Patents Assigned to Lutron Technology Company LLC
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Publication number: 20240381507Abstract: A load control device (e.g., an LED driver) for controlling the intensity of a lighting load (e.g., an LED light source) may provide a wide output range and flicker-free adjustment of the intensity of the lighting load. The load control device may comprise a load regulation circuit, a control circuit, and a filter circuit (e.g., a boxcar filter circuit) that operates in a different manner in dependence upon a target current. When the intensity of the lighting load is near a low-end intensity, the control circuit may adjust an operating frequency of the load regulation circuit in response to the target current, and may control the filter circuit to filter a current feedback signal during a filter window that repeats on periodic basis. When the intensity of the lighting load is near a high-end intensity, the control circuit may control the filter circuit to constantly filter the current feedback signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2024Publication date: November 14, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Stuart W. DeJonge, Steven J. Kober, Mark S. Taipale
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Publication number: 20240380193Abstract: A remote control device may be mounted to a structure. The remote control device may include a control unit, a base, a faceplate, an adapter, and a mounting plate. The adapter may be configured to be attached to the faceplate. The adapter may be configured to be secured to the structure. The mounting plate may float between the adapter and the structure when the adapter is secured to the structure. The mounting plate may include a frame, a mounting tab, and a plurality of spring arms. The mounting tab may extend from the frame, for example, a platform on the frame. The mounting tab may be configured to prevent rotation of the base of the remote control device when the base is attached to the mounting plate. The plurality of spring arms may be configured to bias the mounting tab away from the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2024Publication date: November 14, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Isabel Jane Hunt Richter, Aaron Jeffrey Wilz
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Publication number: 20240377052Abstract: A control module configured to be mounted in a fixture opening of a lighting fixture may comprise an antenna (e.g., a dipole antenna) having a majority of primary radiating structures located outside of the lighting fixture when mounted to the lighting fixture. The control module may comprise a detector positioned to receive infrared energy through a lens for detecting occupancy or vacancy conditions. The antenna may comprise two elements electrically connected in a dipole antenna configuration and comprising respective curved portions that are positioned to curve around the detector outside of the lighting fixture. The control module may comprise an enclosure comprising clips that each have teeth for attaching the control module within the fixture opening. The clips may be located adjacent to each other and the teeth may be staggered relative to each other, such that one tooth of either clip engages the fixture opening at a single time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2024Publication date: November 14, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Ankit Bhutani, Richard S. Camden, Kevin L. Gascho, Stephen Phillips, Kevin Millner
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Publication number: 20240377038Abstract: An emitter module for a light-emitting diode (LED) light source may comprise a substrate, and a plurality of emitters mounted to the substrate, where each emitter is configured to produce illumination at a different wavelength, and the number of emitters is greater than four (e.g., five emitters). The emitter module may also comprise a dome mounted to the substrate and encapsulating the plurality of emitters. Each of the plurality of emitters is arranged such that a center of the emitter is located on a circular center line that has a center that is the same as a center of the dome. Each of the plurality of emitters is located on a different primary radial axis of the emitter module. Each of the primary radial axes of the emitter module is equally spaced apart by an offset angle. The emitter module may also comprise an additional one of each of the emitters at each of the different wavelengths (e.g., ten total emitters).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2024Publication date: November 14, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventor: Fangxu Dong
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Publication number: 20240381506Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from a power source to an electrical load may comprise a control circuit configured to control the load regulation circuit to control the power delivered to the electrical load. The control circuit may be configured to operate in an AC mode when an input voltage is an AC voltage and in a DC mode when the input voltage is a DC voltage. The control circuit may be configured to disable the power converter in the DC mode. The control circuit may be configured to render a controllable switching circuit conductive in the AC mode, and non-conductive in the DC mode. The rectifier circuit may be configured to rectify the input voltage to generate a rectified voltage when the input voltage is an AC voltage, and to pass through the input voltage when the input voltage is a DC voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2024Publication date: November 14, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Robert C. Newman, JR., Stuart W. DeJonge
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Publication number: 20240380348Abstract: A load control device may control power delivered from a power source, such as an alternating-current (AC) power source, to at least two electrical loads, such as a lighting load and a motor load. The load control device may include multiple load control circuit, such as a dimmer circuit and a motor drive circuit, for controlling the power delivered to the lighting load and the motor load, respectively. The load control device may adjust the rotational speed of the motor load in a manner so as to minimize acoustic noise generated by the load control device and reduce the amount of time required to adjust the rotational speed of the motor load. The load control device may remain powered when one of the electrical loads (e.g., the lighting load) has been removed (e.g., electrically disconnected or uninstalled) and/or has failed in an open state (has “burnt out” or “blown out”).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2024Publication date: November 14, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: James P. Steiner, Dinesh Sundara Moorthy
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Patent number: 12144082Abstract: 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 adapted to be coupled in series between the source and the load, 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 controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2023Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Michael W. Pessina, Theodore F. Economy, John C. Browne, Jr.
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Patent number: 12144081Abstract: A load control system may include load control devices for controlling power provided to an electrical load. The load control devices may include a control-source device and a control-target device. The control-target device may control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device. A user device may discover load control devices when the load control devices are within an established range associated with the user device. The user device and the load control devices may communicate via a wireless communications module. The established range may be adjusted based on the configurable transmit power of the user device or the wireless communications module associated with the user device. A discovered control-target device may be associated with a control-source device to enable the control-target device to control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2021Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Jordan H. Crafts, William Bryce Fricke, Stephen M. Ludwig, Jr., Jonathan T. Lenz, Bryan Robert Barnes, Kyle Thomas Barco
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Patent number: 12143047Abstract: A motor drive unit for driving a motor of a motorized window treatment may comprise software-based and hardware-based implementations of a process for detecting and resolving a stall condition in the motor, where the hardware-based implementation is configured to reduce power delivered to the motor if the software-based implementation has not first reduced the power to the motor. A control circuit may detect a stall condition of the motor, and reduce the power delivered to the motor after a first period of time from first detecting the stall condition. The motor drive unit may comprise a stall prevention circuit configured to reduce the power delivered to the motor after a second period of time (e.g., longer than the first period of time) from determining that a rotational sensing circuit is not generating a sensor signal while the control circuit is generating a drive signal to rotate the motor.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2023Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Donald F. Hausman, Jr., Chen Ming Wu
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Patent number: 12143039Abstract: A motorized window treatment may be configured to adjust a position of a covering material to control the amount of daylight entering a space. The motorized window treatment may include a DC power source for charging an energy storage element, such as a supercapacitor and/or rechargeable battery. The energy storage element may be configured to provide power for the operation of a motor used to adjust the position of the covering material. The energy storage element may discharge when providing power to the motor and may charge such that the current it draws from a battery is at a desired average current level that extends the lifetime of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Jason O. Adams, Edward J. Blair, Stuart W. DeJonge, Olli T. Friman
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Publication number: 20240371257Abstract: Remote control devices may control electrical loads and/or load control devices of a load control system without accessing electrical wiring. The remote control device may be mounted over a mechanical switch that is installed in a wallbox. The remote control device may include a base, a battery, a battery holder, and a control unit. The base may be configured to attach the remote control device to the mechanical switch. The control unit may be configured to be removably attached to the base. The battery holder may be configured to retain the battery therein. The battery holder may be configured to be installed within the void defined by the housing. The battery holder may be operable between a first position in a lower portion of the void and a second position in an upper portion of the void.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2024Publication date: November 7, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventor: Chris Dimberg
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Publication number: 20240373529Abstract: 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: July 19, 2024Publication date: November 7, 2024Applicant: 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: 20240369198Abstract: An emitter assembly for a lighting device may comprise a substrate, one or more emitters mounted to a surface of the substrate, a first dome portion formed on the surface of the substrate and encapsulating the one or more emitters, and a second dome portion located above the first dome portion. The first and second dome portions may both be made of materials that are optically transmissive. The second dome portion may have a shape that may be configured to direct light from the emitters in a particular direction. The emitter assembly may comprise a barrier located on the surface of the substrate and surrounding the emitters. The barrier and the surface of the substrate may define a recess in which the first dome portion is located. The emitter assembly may further comprise an adhesive that may be located between and attach the first and second dome portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2024Publication date: November 7, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventor: Peter W. Ogden, Jr.
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Publication number: 20240365097Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2024Publication date: October 31, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Theodore F. Economy, John C. Browne, JR., William Bryce Fricke, Galen Edgar Knode, Ryan S. Bedell, Christopher J. Salvestrini
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Publication number: 20240363295Abstract: A control device configured for use in a load control system to control an external electrical load may provide simple feedback regarding the operation of the control device. For example, the control device may comprise a base portion configured to be mounted to an electrical wallbox or over a mechanical switch, and a control unit connected to the base portion. The control unit may comprise a rotation portion rotatable with respect to the base portion, an actuation portion, and a light source. The control unit may be configured to control the light source to illuminate at least an illuminated portion of the actuation portion in response to actuations of the rotation portion and the actuation portion. In addition, the control unit may provide a limit indication on the illuminated portion by blinking the illuminated portion when the electrical load has reached a limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2024Publication date: October 31, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Gregory S. Altonen, Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Knauss, Michael W. Pessina, Daniel L. Twaddell
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Publication number: 20240365450Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2024Publication date: October 31, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
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Publication number: 20240365459Abstract: A linear lighting fixture may comprise lighting control devices for controlling lighting loads in a load control system. Each linear lighting fixture may include a fixture controller configured to control lighting control devices. The fixture controller may receive messages from one or more devices in the load control system for controlling lighting control devices in the linear lighting fixture. The fixture controller may receive the message and communicate with the lighting control devices on a wired power/communication link Each linear lighting fixture may comprise one or more sensors. The sensors may be coupled to the fixture controller to send/receive messages on a wired power/communication link and/or a wireless communication link The lighting control devices in the fixtures may be zoned separately or together. Each of the sensors in a linear lighting fixture may be zoned with one or more of the lighting control devices in the linear lighting fixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2024Publication date: October 31, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Devin O'Donnell, Daniel C. Raneri, Ratan Dominic Rego, Christopher G. Udall
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Patent number: 12129710Abstract: 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 may be staggered with layers of carbon fiber material in the second portion at an interface between the first and second portions.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2021Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Peter W. Ogden, Jr., Robert C. Newman, Jr.
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Patent number: D1049130Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2022Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Gregory Altonen, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Karelys Alfonzo, Nayda Aponte, Xiangzhu Chen, Bryan Robert Barnes
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Patent number: D1050859Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2023Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Edward J. Blair, Margaret A. Block, Laura Marie Friedlander, Vladislav Pejic, Mailing Ren Wu