Patents Assigned to Lutron Technology Company
  • Patent number: 11930574
    Abstract: A controllable lighting device may utilize a controllable impedance circuit to conduct a load current through an LED light source. The controllable impedance circuit may be coupled in series with a first switching device, which may be rendered conductive and non-conductive via a pulse-width modulated signal to adjust an average magnitude of the load current. The controllable lighting device may further comprise a control loop circuit that includes a second switching device. The second switching device may be rendered conductive and non-conductive in coordination with the first switching device to control when a feedback signal is provided to the control loop circuit and used to control the LED light source. The control loop circuit may be characterized by a time constant that is significantly greater than an operating period of the load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Stuart W. DeJonge, Robert C. Newman, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20240077900
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Karc, James P. Steiner, William Bryce Fricke
  • Publication number: 20240080957
    Abstract: A load regulation device is adapted to control an electrical load. The load regulation device may be in a low power state, a ready state, and/or an on state. The low power state is characterized by the electrical load being unenergized. The ready state is characterized by a load control device and/or the load regulation device using more power than the low power state and the electrical load being unenergized. The on state is characterized by the electrical load being energized. The load regulation device is configured to receive an indication of a user's presence when the load regulation device is in the low power state. The load regulation device is configured to change from the low power state to the ready state in response to receiving the indication. The load regulation device is configured to wait in the ready state for a change state instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Knauss
  • Patent number: 11920780
    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, depending on whether glare control is not needed, the exit surface of the lens. Lunes can also be configured on the sidewall surfaces of the cylindrical opening and if lessening glare is needed, also on the TIR outer reflective surface. The combination of lunes, diffusion elements, and the overall configuration of the lens provides improved color mixing and output brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Fangxu Dong
  • Patent number: 11923596
    Abstract: A controllable electrical outlet may comprise a resonant loop antenna. The resonant loop antenna may comprise a feed loop electrically coupled to a radio-frequency (RF) communication circuit and a main loop magnetically coupled to the feed loop. The controllable electrical outlet may comprise one or more electrical receptacles configured to receive a plug of a plug-in electrical load and may be configured to control power delivered to the plug-in electrical load in response to an RF signal received via the RF communication circuit. The RF performance of the controllable electrical outlet may be substantially immune to devices plugged into the receptacles (e.g., plugs, power supplies, etc.) due to the operation of the resonant loop antenna. For example, degradation of the RF performance of the controllable electrical outlet may be less when the controllable electrical outlet includes the resonant loop antenna rather than other types of antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert Bollinger, Jr., Dragan Veskovic
  • Patent number: 11924000
    Abstract: A load control system may include control devices for controlling power provided to an electrical load. The control devices may include an input device and a load control device. The load control system may include a hub device. The hub device may include a communication circuit and a control circuit. The communication circuit may be configured to receive a digital message from the control device. The control circuit may be configured to determine, based on content of the digital message, whether the control device has experienced a power removal event. The hub device may send, via the communication circuit, a power removal event indication to the control device of whether the control device has experienced the power removal event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Ankit Bhutani, Timothy Mann, David T. Saveri, III
  • Patent number: 11924932
    Abstract: A load control device may be configured to control an electrical load, such as a lighting load. The load control device may include a first terminal adapted to be coupled to an alternating-current (AC) power source, and a second terminal adapted to be coupled to the electrical load. The load control device may include a bidirectional semiconductor switch, a filter circuit, and a control circuit. The bidirectional semiconductor switch may be coupled in series between the first terminal and the second terminal, and be configured to provide a phase-control voltage to the electrical load. The filter circuit may be coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control circuit may be configured to render the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive to control an amount of power delivered to the electrical load, and be configured to adjust the impedance and/or filtering characteristics of the filter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Robert C. Newman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11924948
    Abstract: A lighting control system for controlling a cumulative light emitted by a lighting fixture may comprise a light-emitting diode (LED) driver comprising an output for conducting an output current, and a control module electrically coupled to the output of the LED driver for receiving the output current. The LED driver may regulate the magnitude of the output current towards a target current, and may be characterized by a low-end intensity. The control module may be coupled to a first LED light source of the LED light sources. The control module may receive a command including a requested intensity and control the magnitude of a first LED current through the first LED light source. The control module may control the cumulative light output of the lighting fixture below the low-end intensity of the LED driver by diverting a portion of the output current away from the first LED light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Picard, Johnathan Paul Ross, Robert D. Stevens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11924939
    Abstract: A power converter circuit may include a control circuit configured to generate a drive signal for rendering a semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive to generate a bus voltage across a bus capacitor. The control circuit may adjust a minimum operating period of the drive signal to a first value when an output power of the power converter circuit is greater than a first threshold and to a second value when the output power is less than a second threshold. The control circuit may comprise a comparator that generates the drive signal in response to a sense voltage and a threshold voltage. When operating in a standby mode, the control circuit may adjust a magnitude of the threshold voltage based on an instantaneous magnitude of an alternating-current line voltage received by the power converter circuit, such that an input current drawn by the power converter circuit is sinusoidal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company
    Inventors: Ryan M. Bocock, Quinn Brogan
  • Publication number: 20240072711
    Abstract: A wall-mountable load control device may include an illuminated rotary knob for providing a nightlight feature. The load control device may be configured to control an intensity of a lighting load. The load control device may include a yoke adapted to be mounted to an electrical wall box, an enclosure attached to the yoke, a faceplate attached to the yoke and having an opening, a mounting member attached to the yoke, and/or a potentiometer located within the enclosure and having a shaft extending through an opening in the yoke and the opening of the faceplate. The load control device may include a collar attached to the boss of the mounting member and surrounding the shaft of the potentiometer. The mounting member may be configured to conduct light from at least one light source housed within the enclosure to illuminate the faceplate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory S. Altonen, Nikhil V. Bhate, Chris Dimberg, Matthew P. McDonald, Rebecca Michalski
  • Patent number: 11915581
    Abstract: A system and method are provided herein for communicating with and controlling various devices using visible light communication (VLC). According to one embodiment, a method is provided for extending a communication range of a VLC system comprising a plurality of controlled devices and a remote-control device. Such a method may include, for example, transmitting a communication message from a remote-control device to a first controlled device located within range of the remote-control device, wherein the communication message is transmitted through free space using visible light, and extending the communication range of the VLC system to a second controlled device, which is located outside of the range of the remote-control device, by using the first controlled device to retransmit the communication message through free space using visible light to the second controlled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Knapp, Horace C. Ho
  • Patent number: 11915580
    Abstract: A wireless control device may include a housing, a yoke, an antenna, a communication circuit, and a control circuit. The yoke may be electrically conductive and be configured to mount the wireless control device to an electrical wallbox. The antenna may be configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The antenna may be a slot antenna. The communication circuit may be configured to transmit and receive the radio-frequency signals via the antenna, and the control circuit may be responsive to the communication circuit (e.g., the signals received via the communication circuit). The control device may also include a conductive component that is attached to a front surface of the housing. For example, the conductive component may be electrically connected to the yoke via a single electrical connection (e.g., a screw). Further, the conductive component may be parallel with the antenna and configured to be capacitively coupled to the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William T. Shivell, Amy E. Yanek
  • Patent number: 11917513
    Abstract: A load control system may include one or more wireless control devices that may be associated via a programming device. An identifier for a first wireless control device may be determined in response to an actuation of a button on the first wireless control device. An association between the first wireless control device and a second wireless control device may be defined at the programming device. The identifier for the first wireless control device may be transmitted to the second wireless control device, which may cause the first wireless control device to enter a sleep mode. The first wireless control device may enter the sleep mode after an actuation of a button on the first wireless control device. The identifier may be determined in response to the actuation of the button on the first wireless control device and/or prior to the first wireless control device entering the sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Timothy Mann
  • Patent number: 11917739
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: 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: 20240064881
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Russell L. MacAdam, Joseph T. Parent, Russell Weightman
  • Publication number: 20240063526
    Abstract: A control module attached to a lighting fixture and having a front cover portion may comprise one or more sensors, such as a daylight and/or occupancy sensor, for sensing information through the front cover portion. The control module may have a main printed circuit board (PCB) that extends from a front side to a rear side of the control module, and a sensor PCB perpendicular to the main PCB to enable at least one sensor attached to the sensor PCB to face the front side of the control module. The main PCB may comprise a wireless communication circuit and an antenna for communicating radio frequency (RF) signals, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is located within a plastic lip of the front cover portion of the control module. The control module may further have a conductive enclosure to reduce radio-frequency interference noise from coupling into the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Sean R. Pearson, Nicholas R. Baer, Angelo Caruso, Thomas E. Hibshman, Kevin L. Gascho, Robert Bollinger, JR., Richard S. Camden
  • Patent number: 11910508
    Abstract: A two-way load control system comprises a power device, such as a load control device for controlling an electrical load receiving power from an AC power source, and a controller adapted to be coupled in series between the source and the power device. The load control system may be installed without requiring any additional wires to be run, and is easily configured without the need for a computer or an advanced commissioning procedure. The power device receives both power and communication over two wires. The controller generates a phase-control voltage and transmits a forward digital message to the power device by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage. The power device transmits a reverse digital message to the controller via the power wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Taipale, Timothy P. Gredler, Akshay Bhat
  • Patent number: 11909204
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Blair, Joseph R. Parks, John H. Bull, Samuel F. Chambers, Stuart W. DeJonge
  • Patent number: 11907038
    Abstract: A temperature control device (e.g., a thermostat) may be configured to control an internal heat-generating electrical load so as to accurately measure a present temperature in a space around the temperature control device. The temperature control device may comprise a temperature sensing circuit configured to generate a temperature control signal indicating the present temperature in the space, and a control circuit configured to receive the temperature control signal and to control the internal electrical load. The control circuit may be configured to energize the internal electrical load in an awake state and to cause the internal electrical load to consume less power in an idle state. The control circuit may be configured to control the internal electrical load to a first energy level (e.g., a first intensity) during the awake state and to a second energy level (e.g., second intensity) that is less than the first during the idle state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jason C. Killo, Donald R. Mosebrook, James P. Steiner
  • Patent number: 11907774
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for swapping or changing between stacks associated with respective applications when one application calls the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Nathan B. Elsishans, Francois Carouge