Patents by Inventor Galen Edgar Knode

Galen Edgar 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: 8786196
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Charles Biery, Maureen E. Flowers, Galen Edgar Knode
  • Patent number: 8598978
    Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) load control system includes both two-way and one-way (e.g., transmit-only) remote control devices, and provides a simple, reliable process for configuring the one-way devices into the system. The one-way device may be programmed to operate at one of a predetermined number of radio frequencies as part of a frequency-selection procedure, during which, the one-way device transmits a test command to a signal repeater of the system. If the test command is transmitted at the same frequency as the repeater, the repeater emits an audible beep to inform the user that the remote control is transmitting at the appropriate frequency. To associate the two-way devices with the system, the signal repeater streams an “enter address mode” command. To allow the one-way device to be associated with the system, the signal repeater pauses the transmission of the enter address mode command to allow the one-way device to transmit an activation request message to the signal repeater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Galen Edgar Knode
  • Patent number: 8427061
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Charles Biery, Maureen E. Flowers, Galen Edgar Knode
  • Publication number: 20130026947
    Abstract: A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Theodore F. Economy, John C. Browne, JR., William Bryce Fricke, Galen Edgar Knode
  • Publication number: 20120223656
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Ethan Charles Biery, Maureen E. Flowers, Galen Edgar Knode
  • Patent number: 8212486
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Charles Biery, Maureen E. Flowers, Galen Edgar Knode
  • Publication number: 20120056712
    Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) load control system includes both two-way and one-way (e.g., transmit-only) remote control devices, and provides a simple, reliable process for configuring the one-way devices into the system. The one-way device may be programmed to operate at one of a predetermined number of radio frequencies as part of a frequency-selection procedure, during which, the one-way device transmits a test command to a signal repeater of the system. If the test command is transmitted at the same frequency as the repeater, the repeater emits an audible beep to inform the user that the remote control is transmitting at the appropriate frequency. To associate the two-way devices with the system, the signal repeater streams an “enter address mode” command. To allow the one-way device to be associated with the system, the signal repeater pauses the transmission of the enter address mode command to allow the one-way device to transmit an activation request message to the signal repeater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventor: Galen Edgar Knode
  • Patent number: 8077058
    Abstract: A load control system is operable to control the amount of power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads from an AC power source. The load control system includes a plurality of keypads, which each may include a different button assembly having a different button configuration or multiple button configurations. Each keypad is operable to determine the button configuration of the button assembly installed on the keypad in response to simultaneous actuations of the top button and the bottom button of the button assembly for a predetermined amount of time. Each keypad is further operable to store in a memory of the keypad data representing the button configuration. Therefore, after the keypad is installed in the field and the button assembly is replaced, the keypad can be easily configured to operate with the new button assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Swatsky, Galen Edgar Knode
  • Publication number: 20110187282
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Ethan Charles Biery, Maureen E. Flowers, Galen Edgar Knode
  • Patent number: 7872423
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Charles Biery, Galen Edgar Knode, Clive Elton Lopez, Joel S. Spira, Maureen E. Flowers
  • Patent number: 7796057
    Abstract: A load control system is operable to control the amount of power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads from an AC power source. The load control system includes a plurality of keypads, which each may include a different button assembly having a different button configuration. Each keypad is operable to determine the button configuration of the button assembly installed on the keypad in response to simultaneous actuations of the top button and the bottom button of the button assembly for a predetermined amount of time. Each keypad is further operable to store in a memory of the keypad data representing the button configuration. Therefore, after the keypad is installed in the field and the button assembly is replaced, the keypad can be easily configured to operate with the new button assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Swatsky, Galen Edgar Knode
  • Publication number: 20090206983
    Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) load control system allows for the expedient transmission of subsequent digital messages to one or more recipients via an RF communication link. The control system comprises at least one load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load in response to a received digital message. Each control device of the load control system is operable to interrupt the propagation of a first digital message to transmit a second digital message in response to determining that the second digital message has a high priority than the first digital message. For example, an originating control device may transmit first and second digital messages in response to a press and a release of an actuator, respectively, and may interrupt the propagation of the first digital message to transmit the second digital message if the first digital message is irrelevant in view of the second digital message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Galen Edgar Knode, Daniel Curtis Raneri, Richard L. Black, Jordan Henry Crafts
  • Publication number: 20090206769
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Ethan Charles Biery, Galen Edgar Knode, Clive Elton Lopez, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20080136680
    Abstract: A load control system is operable to control the amount of power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads from an AC power source. The load control system includes a plurality of keypads, which each may include a different button assembly having a different button configuration. Each keypad is operable to determine the button configuration of the button assembly installed on the keypad in response to simultaneous actuations of the top button and the bottom button of the button assembly for a predetermined amount of time. Each keypad is further operable to store in a memory of the keypad data representing the button configuration. Therefore, after the keypad is installed in the field and the button assembly is replaced, the keypad can be easily configured to operate with the new button assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Swatsky, Galen Edgar Knode
  • Publication number: 20080136683
    Abstract: A load control system is operable to control the amount of power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads from an AC power source. The load control system includes a plurality of keypads, which each may include a different button assembly having a different button configuration or multiple button configurations. Each keypad is operable to determine the button configuration of the button assembly installed on the keypad in response to simultaneous actuations of the top button and the bottom button of the button assembly for a predetermined amount of time. Each keypad is further operable to store in a memory of the keypad data representing the button configuration. Therefore, after the keypad is installed in the field and the button assembly is replaced, the keypad can be easily configured to operate with the new button assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Swatsky, Galen Edgar Knode