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).

  • Publication number: 20180035505
    Abstract: A system of networked lighting devices includes a central controller and a group of lighting devices. The central controller includes a processor, first and second communication interfaces, various lighting devices and a communication link. The first communication interface includes input ports and a multiplexer configured to receive signals from the input ports and combine the received signals into a multiplexed signal. The second communication interface includes one or more antennas and is configured to receive the multiplexed signal from the multiplexer and transmit the multiplexed signal via the antenna(s). Each lighting device includes a fixture controller, one or more lighting modules, and a communication interface. The communication link transmits the multiplexed signal between one or more of the lighting devices and at least one of the communication interfaces of the central controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel S. Foster, Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan, Benjamin David Vollmer, Alexander Orisyuk, George Albert Dederich
  • Patent number: 9857066
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a sealed path between a group of LED modules and a sensor cavity. The light fixture performs self-diagnosis and implements corrective measures upon detection of one or more environmental condition changes in the sealed path. In response to detecting an environmental condition change, the light fixture will automatically implement a corrective measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ephesus Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Walten Peter Owens, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper
  • Patent number: 9800431
    Abstract: A system of networked lighting devices includes a central controller and a group of lighting devices. Each lighting device may include a fixture controller, one or more lighting modules, and a communication interface. The central controller receives data packets and send them to the lighting devices via a ring topology. The lighting devices may be connected to each other via the ring topology, or a set of routers may be connected in the ring topology, with each router controlling one or more connected lighting devices. The central controller and/or the fixture controllers may each translate data packets from one protocol to a different protocol. The different protocol may be a protocol that is compatible with the local system of networked devices, and/or a protocol that is compatible with the lighting device(s) that will use the data packets to actuate according to a command from the central controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ephesus Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin David Vollmer, Alexander Orisyuk, Christopher D. Nolan, George Albert Dederich, Joseph R. Casper
  • Publication number: 20170264452
    Abstract: A system of networked lighting devices includes a central controller and a group of lighting devices. Each lighting device may include a fixture controller, one or more lighting modules, and a communication interface. The central controller receives data packets and send them to the lighting devices via a ring topology. The lighting devices may be connected to each other via the ring topology, or a set of routers may be connected in the ring topology, with each router controlling one or more connected lighting devices. The central controller and/or the fixture controllers may each translate data packets from one protocol to a different protocol. The different protocol may be a protocol that is compatible with the local system of networked devices, and/or a protocol that is compatible with the lighting device(s) that will use the data packets to actuate according to a command from the central controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin David Vollmer, Alexander Orisyuk, Christopher D. Nolan, George Albert Dederich, Joseph R. Casper
  • Patent number: 9759418
    Abstract: A light fixture includes one or more of light emitting diode (LED) modules. Each of the LED modules may include a substrate holding a plurality of LEDs, and a printed circuit board connected to the plurality of LEDs. Each of the LED modules may also include a flexible lens cover including a plurality of lenses, each positioned to be located over one of the LEDs. The flexible lens cover may include a side sealing structure configured to interface with the substrate and seal the lens cover to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ephesus Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper, Walten Peter Owens
  • Patent number: 9736904
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a group of light emitting diode (LED) illumination devices. A controller may identify a set of the illumination devices that correspond to a zone, and to generate commands to cause the device drivers for each of the identified illumination devices to control its corresponding illumination device so that a specified color temperature, illuminance level, or both of light will be received at a location in the zone. A method for calibrating such a system is also disclosed. A user interface allows a user to select a scene after the calibration is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ephesus Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph J. Witkowski, Jeff R. Shuster, Brian M. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9730302
    Abstract: A lighting control system includes a control card for an illumination device. The control card receives an input signal from a controller electronic device, identifies a type of the illumination device, and uses the identified type to identify an output signal protocol corresponding to the illumination device. If the input signal uses a protocol that differs from that of the output signal protocol, the control card will convert the input signal to the output signal protocol. The controller device may be programmed to enable a user to display and/or control various parameters of various lighting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Ephesus Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin David Vollmer, George Dederich, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper, Joseph J. Witkowski
  • Publication number: 20170184288
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a sealed path between a group of LED modules and a sensor cavity. The light fixture performs self-diagnosis and implements corrective measures upon detection of one or more environmental condition changes in the sealed path. In response to detecting an environmental condition change, the light fixture will automatically implement a corrective measure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Walten Peter Owens, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper
  • Publication number: 20170184272
    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: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper, Walten Peter Owens, Joseph J. Witkowski
  • Publication number: 20170184299
    Abstract: A light fixture includes one or more of light emitting diode (LED) modules. Each of the LED modules may include a substrate holding a plurality of LEDs, and a printed circuit board connected to the plurality of LEDs. Each of the LED modules may also include a flexible lens cover including a plurality of lenses, each positioned to be located over one of the LEDs. The flexible lens cover may include a side sealing structure configured to interface with the substrate and seal the lens cover to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper, Walten Peter Owens
  • Publication number: 20170188438
    Abstract: A lighting control system includes a control card for an illumination device. The control card receives an input signal from a controller electronic device, identifies a type of the illumination device, and uses the identified type to identify an output signal protocol corresponding to the illumination device. If the input signal uses a protocol that differs from that of the output signal protocol, the control card will convert the input signal to the output signal protocol. The controller device may be programmed to enable a user to display and/or control various parameters of various lighting devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin David VOLLMER, George DEDRICH, Christopher D. NOLAN, Joseph R. CASPER, Joseph J. WITKOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20170184298
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a housing comprising a body portion with an opening at a first end, a power supply at an opposing second end, and a heat sink comprising a plurality of fins between the opening and the power supply. A mating surface is positioned proximate to the opening. The mating surface includes a set of landing pad areas and a set of open areas. The fixture also includes a set of light emitting diode (LED) modules, each of which is positioned in the opening and secured to a landing pad area of the mating surface. The LED modules are arranged so that the plurality of open areas remain open to the atmosphere and provide an air path to and from the heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan, Walten Peter Owens
  • Publication number: 20170184261
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) luminaire device includes an LED housing with one or more LED modules. The device also includes a control circuit that is electrically connected to each of the LED arrays. The device includes a body with a power supply, and a contact surface that is electrically connected to the power supply. The body is separable from the LED at the contact surface. Electrical contacts are electrically connected to one of either the control circuit or the contact surface; and a landing pads are electrically connected to the other of either the control circuit or the contact surface. The contacts and landing pads are positioned to align to each other and provide one or more conductive paths between the power supply and the control circuit when the LED housing is connected to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan
  • Publication number: 20170184289
    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: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher D. NOLAN, Joseph J. WITKOWSKI, Joseph R. CASPER, Banjamin David VOLLMER
  • Publication number: 20170188423
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a light emitting diode (LED) module and a control circuit. The control substrate comprises at least one essential circuit component and at least one non-essential circuit component. The device also includes a multi-mode power supply configured to supply power to the LED module and the control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph J. WITKOWSKI, Joseph R. CASPER, Christopher D. NOLAN, Benjamin David VOLLMER
  • Publication number: 20160338156
    Abstract: A lighting control system includes a device controller containing control circuitry that is configured to control drive currents delivered to a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) of a lighting device. The control circuitry generates commands to compensate for failed LEDs in the plurality of LEDs by controlling drive currents delivered to a group of LEDs so that the illuminance level of light detected by an illuminance sensor will not substantially change because of the failed LED, if the voltage across the group of LEDs is less than the threshold amount. The control circuitry also controls the plurality of LEDs in response to data received from a sensor configured to measure a characteristic value of light received from the lighting device, by controlling drive currents delivered to the LEDs if the detected characteristic value of light from the lighting device has moved above or below a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph J. Witkowski, Jeff R. Shuster, Brian M. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9408271
    Abstract: A lighting system includes an external sensor that is configured to measure a characteristic value of light received from the lighting system in a location of an environment that is illuminated by the lighting system, and a lighting device. The lighting device includes a plurality of LEDs that include a first group of LEDs that exhibit a first color temperature and a second group of LEDs that exhibit a second color temperature, a housing, and a device controller containing control circuitry that is configured to receive data from the external sensor and automatically alter a characteristic of light emitted by one or more of the LEDs in response to the received data. The housing may include an opening that receives and secures the plurality of LEDs, a body portion that provides a heat sink for the plurality of LEDs, and a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Ephesus Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph J. Witkowski, Jeff R. Shuster, Brian M. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20160073470
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a group of light emitting diode (LED) illumination devices. A controller may identify a set of the illumination devices that correspond to a zone, and to generate commands to cause the device drivers for each of the identified illumination devices to control its corresponding illumination device so that a specified color temperature, illuminance level, or both of light will be received at a location in the zone. A method for calibrating such a system is also disclosed. A user interface allows a user to select a scene after the calibration is complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph J. Witkowski, Jeff R. Shuster, Brian M. Wilson
  • Patent number: D792626
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ephesus Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Casper, Christopher D. Nolan, Walten Peter Owens
  • Patent number: D800376
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ephesus Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Nolan, Joseph R. Casper