With Alarm, Indicator, Signal, Register, Recorder, Test Or Inspection Means Patents (Class 165/11.1)
  • Patent number: 10619900
    Abstract: Embodiments of an accumulator for charge management are described. A fluid compression system, comprising an accumulator fluidly connected to an evaporator via a spillover port. The spillover port directs working fluid received from the evaporator to be collected and stored in the accumulator, where the stored working fluid is stored and released from the accumulator in response to an operating condition of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Lee L. Sibik
  • Patent number: 10605838
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for determining power consumption of a unit of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes providing conditioned air to the unit from an HVAC unit of the HVAC system. The method also includes receiving power data indicative of a total power consumed by the HVAC unit, receiving airflow data indicative of a rate of the conditioned air received by the unit from the HVAC unit, determining a power consumption of the unit based on the power data and the airflow data, and outputting the power consumption of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Aron M. Seiler, Philip G. Smyth, Rajiv K. Karkhanis
  • Patent number: 10582637
    Abstract: A rack door of a rack usable to store telecommunication equipment is provided. The rack door of the rack includes either a front door or a rear door of the rack and is equipped with at least two shutters of transparent injected polycarbonate with a front lens and an opening of 88% for air inlet or outlet. The rack includes an internal temperature indicator having an RGB LED ribbon configured to indicate, by changing colors, the temperature. Each shutter is attachable to at least one other shutter by a lower fitting and a top fitting, each shutter comprising a protective grid on a rear flat portion thereof, and side baffles to receive projection of light from the RGB LED ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventor: Flavio Albertini Diaferia
  • Patent number: 10575437
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing immersion cooling in a compact-format circuit card environment comprises a plurality of circuit cards, each including first and second subassemblies. Each of the subassemblies is surrounded in a longitudinal-lateral plane by a corresponding first or second perimeter frame. The first and second subassemblies have first and second operating temperatures, respectively. A first temperature tank is formed by first perimeter frames and substantially surrounds the first subassemblies. A second temperature tank is formed by second perimeter frames and substantially surrounds the second circuit card subassemblies. A first temperature cooling supply line selectively introduces the first cooling fluid into the first temperature tank for at least partially inducing the first operating temperature. A second temperature cooling supply line selectively introduces the second cooling fluid into the second temperature tank for at least partially inducing the second operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Robert J. Voigt, Benjamin Chaoning Liu, Jonathan Francis Van Dyke, Bruce Ryan Isler
  • Patent number: 10570809
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling coolant flow through parallel branches of a coolant circuit including an AC condenser and a charge air cooler. Flow is apportioned responsive to an AC head pressure and a CAC temperature to reduce parasitic losses and improve fuel economy. The flow is apportioned via adjustments to a coolant pump output and a proportioning valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Phillip Bonkoski, James C. Rollinson, Hugh Hamilton, Sitaram Rejeti
  • Patent number: 10537187
    Abstract: An augmented refrigerated display unit is provided. The refrigerated display unit includes a door being hingedly attached to the refrigerated display unit, an augmentation drive operatively connected to a hinge of the door for applying an assistive force to the door, and an initiation sensor configured to detect an application of a manual force to the door. The augmentation drive applies an assistive opening force to the door in response to detection by the initiation sensor of an application of the manual force to open the door, a holding force in response to a detection of the door reaching an open position, and an assistive closing force to the door in response to a detection of the manual force being applied to close the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventor: Anthony G. Wind, III
  • Patent number: 10539700
    Abstract: The invention concerns a water contact detector assembly for detecting an underwater condition in a device, and the use of such an assembly in diving computers. The assembly comprises a device housing; a push-button component attached to the housing, the component comprising a button part and a hollow guide part, wherein the button part consists of a touch surface portion and a stud portion, the stud portion being arranged to slide inside the hollow guide part when the button part is being engaged by a user, and wherein the guide part is at least in part conductive and subject to be exposed to water when the device is submerged; a clip washer made of sheet metal that is received by the guide part to lock itself in place onto a conductive portion of the guide part; the clip washer being provided with a connector element extending a distance from the washer to provide an electrical connection to a contact stud in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Mikko Sepänniitty, Ville Hurskainen, Tapio Ståhlberg
  • Patent number: 10493374
    Abstract: A short-path distillation apparatus and method of operation are described. An example short-path distillation apparatus includes a double-walled bulb-shaped condensing head. The double wall forms a coolant chamber that substantially envelopes an inner condensate chamber. Coolant is introduced into and removed from the coolant chamber via ports in the outer wall of the head. Condensate in gaseous form is introduced into the condensate chamber where it comes in contact with and condenses as distillate upon the cold inner surface of the condensate chamber. Condensed distillate travels down the inner surface of the condensate chamber and then into a distillate outlet conduit that transports the condensed distillate to a collection vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Bizzybee LLC
    Inventors: Levi Joseph Wells, Boris David Kogon
  • Patent number: 10481019
    Abstract: A method for determining a heat loss coefficient of a premises includes undertaking application of first and second heating powers, respectively, in the premises over two successive time periods, selecting for each of the first and second time periods, a time interval for which the evolution is substantially linear, determining the slope of the tangent to the curve (Tik(t))k=1 or 2 over each time interval; and deducing the value of the heat loss coefficient of the premises on the basis of the slopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN ISOVER
    Inventors: Guillaume Pandraud, Florent Alzetto
  • Patent number: 10481010
    Abstract: A pad-equipped thermocouple includes a sheathed thermocouple in which a pair of thermocouple elements and an inorganic insulating powder for holding the thermocouple elements are accommodated in a sheath. An opening of the sheath is sealed by a sealing member. A pad is welded to a pipe and configured to hold the sheathed thermocouple to a surface of the pipe. A temperature measuring junction formed by the pair of thermocouple elements is exposed to a side face of the sheath in a leading end portion. The pad includes an accommodation portion accommodating the leading end portion such that the leading end portion can be inserted into and pulled out from the accommodation portion along the surface of the pipe, and the accommodation portion accommodates the leading end portion in a state where the temperature measuring junction and the surface of the pipe are in contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: OKAZAKI MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Masaru Yamana, Toshiyuki Saijo, Naoki Takata
  • Patent number: 10465768
    Abstract: A rotary axis module includes: an input shaft connected to a drive motor; an output shaft, an output shaft flange connected to the output shaft; parallel gears coupled to the output shaft flange; at least two double gears; and a transfer gear that transmits the power of the drive motor to the double gears. The at least two double gears and the transfer gear are disposed so as to surround the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazutaka Nakayama, Kenichirou Abe, Masahiro Morioka
  • Patent number: 10436977
    Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed using a mobile device having a touch screen display, a wireless port and a controller that is in operative communication with the touch screen display and the wireless port. The controller may establish communication with and download an application program code from the remote download server. The controller may establish a direct wireless connection between the wireless port of the mobile device and the wireless interface of the HVAC controller and execute the application program code, which provides one or more configuration screens on the touch screen display of the mobile device to enable the user to configure the HVAC controller via one or more configuration parameters, and then upload the one or more configuration parameters to the HVAC controller via the direct wireless connection between the wireless port of the mobile device and the wireless interface of the HVAC controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel Bergman, David Quam, Jeffrey Stuart, John Amundson, Paul Schwendinger, Kevin Weirich, Michael Bruce, Soumitri Kolavennu, Steven Nichols
  • Patent number: 10440801
    Abstract: A system detects multiple occupancy modes for a PIR sensor. The a single PIR motion sensor that generates a sensor output signal that is filtered or sampled to determine more than one type of motion. Upon determining the types of motion detected, the system controls a lighting system based on the type or types of motion detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Ryan Wagner, Bruce A. Bharat, Shawn L. Pleasants
  • Patent number: 10406451
    Abstract: A high efficiency distillation head and methods of use has a distillation head that may be used for efficient fractional distillation of high boiling point compounds, and includes a lower insulated jacket surrounding a fractionating column and an upper insulated jacket surrounding a condenser. An exit path of equal or greater cross sectional area to the fractionating column is located at or below the top of the fractionating column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Lab Society LLC
    Inventor: Michael S. Maibach
  • Patent number: 10388139
    Abstract: A method of detecting an emergency situation in a room of a hotel is provided. The method comprising: monitoring an access control operably connect to a door of a room; determining that the access control has not been engaged; determining that activity has not been detected in the room for a selected time period; and activating an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sumanth Kumar Mukundala, Adam Kuenzi
  • Patent number: 10371399
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating a central air conditioning and/or heating system within a building that includes one or more blowers and ducts communicating from the blower(s) to respective rooms within the building. The system includes a vent in each of the rooms including an actuator for selectively opening and closing the vent, one or more sensors in each room for detecting occupants, and a controller communicating with the actuators and the one or more sensors for directing the actuators to open or close respective vents based at least in part on data from the one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Inventor: Carlos Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10369887
    Abstract: An inverter for a vehicle includes a power controller and gate drive board (GDB) electrically in series, the controller including logic circuitry configured to, responsive to presence of an ignition signal, permit flow of low voltage power through the controller to the GDB to activate the GDB, and responsive to presence of a wake-up signal, but not the ignition signal, prevent flow of low voltage power through the controller to the GDB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jaswant Singh Garcha
  • Patent number: 10371403
    Abstract: A display device which displays operation information of an air conditioner in which an outdoor machine including an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor machine including an indoor heat exchanger are connected. The display device includes a control unit that determines whether or not abnormality occurs in the outdoor machine or the indoor machine when the air conditioner operates, and a display unit which is controlled by the control unit so as to display time information and to display a plurality of operation information display regions for displaying operation information corresponding to the time information, in line. In a case where the control unit determines that the abnormality has occurred in the outdoor machine or the indoor machine, the control unit controls the display unit to display operation information of the outdoor machine or the indoor machine in which the abnormality has occurred, in the operation information display region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, Inc.
    Inventors: Toru Fujihira, Emi Saito
  • Patent number: 10365008
    Abstract: An indoor unit includes, in an airflow path, an axial fan, an indoor heat exchanger having a W-shape in side view, and a forward drain pan and a rearward drain each disposed below the corresponding valley portion of the indoor heat exchanger. The airflow path is divided into a first airflow path, a second airflow path, and a third airflow path. The indoor unit includes an up/down airflow direction flap disposed at the air outlet. The up/down airflow direction flap includes a rearward up/down airflow direction flap disposed under the second airflow path and the third airflow path, and a forward up/down airflow direction flap disposed forward of the rearward up/down airflow direction flap and under the first airflow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Yokota, Masayuki Oishi
  • Patent number: 10365051
    Abstract: This microchannel heat exchanger includes: a heat exchanger body including a channel layer stack formed in such a manner that a plurality of high-temperature channel layers provided with a channel for a high-temperature fluid and a plurality of low-temperature channels layers provided with a channel for a low-temperature fluid are alternately stacked, an inlet and an outlet for the high-temperature fluid, and an inlet and an outlet for the low-temperature fluid; and a control board that is fixed in a stacking direction of the heat exchanger body, and that at least installs a plurality of temperature sensors that are inserted in the stacking method of the heat exchanger body in such a manner that a sensing point is arranged near each of the inlet and the outlet for the high-temperature fluid and the inlet and the outlet for the low-temperature fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Kaijian Wang
  • Patent number: 10358944
    Abstract: The invention relates to a solar power plant with a first heat transfer medium circuit and with a second heat transfer medium circuit, in which the first heat transfer medium circuit comprises a store (3) for hot heat transfer medium and a store (5) for cold heat transfer medium and also a pipeline system (6) connecting the stores (3, 5) for hot heat transfer medium and for cold heat transfer medium and leading through a solar array (7), and the second heat transfer medium circuit comprises a pipeline system (9) connecting the stores (3, 5) for hot heat transfer medium and for cold heat transfer medium and in which at least one heat exchanger (11) for the evaporation and superheating of water is accommodated, the at least one heat exchanger (11) having a region through which the heat transfer medium flows and a region through which water flows, said regions being separated by a heat-conducting wall, so that heat can be transmitted from the heat transfer medium to the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Jürgen Wortmann, Michael Landenberger, Katharina Federsel, Stephan Maurer
  • Patent number: 10320040
    Abstract: A cooling system includes at least one coolant-conducting heat sink configured to cool a battery. The cooling system also includes further coolant-conducting components including at least one conduit configured to feed coolant to the at least one heat sink and at least one conduit configured to carry coolant away from the at least one heat sink. At least some of the further coolant-conducting components are at least partially surrounded by at least one sheathing element, such that a closed volume space is formed between the at least one sheathing element and the at least some of the further coolant-conducting components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiaofeng Yan
  • Patent number: 10302453
    Abstract: An attitude sensor system with automatic bias correction having a primary attitude sensor wherein the primary attitude sensor comprises at least one accelerometer and an auxiliary sensor system configured to automatically estimate a bias of the accelerometer of the primary attitude sensor such that the resulting error is removed from an output of the attitude sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TIAX LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Kotwal, Michael Jacob Rutberg, Matthew Wiggins, J. Thomas Fowler
  • Patent number: 10295489
    Abstract: Fluid flow systems can include one or more resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) in contact with the fluid flowing through the system. One or more RTDs can be operated in a heating mode and a measurement mode. Thermal behavior of the one or more RTDs can be analyzed to characterize a level of deposit formed on the RTD(s) from the fluid flowing through the system. Characterizations of deposition on RTDs operated at different temperatures can be used to establish a temperature-dependent deposition profile. The deposition profile can be used to determine if depositions are likely to form at certain locations in the fluid flow system, such as at a use device. Detected deposit conditions can initiate one or more corrective actions that can be taken to prevent or minimize deposit formation before deposits negatively impact operation of the fluid flow system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Mita Chattoraj, Michael J. Murcia, Aseet Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 10254724
    Abstract: A user equipment (UE) for use in a smart home control system is provided. The UE includes a beam forming device configured to transmit a directional signal beam to an electronic device. The directional signal beam includes a credential associated with the UE. The UE also includes a transmitter configured to transmit a command signal including the credential after the beam forming device transmits the directional signal beam to the electronic device. The command signal commands an operation of the electronic device. The UE further includes an input device. The input device is configured to receive a directional signal beam generating input to initiate the transmission of the signal beam. The input device is also configured to receive a command input to initiate the transmission of the command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhiyun Li
  • Patent number: 10232682
    Abstract: A method for displaying the status of a heating or air conditioning device of a vehicle wherein a graphical object that depicts the vehicle is displayed by a display device of the vehicle, the status of the heating or air conditioning device is detected, and different statuses of the heating or air conditioning device are displayed by the display device by different depictions of vehicle surfaces. Also disclosed is a heating or air conditioning device for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Markus Missall, Stefan Schmidtke
  • Patent number: 10234361
    Abstract: An apparatus and a process for testing fluid from a heat exchanger. A first fluid from a heat exchanger to be tested is passed through a test heat exchanger. A second, heat transfer fluid, is in the test heat exchanger. The second fluid is heated with a heater so that a temperature in the test heat exchanger can be controlled, for example, to so that conditions in the heat exchanger are close to the conditions in the heat exchanger. After a period of time, the test heat exchanger can be removed and inspected, tested, or both. Also, multiple test heat exchangers may be used to test various process conditions. Additionally, the test heat exchangers may include different materials to test various materials. An outer portion of the test heat exchanger may be at least semi-transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Knew Value LLC
    Inventor: Laurin Joseph Aspinall
  • Patent number: 10228193
    Abstract: The cooling system comprises: at least one plate member forming a wall of a casing inside which the electronic apparatus to be cooled is accommodated in use, the plate member having a first side facing in use towards the apparatus and a second side opposite to the first side; and a fluid circuit formed in the plate member, wherein the fluid circuit comprises a first duct formed on the first side of the plate member and extending along a first labyrinth path and a second duct formed on the second side of the plate member and extending along a second labyrinth path. The plate member has a first through hole and a second through hole through which the first duct and the second duct are in in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: LEONARDO S.p.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Moscatelli, Pierpaolo Borrelli, Antonio Romano
  • Patent number: 10203128
    Abstract: A chilled water circulation system includes a thermal source, an AHU, a pump, and a control section. The thermal source chills water to a specified temperature. The AHU cools air by heat exchange with the chilled water. The pump feeds the chilled water having a flow rate corresponding to an operating frequency of a power inverter to the AHU. The control section calculates a degree of surplus, which indicates surplus capacity of the AHU to cool air, on the basis of information indicating the state of the AHU. If the degree of surplus is not lower than the specified threshold, the control section controls the operating frequency of the power inverter, thereby decreasing the flow rate of the chilled water fed from the pump. If the degree of surplus is lower than the specified threshold, the control section increases the flow rate of the chilled water fed from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: NTT FACILITIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ari Yoshii, Shinichiro Kaneko, Kanji Tashiro
  • Patent number: 10181708
    Abstract: A control component for insertion in a standard size connection box of a conventional component such as a switch or other electrical mechanism. The control component may have new capabilities plus maintain the capabilities of the conventional component. The connection box need not be removed, or if the box is removed then the structure or space encompassing the box need not be enlarged. Further, no new wiring for is necessarily needed for connecting the control component. This placement or substitution may be particularly applicable to many rooms of hotels, motels, and other facilities. Neither time nor expense of modifications to the connection box, wiring and/or the room is necessarily needed. In many cases, a room or space cannot necessarily be modified to add a larger or an additional component having additional capabilities, such as a component having an air quality controlled device for operating a ventilation fan in a room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Philipp Roosli, Ryan Gardner, Ravi Sagar
  • Patent number: 10180447
    Abstract: Electrical current sensing and monitoring methods include connecting sensing a voltage across a conductor having a non-linear resistance such as a fuse element. The current flowing in the conductor is calculated based on at least a first detected state of the sensed voltage and a thermal equilibrium characterization of the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Milind Suresh Kothekar, Santosh Kumar Sharma, Robert Stephen Douglass
  • Patent number: 10161834
    Abstract: A chiller and chiller plant monitoring method that provides real time performance and benchmark parameters using condenser water temperatures and flow rates to determine crucial performance metrics. A customized chiller model developed with algorithms to make comparative analysis for different operating scenarios. By applying a customized model for the supporting equipment, the entire plant can be monitored for performance. Actual operational metrics are compared with bench mark models to provide real time analysis of energy demand. The model also produces a control formula for condenser water reset. And defining the plant as a chilled water production system separate from the distribution system allows comparison with many with dissimilar operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Inventor: William R Henry
  • Patent number: 10162319
    Abstract: A control device includes a graphical user interface for an automated schedule. The automated schedule may include multiple schedule periods. Schedule parameters may be adjusted by selecting a portion of one of the schedule periods, for example, on a touchscreen display. The control device may be a thermostat to control temperature in a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Kit W. Klein, Gregory S. Brown, Karl J. Mutchnik, Rucky Paul Kathiresan
  • Patent number: 10145597
    Abstract: An indoor unit of an air conditioner including a plurality of indoor units and one outdoor unit connected to the plurality of indoor units to be operated as a cooling cycle or a heating cycle is provided. The indoor unit includes: a communicator receiving setting information for performing air conditioning in a room from a control terminal apparatus; and a controller determining whether the received setting information is valid setting information applicable to the indoor unit depending on whether the air conditioner is operated as the cooling cycle or the heating cycle and setting the setting information in the indoor unit depending on the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-hun Hur, In-jung Baek, Jin-ho Lim, Min-gyu Kim, Yun-nam Kim
  • Patent number: 10132520
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a microcomputer unit that controls a utilization-side unit and a heat source-side unit of an air conditioner and a thermostat connected to the air conditioner. The thermostat switches between an ON state in which the thermostat inputs a control signal to the microcomputer unit and an OFF state in which the thermostat does not input the control signal to the microcomputer unit. The system further includes a relay that switches to a feed state in which power is fed to the microcomputer unit or a non-feed state in which power is not fed to the microcomputer unit, and a power-on circuit within or externally attached to the air conditioner. The power-on circuit switches the relay from the power non-feed state to the power feed state using a voltage of the control signal inputted to the microcomputer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihide Yamane, Hidehiro Ishii, Yasushi Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 10120373
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and computer program products for diagnosing an operational functionality and/or performance of one or more building controlled systems. Such are generally configured to: correlate one or more control system points with one or more test variables associated with one or more test sequences; execute at least one of said one or more test sequences based at least in part upon said correlation and at least in part upon one or more user-defined parameters, the execution generating test data indicative of one or more results; at least in part analyze the test data to identify whether one or more discrepancies exist therein, the identification being based at least in part upon a comparison of the test data with the one or more control system point properties; and generate at least one of one or more reports, one or more alerts, or one or more instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Enica Engineering, PLLC
    Inventors: Reed Berinato, Sandin Joseph Feuss
  • Patent number: 10113790
    Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a refrigerator. The method includes turning on power of the refrigerator and starting a compressor; setting a predetermined power consumption parameter to a default value; measuring power consumption within a set period during an operation of the refrigerator; recognizing whether the measured power consumption is smaller than previous power consumption; and changing a value of the power consumption parameter when the measured power consumption is greater than the previous power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sangwook Seo
  • Patent number: 10101027
    Abstract: Briefly, apparatus and methods for detecting and terminating production of undesirable gases, such as carbon monoxide (“CO”), at a potential source, such as a household appliance. The apparatus and methods may determine a threshold level of the gas. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus may determine whether to provide power to a power supply input of a controller of a potential gas producing device based on the detected level of gas, where providing power to the power supply input of the controller of the potential gas producing device enables the controller of the potential gas producing device to provide power to the potential gas producing device. In another embodiment, when gas concentrations about a potential source are above a maximum threshold, the system communicates with a fuel supply valve of the potential source to cause the valve thereof to interrupt the supply of fuel to the potential source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Inventor: Mark Kohn
  • Patent number: 10088211
    Abstract: A controller of an air-conditioning apparatus includes an operation control unit that controls operation of a compressor of a heat source unit based on target indoor temperatures of rooms, an unoccupied room detecting unit that detects an unoccupied room where no person is present among the rooms, and a correction amount setting unit that sets a temperature correction amount for correcting the target indoor temperature in a room controller of the unoccupied room detected by the unoccupied room detecting unit to reduce an air conditioning load for the unoccupied room. After the target indoor temperature is corrected by using the temperature correction amount in the room controller, when the operation capacity of the compressor controlled by the operation control unit is smaller than or equal to a preset operation capacity, the correction amount setting unit resets the temperature correction amount to be decreased by an adjustment amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Fumitake Unezaki, Shinichi Ito
  • Patent number: 10072855
    Abstract: A wirelessly powered system includes a wirelessly powered combination isolation valve and check valve for a hydronic system, having a positive shut-off isolation valve configured in the hydronic system to prevent fluid flow, including to allow for maintenance of the hydronic system, a check valve configured in the hydronic system to prevent backflow and gravity circulation which can harm the hydronic system, and a combination of one or more sensors configured to sense a corresponding combination of one or more pressure, temperature or flow measurements of the fluid flow in the hydronic system and provide sensor signaling containing information about the corresponding combination of the one or more pressure, temperature or flow measurements sensed of the fluid flow in the hydronic system; and an onboard wireless power receiver configured to receive wireless power signaling, and provide power to energize the combination of the one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Fluid Handling LLC
    Inventors: Florin Rosca, Andrea Pezzuolo
  • Patent number: 10065477
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle has a first shaft that drives a first air-mix door in conjunction with being rotated, a second shaft that drives a second air-mix door in conjunction with being rotated, and a rack that interlocks the first shaft and the second shaft with each other. The rack has an elongated shape, thereby a mounting space can be smaller with respect to a rink mechanism. Therefore, an air conditioning unit can be downsized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sekito, Shun Omori
  • Patent number: 10060636
    Abstract: A heat-pump circuit may include an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor adapted to circulate a working fluid between the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers, and an expansion device disposed between the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. A monitor for the heat-pump system may include a return-air temperature sensor, a supply-air temperature sensor, and a processor. The return-air temperature sensor may be adapted to measure a first air temperature of air upstream of the indoor heat exchanger. The supply-air temperature sensor may be adapted to measure a second air temperature of air downstream of the indoor heat exchanger. The processor may be in communication with the return-air temperature sensor and the supply-air temperature sensor. The processor may be programmed to determine a working-fluid-charge condition of the heat-pump system based on the first and second air temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fadi M. Alsaleem, Gregg M. Hemmelgarn
  • Patent number: 10060651
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of exchange tubes (1) mounted joined longitudinally in such a way as to create a front surface portion (4) creating an obstacle to an incident heat flow and at least one heat flow sensor (5) disposed in a support (12) located between two adjacent exchange tubes (1), characterized in that the support (12) of the heat flow sensor (5) is brazed to at least one of the two tubes (1) and is flattened on the side that is to be disposed at the front (4), with reference to the incident heat flow, in such a way as to be able to be inserted between the two adjacent tubes (1) at the location of said local deformations (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Cockerill Maintenance & Ingenierie S.A.
    Inventors: Fabien Cara, Daniel Rudaz, Alfred Dethier
  • Patent number: 10060648
    Abstract: An conditioner including a compressor that compresses refrigerant, an outdoor unit fan that blows out the air heat-exchanged by an outdoor heat exchanger, a noise sensor that measures noise, a data part that saves noise data measured by the noise sensor, a control part that performs a low noise operation by distinguishing between ambient noise and noise made by the air conditioner based on noise measurements from the noise sensor, wherein the control part sets a target noise level according to the ambient noise, changes the operational settings of the compressor and outdoor unit fan, and controls the operation to ensure that the noise from the air conditioner does not exceed an environmental noise regulatory value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seungyup Kim, Daehee Kim, Dongsoo Lee, Jangwoo Lee
  • Patent number: 10042630
    Abstract: The present systems and methods relate to approaches for distributing software (such as firmware updates) in a security system that includes a control unit. The control unit may be configured to communicatively connect to a plurality of electronic devices, including sensors for the security system. The control unit may also communicatively connect to a remote server. The control unit receives firmware for target electronic devices from the remote server, determines which electronic devices are target electronic devices for which the firmware is intended, and sends the firmware to the target electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Hisamoto, Geoffrey Wang, Bruce Ehlers
  • Patent number: 10041690
    Abstract: An electronic device may include an occupancy sensor that is configured to detect presence within a responsive range of the occupancy sensor and a stand configured to physically support the electronic device, where the stand comprises a reflective surface positioned to reflect energy emissions from an object within the responsive range of the occupancy sensor onto the occupancy sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Eric B. Daniels, William R. Dong, Jason C. Chamberlain, Daniel A. Warren, Helen Vo, Shyam R. Srinivasan, Anthony M. Fadell, Matthew L. Rogers
  • Patent number: 10006654
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (“HVAC”) controller has near field communication (“NFC”) capability and allows communications with an NFC-enabled PC, Tablet or Smartphone device, allowing initial configuration to be performed with or without building power being supplied to the controller. The NFC transmitted information is a subset of all the configuration settings, arranged in a particular order from most commonly changed to least commonly changed. After building power has been connected, firmware on the HVAC controller then combines the NFC transmitted initial configuration information with other stored or received configuration information so the HVAC controller properly communicates and carries out applications in the HVAC network and system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: KMC Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall L. Shaull, Erich J. Kreuter, Bradley E. Kehler, Rodney Harruff, Gregory A. Zuercher, David P. Bohlmann, Matthew T. Merrick, Richard G. San Giacomo
  • Patent number: 9996905
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing object feature visibility for overhead imaging. In one embodiment, a computing system can obtain information associated with one or more locations of an imaging platform and one or more locations of a solar source. The system can determine one or more positional ranges of the imaging platform relative to the solar source based, at least in part, on such information. The positional ranges can be indicative of positions at which the imaging platform is to obtain image frames depicting at least a portion of a target object. The system can send, to the imaging platform, a set of data indicative of the positional ranges and can receive, from the imaging platform, a set of data indicative of the image frames depicting at least a portion of the target object. The image frames being captured based, at least in part, on the positional ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Planet Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Hu Rousmaniere, Kenneth James Kryda
  • Patent number: 9995498
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes an information obtaining unit that obtains, from a target VAV air conditioning system to be monitored, a room temperature and a variable air volume; a room temperature display processing unit that displays, in a form of a graph, the room temperature obtained from the target VAV air conditioning system to be monitored; a controllable range calculating unit that calculates a length of a bar of a bar graph indicating a controllable range on the basis of the variable air volume; and a controllable range display processing unit that displays the bar graph including the bar having the length calculated by the controllable range calculating unit such that the bar graph is overlapped with the room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Harayama, Mayumi Miura, Masato Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9989279
    Abstract: A refrigerant vapor compression system includes a compression device having at least a first compression stage and a second compression stage, a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger disposed downstream with respect to refrigerant flow of the second compression stage, and a refrigerant intercooler disposed intermediate the first compression stage and the second compression stage. The refrigerant intercooler is disposed downstream of the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger with respect to the flow of a secondary fluid. A second refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger may be disposed downstream with respect to refrigerant flow of the aforesaid refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant intercooler may be disposed intermediate the first compression stage and the second compression stage and downstream with respect to refrigerant flow of the aforesaid refrigerant intercooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Huff, KeonWoo Lee, Lucy Yi Liu, Suresh Duraisamy, Zvonko Asprovski, Kursten Lamendola, Alexander Lifson