect signal indicating whether the load control device is connected to the neutral side of the AC power source. A control circuit of the load control device may determine whether the load control device should operate in the two-wire mode or in the three-wire mode in response to the neutral-wire detect signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Mark A. Benning, Thomas W. Brenner, Quinn Brogan, Donald F. Hausman, JR., Peter MacLellan, Matthew Kyle Olsen, Matthew Pennock
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Patent number: 10959307Abstract: A load control device coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load may operate in a three-wire mode or a two-wire mode based on whether the load control device is connected to a neutral side of the AC power source. The load control device may further comprise first and second zero-cross detect circuits to be respectively used in the two-wire mode or the three-wire mode, and a neutral wire detect circuit configured to generate a neutral wire detect signal indicating whether the load control device is connected to the neutral side of the AC power source. A control circuit of the load control device may determine whether the load control device should operate in the two-wire mode or in the three-wire mode in response to the neutral wire detect signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Mark A. Benning, Thomas W. Brenner, Quinn Brogan, Donald F. Hausman, Jr., Peter MacLellan, Matthew Kyle Olsen, Matthew Pennock
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Publication number: 20200178372Abstract: A load control device coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load may operate in a three-wire mode or a two-wire mode based on whether the load control device is connected to a neutral side of the AC power source. The load control device may further comprise first and second zero-cross detect circuits to be respectively used in the two-wire mode or the three-wire mode, and a neutral wire detect circuit configured to generate a neutral-wire detect signal indicating whether the load control device is connected to the neutral side of the AC power source. A control circuit of the load control device may determine whether the load control device should operate in the two-wire mode or in the three-wire mode in response to the neutral-wire detect signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Mark A. Benning, Thomas W. Brenner, Quinn Brogan, Donald F. Hausman, JR., Peter MacLellan, Matthew Kyle Olsen, Matthew Pennock
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Patent number: 9890587Abstract: A motorized roller tube for reeling and unreeling a flexible member between fully open and fully closed conditions operates with minimized sound level. A variable controller energizes a motor with a controllable RPM driving a gear reduction assembly. The motor has a speed versus torque characteristic which extends linearly from a high maximum RPM and low minimum torque, to a low minimum RPM and high maximum torque, and having a peak efficiency at a given RPM. The motor moves the flexible member between its fully open and fully closed positions at a motor speed less than the given peak efficiency RPM and less than 50% of its high maximum RPM, and at a motor efficiency which is less than 25% of the peak efficiency whereby the motor is intentionally operated in a high torque and low efficiency manner.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2012Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Jason O. Adams, Thomas W. Brenner, Brandon J. Detmer, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Joel S. Spira
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Patent number: 7931068Abstract: A motorized shade control system includes electronic drive units (EDUs) having programmable control units directing a motor to move an associated shade in response to command signals directed to the control units from wall-mounted keypad controllers or from alternate devices or control systems connected to a contact closure interface (CCI). Each of the EDUs, keypad controllers and CCIs of the system is connected to a common communication bus. The system provides for initiation of soft addressing of the system components from any keypad controller, CCI or EDU. The system also provides for setting of EDU limit positions and assignment of EDUs to keypad controllers from the keypad controllers or CCIs. The system may also include infrared receivers for receiving infrared command signals from an infrared transmitter.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2005Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co, Inc.Inventors: Lawrence R. Carmen, Jr., Michael E. Lockley, Justin J. Mierta, David J. Dolan, Stephen M. Ludwig, Jr., Thomas W. Brenner
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Patent number: 7599612Abstract: Calibration of a motorized roller shade is accomplished by calculating a radius of a roller tube and thickness of a shade fabric rotatably supported by the roller tube. First, a lower edge of the shade fabric is moved to a first position at a first linear distance from a predetermined position. Second, a first number of revolutions of the roller tube between the first position and the predetermined position is determined. Next, the lower edge of the shade fabric is moved to a second position at a second linear distance from the predetermined position and a second number of revolutions between the second position and the predetermined position is determined. Finally, the tube radius and the fabric thickness are calculated from the first and second linear distances and the first and second numbers of revolutions. The tube radius and the fabric thickness are used to control the linear speed of the lower edge of the shade fabric.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2006Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Robin C. Moseley, Wendy Margaret Moseley, legal representative, David A. Kirby, Justin Mierta, Thomas W. Brenner
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Publication number: 20070272374Abstract: Calibration of a motorized roller shade is accomplished by calculating a radius of a roller tube and thickness of a shade fabric rotatably supported by the roller tube. First, a lower edge of the shade fabric is moved to a first position at a first linear distance from a predetermined position. Second, a first number of revolutions of the roller tube between the first position and the predetermined position is determined. Next, the lower edge of the shade fabric is moved to a second position at a second linear distance from the predetermined position and a second number of revolutions between the second position and the predetermined position is determined. Finally, the tube radius and the fabric thickness are calculated from the first and second linear distances and the first and second numbers of revolutions. The tube radius and the fabric thickness are used to control the linear speed of the lower edge of the shade fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2006Publication date: November 29, 2007Inventors: Robin C. Moseley, David A. Kirby, Justin Mierta, Thomas W. Brenner, Wendy Margaret Moseley
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Patent number: 6983783Abstract: A motorized shade control system includes electronic drive units (EDUs) having programmable control units directing a motor to move an associated shade in response to command signals directed to the control units from wall-mounted keypad controllers or from alternate devices or control systems connected to a contact closure interface (CCI). Each of the EDUs, keypad controllers and CCIs of the system is connected to a common communication bus. The system provides for initiation of soft addressing of the system components from any keypad controller, CCI or EDU. The system also provides for setting of EDU limit positions and assignment of EDUs to keypad controllers from the keypad controllers or CCIs. The system may also include infrared receivers for receiving infrared command signals from an infrared transmitter.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2003Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Lawrence R. Carmen, Jr., Michael E. Lockley, Justin J. Mierta, David J. Dolan, Stephen M. Ludwig, Jr., Thomas W. Brenner
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Publication number: 20040250964Abstract: A motorized shade control system includes electronic drive units (EDUs) having programmable control units directing a motor to move an associated shade in response to command signals directed to the control units from wall-mounted keypad controllers or from alternate devices or control systems connected to a contact closure interface (CCI). Each of the EDUs, keypad controllers and CCIs of the system is connected to a common communication bus. The system provides for initiation of soft addressing of the system components from any keypad controller, CCI or EDU. The system also provides for setting of EDU limit positions and assignment of EDUs to keypad controllers from the keypad controllers or CCIs. The system may also include infrared receivers for receiving infrared command signals from an infrared transmitter.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2003Publication date: December 16, 2004Inventors: Lawrence R. Carmen, Michael E. Lockley, Justin J. Mierta, David J. Dolan, Stephen M. Ludwig, Thomas W. Brenner