Patents by Inventor K. Alexander
K. Alexander has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11933574Abstract: A semiautomatic shotgun comprising a receiver, a barrel, a forward gas block assembly attached to the barrel, a slider assembly rearward of the gas block assembly extending into the receiver. Upon firing a shotshell the explosive gases in the barrel are diverted through two ports into the gas block assembly, specifically into a pair of lateral pressure relief valves positioned on both sides of the barrel. The pressure relief valves further having a gas pathway to a piston chamber. A piston is forced rearwardly and engages a slider of the slider assembly that is linked to a breech block in the receiver. The breech block loads unfired shells and ejects the fired shells accomplishing the semiautomatic recycling. The dual pressure relief valves actuate to moderate and limit the gas pressure that enters the piston chamber when using shotshells of different power levels thereby providing consistency in the recycling operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Savage Arms, Inc.Inventors: Aaron K. Alexander, John Linscott
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Publication number: 20240060665Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, a processing circuit, a wireless transceiver, and a power circuit. The processing circuit includes a processor and memory and is configured to operate the mechanical transducer according to a control program stored in the memory. The wireless transceiver is configured to facilitate bidirectional wireless data communications between the processing circuit and an external device. The power circuit is configured to draw power from a wireless signal received via the wireless transceiver and power the processing circuit and the wireless transceiver using the drawn power. The processing circuit is configured to use the power drawn from the wireless signal to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the actuator to the external device via the wireless transceiver, wirelessly receive data from the external device via the wireless transceiver, and store the data received from the external device in the memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin Weiss
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Patent number: 11879700Abstract: A semiautomatic shotgun comprising a receiver, a barrel, a forward gas block assembly attached to the barrel, a slider assembly rearward of the gas block assembly extending into the receiver. Upon firing a shotshell the explosive gases in the barrel are diverted through two ports into the gas block assembly, specifically into a pair of lateral pressure relief valves positioned on both sides of the barrel. The pressure relief valves further having a gas pathway from the barrel provided by clusters of holes less than a specific size and on-center with the barrel axis. A piston is forced rearwardly and engages a slider of the slider assembly that is linked to a breech block in the receiver. The breech block loads unfired shells and ejects the fired shells accomplishing the semiautomatic recycling. The dual pressure relief valves actuate to moderate and limit the gas pressure that enters the piston chamber when using shotshells of different power levels thereby providing consistency in the recycling operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Savage Arms, Inc.Inventors: Aaron K. Alexander, John Linscott
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Patent number: 11774121Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, a processing circuit, a wireless transceiver, and a power circuit. The processing circuit includes a processor and memory and is configured to operate the mechanical transducer according to a control program stored in the memory. The wireless transceiver is configured to facilitate bidirectional wireless data communications between the processing circuit and an external device. The power circuit is configured to draw power from a wireless signal received via the wireless transceiver and power the processing circuit and the wireless transceiver using the drawn power. The processing circuit is configured to use the power drawn from the wireless signal to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the actuator to the external device via the wireless transceiver, wirelessly receive data from the external device via the wireless transceiver, and store the data received from the external device in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin Weiss
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Patent number: 11609589Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, an input connection configured to receive a power supply line voltage, and a voltage divider circuit. The voltage divider circuit includes a first capacitor in series between the input connection and the mechanical transducer, a second capacitor in parallel with the first capacitor between the input connection and the mechanical transducer, and a first transistor operable to connect and disconnect the first capacitor and/or the second capacitor from the voltage divider circuit based on the power supply line voltage, thereby adjusting a capacitance between the input connection and the mechanical transducer. The voltage divider circuit is configured to receive the power supply line voltage from the input connection, use at least one of the first capacitor or the second capacitor to reduce the power supply line voltage to a reduced voltage, and provide the reduced voltage to the mechanical transducer.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2018Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLPInventors: Robert K. Alexander, Jeffry M. Papendorf, Stephanie P. Lynn
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Publication number: 20230066138Abstract: A system on a chip for enabling communication between a building management system (BMS) device and a BMS network. The system on a chip includes a device interface, a network interface, and a processing circuit. The device interface is configured to connect the system on a chip to the BMS device via a serial communication link. The network interface configured to connect the system on a chip to the BMS network. The processing circuit is configured to identify and update an attribute of an equipment object associated with the BMS device that corresponds to a command received from the BMS network via the network interface and transmit a message to the BMS device via the device interface using the updated attribute of the equipment object.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLPInventors: Donald A. Gottschalk, Michael R. Brownie, Gary A. Romanowich, Robert K. Alexander, Nathan J. Vandermause
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Patent number: 11591838Abstract: A wall panel system may include a bottom drop seal assembly that maintains a constant force relative to a floor portion of an environment through a damper. The wall panel system may include an automatic top seal assembly that seals a gap between the movable wall panel system and a ceiling of the environment. The moveable wall panel system may include multiple panels and a plurality of seals positioned between adjacent panels to seal a gap between the adjacent panels.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Modernfold, Inc.Inventors: Brad Jones, Aaron K. Alexander, Phil Middaugh, Mark J. McDonough, Adam Burke, Mike Beeler, Robert K. Schuyler, Phillip M. Watson, Matthew Puccio, Thomas L. Goldsmith, Bryan T. Welch
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Patent number: 11527972Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a motor and a drive device driven by the motor. The drive device is coupled to a movable HVAC component for driving the movable HVAC component between multiple positions. The actuator includes an input connection configured to receive an input signal and a processing circuit coupled to the motor. The processing circuit is configured to determine whether the input signal is an AC voltage signal or a DC voltage signal. The processing circuit is configured to operate the motor using an AC motor control technique in response to determining that the input signal is an AC voltage signal and configured to operate the motor using a DC motor control technique in response to determining that the input signal is a DC voltage signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2019Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Robert K. Alexander, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard P. Clement
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Patent number: 11480011Abstract: A movable wall panel system may include a bottom drop seal assembly that maintains a constant force relative to a floor portion of an environment through a damper. The movable wall panel system may include an automatic top seal assembly that seals a gap between the movable wall panel system and a ceiling of the environment. The moveable wall panel system may include multiple panels and a plurality of seals positioned between adjacent panels to seal a gap between the adjacent panels.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Mondernfold, Inc.Inventors: Brad Jones, Aaron K. Alexander, Phil Middaugh, Mark J. McDonough, Adam Burke, Mike Beeler, Robert K. Schuyler, Phillip M. Watson, Matthew Puccio, Thomas L. Goldsmith, Bryan T. Welch
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Publication number: 20220228826Abstract: A semiautomatic shotgun comprising a receiver, a barrel, a forward gas block assembly attached to the barrel, a slider assembly rearward of the gas block assembly extending into the receiver. Upon firing a shotshell the explosive gases in the barrel are diverted through two ports into the gas block assembly, specifically into a pair of lateral pressure relief valves positioned on both sides of the barrel. The pressure relief valves further having a gas pathway from the barrel provided by clusters of holes less than a specific size and on-center with the barrel axis. A piston is forced rearwardly and engages a slider of the slider assembly that is linked to a breech block in the receiver. The breech block loads unfired shells and ejects the fired shells accomplishing the semiautomatic recycling. The dual pressure relief valves actuate to moderate and limit the gas pressure that enters the piston chamber when using shotshells of different power levels thereby providing consistency in the recycling operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2021Publication date: July 21, 2022Inventors: Aaron K. Alexander, John Linscott
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Publication number: 20220042755Abstract: A semiautomatic shotgun comprising a receiver, a barrel, a forward gas block assembly attached to the barrel, a slider assembly rearward of the gas block assembly extending into the receiver. Upon firing a shotshell the explosive gases in the barrel are diverted through two ports into the gas block assembly, specifically into a pair of lateral pressure relief valves positioned on both sides of the barrel. The pressure relief valves further having a gas pathway to a piston chamber. A piston is forced rearwardly and engages a slider of the slider assembly that is linked to a breech block in the receiver. The breech block loads unfired shells and ejects the fired shells accomplishing the semiautomatic recycling. The dual pressure relief valves actuate to moderate and limit the gas pressure that enters the piston chamber when using shotshells of different power levels thereby providing consistency in the recycling operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Aaron K. Alexander, John Linscott
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Publication number: 20210359721Abstract: A sensor in a building HVAC system includes a transducer configured to measure a variable in the building HVAC system and to generate a sensor reading indicating a value of the measured variable. The sensor includes a communications interface configured to provide the sensor reading to a control device in the building HVAC system and a near field communication (NFC) circuit separate from the communications interface. The NFC circuit is configured to facilitate bidirectional NFC data communications between the sensor and a mobile device. The sensor includes a processing circuit having a processor and memory. The processing circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the sensor to the mobile device via the NFC circuit, wirelessly receive data from the mobile device via the NFC circuit, and store the data received from the mobile device in the memory of the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Daniel R. Rumler, Steven L. Whitsitt, Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin A. Weiss
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Publication number: 20210332997Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, a processing circuit, a wireless transceiver, and a power circuit. The processing circuit includes a processor and memory and is configured to operate the mechanical transducer according to a control program stored in the memory. The wireless transceiver is configured to facilitate bidirectional wireless data communications between the processing circuit and an external device. The power circuit is configured to draw power from a wireless signal received via the wireless transceiver and power the processing circuit and the wireless transceiver using the drawn power. The processing circuit is configured to use the power drawn from the wireless signal to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the actuator to the external device via the wireless transceiver, wirelessly receive data from the external device via the wireless transceiver, and store the data received from the external device in the memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin Weiss
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Patent number: 11121741Abstract: A sensor in a building HVAC system includes a transducer configured to measure a variable in the building HVAC system and to generate a sensor reading indicating a value of the measured variable. The sensor includes a communications interface configured to provide the sensor reading to a control device in the building HVAC system and a near field communication (NFC) circuit separate from the communications interface. The NFC circuit is configured to facilitate bidirectional NFC data communications between the sensor and a mobile device. The sensor includes a processing circuit having a processor and memory. The processing circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the sensor to the mobile device via the NFC circuit, wirelessly receive data from the mobile device via the NFC circuit, and store the data received from the mobile device in the memory of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Daniel R. Rumler, Steven L. Whitsitt, Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin A. Weiss
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Patent number: 11047635Abstract: A semiautomatic shotgun comprising a receiver, a barrel, a forward gas block assembly attached to the barrel, a slider assembly rearward of the gas block assembly extending into the receiver. Upon firing a shotshell the explosive gases in the barrel are diverted through two ports into the gas block assembly, specifically into a pair of lateral pressure relief valves positioned on both sides of the barrel. The pressure relief valves further having a gas pathway to a piston chamber. A piston is forced rearwardly and engages a slider of the slider assembly that is linked to a breech block in the receiver. The breech block loads unfired shells and ejects the fired shells accomplishing the semiautomatic recycling. The dual pressure relief valves actuate to moderate and limit the gas pressure that enters the piston chamber when using shotshells of different power levels thereby providing consistency in the recycling operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Savage Arms, Inc.Inventors: Aaron K. Alexander, John Linscott
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Patent number: 11029048Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, a processing circuit, a wireless transceiver, and a power circuit. The processing circuit includes a processor and memory and is configured to operate the mechanical transducer according to a control program stored in the memory. The wireless transceiver is configured to facilitate bidirectional wireless data communications between the processing circuit and an external device. The power circuit is configured to draw power from a wireless signal received via the wireless transceiver and power the processing circuit and the wireless transceiver using the drawn power. The processing circuit is configured to use the power drawn from the wireless signal to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the actuator to the external device via the wireless transceiver, wirelessly receive data from the external device via the wireless transceiver, and store the data received from the external device in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin Weiss
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Patent number: 11022332Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, a processing circuit, a wireless transceiver, and a power circuit. The processing circuit includes a processor and memory and is configured to operate the mechanical transducer according to a control program stored in the memory. The wireless transceiver is configured to facilitate bidirectional wireless data communications between the processing circuit and an external device. The power circuit is configured to draw power from a wireless signal received via the wireless transceiver and power the processing circuit and the wireless transceiver using the drawn power. The processing circuit is configured to use the power drawn from the wireless signal to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the actuator to the external device via the wireless transceiver, wirelessly receive data from the external device via the wireless transceiver, and store the data received from the external device in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin Weiss
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Patent number: 11018720Abstract: A sensor in a building HVAC system includes a transducer configured to measure a variable in the building HVAC system and to generate a sensor reading indicating a value of the measured variable. The sensor includes a communications interface configured to provide the sensor reading to a control device in the building HVAC system and a near field communication (NFC) circuit separate from the communications interface. The NFC circuit is configured to facilitate bidirectional NFC data communications between the sensor and a mobile device. The sensor includes a processing circuit having a processor and memory. The processing circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the sensor to the mobile device via the NFC circuit, wirelessly receive data from the mobile device via the NFC circuit, and store the data received from the mobile device in the memory of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Daniel R. Rumler, Steven L. Whitsitt, Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin A. Weiss
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Publication number: 20200278669Abstract: A system for predicting HVAC equipment failure includes an actuator and a controller. The actuator is coupled to the HVAC equipment and configured to drive the HVAC equipment between multiple positions. The actuator includes a processing circuit configured to collect internal actuator data characterizing an operation of the actuator and a communications circuit coupled to the processing circuit. The communications circuit is configured to transmit the internal actuator data outside the actuator. The controller is configured to provide control signals to the actuator and receive the internal actuator data from the actuator. The controller includes a failure predictor configured to use the internal actuator data to predict a time at which the HVAC equipment failure will occur.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Michael R. Brownie, Gary A. Romanowich, Robert K. Alexander, Nathan J. Vandermause
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Patent number: 10726394Abstract: A system and method are provided for scheduling, calendaring, notifying, and providing automated real-time updating of scheduled appointment times on a central master schedule. The system and method dynamically optimize a number of appointments being scheduled within a range of time using a distributed computing system suitable for providing a self-service model for patient driven scheduling of appointments. Specifically, the system optimizes scheduled appointment times in response to a break in the schedule or a manual update of a specific scheduled appointment to maximize the number of appointments capable of being scheduled within a defined work day for the service provider. A plurality of edge-connected devices act as the initiators of scheduling changes, while creating an edge-connected schema for handling elastic scheduling tasks that are reflected on the centrally placed master calendar residing on a passive peer-validated data store and/or database.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Dynamic Medicine LLCInventors: Ronald G. Tompkins, Andrew K. Alexander, Ulysses G. J. Balis