Patents Assigned to Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
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Publication number: 20190156659Abstract: A load control system may include devices for performing communications for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load. The devices may include load control devices that may communicate by transmitting digital messages. A user device having an adjustable wireless communication range may be used for discovering devices, configuring devices, and/or diagnosing devices in the load control system. The user device may detect whether devices are within an established wireless communication range of one another for performing communications. The user device may detect digital messages transmitted from a device and/or digital messages received at a device to determine whether the digital messages are correctly communicated in the load control system. The user device may provide an indication to a indicating whether a digital message is correctly transmitted or received by a device in the load control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Jordan H. Crafts, Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, David J. Dolan, William Bryce Fricke, Joel Hnatow, Jonathan T. Lenz
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Publication number: 20190159323Abstract: A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled together via an accessory wiring. The main device can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system. The main device is configured to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are configured to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half cycle, for example, by actively pulling-up and actively pulling-down the accessory wiring to communicate using tri-state logic.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Ehsan Dadashnialehi, Robert C. Newman, JR., Daniel Curtis Raneri, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
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Publication number: 20190157027Abstract: A remote control device may be configured to be mounted over the toggle actuator of a light switch and to control a lighting load. The remote control device may comprise a base portion having planar extensions removably attached or affixed thereto. The planar extensions may be adapted to be received in a gap between a faceplate of the light switch and the toggle actuator for holding the remote control device against the faceplate. The planar extensions may comprise barbs that allow for insertion of the extensions in the gap, but may bite into the faceplate to hinder removal of the remote control device. The planar extensions may be defined by a mounting structure that is configured to be disposed between a yoke of the mechanical switch and the faceplate, and that protrudes beyond a front surface of the faceplate.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventor: Chris Dimberg
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Publication number: 20190156867Abstract: A load control device may include a semiconductor switch, a control circuit, and first and second terminals adapted to be coupled to a remote device. The load control device may include a first switching circuit coupled to the second terminal, and a second switching circuit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control circuit may be configured to render the first switching circuit conductive to conduct a charging current from an AC power source to a power supply of the remote device during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, and further configured to render the first and second switching circuits conductive and non-conductive to communicate with the remote device via the second terminal during a second time period of the half-cycle of the AC power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Russell Weightman, Jonathan T. Lenz, Jaykrishna A. Shukla, Daniel Curtis Raneri
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Publication number: 20190146639Abstract: An apparatus may display a home dashboard screen. The home dashboard screen may include a rooms function that when selected, causes display of a rooms screen. The rooms screen may list rooms. The rooms screen may present a back button that when selected, causes display of the home dashboard screen. When one of the rooms is selected, a room dashboard screen may be displayed. The room dashboard screen may list selectable functions, and may present a back button and a “Go To Rooms” button either of which when selected may cause display of the rooms screen. When a selectable function is selected, a control screen may be displayed. The control screen may present controls for receiving a control input, and may present a back button that when selected, causes display of the room dashboard screen, and a “Go To Rooms” button that when selected, causes display of the rooms screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Shilpa Sarode, Jennifer Wong
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Publication number: 20190150244Abstract: A control device may have a plurality of buttons that may be backlit to multiple levels, such as first, second, and third adjacent buttons positioned in order, and first, second, and third LEDs positioned to illuminate a respective button. The control device may be configured to illuminate the first LED to a first LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to a first surface illumination intensity; illuminate the third LED to a second LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to a second surface illumination intensity; and illuminate the second LED to a third LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to the second surface illumination intensity. The third LED illumination intensity may be less than the second LED illumination intensity, which may be less than the first LED illumination intensity, and the second surface illumination intensity may be less than the first surface illumination intensity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2019Publication date: May 16, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell, Jason C. Killo
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Publication number: 20190150252Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2019Publication date: May 16, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Stephen M. Ludwig, JR., Robert C. Newman, JR., Jaykrishna A. Shukla
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Publication number: 20190141818Abstract: A control module attached to a lighting fixture and having a front cover portion may comprise one or more sensors, such as a daylight and/or occupancy sensor, for sensing information through the front cover portion. The control module may have a main printed circuit board (PCB) that extends from a front side to a rear side of the control module, and a sensor PCB perpendicular to the main PCB to enable at least one sensor attached to the sensor PCB to face the front side of the control module. The main PCB may comprise a wireless communication circuit and an antenna for communicating radio frequency (RF) signals, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is located within a plastic lip of the front cover portion of the control module. The control module may further have a conductive enclosure to reduce radio-frequency interference noise from coupling into the antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Sean R. Pearson, Nicholas R. Baer, Angelo Caruso, Thomas E. Hibshman, Kevin L. Gascho, Robert Bollinger, Jr., Richard S. Camden
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Publication number: 20190141805Abstract: A control module is able to be installed with electrical devices, such as, for example electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads) and/or load regulation devices. The control module may determine whether an LED driver for an LED light source is responsive to one or more of a plurality of control techniques. The control module may be able to automatically determine an appropriate control technique to use to control the connected LED driver and/or LED light source. The control module may sequentially attempt to control the LED driver and/or LED light source using each of the plurality of control techniques and determine if the LED driver and/or LED light source is responsive to the present control technique. The plurality of control techniques may include one or more analog control techniques and one or more digital control techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2019Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Galen Edgar Knode, Steven J. Kober, Daniel Curtis Raneri, Richard M. Walsh, III
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Publication number: 20190141813Abstract: A control device for power delivered to electrical loads in a load control system via respective load control devices may comprise a programming user interface for programming the operation of the load control system. The control device may be configured to select one or more load control devices in response to successive actuations of a programming button of the programming interface. The control device may be configured to controllably illuminate visual indicators of the programming interface to indicate which of the load control devices is selected in response to successive actuations of the programming button. The control device may transmit programming information to the load control devices. The programming information may determine which of the load control devices are responsive to a digital message transmitted on the digital communication link.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventor: James P. Steiner
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Publication number: 20190124750Abstract: A load control device adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load includes a controller, an actuator for turning the electrical load on and off, an occupancy detection circuit, and an ambient light detector. The load control device automatically turns on the electrical load in response to the presence of an occupant only if the detected ambient light is below a predetermined ambient light level threshold. After first detecting the presence of an occupant, the load control device monitors actuations of the actuator to determine whether a user has changed the state of the load. The load control device automatically adjusts the predetermined ambient light level threshold in response to the user actuations that change the state of the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Ryan S. Bedell, James P. Steiner
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Publication number: 20190122839Abstract: A control device includes a button assembly having one or more buttons and a button carrier that includes a plurality of resilient, independently deflectable spring arms. The control device may be configured as a wall-mounted keypad to control a load control device, or as a thermostat to control a temperature regulation appliance. The button carrier may be configured to prevent interference between the buttons during operation of the control device. The button assembly may be captured between a faceplate of the control device and a housing that is attached to a rear side of the faceplate. The control device may include one or more button retainers that are attached to the buttons and that are configured to align respective outer surfaces of the buttons relative to each other, and relative to the faceplate of the control device, when the buttons are in respective rest positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Nikhil Vithal Bhate, Rich Destremps, James Harrison, Jason Edward Jennings, Eric Jonathan Mace, Stephen Phillips
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Publication number: 20190124740Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load is able to operate in a normal mode and a burst mode. The load control device may comprise a control circuit that activates an inverter circuit during active state periods and deactivates the inverter circuit during inactive state periods. The control circuit may operate in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the electrical load to be above a minimum rated current. The control circuit may operate in the burst mode to adjust the average magnitude of the load current to be below the minimum rated current. The control circuit may adjust the average magnitude of the load current by adjusting the length of the inactive state periods while holding the length of the active state periods constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventor: Stuart W. DeJonge
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Patent number: 10271407Abstract: A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Michael W. Pessina, Theodore F. Economy, John C. Browne, Jr.
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Patent number: 10264651Abstract: A sensor for sensing environmental characteristics of a space may include a visible light sensing circuit for recording an image of the space and a control circuit responsive to the visible light sensing circuit. The control circuit may detect an occupancy or vacancy condition in the space in response to the visible light sensing circuit, and measure a light level in the space in response to the visible light sensing circuit. The control circuit may also include a low-energy occupancy sensing circuit for detecting an occupancy condition in the space. The control circuit may disable the visible light sensing circuit when the space is vacant. The control circuit may detect an occupancy condition in the space in response to the low-energy occupancy sensing circuit and subsequently enable the visible light sensing circuit. The visible light sensor may be configured in a way that protects the privacy of the occupants of the space.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2016Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventor: James P. Steiner
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Publication number: 20190109445Abstract: An apparatus, such as an electrical device or a wall box, may have a mounting mechanism that may be configured to mount the apparatus to a wall in a manner that may facilitate secure fastening to the wall. The apparatus may comprise at least one mounting clamp that may have a fin and a drum that receives a mounting screw. The fin of the mounting clamp may be configured to be located within a pocket formed in the body. When a mounting screw is driven, the mounting clamp may rotate from the pocket into a position in which the drum of the mounting clamp may be received in a channel formed in the body. The drum may be configured to move through the channel as the mounting screw is further driven. The gap may be sized to retain the mounting clamp within the channel as the drum moves therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Jared A. Leese, Joseph M. Nichols
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Publication number: 20190109443Abstract: A temperature control system may include a temperature control device, an electrical wall box having a hole for passing a wire or cable into the wall box, and a gland configured to be inserted into the hole of the wall box. The temperature control device may include a temperature sensor. The wall box may be configured to be mounted to a wall. The temperature control device may be configured to be mounted to the wall box such that the temperature sensor is located within the wall box. A wire or cable may be passed from a wall cavity of the wall, through the gland once inserted into the hole of the wall box, into an interior of the wall box, and attached to the temperature control device. The gland and the wall box may be configured to prevent air within the wall cavity from entering the wall box when the wire or cable is passed into the wall box.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Nikhil V. Bhate, Joseph M. Nichols, Sean Tucker
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Patent number: D845914Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Alexander Wade Gage, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Noel Mayo, Daniel Curtis Raneri
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Patent number: D846508Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Susan Hakkarainen, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Noel Mayo, Matthew Philip McDonald
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Patent number: D847174Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Rhythm Agarwal, Benjamin F. Bard, Erica L. Clymer, Jemma C. Robinson, Sara M. Thompson, Shenchi Tian