Patents by Inventor Gerard Harbers

Gerard Harbers 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: 10798803
    Abstract: An LED based illumination device includes an and a LED based light engine and a light control and communications gateway (LCCG). An LED driver in the LCCG receives receives a light control command via a lighting control network interface and in response provides an an electrical current that controls the amount of light produced by the LED based light engine. The lighting control network interface of the LCCG is communicatively coupled to a lighting control network. The LCCG additionally includes a building management network interface that is communicatively coupled to a building management network. Identification and operational data for a plurality of LED based illumination devices communicatively coupled to the lighting control network is stored in memory, and operational data is communicated from the LCCG over the building management network interface to a building management system communicately coupled to the LCCG over the building management network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerard Harbers
  • Publication number: 20200053858
    Abstract: An LED based illumination device includes an and a LED based light engine and a light control and communications gateway (LCCG). An LED driver in the LCCG receives receives a light control command via a lighting control network interface and in response provides an an electrical current that controls the amount of light produced by the LED based light engine. The lighting control network interface of the LCCG is communicatively coupled to a lighting control network. The LCCG additionally includes a building management network interface that is communicatively coupled to a building management network. Identification and operational data for a plurality of LED based illumination devices communicatively coupled to the lighting control network is stored in memory, and operational data is communicated from the LCCG over the building management network interface to a building management system communicately coupled to the LCCG over the building management network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Gerard Harbers
  • Patent number: 10405408
    Abstract: An LED based illumination device includes an and a LED based light engine and a light control and communications gateway (LCCG). An LED driver in the LCCG receives receives a light control command via a lighting control network interface and in response provides an an electrical current that controls the amount of light produced by the LED based light engine. The lighting control network interface of the LCCG is communicatively coupled to a lighting control network. The LCCG additionally includes a building management network interface that is communicatively coupled to a building management network. Identification and operational data for a plurality of LED based illumination devices communicatively coupled to the lighting control network is stored in memory, and operational data is communicated from the LCCG over the building management network interface to a building management system communicately coupled to the LCCG over the building management network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerard Harbers
  • Patent number: 10374707
    Abstract: A Light Emitting Diode (LED) based illumination device authenticates a mobile electronics device on a lighting communications network. The mobile electronic device may request a communications link on the lighting communications network and detect modulated illumination light emitted from the LED based illumination device. The modulated light may include an optical code. The mobile electronic device may determine the optical code from the modulated illumination light and communicate an indication of the optical code to the LED based illumination device. The LED based illumination device may determine if the indication of the optical code is correct and provide, in response, a communication link to the mobile electronics device on the lighting communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Emil Mueller, Barry Mark Loveridge, Jeffrey P. Hushley, Gerard Harbers
  • Patent number: 10356881
    Abstract: An LED based illumination device includes a receiver and a transmitter for communications adhering to a lighting control communications protocol and a high speed communications protocol. The LED based illumination device may be part of a lighting control network, wherein the data transmission rate of the high speed communications protocol is more than twice that of the lighting control communications protocol. The lighting control network may be coupled to a digital communications gateway, including a digital communications interface configured to be coupled to a network operating in accordance with an internet protocol and a lighting control network interface coupled to the lighting control network. A processor determines a summary status value of the LED based illumination device based on information stored in memory of the digital communications gateway. The digital communications gateway may periodically transmit the time of day to the LED based illumination device over the lighting control network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Barry Mark Loveridge
  • Patent number: 10278248
    Abstract: A light control and data interface module (LCDIM) is used to control an LED based illumination device. The LCDIM includes a transceiver that receives communication signals from one or more sensor modules. The signals may include an indication of an identity of the one or more sensor modules and elapsed time since a triggering event was detected. One or more processors are configured to receive the communication signal and to determine a delay time to trigger a lighting control response. The one or more processors are further configured to cause the transmission of a command signal to a power converter coupled to the LCDIM to implement the lighting control response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Barry Mark Loveridge, Martin Emil Mueller, Jeffrey P. Hushley
  • Publication number: 20180376568
    Abstract: An LED based illumination device includes a receiver and a transmitter for communications adhering to a lighting control communications protocol and a high speed communications protocol. The LED based illumination device may be part of a lighting control network, wherein the data transmission rate of the high speed communications protocol is more than twice that of the lighting control communications protocol. The lighting control network may be coupled to a digital communications gateway, including a digital communications interface configured to be coupled to a network operating in accordance with an internet protocol and a lighting control network interface coupled to the lighting control network. A processor determines a summary status value of the LED based illumination device based on information stored in memory of the digital communications gateway. The digital communications gateway may periodically transmit the time of day to the LED based illumination device over the lighting control network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Barry Mark Loveridge
  • Patent number: 10123395
    Abstract: A multi-port communications gateway for one or more LED based illumination devices includes a lighting communications interface that is configured to be coupled to the LED based illumination device(s). The lighting communications interface transmits both data signals and power signals. A lighting control network interface is configured to be coupled to a lighting control system, which generates control commands. A building management network interface is configured to be coupled to a building management system and is configured to receive and transmit information from sensors coupled to the LED based illumination device(s). Memory in the gateway stores information received from the LED based illumination device (s). A processor determines a summary status value associated with the LED based illumination device(s) based on information stored in memory. A real time clock determines a date and time that is periodically transmitted to the LED based illumination device(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerard Harbers
  • Patent number: 10070503
    Abstract: An LED based illumination device includes a receiver and a transmitter for communications adhering to a lighting control communications protocol and a high speed communications protocol. The LED based illumination device may be part of a lighting control network, wherein the data transmission rate of the high speed communications protocol is more than twice that of the lighting control communications protocol. The lighting control network may be coupled to a digital communications gateway, including a digital communications interface configured to be coupled to a network operating in accordance with an internet protocol and a lighting control network interface coupled to the lighting control network. A processor determines a summary status value of the LED based illumination device based on information stored in memory of the digital communications gateway. The digital communications gateway may periodically transmit the time of day to the LED based illumination device over the lighting control network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Barry Mark Loveridge
  • Publication number: 20180220507
    Abstract: A light control and data interface module (LCDIM) is used to control an LED based illumination device. The LCDIM includes a transceiver that receives communication signals from one or more sensor modules. The signals may include an indication of an identity of the one or more sensor modules and elapsed time since a triggering event was detected. One or more processors are configured to receive the communication signal and to determine a delay time to trigger a lighting control response. The one or more processors are further configured to cause the transmission of a command signal to a power converter coupled to the LCDIM to implement the lighting control response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Barry Mark Loveridge, Martin Emil Mueller, Jeffrey P. Hushley
  • Publication number: 20180209856
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) based illumination module performs on-board diagnostics. For example, diagnostics may include estimating elapsed lifetime, degradation of phosphor, thermal failure, failure of LEDs, or LED current adjustment based on measured flux or temperature. The elapsed lifetime may be estimated by scaling accumulated elapsed time of operation by an acceleration factor derived from actual operating conditions, such as temperature, current and relative humidity. The degradation of phosphor may be estimated based on a measured response of the phosphor to pulsed light from the LEDs. A thermal failure may be diagnosed using a transient response of the module from a start up condition. The failure of LEDs may be diagnosed based on measured forward voltage. The current for LEDs may adjusted using measured flux values and current values and a desired ratio of flux values. Additionally, the LED current may be scaled based on a measured temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventor: Gerard Harbers
  • Publication number: 20180198526
    Abstract: A Light Emitting Diode (LED) based illumination device authenticates a mobile electronics device on a lighting communications network. The mobile electronic device may request a communications link on the lighting communications network and detect modulated illumination light emitted from the LED based illumination device. The modulated light may include an optical code. The mobile electronic device may determine the optical code from the modulated illumination light and communicate an indication of the optical code to the LED based illumination device. The LED based illumination device may determine if the indication of the optical code is correct and provide, in response, a communication link to the mobile electronics device on the lighting communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Emil Mueller, Barry Mark Loveridge, Jeffrey P. Hushley, Gerard Harbers
  • Patent number: 10009980
    Abstract: An LED based illumination device includes an and a LED based light engine and a light control and communications gateway (LCCG). An LED driver in the LCCG receives a light control command via a lighting control network interface and in response provides an electrical current that controls the amount of light produced by the LED based light engine. The lighting control network interface of the LCCG is communicatively coupled to a lighting control network. The LCCG additionally includes a building management network interface that is communicatively coupled to a building management network. Identification and operational data for a plurality of LED based illumination devices communicatively coupled to the lighting control network is stored in memory, and operational data is communicated from the LCCG over the building management network interface to a building management system communicatively coupled to the LCCG over the building management network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerard Harbers
  • Publication number: 20180160514
    Abstract: An LED based illumination device includes an and a LED based light engine and a light control and communications gateway (LCCG). An LED driver in the LCCG receives receives a light control command via a lighting control network interface and in response provides an an electrical current that controls the amount of light produced by the LED based light engine. The lighting control network interface of the LCCG is communicatively coupled to a lighting control network. The LCCG additionally includes a building management network interface that is communicatively coupled to a building management network. Identification and operational data for a plurality of LED based illumination devices communicatively coupled to the lighting control network is stored in memory, and operational data is communicated from the LCCG over the building management network interface to a building management system communicately coupled to the LCCG over the building management network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventor: Gerard Harbers
  • Patent number: 9960848
    Abstract: Light Emitting Diode (LED) based illumination devices in a lighting communications network may be commissioned into a group with a mobile electronics device, such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, etc. The identities of a plurality of LED illumination devices are determined and a request is communicated to the identified LED based illumination devices to modulate emitted light for a period of time. The modulated light is detected by the mobile electronics device, which may then determine a group of the LED based illumination devices. For example, the detected intensity of the modulated light may be used to determine the group. In another example, the physical locations of the LED based illumination devices are determined by detecting a sequence of images (e.g., video) of the modulated light, and the group may be determined based on the locations of the LED based illumination devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Emil Mueller, Barry Mark Loveridge, Jeffrey P. Hushley, Gerard Harbers
  • Patent number: 9930741
    Abstract: A light control and data interface module (LCDIM) is used to control an LED based illumination device. The LCDIM includes a transceiver that receives communication signals from one or more sensor modules. The signals may include an indication of an identity of the one or more sensor modules and elapsed time since a triggering event was detected. One or more processors are configured to receive the communication signal and to determine a delay time to trigger a lighting control response. The one or more processors are further configured to cause the transmission of a command signal to a power converter coupled to the LCDIM to implement the lighting control response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Barry Mark Loveridge, Martin Emil Mueller, Jeffrey P. Hushley
  • Patent number: 9927111
    Abstract: An LED based illumination device includes LEDs mounted to an LED mounting board, an integrated output window sub-assembly, and a thermal frame coupled between the integrated output window sub-assembly and the LED mounting board. The integrated output window sub-assembly may include an output window and a thermally conductive ring coupled to the perimeter surface of the output window. The thermally conductive ring may have a radial width equal to or greater than the thickness of the output window. Additionally, the output window and the thermally conductive ring may have coplanar top and bottom surfaces. The thermally conductive ring surrounding the perimeter of the output window may include one or more pockets into which a curable, thermally conductive bonding material is disposed in an uncured state and flows into a gap between the perimeter of the output window and the thermally conductive ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Gregory W. Eng, Jim W. Li
  • Patent number: 9888549
    Abstract: An LED based illumination device includes an and a LED based light engine and a light control and communications gateway (LCCG). An LED driver in the LCCG receives a light control command via a lighting control network interface and in response provides an electrical current that controls the amount of light produced by the LED based light engine. The lighting control network interface of the LCCG is communicatively coupled to a lighting control network. The LCCG additionally includes a building management network interface that is communicatively coupled to a building management network. Identification and operational data for a plurality of LED based illumination devices communicatively coupled to the lighting control network is stored in memory, and operational data is communicated from the LCCG over the building management network interface to a building management system communicatively coupled to the LCCG over the building management network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerard Harbers
  • Patent number: 9863819
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) based illumination module performs on-board diagnostics. For example, diagnostics may include estimating elapsed lifetime, degradation of phosphor, thermal failure, failure of LEDs, or LED current adjustment based on measured flux or temperature. The elapsed lifetime may be estimated by scaling accumulated elapsed time of operation by an acceleration factor derived from actual operating conditions, such as temperature, current and relative humidity. The degradation of phosphor may be estimated based on a measured response of the phosphor to pulsed light from the LEDs. A thermal failure may be diagnosed using a transient response of the module from a start up condition. The failure of LEDs may be diagnosed based on measured forward voltage. The current for LEDs may adjusted using measured flux values and current values and a desired ratio of flux values. Additionally, the LED current may be scaled based on a measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerard Harbers
  • Patent number: 9853730
    Abstract: A Light Emitting Diode (LED) based illumination device authenticates a mobile electronics device on a lighting communications network. The mobile electronic device may request a communications link on the lighting communications network and detect modulated illumination light emitted from the LED based illumination device. The modulated light may include an optical code. The mobile electronic device may determine the optical code from the modulated illumination light and communicate an indication of the optical code to the LED based illumination device. The LED based illumination device may determine if the indication of the optical code is correct and provide, in response, a communication link to the mobile electronics device on the lighting communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Emil Mueller, Barry Mark Loveridge, Jeffrey P. Hushley, Gerard Harbers