Patents by Inventor John B. Nill

John B. Nill 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: 11868111
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating with and controlling load control systems of respective user environments from locations that are remote from the user environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: John B. Nill, Matthew Bamberger, Jason M. Swails, Christopher M. Jones
  • Publication number: 20230409282
    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: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    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: 11797268
    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: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    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: 20230046132
    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: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, Robert C. Newman, Jr., John B. Nill
  • Publication number: 20230044585
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating with and controlling load control systems of respective user environments from locations that are remote from the user environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: John B. Nill, Matthew Bamberger, Jason M. Swails, Christopher M. Jones
  • Patent number: 11490248
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, Robert C. Newman, Jr., John B. Nill
  • Patent number: 11415954
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating with and controlling load control systems of respective user environments from locations that are remote from the user environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: John B. Nill, Matthew Bamberger, Jason M. Swails, Christopher M. Jones
  • Publication number: 20220113936
    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: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    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: 11216246
    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: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    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: 20210400470
    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: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, Robert C. Newman, JR., John B. Nill
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20200301387
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating with and controlling load control systems of respective user environments from locations that are remote from the user environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: John B. Nill, Matthew Bamberger, Jason M. Swails, Christopher M. Jones
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10678203
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating with and controlling load control systems of respective user environments from locations that are remote from the user environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: John B. Nill, Matthew Bamberger, Jason M. Swails, Christopher M. Jones
  • Publication number: 20180259922
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating with and controlling load control systems of respective user environments from locations that are remote from the user environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Nill, Matthew Bamberger, Jason M. Swails, Christopher M. Jones
  • 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