High And Low Temperature Alternate Patents (Class 236/47)
  • Patent number: 11933504
    Abstract: An air conditioning unit is disclosed. The air conditioning unit may include a makeup air system having a makeup air duct with a first end and a second end. The makeup air duct may be separate structure built in a bottom plate of the air conditioning unit and define an air flow passage in fluid communication between the first end and the second end to allow makeup air to flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: David Leezer
  • Patent number: 11920815
    Abstract: A smart thermostat for controlling the ambient air temperature in a first area when the smart thermostat is located in a second area. One or more desired setpoint temperatures are changed automatically by the smart thermostat based on one or more setpoint modification factors, such as the time of day, current season, location, orientation and present and future weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLINK INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Thibault
  • Patent number: 11900910
    Abstract: A system and method for addressing distracting ambient noise during online collaborative meetings monitors when an online meeting is entered by a user at their computer. Smart devices are automatically powered down, paused or otherwise controlled during the online meeting. Devices are returned to their former state once the user leaves the meeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Luke Clements
  • Patent number: 11841153
    Abstract: A thermostat with voltage and current sensing capability is coupled directly to an HVAC unit and provides low latency failure detection and control using an on-board CPU. The thermostat can be configured to detect failure modes using current and voltage sensing and to make autonomous decisions to control the HVAC in response to such measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: GRIDPOINT, INC.
    Inventors: Sam Taylor, Daniel K. Dyess
  • Patent number: 11815276
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for controlling an air conditioner, and a computer storage medium, and relates to the technical field of intelligent household appliances. The method includes acquiring a current physical characteristic parameter of an air conditioner user in a current sampling timeframe; and adjusting either or both of a current set temperature and a current compressor frequency of the air conditioner according to the current physical characteristic parameter and current energy consumption of the air conditioner when the current physical characteristic parameter falls within a set range of parameters in sleep. Therefore, energy conservation and a comfortable user experience are compatible, thereby providing more functions for the control of the air conditioner in the sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER AIR-CONDITIONING ELECTRONIC CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuhui Gao, Shaojiang Cheng, Baitian Zhuo, Jun Wang, Benhai Yuan, Bin Shi
  • Patent number: 11644204
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control device is configured to record a plurality of actual occupancy statuses, to determine a plurality of corresponding predicted occupancy statuses, and to compare the plurality of predicted occupancy statuses to the plurality of actual occupancy statuses. The device is further configured to identify conflicting occupancy statuses based on the comparison. A conflicting occupancy status indicates a difference between an actual occupancy status and a corresponding predicted occupancy status. The device is further configured to identify timestamps corresponding with the conflicting occupancy statuses, to identify historical occupancy statuses corresponding with the identified timestamps, and to update the conflicting occupancy statuses in the predicted occupancy schedule with the historical occupancy statuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Sridhar Venkatesh, Payam Delgoshaei, Janathkumar Manohararaj
  • Patent number: 11565572
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a device provided in a vehicle is provided. The device includes a starting unit capable of starting the device, an identification unit configured to identify a place of stay where an occupant of the vehicle spends time after getting out of the vehicle, an estimation unit configured to estimate a stay period of the occupant at the place of stay, and a determination unit configured to determine, based on the stay period, a scheduled time at which the starting unit is to start the device before the occupant gets into the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Shibata
  • Patent number: 11541720
    Abstract: A method for optimizing climate control in an autonomous vehicle. The method includes receiving a ride request for an autonomous vehicle from a customer. A desired temperature for an interior of the autonomous vehicle may be determined based on the ride request. The current temperature of the vehicle interior may then be adjusted such that the current temperature substantially matches the desired temperature when the autonomous vehicle reaches the customer. The temperature of the vehicle interior may be allowed to deviate from the desired temperature, within a pre-determined temperature deviation range, when the autonomous vehicle is unoccupied. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed and claimed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Boston, Nayaz Khalid Ahmed, Ali Soloukmofrad, Jimmy Kapadia
  • Patent number: 11460209
    Abstract: Interactions between a training server and a plurality of environment controllers are used for updating the weights of a predictive model used by a neural network executed by the plurality of environment controllers. Each environment controller executes the neural network using a current version of the predictive model to generate outputs based on inputs, modifies the outputs, and generates metrics representative of the effectiveness of the modified outputs for controlling the environment. The training server collects the inputs, the corresponding modified outputs, and the corresponding metrics from the plurality of environment controllers. The collected inputs, modified outputs and metrics are used by the training server for updating the weights of the current predictive model through reinforcement learning. A new predictive model comprising the updated weights is transmitted to the environment controllers to be used in place of the current predictive model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Distech Controls Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Lupien, Francois Gervais
  • Patent number: 11280514
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system arranged to condition an environment according to HVAC setpoints is provided. The controller is configured to accept target values of thermal states at predetermined locations in the conditioned environment, current values of the thermal states at the predetermined locations in the conditioned environment, and current values of the HVAC setpoints. The controller is further configured to determine, using a neural network, target HVAC setpoints such that a difference in an operation of the HVAC system according to the target HVAC points with respect to the operation of the HVAC system according to the current HVAC setpoints changes thermal states in the predetermined locations in the conditioned environment from the current values of the thermal state to the target values of the thermal state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Emil Laftchiev, Daniel Nikovski, Diego Romeres
  • Patent number: 11163278
    Abstract: An on-off control system includes on-off equipment configured to operate in either an on state or an off state, an on-off controller configured to cause the equipment to transition between the on state and the off state based on a setpoint value and a deadband value to drive a control variable toward the setpoint value, and a deadband controller, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the deadband controller is configured to generate the deadband value used by the on-off controller. In some embodiments, the deadband controller is configured to generate the deadband value by obtaining a cost function that defines a cost based on at least a set of control values and the deadband value and selecting the deadband value that results in an optimal value of the cost function over a range of possible deadband values, the selected deadband value defining an optimal deadband value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Timothy I. Salsbury, John M. House, Carlos Felipe Alcala Perez
  • Patent number: 11151670
    Abstract: An energy saving support system according to an embodiment is configured to provide a consumer, who has an electric load to which electric energy is supplied from an electric power supply system within a house, with energy consumption-related information through a photo frame or the like. The information providing apparatus is configured to acquire an acceptability level, which stepwise indicates a degree of interest of the consumer in the energy consumption-related information, and to determine the energy consumption-related information to be newly provided to the consumer based on the acceptability level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Hirata, Masayuki Kawamoto, Jun Koreishi, Tatsuya Morii, Hiroaki Sugiyama, Daisuke Takanohashi, Koshi Ito, Kengo Matsunaga, Takahiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 11098917
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a fresh air machine. The method for controlling the fresh air machine of an air-conditioner includes: determining whether a fault occurs in a return air temperature sensor of the fresh air machine when the fresh air machine operates normally; closing an internal valve corresponding to the fresh air machine and keeping a fan motor operating, when the fault occurs in the return air temperature sensor; determining whether a fault occurs in an delivery air temperature sensor of the fresh air machine; when the fault does not occur in the delivery air temperature sensor of the fresh air machine, obtaining an delivery air temperature of the fresh air machine and controlling the fresh air machine to operate again by using the obtained delivery air temperature as a new return air temperature. The present disclosure also provides a fresh air machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignees: GD Midea Heating & Ventilating Equipment Co., Ltd., Midea Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongqiang Wan, Yongfeng Xu, Meibing Xiong, Bo Li, Wentao Shu, Xiaolong Qian, Rufeng Chen
  • Patent number: 10921014
    Abstract: Apparatus to continuously charge a smart thermostat battery and enable control of a 2-wire millivolt gas fireplace/heating system or a Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning (HVAC) system with at least one 24 VAC control voltage signal. The apparatus comprises one diode in a thermostat element or at least one terminal with a diode and a switch in the smart thermostat, and two diodes and a switch device in a switch element. The apparatus is configured to conduct a rectified current signal to charge the smart thermostat battery, and the at least one rectified 24 VAC control voltage signal to energize the switch device to control a HVAC system. The apparatus may be integrated into a smart thermostat with a graphical display to provide simple instructions to easily install the apparatus and the smart thermostat for a HVAC system without a common wire or a 2-wire millivolt gas fireplace/heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventors: John Walsh, Robert J. Mowris
  • Patent number: 10901441
    Abstract: A control device, comprising an environmental sensor, an electrical quantity sensor, a control operating unit, and a resistance output unit. The control operating unit connects to the environmental sensor, the electrical quantity sensor, and the resistance output unit. The resistance output unit additionally connects to a temperature controller to replace original resistive temperature sensor. The resistance output unit outputs a first resistance to the temperature controller so that a controlled device operates at a first power state. The resistance output unit also can output a second resistance to the temperature controller so that another controlled device operates at a second power state. When the control operating unit reads environmental information or time information, the resistance output unit outputs the first resistance or the second resistance after calculating by the control operating unit so that the controlled device operates at the first power state or the second power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: EN KE YU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liang-Tse Lin, Hao-Che Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10627845
    Abstract: A DR controller which is connected to a server via a network and performs control on power demand of a load resource includes: a communication determining unit which determines whether or not communication between the server and the DR controller is available; and a control unit which executes one of operation modes including a first mode for controlling the power demand of the load resource according to a predetermined schedule and a second mode for controlling the power demand of the load resource according to an instruction signal from the server. In the case where the determining unit determines that the communication with the server is unavailable when the control is being performed in the second mode, the control unit changes the second mode of the operation modes to the first mode in performing of the control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mahdi Behrangrad
  • Patent number: 10612809
    Abstract: An example HVAC system includes an HVAC component, and an HVAC controller configured to selectively control the HVAC component in a first operating mode and a second operating mode. The system also includes a sensor in communication with the HVAC controller. The sensor is configured to detect one or more parameters of the HVAC system and periodically transmit the one or more detected parameters to the HVAC controller. The sensor is also configured to transmit the one or more detected parameters according to a first transmission interval when the HVAC controller is operating in the first operating mode, and to transmit the one or more detected parameters according to a second transmission interval when the HVAC controller is operating in the second operating mode. The first transmission interval is different than the second transmission interval. Example methods of controlling an HVAC system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: G. Scott Vogel, Rishi Siravuri
  • Patent number: 10601604
    Abstract: A first device receives a first command for performing a first functionality on at least a second device, the first functionality comprising a plurality of constituent functionalities, wherein the second device is not configured to execute the first command. The first command is translated into a plurality of sub-commands for execution by respective devices. Each of the plurality of sub-commands, when executed, performs a respective constituent functionality of the plurality of constituent functionalities, and execution of any one of the sub-commands individually does not perform the entire first functionality. The first device manages execution of the plurality of sub-commands by the respective devices, wherein execution of the plurality of sub-commands by the respective devices emulates performance of the first functionality on at least the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: John Kozura, Haley A. Taylor, Jeff Mathews, Edward Hill
  • Patent number: 10571903
    Abstract: A number of methods for testing an HVAC system for a building structure from a remote location outside of the building structure are disclosed. Generally, the HVAC system has a primarily active component and a primarily dormant component. The method includes the steps of transmitting a test request to the HVAC system from the remote location, performing a test on the primarily dormant component of the HVAC system in response to the test request, and producing a test result. The test result can then be transmitted to a location outside of the building structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Simons
  • Patent number: 10544947
    Abstract: An air conditioner that includes a control box accommodating a control board and having an open surface, and a base panel having an air inlet and an air outlet, the control box being mounted on the base panel by seating the open surface thereof on the base panel, wherein the base panel includes a first water-blocking rib surrounding an outer surface of a lower edge defining the open surface of the control box so as to prevent water from flowing into the control box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Changhoon Jeong, Yunho Kim
  • Patent number: 10488069
    Abstract: A method of generating coordinated roof top unit (RTU) control commands includes selecting a building segment, accessing a model corresponding to the segment, training the model with historical data, segment layout data, and heating/ventilation/cooling (HVC) configuration, pushing the trained model to a wireless area controller in communication with thermostats in the segment, optimizing the trained first model using aggregated monitored data provided by sensors distributed in the segment, generating control commands to coordinate the operation of the thermostats, providing the control commands to the thermostats, receiving monitored data from the sensors, aggregating the received monitored data, and the wireless area controller optimizing and/or updating the model with the aggregated received data. A system to implement the method and a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing executable instructions are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Na Cheng, Ye Yan
  • Patent number: 10455665
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lighting control system with a motion sensor unit that electrically couples to a load circuit through a latching relay or load controller for turning on and off lights. The motion sensor unit is configured to power down to draw zero power after a time delay, when motion is longer detected within the work space by the motion sensor unit. The lighting control system further includes a control circuit that reinitiates or turns the motion sensor back on through a switch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Mix, Tho Phan, Thomas L. Grey, Louia Weidman
  • Patent number: 10438127
    Abstract: A management method manages devices in a home includes, receiving operation information on one of the devices when an operation is performed for the one of the devices, specifying times at which the operation was performed, in accordance with the information, and receiving, whenever a state is entered when no one is expected to be home, time information when the state has been entered. Specifying in-home-absence times at which a state has been entered when no one is expected to be home, according to the time information, for each of the devices, calculating time differences for the specified operation times, and for each of the devices, specifying the performed operation as a first behavior of the person correlated to a behavior before the person leaves home, when variation of the calculated time differences of the corresponding one of the devices is equal to or lower than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamaguchi, Koichi Kusukame, Shinichi Shikii, Motoji Ohmori, Takako Hirose
  • Patent number: 10353411
    Abstract: A power supply unit for use with thermostats or other like devices. The power supply unit may keep electromagnetic interference emissions and harmonics at a minimum. A unit may have enough power for triggering a switch at about a cross over point of a waveform of input power to the unit. Power for triggering may come from a storage source. Power for the storage source may be provided with power stealing which require switching transistors which can generate emissions. In-line thermostats using MOSFETS power steal may do the power steal during an ON state (triac, relay or silicon controlled rectifier activated). Gate signals to the transistors may be especially shaped to keep emissions from transistor switching at a minimum. All that may be needed, during an OFF state as a bypass, is a high voltage controllable switch. The need may be achieved using high voltage MOSFETS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Tousignant, Martin Plouffe
  • Patent number: 10139843
    Abstract: An electric heating system controlled with a remote thermostat. The system may incorporate wireless technology and a line voltage equipment interface sub-system. The sub-system may have a line voltage relay and an antenna. The relay may be mounted within an electric heater enclosure. The antenna may be mounted directly on the enclosure. The antenna may receive temperature control signals from a transmitter of the thermostat. The signals may be processed to control a connection of the heater to power with a relay receiving the processed control signals. The control of power to the heater may maintain a temperature approximately equal to a thermostat temperature setting. The antenna and relay electronics may provide a backup control of the heater in the event of, for example, a loss of signals from the thermostat. The backup control may prevent the temperature proximate to equipment interface sub-system from approaching a freezing point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic Boutin, Daniel Gelinas, Stephane Joseph Pierre Beland, Vincent Boutin
  • Patent number: 10088191
    Abstract: False determination in the presence or absence of a person in a in a room is limited. An air conditioner suspends an air conditioning operation if a room is vacant. If at least one of motion detectors, each provided to one of the indoor units, starts to detect the presence of a person during suspension of the air conditioning operation, an indoor controller of an indoor unit sums, for each of the motion detectors, time periods in which the presence of the person is detected to obtain a detection time period sum. If any one of detection time period sums, each for one of the motion detectors, reaches a reference value within a predetermined time period, the outdoor controller causes the air conditioner to resume the air conditioning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryouta Suhara, Takayoshi Yamamoto, Tsuyoshi Yokomizo, Tomoo Masuda
  • Patent number: 10081968
    Abstract: The restroom stall occupancy indicator system includes a latch coupled to a stall door and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A sensor is responsive to selected positioning of the latch and communications the position information to a transmitter. The transmitter then relays the position information to a receiver coupled to an indicator. The indicator, in turn, is responsive to the received position information to provide a first visual identification when the latch is in the unlocked position and a second visual identification when the latch is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Modus Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Allen Klevens, Todd Bermann, Laura Hazard
  • Patent number: 10067516
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for receiving physiological data of occupants of a building and using the information to control or regulate a controllable setpoint of a climate-control system for the building. The system may operatively interface with biofeedback sensors including wearable sensors and mountable sensors placed within a controlled space within the building. The system may adjust the controllable setpoint of the climate-control system based on a comfort metric associated with at least one of the occupant of the building, the comfort metric derived from the biofeedback data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Bloomfield Ramagem, Oren Benjamin Yeshua, Crystal Hsiung, Justin Spradlin, Wayne Lin
  • Patent number: 10030880
    Abstract: The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that use sensor output and electronically stored information, including one or more of electronically stored rules, parameters, and instructions, to determine whether or not one or more types of entities are present within an area, volume, or environment monitored by the intelligent controllers. The intelligent controllers select operational modes and modify control schedules with respect to the presence and absence of the one or more entities. The intelligent controllers employ feedback information to continuously adjust the electronically stored parameters and rules in order to minimize the number of incorrect inferences with respect to the presence or absence of the one or more entities and in order to maximize the efficiency by which various types of systems controlled by the intelligent controllers carry out selected operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Evan Jarman Fisher, Mark Rajan Malhotra, Mark Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan, Frank Astier
  • Patent number: 9941699
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatus for controlling an energy delivery system including providing an energy management system (EMS) having an automatic generation control (AGC) system including a load frequency control (LFC) module; executing two or more performance standard functions implemented within the LFC module using input data regarding the energy delivery system, wherein at least one of the performance standard functions is defined to be dependent upon another of the performance standard functions; and implementing corrections to the operation of the energy delivery system based upon solution results of executing the performance standard functions. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Dingguo Chen, Michael E. York
  • Patent number: 9874891
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing including an LCD screen capable of displaying settings information and an energy savings settings icon, and a processor configured to detect multiple inputs with the housing including settings information provided by a user in response to an interaction with the housing. The processor is further configured to initiate a suggestion of a setting resulting in a display of the energy savings settings icon, and process the multiple inputs and determine a schedule and determine whether to display the energy savings settings icon based on the determined schedule. A wireless communication module is configured to access a hosted web service and a mobile device, each of which receive multiple inputs such that the settings information can be provided remotely. The multiple inputs include detecting a presence in proximity to the housing over a period of time and providing a presence status to determine the settings information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Patent number: 9733652
    Abstract: An apparatus control system includes a metabolic amount measurement device measuring a metabolic amount, and an apparatus control device controlling a heating-cooling combination apparatus. A control content storage unit stores thermal sensations and control contents of the heating-cooling combination apparatus. The metabolic amount measured by the metabolic amount measurement device is inputted to an input unit. A metabolic amount storage unit stores a history of the metabolic amount inputted to the input unit before. A calculation unit calculates the thermal sensation using the metabolic amount inputted to the input unit. A correction unit corrects the thermal sensation calculated by the calculation unit using the history of the metabolic amount stored in the metabolic amount storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Mise
  • Patent number: 9664401
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling an air conditioner are provided. The method includes sensing, by an air conditioner control apparatus, a user action requesting a temperature control, checking whether one of a common control mode in which a setting temperature is controlled at a first temperature control interval and a minute control mode in which the setting temperature is controlled at a second temperature control interval, which is less than the first temperature control interval, is selected in response to the sensed user action, calculating the setting temperature based on the user action and a result of the checking, and transmitting the calculated setting temperature to the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joongki Moon, Changseok Lee, Youngjun Choi
  • Patent number: 9574374
    Abstract: The restroom stall occupancy indicator system includes a latch coupled to a stall door and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A sensor is responsive to selected positioning of the latch and communications the position information to a transmitter. The transmitter then relays the position information to a receiver coupled to an indicator. The indicator, in turn, is responsive to the received position information to provide a first visual identification when the latch is in the unlocked position and a second visual identification when the latch is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Modus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Klevens, Todd Bermann, Laura Hazard
  • Patent number: 9546796
    Abstract: A HVAC system is provided. In one embodiment, the HVAC system includes (1) a sensor being configured to measure a body condition of a user and having a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit body condition information, and (2) a HVAC controller having a receiver configured to receive the body condition information and being configured to adjust a current conditioning set point of the HVAC system to a temporary conditioning set point based on the body condition information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Anthony DiFulgentiz, III
  • Patent number: 9524529
    Abstract: A system and method for analyzing energy savings for a building is provided. The method includes receiving a schedule of occupied days, an occupancy behavior profile and historical energy usage data from which an hourly interval usage is determined. A set of occupancy thresholds is determined by season. Occupied days are determined from the set of occupancy thresholds and the hourly interval usage. The hourly interval usage is analyzed to determine occupied energy consumption in hourly intervals, occupied start and stop time savings, mechanical equipment savings and temperature setpoint savings during an occupied day. The hourly interval usage is also analyzed to determine unoccupied energy consumption in the hourly intervals and refrigeration savings, mechanical equipment savings, computer equipment savings, parking lot lighting savings, hallway lighting savings and temperature setpoint savings during an unoccupied day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: CENERGISTIC LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Sons, Jack Bullock
  • Patent number: 9501805
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing a building design. A geographic location and a human comfort zone are identified. It is determined whether to adjust the building design based on information comprising building simulated delivered energy data and whether the building design meets pre-determined comfort conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: INTEGRATED ENVIORNMENTALSOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventor: Donald John McLean
  • Patent number: 9459917
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for thread selection during context switching on a plurality of compute nodes that includes: executing, by a compute node, an application using a plurality of threads of execution, including executing one or more of the threads of execution; selecting, by the compute node from a plurality of available threads of execution for the application, a next thread of execution in dependence upon power characteristics for each of the available threads; determining, by the compute node, whether criteria for a thread context switch are satisfied; and performing, by the compute node, the thread context switch if the criteria for a thread context switch are satisfied, including executing the next thread of execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Archer, Michael A. Blocksome, Amanda E. Randles, Joseph D. Ratterman, Brian E. Smith
  • Patent number: 9427097
    Abstract: A temperature-controlled display device includes a temperature-controlled space and a refrigeration circuit configured to provide cooling for the temperature-controlled space. The refrigeration circuit is configured to operate in multiple cooling modes including a normal refrigeration mode and an anti-ingression mode. A proximity sensor is configured to detect an object such as a human hand or forearm within a detection zone adjacent to a door handle of the temperature-controlled display device. A controller estimates a distance between the handle and the detected object using an input from the proximity sensor. The controller causes the refrigeration circuit to transition between the multiple cooling modes based on the estimated distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jules G. Choueifati, Lyman W. Wycoff
  • Patent number: 9386905
    Abstract: A network system is provided. The network system includes an utility area network including an energy generation component, a home area network including an energy consumption component consuming energy generated in the energy generation component to perform a function according to an operation course, an energy metering component disposed in the utility area network or the home area network, the energy metering component recognizing energy information or additional information except for the energy information, and an energy management component disposed in the utility area network or the home area network, the energy management component managing the energy information or the additional information with respect to the energy consumption component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Koonseok Lee, Junho Ahn, Hoonbong Lee, Yanghwan Kim, Hoseon Choi, Daehwan Park, Gilsup Jeong
  • Patent number: 9389020
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for monitoring a heating apparatus that includes a motion detector configured to determine whether a person is proximate the heating apparatus. The motion detector is default deactivated. Further disclosed is a heat sensor configured to determine whether the heating apparatus has a temperature that is above a threshold. The heat sensor is default deactivated. A processor is in operable communication with each of the motion detector and the heat sensor configured to cyclically repeat a first countdown. The heat sensor is temporarily activated once during each of the repeated first countdowns. The processor is configured to perform a second countdown when the activated heat sensor determines that the heating apparatus has the temperature that is above the threshold. The second countdown is reset each time the motion detector determines that a person is proximate the heating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: STOVMINDER, LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Ewell, Douglas L. Garmany, Charles T. Kelly, Charles Philip Wasilewski
  • Patent number: 9377209
    Abstract: An environment control system for controlling the temperature in a room, the system comprises a heating and cooling system; a thermostat for monitoring the temperature within a room and controlling the heating and cooling system; a motion sensor for detecting whether a door or window to the room has been opened; a presence detector for detecting whether the room is currently occupied; and a control system in communication with the thermostat, the motion sensor, and the presence detector, the control system being configured to control the room's temperature via the thermostat based at least in part on signals received from the thermostat, the motion detector and the presence detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: SOMFY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Phillip M. Kopp
  • Patent number: 9353963
    Abstract: An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Kates
  • Patent number: 9322565
    Abstract: Accessing an energy management policy for a plurality of devices is described, wherein the devices are coupled with a first structure. The energy usage of the devices is monitored. An energy usage rule and energy usage is then compared. The energy management policy and energy usage is also compared. Based on the comparing, an instruction is generated to modify an energy usage profile of said device to correlate with the energy usage rule associated with the devices and the energy management policy, thereby enabling efficient energy management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. Weaver, Bradley A. Kayton
  • Patent number: 9250617
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a smoothing device includes an acquiring unit, a determining unit, and selecting unit. The acquiring unit acquires weather information of a plurality of operation areas. A facility device that performs environmental control according to a control value resulting from operation based on the weather information is installed in each of the operation areas. The determining unit determines whether or not an amount of change in weather exceeds a predetermined first threshold in each of the operation areas. The selecting unit selects at least one first operation area that is an operation area in which the amount of change exceeds the first threshold as a halt area for which the operation of the control value used by the facility device installed in the first operation area is halted when the number of first operation areas exceeds a predetermined second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yu Kaneko, Shigeo Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 9177323
    Abstract: A system and method for creating and making use of customer profiles, including energy consumption patterns. Devices within a service point, using the active load director, may be subject to control events, often based on customer preferences. These control events cause the service point to use less power. Data associated with these control events, as well as related environment data, are used to create an energy consumption profile for each service point. This can be used by the utility to determine which service points are the best targets for energy consumption. In addition, an intelligent load rotation algorithm determines how to prevent the same service points from being picked first each time the utility wants to conserve power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9170576
    Abstract: An energy conservation diagnosis system manages electrical device K which consumes electricity to operate based on control schedule information, and includes acquiring unit 14a, rule information generation unit 14b, operating determination unit 14c and display unit 12. Acquiring unit acquires operating information obtained by relating an operating condition of electrical device to a clock time. Rule information generation unit generates rule information by relating a rule on use of electrical device to a clock time, based on one or more predetermined time slots depending on a benefit of electricity consumed by electrical device. Operating determination unit acquires control schedule information of electrical device, and generates an image data by superimposing acquired control schedule information and rule information onto operating information so that each clock time is fitted to a clock time of operating information. Display unit displays the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Sogou, Misayo Kobayashi, Yoshifumi Murakami, Hiroki Kazuno, Hisashi Takayama
  • Patent number: 9157647
    Abstract: An HVAC controller is configured to log one more user interactions into a user interaction log stored in its memory such that at least some of the user interactions may be recalled from the user interaction log and displayed on the user interface of the HVAC controller in response to a request by a user. The user may use the information contained in the user interaction log as an aid in troubleshooting an HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Cary Leen, Stan Zywicki, III, Eric Barton, David Schultz, Mohammad Aljabari
  • Patent number: 9152768
    Abstract: A method for governing care of a person includes determining the importance of a candidate activity (84) relative to the importance of patient sleep continuity (104) and, if the candidate activity is more important than sleep continuity, carrying out the activity or indicating the acceptability of carrying out the activity (106) and, if the candidate activity is not more important than sleep continuity, refraining from carrying out the activity or indicating the unacceptability of carrying out the activity (108). A system for patient care governance comprises a decision engine (80) for determining the importance of the candidate activity relative to the importance of sleep continuity, and a controller (92) responsive to the decision engine for issuing a command to carry out the activity or indicate the acceptability of carrying out the activity (106), refrain from carrying out the activity or indicate the unacceptability of carrying out the activity (108).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David Ribble
  • Patent number: 9086246
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments describe a cost and energy efficient combined lighting and air conditioning fixture. This combined system may employ a flexible distributed air handler that can employ distributed heat exchangers to a liquid loop. The described system may be comprised of distributed dampers, heat exchangers, and air handlers that are controlled from a controller integrated into a ceiling, floor, or wall unit. The controller may also be part of a combined LED lighting drop-in ceiling fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventor: Klaus Bollmann