Patents Assigned to Lutron Technology Company LLC
  • Publication number: 20240039261
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jared A. Leese, Joseph M. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20240038456
    Abstract: A remote control device may be configured to be mounted over the toggle actuator of a light switch and to control a load control device via wireless communication. The remote control device may include a base portion and a rotating portion supported by the base portion so as to be rotatable about the base portion. The remote control device may include a control circuit and a wireless communication circuit. The control circuit may be operably coupled to the rotating portion and to the wireless communication circuit. The control circuit may be configured to translate a force applied to the rotating portion of the remote control device into a control signal and to cause the communication circuit to transmit the control signal to the load control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Timothy S. Majewski, Robert C. Newman, JR., Daniel Curtis Raneri, Matthew J. Swatsky
  • Patent number: 11889604
    Abstract: A load control system includes a load control device and a remote control for configuring and controlling operation of the load control device. The load control device and remote control may be mounted to an electrical wallbox. The system may be configured by associating the remote control with the load control device, and actuating a button on the remote control to configure the load control device. A second remote control device may be directly or indirectly associated with the load control device. The load control device and remote control may communicate via inductive coils that are magnetically coupled together. The remote control may be operable to charge a battery from energy derived from the magnetic coupling between the inductive coils. The load control device and remote control may include near-field communication modules that are operable to communicate wirelessly via near-field radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company, LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Carmen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11885672
    Abstract: A wireless battery-powered daylight sensor for measuring a total light intensity in a space is operable to transmit wireless signals using a variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the total light intensity in the space. The sensor comprises a photosensitive circuit, a wireless transmitter for transmitting the wireless signals, a controller coupled to the photosensitive circuit and the wireless transmitter, and a battery for powering the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transmitter, and the controller. The photosensitive circuit is operable to generate a light intensity control signal in response to the total light intensity in the space. The controller transmits the wireless signals in response to the light intensity control signal using the variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the total light intensity in the space. The variable transmission rate may be dependent upon an amount of change of the total light intensity in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Greg Edward Sloan, Nathan A. Boring
  • Patent number: 11889602
    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: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: William Taylor Shivell, Matthew Philip McDonald
  • Patent number: 11885945
    Abstract: A multi-color LED illumination device and specifically a lens comprising a cylindrical opening extending into the lens from a light entry region at which one or more LEDs are configured. A concave spherical surface extends across the entirety of the light exit region of the lens, and a TIR outer surface shaped as a CPC extends between the light entry region and the light exit region. There are various diffusion surfaces placed on the sidewall surface of the cylindrical opening, as well as its upper planar surface and the exit surface of the lens. Lunes can also be configured on the sidewall surfaces of the cylindrical opening. The combination of lunes, diffusion elements, and the overall configuration of the lens provides improved color mixing and output brightness using three interactions in a first portion of light and two interactions in a second portion of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Fangxu Dong
  • Patent number: 11888401
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Stuart W. DeJonge
  • Publication number: 20240030806
    Abstract: A load control device may be configured to turn on lighting loads to obtain a fast turn-on time that may be substantially consistent across lighting loads that have different load voltages. The load control device may comprise a power converter circuit configured to produce a voltage across a capacitor, and a control circuit configured to control the power converter circuit to generate the voltage across the capacitor. The control circuit may determine a learned voltage from the magnitude of the voltage across the capacitor. For example, the control circuit may measure the magnitude of the voltage and store the measured voltage as the learned voltage. The control circuit may determine an operating parameter for the power converter circuit as a function of the learned voltage, and control the power converter circuit according to the operating parameter to charge the capacitor until the magnitude of the voltage exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Kober, Soma Sekhara Rao Konijeti, Rajesh Krishna Thottumkara, Keertana Veeranki
  • Publication number: 20240032170
    Abstract: In an auto vibrancy mode, a vibrancy value for a lighting load may be automatically determined based on a selected color setting for the lighting load. The automatically determined vibrancy value may also be configured to emit light from the lighting load at or above a target CRI value for the selected color setting. The selected color setting may be a CCT value on the black-body curve or an x-y chromaticity value. If the selected color setting is CCT value on the black-body curve, the automatically determined vibrancy value may be a pre-defined vibrancy value that is configured to emit light from the lighting load at or above the target CRI value for the selected CCT value. If the selected color setting is an x-y chromaticity value, the automatically determined vibrancy value may be based on the distance between the selected x-y chromaticity value and the black-body curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Bryan R. Barnes, Prashant Chaturvedi, Christopher M. Green
  • Publication number: 20240029551
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Stephen M. Ludwig, Jr., Robert C. Newman, Jr., Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20240026736
    Abstract: A motorized window treatment may include a roller tube, a flexible material attached to the roller tube, a motor drive unit, and mounting brackets configured to rotatably support respective ends of the roller tube. The roller tube may be operable between an operating position and an extended position. The extended position may include one or more ends of the roller tube being accessible while still attached to the mounting brackets. At least one of the mounting brackets may include a stationary portion, a sliding portion, and/or a translating portion. The translating portion and/or the sliding portion may be configured to translate the roller tube between the operating position and the extended position. The translating portion may define an attachment member and include an attachment aperture. The end of the roller tube may be accessible via the attachment aperture when the roller tube is in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Blair, Margaret A. Block, John H. Bull, David A. Kirby, Andrew P. Schmalz, John M. Steinmetz, Travis G. Wiehe, Mailing Ren Wu
  • Publication number: 20240032177
    Abstract: A faceplate remote control device may be attached to a wall-mounted mechanical light switch that has a toggle actuator. The faceplate remote control device may include a toggle indicator that detects operation of the toggle actuator of the mechanical switch. The toggle indicator may cause the generation of an indication of detected operation of the toggle actuator. The toggle indicator may comprise a sliding member that is configured to move with the toggle actuator. The toggle indicator may comprise an obstruction detection device that includes an infrared (IR) transmitter and an IR receiver. The faceplate remote control device may include a control circuit and a wireless communication circuit. The control circuit may be configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit one or more messages in response to detecting operation of the toggle actuator of the mechanical switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Karc, Jamie Steffie, Jordan H. Crafts
  • Patent number: 11882636
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: David T. Saveri, III, Andrew Peter Schmalz, Akshay Bhat
  • Publication number: 20240022449
    Abstract: A control system may comprise a plurality of audio output devices (e.g., controllable speakers), and a remote control device having at least one button for selecting a preset, where the preset defines different commands for at least two of the audio output devices. The at least two audio output devices may be configured to be controlled according to the different commands (e.g., starting, pausing, or stopping playback, adjusting volume, etc.) in response to an actuation of the button of the remote control device. The control system may also comprise a load control device, such as a dimmer configured to control an intensity of a lighting load to a predetermined intensity in response to the actuation of the button of the remote control device to select the preset. The audio output device may be configured to play a feedback signal indicating an operational characteristic of the dimmer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Jones, Neil R. Orchowski, David T. Saveri, III
  • Publication number: 20240022249
    Abstract: A control device configured for use in a load control system to control one or more electrical loads external to the control device may include an antenna and an actuation member having a front surface defining a touch sensitive surface configured to detect a touch actuation along at least a portion of the front surface. The control device may include a main printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a control circuit, an antenna PCB connected to the main PCB, a tactile switch(es), a controllably conductive device, and a drive circuit operatively coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive or non-conductive to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The antenna may extend substantially perpendicular from the main PCB through an opening in the yoke and into a cavity defined by the actuation member and the yoke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Dragan Veskovic
  • Publication number: 20240023214
    Abstract: A load control device may be configured to control multiple characteristics of one or more electrical loads such as the intensity and color of a lighting load. The load control device may include concentric rotating portions for adjusting the multiple characteristics. A control circuit of the load control device may be configured to generate control data for controlling one or more of the characteristics of the electrical loads in response to rotations of the concentric rotating portions. The control circuit may be further configured to provide feedback regarding the control being applied on one or more visual indicators. The load control device may be a wall-mounted dimmer device or a battery-powered remote control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Thomas M. Shearer, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20240021381
    Abstract: A control device may be configured to control one or more electrical loads in a load control system. The control device may be a wall-mounted device such as dimmer switch, a remote control device, or a retrofit remote control device. The control device may include a gesture-based user interface for applying advanced control over the one or more electrical loads. The types of control may include absolute and relative control, intensity and color control, preset, zone, or operational mode selection, etc. Feedback may be provided on the control device regarding a status of the one or more electrical loads or the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Matthew V. Harte, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: 11877361
    Abstract: A controllable lighting device may comprise a drive circuit characterized by one or more cycles and a control circuit configured to control the drive circuit to conduct a load current through a light source of the lighting device. The control circuit may be configured to determine one or more operating parameters of the lighting device during a present cycle of the drive circuit based on a feedback signal indicative of a peak magnitude of the load current conducted through the light source. The control circuit may be able to adjust an average magnitude of the load current conducted through the light source so as to adjust an intensity of the light source towards a target intensity based on the operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Stuart W. DeJonge
  • Patent number: D1012046
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo
  • Patent number: D1012047
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Brad Michael Kreschollek, Noel Mayo, Nayda Aponte