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).
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Publication number: 20170325308Abstract: A control device for power delivered to electrical loads in a load control system via respective load control devices may comprise a programming user interface for programming the operation of the load control system. The control device may be configured to select one or more load control devices in response to successive actuations of a programming button of the programming interface. The control device may be configured to controllably illuminate visual indicators of the programming interface to indicate which of the load control devices is selected in response to successive actuations of the programming button. The control device may transmit programming information to the load control devices. The programming information may determine which of the load control devices are responsive to a digital message transmitted on the digital communication link.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2017Publication date: November 9, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventor: James P. Steiner
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Publication number: 20170318701Abstract: A control device for a ceiling fan may have a motor drive circuit configured to control a rotational speed of a motor of the ceiling fan, an occupancy sensing circuit, and a control circuit configured to adjust the rotational speed of the motor in response to a detected occupancy or vacancy condition. The control circuit may process the signals generated by the occupancy sensing circuit to eliminate the effects of vibrations and/or wobbling of the ceiling fan. The control circuit may control the motor drive circuit to adjust the rotational speed of the motor in response to an accelerometer to minimize the magnitude of the wobble of the ceiling fan. The control circuit may be configured to learn a preferred rotational speed for the motor. The control circuit may also be configured to control the rotational speed of the motor to affect a thermal comfort level of an occupant.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventor: James P. Steiner
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Patent number: 9763303Abstract: A control device for power delivered to electrical loads in a load control system via respective load control devices may comprise a programming user interface for programming the operation of the load control system. The control device may be configured to select one or more load control devices in response to successive actuations of a programming button of the programming interface. The control device may be configured to controllably illuminate visual indicators of the programming interface to indicate which of the load control devices is selected in response to successive actuations of the programming button. The control device may transmit programming information to the load control devices. The programming information may determine which of the load control devices are responsive to a digital message transmitted on the digital communication link.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventor: James P. Steiner
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Publication number: 20170245353Abstract: A controller comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and a load control device. The controller also comprises a control circuit coupled to the controllably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive each half-cycle of the AC power source to generate a phase-control voltage. The control circuit is operable to render the controllably conductive device conductive for a portion of each half-cycle of the AC power source. The control circuit is operable to transmit a digital message to the load control device for controlling the power delivered to the load by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage, where the phase-control voltage having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the control circuit is transmitting the digital message to the load control device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2017Publication date: August 24, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Mark S. Taipale, James P. Steiner, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Michael W. Pessina, Joel S. Spira
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Patent number: 9736911Abstract: A load control system comprises a load control device for controlling an electrical load receiving power from an AC power source, and a controller adapted to be coupled in series between the source and the load control device. The load control system may be installed without requiring any additional wires to be run, and is easily configured without the need for a computer or an advanced commissioning procedure. The load control device receives both power and communication over two wires, and the controller generates a phase-control voltage that has at least one timing edge in each half-cycle, and transmits digital messages by modulating a timing edge of the phase-control voltage relative to a reference edge. The controller may be operable to receive inputs from a plurality of different input devices, and the load control device may be operable to control a plurality of different loads.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO. INC.Inventors: Mark S. Taipale, James P. Steiner, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Michael W. Pessina, Joel S. Spira
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Publication number: 20170171941Abstract: A sensor for sensing environmental characteristics of a space may include a visible light sensing circuit for recording an image of the space and a control circuit responsive to the visible light sensing circuit. The control circuit may detect an occupancy or vacancy condition in the space in response to the visible light sensing circuit, and measure a light level in the space in response to the visible light sensing circuit. The control circuit may also include a low-energy occupancy sensing circuit for detecting an occupancy condition in the space. The control circuit may disable the visible light sensing circuit when the space is vacant. The control circuit may detect an occupancy condition in the space in response to the low-energy occupancy sensing circuit and subsequently enable the visible light sensing circuit. The visible light sensor may be configured in a way that protects the privacy of the occupants of the space.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventor: JAMES P. STEINER
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Publication number: 20170150577Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2017Publication date: May 25, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: James P. Steiner, Greg Edward Sloan
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Publication number: 20170133878Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: John H. Bull, Jordan H. Crafts, James P. Steiner
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Patent number: 9590453Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 11, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: John H. Bull, Jordan H. Crafts, James P. Steiner
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Patent number: 9572229Abstract: A wireless sensor for measuring a light intensity comprises a photosensitive circuit that can be disabled, for example, to conserve battery power. The wireless sensor may further comprise a wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless signals, a controller and a battery for powering the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transmitter, and the controller. The photosensitive circuit may generate a light intensity control signal in response to the light intensity. The photosensitive circuit may include a photosensitive diode for conducting a current having a magnitude responsive to the light intensity. The controller may be configured to disable the photosensitive circuit by opening a controllable switch that is coupled in series with the photosensitive diode. The controller may enable the photosensitive circuit, subsequently sample the light intensity control signal at a sampling period, and then disable the photosensitive circuit after the light intensity control signal has been sampled.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventor: James P. Steiner
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Patent number: 9521728Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 22, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: James P. Steiner, Cyril Baby, Christopher Buck, Daniel F. Carmen
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Publication number: 20160349823Abstract: A temperature control device (e.g., a thermostat) may be configured to control an internal heat-generating electrical load so as to accurately measure a present temperature in a space around the temperature control device. The temperature control device may comprise a temperature sensing circuit configured to generate a temperature control signal indicating the present temperature in the space, and a control circuit configured to receive the temperature control signal and to control the internal electrical load. The control circuit may be configured to energize the internal electrical load in an awake state and to cause the internal electrical load to consume less power in an idle state. The control circuit may be configured to control the internal electrical load to a first energy level (e.g., a first intensity) during the awake state and to a second energy level (e.g., second intensity) that is less than the first during the idle state.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Jason C. Killo, Donald R. Mosebrook, James P. Steiner
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Publication number: 20160344184Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical device may be configured to conduct current through earth ground and may disconnect a switching circuit to reduce an amount of current conducted through the earth ground. The load control device may comprise a controllably conductive device configured to control the power delivered from the AC power source to the electrical device so as to generate a switched-hot voltage, a switching circuit electrically coupled with a detect circuit, and a control circuit configured to render the switching circuit conductive and nonconductive. The detect circuit may generate a detect signal indicating a magnitude of the switched-hot voltage. The control circuit may be configured to monitor the detect signal and to render the switching circuit non-conductive after detecting an edge on the detect signal to reduce the total current through the earth ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Dinesh Sundara Moorthy, James P. Steiner
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Publication number: 20160338167Abstract: A control device for power delivered to electrical loads in a load control system via respective load control devices may comprise a programming user interface for programming the operation of the load control system. The control device may be configured to select one or more load control devices in response to successive actuations of a programming button of the programming interface. The control device may be configured to controllably illuminate visual indicators of the programming interface to indicate which of the load control devices is selected in response to successive actuations of the programming button. The control device may transmit programming information to the load control devices. The programming information may determine which of the load control devices are responsive to a digital message transmitted on the digital communication link.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventor: James P. Steiner
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Publication number: 20160278188Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Karc, James P. Steiner, William Bryce Fricke
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Publication number: 20160270191Abstract: A load control system for controlling at least one electrical load may comprise a plurality of control devices and a sensor external to at least one of the control devices. The sensor may be configured to sense a condition of a space in which the control devices are installed. The at least one electrical load may be controlled in response to the condition sensed by the sensor. The control devices may include respective illuminated portions. The control devices may adjust the intensity of the respective illuminated portions in response to the condition sensed by the sensor. If multiple sensors are included in the load control system to sense the condition, the control devices may adjust the intensity of their respective illuminated portions by aggregating the condition sensed by each sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Stephen M. Ludwig, JR., James P. Steiner
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Patent number: 9386669Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 2014Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Jeffrey Karc, James P. Steiner, William Bryce Fricke
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Publication number: 20160113095Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: James P. Steiner, Cyril Baby, Christopher Buck, Daniel F. Carmen
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Patent number: 9301371Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 11, 2014Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: James P. Steiner, Cyril Baby, Christopher Buck, Daniel F. Carmen
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Patent number: RE46586Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., IncInventors: James P. Steiner, Greg Edward Sloan