Patents by Inventor Clive Lopez

Clive Lopez 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).

  • Variable load circuits for use with lighting control devices
    Patent number: 8829805
    Abstract: A variable load circuit (2) is provided for use with a dimmer (1). A low wattage load such as a LED (3) is provided in series with the dimmer and the variable load circuit is provided in parallel with the LED. The variable load circuit has two different load characteristics: when the applied voltage from the dimmer is below a threshold, the variable load circuit presents a fixed load (24), and when the applied voltage is above a threshold the variable load circuit presents a variable load so as to act as a constant current sink. The variable load is provided by a secondary load portion (25) which may or may not act in combination with the fixed load (24), and the secondary load portion (25) is switched in or out of the variable load circuit by a trigger circuit portion (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Thompson, Graham Booth, Clive Lopez
  • VARIABLE LOAD CIRCUITS FOR USE WITH LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICES
    Publication number: 20120139431
    Abstract: A variable load circuit (2) is provided for use with a dimmer (1). A low wattage load such as a LED (3) is provided in series with the dimmer and the variable load circuit is provided in parallel with the LED. The variable load circuit has two different load characteristics: when the applied voltage from the dimmer is below a threshold, the variable load circuit presents a fixed load (24), and when the applied voltage is above a threshold the variable load circuit presents a variable load so as to act as a constant current sink. The variable load is provided by a secondary load portion (25) which may or may not act in combination with the fixed load (24), and the secondary load portion (25) is switched in or out of the variable load circuit by a trigger circuit portion (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen Thompson, Graham Booth, Clive Lopez
  • Variable load circuits for use with lighting control devices
    Patent number: 8169154
    Abstract: A variable load circuit (2) is provided for use with a dimmer (1). A low wattage load such as a LED (3) is provided in series with the dimmer and the variable load circuit is provided in parallel with the LED. The variable load circuit has two different load characteristics: when the applied voltage from the dimmer is below a threshold, the variable load circuit presents a fixed load (24), and when the applied voltage is above a threshold the variable load circuit presents a variable load so as to act as a constant current sink. The variable load is provided by a secondary load portion (25) which may or may not act in combination with the fixed load (24), and the secondary load portion (25) is switched in or out of the variable load circuit by a trigger circuit portion (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Thompson, Graham Booth, Clive Lopez
  • VARIABLE LOAD CIRCUITS FOR USE WITH LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICES
    Publication number: 20100013405
    Abstract: A variable load circuit (2) is provided for use with a dimmer (1). A low wattage load such as a LED (3) is provided in series with the dimmer and the variable load circuit is provided in parallel with the LED. The variable load circuit has two different load characteristics: when the applied voltage from the dimmer is below a threshold, the variable load circuit presents a fixed load (24), and when the applied voltage is above a threshold the variable load circuit presents a variable load so as to act as a constant current sink. The variable load is provided by a secondary load portion (25) which may or may not act in combination with the fixed load (24), and the secondary load portion (25) is switched in or out of the variable load circuit by a trigger circuit portion (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen Thompson, Graham Booth, Clive Lopez