Patents by Inventor Richard S. Camden
Richard S. Camden 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).
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Publication number: 20190250201Abstract: A control module for a lighting fixture may include an input circuit (e.g., a wireless communication circuit) that may be susceptible to noise generating by a noise-generating source (e.g., a lighting control device in the lighting fixture). The control circuit may execute a self-test procedure to determine if the magnitude of the noise is acceptable or unacceptable for normal operation of the control module. During the self-test procedure, the control circuit may measure a noise level at a connection of the input circuit and determine if the noise level causes the self-test procedure to fail. The control circuit may control the lighting load to multiple intensities, measure noise levels of the output signal at each intensity, and process the noise levels to determine if the test has passed or failed. The control circuit may illuminate a visual indicator to provide an indication that the self-test procedure has failed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Jordan H. Crafts, Vidur Garg, Kevin L. Gascho, Alexander F. Mosolgo, Dragan Veskovic, Sean R. Pearson
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Publication number: 20190141818Abstract: A control module attached to a lighting fixture and having a front cover portion may comprise one or more sensors, such as a daylight and/or occupancy sensor, for sensing information through the front cover portion. The control module may have a main printed circuit board (PCB) that extends from a front side to a rear side of the control module, and a sensor PCB perpendicular to the main PCB to enable at least one sensor attached to the sensor PCB to face the front side of the control module. The main PCB may comprise a wireless communication circuit and an antenna for communicating radio frequency (RF) signals, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is located within a plastic lip of the front cover portion of the control module. The control module may further have a conductive enclosure to reduce radio-frequency interference noise from coupling into the antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Sean R. Pearson, Nicholas R. Baer, Angelo Caruso, Thomas E. Hibshman, Kevin L. Gascho, Robert Bollinger, Jr., Richard S. Camden
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Patent number: 10149367Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna, a radio-frequency communication circuit, a control circuit, an enclosure, a conductive yoke, and/or a conductive member. The antenna may be configured to transmit and/or receive radio-frequency signals. The radio-frequency communication circuit may be configured to transmit and/or receive the radio-frequency signals via the antenna. The control circuit may be responsive to the radio-frequency communication circuit. The enclosure may be configured to house the radio-frequency communication circuit and the control circuit. The conductive yoke may be attached to the enclosure and configured to mount the control device to an electrical wallbox. The conductive member may extend around a rear side of the enclosure between opposite sides of the yoke.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Patent number: 10147311Abstract: A wireless control device may include a housing, a yoke, an antenna, a communication circuit, and a control circuit. The yoke may be electrically conductive and be configured to mount the wireless control device to an electrical wallbox. The antenna may be configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The antenna may be a slot antenna. The communication circuit may be configured to transmit and receive the radio-frequency signals via the antenna, and the control circuit may be responsive to the communication circuit (e.g., the signals received via the communication circuit). The control device may also include a conductive component that is attached to a front surface of the housing. For example, the conductive component may be electrically connected to the yoke via a single electrical connection (e.g., a screw). Further, the conductive component may be parallel with the antenna and configured to be capacitively coupled to the antenna.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2017Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Patent number: 10098074Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 5, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 10068466Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals, and may have a conductive material on a large amount (e.g., greater than or equal to approximately 85%) of a front surface of the control device. The wireless control device may operate consistently when installed with different types of faceplate assemblies (e.g., faceplate assemblies having metal and/or plastic components) and when installed with different types of electrical wallboxes (e.g., metal and plastic wallboxes). A faceplate comprising a conductive element may be installed on the wireless control device, such that the conductive element operates as a radiating element of the antenna. The wireless control device may comprise a conductive member (e.g., a conductive label or a conductive strap) extending around a rear enclosure of the wireless control device between opposite sides of a conductive yoke.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2017Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Publication number: 20180240332Abstract: A wireless control device may include a housing, a yoke, an antenna, a communication circuit, and a control circuit. The yoke may be electrically conductive and be configured to mount the wireless control device to an electrical wallbox. The antenna may be configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The antenna may be a slot antenna. The communication circuit may be configured to transmit and receive the radio-frequency signals via the antenna, and the control circuit may be responsive to the communication circuit (e.g., the signals received via the communication circuit). The control device may also include a conductive component that is attached to a front surface of the housing. For example, the conductive component may be electrically connected to the yoke via a single electrical connection (e.g., a screw). Further, the conductive component may be parallel with the antenna and configured to be capacitively coupled to the antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2018Publication date: August 23, 2018Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William T. Shivell, Amy E. Yanek
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Patent number: 9955548Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an enclosure, a bezel, a metal yoke, a slot antenna, a radio-frequency communication circuit, and one or more conductive elements. The bezel and the enclosure may define a space. The slot antenna may be located within the space defined by the enclosure and the bezel. The slot antenna may be configured to communicate radio-frequency signals. The radio-frequency communication circuit may be configured to transmit or receive the radio-frequency signals via the slot antenna. The one or more conductive elements may be electrically coupled to the yoke, and may be configured to re-radiate the radio-frequency signals transmitted by the slot antenna. The one or more conductive elements may include a conductive backer in electrical connection with the metal yoke, where in some instances, the conductive backer is electrically connected to the metal yoke via a single electrical connection.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2017Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Publication number: 20170257927Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an enclosure, a bezel, a metal yoke, a slot antenna, a radio-frequency communication circuit, and one or more conductive elements. The bezel and the enclosure may define a space. The slot antenna may be located within the space defined by the enclosure and the bezel. The slot antenna may be configured to communicate radio-frequency signals. The radio-frequency communication circuit may be configured to transmit or receive the radio-frequency signals via the slot antenna. The one or more conductive elements may be electrically coupled to the yoke, and may be configured to re-radiate the radio-frequency signals transmitted by the slot antenna. The one or more conductive elements may include a conductive backer in electrical connection with the metal yoke, where in some instances, the conductive backer is electrically connected to the metal yoke via a single electrical connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Patent number: 9742580Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals. The wireless control device may comprise a user interface, an antenna, a radio-frequency communication circuit, a control circuit, and/or a conductive faceplate. The radio-frequency communication circuit may be configured to transmit or receive radio-frequency signals via the antenna. The user interface may be configured to receive a user input. The conductive faceplate may be configured to operate as a radiating element of the antenna when the conductive faceplate is mounted to the wireless control device and the user interface is received in the opening of the conductive faceplate. The conductive faceplate may comprise a conductive material arranged over a plastic carrier, for example, the conductive material may be provided adjacent to greater than or equal to approximately 85% of the front surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Publication number: 20170229010Abstract: A wireless control device may include a housing, a yoke, an antenna, a communication circuit, and a control circuit. The yoke may be electrically conductive and be configured to mount the wireless control device to an electrical wallbox. The antenna may be configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The antenna may be a slot antenna. The communication circuit may be configured to transmit and receive the radio-frequency signals via the antenna, and the control circuit may be responsive to the communication circuit (e.g., the signals received via the communication circuit). The control device may also include a conductive component that is attached to a front surface of the housing. For example, the conductive component may be electrically connected to the yoke via a single electrical connection (e.g., a screw). Further, the conductive component may be parallel with the antenna and configured to be capacitively coupled to the antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2017Publication date: August 10, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Patent number: 9699864Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may comprise a yoke, a faceplate assembly, an antenna, a radio-frequency communication circuit, and/or a control circuit. The radio-frequency communication circuit may be configured to transmit or receive radio-frequency signals via the antenna. The faceplate assembly may comprise a conductive element that is configured to operate as a radiating element of the antenna when the faceplate assembly is attached to the yoke. The conductive element may comprise a conductive material on the front surface of the faceplate. The conductive element may be attached to a rear surface of the faceplate (e.g., as a conductive backer). The conductive element may be located inside of the faceplate. The conductive element may comprise metallization applied to a plastic carrier of the faceplate. The faceplate assembly may comprise an adapter plate comprising a surface on which the conductive element is located.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Publication number: 20170169702Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals, and may have a conductive material on a large amount (e.g., greater than or equal to approximately 85%) of a front surface of the control device. The wireless control device may operate consistently when installed with different types of faceplate assemblies (e.g., faceplate assemblies having metal and/or plastic components) and when installed with different types of electrical wallboxes (e.g., metal and plastic wallboxes). A faceplate comprising a conductive element may be installed on the wireless control device, such that the conductive element operates as a radiating element of the antenna. The wireless control device may comprise a conductive member (e.g., a conductive label or a conductive strap) extending around a rear enclosure of the wireless control device between opposite sides of a conductive yoke.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2017Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Patent number: 9652979Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals, and may have a conductive material on a large amount (e.g., greater than or equal to approximately 85%) of a front surface of the wireless control device. The wireless control device may operate consistently when installed with different types of faceplate assemblies (e.g., faceplate assemblies having metal and/or plastic components) and when installed with different types of electrical wallboxes (e.g., metal and plastic wallboxes). The antenna of the wireless control device may comprise a driven element and a conductive component. The wireless control device may comprise a conductive member (e.g., a conductive label or a conductive strap) extending around a rear enclosure of the wireless control device between opposite sides of a conductive yoke.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Publication number: 20170126422Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals. The wireless control device may comprise a user interface, an antenna, a radio-frequency communication circuit, a control circuit, and/or a conductive faceplate. The radio-frequency communication circuit may be configured to transmit or receive radio-frequency signals via the antenna. The user interface may be configured to receive a user input. The conductive faceplate may be configured to operate as a radiating element of the antenna when the conductive faceplate is mounted to the wireless control device and the user interface is received in the opening of the conductive faceplate. The conductive faceplate may comprise a conductive material arranged over a plastic carrier, for example, the conductive material may be provided adjacent to greater than or equal to approximately 85% of the front surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2017Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Patent number: 9609719Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals, and may have a conductive material on a large amount (e.g., greater than or equal to approximately 85%) of a front surface of the control device. The wireless control device may operate consistently when installed with different types of faceplate assemblies (e.g., faceplate assemblies having metal and/or plastic components) and when installed with different types of electrical wallboxes (e.g., metal and plastic wallboxes). A faceplate comprising a conductive element may be installed on the wireless control device, such that the conductive element operates as a radiating element of the antenna. The wireless control device may comprise a conductive member (e.g., a conductive label or a conductive strap) extending around a rear enclosure of the wireless control device between opposite sides of a conductive yoke.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Patent number: 9578720Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals. The wireless control device may comprise a user interface, an antenna, a radio-frequency communication circuit, a control circuit, and/or a conductive faceplate. The radio-frequency communication circuit may be configured to transmit or receive radio-frequency signals via the antenna. The user interface may be configured to receive a user input. The conductive faceplate may be configured to operate as a radiating element of the antenna when the conductive faceplate is mounted to the wireless control device and the user interface is received in the opening of the conductive faceplate. The conductive faceplate may comprise a conductive material arranged over a plastic carrier, for example, the conductive material may be provided adjacent to greater than or equal to approximately 85% of the front surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller
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Publication number: 20170041886Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20170038787Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, Richard S. Camden, Sanjeev Kumar
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Publication number: 20160035217Abstract: A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals, and may have a conductive material on a large amount (e.g., greater than or equal to approximately 85%) of a front surface of the wireless control device. The wireless control device may operate consistently when installed with different types of faceplate assemblies (e.g., faceplate assemblies having metal and/or plastic components) and when installed with different types of electrical wallboxes (e.g., metal and plastic wallboxes). The antenna of the wireless control device may comprise a driven element and a conductive component. The wireless control device may comprise a conductive member (e.g., a conductive label or a conductive strap) extending around a rear enclosure of the wireless control device between opposite sides of a conductive yoke.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2015Publication date: February 4, 2016Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Donald R. Mosebrook, William Taylor Shivell, Amy E. Miller