Abstract: A system that maintains power consumption of a network to a predefined limit. A plurality of elements such as components, nodes and modules may be connected in a daisy chain configuration. Power may be inserted to one or more of the elements which may proceed down the chain to be consumed by the one or more elements. However, there a limit as to the total amount of energy that may be consumed at the same time. Thus, power to the elements may be scheduled so that the limit is not exceeded by at any one time. At the same time, communications may proceed through that chain from element to element. An example of the present system may be a power over a network (PoE).

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: An actuator is designed to control airflow in HVAC systems by opening and closing a damper. A slippage detector may be secured to a damper shaft to measure movement of the damper shaft. This measured movement may be compared to the expected movement of the damper shaft as indicated by the movement of a rotatable output of the actuator.

Abstract: A system that maintains power consumption of a network to a predefined limit. A plurality of elements such as components, nodes and modules may be connected in a daisy chain configuration. Power may be inserted to one or more of the elements which may proceed down the chain to be consumed by the one or more elements. However, there a limit as to the total amount of energy that may be consumed at the same time. Thus, power to the elements may be scheduled so that the limit is not exceeded by at any one time. At the same time, communications may proceed through that chain from element to element. An example of the present system may be a power over a network (PoE).

Abstract: An actuator is designed to control airflow in HVAC systems by opening and closing a damper. A slippage detector may be secured to a damper shaft to measure movement of the damper shaft. This measured movement may be compared to the expected movement of the damper shaft as indicated by the movement of a rotatable output of the actuator.

Abstract: An external auxiliary switch mechanism having a base device and an expansion module. The base device may incorporate a transceiver and microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The expansion module may incorporate a transceiver and a microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The microcontroller of the expansion module may have a connection to one or more switches and/or a communication module connected to a network. Data may be transferred wirelessly between the transceiver of the base device and the transceiver of the expansion module with, for example, near-field communication techniques. In some versions of the present mechanism, the expansion module may derive power from signals from the basic device.

Abstract: Refilling device (11) for a hydronic heating system, having a monolithic housing (21) providing an inlet port (22), an outlet port (23), a middle section (24) providing a flow channel for water extending between the inlet port (22) and the outlet port (23) and a connection socket (25) for a softening and/or demineralization cartridge (26), having an inlet shut-off-valve (27) accommodated within said monolithic housing (21) downstream of said inlet port (22), having an automatically actuated outlet shut-off-valve (28) accommodated within said monolithic housing (21) upstream of said outlet port (23), having a system separator (29) with backflow preventers (30, 31) accommodated within said monolithic housing (21), having a conductivity or TDS sensor (32, 33) accommodated within said monolithic housing (21), having a flow meter (35) accommodated within said monolithic housing (21), and having a controller (37) mounted to said monolithic housing (21), wherein the controller (37) receives signals from the conducti

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: An external auxiliary switch mechanism having a base device and an expansion module. The base device may incorporate a transceiver and microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The expansion module may incorporate a transceiver and a microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The microcontroller of the expansion module may have a connection to one or more switches and/or a communication module connected to a network. Data may be transferred wirelessly between the transceiver of the base device and the transceiver of the expansion module with, for example, near-field communication techniques. In some versions of the present mechanism, the expansion module may derive power from signals from the basic device.

Abstract: An external auxiliary switch mechanism having a base device and an expansion module. The base device may incorporate a transceiver and microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The expansion module may incorporate a transceiver and a microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The microcontroller of the expansion module may have a connection to one or more switches and/or a communication module connected to a network. Data may be transferred wirelessly between the transceiver of the base device and the transceiver of the expansion module with, for example, near-field communication techniques. In some versions of the present mechanism, the expansion module may derive power from signals from the basic device.

Abstract: An external auxiliary switch mechanism having a base device and an expansion module. The base device may incorporate a transceiver and microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The expansion module may incorporate a transceiver and a microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The microcontroller of the expansion module may have a connection to one or more switches and/or a communication module connected to a network. Data may be transferred wirelessly between the transceiver of the base device and the transceiver of the expansion module with, for example, near-field communication techniques. In some versions of the present mechanism, the expansion module may derive power from signals from the basic device.

Abstract: A wall module for controlling a temperature in a building space includes a housing and a temperature sensor disposed within the housing. A touch screen display is mounted relative to the housing and a controller is configured to control what is displayed on the touch screen display and to accept inputs received via the touch screen display. A communication port is operatively coupled to the controller for communicating with an HVAC controller that is remote from the wall module. The controller is configured to permit a user to alter a display arrangement of information displayed on the touch screen display, and to transmit the altered display arrangement to the HVAC controller such that the HVAC controller can subsequently provide the altered display arrangement back to the wall module and/or share the altered display arrangement with other wall modules.

Abstract: A wall module of a building control system is described that is configured to capture a thermal image using a passive infrared (PIR) sensor four or more individually readable pixels arranged in two or more rows and two or more columns.

Abstract: A wall module for controlling a temperature in a building space includes a housing and a temperature sensor disposed within the housing. A touch screen display is mounted relative to the housing and a controller is configured to control what is displayed on the touch screen display and to accept inputs received via the touch screen display. A communication port is operatively coupled to the controller for communicating with an HVAC controller that is remote from the wall module. The controller is configured to permit a user to alter a display arrangement of information displayed on the touch screen display, and to transmit the altered display arrangement to the HVAC controller such that the HVAC controller can subsequently provide the altered display arrangement back to the wall module and/or share the altered display arrangement with other wall modules.

Abstract: A power supply approach and mechanism for electrical devices using a polarity-insensitive two-wire bus that can carry data and power. However, some devices, such as CO2 sensors and secure digital memory cards, may need certain amounts of energy for measuring and writing data, respectively, that are more intense than the amount of energy available on the two-wire bus. Sensor, card and other device data may be conveyed by the two-wire bus. The present approach and mechanism may convert power from the two-wire bus into intense energy that can enable the sensors, cards and other devices to satisfactorily operate. A current limiter may be incorporated to protect the two-wire bus from loss of data and energy for slave devices on the bus during a period of charging a storage cell in that an empty huge storage capacitor connected to bus directly could short the bus.

Abstract: An HVAC actuator, such as a spring return actuator, may adjust the maximum output torque of the motor with the varying spring return force of the HVAC actuator as the HVAC actuator moves through its range of motion. In some cases, this may provide a more constant force at the output of the HVAC actuator and reduce the force that is applied through the motor, drive train and/or the HVAC component when an end stop is reached. Also, an HVAC actuator is disclosed that can be configured to discover and store the location of one or more end stop(s), and to slow the speed of the motor down before the end stop(s) is reached. This may reduce the force that is applied through the motor, drive train and/or the HVAC component when an end stop is reached.

Abstract: An HVAC actuator, such as a spring return actuator, may adjust the maximum output torque of the motor with the varying spring return force of the HVAC actuator as the HVAC actuator moves through its range of motion. In some cases, this may provide a more constant force at the output of the HVAC actuator and reduce the force that is applied through the motor, drive train and/or the HVAC component when an end stop is reached. Also, an HVAC actuator is disclosed that can be configured to discover and store the location of one or more end stop(s), and to slow the speed of the motor down before the end stop(s) is reached. This may reduce the force that is applied through the motor, drive train and/or the HVAC component when an end stop is reached.

Abstract: The interfacing of a controller having an output with components (e.g., a triac) that require more current to successfully drive than the amount of current that is drawn by the circuit or controller which is being driven. The extra current drawn may be efficiently used, rather than wasted, for other circuitry such as a power supply for the electronics of the controllers or other devices. Also, another source may automatically come into place to provide current for the power supply or other circuitry when the driving controller becomes inactive.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for adjusting the torque of a motor for a HVAC actuator based upon one or more operating conditions of the HVAC actuator. One illustrative HVAC actuator includes an actuated part, a motor for providing a torque to move the actuated part, a detector for detecting an operating condition in or around the HVAC actuator, and a controller for adjusting the torque in accordance with the detected operating condition.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for adjusting the torque of a motor for a HVAC actuator based upon one or more operating conditions of the HVAC actuator. One illustrative HVAC actuator includes an actuated part, a motor for providing a torque to move the actuated part, a detector for detecting an operating condition in or around the HVAC actuator, and a controller for adjusting the torque in accordance with the detected operating condition.