Patents Assigned to Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
  • Patent number: 10132116
    Abstract: A battery-powered window treatment, such as a roller shade, may include a battery compartment that provides access to batteries while the window treatment is assembled and mounted to a structure. The battery compartment may be supported along a pivot axis by a housing of the window treatment, and operable between opened and closed positions by pivoting the battery compartment about the pivot axis. The batteries may be concealed when the battery compartment is closed, and may be accessible when the battery compartment is open. The battery compartment may define a central axis that is offset relative to the pivot axis, and along which the batteries may be aligned. The window treatment may include a fascia that is operably connected to the battery compartment, such that when the battery compartment is opened, the fascia does not obstruct access to the batteries, and does not interfere with the shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Kirby, Samuel F. Chambers
  • Patent number: 10136484
    Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include controlling an average magnitude of a load current towards a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current in a normal mode, and controlling the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current in a burst mode. The burst mode may include at least one burst mode period that comprises a first time period associated with an active state and a second time period associated with an inactive state. During the burst mode, the method may include regulating a peak magnitude of the load current towards the minimum rated current during the active state, and stopping the generation of at least one drive signal during the inactive state to control the average magnitude of the load current to be less than the minimum rated current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10136549
    Abstract: A control device for a ceiling fan may have a motor drive circuit configured to control a rotational speed of a motor of the ceiling fan, an occupancy sensing circuit, and a control circuit configured to adjust the rotational speed of the motor in response to a detected occupancy or vacancy condition. The control circuit may process the signals generated by the occupancy sensing circuit to eliminate the effects of vibrations and/or wobbling of the ceiling fan. The control circuit may control the motor drive circuit to adjust the rotational speed of the motor in response to an accelerometer to minimize the magnitude of the wobble of the ceiling fan. The control circuit may be configured to learn a preferred rotational speed for the motor. The control circuit may also be configured to control the rotational speed of the motor to affect a thermal comfort level of an occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Steiner
  • Publication number: 20180331572
    Abstract: A load control device may be used to control and deliver power to an electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control circuit for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device may comprise multiple actuators, where each of the actuators is connected between a terminal of the control circuit and a current regulating device. The number of the actuators may be greater than the number of the terminals. The control circuit may measure signals at the terminals and determine a state configuration for the actuators based on the measured signals. The control circuit may compare the state configuration to a predetermined dataset to detect a ghosting condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Patent number: 10129951
    Abstract: A wall-mounted keypad may include a light detector circuit located inside the keypad that is configured to measure an ambient light level in a space. The light detector circuit may receive ambient light through an aperture that is hidden from view by the keypad. The keypad may include a reflector for directing ambient light onto the light detector circuit. The keypad may include an enclosure that houses the light detector circuit. The enclosure may define a recess that exposes at least a portion of the light detector circuit. The enclosure may include a reflector that may focus ambient light received through the aperture onto the light detector circuit. The keypad may include a control circuit that may be configured to illuminate the indicia of respective buttons of the control device in response to actuations of the one or more buttons, in accordance with the measured ambient light level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: William Taylor Shivell, Matthew Philip McDonald
  • Patent number: 10129948
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Russell Weightman, Jonathan T. Lenz, Jaykrishna A. Shukla, Daniel Curtis Raneri
  • Patent number: 10128772
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load includes a thyristor, a gate coupling circuit for conducting current through a gate terminal of the thyristor, a controllable switching circuit coupled between first and second main terminals of the thyristor, and a control circuit for controlling the gate coupling circuit to conduct a pulse of current through the gate terminal to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle. The gate coupling circuit is able to conduct at least one other pulse of current through the gate terminal after the firing time until a transition time before an end of the half-cycle. The control circuit is configured to render the controllable switching circuit conductive to conduct current through the electrical load between approximately the transition time until approximately the end of the half-cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Daniel F. Carmen, Christopher J. Salvestrini, Matthew V. Harte
  • Patent number: 10129962
    Abstract: A method of automatically programming a load control device takes advantage of a remote identification tag (e.g., an RFID tag) located in the vicinity of the device. The remote identification tag stores an identifier that is representative of a location in which the device is installed. The method includes the steps of: (1) storing a setting of the device in a memory of a controller; (2) associating the setting with the identifier in the memory of the controller; (3) the device receiving the identifier from the remote identification tag; (4) the device transmitting the identifier to the controller; and (5) the controller transmitting the setting to the device in response to receiving the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronic Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Dragan Veskovic
  • Publication number: 20180321722
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load 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, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals directly from the wireless network. The controller may cooperate with one or more other devices to synchronize in time the adjustments made by one or more load control devices that are operable to control the power delivered to one or more electrical loads. The one or more load control devices may also cooperate with one or more Internet based information providers to provide preconfigured and condition based adjustments of the one or more electrical loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: John Bull
  • Publication number: 20180320440
    Abstract: A low-deflection roller tube of a motorized roller shade may include a first tube and a second tube that is attached to the first tube. The first tube may be configured to operably couple to the motor drive unit of the roller shade. The second tube may comprise a plurality of carbon fiber layers additively constructed on the first tube, and may be fabricated such that first and second longitudinal portions of the roller tube exhibit different material stiffness characteristics from each other. The first and second portions of the roller tube may be made of carbon fiber material having different tensile moduli. Layers of carbon fiber material in the first portion of the roller tube may be staggered with layers of carbon fiber material in the second portion of the roller tube at an interface of the first and second portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Peter W. Ogden, JR., Robert C. Newman, JR.
  • Patent number: 10123400
    Abstract: A wall-mountable remote control device may be installed in place of an existing light switch and may be configured to transmit wireless signals to an electrical load device, such as a screw-in light-emitting diode (LED) lamp, to provide control of the electrical load device. The remote control device may comprise an air-gap switch adapted to be electrically coupled in series between a power source and the controllable light source, but may not comprise a bidirectional semiconductor switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load device using a phase-control dimming technique. The remote control device may have a low-profile enclosure that is smaller than an enclosure of a standard dimmer switch, and thus may be easier to install in an electrical wallbox. The remote control device may comprise two parts including an air-gap switch device and a wireless communication device mounted to the air-gap switch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20180313146
    Abstract: A hembar may define a front portion and a rear portion configured to slidably engage each other. The front portion and the rear portion, when slidably engaged, may define a slot configured to receive a piece of fabric. The front portion and the rear portion may be configured to clamp the piece of fabric within the slot. The front portion and the rear portion may be configured such that a width of the slot is adjustable. The front portion may define a first attachment surface and the rear portion may define a second attachment surface. The first attachment surface may define a rib. The second attachment surface may define a groove configured to receive the rib when the front portion is slidably engaged with the rear portion such that the piece of fabric is clamped within the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Blair, David A. Kirby, Vladislav Pejic
  • Publication number: 20180310745
    Abstract: A motorized window treatment system may include a roller tube, a flexible material, a drive assembly, electrical wiring, and/or mounting brackets. A mounting bracket may include a channel configured to secure the roller tube in position along a longitudinal axis of the roller tube. A mounting bracket may include a base and an attachment member. The base may be configured to attach the mounting bracket to a structure. The attachment member may extend from the base and may be configured to receive an end of a roller tube. The mounting bracket may be configured to retain electrical wiring for powering a drive assembly within the roller tube. The mounting bracket may include a spring that is configured to retain the roller tube within the channel in the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket may include a sliding cover that is configured to cover an access opening of the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Nirav Giri, David A. Kirby, Douglas George Kistler, Rohan Krishnan, Glenn S. Laverty, IV, Vladislav Pejic
  • Publication number: 20180310386
    Abstract: A wearable wireless device may be configured for control of a parameter of a load control device. The load control device may be responsive to a network device, for example, to provide fine tune adjustment of the parameter. The wearable wireless device may include a touch-responsive visual display for displaying feedback of the parameter of the load control device. The visual display may be configured to be actuated to receive a user input to adjust the parameter of the load control device. An actuation of the visual display of the wearable wireless device may adjust the parameter by a greater percentage than the fine tune adjustment provided by the network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Erica L. Clymer, Jason C. Killo, Jeremy B. Kleinberg
  • Publication number: 20180307991
    Abstract: A fabric selection tool provides an automated procedure for recommending and/or selecting a fabric for a window treatment to be installed in a building. The recommendation may be made to optimize the performance of the window treatment in which the fabric may be installed. The recommended fabric may be selected based on performance metrics associated with each fabric in an environment. The fabrics may be ranked based upon the performance metrics of one or more of the fabrics. One or more of the fabrics, and/or their corresponding ranks, may be displayed to a user for selection. The recommended fabrics may be determined based on combinations of fabrics that provide performance metrics for various façades of the building. Using the ranking system provided by the fabric selection tool, the user may obtain a fabric sample and/or order one or more of the recommended fabrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Blair, Samuel F. Chambers, Laura M. Gabriel, Michelle L. Greene, Andrew J. Lawler, Joseph Roy Parks, Brent Protzman, Staci L. Quirk
  • Patent number: 10109181
    Abstract: A control device such as a wall-mounted device, a remote control device, or a retrofit remote control device is configured to control one or more electrical loads in a load control system. The control device includes a gesture-based user interface for applying advanced control over the one or more electrical loads. The types of control include absolute and relative control, intensity and color control, preset, zone, or operational mode selection, etc. Feedback is provided on the control device regarding a status of the one or more electrical loads or the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Matthew V. Harte, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: 10106292
    Abstract: A system of packaging and displaying a set of products is disclosed. The system may include a first and second container, together forming a hinged box, each container including a first display face, and a first back positioned on a side of the container opposite the first display face. A first magnetic element and a second element magnetically responsive to the first magnetic element may be positioned in the containers to assist in closing the box. At least one of the containers includes a transparent cover that secures, even in the open position of the box, displayed products, the displayed product visible through the cover when the box is hinged open. The cover has perforations that can be torn to access the products without tools. The products are arranged in the order of use and installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Ghosoub Al-Khal, Benjamin F. Bard, David S. Bennett, Jason C. Killo
  • Publication number: 20180302962
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Galen Edgar Knode, Steven J. Kober, Daniel Curtis Raneri, Richard M. Walsh, III
  • Patent number: D831680
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Erica L. Clymer, Shannon M. Sullivan
  • Patent number: D832879
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Protzman, Michelle L. Greene, Erica L. Clymer, Jennifer Wong, Samuel F. Chambers, Laura Marie Friedlander, Edward J. Blair, Stephen Lundy, John N. Callen