Patents Assigned to Lutron Technology Company LLC
  • Publication number: 20240130023
    Abstract: A load control system for controlling an electrical load may include a sensor, a remote control, and a load control device. The remote control may comprise a button and may be configured to wirelessly transmit a digital message in response to an actuation of the button. The load control device may be configured to control the electrical load, be responsive to the sensor, and/or be configured to be associated with the remote control. The load control device may be responsive to the digital message transmitted by the remote control if the remote control is associated with the load control device. The load control device may be configured to automatically operate in a first mode of operation if the remote control is not associated with the load control device, and automatically operate in a second mode of operation if the remote control is associated with the load control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: David T. Saveri, III, Andrew Peter Schmalz, Akshay Bhat
  • Patent number: 11960264
    Abstract: A load control system may control an electrical load in a space of a building based on one or more parameters regarding the physical condition of an occupant. The parameters may be gathered by one or more sensing devices. The sensing devices may be included in a mobile device. A system controller may receive the parameters and may automatically control the electrical loads in response to the parameters. The system controller may control the electrical load to attempt to adjust the physical condition of the occupant in response to the sensed parameters. The system controller may control the electrical load to provide an alert, an alarm, and/or a warning in response to the sensed parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Jason C. Killo, Galen Edgar Knode, Sanjeev Kumar, Brent Protzman, Daniel Curtis Raneri, Greg Edward Sloan
  • Patent number: 11957261
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Nirav Giri, David A. Kirby, Douglas George Kistler, Rohan Krishnan, Glenn S. Laverty, IV, Vladislav Pejic
  • Patent number: 11960260
    Abstract: A method comprises measuring a light intensity at a window; determining if the light intensity exceeds a cloudy-day threshold; operating in a sunlight penetration limiting mode to control the motorized window treatment to control the sunlight penetration distance in the space; enabling the sunlight penetration limiting mode if the light intensity is greater than the cloudy-day threshold; and disabling the sunlight penetration limiting mode if the total lighting intensity is less than the cloudy-day threshold. The cloudy-day threshold is maintained at a constant threshold if a calculated solar elevation angle is greater than a predetermined solar elevation angle, and the cloudy-day threshold varies with time if the calculated solar elevation angle is less than the predetermined solar elevation angle. The cloudy-day threshold is a function of the calculated solar elevation angle if the calculated solar elevation angle is less than the predetermined solar elevation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: LUTRON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Brian Michael Courtney, Timothy Gill, Shilpa Sarode
  • Publication number: 20240120843
    Abstract: A load control device may utilize a feedback signal representative of an average magnitude of the load current conducted through an electrical load to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The feedback signal may be generated based on a sense signal that is electrically isolated from the line voltage input of the load control device. Depending on the operational characteristics of the electrical load, the feedback signal may be generated using different techniques. In one example technique, the sense signal may be integrated and filtered to derive the feedback signal. In another example technique, the sense signal may be used in conjunction with an input power of the load control device and an efficiency parameter of the load control device to derive the feedback signal. In yet another example technique, values derived from the foregoing two techniques may be blended together to obtain the feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Stuart W. DeJonge
  • Publication number: 20240121872
    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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: William Taylor Shivell, Matthew Philip McDonald
  • Publication number: 20240121874
    Abstract: A linear lighting device may include an elongated housing that defines a cavity. The linear lighting device may include plurality of emitter printed circuit boards configured to be received within the cavity. Each of the plurality of emitter printed circuit boards may include a plurality of emitter modules mounted thereto. Each of the plurality of emitter printed circuit boards may include a control circuit configured to control the plurality of emitter modules mounted to the respective emitter printed circuit board based on receipt of one or more messages. The linear lighting device may include a total internal reflection lens for each of the plurality of emitter printed circuit boards. The total internal reflection lens may be configured to diffuse light emitted by the emitter modules of the plurality of emitter printed circuit boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Ryan M. Bocock, Fangxu Dong, Ari L. Fox, Christopher M. Green, Peter W. Ogden, JR., Stephen Phillips, Jonathan R. Redus, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20240120827
    Abstract: An illumination device and method are provided for controlling light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs (specifically, the LED loads) are controlled, e.g., brightness and color of the LED loads, independent of a phase-cut dimmer applied to the AC mains feeding a DC power supply. The power supply is active dependent upon the duration of a conduction angle supplied from the dimmer The power supply, however, produces drive currents that are independent from the conduction angle by using a two-stage power supply and a relatively slow and fast control loops that are controlled through a microprocessor-based control circuit. Parameters stored in the control circuit are drawn by the microprocessor to control the two-stage power supply to produce the drive currents independent and decoupled from the conduction angle yet dependent on the controller parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason E. Lewis, Ryan Matthew Bocock
  • Publication number: 20240121581
    Abstract: A device may be configured to process messages from a plurality of input devices. The messages may be received on a first communication link and may be processed for being transmitted on a second communication link. The device may receive messages comprising data on the first communication link from the plurality of input devices. The data from the input devices may be aggregated and transmitted in at least one message on the second communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: David J. Dolan, Parker Evans
  • Publication number: 20240120692
    Abstract: A faceplate assembly may include a faceplate having an opening configured to receive an electrical device insert, and an adapter that is disposed between the faceplate and a structure. The adapter may abut a surface of the structure. The one or more biasing members may apply forces against the faceplate that may cause the faceplate to be biased outward relative to the surface of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Adam J. Andersen, Brad Michael Kreschollek
  • Publication number: 20240120163
    Abstract: A remote control device may control electrical loads and/or load control devices of a load control system without accessing electrical wiring. The remote control device may be configured to be mounted over an installed mechanical switch having a paddle actuator and may include a base and a control unit that is configured to be removably attached to the base. The base may include a frame, a clamp arm, a screw, and/or a sleeve. The clamp arm may be configured to secure the base to a protruding portion of the paddle actuator. The clamp arm may be attached to the frame at a pivot joint. The clamp arm may be configured to pivot about the pivot joint. The pivot joint may be located proximate to an endpoint or a midpoint of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: William Taylor Shivell
  • Publication number: 20240120736
    Abstract: A control system may include a direct-current (DC) power bus for charging (e.g., trickle charging) internal energy storage elements in control devices of the control system. For example, the control devices may be motorized window treatments configured to adjust a position of a covering material to control the amount of daylight entering a space. The system may include a DC power supply that may generate a DC voltage on the DC power bus. For example, the DC power bus may extend from the DC power supply around the perimeter of a floor of the building and may be connected to all of the motorized window treatments on the floor (e.g., in a daisy-chain configuration). Wiring the DC power bus in such a manner may dramatically reduce the installation labor and wiring costs of an installation, as well as decreasing the chance of a miswire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Blair, John H. Bull, Samuel F. Chambers, Stuart W. DeJonge, Joseph R. Parks
  • Publication number: 20240120829
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may have a closed-loop gate drive circuit for controlling a semiconductor switch of a controllably conductive device. The controllably conductive device may be coupled in series between the source and the load. The gate drive circuit may generate a target signal in response to a control circuit. The gate drive circuit may shape the target signal over a period of time and may increase the target signal to a predetermined level after the period of time. The gate drive circuit may receive a feedback signal that indicates a magnitude of a load current conducted through the semiconductor switch. The gate drive circuit may generate a gate control signal in response to the target signal and the feedback signal, and render the semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive in response to the gate control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Bollinger, Venkatesh Chitta, Firozbabu Cholashari, Jonathan Waldron
  • Publication number: 20240114605
    Abstract: A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) includes a thyristor coupled between the source and the load, a gate coupling circuit coupled between a first main load terminal and the gate of the thyristor, and a control circuit coupled to a control input of the gate coupling circuit. The control circuit generates a drive voltage for causing the gate coupling circuit to conduct a gate current to thus render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle of the AC power source, and to allow the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current at any time from the firing time through approximately the remainder of the half cycle, where the gate coupling circuit conducts approximately no net average current to render and maintain the thyristor conductive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, JR., Chris J. Salvestrini, Matthew V. Harte
  • Publication number: 20240110677
    Abstract: A recessed downlight fixture and method for installation is provided. The recessed downlight fixture can be installed in a retrofit application, after a ceiling is installed, through a pre-existing opening in that ceiling. Alternatively, a recessed downlight fixture according to a second embodiment can be installed before a ceiling is present. In either embodiment, the light source coupled to, for example, a heat sink, can be universally moved in three degrees of movement, rotationally, along a tilt axis, or further within the ceiling to increase or decrease the recess. All such universal adjustments can take place through and below the ceiling opening during or after installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Steven F. Coakley, John P. Michalko, Derek E. Logan
  • Patent number: 11949532
    Abstract: Lighting control systems may be commissioned for programming and/or control with the aid of a mobile device. Design software may be used to create a floor plan of how the lighting control system may be designed. The design software may generate floor plan identifiers for each lighting fixture, or group of lighting fixtures. During commissioning of the lighting control system, the mobile device may be used to help identify the lighting devices that have been installed in the physical space. The mobile device may receive a communication from each lighting control device that indicates a unique identifier of the lighting control device. The unique identifier may be communicated by visible light communication (VLC) or RF communication. The unique identifier may be associated with the floor plan identifier for communication of digital messages to lighting fixtures installed in the locations indicated in the floor plan identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Jessen, Duheng Liang
  • Patent number: 11949281
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein provide examples of an electrical panel (e.g., a modular electrical panel) that is configured to control a plurality of electrical loads. The electrical panel may include a control circuit, memory, a communication circuit, and an alternating current (AC) line feed and/or a direct current (DC) line feed. The electrical panel may also include a plurality of power supplies and a plurality of control modules, where more than one control module is associated with each of the plurality of power supplies. Each control module may configured to receive DC power from the associated power supply and provide an output voltage to at least one electrical load. The electrical panel provides flexibility as to whether each stage of conversion, regulation, and/or control is performed at a control module located within the electrical panel or performed at an accessory module located at an electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Stuart W. DeJonge, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Matthew W. Nuhfer, Michael W. Pessina, Thomas M. Shearer
  • Patent number: 11950336
    Abstract: A load control device for regulating an average magnitude of a load current conducted through an electrical load may operate in different modes. The load control device may comprise a control circuit configured to activate an inverter circuit during an active state period and deactivate the inverter circuit during an inactive state period. In one mode, the control circuit may adjust the average magnitude of the load current by adjusting the inactive state period while keeping the active state period constant. In another mode, the control circuit may adjust the average magnitude of the load current by adjusting the active state period while keeping the inactive state period constant. In yet another mode, the control circuit may keep a duty cycle of the inverter circuit constant and regulate the average magnitude of the load current by adjusting a target load current conducted through the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Steven J. Kober
  • Patent number: D1021824
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: D1021825
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Daniel L. Twaddell