Patents by Inventor William Zotter
William Zotter 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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Patent number: 10325740Abstract: A load control device (e.g., a switching device) for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical device (e.g., a lighting load) may be configured to detect that a relay is stuck closed and attempt to fix the relay. The relay of the load control device may be adapted to be coupled between the source and the electrical device to control the power delivered to the electrical device so as to generate a switched-hot voltage. The load control device may comprise a detect circuit configured to generate a detect signal indicating a magnitude of the switched-hot voltage, and a control circuit configured to monitor the detect signal. The control circuit may be configured to determine that the relay is stuck closed in response to the detect signal, and to control the relay in order to attempt to fix the relay by repeatedly closing and opening the relay.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2017Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventor: William Zotter
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Publication number: 20190179354Abstract: A two-wire load control device may be configured to compute an accurate estimate of real-time power consumption by a load that is electrically connected to, and controlled by, the two-wire load control device. The load control device may be adapted to measure a voltage drop across the device during a first portion of a half-cycle of an AC waveform provided to the device. The device may be further configured to estimate a voltage drop across the load during the second portion of the half-cycle. The estimated voltage drop may be based on the measured voltage drop. The device may be further configured to measure a current supplied to the load during a second portion of the half-cycle. The device may be configured to estimate power consumed by the load based on the measured current and the estimated voltage drop.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2018Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Matthew Robert Blakeley, William Zotter
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Patent number: 10082815Abstract: A two-wire load control device may be configured to compute an accurate estimate of real-time power consumption by a load that is electrically connected to, and controlled by, the two-wire load control device. The load control device may be adapted to measure a voltage drop across the device during a first portion of a half-cycle of an AC waveform provided to the device. The device may be further configured to estimate a voltage drop across the load during the second portion of the half-cycle. The estimated voltage drop may be based on the measured voltage drop. The device may be further configured to measure a current supplied to the load during a second portion of the half-cycle. The device may be configured to estimate power consumed by the load based on the measured current and the estimated voltage drop.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Matthew Robert Blakeley, William Zotter
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Publication number: 20170223812Abstract: A lighting device, such as a two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device and a control circuit. The controllably conductive device may supply an AC line voltage to a load in response to a dive signal such that the controllable conductive device is non-conductive for a first duration of time and conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The control circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device that represents a voltage developed across the controllable conductive device during the first duration of time. The control circuit may generate a sine-wave-shaped signal that complements the voltage developed across the controllably conductive device during the second duration of time. The control circuit may also filter the signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the sine-wave-shaped signal during the second duration of time.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: William Zotter, Bingrui Yang, Henry Kite
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Publication number: 20170162351Abstract: A load control device (e.g., a switching device) for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical device (e.g., a lighting load) may be configured to detect that a relay is stuck closed and attempt to fix the relay. The relay of the load control device may be adapted to be coupled between the source and the electrical device to control the power delivered to the electrical device so as to generate a switched-hot voltage. The load control device may comprise a detect circuit configured to generate a detect signal indicating a magnitude of the switched-hot voltage, and a control circuit configured to monitor the detect signal. The control circuit may be configured to determine that the relay is stuck closed in response to the detect signal, and to control the relay in order to attempt to fix the relay by repeatedly closing and opening the relay.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventor: William Zotter
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Patent number: 9674933Abstract: A two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device, a signal generation circuit, and a filter circuit. The controllably conductive device may apply an AC line voltage to a load, being conductive for a first duration of time and non-conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The signal generation circuit may generate a non-zero-magnitude signal. And, the filter circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the non-zero-magnitude signal from the signal generation circuit during the second duration of time. The non-zero-magnitude signal may, in effect, fill-in or complement the signal from the controllably conductive device, and any delay variation as a function of the firing angle of the controllably conductive device through the filter circuit may be mitigated by the presence of the non-zero-magnitude signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2015Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: William Zotter, Bingrui Yang, Henry Kite
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Patent number: 9609704Abstract: A load control device (e.g., a switching device) for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical device (e.g., a lighting load) may be configured to detect that a relay is stuck closed and attempt to fix the relay. The relay of the load control device may be adapted to be coupled between the source and the electrical device to control the power delivered to the electrical device so as to generate a switched-hot voltage. The load control device may comprise a detect circuit configured to generate a detect signal indicating a magnitude of the switched-hot voltage, and a control circuit configured to monitor the detect signal. The control circuit may be configured to determine that the relay is stuck closed in response to the detect signal, and to control the relay in order to attempt to fix the relay by repeatedly closing and opening the relay.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventor: William Zotter
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Publication number: 20160295652Abstract: A load control device (e.g., a switching device) for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical device (e.g., a lighting load) may be configured to detect that a relay is stuck closed and attempt to fix the relay. The relay of the load control device may be adapted to be coupled between the source and the electrical device to control the power delivered to the electrical device so as to generate a switched-hot voltage. The load control device may comprise a detect circuit configured to generate a detect signal indicating a magnitude of the switched-hot voltage, and a control circuit configured to monitor the detect signal. The control circuit may be configured to determine that the relay is stuck closed in response to the detect signal, and to control the relay in order to attempt to fix the relay by repeatedly closing and opening the relay.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventor: William Zotter
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Publication number: 20160124453Abstract: A two-wire load control device may be configured to compute an accurate estimate of real-time power consumption by a load that is electrically connected to, and controlled by, the two-wire load control device. The load control device may be adapted to measure a voltage drop across the device during a first portion of a half-cycle of an AC waveform provided to the device. The device may be further configured to estimate a voltage drop across the load during the second portion of the half-cycle. The estimated voltage drop may be based on the measured voltage drop. The device may be further configured to measure a current supplied to the load during a second portion of the half-cycle. The device may be configured to estimate power consumed by the load based on the measured current and the estimated voltage drop.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2016Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Matthew Robert Blakeley, William Zotter
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Patent number: 9250669Abstract: A two-wire load control device may be configured to compute an accurate estimate of real-time power consumption by a load that is electrically connected to, and controlled by, the two-wire load control device. The load control device may be adapted to measure a voltage drop across the device during a first portion of a half-cycle of an AC waveform provided to the device. The device may be further configured to estimate a voltage drop across the load during the second portion of the half-cycle. The estimated voltage drop may be based on the measured voltage drop. The device may be further configured to measure a current supplied to the load during a second portion of the half-cycle. The device may be configured to estimate power consumed by the load based on the measured current and the estimated voltage drop.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Matthew Robert Blakeley, William Zotter
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Publication number: 20150373817Abstract: A two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device, a signal generation circuit, and a filter circuit. The controllably conductive device may apply an AC line voltage to a load, being conductive for a first duration of time and non-conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The signal generation circuit may generate a non-zero-magnitude signal. And, the filter circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the non-zero-magnitude signal from the signal generation circuit during the second duration of time. The non-zero-magnitude signal may, in effect, fill-in or complement the signal from the controllably conductive device, and any delay variation as a function of the firing angle of the controllably conductive device through the filter circuit may be mitigated by the presence of the non-zero-magnitude signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2015Publication date: December 24, 2015Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: William Zotter, Bingrui Yang, Henry Kite
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Patent number: 9155162Abstract: A two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device, a signal generation circuit, and a filter circuit. The controllably conductive device may apply an AC line voltage to a load, being conductive for a first duration of time and non-conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The signal generation circuit may generate a non-zero-magnitude signal. And, the filter circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the non-zero-magnitude signal from the signal generation circuit during the second duration of time. The non-zero-magnitude signal may, in effect, fill-in or complement the signal from the controllably conductive device, and any delay variation as a function of the firing angle of the controllably conductive device through the filter circuit may be mitigated by the presence of the non-zero-magnitude signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: William Zotter, Bingrui Yang, Henry Kite
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Publication number: 20140081474Abstract: A two-wire load control device may be configured to compute an accurate estimate of real-time power consumption by a load that is electrically connected to, and controlled by, the two-wire load control device. The load control device may be adapted to measure a voltage drop across the device during a first portion of a half-cycle of an AC waveform provided to the device. The device may be further configured to estimate a voltage drop across the load during the second portion of the half-cycle. The estimated voltage drop may be based on the measured voltage drop. The device may be further configured to measure a current supplied to the load during a second portion of the half-cycle. The device may be configured to estimate power consumed by the load based on the measured current and the estimated voltage drop.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Inventors: Matthew Robert Blakeley, William Zotter
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Publication number: 20140077718Abstract: A two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device, a signal generation circuit, and a filter circuit. The controllably conductive device may apply an AC line voltage to a load, being conductive for a first duration of time and non-conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The signal generation circuit may generate a non-zero-magnitude signal. And, the filter circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the non-zero-magnitude signal from the signal generation circuit during the second duration of time. The non-zero-magnitude signal may, in effect, fill-in or complement the signal from the controllably conductive device, and any delay variation as a function of the firing angle of the controllably conductive device through the filter circuit may be mitigated by the presence of the non-zero-magnitude signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: William Zotter, Bingrui Yang, Henry Kite
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Patent number: 7468132Abstract: A method and a facility for the treatment of waste from concentrated animal feed operations are disclosed. The method includes receiving manure at a central location, digesting the manure and producing therefrom combustible gases, solid matter and water containing dissolved organic pollutants. The combustible gases are used to provide energy and the water is separated from the solid matter. The solid matter is dried to produce a useful bedding material and the water is treated using an activated sludge aeration system to reduce the dissolved organic pollutants to carbon dioxide, bacteria and water. The facility includes various means for executing the method and includes an ultrasonic treatment station for disrupting bacteria cell walls to improve digestion efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2006Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignees: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc.Inventors: Jay William Zotter, Jason David Wert, Christopher Anthony Quentin Harvey
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Publication number: 20080093292Abstract: A method and a facility for the treatment of waste from concentrated animal feed operations are disclosed. The method includes receiving manure at a central location, digesting the manure and producing therefrom combustible gases, solid matter and water containing dissolved organic pollutants. The combustible gases are used to provide energy and the water is separated from the solid matter. The solid matter is dried to produce a useful bedding material and the water is treated using an activated sludge aeration system to reduce the dissolved organic pollutants to carbon dioxide, bacteria and water. The facility includes various means for executing the method and includes an ultrasonic treatment station for disrupting bacteria cell walls to improve digestion efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2006Publication date: April 24, 2008Inventors: Jay William Zotter, Jason David Wert, Christopher Anthony Quentin Harvey