Patents by Inventor Rhodes B. Baker

Rhodes B. Baker 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: 20200068356
    Abstract: A load control system may include control-target devices for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load. The control-target devices may be capable of controlling the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on control instructions. The control-target devices and/or the control-instructions may be determined based on a gesture performed by a user. The user may wear a wearable control device capable of measuring movements performed by the user and transmit digital messages that may be used to control an electrical load. The wearable control device may identify gestures performed by the user for controlling a control-target device and/or provide control instructions to the control-target device based on the identified gestures. A gesture may be associated with a scene that includes a configuration of one or more control devices in a load control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Erica L. Clymer, Galen Edgar Knode, Sanjeev Kumar, John Nill, Daniel L. Twaddell, Michael J. Zizza
  • Publication number: 20200041968
    Abstract: A load control system may comprise an electrical load control device and/or a computing device. The electrical load control device may control, for example, motorized window treatments (e.g., shades), lighting controls, and/or sensors (e.g., occupancy, radio window, daylight, etc.). For example, a load control device comprising a motorized window treatment may control the position of a covering material in the window treatment. The computing device may comprise a processor and/or a graphical user interface (GUI). The computing device may be a server and/or a user device, such as a wireless user device (e.g., a cellular phone, tablet, or laptop computer). The computing device may be configured to provide graphical representations that may be displayed on a GUI based on load control information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, John H. Bull
  • Patent number: 10484827
    Abstract: A load control system may include control-target devices for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load. The control-target devices may be capable of controlling the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on control instructions. The control-target devices and/or the control-instructions may be determined based on a gesture performed by a user. The user may wear a wearable control device capable of measuring movements performed by the user and transmit digital messages that may be used to control an electrical load. The wearable control device may identify gestures performed by the user for controlling a control-target device and/or provide control instructions to the control-target device based on the identified gestures. A gesture may be associated with a scene that includes a configuration of one or more control devices in a load control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Erica L. Clymer, Galen Edgar Knode, Sanjeev Kumar, John Nill, Daniel L. Twaddell, Michael J. Zizza
  • Patent number: 10429809
    Abstract: A load control system may comprise an electrical load control device and/or a computing device. The electrical load control device may control, for example, motorized window treatments (e.g., shades), lighting controls, and/or sensors (e.g., occupancy, radio window, daylight, etc.). For example, a load control device comprising a motorized window treatment may control the position of a covering material in the window treatment. The computing device may comprise a processor and/or a graphical user interface (GUI). The computing device may be a server and/or a user device, such as a wireless user device (e.g., a cellular phone, tablet, or laptop computer). The computing device may be configured to provide graphical representations that may be displayed on a GUI based on load control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, John H. Bull
  • Publication number: 20190288554
    Abstract: A load control system may include control devices capable of being associated with each other at one or more locations for performing load control. Control devices may include control-source devices and/or control-target devices. A location beacon may be discovered and a unique identifier in the location beacon may be associated with a unique identifier of one or more control devices. Upon subsequent discovery of the location beacon, the associated load control devices may be controlled. The beacons may be communicated via radio frequency signals, visible light communication, and/or audio signals. The visible light communication may be used to communicate other types of information to devices in the load control system. The visible light communication may be used to identify link addresses for communicating with load control devices, load control instructions, load control configuration instructions, network communication information, and/or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, John H. Bull, Richard S. Camden, Jordan H. Crafts, David J. Dolan, Jason Groller, Sanjeev Kumar, Jonathan T. Lenz, Miguel Aguado Pelaez, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20190221958
    Abstract: A wall-mounted assembly may include one or more host devices which receive line voltage and generate low voltage power on one or more contacts for powering one or more modular devices. The one or more modular devices may be installed adjacent to the host device and may share a faceplate with the host device, such as a standard decorator faceplate. The modular devices may receive power from the host device via a power bus between the host device and the one or more modular devices. Further, the power bus may include a communication bus for communication between the host device and the modular devices. The faceplate may be a smart faceplate, which may include circuitry, such as a battery backup, occupancy sensing, a charging dock for a mobile phone, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, Rhodes B. Baker
  • Publication number: 20190045607
    Abstract: A load control system may include a load control device for providing power to an electrical load and a control device that may send instructions to the load control device for providing the power to the electrical load. The control device may communicate with the load control device using a link address assigned to the load control device. The load control device may provide power to the electrical load in a manner that causes the electrical load to indicate the link address assigned to the load control device. The link address may be identified by a user or a user device. The identified link address may be associated with a load control device identifier that may identify a physical location of a load control device that is assigned the link address. A user may control a load control device at a physical location by sending instructions via the link address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rupesh Gajurel, Sandeep Mudabail Raghuram, Rhodes B. Baker, Brian Michael Courtney
  • Patent number: 10098208
    Abstract: A load control system may include a load control device for providing power to an electrical load and a control device that may send instructions to the load control device for providing the power to the electrical load. The control device may communicate with the load control device using a link address assigned to the load control device. The load control device may provide power to the electrical load in a manner that causes the electrical load to indicate the link address assigned to the load control device. The link address may be identified by a user or a user device. The identified link address may be associated with a load control device identifier that may identify a physical location of a load control device that is assigned the link address. A user may control a load control device at a physical location by sending instructions via the link address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rupesh Gajurel, Sandeep Mudabail Raghuram, Rhodes B. Baker, Brian Michael Courtney
  • Patent number: 10098074
    Abstract: A load control system may include control devices capable of being associated with each other at one or more locations for performing load control. Control devices may include control-source devices and/or control-target devices. A location beacon may be discovered and a unique identifier in the location beacon may be associated with a unique identifier of one or more control devices. Upon subsequent discovery of the location beacon, the associated load control devices may be controlled. The beacons may be communicated via radio frequency signals, visible light communication, and/or audio signals. The visible light communication may be used to communicate other types of information to devices in the load control system. The visible light communication may be used to identify link addresses for communicating with load control devices, load control instructions, load control configuration instructions, network communication information, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONIC CO., INC.
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, John H. Bull, Richard S. Camden, Jordan H. Crafts, David J. Dolan, Jason Groller, Sanjeev Kumar, Jonathan T. Lenz, Miguel Aguado Pelaez, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20180228006
    Abstract: A scalable, distributed load control system for home automation based on a network of microphones may include control devices (e.g., load control devices) that may include microphones for monitoring the system and communicating audio data to a cloud server for processing. The control devices of the load control system may receive a single voice command and may be configured to choose one of the load control devices to transmit the voice command to the cloud server. The load control devices may be configured to receive a voice command, control a connected load according to the voice command if the voice command is a validated command, and transmit the voice command to a voice service in the cloud if the voice command is not a validated command. The voice service to which the load control devices transmit audio data to may be selectable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey Karc, Galen E. Knode, John B. Nill, Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20180168019
    Abstract: A visible light sensor may be configured to sense environmental characteristics of a space using an image of the space. The visible light sensor may be controlled in one or more modes, including a daylight glare sensor mode, a daylighting sensor mode, a color sensor mode, and/or an occupancy/vacancy sensor mode. In the daylight glare sensor mode, the visible light sensor may be configured to decrease or eliminate glare within a space. In the daylighting sensor mode and the color sensor mode, the visible light sensor may be configured to provide a preferred amount of light and color temperature, respectively, within the space. In the occupancy/vacancy sensor mode, the visible light sensor may be configured to detect an occupancy/vacancy condition within the space and adjust one or more control devices according to the occupation or vacancy of the space. The visible light sensor may be configured to protect the privacy of users within the space via software, a removable module, and/or a special sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Craig Alan Casey, Galen Edgar Knode, Brent Protzman, Thomas M. Shearer, James P. Steiner
  • Publication number: 20170150585
    Abstract: A load control system may include a load control device for providing power to an electrical load and a control device that may send instructions to the load control device for providing the power to the electrical load. The control device may communicate with the load control device using a link address assigned to the load control device. The load control device may provide power to the electrical load in a manner that causes the electrical load to indicate the link address assigned to the load control device. The link address may be identified by a user or a user device. The identified link address may be associated with a load control device identifier that may identify a physical location of a load control device that is assigned the link address. A user may control a load control device at a physical location by sending instructions via the link address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rupesh Gajurel, Sandeep Mudabail Raghuram, Rhodes B. Baker, Brian Michael Courtney
  • Patent number: 9585226
    Abstract: A load control system may include a load control device for providing power to an electrical load and a control device that may send instructions to the load control device for providing the power to the electrical load. The control device may communicate with the load control device using a link address assigned to the load control device. The load control device may provide power to the electrical load in a manner that causes the electrical load to indicate the link address assigned to the load control device. The link address may be identified by a user or a user device. The identified link address may be associated with a load control device identifier that may identify a physical location of a load control device that is assigned the link address. A user may control a load control device at a physical location by sending instructions via the link address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Rupesh Gajurel, Sandeep Mudabail Raghuram, Rhodes B. Baker, Brian Michael Courtney
  • Publication number: 20170038787
    Abstract: A load control system for controlling an electrical load in a space of a building occupied by an occupant may include a controller configured to determine the location of the occupant, and a load control device configured to automatically control the electrical load in response to the location of the occupant. The load control system may include a mobile device adapted to be located on or immediately adjacent the occupant and configured to transmit and receive wireless signals. The load control device may be configured to automatically control the electrical load when the mobile device is located in the space. The load control system may further comprise an occupancy sensor and the load control device may automatically control the electrical load when the occupancy sensor indicates that the space is occupied and the mobile device is located in the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Richard S. Camden, Sanjeev Kumar
  • Publication number: 20170041886
    Abstract: A load control system may include control devices capable of being associated with each other at one or more locations for performing load control. Control devices may include control-source devices and/or control-target devices. A location beacon may be discovered and a unique identifier in the location beacon may be associated with a unique identifier of one or more control devices. Upon subsequent discovery of the location beacon, the associated load control devices may be controlled. The beacons may be communicated via radio frequency signals, visible light communication, and/or audio signals. The visible light communication may be used to communicate other types of information to devices in the load control system. The visible light communication may be used to identify link addresses for communicating with load control devices, load control instructions, load control configuration instructions, network communication information, and/or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Kyle Thomas Barco, Bryan Robert Barnes, John H. Bull, Richard S. Camden, Jordan H. Crafts, David J. Dolan, Jason Groller, Sanjeev Kumar, Jonathan T. Lenz, Miguel Aguado Pelaez, Daniel L. Twaddell
  • Publication number: 20160322817
    Abstract: A load control system may comprise an electrical load control device and/or a computing device. The electrical load control device may control, for example, motorized window treatments (e.g., shades), lighting controls, and/or sensors (e.g., occupancy, radio window, daylight, etc.). For example, a load control device comprising a motorized window treatment may control the position of a covering material in the window treatment. The computing device may comprise a processor and/or a graphical user interface (GUI). The computing device may be a server and/or a user device, such as a wireless user device (e.g., a cellular phone, tablet, or laptop computer). The computing device may be configured to provide graphical representations that may be displayed on a GUI based on load control information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, John H. Bull
  • Patent number: D772910
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Erica L. Clymer, Benjamin F. Bard
  • Patent number: D794669
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, John H. Bull, Erica L. Clymer, Sanjeev Kumar, Jennifer Wong
  • Patent number: D820862
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Karelys Alfonzo, Rhodes B. Baker, John H. Bull, Erica L. Clymer, Sanjeev Kumar, Aaron Peters, Rahul Subramany, Shannon M. Sullivan
  • Patent number: D826975
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, John H. Bull, Erica L. Clymer, Sanjeev Kumar, Jennifer Wong