Electric Switch Controlled By The Radiant Energy Responsive Device Patents (Class 315/159)
  • Patent number: 10100549
    Abstract: Tents and canopies are ubiquitous for outdoor recreation and gatherings. Tents and canopies are poorly lit, especially during night time. Camping lights such as lanterns are ineffective for lighting the entire space of a tent or canopy. To address these issues, a lighting apparatus can improve the quality of lighting inside a tent or a canopy by lighting a tent using a plurality of flexible strips having lighting elements thereon and providing a housing enclosing a lighting controller circuit for controlling the lighting elements. The flexible strips are electrically coupled to the lighting controller and extends away from the lighting controller. The housing can be hung inside, near the top center point of the tent or canopy to illuminate not only the area inside the tent or canopy, but also the tent or canopy itself. The lighting apparatus has a unique physical design suited for tents, canopies, and automobiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Inventors: Evan Curtis Gunny, Brian Joseph Ravitch, Andrew James Smith
  • Patent number: 9974134
    Abstract: Light-dimming device includes: first and second terminals; switch including switching device connected between terminals; adjuster for varying conduction angle of switch; controller for controlling switch and power supply module for supplying power to controller. Controller includes zero-cross detection circuit for detecting zero-cross of AC voltage, control circuit for generating PWM signal of on-duty ratio corresponding to conduction angle from adjuster, and driver circuit for turning device on and off by PWM signal. Controller allows device to conduct and then turn off within variable period of time, from start of half cycle of AC voltage, shorter than half cycle. Circuit starts generation of pulse in PWM signal when prescribed period of time, shorter than variable period of time, from zero-cross of voltage elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Hayashi, Yoshifumi Suehiro, Kiyoshi Goto
  • Patent number: 9899914
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a DC/DC converter, a drive circuit, and a delay circuit. The drive circuit generates a feedback signal and a PWM signal. The feedback signal indicates whether or not a voltage required for a constant current to flow in a solid-state light emitting device is applied to the solid-state light emitting device. The PWM signal indicates a current supply period during which a current flows in the solid-state light emitting device. The delay circuit delays at least one of a start timing and an end timing of the current supply period with respect to the PWM signal. The DC/DC converter includes: a switching element, and a control circuit which performs control such that the switching element switches in accordance with the feedback signal generated by the drive circuit, during an on-duty period determined by the PWM signal the timing of which has been delayed by the delay circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9900950
    Abstract: An LED controller includes: a light intensity calculator to calculate light intensity values that correspond to points on a desired light output curve; and processing logic configured to: initialize a scaling parameter of the light intensity calculator with a present scaling value that indicates a first number of steps, dynamically receive a subsequent scaling value that indicates a second number of steps at a change time after the light intensity calculator has begun calculation of the light intensity values according to the present scaling value, and change the scaling parameter of the light intensity calculator to the subsequent scaling value before the light intensity calculator has completed calculation of the light intensity values, wherein a difference between a next light intensity value calculated immediately after the change time and a previous light intensity value calculated immediately before the change time is within a flicker threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Henricus Cornelis Johannes Buthker
  • Patent number: 9893538
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein discloses a wireless charging system configured to generate and transmit power waves that, due to physical waveform characteristics converge at a predetermined location in a transmission field to generate a pocket of energy. Receivers associated with an electronic device being powered by the wireless charging system, may extract energy from these pocket of energy and then convert that energy into usable electric power for the electronic device associated with a receiver. The pocket of energy may manifest as a three-dimensional field (e.g., transmission field) where energy may be harvested by a receiver positioned within or nearby the pocket of energy. Video sensors capture actual video images of fields of view within the transmission field, and a processor identifies selected objects, selected events, and/or selected locations within the captured video images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Bell, Michael A. Leabman
  • Patent number: 9894729
    Abstract: An artificial light system that emulates daylight. The system includes at least one light engine, a light diffuser and a controller that is configured to generate light engine control signals based upon geographic location data. The light engine control signals are used to tune at least one of intensity, color temperature and directionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Arborlight, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Forbis, Jonathan King Mapel
  • Patent number: 9894724
    Abstract: An LED lighting system including an LED array including one or more LED lights, a main power supply supplying power to the LED array, and an emergency power source supplying short-term power to the LED array upon detection of a loss of power from the main power supply. The emergency power source consists of a super capacitor array charged by the main power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Lind Equipment Ltd.
    Inventors: Stuart Alan Dack, Brian Charles Astl, Sean Robert Van Doorselaer
  • Patent number: 9860961
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is provided for commissioning improved intelligent, LED-based lighting systems. The LED based lighting systems may include fixtures with one or more LED light bars, integrated sensors, onboard intelligence to send and receive signals and control the LED light bars, and network connectivity to other fixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Digital Lumens Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian J. Chemel, Colin Piepgras, Steve T. Kondo, Scott D. Johnston
  • Patent number: 9860955
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) driving apparatus includes: a power supply circuit supplying driving power to a first LED group and a second LED group, the first LED group and the second LED group being configured to emit light having different color temperatures; a current controlling circuit controlling a first magnitude of a first current flowing through the first LED group and a second magnitude of a second current flowing through the second LED group; and an LED controller concurrently controlling on/off switching operations of a first LED of the first LED group and a second LED of the second LED group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Jung Kim, Bong Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 9839097
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method for controlling a lamp based on a switching action. By applying the present application, switching of a working state of a lamp can be realized by controlling the switching-on and switching-off states of the lamp using a single switch. In the present method, if a switching-on action is detected, the lamp is switched on, and if a switching-off action is detected, the lamp is switched off; another switching-on action performed within a period t0 after the switching-off action is detected is defined as a quick switching-off-and-on operation. The steps of the present method may be realized by functional modules, which may be implemented by a computer program stored in a computer-readable storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SMART HERO ENTERPRISES LIMITED
    Inventor: Wilson Yu Sang Mak
  • Patent number: 9801247
    Abstract: A light-dimming device includes a switch including a switching device, a controller, and a power supply module. The power supply module includes a capacitor to be charged by a constant voltage circuit. The controller includes a driver circuit, a zero-cross detection circuit, a detecting circuit, and a control circuit, and receive electric power from the capacitor. The driver circuit drives the switching device in accordance with a PWM signal. The control circuit starts generation of a pulse, to be contained in the PWM signal, for turning on the switching device after the zero-cross detection circuit detects zero-cross and also a voltage across the capacitor is threshold or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Hayashi, Yoshifumi Suehiro, Kiyoshi Goto
  • Patent number: 9791631
    Abstract: An electrical wiring device includes a manually adjustable switch, a light emitting diode (LED), a light level sensor, and a microcontroller. The wiring device also optionally includes an occupancy sensor. Light level is sensed through a light pipe and light is emitted by the LED through the same light pipe. When the manually adjustable switch is positioned to energize a load, the LED is deactivated and ambient light level is sensed by light sensors through the light pipe. The ambient light level is compared to a minimum ambient light level to determine if the load will be energized. Alternatively, the LED is deactivated and the ambient light level is sensed through the light pipe when the switch is positioned to de-energize the load. This ambient light level is stored and compared to the minimum ambient light level at a time when the switch is later positioned to energize the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Rahul Goyal, Oscar Neundorfer, James Fair, Ahmed Elgayyar
  • Patent number: 9795008
    Abstract: A microcontroller-based multifunctional electronic switch uses a detection circuit design to convert external motion signals into message carrying sensing signals readable to the microcontroller. Based on the time length of sensing signals and the format of the sensing signals received in a preset instant period of time the microcontroller through the operation of its software program codes written in the OTPROM is able to recognize the working modes chosen by the external signal generating user and thereby selecting the appropriate loops of subroutine for execution. The system and method of the present invention may simultaneously be applicable to detection circuit design using infrared ray sensor, electrostatic induction sensor, conduction based touch sensor or push button sensor for performing multifunction such as controlling the on/off switch, the illumination power and the color temperature within the capacity of a single lighting device or an electrical appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Chia-Teh Chen
  • Patent number: 9756692
    Abstract: Circuits for sensing current levels within an apparatus are disclosed. In specific cases, a constant voltage power supply is used to power an LED lighting apparatus in which there are uncertainties within the forward voltages of the LEDs, which in turn creates uncertainty with respect to the current level flowing through the LEDs. To manage these uncertainties, the current flowing through the LEDs is measured by determining a voltage level across a known resistor and calculating the current level. To prevent the known resistor from causing a significant reduction in the efficiency of the overall light engine, the circuit includes one or more transistors in parallel with the known resistor to reduce the effective resistance in the LED circuit during times that the current is not being sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: ARKALUMEN, INC.
    Inventors: Gerald Edward Briggs, Sean MacLean Murray
  • Patent number: 9717129
    Abstract: An occupancy sensor with integral light level sensors is configured to turn off or disable peripheral circuits and go into a periodic deep sleep mode to reduce phantom loading. Peripheral circuits include occupancy sensor circuits and relay drive circuits, but may include other circuits such as communication circuits. The sensor may be configured to periodically wake itself up, check ambient light conditions to see if lighting is below the set threshold. If it is not, the sensor goes back to sleep. If it is, then the sensor can power up the occupancy sensor circuit to see if the space is occupied; if not, it can go back to sleep. If the space is occupied, it can turn on other peripheral circuits necessary to control the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Joyce, Thomas L. Grey
  • Patent number: 9713225
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a light source and an electrical path for providing power to the light source. A switch is in the electrical path and is operable to interrupt and complete the electrical path. An infrared sensor detects an object in proximity to the light source for controlling operation of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: David Randolph
  • Patent number: 9668306
    Abstract: A thermal-management circuit detects a temperature of the LED, obtains a thermal operating range of the LED, and generates a control signal in response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: TerraLUX, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Harrison, Steven S. Davis
  • Patent number: 9661712
    Abstract: A lamp includes a light source in a top of a housing, the light source including a driver, a light emitting member electrically connected to the driver, and a dimming controller electrically connected to the driver wherein the driver is configured to activate the light emitting member after being activated by a signal sent from the dimming controller; and an electro-optical sensor in the top of the housing and electrically connected to the dimming controller wherein light emitted by the light emitting member is reflected to the electro-optical sensor, and the electro-optical sensor sends the sensed light to the dimming controller. The dimming controller compares intensity of the sensed light with intensity of the light emitted by the light emitting member, and the driver either decreases the intensity of the light output or increases same based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignees: AVERTRONICS INC., DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, NATIONAL CHANGHUA UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION
    Inventors: Bing-Yuan Lai, Yu-Lin Juan, Tsair-Rong Chen, Peng-Yuan Chen, Wei-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 9626852
    Abstract: A microwave motion sensor has a circuit assembly for intrusion detection in a predetermined space. The microwave motion sensor comprising a control unit, a microwave sensing unit and a microwave confining unit. The microwave sensing unit, for transmitting and receiving a microwave signal, is separated in structure but electrically coupled to the control unit. The microwave confining unit, for managing a detection zone of the microwave signal, has an accommodating space formed inside the microwave confining unit, and the microwave sensing unit being disposed inside the accommodating space. Wherein the circuit assembly is divided into the control unit and the microwave sensing unit, the scope of the detection zone of the microwave signal varies based on the shape of the microwave confining unit and the shape of the microwave confining unit varies based on the predetermined space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Chia-Teh Chen
  • Patent number: 9613433
    Abstract: A method of and a device for characterizing a light source and a method of selecting a replacement light source are provided. The method obtains (102) a first image of a light source in operation, obtains (106) a second image of the illuminated environment, and obtains (104, 108) first camera settings and second camera settings of the optical system and image processing system of the respective first and second camera at the respective moments in time that the first image and the second image was obtained. The first image, the second image, and the first and second camera settings are analyzed (110) to estimate characteristics of the light source. The characteristics of the light source may be used to propose a replacement light source and characteristics of the proposed replacement light source may be used to simulate the effect of the replacement light source on the illuminated environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Julian Charles Nolan, Alexander Henricus Waltherus Van Eeuwijk, Hilbrand Vanden Wyngaert, Heiko Pelzer
  • Patent number: 9591723
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for systems and methods of managing a lighting system. According to certain aspects, the lighting system includes a low voltage controller (LVC) connected to multiple switches and to multiple drivers. Based on signals received from the switches, the LVC may determine a desired lighting setting as well as an adjustment setting of the lighting setting. The LVC may apply an appropriate signal to a driver to cause the driver to power a corresponding portion of luminaires. The LVC may include a memory configured to store adjustment settings so that the LVC may revert back to desired lighting and adjustment settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: KENALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Kevin Dahlen
  • Patent number: 9585232
    Abstract: A lighting controller comprising a single circuit sensor switch on a first circuit. At least one infrared PIR sensor is configured to cover 360 degrees. The at least one infrared PIR sensor is electrically connected to control the single circuit sensor switch. An acoustic sensor is electrically connected to control the single circuit sensor switch. A photo sensor is electrically connected to control the single circuit sensor switch. The photo sensor has an infrared remote controller and receiver for controlling the single circuit sensor switch. A second circuit sensor switch is on a second circuit that is connected to the first sensor. The second circuit sensor switch is configured to be connected to the single circuit sensor switch, the photo sensor, the acoustic sensor, and the at least one infrared PIR sensor so that the second circuit sensor switch further improves lighting efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventors: Tom O'Neil, Lee Chiang, Ji Wenshu
  • Patent number: 9538613
    Abstract: A method of estimating the occurrence of midnight on a given day comprises the steps of determining the average night length (NLAVE) by averaging the night lengths (NL) between a night starting time (NST) as determined by a photosensor and a night ending time (NET) determined by a photosensor for each of a plurality of days, and estimating midnight to occur at the time that is one half of the average night length (NLAVE) after the night starting time (NST) for the given day. This estimate of midnight to control the operation of lights or other equipment without the need for clocks or constant power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Donald H. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 9497834
    Abstract: A microcontroller-based multifunctional electronic switch uses a detection circuit design to convert external motion signals into message carrying sensing signals readable to the microcontroller. Based on the time length of sensing signals and the format of the sensing signals received in a preset instant period of time the microcontroller through the operation of its software program codes written in the OTPROM is able to recognize the working modes chosen by the external signal generating user and thereby selecting the appropriate loops of subroutine for execution. The system and method of the present invention may simultaneously be applicable to detection circuit design using infrared ray sensor, electrostatic induction sensor, conduction based touch sensor or push button sensor for performing multifunction such as controlling the on/off switch, the illumination power and the color temperature within the capacity of a single lighting device or an electrical appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Inventor: Chia-Teh Chen
  • Patent number: 9478111
    Abstract: An illumination system and methods to control a light source are provided. An illumination system includes a light source, a two-dimensional non-Passive Infrared (non-PIR) imager, and a controller. The light source provides at least two levels of illumination. The non-PIR imager images an area and to produce image data representative of images across at least part of a visible portion of an electromagnetic spectrum. The controller is communicatively coupled to receive the image data from the non-PIR imager and process the received image data to detect at least one ambient environmental characteristic of the area in the part of the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, where the ambient environmental characteristic is indicative of a presence or imminent presence of a body in the area. The controller is also coupled to control operation of the light source based on, at least in part, detection of the ambient characteristic of the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Express Imaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: William G. Reed, Dale H. DeGraff
  • Patent number: 9380680
    Abstract: A microcontroller based multifunctional electronic switch using a detection circuit design to convert external motion signals into message carrying sensing signals readable to the microcontroller. Based on the time length of sensing signals and the format of the sensing signals received in a preset instant period of time the microcontroller through the operation of its software program codes written in the OTPROM is able to recognize the working modes chosen by the external signal generating user and thereby selecting the appropriate loops of subroutine for execution. The system and method of the present invention may simultaneously be applicable to detection circuit design using infrared ray sensor, electrostatic induction sensor, conduction based touch sensor or push button sensor for performing multifunction such as controlling the on/off switch performance, the diming or speed control and the delay timer management within the capacity of a single lighting device or an electrical appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventor: Chia-Teh Chen
  • Patent number: 9379608
    Abstract: A system including a bus and a plurality of devices coupled thereto and configured to communicate with each other via the bus. The system further includes a power supply coupled to the bus, to power to the plurality of devices via the bus and to detect an event, and in response, alternately supply power to the plurality of devices via the bus at a first current level or at a lesser second current level. This allows additional devices to be used on a bus, even where the total power consumption of the devices would normally exceed a maximum defined by a bus architecture. This also helps allow a single gauge of wire to be used throughout a bus network (even where long lengths of wire are required) while still providing sufficient power to the devices connected to the bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Hoffknecht, Javier Orlando Rojas, Liam John O'Hagan
  • Patent number: 9351374
    Abstract: A photo-controlled light includes an electrical power input port configured to receive electrical power, a light emitting unit that is connected to the electrical power input port and a photosensitive timer module that connects the light emitting unit to the electrical power input port. The photosensitive timer module includes a photosensitive switch unit including a photosensitive element that is configured to detect a light level that satisfies a luminosity threshold value, a timing switch unit coupled to the photosensitive switch unit that is configured to only connect the electrical power input port to the light emitting unit for a conduction time frame responsive to the photosensitive switch unit detecting that the light level is less than the luminosity threshold value so that the photosensitive timer module transmits electricity during the conduction time frame when the luminosity detected by the photosensitive element is less than the luminosity threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignees: CNL Lighting Corporation, Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Wang Chin-Chien, Kao Wen-Chang
  • Patent number: 9345112
    Abstract: A microcontroller-based multifunctional electronic switch uses a detection circuit design to convert external motion signals into message carrying sensing signals readable to the microcontroller. Based on the time length of sensing signals and the format of the sensing signals received in a preset instant period of time the microcontroller through the operation of its software program codes written in the OTPROM is able to recognize the working modes chosen by the external signal generating user and thereby selecting the appropriate loops of subroutine for execution. The system and method of the present invention may simultaneously be applicable to detection circuit design using infrared ray sensor, electrostatic induction sensor, conduction based touch sensor or push button sensor for performing multifunction such as controlling the on/off switch, the illumination power and the color temperature within the capacity of a single lighting device or an electrical appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Chia-Teh Chen
  • Patent number: 9332618
    Abstract: An LED lamp includes LED chips, a translucent cover housing the LED chips, a motion sensor unit, a condensing lens, and a power unit. The motion sensor unit includes a light receiving element for light of a predetermined wavelength. The lens condenses light of the predetermined wavelength onto the light receiving element. The power unit controls the state of operation of the LED chips based on an output from the motion sensor unit. The motion sensor unit includes a light shielding member disposed to overlap the light receiving element in an optical axis direction of the condensing lens and also to surround the light receiving element as viewed in the optical axis direction. The light shielding member is made of a material having a lower light transmissivity than that of the condensing lens for a range of wavelengths including the predetermined wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Nagashima, Masaru Igaki
  • Patent number: 9326362
    Abstract: A two-level LED security light includes a power supply unit, a motion sensing unit, a time setting unit, a loading and power control unit, an external control unit, and a lighting-emitting unit. The LED security light is turned on at dusk for generating a first level illumination and turned off at dawn. When the motion sensor detects any intrusion, the LED security light is switched from the first level illumination to a second level illumination for a short duration time to scare away the intruder. After the short duration time, the LED security light returns to the first level illumination for saving energy. The light-emitting unit includes one or a plurality of LEDs. The time setting unit is for managing illumination timing. The external control unit is for setting illumination characteristics of the first level illumination or the second level illumination of the light-emitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventor: Chia-Teh Chen
  • Patent number: 9320117
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for systems and methods of managing a lighting system. According to certain aspects, the lighting system includes a low voltage controller (LVC) connected to multiple switches and to multiple drivers. Based on signals received from the switches, the LVC may determine a desired lighting setting as well as an adjustment setting of the lighting setting. The LVC may apply an appropriate signal to a driver to cause the driver to power a corresponding portion of luminaires. The LVC may include a memory configured to store adjustment settings so that the LVC may revert back to desired lighting and adjustment settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: KENALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Kevin Dahlen
  • Patent number: 9307613
    Abstract: A load control device, such as a dimmer switch, for example, may provide for user adjustment of the shape of a control curve, such as a dimming curve, for example. The load control device may generate a control curve that has a non-linear relationship between a minimum power level, such as a minimum phase angle of a phase-control signal, for example, and a maximum power level, such as a maximum phase angle of the phase-control signal, for example. The load control device switch may have a default control curve, which may have a linear relationship between the minimum power level and the maximum power level. The load control device may provide for the generation of a control curve that includes two or more different slopes from the minimum power level to the maximum power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Salvestrini
  • Patent number: 9301363
    Abstract: Systems and methods for maintaining the illumination intensity of one or more LEDs above a minimal intensity level. The systems and methods may include: (1) a current regulator for regulating the current in a circuit; (2) a voltage source for applying current to a circuit; (3) an LED with a minimal intensity level that correlates to a set-point temperature; and (4) a thermal sensor that is in proximity to the LED and adapted to sense a temperature proximal to the LED. The thermal sensor may transmit a signal to the current regulator if the sensed temperature exceeds the set-point temperature. Thereafter, the current regulator may take steps to regulate the current in order to maintain the LED illumination intensity above the minimal intensity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Luminator Holding LP
    Inventors: Vadim Zlotnikov, John B. Gunter, Jim Coker, George Berman, Valeriy K. Berger
  • Patent number: 9270175
    Abstract: A driving device is provided with: a power circuit in which it is possible to modify an output current value of an output terminal configured to have a load connected thereto; an output capacitor connected between the output terminal of the power circuit and a reference potential node; a switching element connected between the output terminal of the power circuit and the reference potential node; and a control unit that controls the output current value of the power circuit. The control unit turns the switching element ON and OFF and controls the output current value of the power circuit during a period in which the switching element is ON such that the voltage of the output terminal of the power circuit during this period is equal to or lower than the voltage applied to the load during a period when this load is OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideo Hamanaka
  • Patent number: 9232610
    Abstract: A coded lighting system comprises a set of light sources and a remote control unit or an arrangement. The set of light sources emits coded light. In order to do so each light source is associated with a unique identifier. The remote control unit or the arrangement comprises an image sensor which captures images comprising light emitted by at least one of the light sources in the set of light sources. By analyzing the captured images the remote control unit or the arrangement is able to associate light sources affecting a particular region and/or object. The remote control unit or the arrangement is thereby able to transmit a control signal comprising updated light settings to the set of light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Tommaso Gritti
  • Patent number: 9189606
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing privacy for information. In one non-limiting embodiment, a system includes an environment monitoring component configured to monitor an aspect of an environment; and a privacy component configured to: determine whether factors associated with the environment are triggered; and obscure access or provide access to data or a program associated with the factors based on determining that the factors are triggered. Factors can be based on the time and the location or network connectivity of a device associated with the system, the detected presence or absence of an authorized person other than the user logged into the device or the privacy state of the user logged into the device. Motion detectors, cameras, biometric sensors and other devices can be employed in the determination of whether to provide or obscure access to the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Amr Mohamed Mebed
  • Patent number: 9173259
    Abstract: A light emitting diode driving system includes a plurality of light emitting diode driving apparatuses and a transmission line. The transmission line is electrically connected to the light emitting diode driving apparatuses. The light emitting diode driving apparatus includes a voltage regulator, a synchronous signal generation circuit and a synchronous control logic circuit. The voltage regulator sends a first voltage to the synchronous signal generation circuit. The synchronous signal generation circuit generates a second voltage after the synchronous signal generation circuit receives the first voltage. The synchronous signal generation circuit subtracts the second voltage from the first voltage to obtain a synchronous signal. The synchronous signal generation circuit sends the synchronous signal to the synchronous control logic circuit. The light emitting diode driving apparatuses drive the light emitting diodes synchronously according to the synchronous signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: SEMISILICON TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventor: Wen-Chi Peng
  • Patent number: 9155153
    Abstract: A sensor lighting control system automatically controls lighting on a home automation network without creating unnecessary network traffic. A sensor module uses the light level to determine when a command to turn the light ON should be resent over the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: SmartLabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Brian Cregg, Robert Ellery Slick
  • Patent number: 9137867
    Abstract: The disclosed lighting device gradually adjusts from an incandescent bulb color having a 30% dimming rate to a daylight color having a 100% dimming rate. The overall dimming rate is changed to a linear shape, and the ratio of the dimming rates of the incandescent bulb color and the daylight color is adjusted. When changing from the incandescent bulb color to the daylight color, the color is changed to an intermediate color that mixes the incandescent bulb color and the daylight color, and then ultimately is changed to the daylight color, and so it is possible to change the dimming rate without causing discomfort or annoyance in humans, and a comfortable and natural light environment is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Miwa Kamii, Masako Nishihashi
  • Patent number: 9131547
    Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination device (LV) comprising at least one light fixture (LE), wherein the at least one illumination device (LV) has at least one sensor device (SEV) for detecting objects (O1, O2, O3), supplying information to the illumination device (LV) for controlling the at least one light fixture (LE). This sensor device (SEV) is equipped to detect the object type (Oid1, Oid2, . . . , OidN) of a detected object (O1, O2, O3) and/or the at least one sensor device (SEV) is equipped to determine the distance of the detected object (O1, O2, O3), the illumination device (LV) having at least one memory (SPE), said memory (SPE) being equipped to store at least one light profile (LP1, LP2, . . . , LPN), such that the at least one light profile (LP1, LP2, . . . , LPN) contains luminous intensity values (W11, . . . , W1M; W21, . . . , W2M; . . . ; WN1, . . . , WNM) as a function of object types (Oid1, Oid2, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Illumination Network Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Premysl Vaclavik, Martin Kernbichler
  • Patent number: 9091398
    Abstract: A lamp includes an LED module, a drive unit supplying power to the LED module, and a base via which power is fed from an external power supply to the drive unit. The drive unit is located between the LED module and the base. The drive unit includes a circuit board having a main surface on which lead-type electronic components are mounted, lead wires (first lead wires) extending from the main surface of the circuit board and connected to the LED module, and lead wires (second lead wires) extending from the main surface of the circuit board and connected to the base. The circuit board has a through-hole extending from the main surface to an opposite surface thereof. The lead wires pass through the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Ueda, Kazuhiro Kawabata, Masahiro Miki, Takaari Uemoto
  • Patent number: 9084310
    Abstract: A load control device adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load includes a controller, an actuator for turning the electrical load on and off, an occupancy detection circuit, and an ambient light detector. The load control device automatically turns on the electrical load in response to the presence of an occupant only if the detected ambient light is below a predetermined ambient light level threshold. After first detecting the presence of an occupant, the load control device monitors actuations of the actuator to determine whether a user has changed the state of the load. The load control device automatically adjusts the predetermined ambient light level threshold in response to the user actuations that change the state of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Bedell, James P. Steiner
  • Patent number: 9060410
    Abstract: Compensating for disturbances in light output by a light source includes sensing light output by a light source and generating a light-sense signal based thereon, detecting a disturbance in the light-sense signal, and generating an output signal to compensate for the disturbance. An LED is driven in accordance with the periodic output signal to thereby compensate for the periodic disturbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: TERRALUX, INC.
    Inventor: Arthur Lionel Stevens
  • Patent number: 9041298
    Abstract: A motion activated toilet bowl lighting device includes a body member having inner, outer, top, and bottom walls that define an interior area. The inner wall includes an inwardly annular configuration complementary to a toilet bowl rim outer surface. The lighting device includes an attachment arm displaced from the inner wall. A bridge connects the top wall to the attachment arm such that the inner wall, attachment arm, and bridge sandwich the toilet rim. A motion detector is positioned on the outer wall and a light is positioned on the attachment arm. A light sensor is positioned on the body member. A battery and timer are situated in the interior area. The light is energized when the light sensor detects lower than a predetermined amount of ambient light and when the motion detector detects movement, the light being de-energized when the timer expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventors: Brian R. Andy, Jeff S. Barbieri
  • Patent number: 9035769
    Abstract: A load control system controls an electrical load provided in a space and comprises a load control device and one or more occupancy sensors. The load control device controls the load in response to the wireless control signals received from the occupancy sensors. Each occupancy sensor transmits an occupied control signal to the load control device in response to detecting an occupancy condition in the space and a vacant control signal to the load control device in response to detecting a vacancy condition. The load control device turns on the load in response to receiving the occupied control signal from at least one of the occupancy sensors, and turns off the load in response to receiving vacant control signals from both of the occupancy sensors. The load control device is operable to determine that no wireless control signals have been received from the occupancy sensors for the length of a predetermined timeout period and to subsequently turn off the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: James P. Steiner, Andrew Peter Schmalz, Andrew Ryan Offenbacher, Adam J. Schrems, Brian Raymond Valenta
  • Publication number: 20150130358
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) controlling device may include: a driving circuit unit converting input power into an output voltage and providing the output voltage to an LED module; a detecting circuit unit positioned between the driving circuit unit and the LED module and detecting the output voltage and an output current of the LED module; and a controlling circuit unit converting an external signal into a reference signal and comparing the reference signal with at least one of the output voltage and the output current to control an output of the LED module. The external signal may be one of a first signal provided by a sensor module, a second signal provided by a communications module, and a third signal provided by an output control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Ju Rae KIM
  • Publication number: 20150102727
    Abstract: An LED driver circuit includes a first driver, a second driver, a switch, a first detection module, a second detection module and a control module. The first driver provides a first driving current according to a supply voltage. The second driver provides a second driving current according to the supply voltage. The switch is selectively coupled to the first or second driver. An LED emits light according to the first or second driving current. When the switch is coupled to the first driver, the first detection module keeps detecting the first driving current and outputting a first sensing signal. When the switch is coupled to the second driver, the second detection module keeps detecting the second driving current and outputting a second sensing signal. The control module outputs a first or second control signal according to the first or second sensing signal for controlling the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Chun-Kuang CHEN, Po-Shen CHEN
  • Publication number: 20150091450
    Abstract: In one embodiment an electronic device comprises a housing, a socket in the housing to receive a connector, and an illumination source proximate the socket to illuminate the socket. Other embodiments may be described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Ron Aviv, Tomer Rider, Yair Giwnewer, Yevgeniy Kiveisha
  • Patent number: 8981911
    Abstract: A detection device designed to detect the intensity of a signal emitted by a source powered by pulse-width modulation at a first frequency. The device includes a reactivation circuit including circuitry for detecting a signal modulated at a second frequency, the second frequency being different from the first frequency and tripping circuitry or tripping a reactivation of the detection device when the signal is modulated at the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Hynek Raisigel, Eric Leger