Patents Assigned to Lutron Technology Company LLC
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Patent number: 11853094Abstract: A mobile device that is configured for wireless communication may be configured to operate as a remote control device in a lighting control system, controlling one or more lighting control devices of the lighting control system. The remote control device may control the light intensity in a space, for instance at a location of the remote control device, in response to an ambient light intensity measured at the remote control device. The remote control device may define a user interface for receiving an input that indicates a desired light intensity at the location. The remote control device may measure the ambient light intensity at the location via a light detector, compare the measured ambient light intensity to the desired light intensity, and cause the one or more lighting control devices to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until it agrees with the desired light intensity.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Jeffrey Karc, James P. Steiner, William Bryce Fricke
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Patent number: 11856051Abstract: A control device configuration system may receive, store, process, and/or display control device configuration information. The control device configuration system may filter the control device configuration information based on user selections of configuration options for configuration parameters. The control device configuration system may identify compatible and incompatible configuration options for various configuration parameters. The control device configuration system may allow selections of the incompatible configuration options. The control device configuration system may adjust how it filters the control device configuration information based on the selections of the incompatible configuration options. The control device configuration system may implement a configuration model that includes configuration parameter groups for efficient evaluation of user selections.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Ram Kripal Prasad, Saurabh Garg
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Publication number: 20230407702Abstract: A manual drive assembly for a manually-operated window treatment based on a drive chain formed as a loop, may incorporate one or more intermediate tensioners disposed between two ends of the loop. The loop may be formed between a manual clutch mechanism coupled to the window treatment and an end tensioner. The one or more intermediate tensioners may serve to limit slack in the loop such that sides of the loop cannot be pulled to create a large loop, for example, having a gap of four inches or greater, between the hanging sides of the cord.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Evan T. Graham, David A. Kirby, Robert T. Nachtrieb
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Publication number: 20230407701Abstract: A motorized window treatment system controls a plurality of motorized window treatments to maximize daylight autonomy, while minimizing cognitive dissonance. The system may include motorized window treatments, window sensors, and a system controller. Each motorized window treatment may be operable to adjust a respective covering material to control the amount of light entering a space. Each sensor may be mounted adjacent to at least one of the motorized window treatments, and may be configured to measure an amount of daylight shining on the sensor. The system controller may receive sensor readings from the sensors and may control the motorized window treatments in response to the sensors to keep the covering materials aligned when the sensor readings are within a predetermined amount. The system controller may dynamically group and re-group the sensors into subgroups based upon the sensor readings and may control the motorized window treatments based upon the subgroups.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Stephen Lundy, Brent Protzman, Timothy Gill, Michael J. Zizza
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Publication number: 20230409282Abstract: A scalable, distributed load control system for home automation based on a network of microphones may include control devices (e.g., load control devices) that may include microphones for monitoring the system and communicating audio data to a cloud server for processing. The control devices of the load control system may receive a single voice command and may be configured to choose one of the load control devices to transmit the voice command to the cloud server. The load control devices may be configured to receive a voice command, control a connected load according to the voice command if the voice command is a validated command, and transmit the voice command to a voice service in the cloud if the voice command is not a validated command. The voice service to which the load control devices transmit audio data to may be selectable.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, John B. Nill, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
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Patent number: 11846401Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 2, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Steven F. Coakley, John P. Michalko, Derek E. Logan
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Patent number: 11849518Abstract: A load control device is configured to generate a control signal having a desired magnitude for controlling a load regulation device adapted to control the power delivered to an electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control terminal arranged to provide the control signal to the load regulation device, a communication circuit for generating the control signal, and a control circuit configured to generate an output signal that is provided to the communication circuit. The communication circuit may be characterized by non-linear operation. The control circuit may adjust the magnitude of the output signal in response to the difference between the magnitude of the control signal and the desired magnitude to adjust the magnitude of the control signal towards the desired magnitude. The control circuit may also be configured to determine if an incompatible load regulation device is coupled to the load control device.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: James P. Steiner, Daniel G. Cooper, Ryan S. Bedell
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Publication number: 20230403736Abstract: Wireless devices may perform modified carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) techniques in order to increase reliability while maintaining a reasonable latency for communications. The wireless devices may perform listen-before-talk (LBT) techniques using an adaptive transmission threshold (e.g., an adaptive CSMA threshold). The transmission threshold may be compared to a measured signal strength magnitude to determine whether the frequency channel is quiet enough for transmission of a packet. The transmission threshold may be initially set to equal a minimum value. The wireless device may increase the transmission threshold after each instance of LBT failure to allow the wireless device to get progressively more likely to transmit the packet each time LBT fails.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Ankit Bhutani, Richard S. Camden, Robert C. Newman, JR.
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Publication number: 20230403777Abstract: A remote control device for controlling lighting devices may be configured to detect an excessive user interaction (e.g., a continued user interaction) and reduce a number of command messages that are being transmitted to prevent the lighting devices from producing undesirable visual effects. The remote control device may comprise a user interface (e.g., that may include a rotation portion, such as a rotary knob) and a processor configured to receive an indication of a user interaction via the user interface. The processor may periodically transmit command messages at a transmission frequency in response to a continued user interaction, where each of the command messages comprise a respective command for adjusting to a respective lighting level. The processor may also start a usage timer in response to receiving the indication of the user interaction, and decrease the transmission frequency in response to the usage timer exceeding a usage threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Matthew Knauss, Michael W. Pessina, Matthew J. Swatsky
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Publication number: 20230400873Abstract: A two-wire load control device may be configured to compute an accurate estimate of real-time power consumption by a load that is electrically connected to, and controlled by, the two-wire load control device. The load control device may be adapted to measure a voltage drop across the device during a first portion of a half-cycle of an AC waveform provided to the device. The device may be further configured to estimate a voltage drop across the load during the second portion of the half-cycle. The estimated voltage drop may be based on the measured voltage drop. The device may be further configured to measure a current supplied to the load during a second portion of the half-cycle. The device may be configured to estimate power consumed by the load based on the measured current and the estimated voltage drop.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Matthew Robert Blakeley, William Zotter
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Patent number: 11844155Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may comprise a thyristor, a gate current path, and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control the gate current path to conduct a pulse of gate current through a gate terminal of the thyristor to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half-cycle of the AC power source. The control circuit may operate in a first gate drive mode in which the control circuit renders the gate current path non-conductive after a pulse time period from the firing time. The control circuit may operate in a second gate drive mode in which the control circuit maintains the gate current path conductive after the pulse time period during the half-cycle.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Russell L MacAdam, Joseph T. Parent, Russell Weightman
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Publication number: 20230393269Abstract: A sensor device may include a signal generator circuit configured to generate a supplemental signal that is combined with an ultrasonic reception voltage signal generated by an ultrasonic receiving element in response to received ultrasonic waves. The sensor device may comprise an ultrasonic receiving circuit configured to receive the combination of the ultrasonic reception voltage signal and the supplemental signal, and generate a detection signal that indicates when the space is occupied. The sensor device may also comprise a control circuit configured to receive the detection signal and detect an occupancy condition in the space in response to the detection signal. The combination of the supplemental signal with the ultrasonic reception voltage signal may ensure that the magnitudes of signals processed by the ultrasonic receiving circuit are large enough that the ultrasonic receiving circuit may appropriately generate the detection signal and the control circuit may detect the occupancy condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventor: James P. Steiner
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Publication number: 20230397317Abstract: A state change device may be electrically connected to a switched receptacle, or to both the switched and unswitched receptacles, of an outlet. The state change device may generate a change of state signal when power is applied to, or removed from, the switched receptacle. The state change device may wirelessly communicate the signal. The state change device may include a load control circuit that may be configured to control the amount of power delivered to an electrical load that is electrically connected to the state change device. The state change device may receive commands directed to the load control circuit. The state change device may be deployed in a load control system and may operate as a control entity, such that the state change device may issue commands to one or more load control devices, responsive to the application or removal of power at the switched receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Jeffrey Karc, Ankit Bhutani, Galen Edgar Knode, Jamie Steffie
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Publication number: 20230397309Abstract: Methods and systems as described herein may be used for independently controlling the color temperature, intensity, and/or circadian response (CR) of one or more light sources (e.g., discrete-spectrum light sources) to adjust one or more color temperature, intensity, and circadian metrics in a space. For example, a light fixture may have four controllable light sources, a warm CR boost, cool CR boost, warm non-boost CR and a cool non-boost CR to independently control intensity, color temperature, and CR outputs.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Craig A. Casey, Brent Protzman
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Publication number: 20230396172Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load (e.g., an LED light source) includes first and second semiconductor switches, a transformer, a capacitor, a controller, and a current sense circuit operable to receive a sense voltage representative of a primary current conducted through a primary winding of the transformer. The primary winding is coupled in series with a semiconductor switch, while a secondary winding is adapted to be operatively coupled to the load. The capacitor is electrically coupled between the junction of the first and second semiconductor switches and the primary winding. The current sense circuit receives a sense voltage and averages the sense voltage when the first semiconductor switch is conductive, so as to generate a load current control signal that is representative of a real component of a load current conducted through the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventor: Dragan Veskovic
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Patent number: D1007185Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventor: Vladislav Pejic
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Patent number: D1007442Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Gregory Altonen, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Sean Tucker
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Patent number: D1007443Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Gregory Altonen, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Sean Tucker
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Patent number: D1007444Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Gregory Altonen, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Sean Tucker
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Patent number: D1008785Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Vladislav Pejic, David A. Kirby