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: 10827383
    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: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Ankit Bhutani, Richard S. Camden, Galen E. Knode
  • Publication number: 20200323068
    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: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    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: 10797670
    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: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Galen E. Knode, Chris Dimberg
  • Patent number: 10694608
    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: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    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: 20200196141
    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: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, Robert C. Newman, JR., John B. Nill
  • Publication number: 20190268802
    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: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ankit Bhutani, Richard S. Camden, Galen E. Knode
  • Publication number: 20190221958
    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 9, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, Rhodes B. Baker
  • Publication number: 20190173446
    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: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Galen E. Knode, Chris Dimberg
  • Publication number: 20180347271
    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: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew K. Cooney, Jordan H. Crafts, Stuart W. Dejonge, Galen E. Knode, Jonathan T. Lenz, Justin J. Mierta, Donald R. Mosebrook
  • Publication number: 20180228006
    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: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, John B. Nill, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Patent number: 10041292
    Abstract: A low-power RF receiver has a decreased current consumption. The receiver may be used in control devices, such as battery-powered motorized window treatments and two-wire dimmer switches. The receiver uses an RF sub-sampling technique to check for RF signals and then puts the receiver to sleep for a sleep time that is longer than a packet length of a transmitted packet to conserve battery power. The receiver compares detected RF energy to a threshold that may be increased to decrease the sensitivity of the receiver and increase the battery lifetime. After detecting an RF signal, the receiver is put to sleep for a snooze time that is longer than the sleep time and just slightly shorter than the time between two consecutive transmitted packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Karl Cooney, Jordan H. Crafts, Stuart W. Dejonge, Galen E. Knode, Jonathan T. Lenz, Justin J. Mierta, Donald R. Mosebrook
  • Publication number: 20120281606
    Abstract: A low-power RF receiver has a decreased current consumption. The receiver may be used in control devices, such as battery-powered motorized window treatments and two-wire dimmer switches. The receiver uses an RF sub-sampling technique to check for RF signals and then puts the receiver to sleep for a sleep time that is longer than a packet length of a transmitted packet to conserve battery power. The receiver compares detected RF energy to a threshold that may be increased to decrease the sensitivity of the receiver and increase the battery lifetime. After detecting an RF signal, the receiver is put to sleep for a snooze time that is longer than the sleep time and just slightly shorter than the time between two consecutive transmitted packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew Karl Cooney, Jordan H. Crafts, Stuart W. Dejonge, Galen E. Knode, Jonathan T. Lenz, Justin J. Mierta, Donald R. Mosebrook