Patents Examined by Nelson J Nieves
  • Patent number: 11519625
    Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of methods for managing temperature overshoot. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes determining a temperature delta between two sensor temperatures reported for a space at predetermined time intervals; determining a temperature rate of change by dividing the temperature delta with a time period that elapsed between the two sensor temperatures; determining a compensation by multiplying the temperature delta and the temperature rate of change; determining a compensated temperature by adding the compensation to a sensor temperature reported for the space; and using a controller and the compensated temperature to control operation of a heating system for the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Esan A. Alhilo
  • Patent number: 11519623
    Abstract: An air conditioner switches between a normal refrigeration cycle and a defrosting refrigeration cycle, and includes: a refrigerant circuit that connects a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a radiation panel, and an expansion valve that regulates a flow rate of a refrigerant flowing through the radiation panel; and a controller that causes the air conditioner to switch between the normal refrigeration cycle and the defrosting cycle. During the normal refrigeration cycle, the radiation panel performs cooling or heating. During the defrosting cycle, the first heat exchanger serves as a radiator and the second heat exchanger serves as an evaporator. During the defrosting cycle, the controller causes the expansion valve to be in a fully closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ebina, Takashi Hasegawa, Toshimichi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11519632
    Abstract: A variable air flow/multiple zone HVAC air terminal system has a plurality of air passageways for conditioned air, bypass air, and optionally outside air, for separate distribution to outlet passageways to the multiple zones. A corresponding plurality of rotating cylindrical air dampeners selectively controls air flow from the conditioned air, bypass air, and outside air passageways to respective ones of the plurality of outlet air passageways corresponding to respective zones. Damper drivers cause rotation of the rotating air dampeners in response to sensed air conditions in the respective zones to control ratios and volume flow rates of the conditioned, bypass, and outside air fed to the respective outlet air passageways, so rotation of respective ones of the rotating air dampers selectively varies air flow to the respective outlet air passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventor: Richard T. Burks, III
  • Patent number: 11519622
    Abstract: An HVAC monitoring system that tests for an abnormal environmental condition, wherein the abnormal condition results in effectuating a selected response from an HVAC building system, the HVAC monitoring system optionally including a sensor for detecting the gas abnormal condition, wherein a first event marker signal is generated from the sensor detecting the abnormal condition. Further included is control circuitry in a first communication with the sensor, wherein the control circuitry is in a ready state that is operative to monitor for the first event marker signal, wherein the control circuitry outputs a second event marker signal corresponding to the first event marker signal, a relay in a second communication with the control circuitry, the relay is operative to be in an activated operational state upon receiving the second event marker signal to operationally effectuate the selected response from the HVAC building system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Rodney Craig Blincoe, Adam Roller, Kathryn Huonder, Tariq Al Salmani
  • Patent number: 11519631
    Abstract: An adaptive flow limit controller for controlling a flow rate of a fluid through a heat exchanger includes a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to use an adaptive model to determine a threshold flow rate of the fluid through the heat exchanger at which a gradient of a temperature difference of the fluid across the heat exchanger with respect to the flow rate of the fluid through the heat exchanger has a threshold gradient value. The processing circuit is configured to operate a flow control device to maintain the flow rate of the fluid of through the heat exchanger at less than or equal to the threshold flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Brennan H. Fentzlaff, Kirk H. Drees, Timothy I. Salsbury, John M. House
  • Patent number: 11512867
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant and an air flow, a blower configured to induce the air flow across the heat exchanger, and a control board configured to receive an input indicative of a presence of refrigerant external to the heat exchanger and adjust operation of the blower based on the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Shaun B. Atchison, Brian D. Rigg
  • Patent number: 11506449
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a main body having a storeroom for storing a food item; a shelf plate arranged in a storeroom, the shelf plate on which a food item is put; a door that opens and closes a side of the storeroom; a camera arranged on an inner surface of the door, the camera takes an image of an inside of the storeroom; a camera moving device that moves the camera in a vertical direction. The camera moving device stops the camera at one or more points for each of between the shelf plates located adjacent to each other, and between an inner surface of a top edge of the storeroom and the shelf plate located adjacent to the inner surface of the top edge of the storeroom, and the camera takes an image each time when the camera moving device stops moving the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Uchida, Satoshi Minezawa, Eiji Niikura, Yoko Inoue
  • Patent number: 11499769
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a compressor of an HVAC system in response to the refrigerant super heat value for refrigerant within the compressor. First and second signals are received for indicating one or more temperature values of refrigerant substantially at the first compressor sump and within the first distributor tube, respectively. A saturated suction temperature is estimated using at least the second signal. A first super heat value is calculated for refrigerant substantially at the first compressor sump using at least the saturated suction temperature and the one or more temperature values indicated by the first signal. A first control signal is generated for at least de-energizing the first compressor if the calculated first super heat value is below a tolerance value defining the minimum super heat value at which the first compressor may be operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Rakesh Goel
  • Patent number: 11498385
    Abstract: A motor vehicle air-conditioning line valve arrangement includes a line valve having an air-conditioning line body which is of substantially closed design in a transverse plane, and a fiber nonwoven arranged on an inside in the air-conditioning line body and having a nonwoven mat to which a large number of nonwoven fibers are fixed. The nonwoven fibers are fixed to the nonwoven mat at one end and configured to be electrostatically charged by the nonwoven mat. An electrical charge generator is electrically connected to the nonwoven mat and configured to electrostatically charge the fiber nonwoven, so that the electrostatically charged nonwoven fibers straighten toward a center of the air-conditioning line body in such a way that they close an open flow cross section of the air-conditioning line body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Rommelfanger, Philipp Bolay
  • Patent number: 11498389
    Abstract: An air conditioning control system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry includes an ambient temperature obtainment unit, a departure time estimation unit configured to estimate a departure time of a vehicle, an air conditioning condition calculator configured to calculate an operation period and an operation output that allow a passenger compartment temperature of the vehicle to reach a preset target temperature, an air conditioning start time determination unit configured to determine an activation time of an air conditioner, and an air conditioning controller. The air conditioning start time determination unit is configured to determine that the activation time is a time earlier than the departure time by the operation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu Hoshino, Kunihiko Jinno
  • Patent number: 11499728
    Abstract: The air processing device is provided with a processing unit that determines the state of a predetermined part(s) in a casing on the basis of the change in a plurality of image data acquired by an imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Youichi Handa, Masaya Nishimura, Yoshiteru Nouchi
  • Patent number: 11493231
    Abstract: An air-conditioner indoor unit (10) is configured to be capable of changing the direction of an airflow that is blown out through a blow-out port (15). The air-conditioner indoor unit (10) includes a control unit (40) that switches between a normal mode and a wide mode. The control unit (40) switches to the wide mode when an air conditioning load is higher than a predetermined value and extends at least vertically a range that is to be reached by the airflow in an air-conditioning target space in the wide mode compared with the normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Fujita, Kei Takenaka, Tomoyuki Haikawa, Hayato Nuno
  • Patent number: 11486595
    Abstract: An Air Handling Unit for a ventilation system in a building has supply and extract air channels, each with an inlet and an outlet for guiding air to and from a building. Each air channel includes a damper controlling air flow. The air channels are in a heat exchanging relation to each other. The AHU also includes a fan and an Electronic Control Unit. The ECU outputs a defrost cycle initiation signal to defrost the heat recovery arrangement. The ECU outputs a defrost cycle termination signal to end the defrost cycle upon indication of the defrosting being completed. To optimize the defrost cycle time the ECU changes the first or second criterion for defrost cycle termination signal depending on the time for performing the defrost cycle such that the time period of the defrost cycle is prolonged/shortened when the defrost cycle time period is shorter/longer than preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SWEGON OPERATIONS AB
    Inventors: Andreas Gustavsson, Daniel Oltegen, Daniel Johansson, Anders Fransson, Magnus Ahl
  • Patent number: 11486600
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The outdoor unit includes: a DC motor; an inrush-current prevention relay having a coil and a contact provided on a supply line of an AC power supply as a power supply of the outdoor unit, in which the contact is in an electrically-disconnected state when any current does not flow through the coil and is in an electrically-connected state when a current flows through the coil; a PTC connected in parallel to the contact; and a temperature protector provided on a supply line of a relay-driving power supply as a power supply of the inrush-current prevention relay, which is in an electrically-connected state when a temperature of the DC motor is lower than a predetermined temperature, but is in an electrically-disconnected state when the temperature of the DC motor reaches a predetermined temperature or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Takagi, Toshiya Sugiyama, Keishi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11486621
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a controller for a compressor and a control method, a compressor assembly, and a refrigeration system, which improve control efficiency and reliability. The controller includes an obtaining module configured to obtain at least one operation state parameter of the compressor, and a controlling module configured to shut off a liquid injection valve if one of the at least one operation state parameter of the compressor meets a protection action condition, wherein the liquid injection valve is configured to regulate flow of fluid injected into the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Danfoss (Tianjin) Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhiwei Shang, Li Yao, He Ma, Guocun Li
  • Patent number: 11480387
    Abstract: A cold storage box is provided that allows individual confirmation that stored objects such as medicine, food, and beverages have been managed at an appropriate temperature. The cold storage box 1 includes: a storage part which can house stored objects; a lid part which covers an opening part of the storage part; and a cooling device which cools the storage part, and the cold storage box includes an RF tag provided for each of the stored objects and equipped with a temperature sensor and a control part which communicates with the RF tag at appropriate time intervals via an antenna part provided inside the storage part and stores ID information of the RF tag and temperature information sensed by the temperature sensor of the RF tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventor: Hiroaki Ito
  • Patent number: 11480353
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes a face-split evaporator. The face-split evaporator includes a top evaporator circuit positioned above a bottom evaporator circuit. The system includes a first compressor associated with the top evaporator circuit, a second compressor associated with the bottom evaporator circuit, and a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second compressors. The controller receives a demand request, which includes a command to reduce power consumption by the HVAC system by a predefined percentage. In response to receiving the demand request, the second compressor is turned off thereby decreasing power consumption by at least the predefined percentage. A portion of a liquid condensate formed on a surface of the top evaporator circuit is allowed to fall on a surface of the bottom evaporator circuit such that a portion of a flow of air passing across the bottom evaporator is evaporatively cooled by the portion of the liquid condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Goel, Vijaykumar Sathyamurthi
  • Patent number: 11473791
    Abstract: Disclosed is a humidity control apparatus which ensures a sufficient dehumidification amount without increasing an area of a gas-liquid contact portion in a dehumidification unit, regardless of the type of liquid absorbent used. The humidity control apparatus includes an absorbent circuit connecting a liquid-based dehumidification module, a recovery module, and a liquid-cooling heat exchanger which cools, with a refrigerant, a liquid absorbent before being used in the liquid-based dehumidification module. A refrigerant-cooling-based dehumidification module is positioned upstream of the liquid-based dehumidification module in a flow direction of target air, and cools and dehumidifies, with the refrigerant, the target air before being dehumidified in the module. The liquid-cooling heat exchanger and the refrigerant-cooling-based dehumidification module are connected to a single refrigerant circuit together with a liquid-heating heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD
    Inventors: Naotoshi Fujita, Eisaku Okubo, Nobuki Matsui, Yoshinori Narikawa
  • Patent number: 11473830
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the defrost cycles of evaporators associated with the compartments of a refrigerator. Defrost heaters associated with each evaporator are turned on and run until either a predetermined maximum defrost temperature is reached for the compartments or until a predetermined maximum run time is reached for each defrost heater. A controller determines a defrost interval based on running times of the freezer defrost heater and the ice maker defrost heater so that the duration of the defrost interval is inversely related to the duration of the running time of the freezer defrost heater and the ice maker defrost heater. The controller also reduces the defrost interval for every second a door of the compartments remains open, compares the reduced defrost interval with the defrost length, and selects the shorter one as the new defrost interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Electrolux do Brasil S.A.
    Inventors: Rafael Roslindo, Felipe Ormelez, Israel Mercer, Rafael Leidens, Alcione Colecha, Antonio Voltarelli, Guilherme Picanço
  • Patent number: 11473805
    Abstract: The indoor unit includes a plurality of outlet openings. In airflow rotation of the indoor unit, a full blowout mode and a partial blowout mode are executed. In the full blowout mode, all the outlet openings blow conditioned air. In the partial blowout mode, the flow of the blowing air of part of the outlet openings are blocked by the air current blocking mechanism, and thus the blowing wind speeds of the remaining outlet openings increases. As a result, an air temperature difference among parts of the indoor space decreases, and the comfort of the indoor space is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Komatsu, Nobuyuki Kojima, Ryouta Suhara, Masaaki Murata, Natsumi Furo