Patents by Inventor Matthew P. McDonald
Matthew P. McDonald 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: 11234321Abstract: The control device includes a button having a backlit indicium (or indicia) indicating a function of the button. The button may comprise a button body that is translucent and configured to be backlit by a lighting element. A front surface of the button body may be opaque outside of the area of the indicium (or indicia). The button body may have a post that extends from a rear surface of the button body and is aligned with an actuator. The control device may have a plurality of such buttons. Selection of a button by a user, such as by pressing the button, results in the selected button displaying a greater illumination intensity than a button that is not selected.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Patent number: 11217402Abstract: A control device for controlling power delivered to an electrical load may illuminate an area around a button of the control device, such as a gap formed between the button and an opening of a faceplate of the control device. The control device may illuminate the gap to provide a nightlight feature, to provide feedback (e.g., a status of the electrical load), and/or to indicate a selected preset. The button may have a cap portion that may be actuated by a user and a diffuser portion that may contact a rear surface of the cap portion and may conduct light emitted by an internal light source to illuminate the gap around the button.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Matthew P. McDonald, Sean Tucker
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Publication number: 20210257170Abstract: A control device for controlling power delivered to an electrical load includes a faceplate subassembly and a main control module. The faceplate subassembly includes a faceplate, a button, a circuit board, and a back cover. The faceplate includes a front surface and an opposed rear surface, and an opening extending therebetween with the button disposed in the opening in the faceplate. The back cover is positioned adjacent to the circuit board and defines a plurality of holes. A shaft of a post extending from the faceplate is disposed in one of the holes in the back cover and an end of the post is enlarged such that the back cover is captured between the end of the post and the rear surface of the faceplate. The main control module is configured to cause power delivered to the electrical load to be adjusted in response to depression of the button.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Edward J. BLAIR, Samuel F. CHAMBERS, George M. DRIZOS, Matthew P. MCDONALD
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Publication number: 20210111657Abstract: A wall-mountable load control device may include an illuminated rotary knob for providing a nightlight feature. The load control device may be configured to control an intensity of a lighting load. The load control device may include a yoke adapted to be mounted to an electrical wall box, an enclosure attached to the yoke, a faceplate attached to the yoke and having an opening, a mounting member attached to the yoke, and/or a potentiometer located within the enclosure and having a shaft extending through an opening in the yoke and the opening of the faceplate. The load control device may include a collar attached to the boss of the mounting member and surrounding the shaft of the potentiometer. The mounting member may be configured to conduct light from at least one light source housed within the enclosure to illuminate the faceplate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Gregory S. Altonen, Chris Dimberg, Matthew P. McDonald, Nikhil V. Bhate, Rebecca Michalski
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Publication number: 20210103088Abstract: A control device, such as a gateway device for a wireless load control system, has a light bar extending around a periphery of an enclosure to provide feedback to a user of the load control system, as well as to provide a pleasing aesthetic effect on the gateway device. The control device may include at least one light-emitting diode mounted to a printed circuit board inside the enclosure, a control circuit mounted to the printed circuit board and operatively coupled to the light-emitting diode for controllably illuminating the light-emitting diode, and a multi-functional mounting structure for mounting the printed circuit board inside the enclosure. The mounting structure may have at least one light-pipe structure for conducting light from the at least one light-emitting diode to the light bar. The mounting structure may have an antenna-mounting structure to which an antenna of the control device may be mounted.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Matthew P. McDonald, Joseph M. Nichols, Andrew P. Schmalz
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Publication number: 20210051778Abstract: A control device for controlling power delivered to an electrical load may illuminate an area around a button of the control device, such as a gap formed between the button and an opening of a faceplate of the control device. The control device may illuminate the gap to provide a nightlight feature, to provide feedback (e.g., a status of the electrical load), and/or to indicate a selected preset. The button may have a cap portion that may be actuated by a user and a diffuser portion that may contact a rear surface of the cap portion and may conduct light emitted by an internal light source to illuminate the gap around the button.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Matthew P. McDonald, Sean Tucker
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Publication number: 20200365069Abstract: A veneer may be configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device. A plate portion of the veneer may have one or more indicia machined therethrough. The indicia may define an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The one or more ribs may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs from view relative to a user of the control device. The rib may define an upper surface that is recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and may define opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The sides may be tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base. The sides and the upper surface of the rib may be unfinished.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Patent number: 10798792Abstract: A control device for controlling power delivered to an electrical load may illuminate an area around a button of the control device, such as a gap formed between the button and an opening of a faceplate of the control device. The control device may illuminate the gap to provide a nightlight feature, to provide feedback (e.g., a status of the electrical load), and/or to indicate a selected preset. The button may have a cap portion that may be actuated by a user and a diffuser portion that may contact a rear surface of the cap portion and may conduct light emitted by an internal light source to illuminate the gap around the button.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Matthew P. McDonald, Sean Tucker
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Patent number: 10782471Abstract: A control device, such as a gateway device for a wireless load control system, has a light bar extending around a periphery of an enclosure to provide feedback to a user of the load control system, as well as to provide a pleasing aesthetic effect on the gateway device. The control device may include at least one light-emitting diode mounted to a printed circuit board inside the enclosure, a control circuit mounted to the printed circuit board and operatively coupled to the light-emitting diode for controllably illuminating the light-emitting diode, and a multi-functional mounting structure for mounting the printed circuit board inside the enclosure. The mounting structure may have at least one light-pipe structure for conducting light from the at least one light-emitting diode to the light bar. The mounting structure may have an antenna-mounting structure to which an antenna of the control device may be mounted.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Matthew P. McDonald, Joseph M. Nichols, Andrew P. Schmalz
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Patent number: 10733926Abstract: A control device includes a button with a body defining an outer surface; a metallic veneer coupled to the button opposite the outer surface; and a machined indicia formed in the veneer and defining an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The rib has an upper surface recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and opposed tapered sides extending from a base of the rib to the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2019Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad M. Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Publication number: 20200043395Abstract: A veneer may be configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device. A plate portion of the veneer may have one or more indicia machined therethrough. The indicia may define an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The one or more ribs may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs from view relative to a user of the control device. The rib may define an upper surface that is recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and may define opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The sides may be tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base. The sides and the upper surface of the rib may be unfinished.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad M. Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Patent number: 10424233Abstract: A control device includes at least one button, a veneer secured to an outer surface of the button, and at least one light source configured to backlight the button. The veneer includes indicia defining an open portion exposing a portion of a body of a respective button, a floating portion, and at least one rib that suspends the floating portion. The rib has an upper surface recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and opposed sides extending from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The opposed sides are tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad M. Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Publication number: 20190252137Abstract: A wall box may provide adjustable support for a control device, such as a keypad, to allow for level alignment of the control device when mounted to the wall box. The wall box may have an adjustable support frame to which the control device may be mounted. When the control device is mounted to the support frame of the wall box, the support frame may be rotated to adjust the alignment of the control device. In addition, the wall box may comprise one or more projections configured to be received in respective detents in notched surfaces of the control device to allow for adjustment of the alignment of the control device. Further, the wall box may have a modular assembly and may be constructed from a central portion and two side portions at the time of installation of the wall box.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Matthew P. McDonald, Sean Tucker
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Publication number: 20190230762Abstract: A control device for controlling power delivered to an electrical load may illuminate an area around a button of the control device, such as a gap formed between the button and an opening of a faceplate of the control device. The control device may illuminate the gap to provide a nightlight feature, to provide feedback (e.g., a status of the electrical load), and/or to indicate a selected preset. The button may have a cap portion that may be actuated by a user and a diffuser portion that may contact a rear surface of the cap portion and may conduct light emitted by an internal light source to illuminate the gap around the button.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Matthew P. McDonald, Sean Tucker
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Publication number: 20180246273Abstract: A control device, such as a gateway device for a wireless load control system, has a light bar extending around a periphery of an enclosure to provide feedback to a user of the load control system, as well as to provide a pleasing aesthetic effect on the gateway device. The control device may include at least one light-emitting diode mounted to a printed circuit board inside the enclosure, a control circuit mounted to the printed circuit board and operatively coupled to the light-emitting diode for controllably illuminating the light-emitting diode, and a multi-functional mounting structure for mounting the printed circuit board inside the enclosure. The mounting structure may have at least one light-pipe structure for conducting light from the at least one light-emitting diode to the light bar. The mounting structure may have an antenna-mounting structure to which an antenna of the control device may be mounted.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2018Publication date: August 30, 2018Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Matthew P. McDonald, Joseph M. Nichols, Andrew P. Schmalz
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Publication number: 20180197449Abstract: A veneer may be configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device. A plate portion of the veneer may have one or more indicia machined therethrough. The indicia may define an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The one or more ribs may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs from view relative to a user of the control device. The rib may define an upper surface that is recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and may define opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The sides may be tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base. The sides and the upper surface of the rib may be unfinished.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad M. Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Patent number: D795202Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo, Brad M. Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Patent number: D867308Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo, Brad M. Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Patent number: D873222Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2018Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Gregory S. Altonen, Nikhil V. Bhate, Jonathan Dersch, Jason C. Killo, Brad M. Kreschollek, Ritesh Maharjan, Matthew P. McDonald
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Patent number: D921596Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2018Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Gregory S. Altonen, Jason C. Killo, Matthew P. McDonald, Sean Tucker