Patents by Inventor Michael Scott ALTHOFF

Michael Scott ALTHOFF 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).

  • Home automation system including light dimmer operation based upon a sequence of partial dimming commands and related methods
    Patent number: 10561004
    Abstract: A home automation (HA) system may include HA operation devices within a structure. At least one of the HA operation devices may include a light dimmer for a given area. The HA system may also include HA user interface devices for respective users within the structure. Each HA user interface device may be configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the HA operation devices. A HA hub device within the structure may provide communications for the HA user interface and operation devices. The HA hub device may receive a light-off command from an HA user interface device for the light dimmer and send a sequence of partial dimming commands to the light dimmer to turn the light off, and determine whether the given area is occupied based upon at least one HA operation device, and when occupied, then send a light-on override command to the light dimmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: K4CONNECT INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Gould, Michael Scott Althoff
  • HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEM INCLUDING LIGHT DIMMER OPERATION BASED UPON A SEQUENCE OF PARTIAL DIMMING COMMANDS AND RELATED METHODS
    Publication number: 20190182936
    Abstract: A home automation (HA) system may include HA operation devices within a structure. At least one of the HA operation devices may include a light dimmer for a given area. The HA system may also include HA user interface devices for respective users within the structure. Each HA user interface device may be configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the HA operation devices. A HA hub device within the structure may provide communications for the HA user interface and operation devices. The HA hub device may receive a light-off command from an HA user interface device for the light dimmer and send a sequence of partial dimming commands to the light dimmer to turn the light off, and determine whether the given area is occupied based upon at least one HA operation device, and when occupied, then send a light-on override command to the light dimmer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Jonathan Andrew GOULD, Michael Scott ALTHOFF