Patents by Inventor William D. Horn

William D. Horn 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).

  • Dimmer switch having an alternate fade rate when using in conjunction with a three-way switch
    Patent number: 9148932
    Abstract: A dimmer switch uses different fade rates when turning on or off lighting load depending on a device used to adjust the lighting load. For example, the dimmer switch uses a first fade rate when turning off a lighting load in response to an actuation of a local actuator or accessory switch and uses a second fade rate faster than the first fade rate when turning off the lighting load in response to an actuation of a connected three-way switch may be provided. The dimmer switch may slowly turn off the lighting load in response to an actuation of the actuator to provide an aesthetically pleasing reduction in the intensity of the lighting load. When a user actuates the three-way switch to turn off the lighting load, the dimmer switch quickly reduces the intensity of the lighting load to approximately zero percent as may be expected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventor: William D. Horn
  • DIMMER SWITCH HAVING AN ALTERNATE FADE RATE WHEN USING IN CONJUNCTION WITH A THREE-WAY SWITCH
    Publication number: 20130271025
    Abstract: A dimmer switch uses different fade rates when turning on or off lighting load depending on a device used to adjust the lighting load. For example, the dimmer switch uses a first fade rate when turning off a lighting load in response to an actuation of a local actuator or accessory switch and uses a second fade rate faster than the first fade rate when turning off the lighting load in response to an actuation of a connected three-way switch may be provided. The dimmer switch may slowly turn off the lighting load in response to an actuation of the actuator to provide an aesthetically pleasing reduction in the intensity of the lighting load. When a user actuates the three-way switch to turn off the lighting load, the dimmer switch quickly reduces the intensity of the lighting load to approximately zero percent as may be expected by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventor: William D. Horn