Patents by Inventor Ronald AEBERHARD

Ronald AEBERHARD 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).

  • Patent number: 11371734
    Abstract: For monitoring an HVAC system (1), HVAC data reporting messages are received and stored in a cloud-based computer system (4). Each HVAC data reporting message includes one or more operation data values included by an HVAC controller (22) of the HVAC system (1). The cloud-based computer system (4) generates (S73) remote diagnoses for a particular HVAC device, using a plurality of HVAC reporting messages received from a plurality of the HVAC controllers (22) from one or more HVAC systems (1). Each remote diagnosis is generated (S73) by using more than one operational data value, included in HVAC reporting messages received (S71) received from HVAC controllers (22) of more than one HVAC systems (1) and/or from at least two different types of operational data values. A diagnosis message which includes a remote diagnosis is transmitted to a diagnosis processing system for the particular HVAC device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Ronald Aeberhard, Reto Anliker, Stefan Mischler, Frauke Oldewurtel, Forest Reider, Peter Schmidlin, Marc Steiner, Marc Thuillard
  • Patent number: 11060744
    Abstract: A method, system (100), and a computer program product comprising a non-transient computer-readable medium (190) having stored thereon computer program code configured to control one or more processors (180) of a computer (170) for operating an HVAC installation (200, 300), wherein a set of enthalpies (H1,i, H2,i, H1,o, H2,o) and flow rates (?1, ?2) as variables of the HVAC installation (200, 300) is monitored and used for controlling the operation of said HVAC installation (200, 300), comprising the steps of: (a) dividing said set of enthalpies (H1,i, H2,i, H1,o, H2,o) and flow rates (?1, ?2) into a first and second subset; (b) measuring each variable of said first subset with a related sensor (110, 120) arranged in said HVAC installation (200, 300); and (c) determining the variables of said second subset from the measured variables of said first subset by using a mathematical and/or empirical relationship between the variables of said first and second subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Forest Reider, Marc Thuillard, Peter Schmidlin, Stefan Mischler, Ronald Aeberhard, Hou Yin Chan, Wee Ming Goh
  • Patent number: 11047582
    Abstract: A fluid transportation network (1) comprises a plurality of parallel zones (Z1, Z2), fed by a common supply line (L), with a regulating zone valve (V1, V2) in each zone (Z1, Z2) for regulating a flow of fluid (?1, ?2) through the respective zone (Z1, Z2). A processing unit (RE) receives valve positions (pos1, pos2) of the regulating zone valves (V1, V2) and determines and sets an adjusted valve position for a line valve (VE) arranged in the supply line (L), depending on the valve positions (pos1, pos2) of the regulating zone valves (V1, V2). A processing unit (RE) further receives a measurement of a total flow of fluid (?tot) through the supply line (L) and determines and sets adjusted valve positions for the regulating zone valves (V1, V2), depending on the measurement of the total flow of fluid (?tot) through the supply line (L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Stefan Mischler, Ronald Aeberhard, Forest Reider, Marc Thuillard
  • Patent number: 10890351
    Abstract: A hydronic system (HS) that comprises at least one hydronic circuit (HC) and a control (CT) for controlling the operation of said at least one hydronic circuit (HC) via a control path (CP), whereby said control (CT) comprises a feed forward controller (FFC). Operation of the system is improved by the hydronic system (HS) further comprising a control improvement path (CIP) running from the at least one hydronic circuit (HC) to the control (CT). Due to the control improvement path (CIP), the control (CT) can be improved in the case of the hydronic system (HS) becoming instable and/or showing poor system control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Forest Reider, Marc Thuillard, Stefan Mischler, Ronald Aeberhard
  • Publication number: 20200300487
    Abstract: A method, system (100), and a computer program product comprising a non-transient computer-readable medium (190) having stored thereon computer program code configured to control one or more processors (180) of a computer (170) for operating an HVAC installation (200, 300), wherein a set of enthalpies (H1,i, H2,i, H1,o, H2,o) and flow rates (?1, ?2) as variables of the HVAC installation (200, 300) is monitored and used for controlling the operation of said HVAC installation (200, 300), comprising the steps of: (a) dividing said set of enthalpies (H1,i, H2,i, H1,o, H2,o) and flow rates (?1, ?2) into a first and second subset; (b) measuring each variable of said first subset with a lo related sensor (110, 120) arranged in said HVAC installation (200, 300); and (c) determining the variables of said second subset from the measured variables of said first subset by using a mathematical and/or empirical relationship between the variables of said first and second subset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Forest REIDER, Marc THUILLARD, Peter SCHMIDLIN, Stefan MISCHLER, Ronald AEBERHARD, Hou Yin CHAN, Wee Ming GOH
  • Patent number: 10635120
    Abstract: A method for operating and/or monitoring an HVAC system (10), in which a medium circulating in a primary circuit (26) flows through at least one energy consumer (11, 12, 13), the medium entering with a volume flow (?) through a supply line (14) into the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a supply temperature (Tv) and leaving the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a return temperature (TR) via a return line (15), and transferring heat or cooling energy to the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) in an energy flow (E). A control unit (21) adaptively operates the system by empirically determining the dependence of the energy flow (F) and/or the temperature difference ?T between supply temperature (Tv) and return temperature (TR) on the volume flow (?) for the energy consumers (11, 12, 13) in a first step, and by operating and/or monitoring the HVAC system (10) according to the determined dependency or dependencies in a second step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Vinod D'Silva, Mark Nightlinger, Marc Thuillard, Ronald Aeberhard
  • Patent number: 10627129
    Abstract: For operating a thermal energy exchanger (1) for exchanging thermal energy between a thermal transfer fluid and air, a plurality of measurement data sets are recorded in a control system (40). The measurement data sets include for a different point in time data values which define a normalized energy transfer that represents the thermal energy transferred in the thermal energy exchanger (1) normalized by one or more normalization variables. The control system (40) calculates for each of the measurement data sets a normalized data point defined by the normalized energy transfer. The control system (40) further determines for the thermal energy exchanger (1) a characteristic energy transfer curve which fits the normalized data points. Normalizing the energy transfer makes it possible to operate the thermal energy exchanger (1) more efficiently over a wider range of changing conditions, as saturation can be prevented using more appropriate fixed or variable thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Forest Reider, Marc Thuillard, Stefan Mischler, Ronald Aeberhard
  • Patent number: 10488126
    Abstract: A method of controlling opening of a valve in an HVAC system is provided. The method includes controlling the opening of a six-way-valve according to a default control mode in dependence of a default sensor signal, the six-way-valve fluidicly coupling an inlet side and an outlet side of the heat exchanger alternatively with a first fluidic circuit in a first default control mode or a second fluidic circuit in a second default control mode; selecting a selected default control mode from the first default control mode and the alternative second default control mode; determining, while controlling the valve in the selected default control mode, whether the sensor signal is faulty; and switching, in case the signal is faulty, to controlling the opening according to a first fallback control mode or an alternative second fallback control mode, where the opening is controlled independently of the faulty sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Ronald Aeberhard, Marc Thuillard, Philipp Mazenauer
  • Publication number: 20190264947
    Abstract: A hydronic system (HS) that comprises at least one hydronic circuit (HC) and a control (CT) for controlling the operation of said at least one hydronic circuit (HC) via a control path (CP), whereby said control (CT) comprises a feed forward controller (FFC). Operation of the system is improved by the hydronic system (HS) further comprising a control improvement path (CIP) running from the at least one hydronic circuit (HC) to the control (CT). Due to the control improvement path (CIP), the control (CT) can be improved in the case of the hydronic system (HS) becoming instable and/or showing poor system control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Forest REIDER, Marc THUILLARD, Stefan MISCHLER, Ronald AEBERHARD
  • Publication number: 20190212022
    Abstract: For monitoring an HVAC system (1), HVAC data reporting messages are received and stored in a cloud-based computer system (4). Each HVAC data reporting message includes one or more operation data values included by an HVAC controller (22) of the HVAC system (1). The cloud-based computer system (4) generates (S73) remote diagnoses for a particular HVAC device, using a plurality of HVAC reporting messages received from a plurality of the HVAC controllers (22) from one or more HVAC systems (1). Each remote diagnosis is generated (S73) by using more than one operational data value, included in HVAC reporting messages received (S71) received from HVAC controllers (22) of more than one HVAC systems (1) and/or from at least two different types of operational data values. A diagnosis message which includes a remote diagnosis is transmitted to a diagnosis processing system for the particular HVAC device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Ronald AEBERHARD, Reto ANLIKER, Stefan MISCHLER, Frauke OLDEWURTEL, Forest REIDER, Peter SCHMIDLIN, Marc STEINER, Marc THUILLARD
  • Publication number: 20190107292
    Abstract: A fluid transportation network (1) comprises a plurality of parallel zones (Z1, Z2), fed by a common supply line (L), with a regulating zone valve (V1, V2) in each zone (Z1, Z2) for regulating a flow of fluid (?1, ?2) through the respective zone (Z1, Z2). A processing unit (RE) receives valve positions (pos1, pos2) of the regulating zone valves (V1, V2) and determines and sets an adjusted valve position for a line valve (VE) arranged in the supply line (L), depending on the valve positions (pos1, pos2) of the regulating zone valves (V1, V2). A processing unit (RE) further receives a measurement of a total flow of fluid (?tot) through the supply line (L) and determines and sets adjusted valve positions for the regulating zone valves (V1, V2), depending on the measurement of the total flow of fluid (?tot) through the supply line (L).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Stefan MISCHLER, Ronald AEBERHARD, Forest REIDER, Marc THUILLARD
  • Publication number: 20180210474
    Abstract: A method for operating and/or monitoring an HVAC system (10), in which a medium circulating in a primary circuit (26) flows through at least one energy consumer (11, 12, 13), the medium entering with a volume flow (?) through a supply line (14) into the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a supply temperature (Tv) and leaving the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a return temperature (TR) via a return line (15), and transferring heat or cooling energy to the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) in an energy flow (E). A control unit (21) adaptively operates the system by empirically determining the dependence of the energy flow (F) and/or the temperature difference ?T between supply temperature (Tv) and return temperature (TR) on the volume flow (?) for the energy consumers (11, 12, 13) in a first step, and by operating and/or monitoring the HVAC system (10) according to the determined dependency or dependencies in a second step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Vinod D'SILVA, Mark NIGHTLINGER, Marc THUILLARD, Ronald AEBERHARD
  • Publication number: 20180195753
    Abstract: For operating a thermal energy exchanger (1) for exchanging thermal energy between a thermal transfer fluid and air, a plurality of measurement data sets are recorded in a control system (40). The measurement data sets include for a different point in time data values which define a normalized energy transfer that represents the thermal energy transferred in the thermal energy exchanger (1) normalized by one or more normalization variables. The control system (40) calculates for each of the measurement data sets a normalized data point defined by the normalized energy transfer. The control system (40) further determines for the thermal energy exchanger (1) a characteristic energy transfer curve which fits the normalized data points. Normalizing the energy transfer makes it possible to operate the thermal energy exchanger (1) more efficiently over a wider range of changing conditions, as saturation can be prevented using more appropriate fixed or variable thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Forest REIDER, Marc THUILLARD, Stefan MISCHLER, Ronald AEBERHARD
  • Publication number: 20180172370
    Abstract: A method of controlling opening of a valve in an HVAC system is provided. The method includes controlling the opening of a six-way-valve according to a default control mode in dependence of a default sensor signal, the six-way-valve fluidicly coupling an inlet side and an outlet side of the heat exchanger alternatively with a first fluidic circuit in a first default control mode or a second fluidic circuit in a second default control mode; selecting a selected default control mode from the first default control mode and the alternative second default control mode; determining, while controlling the valve in the selected default control mode, whether the sensor signal is faulty; and switching, in case the signal is faulty, to controlling the opening according to a first fallback control mode or an alternative second fallback control mode, where the opening is controlled independently of the faulty sensor signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Ronald AEBERHARD, Marc THUILLARD, Philipp MAZENAUER
  • Patent number: 9958883
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating and/or monitoring an HVAC system (10), in which medium circulating in a primary circuit (26) flows through at least one energy consumer (11, 12, 13), the medium entering with a volume flow (?) through a supply line (14) into the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a supply temperature (TV) and leaving the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a return temperature (TR) via a return line (15), and transferring heat or cooling energy to the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) in an energy flow (E). A considerable improvement in the operating behavior of the system is achieved by empirically determining the dependence of the energy flow (E) and/or the temperature difference (AT) between supply temperature (TV) and return temperature (TR) on the volume flow (?) for the energy consumers (11, 12, 13) in a first step, and by operating and/or monitoring the HVAC system (10) according to the determined dependency or dependencies in a second step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Vinod D'Silva, Mark Nightlinger, Marc Thuillard, Ronald Aeberhard
  • Patent number: 9921011
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a method of controlling opening of a valve (10) in an HVAC system (100). The method includes controlling the opening of the valve (10) according to a default control mode in dependence of a default sensor signal. The method further includes determining, while controlling the opening of the valve (10) according to the default control mode, whether the default sensor signal is faulty and switching, in case of the default sensor signal being faulty, to controlling the opening of the valve (10) according to a fallback control mode, with the opening of the valve (10) being controlled independently of the faulty sensor signal in the fallback control mode. The present invention is further directed towards a corresponding control device opening of a valve (10) in an HVAC system as well as a corresponding computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Ronald Aeberhard, Marc Thuillard, Philipp Mazenauer
  • Patent number: 9435557
    Abstract: A control unit (22) for an HVAC system (10) comprises an economizer (EC), which economizer (EC) is configured to introduce outdoor air (OA) into the HVAC system (10) for cooling and/or ventilation purposes in a manner controlled by said control unit (22), said control unit (22) comprising a base module (23) with: a control circuit (24), a man machine interface (25) connected to said control circuit (24), and first I/O means for connecting at least one sensor (32, . . . , 36) of said HVAC system to said control circuit (24) and for delivering at least one control signal from said control circuit (24) to control the operation of said economizer (EC). Said base module (23) is configured to optionally receive at least one extension module (26, 27, 28), which can be snapped on and electrically connected to said base module (23) for expanding the functionality of said control unit (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: BELIMO Holding AG
    Inventors: Daniel Albrecht, Ronald Aeberhard, Guido Hofstetter, Darryl Deangelis
  • Publication number: 20150176931
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a method of controlling opening of a valve (10) in an HVAC system (100). The method includes controlling the opening of the valve (10) according to a default control mode in dependence of a default sensor signal. The method further includes determining, while controlling the opening of the valve (10) according to the default control mode, whether the default sensor signal is faulty and switching, in case of the default sensor signal being faulty, to controlling the opening of the valve (10) according to a fallback control mode, with the opening of the valve (10) being controlled independently of the faulty sensor signal in the fallback control mode. The present invention is further directed towards a corresponding control device opening of a valve (10) in an HVAC system as well as a corresponding computer program product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Ronald AEBERHARD, Marc THUILLARD, Philipp MAZENAUER
  • Publication number: 20140222218
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating and/or monitoring an HVAC system (10), in which a medium circulating in a primary circuit (26) flows through at least one energy consumer (11, 12, 13), the medium entering with a volume flow (?) through a supply line (14) into the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a supply temperature (Tv) and leaving the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a return temperature (TR) via a return line (15), and transferring heat or cooling energy to the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) in an energy flow (E). A considerable improvement in the operating behavior of the system is achieved by empirically determining the dependence of the energy flow (E) and/or the temperature difference (?T) between supply temperature (Tv) and return temperature (TR) on the volume flow (?) for the energy consumers (11, 12, 13) in a first step, and by operating and/or monitoring the HVAC system (10) according to the determined dependency or dependencies in a second step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Vinod D'silva, Mark Nightlinger, Marc Thuillard, Ronald Aeberhard
  • Publication number: 20140207288
    Abstract: A control unit (22) for an HVAC system (10) comprises an economizer (EC), which economizer (EC) is configured to introduce outdoor air (OA) into the HVAC system (10) for cooling and/or ventilation purposes in a manner controlled by said control unit (22), said control unit (22) comprising a base module (23) with: a control circuit (24), a man machine interface (25) connected to said control circuit (24), and first I/O means for connecting at least one sensor (32, . . . , 36) of said HVAC system to said control circuit (24) and for delivering at least one control signal from said control circuit (24) to control the operation of said economizer (EC). Said base module (23) is configured to optionally receive at least one extension module (26, 27, 28), which can be snapped on and electrically connected to said base module (23) for expanding the functionality of said control unit (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Daniel ALBRECHT, Ronald AEBERHARD, Guido HOFSTETTER, Darryl DEANGELIS