Patents by Inventor Richard L. Westrick, Jr.

Richard L. Westrick, Jr. 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).

  • Patent number: 11115899
    Abstract: An example method for a radio frequency (RF) communication system, such as a lighting system, includes receiving, at a non-connected RF node via an extended star wireless network, a gateway heartbeat message that a gateway RF node transmits. The method further includes, in response to receiving the gateway heartbeat message from the gateway RF node, transmitting, via the extended star wireless network, a non-connected registration message to the gateway RF node. The method additionally includes in response to receiving a gateway acknowledgement message from the gateway RF node, configuring the non-connected RF node to act as a respective connected RF node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Alan David Sanders, Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Samar Shaker Soliman
  • Patent number: 11070616
    Abstract: A method includes based on neighbor relationships among radio frequency (RF) nodes of a flooding wireless network, designating some but not all of the RF nodes as repeaters. The designating step selects (RF) nodes as repeaters such that each RF node of the flooding wireless network has at least two neighboring RF nodes designated as repeaters. The method further includes configuring designated RF nodes to act as repeaters to receive and resend network packet transmissions from other RF nodes through the flooding wireless network. The method further includes configuring all RF nodes not designated as repeaters not to resend network packet transmissions from other RF nodes through the flooding wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Alan David Sanders
  • Publication number: 20210126968
    Abstract: A method includes based on neighbor relationships among radio frequency (RF) nodes of a flooding wireless network, designating some but not all of the RF nodes as repeaters. The designating step selects (RF) nodes as repeaters such that each RF node of the flooding wireless network has at least two neighboring RF nodes designated as repeaters. The method further includes configuring designated RF nodes to act as repeaters to receive and resend network packet transmissions from other RF nodes through the flooding wireless network. The method further includes configuring all RF nodes not designated as repeaters not to resend network packet transmissions from other RF nodes through the flooding wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Richard L. WESTRICK, JR., Alan David SANDERS
  • Patent number: 10405404
    Abstract: A lighting control system includes a plurality of lighting system elements that are connected together over at least one lighting control network. The lighting system elements include a network controller, a luminaire, or a lighting control device. Some of the lighting system elements are designated as client lighting devices. At least one of the lighting system elements is designated as a lighting control data synchronization master. The lighting control system allows for changes in lighting control setting data, without sacrificing performance and maintaining stability with network failures, by generation and utilization of lighting control data keys. For example, data synchronization replicates or transfers lighting control setting data when a state change in a lighting control setting is detected based on a comparison of a current lighting control data key with an original lighting control data key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Trickler, Mark Norton, Richard L. Westrick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10386804
    Abstract: The examples herein offer an improved, more integrated implementation of lighting control and building management control, e.g. within the same gateway or cloud computing/control element(s), via an integrated software architecture. A visualization platform of the software architecture provides an integrated user interface via network communication of the computing element with a user terminal device. The integrated user interface offers the user an integrated view of status of building automation control (BAC) appliances and luminaires within the premises, as well as integrated access to control operations of the BAC appliances and the luminaires. For example, the overall system of integrated lighting and building management control may offer a ‘single pane of glass’ type user interface for lighting and other managed operations in the premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Nathaniel Christopher Herwig
  • Patent number: 10334699
    Abstract: A multi-mode control device is provided for controlling an external load device. The control device includes a high-power interface, a low-power interface, and a control module. The high-power interface can be electrically coupled to a high-power module providing current from an external power source to the load device. The low-power interface can be electrically coupled to a low-power module. The high-power interface can receive a first current from the high-power module. The low-power interface can receive a second current from the low-power module that is less than the first current. The low-power interface can prevent the first current from flowing to the low-power module. The control module, which is electrically coupled to the high-power interface and the low-power interface, be powered by one or more of the first and second current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Haight Lydecker, Glen Andrew Kruse, Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Ryan Alexis Zaveruha
  • Patent number: 10111275
    Abstract: A lighting control system of networks and devices designed to allow scheduled events to continue to operate in the case of partial or full network operation and failure. The lighting control system can rely on any network controller to act as a schedule master that evaluates a schedule of time-based lighting control events. When failure of the acting schedule master occurs or network communication therewith, the lighting control system changes the scheduling master to a different network controller based on a fail over protocol. The failover protocol includes detecting when an acting schedule master controller stops working by, for example, failing to receive a keep-alive message at a different network controller within a predetermined amount of time. Upon detecting failure of the schedule master controller, a network controller with a different controller identifier takes over as the schedule master in accordance with a controller identifier evaluation or protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Mark Norton, Christopher Trickler, Dean Naib, Richard L. Westrick, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180299851
    Abstract: The examples herein offer an improved, more integrated implementation of lighting control and building management control, e.g. within the same gateway or cloud computing/control element(s), via an integrated software architecture. A visualization platform of the software architecture provides an integrated user interface via network communication of the computing element with a user terminal device. The integrated user interface offers the user an integrated view of status of building automation control (BAC) appliances and luminaires within the premises, as well as integrated access to control operations of the BAC appliances and the luminaires. For example, the overall system of integrated lighting and building management control may offer a ‘single pane of glass’ type user interface for lighting and other managed operations in the premises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Richard L. Westrick, JR., Nathaniel Christopher Herwig
  • Patent number: 10054919
    Abstract: The examples herein offer an improved, more integrated implementation of lighting control and building management control, e.g. within the same gateway or cloud computing/control element(s), via an integrated software architecture. A visualization platform of the software architecture provides an integrated user interface via network communication of the computing element with a user terminal device. The integrated user interface offers the user an integrated view of status of building automation control (BAC) appliances and luminaires within the premises, as well as integrated access to control operations of the BAC appliances and the luminaires. For example, the overall system of integrated lighting and building management control may offer a ‘single pane of glass’ type user interface for lighting and other managed operations in the premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Nathaniel Christopher Herwig
  • Publication number: 20180049297
    Abstract: A multi-mode control device is provided for controlling an external load device. The control device includes a high-power interface, a low-power interface, and a control module. The high-power interface can be electrically coupled to a high-power module providing current from an external power source to the load device. The low-power interface can be electrically coupled to a low-power module. The high-power interface can receive a first current from the high-power module. The low-power interface can receive a second current from the low-power module that is less than the first current. The low-power interface can prevent the first current from flowing to the low-power module. The control module, which is electrically coupled to the high-power interface and the low-power interface, be powered by one or more of the first and second current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen Haight Lydecker, Glen Andrew Kruse, Richard L. Westrick, JR., Ryan Alexis Zaveruha
  • Publication number: 20180042064
    Abstract: A lighting control system of networks and devices designed to allow scheduled events to continue to operate in the case of partial or full network operation and failure. The lighting control system can rely on any network controller to act as a schedule master that evaluates a schedule of time-based lighting control events. When failure of the acting schedule master occurs or network communication therewith, the lighting control system changes the scheduling master to a different network controller based on a fail over protocol. The failover protocol includes detecting when an acting schedule master controller stops working by, for example, failing to receive a keep-alive message at a different network controller within a predetermined amount of time. Upon detecting failure of the schedule master controller, a network controller with a different controller identifier takes over as the schedule master in accordance with a controller identifier evaluation or protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Norton, Christopher Trickler, Dean Naib, Richard L. Westrick, JR.
  • Patent number: 9887053
    Abstract: In some aspects, a relay control device includes a processor and a timer. The processor is electrically connectable to a relay that controls current flow to a load device. The processor causes the relay to be actuated at a first point in time so that a current flows to the load device. The processor determines an actuation duration for the relay from a measurement of the load current that is obtained with a current sense component. The processor determines a frequency of an input voltage or current from the measured load current. The processor synchronizes the timer with this frequency and identifies a zero-crossing point for a second load current based on the synchronized timer. The processor subsequently causes the relay to be actuated at a time that is offset from the zero-crossing point by the actuation duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Dalibor Zulim, Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Leslie Wayne Mullins
  • Publication number: 20170364046
    Abstract: The examples herein offer an improved, more integrated implementation of lighting control and building management control, e.g. within the same gateway or cloud computing/control element(s), via an integrated software architecture. A visualization platform of the software architecture provides an integrated user interface via network communication of the computing element with a user terminal device. The integrated user interface offers the user an integrated view of status of building automation control (BAC) appliances and luminaires within the premises, as well as integrated access to control operations of the BAC appliances and the luminaires. For example, the overall system of integrated lighting and building management control may offer a ‘single pane of glass’ type user interface for lighting and other managed operations in the premises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Richard L. Westrick, JR., Nathaniel Christopher Herwig
  • Patent number: 9832842
    Abstract: A multi-mode control device is provided for controlling an external load device. The control device includes a high-power interface, a low-power interface, and a control module. The high-power interface can be electrically coupled to a high-power module providing current from an external power source to the load device. The low-power interface can be electrically coupled to a low-power module. The high-power interface can receive a first current from the high-power module. The low-power interface can receive a second current from the low-power module that is less than the first current. The low-power interface can prevent the first current from flowing to the low-power module. The control module, which is electrically coupled to the high-power interface and the low-power interface, can operate in a high-power mode for powering the control module using the first current and a low-power mode for powering the control module using the lower second current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Haight Lydecker, Glen Andrew Kruse, Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Ryan Alexis Zaveruha
  • Publication number: 20170231059
    Abstract: A lighting management system for managing a light show displayed by at least one lighting fixture. The lighting management system includes a controller configured to receive at least one input related to a light show via one or more input devices coupled to the controller. The controller generates a light show based on the at least one input and renders a preview of the light show in a preview bar on a display device associated with the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: John T. Hickok, Mark Norton, Richard L. Westrick, JR.
  • Patent number: 9686840
    Abstract: A multi-mode control device is provided for controlling a load device. A high-power interface of the control device can be electrically coupled to a high-power module. An occupancy sensor can receive a first current from the high-power module via the high-power interface, and a trigger detection device can receive a second current that is less than the first current from a low-power module via a low-power interface. The processor can switch the control device from a high-power mode for powering the occupancy sensor to a low-power mode by causing a reduction in the current provided to the occupancy sensor and causing current to be provided to the trigger detection device. The trigger detection device can detect a trigger in the low-power mode. The processor can cause the control device to operate in the high-power mode based on the trigger's detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Haight Lydecker, Glen Andrew Kruse, Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Ryan Alexis Zaveruha
  • Patent number: 9601907
    Abstract: A universal load control module may include a power supply that operates over a wide voltage range, a microcontroller, and one or more functional control blocks. A functional control block may include a dimmer circuit for controlling a lighting load that provides reverse phase cut mode dimming, forward phase cut mode dimming, and hybrid phase cut mode dimming, as well as thermal protection. One or more universal control modules may be housed in a cabinet that include a cabinet control module. The cabinet may include additional thermal protection measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Dalibor Zulim, Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Rick King, Leslie Mullins
  • Patent number: 9583923
    Abstract: A modular wiring system carries different types or classes of wiring in a single cable. The modular wiring system includes two conduits, one inside the other. The outer conduit is a Class I conduit and the inner conduit is a Class II conduit. The Class II wiring is carried in the inner conduit and the Class I wiring is carried between the inner conduit and the outer conduit. The outer conduit may be any type of material that is approved for Class I. The inner conduit meets the same voltage rating as the outer conduit. The inner conduit may include a non-conductive outer surface and an inner metallic sheath. The inner metallic sheath is grounded and provides separation between the Class I and Class II conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventor: Richard L. Westrick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9547319
    Abstract: A lighting control device can include a control module and a processing module. The control module can provide a driving signal. The driving signal can modify a control voltage on a control interface. The control voltage can control a controllable ballast or driver. The processing module can determine a duty cycle of the driving signal. The control module and the processing module can receive power via the control interface and a power supply on the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Dalibor Zulim, Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Stephen Haight Lydecker
  • Patent number: D772177
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLP
    Inventors: John T. Hickok, Troy T. Miller, Richard L. Westrick, Jr., Erik Allen Holmen, Alexander Ali Hussain, Audwin W. Cash