Daniel F Carmen

US Patent:

7855543, Dec 21, 2010

Filed:

Jun 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/471914

Inventors:

Jeremy Nearhoof - Lansdale PA, US
Gregory Altonen - Easton PA, US
Daniel F. Carmen - Schnecksville PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

B23K 11/24

US Classification:

323320, 323904, 323119, 315362, 315DIG 4

Abstract:

A load control device, such as a dimmer switch, has a touch sensitive actuator, such as a three-wire touch sensitive screen, that produces an output voltage representing the position of a manual pressure touch along a longitudinal axis of the actuator. A stabilizing circuit receives the output voltage of the actuator and comprises, for example, a capacitor. The stabilizing circuit operates to prevent the detection of transient touches and touches having less than a certain actuation force, such that the output voltage is responsive only to the position of the touch. In addition, a usage detection circuit may also be coupled to the output voltage of the actuator for determining whether the touch is presently occurring. Alternatively, the actuator may comprise a four-wire touch sensitive screen that produces a first output voltage received by the stabilizing circuit and a second output voltage received by the usage detection circuit.

US Patent:

7872429, Jan 18, 2011

Filed:

Apr 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/106614

Inventors:

James P. Steiner - Royersford PA, US
Cyril Baby - Conshohocken PA, US
Christopher Buck - Bethlehem PA, US
Daniel F. Carmen - Schnecksville PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

H05B 37/00

US Classification:

315295, 315308, 315362

Abstract:

A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and an electrical load, and to be further coupled together via an accessory wiring. The remote devices can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system, such that the main device is wired “in the middle” of the load control system. The main device is operable to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are operable to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle.

US Patent:

8040080, Oct 18, 2011

Filed:

Oct 4, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/897287

Inventors:

Jeremy Nearhoof - Landsdale PA, US
Gregory Altonen - Easton PA, US
Daniel F. Carmen - Schnecksville PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

H05B 37/00

US Classification:

315362, 315DIG 4, 345173, 323904, 307119

Abstract:

A user interface for a lighting control has a touch sensitive front surface; a four-wire resistive touch pad responsive to a point actuation on the front surface, the touch pad having a longitudinal resistive element for providing a first control signal representative of the position of the point actuation along the longitudinal axis, and a lateral resistive element for providing a second control signal representative of the position of the point actuation along the lateral axis; a controller receiving the first and second control signals; a first capacitor coupled between the lateral resistive element and a circuit common that charges and discharges through the longitudinal resistive element of the resistive touch pad to stabilize the first control signal; and first, second, and third switches controlled by the controller to provide a DC supply voltage to the resistive elements and to couple a respective resistive element to the controller. The controller determines, from the second control signal, if the touch sensitive front surface is presently being actuated, and determines, from the first control signal, the position of the point actuation along the longitudinal axis.

US Patent:

8067926, Nov 29, 2011

Filed:

Dec 5, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/328906

Inventors:

Daniel F. Carmen - Schnecksville PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

G05F 1/00

US Classification:

323282, 363125, 315209 R, 315227 R, 315246, 315291, 315299

Abstract:

A power supply for a load control device generates a DC voltage and provides an asymmetrical output current, while drawing a substantially symmetrical input current. The power supply comprises a controllably conductive switching circuit for controllably charging an energy storage capacitor across which the DC voltage is produced. The energy storage capacitor begins charging at the beginning of a half-cycle and stops charging after a charging time in response to the magnitude of the DC voltage and the amount of time that the energy storage capacitor has been charging during the present half-cycle. The charging time is maintained substantially constant from one half-cycle to the next. The power supply is particularly beneficial for preventing asymmetrical current from flowing in a multiple location load control system having a master load control device supplying power to a plurality of remote load control devices all located on either the line-side or the load-side of the system.

US Patent:

8098029, Jan 17, 2012

Filed:

Oct 4, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/897240

Inventors:

Jeremy Nearhoof - Lansdale PA, US
Gregory Altonen - Easton PA, US
Daniel F. Carmen - Schnecksville PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

H05B 37/02

US Classification:

315362, 323320, 323904, 315DIG 4, 307119

Abstract:

A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device comprising a semiconductor switch operable to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load, the semiconductor switch having a control input for controlling the semiconductor switch between a non-conductive state and a conductive state; a controller operatively coupled to the control input of the semiconductor switch for controlling the semiconductor switch between the non-conductive state and the conductive state; a touch sensitive front surface; a touch sensitive device responsive to a point actuation on the touch sensitive front surface, the point actuation characterized by a position and a force, the touch sensitive device comprising a resistive divider and an output operatively coupled to the controller for providing a control signal to the controller; and a capacitor coupled to the output of the touch sensitive device for stabilizing the control signal; wherein the capacitor is operable to charge and discharge through the resistive divider of the touch sensitive device, such that the control signal is representative of the position of the point actuation.

US Patent:

8143806, Mar 27, 2012

Filed:

Apr 7, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/755597

Inventors:

Donald Mosebrook - Coopersburg PA, US
Daniel F. Carmen - Schnecksville PA, US
Christopher Buck - Bethlehem PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

G05F 1/00
H05B 37/02

US Classification:

315291, 315307

Abstract:

A multiple location dimming system comprises a plurality of dimmers coupled between an AC power source and a lighting load. Each of the plurality of dimmers is operable to control the intensity of the lighting load and comprises a controllably conductive device, e. g. , a triac. The triacs of the plurality of dimmers are coupled in parallel electrical connection. Only an active one of the dimmers is operable to conduct a load current to the lighting load at any given time. A passive dimmer is operable to monitor the voltage across its triac in order to determine when the active dimmer is firing its triac. Accordingly, the passive dimmer is operable to fire its triac before the active dimmer fires its triac in order to “take over” control of the lighting load from the active dimmer to become the next active dimmer. Further, the passive dimmer is operable to determine the amount of power being delivered to the load and display this information on one or more status indicators.

US Patent:

8242708, Aug 14, 2012

Filed:

Dec 3, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/959939

Inventors:

James P. Steiner - Royersford PA, US
Cyril Baby - Conshohocken PA, US
Christopher Buck - Bethlehem PA, US
Daniel F. Carmen - Schnecksville PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

H05B 37/00

US Classification:

315295, 315308, 315362

Abstract:

A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and an electrical load, and to be further coupled together via an accessory wiring. The remote devices can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system, such that the main device is wired “in the middle” of the load control system. The main device is operable to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are operable to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle.

US Patent:

8334663, Dec 18, 2012

Filed:

Jul 30, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/846942

Inventors:

Daniel F. Carmen - Schnecksville PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

H05B 37/02

US Classification:

315307, 315294, 315241 R

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 power supply having an energy storage capacitor and a charge pump circuit adapted to conduct an input charging current through the load and to conduct an output charging current through the energy storage capacitor to thus generate a DC supply voltage across the energy storage capacitor, where the output charging current has a magnitude greater than the input charging current. The charge pump circuit includes a switched capacitor operable to charge through the load during a first half-cycle, and to discharge into the energy storage capacitor in a second, subsequent half-cycle. The charge pump circuit operates at line frequency and the magnitude of the input charging current is substantially small so as to avoid generating noise in a noise-sensitive circuit of the load control device.