Lutron Technology Company LLC

Other

Jason A King

Galen Edgar Knode

Jordan H Crafts

Richard S Camden

Ankit Bhutani

Jeffrey S Hayes

Prasad Pramod Kulkarni

A load control system may include control devices configured to communicate via a network. The network may include router devices for enabling communication of messages throughout the network. A control device may operate as a router device in the network. The control device may receive advertisement messages from a leader device in the network. When the leader device fails to communicate advertisement messages within a predefined period of time to other control devices that are operating as router devices in the network, one or more router devices may be identified as backup-leader devices to take over operation as the leader device in the network. When a control device that has the role of a leader device or router device is intentionally deactivated, the control device may perform a deactivation process that is specific to the role of the control device on the network.

Handling loss or removal of devices in a mesh network

A control device may be configured to form a network at a unique coordinated startup time. The control device may identify a role assigned to the control device in a previously-formed network that the control device was attached to. The control device may determine a unique coordinated startup time for the control device based on the role assigned to the control device in the previously-formed network. The control device may initiate a network formation procedure at the unique coordinated startup time for the device. For example, the network formation procedure may cause the control device to attach to another control device in the network. The network formation procedure is configured to enable the control device to assume the role assigned to the control device in the previously-formed network in the new network.

Coordinated startup routine for control devices of a network

A control device may communicate messages with devices in a network through a parent device, and receive messages from auxiliary parent devices. The control device may store a respective communication metric associated with each of the parent device and the one or more auxiliary parent devices. The control device may set an auxiliary parent device of the one or more auxiliary parent devices as the parent device of the control device, e.g., when a respective communication metric of the auxiliary parent device determined to be set as the parent device indicates a stronger communication link than the parent device. The control device may determine that the respective communication metric of the auxiliary parent device indicates a stronger potential communication link than the parent device when the average received signal strength indicator of auxiliary parent device is greater than the average received signal strength indicator of the parent device.

Attachments in a network

A steering wheel heating apparatus includes a steering wheel that includes an annular member and a pair of supports that are attached to and extend inwardly from the annular member. Each of the supports is attached to a steering column of a vehicle. A covering is removably positioned on and is coextensive with the annular member. At least one elongated heating element extends along a length of the covering. The elongated heating element is positioned between a top side and a bottom side of the covering. A power supply is electrically coupled to the heating element. An actuator is electrically coupled to the power supply and is configured to selectively turn the heating element on or off.

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Bethlehem, PA, United States of America

Jason A King