James R Steiner

US Patent:

7330004, Feb 12, 2008

Filed:

Jun 6, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/447728

Inventors:

Stuart DeJonge - Riegelsville PA, US
James P Steiner - Royersford PA, US
Aaron Dobbins - Macungie PA, US
Chen Ming Wu - Emmaus PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

H02K 27/00

US Classification:

318244, 318245, 318727

Abstract:

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 voltage from an AC source to the parallel circuit comprising the motor and the switch; and a control circuit for controlling the conduction time of the switch in order to vary the speed of the motor. The switch is preferably pulse-width modulated at a frequency twice the line frequency of the AC supply voltage, and the switch is turned on when the voltage across the AC motor is zero volts. The apparatus is operable to provide for continuously variable control of the motor speed while minimizing acoustic noise in the motor.

US Patent:

7423413, Sep 9, 2008

Filed:

Jun 6, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/447489

Inventors:

Aaron Dobbins - Macungie PA, US
Russell Weightman - Abington PA, US
David J Perreault - Brookline MA, US
James P Steiner - Royersford PA, US
Chen Ming Wu - Emmaus PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

G05F 1/455
H02J 3/12

US Classification:

323242, 323239

Abstract:

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 source to the load and includes a controllably conductive device, a triggering device, and a charging circuit. The charging circuit is operable to charge an energy storage device and to conduct current to the load when the controllably conductive device is non-conductive. The controllably conductive device begins conducting the full load current when the energy storage device has charged to a predetermined amount of energy. Before the controllably conductive device begins to conduct, only a minimal voltage, which is substantially the same as the break-over voltage of the triggering circuit, develops across the power supply to allow the energy storage device to charge.

US Patent:

7489094, Feb 10, 2009

Filed:

Nov 16, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/560664

Inventors:

James P. Steiner - Royersford PA, US
Aaron Dobbins - Macungie PA, US
Chen Ming Wu - Emmaus PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

H02P 7/06

US Classification:

318249, 318245, 318257, 318268, 388838, 388839, 388855

Abstract:

An AC motor speed controller includes a plurality of capacitors that may be selectively switched, by means of controllably conductive switches, into series electrical connection with an AC motor and an AC voltage source to control the speed of the motor. To change the speed of the motor, a control circuit renders a first switch conductive, in response to a first detected AC voltage zero crossing, to charge a first capacitor to a predetermined voltage. The control circuit then renders a second switch conductive, in response to a subsequent second detected AC voltage zero crossing, to charge a second capacitor to the predetermined voltage. The control circuit then renders both switches simultaneously conductive at a predetermined time after a subsequent third detected AC voltage zero crossing. The capacitors will thereby be charged to the same voltage prior to being switched into series with the motor, thereby resulting in reduced acoustic noise when changing motor speeds.

US Patent:

7564227, Jul 21, 2009

Filed:

Jun 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/140648

Inventors:

Aaron Dobbins - Macungie PA, US
Russell Weightman - Abington PA, US
David Perreault - Brookline MA, US
James P. Steiner - Royersford PA, US
Chen Ming Wu - Emmaus PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics, Co., Ltd. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

G05F 1/455
H02J 3/12

US Classification:

323242, 323239

Abstract:

A power supply adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC voltage source and an electrical load for generating a DC voltage, the power supply comprising an energy storage capacitor, the DC voltage produced across the capacitor; a charging circuit adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load and to conduct a load current from the source to the load, the charging circuit coupled to the energy storage capacitor for charging the energy storage capacitor; a controllably conductive device coupled in parallel electrical connection with the charging circuit and having a control input for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive, the controllably conductive device adapted to carry the load current from the source to the load when the controllably conductive device is conductive; and a triggering circuit coupled to the control input of the controllably conductive device for causing the controllably conductive device to become conductive when the energy storage capacitor has charged to a desired maximum value; wherein the charging circuit is adapted to conduct the load current from the source to the load when the controllably conductive device is non-conductive, the charging circuit imposing a low voltage drop relative to the peak value of an AC voltage of the AC voltage source, such that substantially all of the AC voltage is available to the load during the time when the controllably conductive device is non-conductive.

US Patent:

7671549, Mar 2, 2010

Filed:

Jul 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/173457

Inventors:

James P. Steiner - Royersford PA, US
Aaron Dobbins - Macungie PA, US
Chen Ming Wu - Emmaus PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

H02P 7/06

US Classification:

318249, 318245, 318257, 318268, 318772

Abstract:

An AC motor speed controller includes a plurality of capacitors that may be selectively switched, by means of controllably conductive switches, into series electrical connection with an AC motor and an AC voltage source to control the speed of the motor. To change the speed of the motor, a control circuit renders a first switch conductive, in response to a first detected AC voltage zero crossing, to charge a first capacitor to a predetermined voltage. The control circuit then renders a second switch conductive, in response to a subsequent second detected AC voltage zero crossing, to charge a second capacitor to the predetermined voltage. The control circuit then renders both switches simultaneously conductive at a predetermined time after a subsequent third detected AC voltage zero crossing. The capacitors will thereby be charged to the same voltage prior to being switched into series with the motor, thereby resulting in reduced acoustic noise when changing motor speeds.

US Patent:

7728564, Jun 1, 2010

Filed:

Feb 23, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/678373

Inventors:

William Bryce Fricke - Emmaus PA, US
Aaron Dobbins - Macungie PA, US
James P. Steiner - Royersford PA, US
Chen Ming Wu - Emmaus PA, US
Russell Weightman - Abington PA, US
David J. Perreault - Brookline MA, US
Ryan Lane - Allentown PA, US
Joseph William Sapp - Emmaus PA, US
Kyle A. McCarter - Bethlehem PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

G05F 1/455
H02J 3/12

US Classification:

323242, 323239

Abstract:

A load control device is adapted to be disposed in series with an AC voltage source and an electrical load and is operable to provide substantially all voltage provided by the AC voltage source to the load. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device, a controller, a zero-crossing detector, and a power supply for generating a substantially DC voltage for powering the controller. The power supply is operable to charge an energy storage device to a predetermined amount of energy each half-cycle. The controller is operable to determine when the power supply has stopped charging from the zero-crossing detector each half-cycle, and to immediately render the controllably conductive device conductive to conduct the full load current. Before the controllably conductive device begins to conduct each half-cycle, only a minimal voltage develops across the power supply to allow the energy storage device to charge.

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:

7940167, May 10, 2011

Filed:

Sep 3, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/203500

Inventors:

James P. Steiner - Royersford PA, US
Andrew Peter Schmalz - Macungie PA, US
Greg Edward Sloan - Allentown PA, US

Assignee:

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. - Coopersburg PA

International Classification:

G08B 1/08
G08B 13/00
G08B 23/00
B65D 85/00

US Classification:

3405391, 340541, 340565, 3406935, 3406937, 3406939, 206703

Abstract:

A battery-powered occupancy sensor for detecting an occupancy condition in a space comprises first and second batteries, an occupancy detector circuit, a controller, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting a first wireless signal in response to the occupancy detector circuit detecting the occupancy condition in the space. The controller and the wireless transmitter are powered by the first battery, while only the occupancy detector circuit is powered by the second battery, such that the occupancy detector circuit is isolated from noise generated by the controller and the wireless transmitter. The occupancy detector circuit draws a current having a magnitude of approximately 5 microamps or less from the second battery. The occupancy sensor transmits a second wireless signal is response to determining that the voltage of one of the batteries has dropped too low.