Patents by Inventor Daniel Curtis

Daniel Curtis 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: 10129948
    Abstract: A load control device may include a semiconductor switch, a control circuit, and first and second terminals adapted to be coupled to a remote device. The load control device may include a first switching circuit coupled to the second terminal, and a second switching circuit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control circuit may be configured to render the first switching circuit conductive to conduct a charging current from an AC power source to a power supply of the remote device during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, and further configured to render the first and second switching circuits conductive and non-conductive to communicate with the remote device via the second terminal during a second time period of the half-cycle of the AC power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Russell Weightman, Jonathan T. Lenz, Jaykrishna A. Shukla, Daniel Curtis Raneri
  • Publication number: 20180302962
    Abstract: A control module is able to be installed with electrical devices, such as, for example electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads) and/or load regulation devices. The control module may determine whether an LED driver for an LED light source is responsive to one or more of a plurality of control techniques. The control module may be able to automatically determine an appropriate control technique to use to control the connected LED driver and/or LED light source. The control module may sequentially attempt to control the LED driver and/or LED light source using each of the plurality of control techniques and determine if the LED driver and/or LED light source is responsive to the present control technique. The plurality of control techniques may include one or more analog control techniques and one or more digital control techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Galen Edgar Knode, Steven J. Kober, Daniel Curtis Raneri, Richard M. Walsh, III
  • Patent number: 10104750
    Abstract: A controllable light source is provided that includes a load control circuit and an integrated lighting load. The controllable light source is configured to receive wirelessly communicated commands transmitted by a remote control device associated with the controllable light source, such as a rotary remote control device. The controllable light source may include an actuator for associating the controllable light source with the remote control device, such that the load control circuit is operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load in response to wireless signals received from the remote control device. The controllable light source may support the actuator such that the actuator may be actuated when the controllable light source is installed in a fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Swatsky, Daniel J. Osle, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Daniel Curtis Raneri
  • Patent number: 10067488
    Abstract: An energy savings selector tool may assists a user in determining electrical devices that, when implemented in a load control system, may reduce an amount of power used by the load control system. The energy savings selector tool may use load control information of the load control system to identify electrical devices that may be added to or replace other electrical devices in the load control system. The load control information may define operations of the load control system and/or include energy usage information of the load control system. The energy savings selector tool may identify savings information associated with implementing an electrical device in the load control system. Once an electrical device is installed in the load control system, the energy savings selector tool may be used to report energy savings information about the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventor: Daniel Curtis Raneri
  • Patent number: 10009969
    Abstract: A control module is able to be installed with electrical devices, such as, for example electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads) and/or load regulation devices. The control module may determine whether an LED driver for an LED light source is responsive to one or more of a plurality of control techniques. The control module may be able to automatically determine an appropriate control technique to use to control the connected LED driver and/or LED light source. The control module may sequentially attempt to control the LED driver and/or LED light source using each of the plurality of control techniques and determine if the LED driver and/or LED light source is responsive to the present control technique. The plurality of control techniques may include one or more analog control techniques and one or more digital control techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Galen Edgar Knode, Steven J. Kober, Daniel Curtis Raneri, Richard M. Walsh, III
  • Patent number: 9912152
    Abstract: A controllable electrical outlet may be used to control one or more standard electrical outlets. The controllable electrical outlet may include a first connection configured to be electrically coupled to a hot connection, a second connection configured to be electrically coupled to a standard electrical outlet, and a third connection configured to be electrically coupled to a neutral connection. The controllable electrical outlet may also include a load control circuit, a communication circuit, and a control circuit. The load control circuit may be electrically coupled in series between the first and second screw terminals to control power delivered to the standard electrical outlet, and the control circuit may be coupled to the load control circuit and the communication circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control power delivered to the standard electrical outlet in response to a wireless signal received via the communication circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Curtis Raneri, Joseph C. Guellnitz, Joel S. Spira
  • Patent number: 9874728
    Abstract: A lens system includes a tube lens and a lens assembly, with the tube lens disposed between an optical sensor and the lens assembly. The lens assembly is disposed between the tube lens and an imaged object. In order to solve the problem of some lens systems having focal lengths that are shorter than the working distances of the lens systems, one aspect of the inventive subject matter described herein provides the lens assembly with a negative lens and plural positive lenses. A first positive lens is located between a second positive lens and an imaging plane, the second positive lens is located between the first positive lens and the negative lens, and the negative lens is located between the second positive lens and the tube lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhangyi Zhong, Kevin George Harding, Daniel Curtis Gray, Yi Liao
  • Publication number: 20180012577
    Abstract: Embodiments of a capo and fretting component are described. In certain embodiments, the fretting component is threaded onto a crossbar configured to overlie the instrument strings when in use and to pivot with respect to the crossbar so as to contact and press the strings against a fret on the instrument neck. The fretting component is offset with respect to the attachment mechanism of the capo, allowing the attachment mechanism to be offset on the neck of the instrument from where it would normally be positioned to achieve a comparable fretting effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Curtis Blacker, Matthew Carroll, John Vinson Jaggers
  • Patent number: 9855657
    Abstract: A method and system for planning and optimizing the movement of a robotic device comprises establishing a plurality of spatial locations where the device can possibly be positioned and establishing rule sets for constraining movement of the robotic device between the locations. Once a start and end point have been determined, the method of the invention calculates all possible routes for the device to move, via the established locations and following the constraints of the rule sets. The calculated routes are then compared to a criteria, such as minimizing time, and an optimum route, meeting the desired criteria is determined. The calculated routes may also be cached for future access. The invention also provides for an error recovery method for allowing a robotic device to recover should it encounter an error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Thermo CRS Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Curtis McCrackin, Stephen Wayne Johnson
  • Patent number: 9786257
    Abstract: Embodiments of a capo and fretting component are described. In certain embodiments, the fretting component is threaded onto a crossbar configured to overlie the instrument strings when in use and to pivot with respect to the crossbar so as to contact and press the strings against a fret on the instrument neck. The fretting component is offset with respect to the attachment mechanism of the capo, allowing the attachment mechanism to be offset on the neck of the instrument from where it would normally be positioned to achieve a comparable fretting effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Daniel Curtis Blacker, Matthew Carroll, John Vinson Jaggers
  • Publication number: 20170273157
    Abstract: A load control device may include a semiconductor switch, a control circuit, and first and second terminals adapted to be coupled to a remote device. The load control device may include a first switching circuit coupled to the second terminal, and a second switching circuit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control circuit may be configured to render the first switching circuit conductive to conduct a charging current from an AC power source to a power supply of the remote device during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, and further configured to render the first and second switching circuits conductive and non-conductive to communicate with the remote device via the second terminal during a second time period of the half-cycle of the AC power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Weightman, Jonathan T. Lenz, Jaykrishna A. Shukla, Daniel Curtis Raneri
  • Publication number: 20170256943
    Abstract: A controllable electrical outlet may be used to control one or more standard electrical outlets. The controllable electrical outlet may include a first connection configured to be electrically coupled to a hot connection, a second connection configured to be electrically coupled to a standard electrical outlet, and a third connection configured to be electrically coupled to a neutral connection. The controllable electrical outlet may also include a load control circuit, a communication circuit, and a control circuit. The load control circuit may be electrically coupled in series between the first and second screw terminals to control power delivered to the standard electrical outlet, and the control circuit may be coupled to the load control circuit and the communication circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control power delivered to the standard electrical outlet in response to a wireless signal received via the communication circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Curtis Raneri, Joseph C. Guellnitz, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20170238399
    Abstract: A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled together via an accessory wiring. The main device can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system. The main device is configured to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are configured to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half cycle, for example, by actively pulling-up and actively pulling-down the accessory wiring to communicate using tri-state logic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ehsan Dadashnialehi, Robert C. Newman, JR., Daniel Curtis Raneri, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Patent number: D793348
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Wade Gage, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Noel Mayo, Daniel Curtis Raneri
  • Patent number: D817284
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Wade Gage, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Daniel Curtis Raneri
  • Patent number: D820794
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Wade Gage, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Noel Mayo, Daniel Curtis Raneri
  • Patent number: D820795
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Wade Gage, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Noel Mayo, Daniel Curtis Raneri
  • Patent number: D820796
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Wade Gage, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Daniel Curtis Raneri
  • Patent number: D821335
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Wade Gage, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Noel Mayo, Daniel Curtis Raneri
  • Patent number: D821336
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Wade Gage, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Daniel Curtis Raneri