Patents by Inventor Jonathan T. Lenz
Jonathan T. Lenz 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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Patent number: 10937307Abstract: A load control system may include devices for performing communications for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load. The devices may include load control devices that may communicate by transmitting digital messages. A user device having an adjustable wireless communication range may be used for discovering devices, configuring devices, and/or diagnosing devices in the load control system. The user device may detect whether devices are within an established wireless communication range of one another for performing communications. The user device may detect digital messages transmitted from a device and/or digital messages received at a device to determine whether the digital messages are correctly communicated in the load control system. The user device may provide an indication to a indicating whether a digital message is correctly transmitted or received by a device in the load control system.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Jordan H. Crafts, Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, David J. Dolan, William Bryce Fricke, Joel Hnatow, Jonathan T. Lenz
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Publication number: 20210021133Abstract: A load control system may include load control devices for controlling power provided to an electrical load. The load control devices may include a control-source device and a control-target device. The control-target device may control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device. A user device may discover load control devices when the load control devices are within an established range associated with the user device. The user device and the load control devices may communicate via a wireless communications module. The established range may be adjusted based on the configurable transmit power of the user device or the wireless communications module associated with the user device. A discovered control-target device may be associated with a control-source device to enable the control-target device to control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Jordan H. Crafts, William Bryce Fricke, Stephen M. Ludwig, JR., Jonathan T. Lenz, Bryan Robert Barnes, Kyle Thomas Barco
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Publication number: 20200310371Abstract: A load control system may include control devices for controlling power provided to an electrical load. The control devices may include a control-source device and a control-target device. The control-target device may control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device. The control devices may include a load control discovery device capable of sending discovery messages configured to discover control devices within a location. The discovered control devices may be organized by signal strength and may be provided to a network device to enable association of the discovered control devices within a location. The discovery messages may be transmitted within an established discovery range. The discovery range may be adjusted to discover different control devices. Different control devices may be identified as the load control discovery device for discovering different control devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, Erica L. Clymer, Brian Michael Courtney, Jordan H. Crafts, William Bryce Fricke, Galen Edgar Knode, Sanjeev Kumar, Jonathan T. Lenz, Stephen M. Ludwig, JR., Sandeep Mudabail Raghuram, Richard M. Walsh, III
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Publication number: 20200279587Abstract: A load control device may include a semiconductor switch, a control circuit, and first and second terminals adapted to be coupled to a remote device. The load control device may include a first switching circuit coupled to the second terminal, and a second switching circuit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control circuit may be configured to render the first switching circuit conductive to conduct a charging current from an AC power source to a power supply of the remote device during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, and further configured to render the first and second switching circuits conductive and non-conductive to communicate with the remote device via the second terminal during a second time period of the half-cycle of the AC power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Russell Weightman, Jonathan T. Lenz, Jaykrishna A. Shukla, Daniel Curtis Raneri
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Patent number: 10705495Abstract: A load control system may include control devices for controlling power provided to an electrical load. The control devices may include a control-source device and a control-target device. The control-target device may control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device. The control devices may include a load control discovery device capable of sending discovery messages configured to discover control devices within a location. The discovered control devices may be organized by signal strength and may be provided to a network device to enable association of the discovered control devices within a location. The discovery messages may be transmitted within an established discovery range. The discovery range may be adjusted to discover different control devices. Different control devices may be identified as the load control discovery device for discovering different control devices.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, Erica L. Clymer, Brian Michael Courtney, Jordan H. Crafts, William Bryce Fricke, Galen Edgar Knode, Sanjeev Kumar, Jonathan T. Lenz, Stephen M. Ludwig, Jr., Sandeep Mudabail Raghuram, Richard M. Walsh, III
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Patent number: 10666060Abstract: A load control system may include load control devices for controlling power provided to an electrical load. The load control devices may include a control-source device and a control-target device. The control-target device may control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device. A user device may discover load control devices when the load control devices are within an established range associated with the user device. The user device and the load control devices may communicate via a wireless communications module. The established range may be adjusted based on the configurable transmit power of the user device or the wireless communications module associated with the user device. A discovered control-target device may be associated with a control-source device to enable the control-target device to control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Jordan H. Crafts, William Bryce Fricke, Stephen M. Ludwig, Jr., Jonathan T. Lenz, Bryan Robert Barnes, Kyle Thomas Barco
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Patent number: 10593373Abstract: A load control device may include a semiconductor switch, a control circuit, and first and second terminals adapted to be coupled to a remote device. The load control device may include a first switching circuit coupled to the second terminal, and a second switching circuit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control circuit may be configured to render the first switching circuit conductive to conduct a charging current from an AC power source to a power supply of the remote device during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, and further configured to render the first and second switching circuits conductive and non-conductive to communicate with the remote device via the second terminal during a second time period of the half-cycle of the AC power source.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Russell Weightman, Jonathan T. Lenz, Jaykrishna A. Shukla, Daniel Curtis Raneri
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Publication number: 20190324412Abstract: A load control system may include control devices for controlling power provided to an electrical load. The control devices may include a control-source device and a control-target device. The control-target device may control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device. The control devices may include a load control discovery device capable of sending discovery messages configured to discover control devices within a location. The discovered control devices may be organized by signal strength and may be provided to a network device to enable association of the discovered control devices within a location. The discovery messages may be transmitted within an established discovery range. The discovery range may be adjusted to discover different control devices. Different control devices may be identified as the load control discovery device for discovering different control devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, Erica L. Clymer, Brian Michael Courtney, Jordan H. Crafts, William Bryce Fricke, Galen Edgar Knode, Sanjeev Kumar, Jonathan T. Lenz, Stephen M. Ludwig, JR., Sandeep Mudabail Raghuram, Richard M. Walsh, III
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Publication number: 20190288554Abstract: A load control system may include control devices capable of being associated with each other at one or more locations for performing load control. Control devices may include control-source devices and/or control-target devices. A location beacon may be discovered and a unique identifier in the location beacon may be associated with a unique identifier of one or more control devices. Upon subsequent discovery of the location beacon, the associated load control devices may be controlled. The beacons may be communicated via radio frequency signals, visible light communication, and/or audio signals. The visible light communication may be used to communicate other types of information to devices in the load control system. The visible light communication may be used to identify link addresses for communicating with load control devices, load control instructions, load control configuration instructions, network communication information, and/or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2018Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, John H. Bull, Richard S. Camden, Jordan H. Crafts, David J. Dolan, Jason Groller, Sanjeev Kumar, Jonathan T. Lenz, Miguel Aguado Pelaez, Daniel L. Twaddell
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Patent number: 10379505Abstract: A load control system may include control devices for controlling power provided to an electrical load. The control devices may include a control-source device and a control-target device. The control-target device may control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device. The control devices may include a load control discovery device capable of sending discovery messages configured to discover control devices within a location. The discovered control devices may be organized by signal strength and may be provided to a network device to enable association of the discovered control devices within a location. The discovery messages may be transmitted within an established discovery range. The discovery range may be adjusted to discover different control devices. Different control devices may be identified as the load control discovery device for discovering different control devices.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, Erica L. Clymer, Brian Michael Courtney, Jordan H. Crafts, William Bryce Fricke, Galen Edgar Knode, Sanjeev Kumar, Jonathan T. Lenz, Stephen M. Ludwig, Jr., Sandeep Mudabail Raghuram, Richard M. Walsh, III
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Patent number: 10339795Abstract: A load control system may include devices for performing communications for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load. The devices may include load control devices that may communicate by transmitting digital messages. A user device having an adjustable wireless communication range may be used for discovering devices, configuring devices, and/or diagnosing devices in the load control system. The user device may detect whether devices are within an established wireless communication range of one another for performing communications. The user device may detect digital messages transmitted from a device and/or digital messages received at a device to determine whether the digital messages are correctly communicated in the load control system. The user device may provide an indication to a user indicating whether a digital message is correctly transmitted or received by a device in the load control system.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Jordan H. Crafts, Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, David J. Dolan, William Bryce Fricke, Joel Hnatow, Jonathan T. Lenz
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Publication number: 20190156867Abstract: A load control device may include a semiconductor switch, a control circuit, and first and second terminals adapted to be coupled to a remote device. The load control device may include a first switching circuit coupled to the second terminal, and a second switching circuit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control circuit may be configured to render the first switching circuit conductive to conduct a charging current from an AC power source to a power supply of the remote device during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, and further configured to render the first and second switching circuits conductive and non-conductive to communicate with the remote device via the second terminal during a second time period of the half-cycle of the AC power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Russell Weightman, Jonathan T. Lenz, Jaykrishna A. Shukla, Daniel Curtis Raneri
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Publication number: 20190156659Abstract: A load control system may include devices for performing communications for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load. The devices may include load control devices that may communicate by transmitting digital messages. A user device having an adjustable wireless communication range may be used for discovering devices, configuring devices, and/or diagnosing devices in the load control system. The user device may detect whether devices are within an established wireless communication range of one another for performing communications. The user device may detect digital messages transmitted from a device and/or digital messages received at a device to determine whether the digital messages are correctly communicated in the load control system. The user device may provide an indication to a indicating whether a digital message is correctly transmitted or received by a device in the load control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Jordan H. Crafts, Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, David J. Dolan, William Bryce Fricke, Joel Hnatow, Jonathan T. Lenz
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Publication number: 20180347271Abstract: A motorized window treatment provides a low-cost solution for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window. The window treatment includes a covering material, a drive shaft, at least one lift cord rotatably received around the drive shaft and connected to the covering material, and a motor coupled to the drive shaft for raising and lowering the covering material. The window treatment also includes a spring assist unit for assisting the motor by providing a torque that equals the torque provided by the weight on the cords that lift the covering material at a position midway between fully-open and fully-closed positions, which helps to minimize motor usage and conserve battery life if a battery is used to power the motorized window treatment. The window treatment may comprise a photosensor for measuring the amount of daylight outside the window and temperature sensors for measuring the temperatures inside and outside of the window.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Andrew K. Cooney, Jordan H. Crafts, Stuart W. Dejonge, Galen E. Knode, Jonathan T. Lenz, Justin J. Mierta, Donald R. Mosebrook
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Patent number: 10129948Abstract: A load control device may include a semiconductor switch, a control circuit, and first and second terminals adapted to be coupled to a remote device. The load control device may include a first switching circuit coupled to the second terminal, and a second switching circuit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control circuit may be configured to render the first switching circuit conductive to conduct a charging current from an AC power source to a power supply of the remote device during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, and further configured to render the first and second switching circuits conductive and non-conductive to communicate with the remote device via the second terminal during a second time period of the half-cycle of the AC power source.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Russell Weightman, Jonathan T. Lenz, Jaykrishna A. Shukla, Daniel Curtis Raneri
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Patent number: 10098074Abstract: A load control system may include control devices capable of being associated with each other at one or more locations for performing load control. Control devices may include control-source devices and/or control-target devices. A location beacon may be discovered and a unique identifier in the location beacon may be associated with a unique identifier of one or more control devices. Upon subsequent discovery of the location beacon, the associated load control devices may be controlled. The beacons may be communicated via radio frequency signals, visible light communication, and/or audio signals. The visible light communication may be used to communicate other types of information to devices in the load control system. The visible light communication may be used to identify link addresses for communicating with load control devices, load control instructions, load control configuration instructions, network communication information, and/or the like.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONIC CO., INC.Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, John H. Bull, Richard S. Camden, Jordan H. Crafts, David J. Dolan, Jason Groller, Sanjeev Kumar, Jonathan T. Lenz, Miguel Aguado Pelaez, Daniel L. Twaddell
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Patent number: 10041292Abstract: A low-power RF receiver has a decreased current consumption. The receiver may be used in control devices, such as battery-powered motorized window treatments and two-wire dimmer switches. The receiver uses an RF sub-sampling technique to check for RF signals and then puts the receiver to sleep for a sleep time that is longer than a packet length of a transmitted packet to conserve battery power. The receiver compares detected RF energy to a threshold that may be increased to decrease the sensitivity of the receiver and increase the battery lifetime. After detecting an RF signal, the receiver is put to sleep for a snooze time that is longer than the sleep time and just slightly shorter than the time between two consecutive transmitted packets.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2012Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Andrew Karl Cooney, Jordan H. Crafts, Stuart W. Dejonge, Galen E. Knode, Jonathan T. Lenz, Justin J. Mierta, Donald R. Mosebrook
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Patent number: 10027127Abstract: A load control system may include load control devices for controlling power provided to an electrical load. The load control devices may include a control-source device and a control-target device. The control-target device may control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device. A user device may discover load control devices when the load control devices are within an established range associated with the user device. The user device and the load control devices may communicate via a wireless communications module. The established range may be adjusted based on the configurable transmit power of the user device or the wireless communications module associated with the user device. A discovered control-target device may be associated with a control-source device to enable the control-target device to control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Jordan H. Crafts, William Bryce Fricke, Stephen M. Ludwig, Jr., Jonathan T. Lenz, Bryan Robert Barnes, Kyle Thomas Barco
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Publication number: 20170273157Abstract: A load control device may include a semiconductor switch, a control circuit, and first and second terminals adapted to be coupled to a remote device. The load control device may include a first switching circuit coupled to the second terminal, and a second switching circuit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control circuit may be configured to render the first switching circuit conductive to conduct a charging current from an AC power source to a power supply of the remote device during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, and further configured to render the first and second switching circuits conductive and non-conductive to communicate with the remote device via the second terminal during a second time period of the half-cycle of the AC power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Russell Weightman, Jonathan T. Lenz, Jaykrishna A. Shukla, Daniel Curtis Raneri
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Patent number: 9699863Abstract: 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 together via an accessory wiring. The main device can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system. The main device is configured 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 configured to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle, for example, by actively pulling-up and actively pulling-down the accessory wiring to communicate using tri-state logic.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Russell Weightman, Jonathan T. Lenz, Jaykrishna A. Shukla, Daniel Curtis Raneri