Patents by Inventor Joseph R. Casper

Joseph R. Casper 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: 10779368
    Abstract: A system of networked lighting devices includes a group of lighting device fixture controllers connected in a communication chain. The communication chain provides for transfer of data packets between the lighting device fixture controllers and a central controller. Each fixture controller includes a first power input that receives power from a primary power source, and a priority switch that is configured to switch the fixture controller from the primary power source to a source of DC power upon detecting failure of the primary power source. The source of DC power is sufficient to power the fixture controller and enable the fixture controller to continue to pass a stream of data to other controllers in the communication chain, but it is not sufficient to power the fixture controller's associated lighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Foster, Benjamin David Vollmer, George Albert Dederich, Isaac P. Dost, Alexander Orisyuk, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper
  • Patent number: 10701778
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a lighting device that further includes a housing, and light emitting diode (LED) modules positioned in an opening of the housing to emit light away from the housing. Each LED module includes a substrate, a plurality of module-level conductors, and a plurality of LED sets, each of which comprises a first section including a first group of LEDs, one or more additional sections (each including an additional group of LEDs), a first conductive element that electrically connects the first section to a first one of the module-level conductors, and one or more additional conductive elements. The lighting system also includes a sensor and a control circuitry configured to generate commands to control drive currents delivered to the first group of LEDs in each LED set and each additional group of LEDs in each LED set based on the data collected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper, Benjamin David Vollmer, George Dederich
  • Publication number: 20200163182
    Abstract: A system of networked lighting devices includes a group of lighting device fixture controllers connected in a communication chain. The communication chain provides for transfer of data packets between the lighting device fixture controllers and a central controller. Each fixture controller includes a first power input that receives power from a primary power source, and a priority switch that is configured to switch the fixture controller from the primary power source to a source of DC power upon detecting failure of the primary power source. The source of DC power is sufficient to power the fixture controller and enable the fixture controller to continue to pass a stream of data to other controllers in the communication chain, but it is not sufficient to power the fixture controller's associated lighting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel S. Foster, Benjamin David Vollmer, George Albert Dederich, Isaac P. Dost, Alexander Orisyuk, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper
  • Patent number: 10631377
    Abstract: A system of networked lighting devices includes a group of lighting device fixture controllers connected in a communication chain. The communication chain provides for transfer of data packets between the lighting device fixture controllers and a central controller. Each fixture controller includes a first power input that receives power from a primary power source, and a priority switch that is configured to switch the fixture controller from the primary power source to a source of DC power upon detecting failure of the primary power source. The source of DC power is sufficient to power the fixture controller and enable the fixture controller to continue to pass a stream of data to other controllers in the communication chain, but it is not sufficient to power the fixture controller's associated lighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Daniel S. Foster, Benjamin David Vollmer, George Albert Dederich, Isaac P. Dost, Alexander Orisyuk, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper
  • Publication number: 20200120774
    Abstract: A lighting device control system for controlling one or more lighting devices includes a gateway controller communicatively coupled with at least one lighting device. The gateway controller is configured to receive a signal indicating that a portable electronic device is in a proximate range of either the gateway controller or the at least one lighting device. Upon receipt of the signal the gateway controller is further configured to receive a light operation request from the portable electronic device, determine whether the portable electronic device is authorized to initiate the light operation request, and in response to determining that the portable electronic device is authorized to submit the light operation request, cause the at least one lighting device to emit light that exhibits the settings for the one or more optical characteristics included in the light operation request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Brian M. Wilson, Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan
  • Publication number: 20200080712
    Abstract: A method for providing assistance in aiming of one or more illumination devices in an area may include, by a processor, receiving photometric data for an area, and using the photometric data to determine an aiming vector for the illumination device. The area may include the illumination device. the method may further include receiving, from an orientation sensor module of the illumination device, orientation data for the illumination device, and using the orientation data and the aiming vector to determine if there is an error in the aiming of the illumination device. The response to determining that there is an error in the aiming of the illumination device, the method further includes causing a controller associated with a driving means of the illumination device for correcting the error in the aiming of the illumination device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph J. Witkowski, Joseph R. Casper, Benjamin David Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20200077476
    Abstract: A system for controlling lighting devices includes a processor in communication with a portable electronic device. The processor is configured to receive geolocation data corresponding to an electronic device, and identify one or more light-enabled facilities that are within a distance range of the electronic device. Each of the light-enabled facilities comprises a controller that is communicatively coupled to one or more lighting devices in a network of lighting devices. The system is further configured to receive a light operation request comprising a selected one of the light-enabled facilities and a scene from the electronic device, and transmit the light operation request to cause the controller to activate at least one lighting device at the selected light-enabled facility according to the scene to the controller at the selected light-enabled facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Brian M. Wilson, Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan
  • Publication number: 20200045787
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a lighting device that further includes a housing, and light emitting diode (LED) modules positioned in an opening of the housing to emit light away from the housing. Each LED module includes a substrate, a plurality of module-level conductors, and a plurality of LED sets, each of which comprises a first section including a first group of LEDs, one or more additional sections (each including an additional group of LEDs), a first conductive element that electrically connects the first section to a first one of the module-level conductors, and one or more additional conductive elements. The lighting system also includes a sensor and a control circuitry configured to generate commands to control drive currents delivered to the first group of LEDs in each LED set and each additional group of LEDs in each LED set based on the data collected by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper, Benjamin David Vollmer, George Dederich
  • Patent number: 10517153
    Abstract: A lighting device control system for controlling one or more lighting devices includes a first lighting device comprising an optical radiation source, and a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a processor, a user interface, and a memory device. The memory device includes programming instructions to cause the processor of the portable electronic device to: cause the user interface to output a plurality of candidate optical characteristics for the optical radiation source and a user-selectable setting for at least some of the candidate optical characteristics, receive a selection of at least one of the candidate optical characteristics and an associated setting for each of the selected optical characteristics, generate a light operation request that comprises each of the one or more selected optical characteristics and its associated setting and an account identifier, and transmit the light operation request to the first lighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Brian M. Wilson, Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan
  • Patent number: 10502400
    Abstract: A method for performing self-diagnosis in a light fixture. The method includes receiving data corresponding to a plurality of environmental conditions from one or more sensors. The one or more sensors are positioned in a sensor cavity of a light fixture wherein a plurality of conduits provide a sealed path between a plurality of LED modules of the light fixture and the sensor cavity such that the LED modules, the conduits and the sensor cavity exhibit a plurality of environmental conditions. The method also includes analyzing the data to determine if at least one of the plurality of environmental conditions has undergone one or more of the following changes: a change so that a value of the at least one environmental condition exceeds a threshold level, a threshold change compared to a corresponding constant level, or a rate of change that is greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Walten P. Owens, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper
  • Patent number: 10502399
    Abstract: A method for providing assistance in aiming of one or more illumination devices in an area may include, by a processor, receiving photometric data for an area, and using the photometric data to determine an aiming vector for the illumination device. the area may include the illumination device. the method may further include receiving, from an orientation sensor module of the illumination device, orientation data for the illumination device, and using the orientation data and the aiming vector to determine if there is an error in the aiming of the illumination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph J. Witkowski, Joseph R. Casper, Banjamin David Vollmer
  • Patent number: 10492266
    Abstract: A system for controlling lighting devices at one or more light-enabled facilities includes a processor in communication with a portable electronic device. The processor is configured to transmit a set of available scenes for one or more gateway controllers to the portable electronic device, receive a light operation request comprising a selected scene and a time duration from the portable electronic device, determine whether the portable electronic device is authorized to cause a gateway controller associated with the selected scene to implement the light operation request, and if the portable electronic device is authorized to cause the gateway controller associated with the selected scene to implement the light operation request, transmit the light operation request and an authorization token to cause the gateway controller to activate at least one lighting device according to the selected scene and the time duration to the gateway controller associated with the selected scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intellectual Power Limited
    Inventors: Brian M. Wilson, Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan
  • Patent number: 10470270
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a lighting device that further includes a housing, and light emitting diode (LED) modules positioned in an opening of the housing to emit light away from the housing. Each LED module includes a substrate, a plurality of module-level conductors, and a plurality of LED sets, each of which comprises a first section including a first group of LEDs, one or more additional sections (each including an additional group of LEDs), a first conductive element that electrically connects the first section to a first one of the module-level conductors, and one or more additional conductive elements. The lighting system also includes control circuitry configured to generate commands to control drive currents delivered to a first group of LEDs in each LED set and each additional group of LEDs in each LED set so that the lighting device emits light of a specified color temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper, Benjamin David Vollmer, George Dederich
  • Publication number: 20190271455
    Abstract: A system for detecting misalignment of a light fixture uses a gateway controller device to receive images captured by an aerial drone. The gateway controller will select a group of the images and, for each image in the group: identify a segment of an illuminated surface that is contained in the image; identify a light fixture that is configured to direct light to the segment; and determine whether the image contains content indicating that the light fixture improperly aligned. For any image that indicating that the light fixture is improperly aligned, the system will output a signal indicating that the light fixture requires recalibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel S. Foster, Brian M. Wilson, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper
  • Patent number: 10371345
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) module for a light fixture includes a substrate with an upper surface and a lower surface. Various pressure multiplying pads are integrally connected to the lower surface, and each pressure multiplying pad extends away from the lower surface. LEDs are attached to the upper surface, along with a set of conductive lines so that each conductive line electrically connects a corresponding LED to a power inputs. Each of the pressure multiplying pads may be positioned opposite a corresponding LED. A flexible lens cover may cover the upper surface and the LEDs, while leaving the lower surface and pressure multiplying pads exposed so that the pads can contact a heat sink of the light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper, Walten Peter Owens, Joseph J. Witkowski
  • Publication number: 20190191509
    Abstract: A power supply unit for an illumination device that includes a multi-mode power supply configured to supply power to an illumination device having one or more LED modules and a control circuit. The multi-mode power supply includes a primary power supply component configured to supply power to non-essential components of the illumination device, and a secondary power supply component configured to supply power to only essential components of the illumination device. The nonessential components include the one or more LED modules, and the essential components include the control circuit but not the one or more LED modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph J. Witkowski, Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan, Benjamin David Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20190120445
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) luminaire device includes an LED housing with one or more LED modules. Each LED module includes one or more LED arrays and a control circuit. The LED luminaire device also includes an antenna that is electrically connected to a contact surface, a plurality of contacts electrically connected to one of either the control circuit or the contact surface, and a plurality of landing pads electrically connected to the other of either the control circuit or the contact surface. One or more of the plurality of contacts and one or more of the plurality of landing pads are positioned to align to each other and provide one or more conductive paths for communication signals between the antenna and the control circuit when the LED housing is proximate to the contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph J. Witkowski
  • Publication number: 20190116641
    Abstract: A lighting device control system for controlling one or more lighting devices includes a first lighting device comprising an optical radiation source, and a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a processor, a user interface, and a memory device. The memory device includes programming instructions to cause the processor of the portable electronic device to: cause the user interface to output a plurality of candidate optical characteristics for the optical radiation source and a user-selectable setting for at least some of the candidate optical characteristics, receive a selection of at least one of the candidate optical characteristics and an associated setting for each of the selected optical characteristics, generate a light operation request that comprises each of the one or more selected optical characteristics and its associated setting and an account identifier, and transmit the light operation request to the first lighting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Brian M. Wilson, Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan
  • Patent number: D869037
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Walten Peter Owens, Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan, Isaac P. Dost
  • Patent number: D880744
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Walten Peter Owens, Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan, Isaac P. Dost