Patents by Inventor Matthew Philip McDonald

Matthew Philip 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).

  • Publication number: 20240121872
    Abstract: A wall-mounted keypad may include a light detector circuit located inside the keypad that is configured to measure an ambient light level in a space. The light detector circuit may receive ambient light through an aperture that is hidden from view by the keypad. The keypad may include a reflector for directing ambient light onto the light detector circuit. The keypad may include an enclosure that houses the light detector circuit. The enclosure may define a recess that exposes at least a portion of the light detector circuit. The enclosure may include a reflector that may focus ambient light received through the aperture onto the light detector circuit. The keypad may include a control circuit that may be configured to illuminate the indicia of respective buttons of the control device in response to actuations of the one or more buttons, in accordance with the measured ambient light level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: William Taylor Shivell, Matthew Philip McDonald
  • Publication number: 20240047150
    Abstract: A remote control device is provided that is configured for use in a load control system that includes one or more electrical loads. The remote control device includes a mounting structure and a control unit, and the control unit is configured to be attached to the mounting structure in a plurality of different orientations. The control unit includes a user interface, an orientation sensing circuit, and a communication circuit. The control unit is configured to determine an orientation of the control unit via the orientation sensing circuit. The control unit is also configured to translate a user input from the user interface into control data to control an electrical load of the load control system based on the orientation of the control unit and/or provide a visual indication of an amount of power delivered to the electrical load based on the orientation of the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Alexander Wade Gage, Matthew V. Harte, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20240038057
    Abstract: A remote control device may be configured to be mounted over the toggle actuator of a light switch and to control a load control device. The remote control device may include a mounting assembly and a control unit that is removably attachable to the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly may include a release tab that is configured to be operated from a locking position in which the control unit is secured to the mounting assembly, to a release position in which the control unit may be detached from the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly may include a clamp that is configured to engage with the toggle actuator of a mechanical switch to which the remote control device is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Matthew Philip McDonald, William Taylor Shivell
  • Patent number: 11889602
    Abstract: A wall-mounted keypad may include a light detector circuit located inside the keypad that is configured to measure an ambient light level in a space. The light detector circuit may receive ambient light through an aperture that is hidden from view by the keypad. The keypad may include a reflector for directing ambient light onto the light detector circuit. The keypad may include an enclosure that houses the light detector circuit. The enclosure may define a recess that exposes at least a portion of the light detector circuit. The enclosure may include a reflector that may focus ambient light received through the aperture onto the light detector circuit. The keypad may include a control circuit that may be configured to illuminate the indicia of respective buttons of the control device in response to actuations of the one or more buttons, in accordance with the measured ambient light level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: William Taylor Shivell, Matthew Philip McDonald
  • Publication number: 20240021381
    Abstract: A control device may be configured to control one or more electrical loads in a load control system. The control device may be a wall-mounted device such as dimmer switch, a remote control device, or a retrofit remote control device. The control device may include a gesture-based user interface for applying advanced control over the one or more electrical loads. The types of control may include absolute and relative control, intensity and color control, preset, zone, or operational mode selection, etc. Feedback may be provided on the control device regarding a status of the one or more electrical loads or the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Matthew V. Harte, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20240015870
    Abstract: A control device may have a plurality of buttons that may be backlit to multiple levels, such as first, second, and third adjacent buttons positioned in order, and first, second, and third LEDs positioned to illuminate a respective button. The control device may be configured to illuminate the first LED to a first LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to a first surface illumination intensity; illuminate the third LED to a second LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to a second surface illumination intensity; and illuminate the second LED to a third LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to the second surface illumination intensity. The third LED illumination intensity may be less than the second LED illumination intensity, which may be less than the first LED illumination intensity, and the second surface illumination intensity may be less than the first surface illumination intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell, Jason C. Killo
  • Patent number: 11870127
    Abstract: A wireless control device, such as a system controller for a load control system, may comprise a light-transmissive cover for an antenna that may be illuminated to provide feedback to a user of the load control system. The light-transmissive cover may receive light energy from a light-generating circuit to provide a visible display of the light energy. The wireless control device may be mounted to, for example, a ceiling, and the light-transmissive cover may extend from the wireless control device (e.g., down from the ceiling). The light-transmissive cover may be viewed by a user at large viewing angles and at a distance away from the wireless control device, which may simplify and improve reliability of commissioning of the load control system as well as speed up troubleshooting of the load control system after commissioning is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Brian Michael Courtney, Matthew Philip McDonald
  • Publication number: 20240005778
    Abstract: A remote control device having capacitive touch controls may be configured to enter a sleep state (or mode). For example, the remote control device may be configured to enter the sleep state upon expiration of an interval of time since a most recent button press. The remote control may be configured to awaken from the sleep state when one or more portions of a housing of the remote control are deflected, for example, when a user grasps the remote control to actuate one or more of the capacitive touch controls. For example, the remote control device may include a switch. The switch may include a carbon structure that may be configured to contact an open circuit pad on a circuit board to close the corresponding circuit when the housing is deflected and awaken the remote control device from the sleep state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Mann, Matthew Philip McDonald, Lawrence R. Carmen, JR., Robert D. Stevens, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230389148
    Abstract: A battery-powered control device may be configured to control an amount of power delivered to one or more electrical loads and provide various feedback associated with the control device and/or the electrical loads. The feedback may indicate a low battery condition and/or the amount of power delivered to the one or more electrical loads. The control device may include a light bar and/or one or more indicator lights for providing the feedback. The control device may operate in different modes including a normal mode and a low battery mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Bard, Chris Dimberg, Matthew V. Harte, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: 11830696
    Abstract: A remote control device is provided that is configured for use in a load control system that includes one or more electrical loads. The remote control device includes a mounting structure and a control unit, and the control unit is configured to be attached to the mounting structure in a plurality of different orientations. The control unit includes a user interface, an orientation sensing circuit, and a communication circuit. The control unit is configured to determine an orientation of the control unit via the orientation sensing circuit. The control unit is also configured to translate a user input from the user interface into control data to control an electrical load of the load control system based on the orientation of the control unit and/or provide a visual indication of an amount of power delivered to the electrical load based on the orientation of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Alexander Wade Gage, Matthew V. Harte, Jason C. Killo, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Patent number: 11823561
    Abstract: A remote control device may be configured to be mounted over the toggle actuator of a light switch and to control a load control device. The remote control device may include a mounting assembly and a control unit that is removably attachable to the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly may include a release tab that is configured to be operated from a locking position in which the control unit is secured to the mounting assembly, to a release position in which the control unit may be detached from the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly may include a clamp that is configured to engage with the toggle actuator of a mechanical switch to which the remote control device is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Matthew Philip McDonald, William Taylor Shivell
  • Patent number: D1005973
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Sean Tucker
  • Patent number: D1007442
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Sean Tucker
  • Patent number: D1007443
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Sean Tucker
  • Patent number: D1007444
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Sean Tucker
  • Patent number: D1009806
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Sean Tucker
  • Patent number: D1009807
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Sean Tucker
  • Patent number: D1009808
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Sean Tucker
  • Patent number: D1009809
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Sean Tucker
  • Patent number: D1009811
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo, Matthew Philip McDonald, Daniel L. Twaddell