Patents by Inventor Christopher Andrew Merck

Christopher Andrew Merck 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).

  • Publication number: 20240129158
    Abstract: System, device, and method of controlling a Ceiling Fan via multi-path wireless communication. A method includes: constructing in an electronic device of a user, a control message indicating a user command intended to be performed by a Home Automation Device (HAD) of the user; wherein the constructing includes inserting into the control message a unique Message-Identifier. The method then transmits the control message, from the electronic device of the user to the HAD, concurrently via at least two different wireless communications channels which include at least: (i) a first wireless communication channel that includes passage of traffic through the Internet, and (ii) a second wireless communication channel in which no traffic passes through the Internet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Bradley Luke Totaro, Joao Ricardo Mattos e Silva, Marcio Granzotto Rodrigues, Natan Grando
  • Publication number: 20240064038
    Abstract: Device, system, and method of dynamically configuring a Sub-1 Gigahertz reception module via a Wi-Fi communication link. For example, a ceiling fan includes rotatable blades, an electric motor to rotate them, and a fan controller to control activation and deactivation and rotation speed of the electric motor. The ceiling fan further includes a non-Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit, such as a Sub-1 Gigahertz wireless receiver unit, to receive incoming non-Wi-Fi signals indicating control commands to the ceiling fan which is associated with an existing Fan Address Code. The ceiling fan also includes a Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit, to receive an incoming Wi-Fi message indicating a replacement Fan Address Code. The ceiling fan includes a Fan Address Code Modification Unit, to replace (i) the existing Fan Access Code of the ceiling fan, with (ii) a replacement Fan Access Code that was received via the incoming Wi-Fi message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Marcio Granzotto Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 11888643
    Abstract: System, device, and method of multi-path wireless communication. A method includes: constructing in an electronic device of a user, a control message indicating a user command intended to be performed by a Home Automation Device (HAD) of the user; wherein the constructing includes inserting into the control message a unique Message-Identifier. The method then transmits the control message, from the electronic device of the user to the HAD, concurrently via at least two different wireless communications channels which include at least: (i) a first wireless communication channel that includes passage of traffic through the Internet, and (ii) a second wireless communication channel in which no traffic passes through the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: OLIBRA LLC
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Bradley Luke Totaro, Joao Ricardo Mattos e Silva, Marcio Granzotto Rodrigues, Natan Grando
  • Patent number: 11839001
    Abstract: Ceiling fan having an electric lamp which has continuous color temperature control. A ceiling fan includes an electric motor which rotates blades; and an electric lamp, which is an integrated component of the ceiling fan and is co-located beneath the blades. The motor and the lamp receive electric power from a mains electric socket via a single electric power cord that provides Alternating Current. The lamp is configured to emit visible light having light warmth at a user-configurable level along a continuous spectrum of light warmth, between a lower-bound value and an upper-bound value. The electric lamp includes a first set of LEDs and a second set of LEDs. The first set of LEDs is capable of emitting visible light at a first, fixed, light warmth value, which is the lower-bound value of that continuous spectrum of light warmth levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: OLIBRA LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Andrew Merck, Zohar Shinar
  • Patent number: 11824678
    Abstract: Device, system, and method of dynamically configuring a Sub-1 Gigahertz reception module via a Wi-Fi communication link. For example, a ceiling fan includes rotatable blades, an electric motor to rotate them, and a fan controller to control activation and deactivation and rotation speed of the electric motor. The ceiling fan further includes a non-Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit, such as a Sub-1 Gigahertz wireless receiver unit, to receive incoming non-Wi-Fi signals indicating control commands to the ceiling fan which is associated with an existing Fan Address Code. The ceiling fan also includes a Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit, to receive an incoming Wi-Fi message indicating a replacement Fan Address Code. The ceiling fan includes a Fan Address Code Modification Unit, to replace (i) the existing Fan Access Code of the ceiling fan, with (ii) a replacement Fan Access Code that was received via the incoming Wi-Fi message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: OLIBRA LLC
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Marcio Granzotto Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20230261896
    Abstract: System, device, and method of multi-path wireless communication. A method includes: constructing in an electronic device of a user, a control message indicating a user command intended to be performed by a Home Automation Device (HAD) of the user; wherein the constructing includes inserting into the control message a unique Message-Identifier. The method then transmits the control message, from the electronic device of the user to the HAD, concurrently via at least two different wireless communications channels which include at least: (i) a first wireless communication channel that includes passage of traffic through the Internet, and (ii) a second wireless communication channel in which no traffic passes through the Internet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Bradley Luke Totaro, Joao Ricardo Mattos e Silva, Marcio Granzotto Rodrigues, Natan Grando
  • Patent number: 11665014
    Abstract: System, device, and method of multi-path wireless communication. A method includes: constructing in an electronic device of a user, a control message indicating a user command intended to be performed by a Home Automation Device (HAD) of the user; wherein the constructing includes inserting into the control message a unique Message-Identifier. The method then transmits the control message, from the electronic device of the user to the HAD, concurrently via at least two different wireless communications channels which include at least: (i) a first wireless communication channel that includes passage of traffic through the Internet, and (ii) a second wireless communication channel in which no traffic passes through the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: OLIBRA LLC
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Bradley Luke Totaro, Joao Ricardo Mattos e Silva, Marcio Granzotto Rodrigues, Natan Grando
  • Publication number: 20220418065
    Abstract: Ceiling fan having an electric lamp which has continuous color temperature control. A ceiling fan includes an electric motor which rotates blades; and an electric lamp, which is an integrated component of the ceiling fan and is co-located beneath the blades. The motor and the lamp receive electric power from a mains electric socket via a single electric power cord that provides Alternating Current. The lamp is configured to emit visible light having light warmth at a user-configurable level along a continuous spectrum of light warmth, between a lower-bound value and an upper-bound value. The electric lamp includes a first set of LEDs and a second set of LEDs. The first set of LEDs is capable of emitting visible light at a first, fixed, light warmth value, which is the lower-bound value of that continuous spectrum of light warmth levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Andrew Merck, Zohar Shinar
  • Publication number: 20220309513
    Abstract: System, device, and method for estimating a current condition of remote appliances and for generating a post-purchase warranty for remote appliances. A system is configured to obtain and analyze data pertaining to an appliance, at a post-purchase evaluation time-point that is subsequent to the time-of-purchase of the appliance. Based on the data obtained and analyzed, the system determines an Appliance Usage Score Value, indicating characteristics of a manner in which this particular appliance has been utilized, since the time-of-purchase until that post-purchase evaluation time-point. Based on the Appliance Usage Score Value that was determined, the system automatically generates a post-purchase Warranty Proposal or Insurance Proposal for a new warranty or a new insurance for this particular appliance, and automatically determines and generates a premium amount or a price that is included in that post-purchase Warranty Proposal or Insurance Proposal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck
  • Publication number: 20220182256
    Abstract: System, device, and method of multi-path wireless communication. A method includes: constructing in an electronic device of a user, a control message indicating a user command intended to be performed by a Home Automation Device (HAD) of the user; wherein the constructing includes inserting into the control message a unique Message-Identifier. The method then transmits the control message, from the electronic device of the user to the HAD, concurrently via at least two different wireless communications channels which include at least: (i) a first wireless communication channel that includes passage of traffic through the Internet, and (ii) a second wireless communication channel in which no traffic passes through the Internet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Bradley Luke Totaro, Joao Ricardo Mattos e Silva, Marcio Granzotto Rodrigues, Natan Grando
  • Patent number: 11313173
    Abstract: Smart electric shades system, and its method of operation. A smart electric shades (SES) device includes a window blind, and a motor able to open and close the window blind. The SES device includes a Wi-Fi transceiver able to receive an incoming Wi-Fi signal indicating a remote command to control another SES unit that is external to and separate from that SES device. The SES device also includes a non-Wi-Fi reduced-power wireless transceiver, to send to that other SES unit a non-Wi-Fi wireless communication signal, based on the incoming Wi-Fi command, indicating the remote command to control that other SES unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: OLIBRA LLC
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck
  • Patent number: 11290297
    Abstract: System, device, and method of multi-path wireless communication. A method includes: constructing in an electronic device of a user, a control message indicating a user command intended to be performed by a Home Automation Device (HAD) of the user; wherein the constructing includes inserting into the control message a unique Message-Identifier. The method then transmits the control message, from the electronic device of the user to the HAD, concurrently via at least two different wireless communications channels which include at least: (i) a first wireless communication channel that includes passage of traffic through the Internet, and (ii) a second wireless communication channel in which no traffic passes through the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: OLIBRA LLC
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Bradley Luke Totaro, Joao Ricardo Mattos e Silva, Marcio Granzotto Rodrigues, Natan Grando
  • Patent number: 11217050
    Abstract: Remote control for actuating garage doors and other barriers, and method and system of using same. A base unit includes: a wireless receiver, to wirelessly receive from an electronic device an incoming wireless signal indicating a command to actuate a garage door; a wireless signal constructor, to dynamically construct an outgoing wireless signal which comprises a rolling code; a wireless transmitter, to transmit the outgoing wireless signal to a wireless receiver of a motor unit that is operably associated with the garage door. A wireless signal constructor dynamically constructs the outgoing wireless signal without having access to a secret seed value that is accessible to the motor unit. A local storage unit stores a data-set of rolling codes that are associated with the motor unit; and the outgoing wireless signal is dynamically constructed based on a next-available rolling code obtained from the local storage unit of the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: OLIBRA LLC
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Guy Zeltzer
  • Publication number: 20210090365
    Abstract: Remote control for actuating garage doors and other barriers, and method and system of using same. A base unit includes: a wireless receiver, to wirelessly receive from an electronic device an incoming wireless signal indicating a command to actuate a garage door; a wireless signal constructor, to dynamically construct an outgoing wireless signal which comprises a rolling code; a wireless transmitter, to transmit the outgoing wireless signal to a wireless receiver of a motor unit that is operably associated with the garage door. A wireless signal constructor dynamically constructs the outgoing wireless signal without having access to a secret seed value that is accessible to the motor unit. A local storage unit stores a data-set of rolling codes that are associated with the motor unit; and the outgoing wireless signal is dynamically constructed based on a next-available rolling code obtained from the local storage unit of the base unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Guy Zeltzer
  • Patent number: 10952016
    Abstract: System, device, and method of secure and location-aware garage door actuation for efficient delivery of packages. For example, a delivery vehicle or a courier carries or has a device able to determine its geographic location. Based on the geographic location, the device receives wirelessly, from a remote server or a cloud-based platform or from a nearby Home Automation System, an incoming wireless message indicating to the device how to construct and transmit an outgoing wireless message that would cause actuation of the particular garage door of a particular venue at which the device is located or for which a package delivery is required. Accordingly, a single device is dynamically configured on-the-fly, to selectively open a variety of garage doors of various houses or venues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: OLIBRA LLC
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck
  • Publication number: 20210051042
    Abstract: System, device, and method of multi-path wireless communication. A method includes: constructing in an electronic device of a user, a control message indicating a user command intended to be performed by a Home Automation Device (HAD) of the user; wherein the constructing includes inserting into the control message a unique Message-Identifier. The method then transmits the control message, from the electronic device of the user to the HAD, concurrently via at least two different wireless communications channels which include at least: (i) a first wireless communication channel that includes passage of traffic through the Internet, and (ii) a second wireless communication channel in which no traffic passes through the Internet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Bradley Luke Totaro, Joao Ricardo Mattos e Silva, Marcio Granzotto Rodrigues, Natan Grando
  • Patent number: 10883509
    Abstract: Smart ceiling fan, and its method of operation. A fan includes an electric rotor to rotate a set of blades at a rotation speed. A controller operates to enforce a modification to rotation speed of the set of blades, based on a first user-configurable parameter of average rotation speed to be maintained, and further based on a second user-configurable parameter of level of variance of rotation speed; and optionally, also based on a third user-configurable parameter of length of time-interval between two consecutive modifications of rotation speed of the set of blades. The fan operates to automatically emulate a naturally-occurring breeze-like airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: OLIBRA LLC
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck
  • Patent number: 10872481
    Abstract: Remote control for actuating garage doors and other barriers, and method and system of using same. A base unit includes: a wireless receiver, to wirelessly receive from an electronic device an incoming wireless signal indicating a command to actuate a garage door; a wireless signal constructor, to dynamically construct an outgoing wireless signal which comprises a rolling code; a wireless transmitter, to transmit the outgoing wireless signal to a wireless receiver of a motor unit that is operably associated with the garage door. A wireless signal constructor dynamically constructs the outgoing wireless signal without having access to a secret seed value that is accessible to the motor unit. A local storage unit stores a data-set of rolling codes that are associated with the motor unit; and the outgoing wireless signal is dynamically constructed based on a next-available rolling code obtained from the local storage unit of the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: OLIBRA LLC
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Guy Zeltzer
  • Publication number: 20200396098
    Abstract: Device, system, and method of dynamically configuring a Sub-1 Gigahertz reception module via a Wi-Fi communication link. For example, a ceiling fan includes rotatable blades, an electric motor to rotate them, and a fan controller to control activation and deactivation and rotation speed of the electric motor. The ceiling fan further includes a non-Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit, such as a Sub-1 Gigahertz wireless receiver unit, to receive incoming non-Wi-Fi signals indicating control commands to the ceiling fan which is associated with an existing Fan Address Code. The ceiling fan also includes a Wi-Fi wireless receiver unit, to receive an incoming Wi-Fi message indicating a replacement Fan Address Code. The ceiling fan includes a Fan Address Code Modification Unit, to replace (i) the existing Fan Access Code of the ceiling fan, with (ii) a replacement Fan Access Code that was received via the incoming Wi-Fi message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Marcio Granzotto Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 10848336
    Abstract: System, device, and method of multi-path wireless communication. A method includes: constructing in an electronic device of a user, a control message indicating a user command intended to be performed by a Home Automation Device (HAD) of the user; wherein the constructing includes inserting into the control message a unique Message-Identifier. The method then transmits the control message, from the electronic device of the user to the HAD, concurrently via at least two different wireless communications channels which include at least: (i) a first wireless communication channel that includes passage of traffic through the Internet, and (ii) a second wireless communication channel in which no traffic passes through the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: OLIBRA LLC
    Inventors: Zohar Shinar, Christopher Andrew Merck, Bradley Luke Totaro, Joao Ricardo Mattos e Silva, Marcio Granzotto Rodrigues, Natan Grando