Patents by Inventor Joseph P. Chobot

Joseph P. Chobot 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: 11849512
    Abstract: A lighting fixture having a light source, a light sensor, a communication interface, and circuitry is described. In addition to controlling the light source, the circuitry is adapted to monitor for a light signal provided from a handheld device via the light sensor; upon receiving the light signal, measure a signal level associated with the light signal; and effect transmission of the signal level to the handheld device via the communication interface. In one embodiment, the circuitry is further configured to receive an instruction to monitor for the light signal from the handheld device via the communication interface such that the circuitry begins monitoring for the light signal upon receiving the instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting LLC
    Inventors: Brian Carrigan, John J. Trainor, Joseph P. Chobot, Matthew Deese, Keith Bryan
  • Patent number: 11792898
    Abstract: An area lamp includes an emitter array and driver circuitry. The emitter array includes a number of solid-state light emitters. Each one of the solid-state light emitters is configured to provide light suitable for general illumination within a field of view such that light emitted from a first subset of the number of solid-state light emitters is provided to a different portion of the field of view than light emitted from a second subset of the number of solid-state light emitters. The driver circuitry is coupled to the emitter array and configured to provide drive signals to the emitter array such that the light provided from each one of the solid-state light emitters is independently controllable and a number of drive signals is less than the number of solid-state light emitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Hussell, Brian Carrigan, John J. Trainor, Joseph P. Chobot, Matthew Deese, Keith Bryan
  • Patent number: 11675120
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to light fixtures and luminaires configured to emit light. According to one aspect, an optical waveguide includes a first waveguide portion and a second waveguide portion adjacent to and separate from the first waveguide portion. The waveguide portions include light coupling portions that are at least partially aligned and adapted to receive light developed by a light source. The first waveguide portion further has a first major surface with light direction features and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. The second waveguide portion further has a third major surface proximate the second major surface with an air gap disposed therebetween and a fourth major surface opposite the third major surface wherein the fourth major surface includes a cavity extending therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting LLC
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Christopher D. Strom, Jin Hong Lim, Zongjie Yuan, Mark Boomgaarden, Randall Levy Bernard, John W. Durkee, Craig D. Raleigh, Joseph P. Chobot
  • Publication number: 20220070982
    Abstract: An area lamp includes an emitter array and driver circuitry. The emitter array includes a number of solid-state light emitters. Each one of the solid-state light emitters is configured to provide light suitable for general illumination within a field of view such that light emitted from a first subset of the number of solid-state light emitters is provided to a different portion of the field of view than light emitted from a second subset of the number of solid-state light emitters. The driver circuitry is coupled to the emitter array and configured to provide drive signals to the emitter array such that the light provided from each one of the solid-state light emitters is independently controllable and a number of drive signals is less than the number of solid-state light emitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher P. Hussell, Brian Carrigan, John J. Trainor, Joseph P. Chobot, Matthew Deese, Keith Bryan
  • Publication number: 20210311246
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to light fixtures and luminaires configured to emit light. According to one aspect, an optical waveguide includes a first waveguide portion and a second waveguide portion adjacent to and separate from the first waveguide portion. The waveguide portions include light coupling portions that are at least partially aligned and adapted to receive light developed by a light source. The first waveguide portion further has a first major surface with light direction features and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. The second waveguide portion further has a third major surface proximate the second major surface with an air gap disposed therebetween and a fourth major surface opposite the third major surface wherein the fourth major surface includes a cavity extending therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Christopher D. Strom, Jin Hong Lim, Zongjie Yuan, Mark Boomgaarden, Randall Levy Bernard, John W. Durkee, Craig D. Raleigh, Joseph P. Chobot
  • Publication number: 20200375015
    Abstract: A lighting fixture having a light source, a light sensor, a communication interface, and circuitry is described. In addition to controlling the light source, the circuitry is adapted to monitor for a light signal provided from a handheld device via the light sensor; upon receiving the light signal, measure a signal level associated with the light signal; and effect transmission of the signal level to the handheld device via the communication interface. In one embodiment, the circuitry is further configured to receive an instruction to monitor for the light signal from the handheld device via the communication interface such that the circuitry begins monitoring for the light signal upon receiving the instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Carrigan, John J. Trainor, Joseph P. Chobot, Matthew Deese, Keith Bryan
  • Patent number: 10349483
    Abstract: Ambient light sensor circuitry includes a photodetector, a controllable current source, and control circuitry. The photodetector is coupled between a supply voltage and an intermediate node and configured to provide a photodetector current proportional to an amount of light detected thereby to the intermediate node. The controllable current source is coupled between the intermediate node and ground and configured to shunt a portion of the photodetector current from the intermediate node to ground based on a current control signal. The control circuitry is coupled to the intermediate node and the controllable current source and configured to provide the current control signal to the controllable current source, receive a measurement signal from the intermediate node, adjust the current control signal such that the measurement signal does not exceed a maximum input threshold of the control circuitry, and provide an ambient light measurement signal based on the current control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Pope, Joseph P. Chobot
  • Publication number: 20190141822
    Abstract: A lighting fixture having a light source, a light sensor, a communication interface, and circuitry is described. In addition to controlling the light source, the circuitry is adapted to monitor for a light signal provided from a handheld device via the light sensor; upon receiving the light signal, measure a signal level associated with the light signal; and effect transmission of the signal level to the handheld device via the communication interface. In one embodiment, the circuitry is further configured to receive an instruction to monitor for the light signal from the handheld device via the communication interface such that the circuitry begins monitoring for the light signal upon receiving the instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Brian Carrigan, John J. Trainor, Joseph P. Chobot, Matthew Deese, Keith Bryan
  • Patent number: 10251245
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of obtaining distance measurements between a device and a number of lighting fixtures, processing the distance measurements to assign coordinates to each one of the lighting fixtures, and facilitating registration of the coordinates of a subset of the lighting fixtures to obtain registered coordinates for all of the lighting fixtures. The coordinates indicate a relative location of each one of the lighting fixtures with respect to one another. The registered coordinates indicate a location of each lighting fixture in a desired coordinate space. Accordingly, a location of a lighting fixture within a desired coordinate space can be easily obtained, which may enable significant additional functionality of the lighting fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: John Roberts, Joseph P. Chobot
  • Patent number: 10206270
    Abstract: A lighting fixture having a light source, a light sensor, a communication interface, and circuitry is described. In addition to controlling the light source, the circuitry is adapted to monitor for a light signal provided from a handheld device via the light sensor; upon receiving the light signal, measure a signal level associated with the light signal; and effect transmission of the signal level to the handheld device via the communication interface. In one embodiment, the circuitry is further configured to receive an instruction to monitor for the light signal from the handheld device via the communication interface such that the circuitry begins monitoring for the light signal upon receiving the instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Carrigan, John J. Trainor, Joseph P. Chobot, Matthew Deese, Keith Bryan
  • Patent number: 10172218
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lighting fixture that includes a driver module and at least one other module that provides a lighting fixture function, such as a sensor function, lighting network communication function, gateway function, and the like. The driver module communicates with the other modules in a master/slave scheme over a communication bus. The driver module is configured as a slave communication device, and the other modules are configured as master communication devices. As such, the other modules may initiate communications with the driver to send information to or retrieve information from the driver module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Motley, Joseph P. Chobot, Daniel J. Pope, John J. Trainor, Michael James Harris
  • Patent number: 10161612
    Abstract: A lighting fixture employing a solid-state light source and an ambient light sensor is disclosed. The solid-state light source is placed within a light source housing and configured to emit light through a lens assembly that covers an opening into a mixing chamber provided within the light source housing. In one embodiment, the ambient light sensor is located within mixing chamber with the solid-state light source. In another embodiment, the ambient light sensor is located outside of the mixing chamber. In either embodiment, the ambient light sensor may be recessed within a waveguide, which aides in controlling the sensor distribution beam for the ambient light sensor. The sensor distribution beam essentially defines an area from which light reflected off of a task surface is accurately monitored via the ambient light sensor. The direction of the sensor distribution beam and the light emitted from the ambient light sensor may generally coincide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Chobot, Daniel J. Pope
  • Publication number: 20180103529
    Abstract: A lighting fixture having a light source, a light sensor, a communication interface, and circuitry is described. In addition to controlling the light source, the circuitry is adapted to monitor for a light signal provided from a handheld device via the light sensor; upon receiving the light signal, measure a signal level associated with the light signal; and effect transmission of the signal level to the handheld device via the communication interface. In one embodiment, the circuitry is further configured to receive an instruction to monitor for the light signal from the handheld device via the communication interface such that the circuitry begins monitoring for the light signal upon receiving the instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Brian Carrigan, John J. Trainor, Joseph P. Chobot, Matthew Deese, Keith Bryan
  • Patent number: 9872367
    Abstract: A handheld device for grouping a plurality of lighting fixtures is disclosed. In one embodiment, the handheld device includes a communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of lighting fixtures and control circuitry. The circuitry is configured to: effect selection of at least two lighting fixtures of the plurality of lighting fixtures via the communication interface; determine a first group for the at least two lighting fixtures; create first group assignment information for the first group; and send the first group assignment information to each of the at least two lighting fixtures via the communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Carrigan, John J. Trainor, Joseph P. Chobot, Matthew Deese, Keith Bryan
  • Publication number: 20180014394
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lighting fixture that includes a driver module and at least one other module that provides a lighting fixture function, such as a sensor function, lighting network communication function, gateway function, and the like. The driver module communicates with the other modules in a master/slave scheme over a communication bus. The driver module is configured as a slave communication device, and the other modules are configured as master communication devices. As such, the other modules may initiate communications with the driver to send information to or retrieve information from the driver module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Arnold Motley, Joseph P. Chobot, Daniel J. Pope, John J. Trainor, Michael James Harris
  • Patent number: 9826598
    Abstract: A lighting fixture includes a solid-state light source, communications circuitry, and control circuitry coupled to the communications circuitry and the solid-state light source. The control circuitry is configured to receive a message from a neighboring device via the communications circuitry, the message indicating the detection of an occupancy event by the neighboring device. Further, the control circuitry is configured to adjust a light output provided by the solid-state light source based on a neighbor ranking of the neighboring device, wherein the neighbor ranking indicates a number of intermediate devices located between the lighting fixture and the neighboring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: John Roberts, Joseph P. Chobot, Matthew Deese, Brian Carrigan
  • Patent number: 9795016
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lighting fixture that includes a driver module and at least one other module that provides a lighting fixture function, such as a sensor function, lighting network communication function, gateway function, and the like. The driver module communicates with the other modules in a master/slave scheme over a communication bus. The driver module is configured as a slave communication device, and the other modules are configured as master communication devices. As such, the other modules may initiate communications with the driver to send information to or retrieve information from the driver module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Motley, Joseph P. Chobot, Daniel J. Pope, John J. Trainor, Michael James Harris
  • Publication number: 20170231060
    Abstract: A lighting fixture includes a solid-state light source, communications circuitry, and control circuitry coupled to the communications circuitry and the solid-state light source. The control circuitry is configured to receive a message from a neighboring device via the communications circuitry, the message indicating the detection of an occupancy event by the neighboring device. Further, the control circuitry is configured to adjust a light output provided by the solid-state light source based on a neighbor ranking of the neighboring device, wherein the neighbor ranking indicates a number of intermediate devices located between the lighting fixture and the neighboring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: John Roberts, Joseph P. Chobot, Matthew Deese, Brian Carrigan
  • Publication number: 20170231066
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of obtaining distance measurements between a device and a number of lighting fixtures, processing the distance measurements to assign coordinates to each one of the lighting fixtures, and facilitating registration of the coordinates of a subset of the lighting fixtures to obtain registered coordinates for all of the lighting fixtures. The coordinates indicate a relative location of each one of the lighting fixtures with respect to one another. The registered coordinates indicate a location of each lighting fixture in a desired coordinate space. Accordingly, a location of a lighting fixture within a desired coordinate space can be easily obtained, which may enable significant additional functionality of the lighting fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: John Roberts, Joseph P. Chobot
  • Publication number: 20170219762
    Abstract: A waveguide body comprises a body of optically transmissive material further comprising an input surface for light to enter the body of optically transmissive material along a light path. The body of optically transmissive material is curved and has an inflection region that extends transverse to the light path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, John W. Durkee, Craig D. Raleigh, Joseph P. Chobot