Patents by Inventor Stephen Michael Pitchers

Stephen Michael Pitchers 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: 9451678
    Abstract: A system and methods for automatically commissioning electrical fixtures using sound are disclosed. Electrical fixtures (140-149) detect sounds produced by a sound generator moved along a path (300) through installed fixtures according to a building plan (100). Each electrical fixture may be associated with a mapped fixture location in the building plan by correlating the detected sound with the location of the sound generator along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Richard Simons, Alan James Davie, Aki Sakari Härmä, Stephen Michael Pitchers, Ronaldus Maria Aarts
  • Publication number: 20140333206
    Abstract: A system and methods for automatically commissioning electrical fixtures using sound are disclosed. Electrical fixtures (140-149) detect sounds produced by a sound generator moved along a path (300) through installed fixtures according to a building plan (100). Each electrical fixture may be associated with a mapped fixture location in the building plan by correlating the detected sound with the location of the sound generator along the path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Paul Richard Simons, Alan James Davie, Aki Sakari Härmä, Stephen Michael Pitchers, Ronaldus Maria Aarts
  • Patent number: 8416713
    Abstract: A computer algorithm (36) employing decision trees in order to assign wireless communication nodes (12-19,39-43) in a derived spatial arrangement. In a first embodiment, the algorithm (36) assigns nodes to an array of positions corresponding to the positions of luminaires (2-9) in a lighting array (1) to enable the lighting array (1) to be commissioned automatically. In a second embodiment, the algorithm (36) assigns nodes to control groups (49-51) such that the member nodes of a particular control group (49-51) may be controlled by a single switch or sensor (46-48). The use of decision trees allows the final assignment of nodes to be delayed until more information has been taken into account, thus, the algorithm (36) is able to select the best overall configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Richard Simons, Stephen Michael Pitchers
  • Patent number: 8300577
    Abstract: A computer algorithm for grouping a derived spatial arrangement of wireless communication nodes. The wireless communication nodes form a wireless communication network and are configured to control the operation of luminaires in a lighting array. The position of each node in the communication network corresponds to the position of a particular luminaire in the lighting array. The algorithm divides the arrangement of nodes into a plurality of spatial groups, each of which is defined by a line which joins the group's member nodes together. The groups are ranked according to their statistical attributes and a number of groups are selected as control groups, such that the member nodes, and hence luminaires, of each control group may be controlled by a single switch or sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Richard Simons, Stephen Michael Pitchers
  • Patent number: 8290437
    Abstract: A method for matching an actual device in a wireless network to a corresponding device indicated in a plan of such devices is provided. The method is suitable for initiating the commissioning process for a lighting control network or an automated home network and it enables the program controlling the system to establish a number of reference nodes, with respect to which the coordinates of the rest of the nodes in the network are established, without the engineer having to manually enter the identification details of the reference nodes in the computer system. The method includes identifying a device in the plan having unique characteristics compared to the other devices in the plan, receiving data comprising the characteristics of the actual device from the wireless network, and in response to the characteristics of the actual device including the unique characteristics, matching the physical device with the identified device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Richard Simons, Stephen Michael Pitchers
  • Publication number: 20120146943
    Abstract: A device having touch sensor input functionality, comprises first and second control electrodes (40,42) lying in a common plane. The device is operable in at least two modes, comprising: a first mode in which the light transmission characteristics are altered by controlling the movement of the charged particles under the influence of control signals applied to the first and second control electrodes; and a second mode in which the first and second control electrodes are coupled to a capacitance sensing means, for detecting a change in capacitance caused by the proximity of an object to be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Douglas Fairley, Paul Richard Simons, Stephen Michael Pitchers, Alwin Rogier Martijn Verschueren, Martinus Hermanus Wilhelmus Maria Van Delden, Kars-Michiel Lenssen, Manfred Muller, Leon Wilhelmus Godefridus Stofmeel
  • Publication number: 20110122796
    Abstract: A computer algorithm for grouping a derived spatial arrangement of wireless communication nodes. The wireless communication nodes form a wireless communication network and are configured to control the operation of luminaires in a lighting array. The position of each node in the communication network corresponds to the position of a particular luminaire in the lighting array. The algorithm divides the arrangement of nodes into a plurality of spatial groups, each of which is defined by a line which joins the group's member nodes together. The groups are ranked according to their statistical attributes and a number of groups are selected as control groups, such that the member nodes, and hence luminaires, of each control group may be controlled by a single switch or sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Richard Simons, Stephen Michael Pitchers
  • Publication number: 20090045971
    Abstract: A computer algorithm (36) employing decision trees in order to assign wireless communication nodes (12-19,39-43) in a derived spatial arrangement. In a first embodiment, the algorithm (36) assigns nodes to an array of positions corresponding to the positions of luminaires (2-9) in a lighting array (1) to enable the lighting array (1) to be commissioned automatically. In a second embodiment, the algorithm (36) assigns nodes to control groups (49-51) such that the member nodes of a particular control group (49-51) may be controlled by a single switch or sensor (46-48). The use of decision trees allows the final assignment of nodes to be delayed until more information has been taken into account, thus, the algorithm (36) is able to select the best overall configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Richard Simons, Stephen Michael Pitchers