Electrically Controlled Load Device Switch Patents (Class 315/315)
  • Patent number: 10869371
    Abstract: A dimmer switch system for dimming a load includes a master dimmer structured to be electrically connected to a power source and the load and to control dimming of the load by regulating power provided from the power source to the load, and at least one accessory dimmer structured to be electrically connected to the master dimmer via a traveler conductor. The master dimmer includes a first visual load status indicator structured to emit light in a plurality of colors. The at least one accessory dimmer includes a second visual load status indicator structured to emit light in a plurality of colors, and is structured to set a color of light emitted by the second visual load status indicator based on a first control signal generated by the master dimmer on the traveler conductor, and to generate a second control signal on the traveler conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Grayling Love, Ahmed El-Gayyar, Sumeet T. Raghavani
  • Patent number: 10855488
    Abstract: A wireless lighting control system includes a remote server system connected to a wide area network and having software for configuring, monitoring, and controlling lighting fixtures at an installation site. The site includes wireless devices in communication with a gateway via a local wireless network and at least some of the wireless devices are configured for scheduled automation associations, for example, to control one or more lighting fixtures depending on the state of one or more wireless devices having sensors or user interface elements. The associations can activate specific lighting effects, such as power, dimming, and scene control and also are dependent on selected scheduling events such as one or more of a time of day, day of week, and time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: RAB Lighting Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Hayes, Jason Lawrence Oliver
  • Patent number: 10534529
    Abstract: A control method of the disclosure causes a computer of an information apparatus to: display a display screen representing a floor plan for one floor including at least two rooms on the display; display device icons representing target devices within regions of the respective rooms included in the floor plan, the device icons being initially displayed at positions within the regions of the respective rooms; and when it is sensed that an illumination icon representing an illumination device among the one or more target devices is selected within a region of any room of the at least two rooms, display a region corresponding to the room, in which it is sensed that the illumination icon is selected, with brightness not less than specific brightness, in a case where power for the illumination device installed in the room, in which it is sensed that the illumination icon is selected, is on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Takamitsu Sasaki, Kohei Tahara
  • Patent number: 10285245
    Abstract: A processing module (20) is disclosed, which is configured to receive usage data for at least one lighting device (11-15) and on basis of the usage data determine a lighting device settings profile for the at least one lighting device (11-15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Berent Willem Meerbeek, Abraham Antonius Arnoldus Bos, Bartel Marinus Van De Sluis, Roel Peter Geert Cuppen
  • Patent number: 10117314
    Abstract: Lighting units, lighting systems, and methods are described herein for automatic and decentralized commissioning of a replacement lighting unit (140, 150, 250). In various embodiments, a replacement lighting unit may receive, from one or more remote lighting units over one or more communication networks, one or more identifiers associated with the one or more remote lighting units. The replacement lighting unit may also receive, from at least one of the one or more remote lighting units over the one or more communication networks, the lighting operation parameters associated with an inoperative lighting unit. The replacement lighting unit may then selectively energize one or more light sources (258) associated with the replacement lighting unit to emit light having one or more properties indicated in the lighting operation parameters associated with the inoperative lighting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Jurgen Mario Vangeel, John Andre Van Beurden, Robbert Martinus Andreas Driessen, Bas Marinus Johannus Van Berkel, Wicher Ido-Jan Gispen
  • Patent number: 9848470
    Abstract: According to the present invention, provided is an LED driving circuit comprising: a first rectification module, connected to an alternating current power source, for full-wave rectifying an applied alternating current voltage and for supplying a first rectification voltage which has been full-wave rectified to an LED light emitting module as a first driving voltage; and a second driving voltage supply module, connected to the alternating current power source in parallel with the first rectification module, for full-wave rectifying an applied alternating current voltage to generate a second rectification voltage, for charging energy using the generated second rectification voltage at a charging section, and for supplying a second driving voltage to the LED light emitting module at a compensating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hye Man Jung
  • Patent number: 9615434
    Abstract: Lighting units, lighting systems, and methods are described herein for automatic and decentralized commissioning of a replacement lighting unit (140, 150, 250). In various embodiments, a replacement lighting unit may receive, from one or more remote lighting units over one or more communication networks, one or more identifiers associated with the one or more remote lighting units. The replacement lighting unit may also receive, from at least one of the one or more remote lighting units over the one or more communication networks, the lighting operation parameters associated with an inoperative lighting unit. The replacement lighting unit may then selectively energize one or more light sources (258) associated with the replacement lighting unit to emit light having one or more properties indicated in the lighting operation parameters associated with the inoperative lighting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Jurgen Mario Vangeel, John Andre Van Beurden, Robbert Martinus Andreas Driessen, Bas Van Berkel, Wicher Ido-Jan Gispen
  • Patent number: 9035575
    Abstract: A lighting device using an LED is provided where an LED lighting device having an improved modulation depth which is calculated with the maximum value and the minimum value of an amount of instantaneous light emission in an AC-driven LED lighting device having an LED turned on and off by using an instantaneous AC voltage periodically varied with time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Dong-Won Lee
  • Patent number: 9008112
    Abstract: A switch module includes multiple ports, each port electrically communicating with a port light emitting diode (LED), where each port LED is configured to emit light to indicate power delivery out of the port, and each port LED is configured to emit one of a plurality of light colors to indicate a power level delivered out of the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chee How Lee, Chee Cheng Jeffrey Liang, Keng Hua Chuang
  • Patent number: 8970125
    Abstract: In a memory unit 6, there is stored a correction table for each candidate value of an output set value of each of LED units 2. If UV rays have ever been emitted so far by the LED units 2, each of which is formed of a plurality of LED chips 8, then a PLC 5 acquires, upon setting of a output set value by an operation unit 53, a correction value corresponding to a cumulative emission time up to a previous emission, from the correction table of the output set value. Thereafter, the PLC 5 sets the magnitude of the power supplied to each of the LED units 2 using the acquired correction value. If an output set value different from a previous output set value is set, the PLC 5 obtains the correction value starting from the cumulative emission time upon modification. As a result, the UV irradiation apparatus enables power consumption necessary for emission of UV rays to be reduced, and UV ray output to be kept constant regardless of the cumulative emission time, even if the output set value is modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Industrial Devices Sunx Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Inui, Hideo Kado
  • Patent number: 8922125
    Abstract: An occupancy sensor for an LED module has an occupancy sensing module, a main control module and a current control module. The occupancy sensing module has capability of sensing occupancy status of a specific area. The main control module has capability of processing the signal from the occupancy sensing module and controlling. The current control module connects to the main control module and includes a current regulator, a power switch, a current sensor and a current controller. The current control module adjusts the duty cycle of the power switch based on the detected current through the LED module, thereby stabilizing the current output for the LED module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: IR-TEC International Ltd.
    Inventor: Shih-Tsung Lin
  • Patent number: 8901838
    Abstract: The semiconductor device is included in the LED driving circuit (current regulator) of driving the LED array (with series-connected number m×parallel-connected number n), and is formed of a plurality (n pieces) of LED driving devices of controlling a current (constant-current driving) flowing in each string. A vertical semiconductor device, for example, a vertical MOSFET is used as the LED driving device. Both of a main device functioning as a constant-current driving device and a subsidiary device functioning as a circuit-breaking switch during dimming are formed inside a chip of the device, which are formed of the vertical semiconductor devices. In a first surface of the device, each source region of the main device and the subsidiary device is formed so as to be insulated from each other through an isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Akiyama, Takayuki Hashimoto, Takashi Hirao, Nobuyoshi Matsuura, Hideo Ishii
  • Patent number: 8892913
    Abstract: A load control device for control of the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a power supply and a microprocessor that is able to operate the load control device in a low-power mode. The load control device may further comprise at least one visual indicator controlled by the microprocessor to provide visual feedback, where the microprocessor illuminates the visual indicator when the load is on and to turns the visual indicator off when the load is off during the low-power mode. The load control device may comprise a communication circuit coupled to the microprocessor for transmitting and/or receiving digital messages the microprocessor cause the communication circuit to draw less current from the power supply during the low-power mode. The microprocessor may operate in the low-power mode if the magnitude of a voltage of the power supply drops below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Christopher J. Salvestrini
  • Patent number: 8860328
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a light string is provided. A controller is coupled to the light string and is used to bias one or more of the multicolor LEDs within each bulb on the light string. Using a prearranged determination of 1) the multicolor LEDs within each bulb, 2) the placement of the bulbs within the light string, and 3) the proper biasing of the plurality of leads within the light string, the controller can be used to change the entire light string from one complex holiday color scheme to another using a simple switching mechanism to select from one a of a plurality of desired color schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Michael M. McRae
  • Patent number: 8796954
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes circuitry configured to receive a dimming input to control a dimming level of a lamp. Also, the apparatus includes circuitry configured to generate a control signal based on the dimming input. The control signal indicates the dimming level for a converter of the lamp and the converter is configured to interpret the control signal to control to the dimming level of the lamp using a sinusoidal signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Wanfeng Zhang, Radu Pitigoi-Aron, Daniel Reed
  • Patent number: 8791829
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for visual indication of an electrical quantity, being one or several of power, current and/or voltage through a conductor. The arrangement comprises a substantially wire shaped illuminator and a controller which controls at least one illumination characteristic of said illuminator with respect to said electrical feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Interactive Institute II AB
    Inventors: Anton Gustafsson, Magnus Gyllenswärd, Christina Öhman, Sara Ilstedt-Hjelm
  • Patent number: 8760076
    Abstract: A pulse width modulation (PWM) dimming circuit comprises a switch unit, a current generation unit, a mirror current source, a multi-path output unit, a plurality of current balance units and a plurality of LED lamp strings. The switch unit receives a PWM signal which controls the switch on or off. The current generation unit is connected with the switch unit and generates a current of a predetermined magnitude when the switch unit is on. The mirror current source is connected with the current generation unit and receives the current to generate a mirror current. The multi-path output unit is connected with the mirror current source and receives and output the mirror current in multiple paths. The current balance units are connected between the multi-path output unit and the LED lamp strings respectively. The PWM dimming circuit decreases both the difficulty and the manufacturing cost and is easy to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xinming Gao
  • Patent number: 8736209
    Abstract: A drive and control circuit for motor system and the method thereof are disclosed. The motor system could be applied in a cooling device, wherein the motor system comprises a rotor, a coil and a bridge circuit. The drive and control circuit comprises a control unit, a state detecting circuit, a load determining circuit, and a startup setting circuit. The startup setting circuit makes the motor run with the maximum torque, thus to make the motor system start up easily and quickly. The load determining circuit detects the load of the motor system, thus to generate a load determining signal to determine the speed of the motor system. The control unit could be realized with few components so as to save the costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian Zhao, Yike Li, Yangwei Yu
  • Patent number: 8729824
    Abstract: A lighting control system comprising a plurality of intelligent switches designed to replace a conventional light switch, each of the intelligent switches including a receiver configured to receive communication signals that include rules based instructions for controlling one or more lighting circuits; a circuit interrupter configured to control the amount of current flowing to a lighting circuit; a memory configured to store the rules based instructions; and a processor coupled with the receiver, memory, and circuit interrupter, the processor configured to control the operation of the circuit interrupter based on the rules based instructions stored in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Tesla Controls Corporation
    Inventor: Derek Matthew Smith
  • Patent number: 8643469
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, the access control system comprises a door with an integrated mechatronic closing mechanism which is equipped with a receiver device. The receiver device is designed to receive and evaluate capacitive-resistive signals that are emitted by a transmitter and are transmitted via a user's body. The closing mechanism opens or does open the door in accordance with a result of said evaluation. In said one embodiment of the invention, the closing mechanism is battery-operated and has no permanent electric connection to an object that is not located on or in the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kaba AG
    Inventor: Andreas Häberli
  • Patent number: 8441212
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for driving light emitting devices. The system for driving light emitting devices includes a main light emitting device and at least one sub-light emitting device. The main light emitting device includes a first communication unit for exchanging information with a central monitoring server and a close sub-light emitting device using a wireless communication module, a first light emitting unit having at least one light emitting element, and a first control unit for controlling the light emission of the first light emitting unit, and transmitting a command signal for controlling the sub-light emitting device to the sub-light emitting device. The sub-light emitting device includes a second communication unit for exchanging information with the main light emitting device, a second light emitting unit having at least one light emitting element, and a second control unit for controlling the light emission of the second light emitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Won Hae Kim
  • Patent number: 8344665
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a plurality of devices configured for wireless communications in a facility includes a data communications interface communicating with at least one of the devices. The controller further includes a control module configured to provide a control signal to the data communications interface for communicating to a transceiver associated with the device and for turning off the device according to an algorithm wherein the control signal is provided based on a time of day and/or a sensed condition relating to use of the facility. The transceiver reports device data to the control module to quantify a reduction in power obtained by controlling the devices according to the algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Michael J. Potts, Jun Wang, Anthony J. Bartol
  • Patent number: 8299721
    Abstract: A lighting control system comprising a plurality of intelligent switches designed to replace a conventional light switch, each of the intelligent switches including a receiver configured to receive communication signals that include rules based instructions for controlling one or more lighting circuits; a circuit interrupter configured to control the amount of current flowing to a lighting circuit; a memory configured to store the rules based instructions; and a processor coupled with the receiver, memory, and circuit interrupter, the processor configured to control the operation of the circuit interrupter based on the rules based instructions stored in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Telsa Controls Corporation
    Inventor: Derek Matthew Smith
  • Patent number: 8251541
    Abstract: A tubeless light-emitting diode (LED) based lighting device includes at least one base, at least one LED lighting module, and at least one control circuit. The base includes a heat dissipation body. The LED lighting module is mounted to the base so that the base provides the LED lighting module with the functions of retention and heat dissipation. The control circuit is mounted to the base and is electrically connected to power wiring of the LED lighting module for ON/OFF switching of the LED lighting module and supplying of operation power. As such, a tubeless lighting device that emits light in a power saving manner and is constructed in a volume reduced manner is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Unistar Opto Corporation
    Inventor: Chin-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 8237376
    Abstract: A method and a circuit may have an ability to provide constant currents of a certain set value, the rising and falling edges of which may be shorter than the design minimum on-phase. Essentially, these results may be obtained by keeping an operational amplifier that controls the output power switch in an active state during off-phases of an impulsive drive signal received by the current source circuit in order to maintain the output voltage of the operational amplifier at or just below the voltage to be applied to the control terminal of the output power switch during a successive on-phase of a received drive pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventor: Pasquale Franco
  • Patent number: 8237380
    Abstract: A method of arranging light emitting diodes (LEDs) is disclosed. The method includes M virtual lateral lines and N virtual vertical lines, which form virtual intersection nodes at the intersections; disposing N-1 lateral LEDs in each virtual lateral line with one lateral LED placed between two adjacent virtual intersection nodes, connecting the positive terminal of one later LED to the positive terminal of one of the two adjacent lateral LEDs, and connecting the negative terminal of the one lateral LED to the negative terminal of the other adjacent lateral LED; disposing M-1 vertical LEDs in each virtual vertical line except for the first and last virtual vertical lines, connecting the positive and negative terminal of one vertical LED in the same way; and connecting the AC power to the first and last virtual vertical lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: King Diode Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Chieh Chang, Ko-Wen Jwo
  • Patent number: 8076869
    Abstract: In one method of and apparatus for varying the luminosity of illumination, each of a plurality of light sources has an on state in which it emits light and an off state in which it does not emit light. Each of the plurality of light sources is switched cyclically between the on state and the off state in a sequence over a cycle period. The switching sequence is selected such that the number of said light sources that are on is uniform over the cycle. The luminosity of the illumination is varied by varying the proportion of each cycle for which each light source is switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Light Prescriptions Innovators, LLC
    Inventors: Will Shatford, Waqidi Falicoff, William A. Parkyn, Yupin Sun
  • Patent number: 8044596
    Abstract: Electron-emissive drive units of electron-emissive elements capable of being arranged with a smaller pitch. FET and emitter array units exist in matrix element areas partitioned by a control wiring and data wiring. An exemplary unit is composed of four emitter arrays. The control wiring and data wiring are driven by first and second drive circuits, respectively. Corresponding arrays between units are connected by selection wiring and driven by a third drive circuit. The third drive circuit drives each unit of data wiring every time the drive circuit sequentially drives the four units of control wiring, and the emitter array drive circuit drives each emitter array selection wiring every time the drive circuit sequentially drives the three units of data wiring. Electrons can be emitted in units of arrays smaller than the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignees: Futaba Corporation, NHK Science & Technical Research Laboratories
    Inventors: Masateru Taniguchi, Takahiro Niiyama, Shigeo Itoh, Kazuhito Nakamura, Kenta Miya, Masakazu Namba, Yuki Honda, Toshihisa Watabe, Norifumi Egami
  • Patent number: 8035313
    Abstract: A light emitting array is described and includes first, second and third light emitting elements, and first and second current sources. The first light emitting element includes first and second terminals, and is characterized by a first operating voltage Vop1 at or above which it is substantially operable to emit light. The second light emitting device includes a first terminal, and a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first light emitting element, the second light emitting element characterized by a second operating voltage Vop2 at or above which the second light emitting element is substantially operable to emit light. The third light emitting element includes a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first light emitting element, and a second terminal, the third lighting emitting element characterized by a third operating voltage Vop3 at or above which it is substantially operable to emit light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Wendt, Harald Josef Gunther Radermacher
  • Patent number: 8026672
    Abstract: A light emitting device is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the light emitting device comprises a first plurality of light emitters comprising a first group and a second group, wherein the first group is connectable in series to the second group. A first driver is connected to the first group. A second driver is connectable to the second group. A first voltage comparator is coupled to the first driver, wherein the voltage comparator compares the voltage of the first driver to a predetermined voltage. The light emitting device is in a first state when the voltage of the first driver is below the predetermined voltage. The light emitting device is in a second state when the voltage of the first driver is greater than the predetermined voltage. The light emitting device is in the first state, the first group is connected in series with the second group to form a series circuit between the first driver and a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Farn Hin Chen, Tak Meng Cheang, Boon Keat Tan
  • Patent number: 7973496
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power supply device for supplying power to a load, preferably a LED, comprising a first circuitry (12) with an inverter unit (24) adapted to provide an AC voltage, preferably a rectangular voltage, and a resonant circuit (30) with a capacitance (32) and an inductance (34), a second circuitry (14) with a rectifier unit (42), a switch (64) and said load (60), said switch being adapted to switch said load on and off, a controller unit (16) adapted to control said switch (64) as to adjust the power provided to said load (60) without any measurement signal from said primary circuitry (12), and a transformer (18) with a primary side (20) and a secondary side (22), said primary side being connected to said first circuitry (12) and said secondary side (22) being connected to said second circuitry (14), preferably said rectifier, so that said first and second circuitries are galvanically isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Loef, Matthias Wendt
  • Patent number: 7884557
    Abstract: A light source is protected by selectively coupling a shunt path in parallel with the light source, such that current is diverted away from the light source and through the shunt path. A detection circuit detects the current flowing in the shunt path when the shunt path is connected in parallel with the light source. A comparator determines whether the current flowing in the shunt path exceeds a predetermined threshold and, if so, prevents or limits the flow of current when the shunt path is disconnected from being in parallel with the light source. In this way, a current detector is provided for monitoring the flow of current in a shunt path, the current detector being configured to disable or limit the flow of current through a light source when a predetermined threshold is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Wolfson Microelectronics plc
    Inventors: Colin Steele, Catherine A. Hearne, David P. Singleton
  • Patent number: 7791595
    Abstract: A user interface for a load control device comprises a bezel, a touch sensitive device, and a touch sensitive actuator. The touch sensitive actuator is received in an opening of the bezel and comprises a plurality of force concentrator for actuating the touch sensitive device. A front surface of the touch sensitive actuator is operable to be actuated by a user of the load control device such that the touch sensitive actuator transmits the force from the front surface of the touch sensitive actuator to the touch sensitive device. Preferably, the touch sensitive actuator is provided in an opening of a faceplate of the load control device along a linear axis. The load control device is operable to control a connected electrical load in response to an actuation of the touch sensitive actuator. The load control device further comprises a plurality of status indicators mounted immediately behind the touch sensitive actuator and above the touch sensitive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Jeremy Nearhoof
  • Patent number: 7791492
    Abstract: Disclosed is a street lamp control system, which cuts off power sources only around an abnormal street lamp where an electric leakage or dangerous situation occurs and allows the rest street lamps to be kept being turned on. The street lamp control system is positioned in a region divided by a plurality of areas where a predetermined number of street lamps are installed. A distribution panel is installed in each center of the areas, and includes two power source control switching circuits for controlling right and left power sources of the corresponding areas. The power source control switching circuit of the corresponding distribution panel turns off the right and left street lamps including the corresponding street lamp when an abnormal state is sensed on a specific street lamp of a specific area, and a power is supplied to the right and left street lamps to be turned on excluding the abnormal street lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Korean Electro Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Kee-Young Nam, Jae-Duck Lee, Seong-Hwan Jeong
  • Patent number: 7737819
    Abstract: A theatrical lighting control network is disclosed which incorporates a local area network for communication among a number of node controllers and control consoles or devices employed in establishing lighting or other effects levels in a theater, film production stage or other performance environment. Use of the network eliminates the requirements for the majority of hardwiring for interconnection of consoles and other controller or monitoring devices to effects controller racks and provides great flexibility in location and relocation of various components of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard M. Chansky, John W. Fuller, Ronald A. Land, Robert Whitten
  • Patent number: 7726528
    Abstract: A bicycle carrier, including a rack and a fork mount. The rack includes cross bars for mounting on a vehicle. The fork mount includes a head portion adapted to selectively clamp the fork mount to one of the cross bars, and a skewer assembly adapted to selectively secure forks of a bicycle to the head portion. The skewer assembly includes a skewer bolt, an actuator handle that is moveable between a first position and a second position, and an adjustment member threaded onto an end of the skewer bolt that permits longitudinal adjustment of the skewer assembly to accommodate different fork dimensions. The adjustment member is accessible when the actuator handle is in the first position, but is covered by the actuator handle when the actuator handle is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron J. Foley
  • Patent number: 7663323
    Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring an array (4) of electrical units, in particular an array of high capacity light emitting diodes (LEDs) (4.1-4.12). The electrical units are connected in series and driven by a constant electric current (I). The monitoring device has a bypass means (4.1a-4.12a) for each electrical unit (4.1-4.12), operable to bypass the respective electrical unit in case of a disconnection of the respective electrical unit, and an evaluation unit (3) connected in parallel with the array (4) of electrical units, said evaluation unit (3) being adapted to determine a total voltage (UT) of the array (4) of electrical units and to output a control signal (CS) indicative of a function status of the array (4) of electrical units in accordance with a value of the total voltage (UT) relative to a predetermined threshold value (VREF). Thus is provided an electric circuitry which allows an easy and reliable detection of a malfunction of the array of electrical units, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Alcatel Transport Solution Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Telefont
  • Publication number: 20090243517
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a plurality of devices configured for wireless communications in a facility includes a data communications interface communicating with at least one of the devices. The controller further includes a control module configured to provide a control signal to the data communications interface for communicating to a transceiver associated with the device and for turning off the device according to an algorithm wherein the control signal is provided based on a time of day and/or a sensed condition relating to use of the facility. The transceiver reports device data to the control module to quantify a reduction in power obtained by controlling the devices according to the algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Michael J. Potts, Jun Wang, Anthony J. Bartol
  • Publication number: 20090218951
    Abstract: A lighting and control system is described. One embodiment of the lighting and control system includes a lighting node and a controller. The lighting node may include a light emitting diode configured for illumination and further configured for optical communication with the controller, a node radio device configured for radio communication with the controller, and a node memory configured to store a node identifier and a group identifier. The controller may include an optical sensor configured to sense illumination of the lighting node and further configured for optical communication with the lighting node, a controller radio device configured for radio communication with the lighting node, and a controller memory configured to store a group identifier. The lighting node and the controller may each further include a power supply and a processor. In one embodiment, the lighting node and the controller belong to a wireless mesh network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: MPJ Lighting, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Weaver
  • Patent number: 7538497
    Abstract: Disclosed is a constant current driving unit for constant current driving a plural number of series connected light emitting diodes by a pulse-width modulating constant current driving circuit. Bypass circuits (80A) to 80(E), made up by a plural number of thyristors (81A) to (81E), each connected in parallel with each of series-connected light emitting diodes (41A) to (41E), are provided with gate potential setting circuits (83A) to (83E). These gate potential setting circuits afford to the thyristors a gate potential value such that, when the series-connected light emitting diodes (41A) to (41E) are operating as normally, the thyristors (81A) to (81E) are in the off-state. The gate potential setting circuit affords to the thyristors another gate potential value such that, when the light emitting diodes (41A) to (41E) are in the open state, the thyristors connected in parallel with the light emitting diodes (41A) to (41E) in the opened state will be in a turned-on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Norimasa Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20080211422
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a halogen lamp, which comprises at least two burners, and a mains-toggle control means for controlling said at least two burners to operate alternatively, in order to achieve different illuminating effects, e.g. to achieve different illuminating angles or different illuminating brightness modes, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Etienne Eberson, Lei Jiang
  • Patent number: 7385310
    Abstract: The invention relates to the supply of lamps (8?, 8??) of at least two different lamp types, of which a first lamp type (8??) has a wattage which is approximately a whole multiple of the wattage of a second lamp type (8?), whereby the same ballast devices (1) are used, embodied for the direct supply of the second lamp type (8?) and which may be operated in parallel for the supply of the first lamp type (8??). The correct connection of a suitable lamp (8?, 8?, 8??) to the ballast device (1) is monitored by means of a signal exchange between ballast device (1) and lamps (8?, 8?, 8??) before switching on the supply line of the ballast device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: B&S Elektronische Geräte GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Brauckmann, Ulrich Klipstein
  • Patent number: 7245085
    Abstract: The continuity of a series-wired, lamp circuit is restored after interruption caused by failure of a lamp filament by providing a control relay that is wired in parallel with each lamp. A power resistor having a resistive load substantially the same as that of a lamp filament is arranged in series with the relay contacts, which are normally open. The failure of a lamp filament causes a high voltage to be impressed across the coil of the relay, causing it to pick up and its contacts to close, thus substituting the resistor for the lamp filament and restoring continuity to the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Nilo L. Villarin
  • Patent number: 7129654
    Abstract: The present invention describes a flashing light apparatus and method for operating the same. A pulse signal generated by a pulse signal generator and the states of the general purpose Input/Output pins of a CPU are used to control the lights to flash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: High Tech Computer Corp.
    Inventors: Jung-Yuan Tsai, Kuo-Feng Chen, Chung-An Chien, Wei-Shao Chen
  • Patent number: 6930455
    Abstract: A theatrical lighting control network is disclosed which incorporates a local area network for communication among a number of node controllers and control consoles or devices employed in establishing lighting or other effects levels in a theater, film production stage or other performance environment. Use of the network eliminates the requirements for the majority of hardwiring for interconnection of consoles and other controller or monitoring devices to effects controller racks and provides great flexibility in location and relocation of various components of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard M. Chansky, John W. Fuller, Ronald A. Land, Robert Whitten
  • Patent number: 6806659
    Abstract: Illumination apparatus and networks of the same including a number of different embodiments. In one embodiment, the illumination apparatus comprises a plurality of LEDs including at least two different colors; a switching device, interposed between the LEDs and a common potential reference, including at least two switches corresponding to current paths of the two different color LEDs; a controller that opens and closes the switches according to a predetermined duty cycle; and a hand-held housing with a compartment for containing a power source and the common reference potential, as well as a lens assembly for reflecting light from the LEDs. Another embodiment is directed to a lighting network including a controller and a plurality of uniquely-addressable illumination units, each including two different color LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Color Kinetics, Incorporated
    Inventors: George G. Mueller, Ihor Lys
  • Patent number: 6664745
    Abstract: A typical light fixture is an integral unit that has a lamp assembly and a communications node to control the lamp assembly. Lighting systems contain many such light fixtures. One type of lighting system has at least two communications systems that interconnect the light fixtures. A digital controller is connected to one of the communications systems, at least one of the light fixtures of that communications system is a designated gateway for sending control signals to the other communications system. Another type of lighting system has two digital controllers connected to respective communications systems. Each of the communications systems interconnects many light fixtures, at least one of which has two communications nodes respectively connected to the communications systems. A third type of lighting system mixes combines the first and second types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Richard S. Belliveau
  • Patent number: 6621235
    Abstract: An integrated LED driving device for multiple LED strings which employs a single linear regulator or other controller and a multiple-output current mirror which is almost independent of the DC input voltage source, almost independent of the transistor's or MOSFET's variations from the semiconductor integration process, and almost independent of temperature variation. The multiple-output current mirror includes a plurality of transistors or MOSFETs each of which are integrated on the same substrate, with identical width-to-length channel ratios and with identical source and gate connections. The integrated LED driving device provides for automatic current sharing in a DC mode and, alternately, with minimized phase delays in a PWM mode. The mirror-output current mirror may include mirror-cascode transistor pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Chin Chang
  • Patent number: RE43234
    Abstract: A central controller and a number of image projection lighting devices (“IPLD”), a type of multiparameter light, are interconnected by an enhanced performance communications path that is capable of simultaneously carrying different digital signals on various bidirectional channels, such as various content signals, including continuous video and/or audio, in digital form on respective content transfer channels, a command signal on a control channel, and a control or content signal in digital form on an auxiliary channel. In accordance with commands transmitted from the central controller over the control channel, content signals may be sent from any of the IPLDs to any other of the IPLDs, or from the central controller to any of the IPLDs, or from any of the IPLDs to the central controller. The IPLDs have respective unique device addresses, and the control channel, the auxiliary channel, and the content transfer channels also have respective unique channel addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventor: Richard S. Belliveau
  • Patent number: RE44114
    Abstract: A central controller and a number of image projection lighting devices (“IPLD”), a type of multiparameter light, are interconnected by an enhanced performance communications path that is capable of simultaneously carrying different digital signals on various bidirectional channels, such as various content signals, including continuous video and/or audio, in digital form on respective content transfer channels, a command signal on a control channel, and a control or content signal in digital form on an auxiliary channel. In accordance with commands transmitted from the central controller over the control channel, content signals may be sent from any of the IPLDs to any other of the IPLDs, or from the central controller to any of the IPLDs, or from any of the IPLDs to the central controller. The IPLDs have respective unique device addresses, and the control channel, the auxiliary channel, and the content transfer channels also have respective unique channel addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Inventor: Richard S. Belliveau