Patents by Inventor Bruce Richard Roberts
Bruce Richard Roberts 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).
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Publication number: 20250055310Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to an emergency driver (10) and an intelligent module (20) for the emergency driver (10). An embodiment of the emergency driver (10) may include a digital communication interface (12), a DC power supply (14) and a controller (16). The digital communication interface (12) may be configured to receive an input signal (41) via a control bus (18). The DC power supply (14) may be configured to provide a DC output (45) to the control bus (18). The controller (16) may be coupled to the digital communication interface (12) and the DC power supply (14) and may be configured to control the emergency driver (10) to operate in a first operation mode. The input signal (41) received at the digital communication interface (12) may be a digital input signal when the emergency driver is operating in a first operation mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2024Publication date: February 13, 2025Inventors: Longyu Chen, Bruce Richard Roberts, Taylor Apolonius Barto
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Patent number: 12160135Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to an emergency driver (10) and an intelligent module (20) for the emergency driver (10). An embodiment of the emergency driver (10) may include a digital communication interface (12), a DC power supply (14) and a controller (16). The digital communication interface (12) may be configured to receive an input signal (41) via a control bus (18). The DC power supply (14) may be configured to provide a DC output (45) to the control bus (18). The controller (16) may be coupled to the digital communication interface (12) and the DC power supply (14) and may be configured to control the emergency driver (10) to operate in a first operation mode. The input signal (41) received at the digital communication interface (12) may be a digital input signal when the emergency driver is operating in a first operation mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2020Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLCInventors: Longyu Chen, Bruce Richard Roberts, Taylor Apolonius Barto
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Publication number: 20230006463Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to an emergency driver (10) and an intelligent module (20) for the emergency driver (10). An embodiment of the emergency driver (10) may include a digital communication interface (12), a DC power supply (14) and a controller (16). The digital communication interface (12) may be configured to receive an input signal (41) via a control bus (18). The DC power supply (14) may be configured to provide a DC output (45) to the control bus (18). The controller (16) may be coupled to the digital communication interface (12) and the DC power supply (14) and may be configured to control the emergency driver (10) to operate in a first operation mode. The input signal (41) received at the digital communication interface (12) may be a digital input signal when the emergency driver is operating in a first operation mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2020Publication date: January 5, 2023Inventors: Longyu Chen, Bruce Richard Roberts, Taylor Apolonius Barto
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Patent number: 11395387Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) lamp includes a primary LED grouping (210,310), a switchable LED grouping (215), and a conduction path selector (240,340) configured to select a conductive path that places the primary LED grouping in electrical series with at least a portion of the switchable LED grouping, or bypasses the switchable LED grouping. The primary LED grouping have a first color temperature rating, and each respective LED subgrouping have a respective color temperature different from the first color temperature. Selection of one or more LED subgrouping results in the LED lamp emitting different color temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2018Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLCInventors: Kevin Jeffrey Benner, Bruce Richard Roberts, Kevin James Vick
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Patent number: 10890301Abstract: A lamp assembly includes a base, a hermetically sealed outer jacket mounted on the base, and a driver circuit disposed within the hermetically sealed outer jacket and electrically coupled to the base. The lamp assembly may also include a safety circuit configured to interrupt electrical power to the lamp assembly if the hermetically sealed outer jacket is compromised.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: SAVANT TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventors: Thomas Alexander Knapp, Glenn Howard Kuenzler, Jon Bennett Jansma, Bruce Richard Roberts, Gary Robert Allen
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Patent number: 10197230Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lamp assembly (200), comprising a base (202), an outer jacket (204) mounted to the base (202), a first reflective substrate (206, 208) positioned within the outer jacket (204), and a first solid-state light source (220) disposed proximate the first reflective substrate (206, 208). The outer jacket (204) may be glass. The outer jacket (204) may hermetically seal the first solid-state light source (220).Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions, LLCInventors: Thomas Alexander Knapp, Jon Bennett Jansma, Gary Robert Allen, Glenn Howard Kuenzler, Bruce Richard Roberts
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Patent number: 10187937Abstract: A method of operating an LED lighting device includes sampling a voltage of a rectified AC waveform used to provide power to the LED lighting device, selectively connecting one or more of a plurality of LED light sources in a one or more of a series and parallel combination to achieve a predetermined voltage across the connected LED light sources with respect to the sampled voltage, and regulating a current through the connected LED light sources to achieve a predetermined current with respect to the sampled voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Bruce Richard Roberts
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Patent number: 9832827Abstract: A lighting device includes a secondary LED lamp assembly, a secondary power source, a first switch connecting the secondary LED lamp assembly and the secondary power source upon an absence of power from an AC mains supply, and a secondary power source return circuit from the secondary LED lamp assembly through a pre-existing second switch connected to the AC mains supply and used to control the lighting device. A method of operating a lighting device includes connecting a secondary LED lamp assembly and a secondary power source upon an absence of power from an AC mains supply, and providing a secondary power source return circuit from the secondary LED lamp assembly through a pre-existing second switch connected to the AC mains supply and used to control the lighting device.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLCInventors: Bruce Richard Roberts, Thomas Clynne
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Patent number: 9748844Abstract: An electronic device includes a controller configured to regulate one or more voltages or currents of a power converter. The controller is configured to receive an input voltage of the power converter, determine whether the power converter is operating in a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation based at least in part on the input voltage, generate a multiplier reference signal for the power converter based on whether the power converter is operating in the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation, and adjust an input current of the power converter based at least in part on the multiplier reference signal. Adjusting the input current includes correcting the input current to be substantially identical in form to the input voltage.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ramanujam Ramabhadran, Jeffrey Joseph Nasadoski, Yehuda Daniel Levy, Shimon Khananshvili, Pradeep Vijayan, Bruce Richard Roberts
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Patent number: 9730294Abstract: A lighting device with a drive device for dimming light-emitting diodes. The drive device comprises a dimming component that operates a switch in response to both a change in an input power signal and a system temperature. In one example, the dimming device can include a waveform generator that generates a signal with a waveform having levels that change in response to changes in temperature. The waveform defines the time during which the switch is open and closed, thereby determining the period of time the LEDs are energized. By operating the LEDs in this manner, the drive device effectively dims the LEDs to reduce the operating temperature and cool the LEDs.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2011Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLCInventor: Bruce Richard Roberts
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Publication number: 20170179829Abstract: An electronic device includes a controller configured to regulate one or more voltages or currents of a power converter. The controller is configured to receive an input voltage of the power converter, determine whether the power converter is operating in a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation based at least in part on the input voltage, generate a multiplier reference signal for the power converter based on whether the power converter is operating in the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation, and adjust an input current of the power converter based at least in part on the multiplier reference signal. Adjusting the input current includes correcting the input current to be substantially identical in form to the input voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Ramanujam Ramabhadran, Jeffrey Joseph Nasadoski, Yehuda Daniel Levy, Shimon Khananshvili, Pradeep Vijayan, Bruce Richard Roberts
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Patent number: 9668307Abstract: A lighting device includes a first LED light source having a first color temperature, a second LED light source having a second, lower color temperature connected in parallel with the first LED light source, and control circuitry operable to apply variable duty cycle frequency modulated power to the first LED light source while continuous power is provided to the second LED light source. A method of operating a lighting device includes providing variable duty cycle frequency modulated power to a first LED light source having a first color temperature, and providing continuous power to a second LED light source having a second, lower color temperature connected in parallel with the first LED light source.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLCInventors: Bruce Richard Roberts, Timothy Alan Taubert
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Patent number: 9641063Abstract: A power factor controller (PFC) for an electrical load such as LED lighting includes a power factor correcting converter for generating a sinusoidal input current. The PFC further includes a programmable controller for estimating a phase shifted multiplier. A current regulator generates a desired PFC current in response to an input voltage, an output load and the phase shifted and subsequently blanked multiplier. The electrical load operates in response to the sinusoidal input current based at least partially on the desired PFC current.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ramanujam Ramabhadran, Gang Yao, Bruce Richard Roberts, Jeffrey Joseph Nasadoski
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Publication number: 20170034883Abstract: A lighting device includes a first LED light source having a first color temperature, a second LED light source having a second, lower color temperature connected in parallel with the first LED light source, and control circuitry operable to apply variable duty cycle frequency modulated power to the first LED light source while continuous power is provided to the second LED light source. A method of operating a lighting device includes providing variable duty cycle frequency modulated power to a first LED light source having a first color temperature, and providing continuous power to a second LED light source having a second, lower color temperature connected in parallel with the first LED light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2015Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventors: Bruce Richard Roberts, Timothy Alan Taubert
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Patent number: 9462656Abstract: A lamp base including a neutral contact and a line contact, a semiconductor transient protection device having three terminals. The semiconductor transient protection device being an integral portion of the lamp base. A first terminal of the semiconductor transient protection device in mechanical and electrical contact with the neutral contact, a second terminal in mechanical and electrical contact with the line contact, and a third terminal in electrical contact with a lead-in wire. The semiconductor transient protection device configured to isolate the line contact from the neutral contact during a first line voltage input, and to provide a low-resistance shunt path between the line contact and the neutral contact during a second line voltage input.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLCInventors: Bruce Richard Roberts, Thomas Alexander Knapp, Timothy A. Taubert
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Patent number: 9332602Abstract: A system and apparatus including a light emitting diode (LED) driver provides an operating DC voltage to a plurality of LEDs connected in series (LED array) for providing illumination. A rectifier circuit and a filter are coupled to an AC power supply and provide a rectified and filtered DC source voltage to a transformerless voltage boost circuit, which provides the operating DC voltage to the LED array. A hysteretic self-oscillating circuit drives the transformerless voltage boost circuit at an oscillation frequency. A tap is connected between two LEDs in the LED array, which provides an auxiliary DC voltage, which is used to power the oscillating circuit and which eliminates the need for the LED driver to have a conventional transformer or auxiliary DC-DC power converter. The transformerless voltage boost circuit includes an inductor, a capacitor, a diode, and a switch wherein the switch is controlled by the oscillating circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: GENEREAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Bruce Richard Roberts, Shahzil Rana
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Patent number: 9185766Abstract: A system and method for producing white light in an adjustable light emitting diode (LED) illumination device is provided. The system and method varies the “off” time for one of multiple sets of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or channels in succession in order to compensate for and stabilize the color-shifting or degradation that gradually occurs in LEDs. Each channel corresponds to a different color. By varying the “off” time of only one channel at a time, the system efficiently utilizes the majority of the LEDs, thereby enabling the production of a more stable white light with fewer LEDs.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2012Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Bruce Richard Roberts, Glenn Howard Kuenzler
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Patent number: 9167651Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing one or more operating voltages and currents to one or more auxiliary loads by tapping an LED array driven by an LED driver providing a drive voltage to the LED array, and/or supplying an operating voltage to the LED driver itself using such a tap.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Bruce Richard Roberts
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Patent number: 9125271Abstract: A lamp including a lamp base having at least three electrical contacts, an optical housing with an LED light source distal from the lamp base, a capper assembly including two or more bias switches accessible by a user located between the lamp base and optical housing, electronic circuitry located within the capper assembly, the electronic circuitry electrically coupled to the three electrical contacts and the LED light source, the electronic circuitry configured to provide a drive current to the LED light source, and the two or more bias switches are user-settable to set the drive current. The electronic circuitry provides at least two different levels of drive current to the LED light source, where the two or more bias switches are configured to control multiple levels of LED light intensity to an individual level.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLCInventors: Jeremias Anthony Martins, Bruce Richard Roberts
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Publication number: 20150214833Abstract: A power factor controller (PFC) for an electrical load such as LED lighting includes a power factor correcting converter for generating a sinusoidal input current. The PFC further includes a programmable controller for estimating a phase shifted multiplier. A current regulator generates a desired PFC current in response to an input voltage, an output load and the phase shifted and subsequently blanked multiplier. The electrical load operates in response to the sinusoidal input current based at least partially on the desired PFC current.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Ramanujam Ramabhadran, Gang Yao, Bruce Richard Roberts, Jeffrey Joseph Nasadoski