Patents by Inventor Theodore F. Economy

Theodore F. Economy 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: 9923633
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between the source and the load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals directly from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore F. Economy
  • Publication number: 20170193789
    Abstract: A carbon monoxide poison prevention system comprising: a system smartphone application; a system website functionality; hardware comprising a Bluetooth enabled smart carbon monoxide sensor; hardware comprising a portable carbon monoxide prevention system; and a module vehicle carbon monoxide prevention system, hardware comprising a building carbon monoxide prevention system or a combination of both module and hardware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Theodore F. Economy, Kenneth R. Karlin
  • Publication number: 20170142246
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for minimizing the risk that a cognitively impaired individual will wander or elope, and for locating the individual in case he or she nonetheless successfully wanders or elopes. The system employs a wearable appliance which the cognitively impaired individual should not be able to remove easily. The system also employs a smartphone having an application for use by a care giver. A website and cloud server are employed for communication of data from the wearable appliance to the smartphone and from the smartphone to the website. In an optional embodiment, the smartphone can initiate notifications to other smartphones held by other individuals who can assist in the search.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Theodore F. ECONOMY, John George ENGLESSON, II
  • Publication number: 20170064798
    Abstract: A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore F. Economy, John C. Browne, William Bryce Fricke, Galen Edgar Knode, Ryan S. Bedell, Christopher J. Salvestrini
  • Patent number: 9544977
    Abstract: A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Theodore F. Economy, John C. Browne, Jr., William Bryce Fricke, Galen Edgar Knode, Ryan S. Bedell, Christopher J. Salvestrini
  • Publication number: 20160285550
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between the source and the load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals directly from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore F. Economy
  • Patent number: 9386666
    Abstract: A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a wireless communication module operable to receive Wi-Fi communications on a local area network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain programming instructions from the received optical signal to enable the wireless communication module to receive digital messages via the Wi-Fi communications on the local area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore F. Economy
  • Publication number: 20130026947
    Abstract: A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Theodore F. Economy, John C. Browne, JR., William Bryce Fricke, Galen Edgar Knode
  • Publication number: 20130030589
    Abstract: A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Pessina, Theodore F. Economy, John C. Browne, JR.
  • Publication number: 20130010018
    Abstract: A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventor: Theodore F. Economy
  • Patent number: 8103548
    Abstract: A transaction router and corresponding process that enables the point-of-sale activation (POSA) of POSA type devices, such as POSA pre-paid gift cards, debit cards, telephone cards and cellular replenishment cards, while utilizing a standard credit card swipe terminal (reader). The transaction router, during use, receives the output of the reader and allows standard credit and debit card transactions to pass to the financial transaction processing entity that is called by the reader, to allow the financial transaction to be carried out. If the card or device being read by the reader is a POSA type device to be activated, then the router routes the communication initiated by the reader to another processing entity capable of activating the POSA device. The reader is unaware of the existence of the router and operates in its ordinary manner, whether standard credit and debit cards are being processed, or whether a POSA card or other POSA device is being activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: e2interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore F. Economy, Gregory R. Sturm, Leslie A. Uzar
  • Publication number: 20090228364
    Abstract: A transaction router and corresponding process that enables the point-of-sale activation (POSA) of POSA type devices, such as POSA pre-paid gift cards, debit cards, telephone cards and cellular replenishment cards, while utilizing a standard credit card swipe terminal (reader). The transaction router, during use, receives the output of the reader and allows standard credit and debit card transactions to pass to the financial transaction processing entity that is called by the reader, to allow the financial transaction to be carried out. If the card or device being read by the reader is a POSA type device to be activated, then the router routes the communication initiated by the reader to another processing entity capable of activating the POSA device. The reader is unaware of the existence of the router and operates in its ordinary manner, whether standard credit and debit cards are being processed, or whether a POSA card or other POSA device is being activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Theodore F. Economy, Gregory R. Sturm, Leslie A. Uzar
  • Patent number: 7580859
    Abstract: A transaction router and corresponding process that enables the point-of-sale activation (POSA) of POSA type devices, such as POSA pre-paid gift cards, debit cards, telephone cards and cellular replenishment cards, while utilizing a standard credit card swipe terminal (reader). The transaction router, during use, receives the output of the reader and allows standard credit and debit card transactions to pass to the financial transaction processing entity that is called by the reader, to allow the financial transaction to be carried out. If the card or device being read by the reader is a POSA type device to be activated, then the router routes the communication initiated by the reader to another processing entity capable of activating the POSA device. The reader is unaware of the existence of the router and operates in its ordinary manner, whether standard credit and debit cards are being processed, or whether a POSA card or other POSA device is being activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Coinstar E-Payment Services Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore F. Economy, Gregory R. Sturm, Leslie A. Uzar
  • Patent number: 4941799
    Abstract: A height and tilt adjustable wheelchair support has a stationary base (30) with a main support leg (38) thereon. A platform (50) receives a wheelchair (20) and the platform (50) is connected to the main support leg (38) via a chassis (70), vertically movable via a length extendable cylinder (78) connected between the base (30) and the chassis (70). A second length-adjustable cylinder (88) rotates the wheelchair supporting platform (50) relative to the chassis (70) around a pivot (92) such that the wheelchair (20) can be raised, lowered, or tilted, via independent controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Gordecon, Inc.
    Inventors: George W. Gordon, Theodore F. Economy
  • Patent number: 4860876
    Abstract: A vending machine for articles, such as videotape cassettes, includes a rotatable turret having article-retaining compartments in which the articles to be dispensed are retained, and a vertically movable robotic arm located adjacent the turret for removing a desired article from the turret and directing the article to a discharge opening in the device. Preferably the vending machine is computer controlled to dispense the desired article from the machine, based upon an input signal provided by a user, and also to return an article to the machine, when the user desires to return it. A unique package arrangement for a videotape cassette includes a case having opposed planar walls and passageways extending through the surfaces in a central location thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Midway Video, Ltd.
    Inventors: William A. Moore, Constantine F. Economy, Theodore F. Economy