Patents by Inventor Galen E. Knode

Galen E. Knode 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: 11946316
    Abstract: A low-power radio-frequency (RF) receiver is characterized by a decreased current consumption over prior art RF receivers, such that the RF receiver may be used in control devices, such as battery-powered motorized window treatments and two-wire dimmer switches. The RF receiver uses an RF sub-sampling technique to check for the RF signals and then put the RF receiver to sleep for a sleep time that is longer than a packet length of a transmitted packet to thus conserve battery power and lengthen the lifetime of the batteries. The RF receiver compares detected RF energy to a detect threshold that may be increased to decrease the sensitivity of the RF receiver and increase the lifetime of the batteries. After detecting that an RF signal is being transmitted, the RF receiver is put to sleep for a snooze time period that is longer than the sleep time and just slightly shorter than the time between two consecutive transmitted packets to further conserve battery power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Andrew K. Cooney, Jordan H. Crafts, Stuart W. DeJonge, Galen E. Knode, Jonathan T. Lenz, Justin J. Mierta, Donald R. Mosebrook
  • Publication number: 20230409282
    Abstract: A scalable, distributed load control system for home automation based on a network of microphones may include control devices (e.g., load control devices) that may include microphones for monitoring the system and communicating audio data to a cloud server for processing. The control devices of the load control system may receive a single voice command and may be configured to choose one of the load control devices to transmit the voice command to the cloud server. The load control devices may be configured to receive a voice command, control a connected load according to the voice command if the voice command is a validated command, and transmit the voice command to a voice service in the cloud if the voice command is not a validated command. The voice service to which the load control devices transmit audio data to may be selectable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, John B. Nill, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Patent number: 11797268
    Abstract: A scalable, distributed load control system for home automation based on a network of microphones may include control devices (e.g., load control devices) that may include microphones for monitoring the system and communicating audio data to a cloud server for processing. The control devices of the load control system may receive a single voice command and may be configured to choose one of the load control devices to transmit the voice command to the cloud server. The load control devices may be configured to receive a voice command, control a connected load according to the voice command if the voice command is a validated command, and transmit the voice command to a voice service in the cloud if the voice command is not a validated command. The voice service to which the load control devices transmit audio data to may be selectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, John B. Nill, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20230304355
    Abstract: A low-power radio-frequency (RF) receiver is characterized by a decreased current consumption over prior art RF receivers, such that the RF receiver may be used in control devices, such as battery-powered motorized window treatments and two-wire dimmer switches. The RF receiver uses an RF sub-sampling technique to check for the RF signals and then put the RF receiver to sleep for a sleep time that is longer than a packet length of a transmitted packet to thus conserve battery power and lengthen the lifetime of the batteries. The RF receiver compares detected RF energy to a detect threshold that may be increased to decrease the sensitivity of the RF receiver and increase the lifetime of the batteries. After detecting that an RF signal is being transmitted, the RF receiver is put to sleep for a snooze time period that is longer than the sleep time and just slightly shorter than the time between two consecutive transmitted packets to further conserve battery power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Andrew K. Cooney, Jordan H. Crafts, Stuart W. DeJonge, Galen E. Knode, Jonathan T. Lenz, Justin J. Mierta, Donald R. Mosebrook
  • Patent number: 11753866
    Abstract: A motorized window treatment provides a low-cost solution for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window. The window treatment includes a covering material, a drive shaft, at least one lift cord rotatably received around the drive shaft and connected to the covering material, and a motor coupled to the drive shaft for raising and lowering the covering material. The window treatment also includes a spring assist unit for assisting the motor by providing a torque that equals the torque provided by the weight on the cords that lift the covering material at a position midway between fully-open and fully-closed positions, which helps to minimize motor usage and conserve battery life if a battery is used to power the motorized window treatment. The window treatment may comprise a photosensor for measuring the amount of daylight outside the window and temperature sensors for measuring the temperatures inside and outside of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Andrew K. Cooney, Jordan H. Crafts, Stuart W. DeJonge, Galen E. Knode, Jonathan T. Lenz, Justin J. Mierta, Donald R. Mosebrook
  • Publication number: 20230253941
    Abstract: Described herein is an audio device with a microphone which may adapt the audio output volume of a speaker by either increasing or decreasing output volume based on an audio input volume from a user and a distance from the user to the audio device. The audio device may also adapt its output volume to lower the audio output based on detecting one or more interruptions including occupancy and acoustic sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Galen E. Knode
  • Patent number: 11658632
    Abstract: Described herein is an audio device with a microphone which may adapt the audio output volume of a speaker by either increasing or decreasing output volume based on an audio input volume from a user and a distance from the user to the audio device. The audio device may also adapt its output volume to lower the audio output based on detecting one or more interruptions including occupancy and acoustic sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Galen E. Knode
  • Publication number: 20230046132
    Abstract: Devices that record data from a space, such as audio or video devices having microphones and/or cameras, may have a privacy mode which allows a user to temporarily prevent the device from recoding audio or video of the space. The privacy mode may be a privacy cover, button, airgap, or other mechanism to obfuscate the acoustic or video signal, or to remove power and/or communication from the camera, microphone, control circuit, or to the entire device itself. Additionally, the privacy mode may be remotely enabled for multiple devices in a space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, Robert C. Newman, Jr., John B. Nill
  • Patent number: 11490248
    Abstract: Devices that record data from a space, such as audio or video devices having microphones and/or cameras, may have a privacy mode which allows a user to temporarily prevent the device from recoding audio or video of the space. The privacy mode may be a privacy cover, button, airgap, or other mechanism to obfuscate the acoustic or video signal, or to remove power and/or communication from the camera, microphone, control circuit, or to the entire device itself. Additionally, the privacy mode may be remotely enabled for multiple devices in a space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, Robert C. Newman, Jr., John B. Nill
  • Publication number: 20220224300
    Abstract: Described herein is an audio device with a microphone which may adapt the audio output volume of a speaker by either increasing or decreasing output volume based on an audio input volume from a user and a distance from the user to the audio device. The audio device may also adapt its output volume to lower the audio output based on detecting one or more interruptions including occupancy and acoustic sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Galen E. Knode
  • Publication number: 20220210896
    Abstract: A wall-mounted assembly may include one or more host devices which receive line voltage and generate low voltage power on one or more contacts for powering one or more modular devices. The one or more modular devices may be installed adjacent to the host device and may share a faceplate with the host device, such as a standard decorator faceplate. The modular devices may receive power from the host device via a power bus between the host device and the one or more modular devices. Further, the power bus may include a communication bus for communication between the host device and the modular devices. The faceplate may be a smart faceplate, which may include circuitry, such as a battery backup, occupancy sensing, a charging dock for a mobile phone, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, Rhodes B. Baker
  • Publication number: 20220113936
    Abstract: A scalable, distributed load control system for home automation based on a network of microphones may include control devices (e.g., load control devices) that may include microphones for monitoring the system and communicating audio data to a cloud server for processing. The control devices of the load control system may receive a single voice command and may be configured to choose one of the load control devices to transmit the voice command to the cloud server. The load control devices may be configured to receive a voice command, control a connected load according to the voice command if the voice command is a validated command, and transmit the voice command to a voice service in the cloud if the voice command is not a validated command. The voice service to which the load control devices transmit audio data to may be selectable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, John B. Nill, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20220104069
    Abstract: A wireless device may receive packets according to a protocol, such as Bluetooth, and may rapidly react to receive an interfering RF packet instead of dropping the first RF packet and the interfering RF packet, to decrease message delay due to collisions in high device density environments. When a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) difference between the interfering RF packet and the first RF packet exceeds a threshold, the device may detect the interfering packet and resync a portion of its circuitry to lock on to and receive the interfering packet. The wireless receiver may detect the interfering RF packet by detecting one or more of: a specific resync byte sequence, an increase in RSSI, or a phase shift. Additionally, a wireless device may add the specific resync byte sequence to an RF packet of a standard protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Ankit Bhutani, Richard S. Camden, Galen E. Knode
  • Patent number: 11239811
    Abstract: Described herein is an audio device with a microphone which may adapt the audio output volume of a speaker by either increasing or decreasing output volume based on an audio input volume from a user and a distance from the user to the audio device. The audio device may also adapt its output volume to lower the audio output based on detecting one or more interruptions including occupancy and acoustic sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Galen E Knode
  • Patent number: 11234162
    Abstract: A wireless device may receive packets according to a protocol, such as Bluetooth, and may rapidly react to receive an interfering RF packet instead of dropping the first RF packet and the interfering RF packet, to decrease message delay due to collisions in high device density environments. When a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) difference between the interfering RF packet and the first RF packet exceeds a threshold, the device may detect the interfering packet and resync a portion of its circuitry to lock on to and receive the interfering packet. The wireless receiver may detect the interfering RF packet by detecting one or more of: a specific resync byte sequence, an increase in RSSI, or a phase shift. Additionally, a wireless device may add the specific resync byte sequence to an RF packet of a standard protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Ankit Bhutani, Richard S. Camden, Galen E. Knode
  • Patent number: 11224112
    Abstract: A wall-mounted assembly may include one or more host devices which receive line voltage and generate low voltage power on one or more contacts for powering one or more modular devices. The one or more modular devices may be installed adjacent to the host device and may share a faceplate with the host device, such as a standard decorator faceplate. The modular devices may receive power from the host device via a power bus between the host device and the one or more modular devices. Further, the power bus may include a communication bus for communication between the host device and the modular devices. The faceplate may be a smart faceplate, which may include circuitry, such as a battery backup, occupancy sensing, a charging dock for a mobile phone, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, Rhodes B. Baker
  • Patent number: 11216246
    Abstract: A scalable, distributed load control system for home automation based on a network of microphones may include control devices (e.g., load control devices) that may include microphones for monitoring the system and communicating audio data to a cloud server for processing. The control devices of the load control system may receive a single voice command and may be configured to choose one of the load control devices to transmit the voice command to the cloud server. The load control devices may be configured to receive a voice command, control a connected load according to the voice command if the voice command is a validated command, and transmit the voice command to a voice service in the cloud if the voice command is not a validated command. The voice service to which the load control devices transmit audio data to may be selectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, John B. Nill, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20210400470
    Abstract: Devices that record data from a space, such as audio or video devices having microphones and/or cameras, may have a privacy mode which allows a user to temporarily prevent the device from recoding audio or video of the space. The privacy mode may be a privacy cover, button, airgap, or other mechanism to obfuscate the acoustic or video signal, or to remove power and/or communication from the camera, microphone, control circuit, or to the entire device itself. Additionally, the privacy mode may be remotely enabled for multiple devices in a space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, Robert C. Newman, JR., John B. Nill
  • Publication number: 20210022037
    Abstract: A wireless device may receive packets according to a protocol, such as Bluetooth, and may rapidly react to receive an interfering RF packet instead of dropping the first RF packet and the interfering RF packet, to decrease message delay due to collisions in high device density environments. When a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) difference between the interfering RF packet and the first RF packet exceeds a threshold, the device may detect the interfering packet and resync a portion of its circuitry to lock on to and receive the interfering packet. The wireless receiver may detect the interfering RF packet by detecting one or more of: a specific resync byte sequence, an increase in RSSI, or a phase shift. Additionally, a wireless device may add the specific resync byte sequence to an RF packet of a standard protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Ankit Bhutani, Richard S. Camden, Galen E. Knode
  • Publication number: 20200412315
    Abstract: Described herein is an audio device with a microphone which may adapt the audio output volume of a speaker by either increasing or decreasing output volume based on an audio input volume from a user and a distance from the user to the audio device. The audio device may also adapt its output volume to lower the audio output based on detecting one or more interruptions including occupancy and acoustic sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Galen E. Knode, Chris Dimberg