Patents by Inventor William Lark, JR.

William Lark, JR. 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: 20180014383
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system. The lighting control system includes a base module including a base housing forming a well and including a first electrical connector positioned in the well. A depressible switch is housed in the well that includes a spring biasing the depressible switch into an extended position that opens an electrical circuit between the power terminal and the first electrical connector. The lighting control system also includes a light switch module configured for nesting, at least in part, in the well of the base module. The light switch module includes a module housing configured to press the depressible switch into a retracted position upon nesting in the well and thereby close the electrical circuit between the power terminal and the first electrical connector and release the depressible switch into the extended position when unnested from the well of the base module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas David Pennycooke, William Lark, JR., Ryan Aylward
  • Publication number: 20180014388
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system including an electrical connector interface. The lighting control system includes a module housing, a switch control circuit positioned in the module housing and including a processor configured to modulate a flow of electrical energy to a lighting circuit via a dimmer circuit to produce a plurality of lighting scenes. The lighting control system includes a graphical user interface coupled to the module housing and communicably coupled to the switch control circuit. The lighting control system includes a first electrical connector electrically connected to the switch control circuit and at least one of extending from and recessed in a surface of the module housing. The electrical connector includes a plurality of electrical pins. The first electrical connector is configured for a press fit engagement with a second electrical connector of a base module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas David Pennycooke, William Lark, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180014381
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system. A first switch control circuit of a first lighting control module of a plurality of lighting control modules is actuated. The actuation is detected at each lighting control module in the plurality of lighting control modules. The light sensor in each lighting control module are polled by the respective processor in each lighting control module, to detect a change in a light level. The change in the light level detected by the respective lighting control module is transmitting, from each lighting control module. The lighting control modules that detected the change in the light level are catalogued into a 1st zone of one or more zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventor: William Lark, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180014390
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system configured for customization based user detection. A lighting control system includes a module housing, a graphical user interface, and a switch control circuit including a processor configured to modulate the flow of electrical energy to a lighting circuit via a dimmer circuit to produce a plurality of lighting scenes. The processor is configured to identify a proximate device identification, compare the identified device with one or more registered devices saved in a dataset, select a user profile, if the identified device corresponds to one of the one or more registered devices saved in the dataset. The processor is configured to cause a change in at least one of a scene selection protocol for selecting at least one lighting scene from the plurality of lighting scenes based on the user profile selected and a display setting of the graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Ryan Aylward, William Lark, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180014389
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system. The lighting control system includes a module housing, a graphical user interface coupled to the module housing and a switch control circuit positioned in the housing and including a processor. The processor is configured to modulate the flow of electrical energy to a lighting circuit via a dimmer circuit. The switch control circuit is electrically connected to the graphical user interface. The processor is also configured to identify a device identification address compare the identified device address with one or more registered identification addresses saved in a dataset. The processor is configured to catalogue a command received at the processor and at least one event parameter detected contemporaneously with receipt of the command, if the identified proximate device identification address corresponds to one of the one or more registered device identification addresses saved in the dataset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Ann Claire Lim Chi Cheung, William Lark, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180014391
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system for automated lighting adjustments. The system includes a lighting control module configured to cause a transmission of a quantity of electrical energy to a lighting circuit and a detector circuit positioned in the lighting control module and configured to detect a change in a strength of detected signal, such as wireless signal. The system includes a controller coupled to the detector circuit and the lighting control module. The controller includes a processor configured to determine a time of day and to cause the lighting control module to change the quantity of electrical energy transmitted to the lighting circuit in response to the time of day exceeding a predetermined time threshold and the change in the strength of the wireless signal falling below a predetermined value. The controller can cause the lighting control module to reduce the quantity of electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: William Lark, JR., Erik Allen Charlton
  • Publication number: 20180012710
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system including a scalable wall-plate system. The wall-plate system is used for installation of a plurality of base modules in a multi-gang electrical box. The base modules in a base housing forms a well and includes a first electrical connector positioned in the well. A first light control module of a plurality of light control modules is nested in a first base module. A wall-plate cover is connected to the plurality of base modules such that the nested first light control module is positioned in a recess formed in a back surface of the wall-plate cover such that an aperture in the wall-plate cover is positioned over a well in a second base module of the plurality of base modules. A second light control module is nested through the aperture and into the well of the second base module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: William Lark, JR., Nicholas David Pennycooke
  • Publication number: 20180013428
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system include a pre-mount chassis system. The methods include attaching a chassis to an electrical wall box, the chassis comprising at least one hook extending in an upward direction and at least one opening, the at least one hook positioned along a peripheral portion of the at least one opening. The methods include hanging a base module from the at least one hook in the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventor: William Lark, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180014392
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system configured for automated lighting adjustments. A light control module of the lighting control system receives a signal, such as an alarm signal, from an electronic device, such as a mobile electronic device. The light control module is configured to cause a transmission of a quantity of electrical energy to a lighting circuit of a light fixture electrically connected to the lighting control module. The light control module causes a quantity of electrical energy to be transmitted to a lighting circuit at a particular time of day determined based on the alarm signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Erik Allen Charlton, William Lark, JR., Ann Claire Lim Chi Cheung
  • Publication number: 20180014393
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system for automated lighting adjustments. The system includes a first light control module configured to cause a transmission of a first quantity of electrical energy to a first lighting circuit of a first light fixture electrically connected to the first lighting control module. The system transmits a control message from the first light control module to at least one second light control module configured to cause a transmission of a second quantity of electrical energy to at least one second lighting circuit of at least one second light fixture electrically connected to the at least one second lighting control module. The system changes a flow of electricity from the at least one second light control module to the at least one second lighting circuit based on the input received via the first light control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Ann Claire Lim Chi Cheung, William Lark, JR.
  • Patent number: 9839099
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides light switch modules and methods of implementing a light switch module for a lighting control system. The light switch modules include a light switch actuator including an actuation surface. The light switch actuator is movable to connect an electrical flow path and to activate a tactile display housed in the light switch actuator. One or more tactile motions are applied on the actuation surface of the light switch actuator for selecting a lighting setting from among a plurality of lighting settings using the tactile display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Noon Home, Inc.
    Inventors: William Lark, Jr., Ann Claire Lim Chi Cheung
  • Patent number: 9838008
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides modular lighting control system interfaces and method of implementing modular lighting control system interface for a lighting control system. The lighting control system includes a light switch module including a light switch actuator coupled to an actuator circuit board system. The light switch actuator is configured to move with respect to the actuator circuit board. The actuator circuit board includes a low power circuit electrically connected to a low power circuit electrical connector. The light switch also includes a light switch base module including a base housing forming a well configured to receive, at least in part, the actuator circuit board. The high power circuit electrical connector is configured to engage the low power circuit electrical connector. The high power circuit board includes a voltage reducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Noon Home, Inc.
    Inventors: William Lark, Jr., Ann Claire Lim Chi Cheung, Nicholas David Pennycooke
  • Publication number: 20170295631
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides lighting control system multi-switch apparatuses and methods. The apparatuses include a lighting control module including at least three electrical terminals. The lighting control module is configured to cause a transmission of a quantity of electrical energy to a lighting circuit of a light fixture electrically connected to the lighting control module. The apparatus includes a detector circuit positioned in the lighting control module. The detector circuit is electrically coupled to the traveler terminal and is configured to detect a grounding of the traveler terminal. The apparatus includes a controller in electrical communication with the detector circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: William Lark, JR., Ryan Aylward, Peng Li
  • Publication number: 20170295630
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides lighting control system synchronization apparatuses and method of implementing lighting control system synchronization apparatuses. The lighting control system includes a communication module and a controller configured to coordinate electrical power delivery of a remote lighting control module with electrical power delivery of a local lighting control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: William Lark, JR., Ann Claire Lim Chi Cheung, Ryan Aylward, Canyon Bliss, Eric Charlton
  • Publication number: 20170295624
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for bulb detection for a lighting control system. The apparatus includes a lighting control module configured to cause a transmission of a quantity of electrical energy to a lighting circuit of a light fixture electrically connected to the lighting control module. The apparatus includes a detector circuit positioned in the lighting control module. The detector circuit is configured to measure a response of the lighting circuit to the transmission of the quantity of electrical energy. The apparatus also includes a controller in electrical communication with the detector circuit. The controller is specially programmed to correlate the quantity of electrical energy transmitted to the lighting circuit to the response of the lighting circuit. The controller is further programmed to determine the bulb type of a bulb electrically coupled to the lighting circuit of the light fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: William Lark, JR., Ryan Aylward, Andreas Wagner, Eric Charlton, Nicholas David Pennycooke
  • Publication number: 20170295625
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides lighting control system multi-switch apparatuses and methods. The apparatus includes a lighting control module including at least three electrical terminals. The lighting control module configured to cause a transmission of a quantity of electrical energy to a lighting circuit of a light fixture electrically connected to the lighting control module. The apparatus includes a detector circuit positioned in the lighting control module. The apparatus includes a controller in electrical communication with the detector circuit, the controller specially programmed to cause a call signal to be transmitted to a switch connected to the traveler terminal, the call signal configured to request the switch connected to the traveler terminal transmit a response signal to the controller to identify the switch connected to the traveler terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventor: William Lark, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170257096
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides modular lighting control system interfaces and method of implementing modular lighting control system interface for a lighting control system. The lighting control system includes a light switch module including a light switch actuator coupled to an actuator circuit board system. The light switch actuator is configured to move with respect to the actuator circuit board. The actuator circuit board includes a low power circuit electrically connected to a low power circuit electrical connector. The light switch also includes a light switch base module including a base housing forming a well configured to receive, at least in part, the actuator circuit board. The high power circuit electrical connector is configured to engage the low power circuit electrical connector. The high power circuit board includes a voltage reducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: William Lark, JR., Ann Claire Lim Chi Cheung, Nicholas David Pennycooke
  • Publication number: 20170257930
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides light switch modules and methods of implementing a light switch module for a lighting control system. The light switch modules include a light switch actuator including an actuation surface. The light switch actuator is movable to connect an electrical flow path and to activate a tactile display housed in the light switch actuator. One or more tactile motions are applied on the actuation surface of the light switch actuator for selecting a lighting setting from among a plurality of lighting settings using the tactile display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: William Lark, Jr., Ann Claire Lim Chi Cheung
  • Publication number: 20160031090
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses, methods and systems operable to provide transformable living spaces. The system includes a chassis and a configurable unit movably coupled to the chassis for at least one of translation and rotation with respect to the chassis. The system also includes at least one drivetrain assembly movably coupling the configurable unit to the chassis. The system includes at least one actuator coupled to the configurable unit by the at least one drivetrain assembly. The system also includes at least one robotic controller communicatively coupled to the at least one actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: MORPHLAB, INC.
    Inventors: Hasier Larrea-Tamayo, Ling Yi LIU, Kent Larson, William Lark, JR.
  • Patent number: 8894088
    Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, a foldable vehicle has a foldable chassis. The wheelbase (and thus the overall footprint) of the vehicle can be reduced when parking, and can be extended when driving on the open road. In exemplary implementations the ability to shorten and lengthen the wheelbase is achieved by using two 4-bar linkages, activated by one or more linear actuators positioned in parallel. The dual 4-bar linkage and linear actuator(s) can provide: (i) the ability to maintain full maneuverability in the vehicle's folded and unfolded state; (ii) a fail-safe static system, and (iii) a rigid but transformable chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: William Lark, Jr., Nicholas Pennycooke