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).

  • Publication number: 20230232515
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Benning, Thomas W. Brenner, Quinn Brogan, Donald F. Hausman, JR., Peter MacLellan, Matthew Kyle Olsen, Matthew Pennock
  • Patent number: 11641704
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Benning, Thomas W. Brenner, Quinn Brogan, Donald F. Hausman, Jr., Peter MacLellan, Matthew Kyle Olsen, Matthew Pennock
  • Publication number: 20210212181
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Benning, Thomas W. Brenner, Quinn Brogan, Donald F. Hausman, JR., Peter MacLellan, Matthew Kyle Olsen, Matthew Pennock
  • Patent number: 10959307
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Benning, Thomas W. Brenner, Quinn Brogan, Donald F. Hausman, Jr., Peter MacLellan, Matthew Kyle Olsen, Matthew Pennock
  • Publication number: 20200178372
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Benning, Thomas W. Brenner, Quinn Brogan, Donald F. Hausman, JR., Peter MacLellan, Matthew Kyle Olsen, Matthew Pennock
  • Patent number: 9890587
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Jason O. Adams, Thomas W. Brenner, Brandon J. Detmer, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Joel S. Spira
  • Patent number: 7931068
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 7599612
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robin C. Moseley, Wendy Margaret Moseley, legal representative, David A. Kirby, Justin Mierta, Thomas W. Brenner
  • Publication number: 20070272374
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Robin C. Moseley, David A. Kirby, Justin Mierta, Thomas W. Brenner, Wendy Margaret Moseley
  • Patent number: 6983783
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20040250964
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Lawrence R. Carmen, Michael E. Lockley, Justin J. Mierta, David J. Dolan, Stephen M. Ludwig, Thomas W. Brenner