Patents by Inventor James P Steiner

James P Steiner 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: 9386669
    Abstract: A mobile device that is configured for wireless communication may be configured to operate as a remote control device in a lighting control system, controlling one or more lighting control devices of the lighting control system. The remote control device may control the light intensity in a space, for instance at a location of the remote control device, in response to an ambient light intensity measured at the remote control device. The remote control device may define a user interface for receiving an input that indicates a desired light intensity at the location. The remote control device may measure the ambient light intensity at the location via a light detector, compare the measured ambient light intensity to the desired light intensity, and cause the one or more lighting control devices to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until it agrees with the desired light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Karc, James P. Steiner, William Bryce Fricke
  • Publication number: 20160113095
    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 in series electrical connection between an AC power source and an electrical load, and to be further coupled together via an accessory wiring. The remote devices can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system, such that the main device is wired “in the middle” of the load control system. The main device is operable 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 operable to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Cyril Baby, Christopher Buck, Daniel F. Carmen
  • Patent number: 9301371
    Abstract: A load control system comprises a main load control device and a remote load control device, which does not require a neutral connection and allows for feedback at the remote load control device. The main device and the remote load control device are adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load. The main load control device comprises a load control circuit for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The main load control device is operable to enable a charging path to allow the remote load control device to charge a power supply during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source. The main load control device and the remote load control device are operable to communicate with each other during a second time period of the half-cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Cyril Baby, Christopher Buck, Daniel F. Carmen
  • Patent number: 9277629
    Abstract: A load control system controls an electrical load provided in a space and comprises a load control device and a first occupancy sensor mounted to a movable structure (e.g., a door) and a second occupancy sensor mounted to a fixed surface (e.g., a wall or a ceiling). The load control device controls the load in response to the wireless control signals received from the occupancy sensors. The first occupancy sensor transmits an occupied wireless control signal to the load control device in response to detecting the movement of the movable structure. The second occupancy sensor transmits an occupied wireless control signal to the load control device in response to detecting the occupancy condition. The load control device turns on the load in response to receiving the occupied control signal from the first occupancy sensor, and turns off the load in response to receiving vacant control signals from both of the occupancy sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Andrew Peter Schmalz, Andrew Ryan Offenbacher, Adam J. Schrems, Brian Raymond Valenta
  • Patent number: 9265128
    Abstract: A load control system controls a lighting load provided in a space and comprises a load control device and one or more occupancy sensors. The load control device controls the load in response to the wireless control signals received from the occupancy sensors. Each occupancy sensor transmits an occupied control signal to the load control device in response to detecting an occupancy condition in the space and a vacant control signal to the load control device in response to detecting a vacancy condition. The load control device adjusts the intensity of the load to a first intensity in response to receiving the occupied control signal from at least one of the occupancy sensors, and adjusts the intensity of the load to a second intensity less than the first intensity (e.g., a non-off intensity) in response to receiving vacant control signals from both of the occupancy sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Andrew Peter Schmalz, Andrew Ryan Offenbacher, Adam J. Schrems, Brian Raymond Valenta
  • Publication number: 20160036349
    Abstract: A load control device is configured to generate a control signal having a desired magnitude for controlling a load regulation device adapted to control the power delivered to an electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control terminal arranged to provide the control signal to the load regulation device, a communication circuit for generating the control signal, and a control circuit configured to generate an output signal that is provided to the communication circuit. The communication circuit may be characterized by non-linear operation. The control circuit may adjust the magnitude of the output signal in response to the difference between the magnitude of the control signal and the desired magnitude to adjust the magnitude of the control signal towards the desired magnitude. The control circuit may also be configured to determine if an incompatible load regulation device is coupled to the load control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Daniel G. Cooper, Ryan S. Bedell
  • Patent number: 9157898
    Abstract: An ultrasonic occupancy sensor for detecting presence or absence of an occupant in a space includes an ultrasonic receiving circuit having a synchronous rectifier that allows the circuit to detect small-magnitude ultrasonic waves having a Doppler shift. The sensor comprises an ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting ultrasonic waves at an ultrasonic operating frequency, and a controller that drives the transmitting circuit with complementary drive signals to control the ultrasonic operating frequency. The synchronous rectifier receives the drive signals from the controller and rectifies an amplified input signal to generate a rectified signal, which is filtered by a filter to generate a filtered signal. The controller receives the filtered signal and determines that the space is occupied if the magnitude of the filtered signal exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventor: James P. Steiner
  • Patent number: 9148937
    Abstract: A load control system controls a lighting load provided in a space and comprises a load control device and one or more occupancy sensors. The load control device controls the load in response to the wireless control signals received from the occupancy sensors. Each occupancy sensor transmits an occupied control signal to the load control device in response to detecting an occupancy condition in the space and a vacant control signal to the load control device in response to detecting a vacancy condition. The load control device adjusts the intensity of the load to a first intensity in response to receiving the occupied control signal from at least one of the occupancy sensors, and adjusts the intensity of the load to a second intensity less than the first intensity (e.g., a non-off intensity) in response to receiving vacant control signals from both of the occupancy sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Andrew Peter Schmalz, Andrew Ryan Offenbacher, Adam J. Schrems, Brian Raymond Valenta
  • Publication number: 20150271897
    Abstract: A load control device adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load includes a controller, an actuator for turning the electrical load on and off, an occupancy detection circuit, and an ambient light detector. The load control device automatically turns on the electrical load in response to the presence of an occupant only if the detected ambient light is below a predetermined ambient light level threshold. After first detecting the presence of an occupant, the load control device monitors actuations of the actuator to determine whether a user has changed the state of the load. The load control device automatically adjusts the predetermined ambient light level threshold in response to the user actuations that change the state of the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: RYAN S. BEDELL, James P. Steiner
  • Publication number: 20150271896
    Abstract: A wireless battery-powered daylight sensor for measuring a total light intensity in a space is operable to transmit wireless signals using a variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the total light intensity in the space. The sensor comprises a photosensitive circuit, a wireless transmitter for transmitting the wireless signals, a controller coupled to the photosensitive circuit and the wireless transmitter, and a battery for powering the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transmitter, and the controller. The photosensitive circuit is operable to generate a light intensity control signal in response to the total light intensity in the space. The controller transmits the wireless signals in response to the light intensity control signal using the variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the total light intensity in the space. The variable transmission rate may be dependent upon an amount of change of the total light intensity in the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventor: James P. Steiner
  • Publication number: 20150230323
    Abstract: A load control system controls a lighting load provided in a space and comprises a load control device and one or more occupancy sensors. The load control device controls the load in response to the wireless control signals received from the occupancy sensors. Each occupancy sensor transmits an occupied control signal to the load control device in response to detecting an occupancy condition in the space and a vacant control signal to the load control device in response to detecting a vacancy condition. The load control device adjusts the intensity of the load to a first intensity in response to receiving the occupied control signal from at least one of the occupancy sensors, and adjusts the intensity of the load to a second intensity less than the first intensity (e.g., a non-off intensity) in response to receiving vacant control signals from both of the occupancy sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Andrew Peter Schmalz, Andrew Ryan Offenbacher, Adam J. Schrems, Brian Raymond Valenta
  • Publication number: 20150223310
    Abstract: A load control system controls an electrical load provided in a space and comprises a load control device and one or more occupancy sensors. The load control device controls the load in response to the wireless control signals received from the occupancy sensors. Each occupancy sensor transmits an occupied control signal to the load control device in response to detecting an occupancy condition in the space and a vacant control signal to the load control device in response to detecting a vacancy condition. The load control device turns on the load in response to receiving the occupied control signal from at least one of the occupancy sensors, and turns off the load in response to receiving vacant control signals from both of the occupancy sensors. The load control device is operable to determine that no wireless control signals have been received from the occupancy sensors for the length of a predetermined timeout period and to subsequently turn off the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Andrew Peter Schmalz, Andrew Ryan Offenbacher, Adam J. Schrems, Brian Raymond Valenta
  • Patent number: 9089013
    Abstract: A wireless sensor for measuring a light intensity is operable to transmit wireless signals using a variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the light intensity in the space. The sensor comprises a photosensitive circuit, a wireless transmitter for transmitting the wireless signals, and a controller coupled to the photosensitive circuit and the wireless transmitter. The photosensitive circuit is operable to generate a light intensity control signal in response to the light intensity. The controller transmits the wireless signals in response to the light intensity control signal using the variable transmission rate that is dependent upon an amount of change of the light intensity. In addition, the variable transmission rate may be further dependent upon a rate of change of the light intensity. The sensor may further comprise a battery for powering the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transmitter, and the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventor: James P. Steiner
  • Patent number: 9084310
    Abstract: A load control device adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load includes a controller, an actuator for turning the electrical load on and off, an occupancy detection circuit, and an ambient light detector. The load control device automatically turns on the electrical load in response to the presence of an occupant only if the detected ambient light is below a predetermined ambient light level threshold. After first detecting the presence of an occupant, the load control device monitors actuations of the actuator to determine whether a user has changed the state of the load. The load control device automatically adjusts the predetermined ambient light level threshold in response to the user actuations that change the state of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Bedell, James P. Steiner
  • Publication number: 20150189724
    Abstract: A mobile device that is configured for wireless communication may be configured to operate as a remote control device in a lighting control system, controlling one or more lighting control devices of the lighting control system. The remote control device may control the light intensity in a space, for instance at a location of the remote control device, in response to an ambient light intensity measured at the remote control device. The remote control device may define a user interface for receiving an input that indicates a desired light intensity at the location. The remote control device may measure the ambient light intensity at the location via a light detector, compare the measured ambient light intensity to the desired light intensity, and cause the one or more lighting control devices to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until it agrees with the desired light intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Karc, James P. Steiner, William Bryce Fricke
  • Publication number: 20150180237
    Abstract: A low-cost, simple ultrasonic sensing system has an increased detection range. The ultrasonic sensing system may be implemented as part of a load control system for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load. The load control system may comprise a load control device for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load, an ultrasonic receiver for receiving ultrasonic waves characterized by an ultrasonic frequency, and an ultrasonic transmitter located remotely from the ultrasonic receiver. The load control device controls the power delivered to the electrical load in response to the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic receiver. The load control device may include the ultrasonic receiver and may be a wall-mounted load control device. The ultrasonic receiver may be a wireless ultrasonic receiver for transmitting wireless signals to the load control device in response to the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Greg Edward Sloan
  • Patent number: 9035769
    Abstract: A load control system controls an electrical load provided in a space and comprises a load control device and one or more occupancy sensors. The load control device controls the load in response to the wireless control signals received from the occupancy sensors. Each occupancy sensor transmits an occupied control signal to the load control device in response to detecting an occupancy condition in the space and a vacant control signal to the load control device in response to detecting a vacancy condition. The load control device turns on the load in response to receiving the occupied control signal from at least one of the occupancy sensors, and turns off the load in response to receiving vacant control signals from both of the occupancy sensors. The load control device is operable to determine that no wireless control signals have been received from the occupancy sensors for the length of a predetermined timeout period and to subsequently turn off the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Andrew Peter Schmalz, Andrew Ryan Offenbacher, Adam J. Schrems, Brian Raymond Valenta
  • Patent number: 9024760
    Abstract: An ultrasonic occupancy sensor for detecting presence or absence of an occupant in a space includes an ultrasonic receiving circuit having a synchronous rectifier that allows the circuit to detect small-magnitude ultrasonic waves having a Doppler shift. The sensor comprises an ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting ultrasonic waves at an ultrasonic operating frequency, and a controller that drives the transmitting circuit with complementary drive signals to control the ultrasonic operating frequency. The synchronous rectifier receives the drive signals from the controller and rectifies an amplified input signal to generate a rectified signal, which is filtered by a filter to generate a filtered signal. The controller receives the filtered signal and determines that the space is occupied if the magnitude of the filtered signal exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Steiner
  • Patent number: 8963440
    Abstract: A two-wire load control device such as a dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load such as a high-efficiency lighting load may be provided. The load control device may include a bidirectional semiconductor switch coupled between the source and the load and a controller operable to control the bidirectional semiconductor switch. The load control device may also include a front accessible trimming actuator to adjust a low end intensity setting of the load control device. The trimming actuator may be coupled to the controller such that the controller may control the bidirectional semiconductor switch appropriately. Additionally, the trimming actuator may include indicia to help a user readily identify the proper low end intensity setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Edward Jennings, Christopher James Salvestrini, John Panos Petropoulos, Nicholas Robert Baer, Walter S. Zaharchuk, James P. Steiner, Andrew Ryan Offenbacher, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Mikko Hakkarainen
  • Publication number: 20150015377
    Abstract: A load control system may include multiple control devices that may send load control messages to load control devices for controlling an amount of power provided electrical loads. To prevent collision of the load control messages, the load control messages may be transmitted using different wireless communication channels. Each wireless communication channel may be assigned to a load control group that may include control devices and load control devices capable of communicating with one another on the assigned channel. A control device may send load control messages to a load control device within a transmission frame allocated for transmitting load control messages. The transmission frame may include equal sub-frames and load control messages may be sent at a random time within each sub-frame. Control devices may detect a status event within a sampling interval to offset transmissions from multiple control devices based on detection of the same event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Bull, Jordan H. Crafts, James P. Steiner