| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7489090 |
Electronic ballast having adaptive frequency shifting |
February 10, 2009 |
| An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp avoids mercury pumping in the lamp by adaptively changing an operating frequency of an inverter of the ballast when operating near high-end. The inverter of the ballast generates a high-frequency AC voltage, which is characterized by |
| 7480128 |
Electronic control systems and methods |
January 20, 2009 |
| An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. The system may have a high efficiency switching type power supply in parallel with a low frequency cont |
| 7436131 |
Thermal protection for lamp ballasts |
October 14, 2008 |
| The output current of a ballast is dynamically limited when an over-temperature condition is detected in the ballast according to one of (i) a step function or (ii) a combination of step and continuous functions, so as to reduce the temperature of the ballast while continuing to oper |
| 7432661 |
Electronic ballast having a flyback cat-ear power supply |
October 7, 2008 |
| An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp includes a rectifier to convert an AC mains input voltage to a rectified voltage, a valley-fill circuit for producing a DC bus voltage, an inverter for converting the DC bus voltage to a high-frequency AC voltage for driving the |
| 7423413 |
Power supply for a load control device |
September 9, 2008 |
| A power supply for a load control device is disposed in series with an AC voltage source and a load and generates a substantially DC voltage for powering a controller of the load control device. The power supply is operable to provide substantially all voltage provided by the AC voltage |
| 7391297 |
Handheld programmer for lighting control system |
June 24, 2008 |
| The invention regards a system and method for using a handheld programming device to configure a lighting control system wirelessly. In one embodiment, at least one device configured with a processing section is installed in the lighting control system. A communications receiver that |
| 7382100 |
Lighting control device having improved long fade off |
June 3, 2008 |
| A lighting control device for controlling the light intensity level of at least one lamp is disclosed. The lighting control device includes an actuator and a controller operable to cause the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a first fade rate that is based on the |
| 7375951 |
Load control device having a split enclosure |
May 20, 2008 |
| A load control device is operable to receive a first control signal having a first magnitude and to generate a second control signal having a second magnitude. The load control device is adapted to be installed in an electrical wallbox having a barrier. The load control device comprises |
| 7369060 |
Distributed intelligence ballast system and extended lighting control protocol |
May 6, 2008 |
| A ballast for use in a multi-ballast lighting system wherein the ballasts are coupled together by a digital communication network. The ballast comprises a power circuit portion for providing an electrical current to power a lamp. The ballast further includes a sensor input circuit for |
| 7368916 |
Apparatus and methods for making capacitive measurements of cathode fall in fluorescent lamps |
May 6, 2008 |
| Apparatus and methods for measuring cathode fall in fluorescent lamps are disclosed. Together with measurements of cathode temperature, such measurements of cathode fall may inform a determination of cathode heater voltage as a function of discharge current (i.e., a cathode-heating-p |
| 7358627 |
Electronic control systems and methods |
April 15, 2008 |
| An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collected in both two and |
| 7342764 |
Electronic control systems and methods |
March 11, 2008 |
| An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collected in both two and |
| 7339322 |
Apparatus and methods for making spectroscopic measurements of cathode fall in fluorescent lamps |
March 4, 2008 |
| Apparatus and methods are disclosed for measuring cathode fall within a fluorescent lamp that contains an electrode and a gas. A level of cathode fall associated with the electrode may be identified based on an intensity and wavelength of radiation emitted by the gas. |
| 7330004 |
Method and apparatus for quiet variable motor speed control |
February 12, 2008 |
| An apparatus for controlling the speed of an AC motor comprising a switch adapted to be coupled in parallel with power terminals for the AC motor; a capacitor coupled in series with the parallel combination of the switch and the motor; the capacitor adapted to provide an AC supply voltag |
| 7323877 |
Apparatus and methods for making spectroscopic measurements of cathode fall in fluorescent lamps |
January 29, 2008 |
| Apparatus and methods are disclosed for measuring cathode fall within a fluorescent lamp that contains an electrode and a gas. A level of cathode fall associated with the electrode may be identified based on an intensity and wavelength of radiation emitted by the gas. |
| 7321202 |
System and method for reducing flicker of compact gas discharge lamps at low lamp light output l |
January 22, 2008 |
| A lamp lighting system allows dimming of a compact gas discharge lamp to a low light output level without perceptible flicker. When the system receives a request to dim the lamp to the low level, the lamp is operated at an intermediate output level prior to operating the lamp at the |
| 7312695 |
Apparatus and method for displaying operating characteristics on status indicators |
December 25, 2007 |
| A user interface for a load control device allows a user to control an operating characteristic of a load to a plurality of discrete levels. The user interface comprises an adjustment member for allowing the user to select one of the discrete levels and a linear array of status indicator |
| 7312582 |
Electronic ballast |
December 25, 2007 |
| An electronic ballast for driving at least one lamp comprising a rectifying circuit operatively connectable to an AC line; a current drawing circuit connected across said rectifying circuit; and an inverter circuit connected to said rectifying circuit that supplies a lamp current to |
| 7311558 |
Receptacle and plug therefor |
December 25, 2007 |
| An electrical receptacle defines a receptacle formation of a mating formation pair to prevent a standard plug from establishing electrical connection while permitting an otherwise standard plug defining a corresponding plug formation to be sufficiently inserted to establish an electr |
| 7310559 |
Timed control system with shifted time features |
December 18, 2007 |
| A control system with a clock or calendar based control has two time frames defined for assigning control events during different days of the week. The weekday time frame is defined as Sunday noon through Friday noon, while the weekend time frame is defined as Friday noon through Sun |
| 7285919 |
Electronic ballast having improved power factor and total harmonic distortion |
October 23, 2007 |
| An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp includes a rectifier, a valley-fill circuit, an inverter having first and second series-connected controllably conductive switches having complementary duty cycles, a control circuit for controlling the controllably conductive sw |
| 7281565 |
System for controlling roller tube rotational speed for constant linear shade speed |
October 16, 2007 |
| A system for controlling a roller shade having a roller tube windingly receiving a shade fabric varies roller tube rotational speed for constant linear shade speed. The desired linear shade speed, roller tube diameter and shade fabric thickness and length are stored in a memory for use b |
| 7259524 |
Apparatus and methods for regulating delivery of electrical energy |
August 21, 2007 |
| Apparatus and methods for regulating delivery of electrical energy to a lighting load are disclosed. An electrical waveform is received from a source of electrical energy. An integration value is generated based on a square of an amplitude of the received waveform. Electrical energy is |
| 7259519 |
Apparatus and methods for making capacitive measurements of cathode fall in fluorescent lamps |
August 21, 2007 |
| Apparatus and methods for measuring cathode fall in fluorescent lamps are disclosed. Together with measurements of cathode temperature, such measurements of cathode fall may inform a determination of cathode heater voltage as a function of discharge current (i.e., a cathode-heating-p |
| 7247999 |
Dimmer for use with a three-way switch |
July 24, 2007 |
| A smart dimmer for controlling the intensity of a lighting load from a source of AC power is operable to replace one of the three-way switches in a standard three-way lighting system without the need to replace the other three-way switch with a unique accessory switch. A simple rewiring |
| 7242150 |
Dimmer having a power supply monitoring circuit |
July 10, 2007 |
| A two-wire dimmer for control of a lighting load from an alternating-current (AC) power source includes a semiconductor switch, a power supply, and a control circuit. The power supply includes an energy storage input capacitor that is able to charge only when the semiconductor switch |
| 7240716 |
System for coupling roller shade tubes |
July 10, 2007 |
| A coupling assembly for a multiple-tube roller shade includes a support assembly for rotatably supporting and connecting adjacently located tube-end portions and a clutch mechanism providing relative rotation therebetween. The support assembly includes a tube-end fitting and a torque |
| 7224124 |
Apparatus and methods for making capacitive measurements of cathode fall in fluorescent lamps |
May 29, 2007 |
| Apparatus and methods for measuring cathode fall in fluorescent lamps are disclosed. Together with measurements of cathode temperature, such measurements of cathode fall may inform a determination of cathode heater voltage as a function of discharge current (i.e., a cathode-heating-p |
| 7208887 |
Ballast having multiple circuit failure protection and method for ballast circuit protection |
April 24, 2007 |
| A ballast for a gas discharge lamp comprising a first circuit portion for providing power to a lighting load and a second circuit portion for processing data exchanged with a communication link, the first circuit portion receiving power from an AC main supply for conversion to a form |
| 7198523 |
Receptacle and plug therefor |
April 3, 2007 |
| An electrical receptacle defines a receptacle formation of a mating formation pair to prevent a standard plug from establishing electrical connection while permitting an otherwise standard plug defining a corresponding plug formation to be sufficiently inserted to establish an electr |
| 7196476 |
Apparatus and methods for making capacitive measurements of cathode fall in fluorescent lamps |
March 27, 2007 |
| Apparatus and methods for measuring cathode fall in fluorescent lamps are disclosed. Together with measurements of cathode temperature, such measurements of cathode fall may inform a determination of cathode heater voltage as a function of discharge current (i.e., a cathode-heating-p |
| 7190125 |
Programmable wallbox dimmer |
March 13, 2007 |
| A programmable wallbox dimmer is disclosed. Upon entering a programming mode, the dimmer presents a main menu from which the user may select one or more features to program. The user may scroll through a list of programmable features by actuating the dimmer's raise/lower intensity ac |
| 7190124 |
Two-wire dimmer with power supply and load protection circuit in the event of switch failure |
March 13, 2007 |
| A dimmer circuit provides AC power to an inductive lighting load in series with the dimmer circuit. A bidirectional semiconductor switch has a control electrode with a control signal for determining the power provided to the load. The switch in normal operation is controlled to block |
| 7166970 |
Lighting control device having improved long fade off |
January 23, 2007 |
| A lighting control device for controlling the light intensity level of at least one lamp is disclosed. The lighting control device includes an actuator and a controller, such as a microcontroller, for example. The controller is operable to cause the light intensity level of the lamp to |
| 7163044 |
Shade for shaped windows |
January 16, 2007 |
| A roller shade assembly includes a drape bar extending adjacent a rotatably supported roller tube to suspend a portion of a flexible shade fabric windingly received by the roller tube. The drape bar includes a fabric-receiving portion that is shaped along at least a portion of its le |
| 7126291 |
Radio frequency lighting control system programming device and method |
October 24, 2006 |
| An independent radio frequency programming device automates a setup process for a lighting system with lighting control devices and master controls. The programming device intercepts communications between the lighting control devices and the master control during an initial setup ph |
| 7116056 |
Dimmer control system having remote infrared transmitters |
October 3, 2006 |
| A control system includes an electrical load control device responsive to radiant energy and a transmitter. The transmitter includes two sets of radiant energy generators connected to an electrical circuit such that polarity of the sets is reversed. A transmissive enclosure includes |
| 7116055 |
Apparatus and methods for making spectroscopic measurements of cathode fall in fluorescent lamps |
October 3, 2006 |
| Apparatus and methods are disclosed for measuring cathode fall within a fluorescent lamp that contains an electrode and a gas. A level of cathode fall associated with the electrode may be identified based on an intensity and wavelength of radiation emitted by the gas. |
| 7111952 |
System to control daylight and artificial illumination and sun glare in a space |
September 26, 2006 |
| An illumination maintenance system for maintaining a desired illumination profile in a space throughout at least a portion of a day where the illumination sources include daylight and artificial light, the system comprising a first sensor for sensing an illumination level in at least a |
| 7105763 |
Switch assembly |
September 12, 2006 |
| A switch assembly includes an actuator assembly having a slidably supported pushbutton and a switch mechanism switchable between alternate positions. The pushbutton is biased by a return spring between the pushbutton and a retainer. A pin is received within the return spring coils an |
| 7091672 |
High efficiency off-line linear power supply |
August 15, 2006 |
| A power supply circuit comprising a first switching transistor having a control terminal and a control terminal switching threshold and that charges current from a voltage source into a charge storage capacitor, a control circuit controlling the on/off operation of the switching tran |
| 7085627 |
Integrated system for controlling lights and shades |
August 1, 2006 |
| A control system includes a processor transmitting signals to a shade network and a lighting system directing that motorized shades and dimmable loads be set to desired intensity levels. A communication interface having a buffer is connected between the processor and the shade networ |
| 7075254 |
Lighting ballast having boost converter with on/off control and method of ballast operation |
July 11, 2006 |
| A ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp comprising a rectifier stage having an alternating current (AC) input and providing a rectified output voltage, a boost converter stage receiving the rectified output voltage as an input and providing a boosted direct current (DC) output voltage |
| 7071634 |
Lighting control device having improved long fade off |
July 4, 2006 |
| A lighting control device for controlling the light intensity level of at least one lamp is disclosed. The lighting control device includes a microcontroller and a user-actuatable switch controller that is operatively coupled to the microcontroller. The microcontroller causes the lig |
| 7063124 |
System for securing a shade fabric to a roller tube |
June 20, 2006 |
| An insert having a peripheral contact surface is received by a roller tube channel to engage a shade fabric. The insert is adjustable to compress the shade fabric within the channel. The insert may include a body having opposite side edges and at least one elongated slot. The insert memb |
| 7061191 |
System and method for reducing flicker of compact gas discharge lamps at low lamp light output l |
June 13, 2006 |
| A lamp lighting system allows dimming of a compact gas discharge lamp to a low light output level without perceptible flicker. When the system receives a request to dim the lamp to the low level, the lamp is operated at an intermediate output level prior to operating the lamp is then |
| 7061189 |
Electronic ballast |
June 13, 2006 |
| An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp includes a rectifier, a valley-fill circuit, an inverter having first and second series-connected controllably conductive switches having complementary duty cycles, a control circuit for controlling the controllably conductive sw |
| 7051782 |
System for coupling roller shade tubes |
May 30, 2006 |
| A coupling assembly for a multiple-tube roller shade includes a support assembly for rotatably supporting and connecting adjacently located tube-end portions and a clutch mechanism providing relative rotation therebetween. The support assembly includes a tube-end fitting and a torque |
| 7005762 |
Electronic control systems and methods |
February 28, 2006 |
| An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collected in both two and |
| 7002301 |
Apparatus and methods for making capacitive measurements of cathode fall in fluorescent lamps |
February 21, 2006 |
| Apparatus and methods for measuring cathode fall in fluorescent lamps are disclosed. Together with measurements of cathode temperature, such measurements of cathode fall may inform a determination of cathode heater voltage as a function of discharge current (i.e., a cathode-heating-p |
