Patents Examined by Jimmy Vu
  • Patent number: 10045417
    Abstract: Illumination of an environment can be selected based on target colors that the illumination would provide for specific samples. One process for synthesizing the illumination includes repeatedly selecting settings for separate light sources in a luminaire system and determining a merit function of the target colors of the samples and apparent colors of the samples under illumination that the luminaire system would produce with the settings selected. The value of the merit function thus determined can be used to identify a synthesized illumination, for example, the synthesized illumination that provides a smallest value. A luminaire system can implement such a process in a luminaire or in a control system for luminaires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Telelumen, LLC
    Inventors: Dmitri Simonian, Steven Paolini, Ross D. Archer, Lev Simonian
  • Patent number: 10034353
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for bulb detection for a lighting control system. The apparatus includes a lighting control module configured to cause a transmission of a quantity of electrical energy to a lighting circuit of a light fixture electrically connected to the lighting control module. The apparatus includes a detector circuit positioned in the lighting control module. The detector circuit is configured to measure a response of the lighting circuit to the transmission of the quantity of electrical energy. The apparatus also includes a controller in electrical communication with the detector circuit. The controller is specially programmed to correlate the quantity of electrical energy transmitted to the lighting circuit to the response of the lighting circuit. The controller is further programmed to determine the bulb type of a bulb electrically coupled to the lighting circuit of the light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Noon Home, Inc.
    Inventors: William Lark, Jr., Ryan Aylward, Andreas Wagner, Erik Charlton, Nicholas David Pennycooke
  • Patent number: 10034358
    Abstract: A method for controlling a smart LED grow lamp device, comprising: using a processor, selecting a light recipe from an online light recipe store server via a user interface of a wireless device communicatively coupled to the online light recipe store server over a network, the light recipe including spectrum type, intensity, and duration selections for LEDs included in the smart LED grow lamp device; downloading the light recipe from the online light recipe store server to the wireless device; generating control signals for the smart LED grow lamp device from the light recipe at the wireless device; and, transmitting the control signals to the smart LED grow lamp device from the wireless device to thereby control the smart LED grow lamp device. The smart LED grow lamp device can be voice activated, can include a camera, and can be intelligently controlled by using images from the camera to monitor plant growth, diagnose problems (e.g., lighting, water, temperature, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Inventor: Xiaolai Chen
  • Patent number: 10031175
    Abstract: Method for determining a light-emission capacity of a light emitting diode, referred to as a LED. The method includes the following steps: reverse biasing the LED so as to cause an accumulation of an electric charge by the LED, said LED being subjected to a light source incident to the LED; causing a discharge of the electric charge accumulated by the LED; obtaining a value representing a time taken for discharging the charge from the LED; determining the light-emission capacity of the LED according to the discharge time obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS
    Inventor: Patrice Pelin
  • Patent number: 10027166
    Abstract: A system is disclosed including, a light source; a converter configured to convert AC voltage to DC operating voltage; a power backup device coupled to the converter; a current source coupled to the power backup device, the current source being powered by the converter, the current source being configured to receive the DC operating voltage generated by the converter through the power backup device, and the current source being configured to output a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal to the light source based on the DC operating voltage; and a switching device coupled to the power backup device in parallel with the current source, the switching device being configured to couple the light source to the power backup device when the current source is disabled as a result of a supply of AC voltage to the converter being interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventor: Yifeng Qiu
  • Patent number: 10023106
    Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, an arrangement for controlling a lighting device of a working vehicle where the lighting device is directed toward an adjustable operating element of the working vehicle. A control device is connected to the lighting device. The control device is operated to switch the lighting device on according to a detected adjustment of the operating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Valentin Gresch
  • Patent number: 10021765
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an intelligent switch device for controlling lighting devices within an electrical installation, so as to control the switching on, off, and intensity of illumination by means of a mobile or web application and a user interface, in a local or remote manner; and a central control system that allows the intelligent switch devices to be configured and controlled by radio communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: KLEVERNESS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Dan Nurko Elliot, Marco Polo Leyva Rios, Hector Munguia Abundis, Fidel Nahum Castillo Barcenas, Nelly Adriana Estrada Flores, Josue Saul Rosario Garcia, Francisco Antonio Puc Poot, Leobardo Stephen Lincoln Strange Zenteno, Gerardo Gomez Soto, Edmundo Leyva Rios, Carlos Mucino Ramirez, Samuel Nurko Yomtow
  • Patent number: 10020168
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tuning a radio frequency (RF) generator are described. One of the methods includes supplying, by a high frequency RF generator, a high frequency RF signal to the IMN. The method includes accessing a plurality of measurement values of a variable measured at an output of the high frequency RF generator to generate a parameter. The variable is measured during a plurality of cycles of operation of a low frequency RF generator. The measurement values are associated with a plurality of values of power supplied by the high frequency RF generator. The method includes determining, for one of the cycles, a value of a frequency of the high frequency RF generator and a value of a factor associated with a shunt circuit of the IMN for which there is an increase in efficiency in power delivered by the high frequency RF generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur M. Howald, John C. Valcore, Jr., Bradford J. Lyndaker
  • Patent number: 10009968
    Abstract: This application relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling a switching frequency of a boost or flyback converter to be above an audible frequency range when operating the boost or flyback converter in a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode. The boost or flyback converter uses one or more switches for converting power for a display panel. In order to boost the switching frequency when operating in the PFM mode, the boost or flyback converter can selectively implement certain current and/or voltage limits for pulses that are generated as a result of the switching. The current and/or voltage limits can be set according to a load of the boost or flyback converter, and a correspondence between the current and/or voltage limits and the loads can be stored in a lookup table accessible to the boost or flyback converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jingdong Chen, Asif Hussain, Behzad Mohtashemi, Manisha P. Pandya, Mohammad J. Navabi-Shirazi
  • Patent number: 10009985
    Abstract: A LED structure with wireless power driver and display thereof is provided. The LED structure receives outside electric and magnetic field to transform into operation power for LED. The LED structure has a driver IC, a receiving element, and a light-emitting element to dispose and pack into a LED carrier directly. The receiving element is utilized to receive the electric and/or magnetic field, and a wireless control signal. The driver IC has a transformation mechanism and a driver mechanism to control the light-emitting element. With the arrangement of the elements to form a high density LED without wired powers. Therefore, the occupied space is reduced and the pins are omitted to save costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventor: Hsien-Jung Huang
  • Patent number: 9999117
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for lighting control. For example, a user may commission a touch-controlled luminaire (106) to emit light output having various lighting properties dependent on a manner in which the touch-controlled luminaire is touched subsequently. In particular, a user may use an electronic mobile device (102) such as a smart phone, tablet computer, or a wearable computing device (e.g., computing glasses, smart watches) to associate a touch event profile indicative of a manner in which a touch-controlled luminaire was touched (e.g., tapped, swiped, etc.) with a lighting control action. The user may then provide that association to the touch-controlled luminaire. When the touch-controlled luminaire is later touched in the same manner, it may adjust its light output in accordance with the lighting control action. Operation and commission of gesture-controlled luminaires (706) is also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Philip Steven Newton, Tim Dekker, Ramon Antoine Wiro Clout, Dzmitry Viktorovich Aliakseyeu, Tatiana Aleksandrovna Lashina, Dirk Valentinus René Engelen
  • Patent number: 9999109
    Abstract: An LED lighting assembly includes, according to various implementations, mechanisms for protecting the LED lights from voltage or current surges, including hardware that absorbs the strike voltage and hardware that provides a bypass path. The provision of a bypass path in the event of the failure of one or LED lights in an LED string allows the string to be, in effect, “turned off” in order to protect the remaining LED lights, thereby allowing the healthy LED lights to stay lit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Sam, Eric Johannessen, Brendan Upton
  • Patent number: 9986610
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a series-connectable decorative light string. High-voltage power is received via a first electrical connector at a first end of the decorative light string and is conducted to a complementary second electrical connector at a second end of the decorative light string. The decorative light string has a power converter that converts the received high-voltage power to low-voltage DC power for consumption by a plurality of lighting elements distributed along the decorative light string. Each of the plurality of lighting elements has an illumination controller. The plurality of lighting elements is wired in daisy chain fashion from the first electrical connector to the second electrical connector via data-in and data-out ports of each lighting element. The wire high-voltage power received by the first electrical connector can provide power to additional decorative light strings connected via the second electrical connector without resulting in degraded illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Seasons 4, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Loomis, Jared William Everline
  • Patent number: 9985179
    Abstract: A light emitting diode device has a bulk gallium and nitrogen containing substrate with an active region. The device has a lateral dimension and a thick vertical dimension such that the geometric aspect ratio forms a volumetric diode that delivers a nearly uniform current density across the range of the lateral dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SORAA, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Katona, James W. Raring, Mark P. D'Evelyn, Michael R. Krames, Aurelien J. F. David
  • Patent number: 9978580
    Abstract: A lamp is provided. The lamp includes a transparent envelope for emitting light, and an RFID tag coupled to a portion of the transparent envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Heraeus Noblelight America LLC
    Inventors: William E. Johnson, Robert Ervin
  • Patent number: 9980328
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for configuring an unpowered light emitting diode (LED) driver using an RS-232 interface are provided. An LED driver includes an RS-232 serial connector and an RS-232 serial interface controller coupled to the RS-232 serial connector. The RS-232 serial interface controller is configured to provide an RS-232 port for the LED driver. The LED driver includes a voltage regulator coupled between the RS-232 serial connector and the RS-232 serial interface controller. The voltage regulator is configured (i) to receive a voltage regulator input voltage at least in part from the RS-232 serial connector when operating in an unpowered tuning mode, and (ii) to output a regulated voltage. A controller of the LED driver is powered by the regulated voltage during an unpowered tuning operation of the LED driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen D. Mays, II
  • Patent number: 9980348
    Abstract: A lifestyle lighting solution using a controller with program codes for managing night time illumination is disclosed; wherein the night time illumination is divided into at least two illumination modes including a regular illumination mode for providing early evening illumination and an user friendly illumination mode for providing a mid night illumination with a soft on process to avoid or mitigate an eye irritating hardship. The conversion time point to switch from a regular illumination mode to an user friendly illumination mode is controlled by a timer configured in an external control device. The timer is programmed to operate one of three time setting methods including an anytime setting method, a fixed time point setting method and a fixed time period method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventor: Chia-Teh Chen
  • Patent number: 9967939
    Abstract: A thermal foldback control circuit electrically connected to a light emitting diode (LED) driver. The thermal foldback control circuit includes a voltage divider and a shunt regulator. The voltage divider includes a first resistor component, a second resistor component in a series-type configuration with the first resistor component, and an output. The first resistor component has a first resistance and the second resistor component has a second resistance that varies in response to a temperature at a reference point. The output is configured to output a reference voltage based on the first resistance and the second resistance. The shunt regulator is in a parallel-type configuration with the voltage divider and is configured to receive the reference voltage and control a driver output of the LED driver based on the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael W. Bandel, Ray M. Lazalier
  • Patent number: 9967932
    Abstract: An LED controller for a multiple LED channel system using PWM method for LED dimming function incorporates a digital dimming control circuit to generate the PWM signals for driving the LED channels to spread out or cancel out the power supply transients generated by the LED transient current during PWM modulation for dimming operation. The digital dimming control circuit implements a power supply transient reduction method whereby the active period of the PWM signals for some of the LED channels are shifted within the switching cycle to align at least some of the rising signal edges with some of the falling signal edges so as to cancel out the voltage transients on the LED power rails generated at the signal transitions. Furthermore, the rising and falling signal edges that are not lined up are spread out through the PWM switching cycle so that the power supply transients are spread out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc.
    Inventor: ChungTing Yao
  • Patent number: 9967950
    Abstract: A system and method for operating one or more light emitting devices is disclosed. In one example, an analog circuit outputs a voltage pulse to drive a voltage regulator in a way that may provide more consistent light intensity from the one or more light emitting devices over a range of requested lighting intensity levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Phoseon Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Salvatore T. Battaglia