Patents by Inventor Richard R. Billig

Richard R. Billig 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: 11388020
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their 5 respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Publication number: 20210099321
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their 5 respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Patent number: 10873474
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their 5 respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Publication number: 20190268175
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their 5 respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Patent number: 10291426
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their 5 respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Publication number: 20180294990
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their 5 respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Applicant: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Patent number: 9998296
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their 5 respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Publication number: 20170155524
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their 5 respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Patent number: 9577839
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their 5 respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Patent number: 9288875
    Abstract: A multi-sensor lighting control system includes at least two light sensors. Each sensor gathers light from different sources, by comparing and contrasting the output signals from the two sensors, the controller can automate many lighting control and commissioning processes leading to easier, simpler installations and maintenance and happier customers, and removing the need for special tools. Applying automated closed loop lamp warm-up techniques, the daylight ratio and the maximum electric light contribution can be learned automatically by the system. A multi-sensor lighting control system may also provide intermediate zones of lighting control between adjacent task areas with different lighting requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Thomas L. Grey
  • Publication number: 20150028998
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their 5 respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Patent number: 8796958
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Publication number: 20140175985
    Abstract: A multi-sensor lighting control system includes at least two light sensors. Each sensor gathers light from different sources, by comparing and contrasting the output signals from the two sensors, the controller can automate many lighting control and commissioning processes leading to easier, simpler installations and maintenance and happier customers, and removing the need for special tools. Applying automated closed loop lamp warm-up techniques, the daylight ratio and the maximum electric light contribution can be learned automatically by the system. A multi-sensor lighting control system may also provide intermediate zones of lighting control between adjacent task areas with different lighting requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Thomas L. Grey
  • Patent number: 8350416
    Abstract: A phase-controlled power delivery system for a load such as an incandescent lamp controls the rate of transition of an AC power waveform as a function of switch temperature or other heat-related parameter to provide for time-varying optimization of a tradeoff between heat and noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: David J. Schanin, Richard R. Billig
  • Publication number: 20110068900
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Patent number: 7889051
    Abstract: Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper Inc
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Alexandre Debernard, Bertrand Debever
  • Publication number: 20100327778
    Abstract: A phase-controlled power delivery system for a load such as an incandescent lamp controls the rate of transition of an AC power waveform as a function of switch temperature or other heat-related parameter to provide for time-varying optimization of a tradeoff between heat and noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: David J. Schanin, Richard R. Billig
  • Patent number: 7525296
    Abstract: A spread-spectrum power converter uses an inter-cycle duty-cycle error compensation to achieve a combination of high-precision tracking of a target average duty cycle and a favorable noise signature. The pulse train consists of a series of cycles having cycle durations of a positive integer of clock cycles, pulse durations of a whole number of clock cycles, and duty cycles corresponding to a ratio of pulse durations over cycle durations. The pulse durations are selected at least in part as functions of a target average duty cycle, the respective cycle durations, and a ripple (or other) error from other cycles in the train. The cycle durations can also be in part a function of the target average duty cycle so that the duty cycle errors can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Bayview Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, David J. Schanin
  • Publication number: 20080043502
    Abstract: A spread-spectrum power converter uses an inter-cycle duty-cycle error compensation to achieve a combination of high-precision tracking of a target average duty cycle and a favorable noise signature. The pulse train consists of a series of cycles having cycle durations of a positive integer of clock cycles, pulse durations of a whole number of clock cycles, and duty cycles corresponding to a ratio of pulse durations over cycle durations. The pulse durations are selected at least in part as functions of a target average duty cycle, the respective cycle durations, and a ripple (or other) error from other cycles in the train. The cycle durations can also be in part a function of the target average duty cycle so that the duty cycle errors can be minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, David J. Schanin
  • Patent number: 6175220
    Abstract: A thyristor-based forward phase control (FPC) system for controlling the power delivered to a load from an AC power source employs a short-circuit test cycle to protect the thyristor from damage. Upon activation of the FPC system, the thyristor is triggered at a phase less than one-twelfth cycle before a zero crossing so that, if there is a short, the resulting peak current will be insufficient to damage the thyristor but will exceed a predetermined threshold current corresponding to a repetitive overload current. If during the test cycle, the threshold current value is crossed, the FPC system does not trigger the thyristor again and does indicate that a short exists. The threshold current value is selected to correspond to the thyristor's steady-state load rating. If it is exceeded during normal (including warm-up and request-based) operation, steps can be taken to address an overload condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Power Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Billig, Steven B. Carlson