Abstract: Refilling device for a hydronic heating system, having a monolithic housing providing an inlet port, an outlet port, a middle section providing a flow channel for water extending between the inlet port and the outlet port and a connection socket for a softening and/or demineralization cartridge, having an inlet shut-off-valve accommodated within said monolithic housing downstream of said inlet port, having an automatically actuated outlet shut-off-valve accommodated within said monolithic housing upstream of said outlet port, having a system separator with backflow preventers, a conductivity or TDS sensor and a flow meter accommodated within said monolithic housing, and having a controller mounted to said monolithic housing, wherein the controller receives signals from the conductivity or TDS sensor and from the flow meter, wherein the controller processes said signals received from said sensors to automatically control the operation of the refilling device.

Abstract: A security system is provided. The security system includes a control panel located within a secured space, a plurality of sensors coupled to the control panel that detect security events within the secured space, a user interface within the secured area coupled to the control panel, a camera located in the user interface that collects video images in the secured space surrounding the user interface upon activation of one of the plurality of sensors, a sound transducer located in the user interface, a programmed processor within one of the user interface and the control panel that supports VoIP calls between a called or calling party and the user interface and a control button on the user interface that activates a VoIP connection with a called or calling party through the user interface and control panel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying and associating context images with zones or devices of a security system or a home automation system are provided. Such systems and methods may include associating each of a plurality of zones or devices of the security system or the home automation system with a respective context image and displaying the respective context image for one of the plurality of zones or devices in response to a user interface of the security system or the home automation system receiving user input.

Abstract: A humidifier including a humidifier housing with an adjustable backplane configured to fit to a variety of humidifier pad sizes. Different sizes of humidifier pads are available, and the choice of humidifier pad may depend on the capacity of the HVAC system. The backplane of this disclosure may be adjusted by moving to one position to accommodate a larger humidifier pad or to a second position for a smaller humidifier pad. The backplane of the humidifier housing is configured to mount over an opening of an air duct of an HVAC system such that air is directed along an air path defined by the humidifier housing, through the humidifier pad positioned in front of the air duct and into the air stream of the HVAC system. Water flows through inlet tubing to a water distributor, which may direct the water to the top of the humidifier pad.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for controlling a temperature of water contained by a water tank. A controller includes a user interface configured to receive one or more user inputs indicative of a request to set a control parameter of the controller and communication circuitry configured to receive, from a user device, an electronic signal. Additionally, the controller includes processing circuitry configured to identify, from the electronic signal, one or more first data packets that include a request to disable an ability to change, based on the one or more user inputs received by the user interface, the control parameter of the controller and in response to receiving the one or more first data packets, disable the ability to change the control parameter of the controller.

Abstract: A humidifier device includes an output device, an atomizer enclosure having a first opening that is operable to be open and closed and a second opening, an atomizer within the atomizer enclosure configured to produce moisture and to output the moisture through the second opening of the atomizer enclosure, a humidity sensor configured to sense humidity levels, and control circuitry configured to control the atomizer and to determine whether the humidity levels sensed by the humidity sensor are indicative of the first opening of the atomizer enclosure being open. The output device is configured to, in response to determining that the humidity levels sensed by the humidity sensor are indicative of the first opening of the atomizer enclosure is open, output an alert indicative of the first opening of the atomizer enclosure being open.

Abstract: A device for detecting a wire configuration connecting a thermostat and HVAC equipment includes fan controller circuitry, AC controller circuitry, switching circuitry, and processing circuitry. The fan controller circuitry is configured to operate a fan unit of the HVAC equipment using a G pin in a first wire configuration and using a K pin in a second wire configuration. The AC controller circuitry is configured to operate an AC unit of the HVAC equipment using a Y pin in the first wire configuration and the K pin in the second wire configuration. The switching circuitry is configured to refrain from electrically coupling the Y pin and the K pin in response to a deactivation signal. The processing circuitry is configured to determine the HVAC equipment is in the first wire configuration in response to determining the AC controller circuitry receives power while outputting the deactivation signal to the switching circuitry.

Abstract: In some examples, a system for comfort or security in a building and its premises includes a plurality of “first” devices configured to wirelessly communicate with a hub device that is a master for controlling the system for comfort or security in the building and premises, wherein the plurality of first devices and the hub device are configured to wirelessly communicate using either one of an IEEE 802.15.4 standard or a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) 5.0 standard; a plurality of “second” devices that are battery powered and configured to wirelessly communicate with respective ones of the plurality of first devices, wherein the plurality of second devices and respective ones of the plurality of first devices are configured to communicate using the BTLE 5.0 standard, wherein the hub device and the plurality of second devices are configured to communicate with each other via respective ones of the plurality of first devices.

Abstract: A sensor device includes processing circuitry configured to output, at a first bandwidth, first bandwidth data to a hub device using a first wireless connection configured for a first wireless protocol. In response to determining that the sensor device has second bandwidth data to output to the hub device at a second bandwidth, the processing circuitry is configured to output a second wireless connection request to the hub device using the first wireless connection. In response to the hub device outputting information for establishing a second wireless connection with the sensor device, the processing circuitry is configured to establish the second wireless connection for a second wireless protocol different from the first wireless protocol. The processing circuitry is configured to output, at the second bandwidth, the second bandwidth data to the hub device using the second wireless connection. The second bandwidth is greater than the first bandwidth.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for outputting an alarm signal in response to detecting a leak in a water heater device. For example, a water heater device includes a leak sensor, an intermittent pilot light, and a circuit. The circuit includes processing circuitry configured to receive, from the leak sensor, an electrical signal including information indicative of a leak in the water heater device, activate, based on the electrical signal including information indicative of the leak, an alarm device, where the alarm device is powered for at least a period of time by a power source, where the power source is configured to receive energy from a thermoelectric device, and maintain an amount of energy stored by the power source so that the amount of energy is sufficient for the power source to supply energy to the alarm device.

Abstract: A device includes a housing, a tamper switch supported at the housing, and a tamper actuator receivable at the housing. The tamper actuator is movable between a tamper disabled position and a tamper enabled position. In the tamper disabled position, the tamper actuator is fixed in place at the housing. In the tamper enabled position, the tamper actuator is configured to move relative to the housing between a tamper switch engaged position and a tamper switch released position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for broadcasting an audio or visual alert that includes a description of features of an ambient object extracted from an image captured by a camera of a doorbell device are provided. Such systems and methods can include the camera capturing the image when the ambient object is within a field of view of the camera and a processor receiving the image from the camera, processing the image with an artificial intelligence model to identify and extract details of the features of the ambient object, and initiating a broadcast of the audio or visual alert by an alert device associated with the camera, wherein the audio or visual alert can include the description of the features of the ambient object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for converting low resolution images into high resolution images are provided and can include (1) processing a compressed version of images with a first set of heuristics and rules of an artificial intelligence model to produce an intermediate version of the images with an intermediate resolution that is greater than the compressed resolution by first enhancing the images and subsequently upscaling the images as enhanced from the compressed resolution to the intermediate resolution and (2) processing the intermediate version of the images with a second set of heuristics and rules of the artificial intelligence model to produce a final version of the images with a final resolution that is greater than the initial resolution and the intermediate resolution by first upscaling the images from the intermediate resolution to the final resolution and subsequently enhancing the images as upscaled to produce the final version of the images.

Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying credentials to perform a secured operation in a connected system are provided. Such systems and methods may include a cloud server determining whether a face in an image and an activation code valid or invalid. When the cloud server determines that both the face in the image and the activation code are valid, systems and methods may include the cloud server transmitting an instructional signal to the connected system to execute the secured operation. However, when the cloud server determines that the face in the image is invalid, the activation code is invalid, or the image fails to include the face, systems and methods can include the cloud server refraining from transmitting the instructional signal to the connected system to execute the secured operation.

Abstract: One or more screens may be displayed on a touch screen of a wireless mobile device to solicit commissioning information from the user, including uploading a photograph of a room. The photograph may be displayed on the touch screen along with a set of icons corresponding to devices in the room. Individual icons may be moved onto the photograph to locations corresponding to the actual devices. The icons can be used to configure and operate the corresponding devices.

Abstract: A modular damper system is configured for installation in a ductwork of a building that supplies conditioned air through a register vent of the building and includes a damper unit, a control module and a power module. The damper unit is mountable upstream of the register vent and includes a damper that is movable between a closed position and an open position. The control module includes a controller that provides control commands to the damper unit and includes a housing that is configured to be secured to the ductwork at a position between the register vent and the damper unit. A power module is electrically coupled to the control module to provide power to the control module and includes a housing that is configured to be secured to the ductwork at a position between the register vent and the damper unit.

Abstract: A device that includes a pressure sensor that adds dynamic pressure sensing capability to a furnace. In some examples the device may include a relay and other circuitry to replace the single-setpoint pressure switch used to sense the operation of an inducer fan. The pressure sensor may measure the pressure from the inducer fan and send a signal to the other circuitry, such as a microcontroller. The other circuitry may determine when the pressure from the inducer fan reaches a predetermined threshold and allow the main gas valve of the furnace to open. The other circuitry may be configured to set the pressure sensor to a variety of predetermined pressure thresholds, and thereby replace multiple pressure switches. In some examples, the other circuitry may record pressure values received from the pressure sensor over time and provide performance data, as well as other signals or indicators.

Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring a security sensor are provided. Some methods can include receiving user input identifying a configuration setting of the security sensor through a user input device located on the security sensor, identifying the configuration setting based on the user input, transmitting a registration message to a security system control panel identifying the configuration setting, and operating in accordance with the configuration setting.