Patents by Inventor Benjamin F. Bard

Benjamin F. Bard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11402861
    Abstract: A wireless load control system for controlling one or more electrical loads comprises a wireless control device (e.g., a gateway device) able to obtain a present time from a server via a network (e.g., the Internet), control the electrical loads according to a timeclock schedule, and disable the timeclock schedule if the present time is not able to be obtained from the server via the network. The wireless control device may also be able to obtain the present time from a digital message received from an external device (e.g., a smart phone or a tablet device) via the network. The wireless control device may be configured to receive a control signal indicating a power outage (e.g., from a battery backup device), and to operate in a low-power mode in response to receiving the control signal indicating the power outage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, David J. Dolan, Timothy Mann, Christopher M. Riedl
  • Patent number: 11387671
    Abstract: A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a plurality of electrical load includes a plurality of energy controllers. Each energy controller is operable to control at least one of the electrical loads. The load control system also includes a first broadcast controller that has a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna is arranged in a first position and the second antenna is arranged in a second position that is orthogonal to the first position. The broadcast controller is operable to transmit a first wireless signal via the first antenna and a second wireless signal via the second antenna. Each of the energy controllers is operable to receive at least one of the first and second wireless signals, and to control the respective load in response to the received wireless signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Donald F. Mosebrook, Timothy S. Majewski, Gregory S. Altonen, Benjamin F. Bard
  • Publication number: 20220110197
    Abstract: A battery-powered control device may be configured to control an amount of power delivered to one or more electrical loads and provide various feedback associated with the control device and/or the electrical loads. The feedback may indicate a low battery condition and/or the amount of power delivered to the one or more electrical loads. The control device may include a light bar and/or one or more indicator lights for providing the feedback. The control device may operate in different modes including a normal mode and a low battery mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Chris Dimberg, Matthew V. Harte, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: 11234300
    Abstract: A battery-powered control device may be configured to control an amount of power delivered to one or more electrical loads and provide various feedback associated with the control device and/or the electrical loads. The feedback may indicate a low battery condition and/or the amount of power delivered to the one or more electrical loads. The control device may include a light bar and/or one or more indicator lights for providing the feedback. The control device may operate in different modes including a normal mode and a low battery mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Chris Dimberg, Matthew V. Harte, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20210378065
    Abstract: A wearable wireless device may be configured for control of a parameter of a load control device. The load control device may be responsive to a network device, for example, to provide fine tune adjustment of the parameter. The wearable wireless device may include a touch-responsive visual display for displaying feedback of the parameter of the load control device. The visual display may be configured to be actuated to receive a user input to adjust the parameter of the load control device. An actuation of the visual display of the wearable wireless device may adjust the parameter by a greater percentage than the fine tune adjustment provided by the network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Erica L. Clymer, Jason C. Killo, Jeremy B. Kleinberg
  • Publication number: 20210265720
    Abstract: A wireless communication device for use in a load control system for controlling one or more electrical loads may comprise a counterpoise, a first and second antennas, a RF communication circuit and a control circuit. The two antennas may be oriented differently and spaced apart from each other. For example, the first antenna may extend perpendicularly from the counterpoise while the second antenna extends in a plane substantially parallel to the counterpoise. The first antenna may extend from the counterpoise at a point substantially central to the counterpoise while the second antenna may extend along a perimeter of the counterpoise. The RF communication circuit may transmit wireless signals via the first and second antennas. The control circuit may cause the RF communication circuit to transmit a first wireless signal in a first time slot and a second wireless signal in a second time slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Robert Bollinger, Jr., Donald R. Mosebrook, Walter S. Zaharchuk
  • Patent number: 11005159
    Abstract: A wireless communication device for use in a load control system for controlling one or more electrical loads may comprise a counterpoise, a first and second antennas, a RF communication circuit and a control circuit. The two antennas may be oriented differently and spaced apart from each other. For example, the first antenna may extend perpendicularly from the counterpoise while the second antenna extends in a plane substantially parallel to the counterpoise. The first antenna may extend from the counterpoise at a point substantially central to the counterpoise while the second antenna may extend along a perimeter of the counterpoise. The RF communication circuit may transmit wireless signals via the first and second antennas. The control circuit may cause the RF communication circuit to transmit a first wireless signal in a first time slot and a second wireless signal in a second time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Robert Bollinger, Jr., Donald R. Mosebrook, Walter S. Zaharchuk
  • Patent number: 10980099
    Abstract: A wearable wireless device may be configured for control of a parameter of a load control device. The load control device may be responsive to a network device, for example, to provide fine tune adjustment of the parameter. The wearable wireless device may include a touch-responsive visual display for displaying feedback of the parameter of the load control device. The visual display may be configured to be actuated to receive a user input to adjust the parameter of the load control device. An actuation of the visual display of the wearable wireless device may adjust the parameter by a greater percentage than the fine tune adjustment provided by the network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Erica L. Clymer, Jason C. Killo, Jeremy B. Kleinberg
  • Publication number: 20210055755
    Abstract: A wireless load control system for controlling one or more electrical loads comprises a wireless control device (e.g., a gateway device) able to obtain a present time from a server via a network (e.g., the Internet), control the electrical loads according to a timeclock schedule, and disable the timeclock schedule if the present time is not able to be obtained from the server via the network. The wireless control device may also be able to obtain the present time from a digital message received from an external device (e.g., a smart phone or a tablet device) via the network. The wireless control device may be configured to receive a control signal indicating a power outage (e.g., from a battery backup device), and to operate in a low-power mode in response to receiving the control signal indicating the power outage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, David J. Dolan, Timothy Mann, Christopher M. Riedl
  • Publication number: 20210051014
    Abstract: A load control system may be configured using a graphical user interface (GUI) software. The GUI software may be implemented to collect control devices and add the control devices to the load control system for configuration. Programming data may be automatically determined for the added control devices based on the type of control device, the location of the control device, and/or the load type controlled by the control device. The programming data may include control settings for a scene, a schedule, or an automated control feature. The programming data may be displayed for being viewed and/or adjusted by a user. The programming data may be transmitted to the control devices and/or a system controller for being implemented in performing load control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Craig Alan Casey, Erica L. Clymer, Christina Evans, Christoper Matthew Jones, Sanjeev Kumar, John Nill, Neil R. Orchowski, Brent Protzman
  • Publication number: 20210029807
    Abstract: A load control system may include control devices for controlling electrical loads. The control devices may include load control devices, such as a lighting device for controlling an amount of power provided to a lighting load, and input devices, such as a remote control device configured to transmit digital messages comprising lighting control instructions for controlling the lighting load via the lighting device. The remote control device may communicate with the lighting device via an intermediary device, such as a hub device. The remote control device may detect a user interface event, such as a button press or a rotation of the remote control device. The remote control device or the hub device may determine whether to transmit digital messages to as unicast messages or multicast messages based on the type of user interface event detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Thomas Lee Olson, David T. Saveri, III, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20200412125
    Abstract: A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a plurality of electrical load includes a plurality of energy controllers. Each energy controller is operable to control at least one of the electrical loads. The load control system also includes a first broadcast controller that has a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna is arranged in a first position and the second antenna is arranged in a second position that is orthogonal to the first position. The broadcast controller is operable to transmit a first wireless signal via the first antenna and a second wireless signal via the second antenna. Each of the energy controllers is operable to receive at least one of the first and second wireless signals, and to control the respective load in response to the received wireless signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Donald F. Mosebrook, Timothy S. Majewski, Gregory S. Altonen, Benjamin F. Bard F. Bard
  • Patent number: 10827596
    Abstract: A load control system may include control devices for controlling electrical loads. The control devices may include load control devices, such as a lighting device for controlling an amount of power provided to a lighting load, and input devices, such as a remote control device configured to transmit digital messages comprising lighting control instructions for controlling the lighting load via the lighting device. The remote control device may communicate with the lighting device via an intermediary device, such as a hub device. The remote control device may detect a user interface event, such as a button press or a rotation of the remote control device. The remote control device or the hub device may determine whether to transmit digital messages to as unicast messages or multicast messages based on the type of user interface event detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Thomas Lee Olson, David T. Saveri, III, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Patent number: D915438
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Erica L. Clymer, Benjamin F. Bard, Jennifer Wong, Joel Hnatow
  • Patent number: D918947
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhythm Agarwal, Benjamin F. Bard, Erica L. Clymer, Jemma C. Robinson, Sara M. Thompson, Shenchi Tian
  • Patent number: D920360
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhythm Agarwal, Benjamin F. Bard, Erica L. Clymer, Shenchi Tian
  • Patent number: RE48567
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Erica L. Clymer, Benjamin F. Bard
  • Patent number: D924821
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: D928816
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhythm Agarwal, Benjamin F. Bard, Erica L. Clymer, Shenchi Tian
  • Patent number: D934282
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Erica L. Clymer, Benjamin F. Bard, Jennifer Wong, Joel Hnatow