With Timer, Programmer, Time Delay, Or Condition Responsive Control Patents (Class 165/200)
  • Patent number: 11876376
    Abstract: An inverter (200) connected to an energy source (100) and configured to supply power to a load network (300) comprising at least one controllable load, said inverter (200) comprising a processor (201) adapted to control the at least one controllable load of the load network (300) is disclosed. The processor (201) comprising: a net load detector (201a) detects a net load of the load network (300); a power export analyzer (201b) determines an inverter power transfer of the inverter and a grid power transfer of a grid (400); characterized in that a power manager (201c) varies the power output of the inverter (200) and a power consumption of the at least one controllable load based on the inverter power transfer, the grid power transfer, an export condition violation and a derating state of the energy source (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Krösswang-Ridler, Markus Brandstötter
  • Patent number: 11865483
    Abstract: A state estimation apparatus acquires current information at a power supply part of a refrigeration/freezing facility, derives a degree of change in current information acquired at a state estimation practice time point and derives a degree of change with respect to at least one pair of pieces of current information out of current information acquired at a predetermined time interval before state estimation is practiced, determines whether or not cleaning of the filter of the refrigeration/freezing facility has been practiced, based on the degree of change with respect to at least one pair of pieces of the current information and the degree of change in the current information acquired at the state estimation practice time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eisuke Saneyoshi
  • Patent number: 11866801
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of rails welding, and particularly to a method for optimizing microstructure of a rail welded joint, the method comprises the following steps: step 1): subjecting a rail web area of a to-be-cooled welded joint which is obtained by flash butt welding to an accelerated cooling by means of an accelerated cooling device and by using compressed air as a cooling medium, measuring and monitoring temperature of a central position of the rail web of the welded joint while cooling; step 2): stopping the accelerated cooling when the temperature of the central position of the rail web drops to a preset temperature, then placing the welded joint in air and naturally cooling to room temperature, wherein the rail is a pearlite rail having a carbon content of 0.6-0.9 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: PanGang Group Panzhihua Iron & Steel Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin Lu, Dadong Li, Wei Bai, Feixiang Xu
  • Patent number: 11778777
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for designing and implementing cooling fluid distribution in a computing environment such as a data center as disclosed. The disclosed design may reduce the impact cooling fluid leaks may have on the computing environment and other rack based systems. The disclosed methods and systems may include structures for containing cooling fluid leaks and detecting cooling fluid leaks. The structures may be movable between positions in which connectors for forming fluid connections are exposed and positions in which the connectors are contained. Containing and detecting cooling fluid leaks may allow for proactive action prior to significant damage to the computing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Tianyi Gao
  • Patent number: 11733682
    Abstract: A management device includes: a storage unit; a first receiving unit; a communication unit; and a management control unit configured to perform setting control for transmitting a control parameter and device identification information corresponding to the reservation number to each article processing device, which is identified based on the device identification information via the communication unit, when a reservation number is received by the first receiving unit, and to perform storage control for storing adjustment information of a changed control parameter in the storage unit in association with the device identification information and the reservation number when the control parameter transmitted to each of the article processing devices is changed in each of the article processing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoki Takayama, Naoki Furuya, Yuki Horii
  • Patent number: 11724567
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automotive heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes steps of: comparing, by a controller, a voltage applied to a mode door actuator with a first operating voltage, a second operating voltage, and a third operating voltage when a driving condition of a vehicle meets an external condensation occurrence condition; and controlling, by the controller, a defrost mode door to close a defrost outlet or adjust an opening degree of the defrost outlet to be less than a reference opening degree when the voltage applied to the mode door actuator is greater than or equal to the first operating voltage, where the defrost outlet directs air toward a front windshield, and the reference opening degree is an opening degree of the defrost outlet which has been set when the driving condition of the vehicle does not meet the external condensation occurrence condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Gyu Sik Hong
  • Patent number: 11521870
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally include annealing chambers. The annealing chambers allow for high throughput without sacrificing wafer-to-wafer and within wafer uniformity. The annealing chamber includes a transport system, a substrate carrier, and a plurality of thermal sources. The transport system is magnetically coupled to the substrate carrier. The transport system moves the substrate carrier along a path. A substrate supported by the substrate carrier is annealed by the thermal sources. The annealing chamber described herein allows for a higher throughput of substrate (alternatively referred to as a wafer) annealing compared to furnace annealing chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Giridhar Kamesh
  • Patent number: 11474490
    Abstract: An air condition control device includes a calculating circuitry to calculate a control influence degree, intended for controlling air condition changing devices, at each of control points in a room space on the basis of positional information that indicates a position where each of the air condition changing devices is located, influence degree information that indicates an influence degree of an air condition exerted on each of locations by each of the air condition changing devices, and running condition information that indicates a running condition of each of the air condition changing devices. The control influence degree is an influence degree of an air condition exerted by the air condition changing devices. The air condition control device also includes a controlling circuit to control the air condition changing devices to increase the control influence degree at a control point, which is relatively low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11385665
    Abstract: An aspect of the embodiments provides a compensation for the temperature rise effect on the printed circuit board (PCB) of an electronic thermostat to obtain better precision and performance. Once the measurements from the temperature sensors have stabilized, the compensated ambient temperature may be used by an associated system (for example, a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Computime Ltd.
    Inventors: Yau Wai Ng, Hung Bun Choi, Chun Kit Chu
  • Patent number: 11378289
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided and arranged with an air control system to alternately direct a first and a second airflow to a first and a second energy-absorbing body in order to achieve a heat and moisture transfer between the two airflows. The energy exchange bodies alternate between recovery and release modes such that when one energy exchange body is in the release mode the other is in the recovery mode. Each of the first and second energy absorbing bodies is divided into a first latent energy recovery portion which includes a moisture absorbent material so that it is arranged to absorb latent energy and a second sensible energy recovery portion which is substantially free from moisture absorbent material so as to absorb primarily sensible energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Tempeff Inc.
    Inventors: Andy Kebernik, Jeffrey Allen Goertzen, Kenneth Smith, G. Dean Scheurich
  • Patent number: 11226129
    Abstract: A system configured to modify an environmental condition of a building includes a valve configured to regulate a flow of a fluid and an actuator. The actuator includes a motor and a drive coupling, the drive coupling driven by the motor and coupled to the valve for driving the valve between multiple positions. The system further includes a flow rate sensor configured to measure the flow rate of the fluid through the valve and a processing circuit coupled to the motor and the flow rate sensor. The processing circuit is configured to receive a flow rate setpoint and a flow rate measurement, determine an actuator position setpoint based on the flow rate setpoint and the flow rate measurement, and operate the motor to drive the drive coupling to the actuator position setpoint. The flow rate sensor and the processing circuit are located within a common integrated device chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, Herbert J. Doll, Gerald A. Duenkel, Marcello Passoni
  • Patent number: 11039032
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device that forms an image on a sheet and executes predetermined image forming processing, a reception device that receives a user instruction, a sensor that acquires ambient temperature information, and at least one controller that prohibits execution of the predetermined image forming processing for a predetermined period if any of a plurality of conditions including a first condition and a second condition is satisfied, wherein the first condition is a condition that a plurality of pieces of temperature information acquired at a plurality of timings have a predetermined relationship and the second condition is a condition that a predetermined instruction is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Inoue
  • Patent number: 10954845
    Abstract: An engine and cabin thermal management system for use with a vehicle having an engine, a cabin heating system configured to thermally heat a cabin of the vehicle, a coolant system operably coupled to the engine and to the cabin heating system to thermally manage a temperature of the engine and a temperature of the cabin. The coolant system having one or more coolant thermal storage units fluidly coupled with a radiator and heater core of the coolant system forming a coolant loop. The system further having a control system configured to monitor and maintain at least a predetermined coolant temperature at the cabin heating system even during a coolant temperature decrease at the engine stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Mohammad Reza Amini, Jing Sun, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 10845129
    Abstract: A geothermal heat utilization system includes a heat source well facility, a heat source device having a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an expanded portion, and an evaporator, a primary refrigerant circuit that is connected to a first unit which is one of the condenser and the evaporator of the heat source device, heat exchange being able to be performed between the first unit and the well-side pipe, a secondary refrigerant circuit that is connected to a second unit which is the other of the condenser and the evaporator of the heat source device, heat exchange being able to be performed between the second unit and a load, and a mode switching unit that switches between a cold heat storage operation mode in which the primary refrigerant circuit is connected to the evaporator and the secondary refrigerant circuit is connected to the condenser and a cold heat discharge operation mode in which the primary refrigerant circuit is connected to the condenser and the secondary refrigerant cir
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD., THE KANSAI ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC., OSAKA CITY UNIVERSITY, NEWJEC INC.
    Inventors: Masanobu Sakai, Takeshi Fuchimoto, Rinnichi Sai, Yasuhisa Nakaso, Shinsuke Sakae, Masaki Nakao, Masatoshi Nishioka, Kazuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10802515
    Abstract: An HVAC controller includes (1) an interface coupled to an air quality sensor proximate to the premises and coupled to a data source external to the HVAC system, the interface configured to receive environmental data from both the air quality sensor and the external data source and (2) a processor configured to automatically operate a demand unit of the HVAC system based on the environmental data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Al Mirza, Darko Hadzidedic, Wojciech Grohman, Timothy H. Thorson, Ammar Kailani, Timothy E. Wallaert
  • Patent number: 10754293
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the image forming unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to control an operational state of the image forming apparatus to be in a print ready state or a print unready state in which power consumption of the image forming apparatus is less than power consumption of the image forming apparatus in the print ready state. For a preset period after the image forming apparatus transitions out of the print unready state, the controller disables a print suspend operation that is otherwise carried out when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is a threshold value or higher. After the preset period, the controller enables the print suspend operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takao Izumi
  • Patent number: 10674029
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a printing unit that performs a printing job, a communication unit, and a control unit. An installed device is an illumination device. Upon determining that a printing document is a first task document, the control unit controls the communication unit to transmit a first color change instruction. Upon determining that a printing document is a second task document, the control unit controls the communication unit to transmit a second color change instruction. The first color change instruction is an instruction for increasing a color temperature of illumination light. The second color change instruction is an instruction for decreasing a color temperature of illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sugihara
  • Patent number: 10648059
    Abstract: Jacketed rotary converter. The converter includes an inclined pot mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, a refractory lining for holding a molten alloy pool, an opening in a top of the pot for introducing feed, a lance for injecting oxygen-containing gas, a heat transfer jacket for the pot adjacent the refractory lining, and a coolant system to circulate a heat transfer medium through the jacket to remove heat from the alloy pool in thermal communication with the refractory lining. Also disclosed is a PGM converting process using the jacketed rotary converter. The process can also include low-or no-flux converting; refractory protectant addition; slag separation; partial feed pre-oxidation; staged slagging; and/or smelting the slag in a secondary furnace with primary furnace slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Techemet, LP
    Inventors: Edward W. Albrecht, Steven D. McCullough
  • Patent number: 10563278
    Abstract: Rail-manufacturing equipment that performs forced cooling on at least a head of a hot rail hot-rolled at or heated to the austenite region temperature or higher. The rail-manufacturing equipment includes a head-cooling header configured to jet a cooling medium toward the head of the rail, a head thermometer configured to measure surface temperature of the head of the rail, and a controller configured to adjust jet of the cooling medium from the head-cooling header. The controller includes a temperature-monitoring unit configured to monitor measurement results by the head thermometer during the forced cooling, and a cooling-rate controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Okushiro, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Hideo Kijima, Moriyasu Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10538138
    Abstract: An air conditioning device has a blower, a compressor, a radiator, a decompressor, a heat absorber, and a controller. The compressor compresses and discharges a refrigerant. The radiator dissipates a heat of the refrigerant to the air thereby heating the air. The decompressor decompresses the refrigerant after the heat of the refrigerant is dissipated in the radiator. The refrigerant decompressed in the decompressor absorbs heat from outside air in the heat absorber. The controller determines whether the heat absorber is in a frosted state in which a frost is formed on the heat absorber or whether the heat absorber is in an estimated frosted state in which a frost is possibly formed on the heat absorber. The controller performs a frost delay control to delay a formation of the frost when the controller determines that the heat absorber is in the frosted state or the estimated frosted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Nomura, Mikiharu Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 10471801
    Abstract: An air-conditioning device for a vehicle seat has a seat, an air conditioning duct, a floor-side connection part, a seat-side connection part, and a connection duct. A position of the seat is adjusted in a front-rear direction. The air conditioning duct guides air, which is supplied from an interior air-conditioning unit, to a lower side of the seat. The floor-side connection part is provided in a vehicle-compartment floor on the lower side of the seat and connects to a downstream side of the air conditioning duct in an air flow direction. The seat-side connection part is provided in a seat bottom surface. The connection duct has one end portion connecting to the floor-side connection part and an other end portion connecting to the seat-side connection part. The seat-side connection part transfers across the floor-side connection part in the front-rear direction when a position of the seat is adjusted in the front-rear direction. The connection duct is deformable and stretchable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahisa Fujii, Yasuhiko Niimi
  • Patent number: 10359209
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus suppresses an increase in power consumption associated with a reduction in start-stop frequency of a compressor. The air conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit equipped with a compressor and a plurality of indoor units connected with the outdoor unit and has a control device that performs thermo-off and thermo-on control such that a suction air temperature of the indoor unit falls within a predetermined temperature range with a set temperature defined as a reference. The control device detects the suction air temperatures of the indoor units, and, in a case where a sum total of air conditioning capacities of the indoor units, the suction air temperatures of which are between the set temperature and the thermo-off temperature, is at least a predetermined value, makes at least one indoor unit, the suction air temperatures of which are between the set temperature and the thermo-off temperature, forcedly thermo-off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, Inc.
    Inventors: Masanao Kotani, Sachio Sekiya, Shigeyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10251316
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing that includes a front face, a rear face, a front-face cut out on the front face, a rear-face cut out on the rear face, a front-face screen to cover the front-face cut out, and a rear-face screen to cover the rear-face cut out. A box insertable between the front face and the rear face. The box includes a plurality of wicks behind the front face of the housing when the box is inserted in the housing. The box includes a water connection fitting coupled to the plurality of wicks through a controllable valve. The controllable valve has an open position and closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Mistbox, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Nachefski, Joshua Allen Teekell
  • Patent number: 10228154
    Abstract: A control apparatus that controls, based on a temperature of a predetermined space measured by a plurality of temperature sensors associated with a plurality of air conditioning apparatuses, the air conditioning apparatuses so that the temperature of the predetermined space becomes a set target temperature, comprises: an air conditioning controller that performs control such that the air conditioning apparatus operates, and a determiner that causes one of the plurality of air conditioning apparatuses to perform a predetermined operation, and decides a temperature sensor that is fastest in a change rate of the measured temperature among the plurality of temperature sensors as a temperature sensor to be associated with the one air conditioning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naohisa Yoshitani
  • Patent number: 10093561
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for treating ballast water. The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for precisely controlling the production, injection, and removal of disinfectants using electrolysis according to the flow rate of ballast water, wherein the ballast water flows into a ballast tank or is discharged from the ballast tank in order to manage the ballast water or ships so that the destruction or disruption of marine ecosystems can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: S&SYS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Sik Kim, Eui Yong Jung, Dong Sung Kim, Boong Ik Jung
  • Patent number: 10088852
    Abstract: A water heater system including two or more water storage tanks plumbed in series, parallel or a combination thereof and methods of controlling said water heater systems. The water heater systems may include one or more mixing valves and one or more temperature sensors for providing water at a desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Fritz Hazzard, David Heil, James Holmberg, Gregory Young, Donald J. Kasprzyk, Bruce L. Hill
  • Patent number: 9951968
    Abstract: An HVAC controller may include a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly releasably securable to the first sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly may include a housing having the back and a cover, a printed circuit board at least substantially enclosed by the housing, a battery compartment formed in the back of the housing for receiving one or more batteries, and a display exposed for viewing through an aperture in the cover of the housing for viewing the display by a user. The printed circuit board may include one or more battery terminals that extend from the printed circuit board through the back of the housing and into the battery compartment. In some cases, the battery compartment may define a cup-shaped reservoir that may be configured to collect leakage from one or more of the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Josef Novotny, Tomas Losak, Eugene J. Takach
  • Patent number: 9732973
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes an indoor fan motor driven according to a signal to control the indoor fan motor by a controller, and a controller that resets a reference value of a rated air flow rate according to the pre-set conditions by checking an indoor fan motor driving voltage when an indoor fan motor RPM reaches a reference value of a strong wind mode while the air conditioner operates in strong wind mode. The controller compares the checked indoor fan motor driving voltage with a reference indoor fan motor driving voltage of the rated air flow rate, and resets the reference value when the checked indoor fan motor driving voltage is different from the reference indoor fan motor driving voltage of the rated air flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hee Il Park, Seon Uk Na, Kyung Tae No, In Jung Baek, Dong Kue Lee, Yong Gak Kim
  • Patent number: 9709966
    Abstract: A method to manage operating costs of a combined cooling heating and power (CCHP) plant that includes converting complex models of underlying components of the plant into simplified models (S101), performing an optimization that uses the simplified models as constraints of the optimization to output at least one decision variable (S102), and adjusting controls of the plant based on one or more of the output decision variables (S103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Vikas Chandan, Ioannis Akrotirianakis, Amit Chakraborty
  • Patent number: 9696052
    Abstract: A controller is provided for HVAC equipment. The controller receives a set of internal temperature values, and a set of external temperature values, the set of external temperature values representing at least one non-current temperature. The controller determines a predictive internal temperature value from the set of internal temperature values and a predictive external temperature value from the set of external temperature values. The controller receives an internal humidity value representing humidity within the premise, the controller further controls the HVAC equipment to modify the humidity within the premise when the received internal humidity value is different from a humidity set point; and the humidity set point is regulated by a humidity limit value, the humidity limit value being where condensation forms, the humidity limit value being calculated using the predictive internal temperature value and the predictive external temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ECOBEE INC.
    Inventors: Mark Malchiondo, Liu Yang
  • Patent number: 9284755
    Abstract: A system for detecting the locked status of a vehicle having an electrical power door lock system includes a status transmitter configured to transmit a signal indicating when the vehicle is in a locked status having at least an input that is connected to the vehicle system to detect a voltage indicating a command to lock all vehicle doors. A remote receiver is responsive to the status transmitter and is configured to indicate whether the vehicle is in a locked status based upon the transmitter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ingenuity Automotive, LLC
    Inventor: Russell Brian Rowe
  • Patent number: 9207020
    Abstract: A double flow-circuit heat exchange device for periodic positive and reverse directional pumping having at least two bi-directional fluid pumps. The bi-directional fluid pumps produce positive pressure or negative pressure at fluid ports on two sides of the bi-directional heat exchange device to periodically pump the fluid in positive and reverse flowing directions. During operation of the periodically positive and reverse pumping, the directional flow of the fluid in first and second flow fluid circuits are maintained in different flowing directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 9207557
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member (drum); a rotatable charging member for electrically charging the drum; a bias applying device for applying a charging bias to the charging member in the form of a DC voltage biased with an AC voltage; a current detector for detecting an AC current passing between the charging member and the drum; a temperature and humidity detector; a setting device for setting a condition of the charging bias on the basis of a plurality of detected AC currents passing between the charging member and the drum when a plurality of AC voltages depending on an output of the temperature and humidity detector are applied to the charging member; and a corrector for correcting the set condition of the charging bias on the basis of an output of the current detector when a predetermined AC voltage is applied to the charging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Fukuda, Norihiko Kubo
  • Patent number: 9033778
    Abstract: A control system for an HVAC system serving at least two zones, each zone receiving conditioned air by way of a zone duct, each zone duct including a zone damper having a first portion responsive to the static pressure in a HVAC system to open and bleed an amount of conditioned air past the damper when the static pressure of the system increases above a selected level, a second portion controlled by a actuator to move between an open and a closed position in response to a zone thermostat, and a coupling mechanism coupling the first and second portions to limit the relative movements of the two portions with respect to each other, and a biasing mechanism exerting a torque against the system static pressure differential. The first portion can be a single one-piece undivided blade pivotally mounted with a shell surrounding the zone damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Controlled Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald E Jackson
  • Publication number: 20150129191
    Abstract: An exemplary method may comprise thermally coupling a network of cooling lines to each of a plurality of heat exchangers in a cooling system. The method may also comprise providing a first connection from a network of cooling lines to a first fluid source and a second connection from the network of cooling lines to a second fluid source for configuring the network of cooling lines in different states. The method may also comprise delivering cooling fluid through the network of cooling lines to each of the plurality of heat exchangers both when the network of cooling lines is connected only to the first fluid source and when the network of cooling lines is connected to both the first and second fluid sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Murakami Vance, Robert A. Pereira
  • Publication number: 20150107818
    Abstract: In a coolant supply device that supplies a coolant for washing chips into a machine tool, an opening/closing valve that is opened or closed by the pressure of the coolant is provided in the course of a pipe line supplying the coolant ejected from a coolant ejection pump into the machine tool. Meanwhile, an ON/OFF control is performed so that the coolant ejection pump is turned off when a first time elapses after the coolant ejection pump is turned on and the coolant ejection pump is turned on when a second time elapses after the coolant ejection pump is turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Takaaki FUJII
  • Publication number: 20150075764
    Abstract: A cooling method is provided to remove heat generated by one or more electronic systems. The method includes providing a coolant-based cooling apparatus, redundant pumping units, redundant backup blowers, and multiple separate controllers. The cooling apparatus includes one or more heat exchange assemblies discharging heat from coolant of the cooling apparatus, and the redundant pumping units, which are coupled in parallel fluid communication, separately facilitate pumping of the coolant. The redundant backup blowers are disposed to provide, when activated, backup airflow across the electronic system(s). The multiple controllers control operation of the redundant pumping units and redundant backup blowers based, at least in part, on one or more sensed parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Gary F. GOTH, Francis R. KRUG, JR., Robert K. MULLADY, Kevin P. LOW, Allan C. VanDEVENTER, Randy J. ZOODSMA
  • Patent number: 8973649
    Abstract: A rotary type heat exchange apparatus with automatic flow rate exchange modulation includes unidirectional pumps for pumping fluid through a heat exchange rotating disk in two different directions. The heat exchange apparatus may further be installed with at least one temperature detecting device, humidity detecting device and/or gaseous or liquid state fluid composition detecting device for generating temperature, humidity, and/or composition detection signals. The temperature humidity, and/or composition detection signals may be used as references for modulating the pumping flow rate of exchange fluid, or for modulating the operating timing of the fluid flow by controlling the rotating speed of the heat exchange rotating disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8977399
    Abstract: An HVAC controller, a method of starting a HVAC unit and a HVAC system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a delay originating signal and (2) a processor configured to automatically generate an offset delay value for the HVAC unit upon receipt of the delay originating signal and delay starting identified components of the HVAC unit based on the offset delay value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Stachler, Stephen A. Walter, Alan E. Bennett, Richard A. Mauk
  • Patent number: 8972064
    Abstract: A system incorporating an actuator. The actuator may have a motor unit with motor controller connected to it. A processor may be connected to the motor controller. A coupling for a shaft connection may be attached to an output of the motor unit. The processor may incorporate a diagnostics program. The processor may be connected to a polarity-insensitive two-wire communications bus. Diagnostic results of the diagnostics program may be communicated from the processor over the communications bus to a system controller. If the diagnostic results communicated from the processor over the communications bus to the system controller indicate an insufficiency of the actuator, then an alarm identifying the insufficiency may be communicated over the communications bus to the system controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Grabinger, Torrey William McNallan, Daniel Waseen, Adrienne Thomle, Scott McMillan
  • Patent number: 8960268
    Abstract: An exemplary method may include thermally coupling a network of cooling lines to each of a plurality of heat exchangers in a cooling system. The method may also include providing a first connection from a network of cooling lines to a first fluid source and a second connection from the network of cooling lines to a second fluid source for configuring the network of cooling lines in different states. The method may also include delivering cooling fluid through the network of cooling lines to each of the plurality of heat exchangers both when the network of cooling lines is connected only to the first fluid source and when the network of cooling lines is connected to both the first and second fluid sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Christian L Belady, Vance Murakami, Robert Allen Pereira
  • Publication number: 20150047823
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to thermal management of electronic devices and systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to heat dissipation in a telecommunication device. A method for cooling a telecommunication device, wherein cooling capacity is provided by natural cooling capacity and forced cooling capacity which is adjustable, the method comprising: estimating a thermal state of the telecommunication device; and if cooling capacity mismatches the thermal state, making an adjustment to the forced cooling capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Yang Zhang
  • Patent number: 8956207
    Abstract: A zone damper having a first portion responsive to the static pressure in a HVAC system to open and bleed an amount of conditioned air past the damper when the static pressure of the system increases above a selected level, a second portion controlled by a actuator to move between an open and a closed position in response to a zone thermostat, and a coupling mechanism coupling the first and second portions to limit the relative movements of the two portions with respect to each other, and a biasing mechanism exerting a torque against the system static pressure differential. The first portion can be a single one-piece undivided blade pivotally mounted with a shell surrounding the zone damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Controlled Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald E. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20150010030
    Abstract: A reservoir unit which is included as an element along a circulation path of a cooling system includes a cartridge and a cartridge loading unit which are configured to be removable from each other. The cartridge includes a reservoir chamber that stores a circulating liquid, and a connection portion in fluid communication with the reservoir chamber. The cartridge loading unit includes a connection receiving portion, to which the connection portion is connected, and a connection port. When the cartridge and the cartridge loading unit are attached to each other, the connection portion, the connection receiving portion and the connection port form a feed path that allows feeding the circulating liquid to the circulation path outside, and a collection path that allows collecting the circulating liquid into the reservoir chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhiro HIROTA
  • Publication number: 20150007972
    Abstract: A regulating device for regulating a cooling circuit is described. The regulating device according to the disclosure includes a first regulating stage, wherein the first regulating stage is designed to determine, using one or more input variables, a cooling/heating power of the cooling circuit or a variable proportional thereto. The first regulating stage is also designed to determine a first control deviation. The first regulating stage is also designed to output a controlled variable of the first regulating stage comprising a desired temperature of a coolant or a variable proportional thereto, which is derived from the first control deviation. The regulating device according to the disclosure also includes a second regulating stage, wherein the second regulating stage is positioned in series with the first regulating stage and designed to receive the controlled variable of the first regulating stage as a control output. The second regulating stage is also designed to determine a second control deviation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Stefan Wickert, Christian Loew
  • Patent number: 8909398
    Abstract: A cooling system of an electric vehicle includes a cooling medium circulation path that circulates a cooling medium to an electrically powered drive unit of a vehicle, a heat exchange unit between the cooling medium and external air, a cooling medium circulation unit, a blower unit that blows air against the heat exchange unit, and a control unit that controls the cooling medium circulation unit and the blower unit, thus controlling cooling of the electrically powered drive unit. The control unit controls the cooling medium circulation unit and the blower unit in a first cooling mode, when a drive force for the vehicle is in a first operational region, and controls in a second cooling mode that provides a higher cooling capability than the first cooling mode, when the drive force for the vehicle is in a second operational region that is higher than the first operational region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Itsuro Sawada, Tadashi Osaka, Atsushi Yokoyama, Shingo Nasu, Yuto Imanishi, Sachio Sekiya
  • Publication number: 20140338881
    Abstract: A heat-dissipating device includes a receiving tray, a driving module, a plunger, and a heat-dissipating member. A first holding valve assembly and a second holding valve assembly are located on the receiving tray. The driving module includes a first magnet. The plunger includes a second magnet. The receiving tray is divided into a first ventilation area and a second ventilation area. The plunger is moveable in the receiving tray by magnetic forces between the first magnet and the second magnet. Air outside of the receiving tray flows through the first and second ventilation areas via the first holding valve assembly and the second holding valve assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD
    Inventors: CHIH-HAO YANG, XIANG-KUN ZENG, ER-WEI LU
  • Publication number: 20140338884
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a coolant circuit, and a cooling apparatus positioned in the coolant circuit. Coolant flows through the cooling apparatus so as to control a temperature of a battery positioned in a chamber volume. The cooling system further includes a regulating device configured to regulate a temperature of the cooling apparatus. The cooling system has an element configured to determine a dewpoint temperature prevailing in the chamber volume, and the regulating device is configured to use the element to regulate the temperature of the cooling apparatus such that the temperature of the cooling apparatus is higher than the dewpoint temperature prevailing in the chamber volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Marianne Heizmann, Oliver Gerundt
  • Publication number: 20140332177
    Abstract: Water cooling system (1) for a plasma gun (2), method for cooling a plasma gun (2) and method for increasing a service life of a plasma gun (2). The system (1) includes a water cooler structured and arranged to remove heat from cooling water to be supplied to the plasma gun (2), a controller (7) structured and arranged to monitor a gun voltage of the plasma gun (2), and at least one flow valve (8) coupled to and under control of the controller (7) to adjust a flow of the cooling water. When the gun voltage drops below a predetermined value, the controller (7) controls the at least one flow valve (8) to increase the plasma gun temperature and the gun voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: SULZER METCO (US) INC.
    Inventor: Ronald J. Molz
  • Publication number: 20140318131
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are directed to monitoring a capacity at which an engine is operating, the engine comprising a turbocharger. It can be determined whether the engine is operating above a threshold capacity. If the engine is operating above a threshold capacity, a closed-loop thermal cycle working fluid can be heated with heated air from the turbocharger. If the engine is operating at or below a threshold capacity, the working fluid can be heated with exhaust from the engine. The heated working fluid can be directed to a turbine generator, which can generate electrical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Herman Artinian, Keiichi Shiraishi