Patents by Inventor Walter S. Zaharchuk

Walter S. Zaharchuk 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).

  • Publication number: 20130049664
    Abstract: A load control system provides for automatically controlling a position of a motorized window treatment to control the amount of sunlight entering a space of a building through a window located in a façade of the building in order to control a sunlight penetration distance within the space and minimize occupant distractions. The load control system automatically generates a timeclock schedule having a number of timeclock events for controlling the position of the motorized window treatment during the present day. A user is able to select a desired maximum sunlight penetration distance for the space and a minimum time period that may occur between any two consecutive timeclock events. In addition, a maximum number of movements that may occur during the timeclock schedule may also be entered. The load control system uses these inputs to determine event times and corresponding positions of the motorized window treatment for each timeclock event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Walter S. Zaharchuk, Brian Michael Courtney, William Bryce Fricke, William H. Howe, Timothy S. Majewski, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20120286675
    Abstract: A glow-in-the-dark night light for a control device allows the control device to be easily found when the control device is located in a dark space. The night light may be provided on an actuator of the control device and may comprises a glow-in-the-dark material that has a luminance spectrum that decays with time after initial excitation. The night light is illuminated by an electromagnetic-energy-generating element to periodically recharge the glow-in-the-dark material with adequate energy to keep the glow-in-the-dark material visible in low ambient light conditions. The electromagnetic-energy-generating element draws relatively little current, such that the night light may be provided in a battery-powered remote control that has an acceptable battery lifetime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Lawrence R. Carmen, Matthew Philip McDonald, Walter S. Zaharchuk
  • Patent number: 8288981
    Abstract: A load control system provides for automatically controlling a position of a motorized window treatment to control the amount of sunlight entering a space of a building through a window located in a façade of the building in order to control a sunlight penetration distance within the space and minimize occupant distractions. The load control system automatically generates a timeclock schedule having a number of timeclock events for controlling the position of the motorized window treatment during the present day. A user is able to select a desired maximum sunlight penetration distance for the space and a minimum time period that may occur between any two consecutive timeclock events. In addition, a maximum number of movements that may occur during the timeclock schedule may also be entered. The load control system uses these inputs to determine event times and corresponding positions of the motorized window treatment for each timeclock event of the timeclock schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Walter S. Zaharchuk, Brian Michael Courtney, William Bryce Fricke, William H. Howe, Timothy S. Majewski, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20120095601
    Abstract: A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load, a motorized window treatment comprising a window treatment fabric for covering the window, a temperature control device for controlling a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building, and a dynamic keypad comprising a visual display and operable to receive a user input. The dynamic keypad allows a user to select, adjust, and monitor a plurality of energy-savings modes of the load control system. For example, the dynamic keypad allows the user to enable and adjust a setback temperature of the temperature control device on-the-fly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Arya Abraham, Gregory Altonen, Nikhil Vithal Bhate, Erica L. Clymer, William Bryce Fricke, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo, Stephen M. Ludwig, JR., Lauren B. Margolin, Michael W. Pessina, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20120091213
    Abstract: A wall-mountable temperature control device having a vertically-arranged temperature adjustment actuator for adjusting a setpoint temperature of a temperature control system to thus control a present temperature in a building, a room temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the present temperature of the building, and a setpoint temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the setpoint temperature. The room and setpoint temperature visual displays each comprising a linear array of light-emitting diodes arranged parallel to the temperature adjustment actuator and controlled such that one of the light-emitting diodes of the setpoint temperature visual display is illuminated to display the setpoint temperature in response to the actuations of the temperature adjustment actuator and one of the light-emitting diodes of the room temperature visual display is illuminated to display the present temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Nikhil Vithal Bhate, Elliot G. Jacoby, Michael W. Pessina, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20120091804
    Abstract: A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load, a daylight control device (such as a motorized window treatment) for adjusting the amount of natural light to be admitted through a window, and a controller for adjusting a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building. In response to receiving a demand response command, the controller controls the lighting control device, the daylight control device, and the heating and cooling system so as to decrease a total power consumption of the load control system. The load control system may comprise a controllable switching device for disconnecting power to or disconnecting the control lines to one or more components of the heating and cooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, William Bryce Fricke, Elliot G. Jacoby, Michael W. Pessina, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20110266122
    Abstract: Directional indicators on the control buttons of an electrical control for a light dimmer or a motor controller are formed by triangular lines with vertices pointing away from one another and in a direction related to the change initiated by pressing the related button. The indicia are formed by narrow lines of length less than about one hundred thousands of an inch, and tend to disappear from view as an observer is farther away from the control buttons. The buttons are formed of right triangles with adjacent spaced hypotenuses and fit into a rectangular area. On/off rectangular buttons of the same color as the control buttons are atop and below the rectangular area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Walter S. Zaharchuk, Elliot G. Jacoby, JR., Nathan Butler, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20110031806
    Abstract: A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load, a daylight control device, such as a motorized window treatment, for adjusting the amount of natural light to be admitted through a window, and a temperature control device for controlling a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building. The load control system may also comprise a controllable electrical receptacle for turning on and off a plug-in electrical load connected thereto. The lighting control device, the daylight control device, the temperature control device, and the controllable receptacle are controlled so as to decrease a total power consumption of the load control system in response to a received demand response command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, William Bryce Fricke, Elliot G. Jacoby, Michael W. Pessina, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20110035061
    Abstract: A load control system for a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building is operable to control a motorized window treatment in response to a demand response command in order to attempt to reduce the power consumption of the heating and cooling system. When the window may be receiving direct sunlight, the motorized window treatment closes a fabric covering the window when the heating and cooling system is cooling the building, and opens the fabric when the heating and cooling system is heating the building. In addition, when the space is unoccupied and the heating and cooling system is heating the building, the motorized window treatment may open the fabric if the window may be receiving direct sunlight, and may close the fabric if the window may not be receiving direct sunlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, William Bryce Fricke, Elliot G. Jacoby, Michael W. Pessina, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20110029136
    Abstract: A load control system for a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building uses a daylighting procedure to adjust the amount of power delivered to the lighting load in response to the amount of daylight entering the window, and controls amount of daylight entering the window in order to attempt to reduce the power consumption of the heating and cooling system if the daylighting procedure is not causing the heating and cooling system to save energy. If the lighting load is consuming more energy when the fabric of the motorized window treatment is at a position above the fully-closed position than the lighting load would consume if the fabric was at the fully-closed position, the motorized window treatment moves the fabric to the fully-closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, William Bryce Fricke, Elliot G. Jacoby, Michael W. Pessina, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20110029139
    Abstract: A load control system for a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building controls amount of daylight entering the window in order to attempt to reduce the power consumption of the heating and cooling system, and adjusts amount of daylight entering the window if the heating and cooling system is not saving energy. A motorized window treatment of the load control system is operable to move a fabric covering the window in a first direction, and a temperature control device is operable to subsequently determine if the heating and cooling system is consuming more energy than when the fabric was in the initial position. The motorized window treatment then moves the fabric in a second direction opposite the first direction if the heating and cooling system is consuming more energy than when the fabric was in the initial position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, William Bryce Fricke, Elliot G. Jacoby, Michael W. Pessina, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20100071856
    Abstract: A load control system provides for automatically controlling a position of a motorized window treatment to control the amount of sunlight entering a space of a building through a window located in a façade of the building in order to control a sunlight penetration distance within the space and minimize occupant distractions. The load control system automatically generates a timeclock schedule having a number of timeclock events for controlling the position of the motorized window treatment during the present day. A user is able to select a desired maximum sunlight penetration distance for the space and a minimum time period that may occur between any two consecutive timeclock events. In addition, a maximum number of movements that may occur during the timeclock schedule may also be entered. The load control system uses these inputs to determine event times and corresponding positions of the motorized window treatment for each timeclock event of the timeclock schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Walter S. Zaharchuk, Brian Michael Courtney, William Bryce Fricke, William H. Howe, Timothy S. Majewski, Joel S. Spira
  • Patent number: 7663325
    Abstract: A programmable wallbox dimmer is disclosed. Upon entering a programming mode, the dimmer presents a main menu from which the user may select one or more features to program. The user may scroll through a list of programmable features by actuating the dimmer's raise/lower intensity actuator. The user may select a highlighted feature by actuating the dimmer's control switch. The dimmer may enter a value selection mode that is associated with the selected feature. In the value selection mode, the user may scroll through a list of features that define the selected feature by actuating the dimmer's raise/lower intensity actuator. The user may select a value for the selected feature. The selected value may be stored in the dimmer's memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Bridget McDonough, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Edward J. Blair
  • Publication number: 20070272532
    Abstract: The present invention provides a means for easily ganging together a traditional-style dimmer switch and a designer-style dimmer switch in a multi-gang designer-style faceplate. Specifically, a faceplate adapter for a load control device according to the present invention comprises a front surface, an adapter opening in the front surface, and an attachment post. The front surface defines a first area substantially the same size as a faceplate opening of a designer-style faceplate. The adapter opening defines a second area substantially the same size as a faceplate opening of a traditional-style faceplate. The attachment post allows the adapter to be secured to the load control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Pessina, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Jon M. Keagy, Andrew R. Wakefield, Louis G. Rollo, Greg Edward Sloan
  • Patent number: 7190125
    Abstract: A programmable wallbox dimmer is disclosed. Upon entering a programming mode, the dimmer presents a main menu from which the user may select one or more features to program. The user may scroll through a list of programmable features by actuating the dimmer's raise/lower intensity actuator. The user may select a highlighted feature by actuating the dimmer's control switch. The dimmer may enter a value selection mode that is associated with the selected feature. In the value selection mode, the user may scroll through a list of features that define the selected feature by actuating the dimmer's raise/lower intensity actuator. The user may select a value for the selected feature. The selected value may be stored in the dimmer's memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Bridget McDonough, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Edward J. Blair
  • Patent number: 6046550
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for use in a light dimming circuit of the tape which selectively controls the current flow through a lighting load to adjust its luminous output. The dimming circuit has a controllably conductive device, such as a triac, connectable in series between an A.C. power source and a lighting load, and a control circuit which responds to a dimming level control signal to selectively apply a selected portion of an A.C. voltage waveform produced by the A.C. power source to the lighting load to adjust the RMS voltage across the load. The selected portion is determined by a firing angle at which the control circuit causes the controllably conductive device to conduct power during each half cycle of the A.C. waveform. The diagnostic appararus has a senior to sense the operating status of a component of the dimming circuit and/or the presence of the dimming level control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan H. Ference, Donald F. Hausman, John F. Loar, Robert S. Spehalski, Walter S. Zaharchuk
  • Patent number: 5990635
    Abstract: A lighting dimmer for controlling the current through a lighting load includes circuitry for applying a predetermined dimming level control signal to a control circuit in response to the absence of a dimming level control signal and the cycling OFF and ON of a circuit breaker. The dimmer further includes voltage compensation circuitry for maintaining a constant lighting load current notwithstanding short-lived changes in nominal line voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan H. Ference, Donald F. Hausman, John F. Loar, Robert S. Spehalski, Walter S. Zaharchuk
  • Patent number: 5808417
    Abstract: A dimmer panel for controlling the intensity of a plurality of electric light sources includes a plurality of dimming circuits. Each dimming circuit has a control circuit, a heat producing controllably conductive power switch such as a triac, and a heat producing coil such as a choke. The power switches and coils are arranged on a corrugated heat sink to minimize component temperatures in the dimming control circuit and of the power switches. The heat producing coils are remotely located from the control circuit and the power switches, so that the heat generated by the coils does not increase the temperature of the components in the control circuit or of the power switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan H. Ference, Donald F. Hausman, John F. Loar, Robert S. Spehalski, Walter S. Zaharchuk
  • Patent number: 5530322
    Abstract: A lighting control system operates to control multiple zones of lighting through multiple dimming circuits so as to achieve any one of several desired lighting scenes. The system includes a plurality of wallbox control units which collectively operate to multiplex digital lighting control information on a communications link. Each wallbox control unit includes a plurality of zone-intensity actuators which are manipulatable to alter the information transmitted by their respective wallbox control so as to vary the lighting intensity of an associated lighting zone. A central lighting control panel includes a microprocessor adapted to receive and processes the multiplexed information transmitted on the link, and re-transmit digital lighting control information, on a second multiplex link, to the dimming circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan H. Ference, Donald F. Hausman, John F. Loar, Robert S. Spehalski, Walter S. Zaharchuk
  • Patent number: D562260
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Pessina, Walter S. Zaharchuk, Edward J. Blair