Distance-adjusted Patents (Class 236/51)
  • Patent number: 11958655
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical storage box to be stored in a pharmaceutical refrigerator so as to be freely movable in and out of the pharmaceutical refrigerator, the pharmaceutical storage box including: a bottom plate on which a pharmaceutical is placed, the pharmaceutical having an attached IC tag; a first side plate having an attached first antenna, the first side plate removably connected to a first end surface of the bottom plate; a second side plate removably connected to a second end surface of the bottom plate; and a back plate removably connected to a third end surface of the bottom plate, wherein the first side plate has a first connection structure connectable to the second end surface, wherein the second side plate has a second connection structure that is connectable to the first end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: PHC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamaji, Motohiro Kawakami, Hideyuki Morii
  • Patent number: 11959655
    Abstract: Provided are an air-conditioning system, a data transmission method and apparatus, and a non-transitory computer storage medium. A centralized air-conditioning controller, at least one air conditioner, and at least one environmental information collection module are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER AIR-CONDITIONING ELECTRONIC CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER SMART TECHNOLOGY R&D CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Wei, Yongjun Zhao, Li Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11953218
    Abstract: Architectures or techniques are presented that can prioritize operating a consumption device in a manner that is efficient in terms of consumption of a resource over satisfying a specified demand assigned to the consumption device. This re-prioritizing can be performed in response to a price of the resource exceeding a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: John Hughes, Thomas B. Krugler, Youssef A. Jaber, Steven Brooks
  • Patent number: 11947325
    Abstract: A method for controlling an environmental system may include defining a reference signal of an environmental variable in a greenhouse. The method may also include receiving renewable resource information related to the greenhouse. The method may further include receiving dynamic weather information of an environment external to the greenhouse. In addition, the method may include determining an optimization control scheme based on the reference signal, renewable resource information, and dynamic weather information. Further, the method may include regulating environmental conditions in the greenhouse according to the optimization control scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: QATAR UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ahmed Ouammi, Ehsan Rezaei, Hanane Dagdougui
  • Patent number: 11934214
    Abstract: An HVAC control system is provided that is configured to prompt a user to indicate whether or not they are comfortable under current environmental conditions. In some instances the HVAC control system may be configured to prompt the user to provide additional information regarding other factors that may affect their comfort. The HVAC control system may use the information collected from the user to control an HVAC system to achieve and/or maintain an environmental condition within a building at a level at which the user is expected to be comfortable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventor: Leisha Wells
  • Patent number: 11920808
    Abstract: An energy management system is configured to calculate a percentage of satisfied based on the report data for each of the plurality of buildings; create, for each of the plurality of buildings, a plan for operating each of the air-conditioning facilities based on the percentage of satisfied and a predetermined target percentage of satisfied; calculate a first energy consumption amount based on the first piece of data; calculate a second energy consumption amount based on the second piece of data, the third piece of data, and the fourth piece of data, the second energy consumption amount being obtained when the each of the air-conditioning facilities is operated after a lapse of a predetermined time period; and control, when the first energy consumption amount is larger than the second energy consumption amount, the operation of the each of the air-conditioning facilities so as to achieve the second energy consumption amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yoshimoto, Yasunori Akashi, Shinichi Warisawa, Jongyeon Lim, Shohei Miyata
  • Patent number: 11920805
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system using an A2L refrigerant and a method of installing the HVAC system in a building. The HVAC system includes an indoor unit having a heat exchanger that uses an A2L refrigerant, a blower, an outdoor unit, an A2L control board, and one or more A2L sensors configured to detect an amount of A2L refrigerant. In one or more embodiments, the indoor unit is electrically coupled to the blower, the A2L control board, and the outdoor unit. Also, in one or more embodiments, the A2L control board is also electrically coupled to the blower and the one or more A2L sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Goodman Manufacturing Company LP
    Inventors: Douglas Notaro, Masahiro Honda, Mark Kendall, Hiroshi Yoh, Yenny Natali Martinez, Patrick Wang, Roberto Flores, Timmy Ta
  • Patent number: 11915142
    Abstract: A structure thermodynamic model, which models the physical characteristics of a controlled space, inputs a constraint state curve which gives constraints, such as temperature, that a controlled space is to meet; and outputs a state injection time series which is the amount of state needed for the controlled space to optimize the constraint state curve. The state injection time series curve is then used as input into an equipment model, which models equipment behavior in the controlled space. The equipment model outputs equipment control actions per control time (a control sequence) which can be used to control the equipment in the controlled space. Some embodiments train the models using training data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: PassiveLogic, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Aaron Harvey, Jeremy David Fillingim
  • Patent number: 11906611
    Abstract: A control device for a ceiling fan may have a motor drive circuit configured to control a rotational speed of a motor of the ceiling fan, an occupancy sensing circuit, and a control circuit configured to adjust the rotational speed of the motor in response to a detected occupancy or vacancy condition. The control circuit may process the signals generated by the occupancy sensing circuit to eliminate the effects of vibrations and/or wobbling of the ceiling fan. The control circuit may control the motor drive circuit to adjust the rotational speed of the motor in response to an accelerometer to minimize the magnitude of the wobble of the ceiling fan. The control circuit may be configured to learn a preferred rotational speed for the motor. The control circuit may also be configured to control the rotational speed of the motor to affect a thermal comfort level of an occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: James P. Steiner
  • Patent number: 11890913
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a temperature-control system for controlling the temperature of an interior of the vehicle. The system has a temperature-control medium, preferably a liquid temperature-control medium, guided in a temperature-control circuit. The temperature-control system is operatively connectable or operatively connected to a source temperature-control system such that the temperature-control medium guided in the temperature-control circuit of the temperature-control system may be thermally influenced by the source temperature-control system. The temperature-control circuit also is operatively connectable or operatively connected to at least one interior temperature-control system such that the temperature of the interior of the vehicle may be modified by the temperature-control medium in the temperature-control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Rotenburg, Christian Rosskopf, Peter Satzger, Stefan Wiedemann
  • Patent number: 11892837
    Abstract: A remote starting system and method are provided for self-propelled work vehicles having work attachments supported from a main frame thereof. Cameras are arranged with respective fields of vision proximate to the work vehicle, and a communications unit is configured to exchange messages with a user device via a communications network. A local or remote controller is configured to receive first user input comprising a remote startup request for the work vehicle from the user device, and to automatically detect parameters respectively associated with predetermined remote startup conditions, at least one of the parameters comprising images obtained from the cameras. The images are transmitted to the user device, responsive to which second user input is received comprising remote startup confirmation from the user device via the communications network. Responsive to at least the second user input, engine startup is automatically controlled for the work vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Kirti Pandita, Lance R. Sherlock
  • Patent number: 11872867
    Abstract: A reefer truck power unit employs a plurality of power sources including roof mounted solar panels, momentum generation, shore power and high capacity storage batteries. The refrigeration system is configured for refrigerating a payload area of the vehicle utilizing power from the power sources, and employs a voltage converter for augmenting the power from the propulsion vehicle source for use with a native vehicle charging//starting system, and a transport load transformer for converting power from the power sources to 3 phase power for powering the refrigeration system. A bank of batteries stores power from the sources for subsequent dispersal to the refrigeration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: eNOW Systems LLC
    Inventors: Gerald Larson, Jeffrey C. Flath, Robert W. Doane, Philip R. Pierce, Stephen Lasher, Ryan Kennedy Kemmet
  • Patent number: 11868111
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating with and controlling load control systems of respective user environments from locations that are remote from the user environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: John B. Nill, Matthew Bamberger, Jason M. Swails, Christopher M. Jones
  • Patent number: 11864504
    Abstract: In a flow system and method, a fluid delivery pipe is connected in series between a fluid distributor and a fluid valve that is connected in series between a fluid source and the fluid distributor. A controller, disposed remote from the fluid delivery pipe, can be programmed or configured to control the fluid value via a communication channel or communication network. A hydrogenerator, powered by fluid running from the fluid source to the fluid distributor, can charge a battery that can power a radio to wirelessly transmit flow data to the controller. The controller can control the open and close states of the fluid valve based on the wirelessly transmitted flow data received by the controller to control an amount of fluid delivered by the fluid delivery pipe, for example, for controlled irrigation of an area to a desired extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Larry C. Sarver
  • Patent number: 11860648
    Abstract: A device management system includes a device information transmitting apparatus that collects information about a device, and a management apparatus that communicates with the device information transmitting apparatus via a communication network. At least one of the management apparatus and the device information transmitting apparatus includes an anomaly state input unit that receives an anomaly state of the device, and a designating unit that designates, in accordance with the received anomaly state, first information to be used to identify a cause of the anomaly state of the device. The device information transmitting apparatus includes a first information transmitting unit that transmits the first information to the management apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayasu Kitamura
  • Patent number: 11839446
    Abstract: A wireless patient monitoring system includes at least one wireless physiological sensor having a sensing element senses physiological parameter information from a patient. A sensor controller is configured to determine a current parameter value based on the physiological parameter information and to compare the current parameter value to a prior parameter value. Based on the comparison, the sensor controller determines if the current parameter value is redundant of the prior parameter value. If so, then the current parameter value is not transmitted. If the current parameter is not redundant of the prior parameter value, then a wireless transmitter is controlled to wirelessly transmit the current parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventor: Daniel W. Medeiros
  • Patent number: 11842307
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, via at least one processor of a cloud-computing system, an indication that a portion of a workflow is complete. Here, the workflow is associated with commissioning one or more well devices at a hydrocarbon site. The method may then include identifying one or more subsequent portions of the workflow to be performed and sending the one or more subsequent portions to one or more computing devices associated with one or more users assigned to the one or more well devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sensia Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Andrew Weatherhead, Edward Anthony Gray
  • Patent number: 11837034
    Abstract: A portable electronic wireless lock and lock system for ensuring the safety of goods, including humanly consumable goods. The lock and lock system are controlled by a smartphone, which also acts as a communications hub between the lock and a truckload owner or supervisor. According to the present invention, a truck driver uses a smartphone to interface between a trailer payload supervisor and the payload lock itself, to ensure the safety of the transported goods and comply with regulations such as the Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”). An electronic lock and lock system may, according to the present invention, interface electronically to a smartphone, so that while in motion, the smartphone ensures that the lock remains locked and controls its operation. Alternatively, such an electronic lock may be designed to permit only a limited number of locking cycles initiated by a truck driver until a loading supervisor intercedes in compliance with FSMA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: David Arena
  • Patent number: 11832413
    Abstract: Tools and techniques are described to modify a defined space state depending on number of users in the space and/or preferences of users in the space. In some embodiments, users entering or leaving a space are noticed by network systems. A controller then modifies resources in the space to account for the greater or lesser load. In other cases, the network system notices that a specific user has entered a building. This user may have preferences stored in the system which the building control system then responds to by changing state of a device that controls physical state within the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventor: Troy Aaron Harvey
  • Patent number: 11802703
    Abstract: A system includes multiple HVAC systems. After receiving a demand request, a multiple-system controller determines a first anticipated power consumption associated with operating a first HVAC system at a first temperature setpoint during a future period of time of the demand response request and a second anticipated power consumption associated with operating a second HVAC system at a second temperature setpoint during the future period of time. Based at least in part on the first and the second anticipated power consumptions, a staging schedule is determined that indicates when to operate the first and second HVAC systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rohini Brahme, Chao Xia, Pete Hrejsa
  • Patent number: 11771588
    Abstract: A directable, portable appliance in combination with an adjustable set-point digital temperature controller for non-contact remotely monitoring infrared temperatures of a selected area of human skin and activating an electrical fan for directing cooling air over the selected skin areas of individuals experiencing episodes of thermal chaos, i.e., hot flashes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Donald J. Catalano
  • Patent number: 11768977
    Abstract: Systems and methods for guided installation of building equipment are provided. A request for a wiring diagram for wiring a first piece of building equipment to a second piece of building equipment is received from a user device. One or more first wiring configurations associated with the first piece of building equipment and one or more second wiring configurations associated with the second piece of building equipment are identified. Based on the one or more first wiring configurations and the one or more second wiring configurations, an equipment-specific wiring configuration for wiring the first piece of building equipment to the second piece of building equipment is automatically selected. A graphical user interface including a wiring diagram illustrating the equipment-specific wiring configuration is provided to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventor: Gregory T. Reichl
  • Patent number: 11760159
    Abstract: A vehicle and building integrated air conditioning system which may communicate internal spaces with each other to integrally perform air conditioning when a vehicle is docked to a building, may include a vehicle which includes a control unit configured of controlling a vehicle control unit configured of controlling a vehicle air conditioning device, a building which includes a building control unit configured of controlling a building air conditioning device, is provided with a station to which the vehicle is docked, and communicates an interior of the building with the vehicle to perform air conditioning when the vehicle is docked to the station, and an integrated control portion which is configured to allow the vehicle control unit or the building control unit to integrally control the vehicle air conditioning device and the building air conditioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Jin Ho Hwang, Sang Heon Lee
  • Patent number: 11754306
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a zone control panel suitable to control operation of equipment and/or devices in the HVAC system. The zone control panel may include an electronic display to facilitate user interaction with the HVAC system. For example, the electronic display may be used to view, configure, and/or modify operation of the zone control panel and/or other devices implemented in the HVAC system. Further, the zone control panel may use the electronic display to reproduce user interfaces from the equipment and/or the devices. As such, the zone control panel may centralize presentation of relevant information and/or present the relevant information in a familiar manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
    Inventors: Theresa N. Gillette, Tyler P. McCune, Jonathan A. Burns
  • Patent number: 11733662
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods of physical-model based building automation using in-situ regression to optimize control systems are presented. A simulation engine is configured to simulate a behavior or a controlled system using a physical model for the controlled system. A data stream comprises data from a controlled system. A training loop is configured to compare an output of a simulation engine to a data stream using a heuristic so that a physical model is regressed in a manner that the output of the simulation engine approaches the data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: PASSIVELOGIC, INC.
    Inventor: Troy Aaron Harvey
  • Patent number: 11708982
    Abstract: A system for remote diagnostic analysis of a heating, ventilation and air condition (HVAC) system is provided. The system includes a thermostat in operable communication with at least one peripheral component of the HVAC system and configured to receive information relating to the at least one peripheral component, and a server in operable communication with the thermostat for receiving and analyzing the information. The server causes the at least one peripheral component to conduct a diagnostic test and analyzes the test result to perform a root cause analysis of a system malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Prerana Maslekar, Mageshkumar Muthuswamy, Carl L Garrett
  • Patent number: 11703818
    Abstract: Described herein are heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) systems and methods directed to indoor air quality. HVACR systems and methods are based on dynamic people modeling to simulate and/or to monitor airflow impact on pathogen spread in an indoor space. HVACR systems and methods model an indoor space with pathogen killing technology to deploy the pathogen killing technology. HVACR systems and methods are directed to control administration of a pathogen killing technology to an indoor space based on factors that impact airflow including from dynamic analytics, a known input, and/or detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Michael Peters, Kaustubh Pradeep Phalak, Deep Gupta, Gang Wang, Yi Liu
  • Patent number: 11698205
    Abstract: A building management system for monitoring and controlling HVAC parameters in a building includes one or more processing circuits configured to initialize a predictive model for predicting temperature, pressure, and humidity within a target area and an adjacent area of the building, receive target area data from a target area sensor array configured to measure temperature, pressure, and humidity of the target area, receive adjacent area data from an adjacent area sensor array configured to measure temperature, pressure, and humidity of the adjacent area, execute the predictive model based on the target area data and the adjacent area data to generate a prediction of future temperature, pressure, and humidity within the target area, and control operation of HVAC equipment to maintain the temperature, pressure, and humidity of the target area within a compliance standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Julie J. Brown, Mervyn Tremayne Drieberg, Alden R. Winters, Renee R. Jacobs, Fawn R. Staerkel, Rachel D. M. Ellerman
  • Patent number: 11668483
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for detecting an amount of A2L refrigerant in an air temperature controller using an A2L refrigerant, and a method of installing a configuration of A2L sensors in the air temperature controller using an A2L refrigerant. The system includes an A2L control board, a first A2L sensor, and a second A2L sensor. The first A2L sensor and the second A2L sensor are coupled in series and electrically coupled to the A2L control board. Each of the first A2L sensor and the second A2L sensor include sensing components configured to detect the amount of A2L refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventors: Douglas Notaro, Masahiro Honda, Mark Kendall, Hiroshi Yoh, Yenny Natali Martinez, Patrick Wang, Roberto Flores, Timmy Ta
  • Patent number: 11644208
    Abstract: An air conditioner and a method for detecting an incorrectly connected pipe in an air conditioner are provided. The air conditioner may detect an incorrectly connected pipe by performing a serial pipe inspection when three or less indoor units are connected to an outdoor unit through pipes and performing a group pipe inspection when four or more indoor units are connected to the outdoor unit through the pipes. The structure may enable detecting the incorrectly connected pipe among pipes connecting the outdoor unit to the indoor units within a shorter time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Min Suk Kwak, Gilun Hwang
  • Patent number: 11628785
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for providing a retreat space for the periodic recuperation of a person. In this case, the interior of a vehicle serves as the retreat space. Said vehicle may be a person's own passenger vehicle or a rented vehicle. Since the retreat space is only used for brief recuperation, e.g., during a lunch break, the space is prepared such that it can fulfill the recuperation requirements from the very start. For this purpose, a request message is sent to the vehicle, by means of which request message the vehicle is prepared as a retreat space for the person. Said preparation consists in configuring the vehicle interior, at least in terms of lighting and/or climatic conditions and/or entertainment facilities, to serve as a retreat space for the recuperation of said person at the reserved time in accordance with the request message. The vehicle may also receive a reservation request message from a service provider who provides vehicles for rent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Theodoros Tzivanopoulos, Frank Minter, Marcel Kaltenberg
  • Patent number: 11624525
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation and air-conditioner (HVAC) remote controller for providing instructions for operation of an HVAC system, including a processor configured to control operation of the HVAC remote controller and to generate instructions for the operation of the HVAC system; a pixelated display configured to consume less power when the pixelated display is in a static state than when it is not in the static state; a local input device configured to accept data from an operator; a light configured to illuminate the pixelated display; an isolated power source configured to provide operational power to at least the processor, the pixelated display, and the light; wherein the controller is configured to keep the light turned off except when the processor is actively performing an operation to control the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC US, INC.
    Inventor: Rodney Olson
  • Patent number: 11625161
    Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods comprising a gateway located at a premise forming at least one network on the premise that includes a plurality of premise devices. A sensor user interface (SUI) is coupled to the gateway and presented to a user via a remote device. The SUI includes at least one display element. The at least one display element includes a floor plan display that represents at least one floor of the premise. The floor plan display visually and separately indicates a location and a current state of each premise device of the plurality of premise devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Sundermeyer, Paul Dawes, Jim Fulker
  • Patent number: 11619415
    Abstract: A controller of an air-conditioning unit, and an air-conditioner. The air-conditioning unit uses a power line carrier communication (PLC) to communicate. The air-conditioning unit includes multiple air-conditioner indoor units and multiple air-conditioner outdoor units. The operation of the air-conditioning unit is controlled by a controller. The controller includes: a plug component configured to be plugged into a socket in a preset PLC communication network and a controller body component connected to the plug component and configured to receive a communication signal from a target device and transmit the communication signal to a device matching the target device, the target device including one of an air-conditioner indoor unit and an air-conditioner outdoor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI
    Inventors: Jianming Tan, Dongfeng Lai, Tieying Ye, Jie Tang, Du Yang, Quanzhou Liu, Huantao Ye, Chenjie Li, Yufa Li
  • Patent number: 11609019
    Abstract: For controlling an orifice of a valve (10) in an HVAC system (100) to regulate the flow (?) of a fluid through a thermal energy exchanger (2) of the HVAC system (100) and adjust the energy transfer rate ({dot over (Q)}) of the thermal energy exchanger (2) in response to a demand value (d), the orifice of the valve (10) is controlled in a first mode of operation where the flow (?) of the fluid through the thermal energy exchanger (2) is regulated within efficiency constraints on the energy transfer rate ({dot over (Q)}) with respect to an efficiency threshold value. Upon receiving an override signal (OS), the orifice of the valve (10) is controlled in a second mode of operation where the flow (?) of the fluid through the thermal energy exchanger (2) is not regulated with respect to the first efficiency threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Richard Hunter Hubbell
  • Patent number: 11569048
    Abstract: An illumination system and method are disclosed for maintaining a consistent change in illumination value among a group of illumination devices whenever a change command is manually sent from a keypad to those illumination devices. The consistent change results from maintaining a common start illumination value among not only the group, but also the keypad which controls the group. From the start illumination value, the keypad can then compute an end illumination value depending upon the amount of time that an increase or decrease in illumination value button is depressed and held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Quilling, Rebecca Frank, Kenneth Priester
  • Patent number: 11570685
    Abstract: A sensing system includes a wireless sensor configured to detect a current sensed value of an environmental condition, the wireless sensor programmed with a delta threshold; a thermostat in communication with the wireless sensor; wherein, when the current sensed value differs from a prior transmitted sensed value by more than the delta threshold, the wireless sensor transmits the current sensed value to the thermostat; wherein, when the current sensed value differs from the prior transmitted sensed value by less than the delta threshold, the wireless sensor stores the current sensed value as a stored sensed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Gattu, Ravi Kumar Kandhi, Amarnath Reddy Jambuluri
  • Patent number: 11553618
    Abstract: Tools and techniques are described to modify a defined space state depending on number of users in the space and/or preferences of users in the space. In some embodiments, users entering or leaving a space are noticed by network systems. A controller then modifies resources in the space to account for the greater or lesser load. In other cases, the network system notices that a specific user has entered a building. This user may have preferences stored in the system which the building control system then responds to by changing state of a device that controls physical state within the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: PassiveLogic, Inc.
    Inventor: Troy Aaron Harvey
  • Patent number: 11533193
    Abstract: The present invention teaches methods of performing appliance itemization based on consumption data, including: receiving at a processor the data; determining if the data includes active signals and/or inactive signals; upon detection of an active signal: detecting and estimating active water heating consumption and lighting consumption; upon detection of an inactive signal: detecting and estimating passive water heating consumption, refrigerator consumption; and detecting vacation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Bidgely, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Shyr, Vivek Garud, Abhay Gupta, Mayank Sharan, Pratik Parekh, Rohit Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 11501250
    Abstract: A refrigerator for providing an item guide service using artificial intelligence includes an output unit, a sensing unit configured to acquire user identification information for identifying a user, a memory configured to store a collaborative filtering model for determining an item to be used by the user, and a processor configured to recognize the user based on the acquired user identification information, predict an item to be used by the recognized user using the collaborative filtering model and output item identification information for identifying the predicted item through the output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jongwoo Han
  • Patent number: 11458803
    Abstract: A device for determining a temperature in a passenger compartment of a vehicle comprising a sensor unit for detecting infra-red radiation and a temperature determining unit. The temperature determining unit may be configured so as, in dependence upon the measurement data provided by the sensor unit, to determine a surface temperature of a predetermined object located in the vehicle passenger compartment and, from the determined surface temperature of the object using a first functional relationship, to determine an air temperature in the vehicle passenger compartment. The temperature determining unit may be configured as an alternative or in addition thereto so as, in dependence upon the measurement data provided by the sensor unit, to determine a surface temperature for at least one passenger compartment occupant, and from the determined surface temperature using a second functional relationship to determine a measurement for the level of personal comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ayse Ercan, Kemal-Edip Yildirim, Viktor Bader, Ingo Gores
  • Patent number: 11449071
    Abstract: A system includes: a receiving unit configured to wirelessly receive a modulated electromagnetic signal leaked by a mains power line, the mains power line carrying a modulated alternating current signal, a demodulator configured to demodulate the modulated electromagnetic signal and extract one or more data signals from the demodulated electromagnetic signal, a processor configured to generate control data based on the one or more data signals, a control unit configured to control one or more actuators based on the control data, a processor configured to generate control data for controlling one or more actuators, and a modulator configured to modulate an alternating current signal of a mains power line using the generated control data to create a modulated alternating current signal, thereby causing the mains power line to leak a modulated electromagnetic signal comprising the control data that is wirelessly detectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Eder, Robert Keith John Withey
  • Patent number: 11435709
    Abstract: A building management system comprises building equipment operable to affect a physical state or condition of a building. The building management system includes a system manager coupled to the building equipment via a system bus, the system manager comprising a schedule manager configured to control a first operation schedule of the building equipment. Combined schedules are configured to be controlled by the schedule manager. The combined schedules are configured to control both a first setpoint of the building equipment and first operation schedule of the building equipment. A client device is configured to communicate with the schedule manager to modify the first operation schedule of the building equipment to include the first schedule object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Vivek V. Gupta, Mark T. Fischbach
  • Patent number: 11428433
    Abstract: An air conditioner and a control method thereof are provided. The air conditioner includes a sensor portion including at least one sensor, a controller including at least one control portion to control a function of the air conditioner, and at least one processor operatively connected to the sensor and the controller. The at least one processor is configured to obtain an airflow speed and indoor environmental data by the sensor portion while the air conditioner is operating, generate a first algorithm by applying the obtained airflow speed, the indoor environmental data, and pre-stored reference data to a second algorithm, and control operation of the air conditioner based on the generated first algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jae Heuk Choi, Juyoun Lee, Jeonghoon Lee
  • Patent number: 11376920
    Abstract: There is provided with a moving body control apparatus. An image capturing unit captures a periphery of a moving body through a transmitting portion. A heater is capable of heating the transmitting portion. An air-conditioning unit switches an air-conditioning state in the moving body between an inside air circulation state and an outside air introduction state. A control unit controls the heater. An ambient temperature detection unit detects an ambient temperature. The control unit starts the operation of the heater when the ambient temperature is not more than a predetermined temperature threshold. The predetermined temperature threshold of the case in which the air-conditioning state is set to the inside air circulation state is higher than the predetermined temperature threshold in the case in which the air-conditioning state is set to the outside air introduction state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Kudo, Masaki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11380183
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas alarm replacement warning method and device, and an electronic apparatus including the device. The method is applied to a gas alarm including a gas-sensitive element. The method includes: collecting signal data of the gas alarm; analyzing the current use state of the gas alarm based on the signal data; determining a dynamic model of the expected service life of the gas alarm according to the current use state, and calculating the expected use duration of the gas alarm; determining whether the actual use duration of the gas alarm is greater than the expected use duration; and if so, outputting a replacement prompt signal. Therefore, based on the expected service life of the gas alarm, when the use duration of the gas alarm approaches the expected service life, a replacement prompt signal is issued to solve the problem of untimely replacement of the gas alarm and ensure the safety of indoor gas use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Chengdu Qianjia Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuzeng Niu, Yong Zhao, Yunhua Hu, Liangwei Shen, Bin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11371734
    Abstract: For monitoring an HVAC system (1), HVAC data reporting messages are received and stored in a cloud-based computer system (4). Each HVAC data reporting message includes one or more operation data values included by an HVAC controller (22) of the HVAC system (1). The cloud-based computer system (4) generates (S73) remote diagnoses for a particular HVAC device, using a plurality of HVAC reporting messages received from a plurality of the HVAC controllers (22) from one or more HVAC systems (1). Each remote diagnosis is generated (S73) by using more than one operational data value, included in HVAC reporting messages received (S71) received from HVAC controllers (22) of more than one HVAC systems (1) and/or from at least two different types of operational data values. A diagnosis message which includes a remote diagnosis is transmitted to a diagnosis processing system for the particular HVAC device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Ronald Aeberhard, Reto Anliker, Stefan Mischler, Frauke Oldewurtel, Forest Reider, Peter Schmidlin, Marc Steiner, Marc Thuillard
  • Patent number: 11346568
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a system including a first active control device, comprising: a flow control element; one or more sensors; a network interface configured to connect to a mesh network; a memory comprising computer-executable instructions; and a processor configured to: execute the computer-executable instructions; receive local sensor data from the one or more sensors; receive remote sensor data from a remote sensing device; control a position of the flow control element based on one or more of the local sensor data or the remote sensor data; store the local sensor data and remote sensor data in the memory; and transmit the local sensor data and the remote sensor data to a second active control device via the mesh network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: AJAMIAN INTEGRATED RESEARCH CORP.
    Inventors: Michael Ajamian, James Irmiger
  • Patent number: 11293656
    Abstract: A switch for switching a function setting of an air conditioner and a memory that stores therein a setting value of the function setting are provided. The setting value stored in the memory is rewritable according to an instruction from a remote controller. The function setting of the air conditioner is defined by the setting value stored in the memory. Regarding functions set in the air conditioner, priority as to whether to give priority to setting with the switch or to validate setting with the remote controller is switched for each function according to setting from the remote controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 11236923
    Abstract: An HVAC controller is configured to receive signals from a plurality of sensors positioned in different spaces. The HVAC controller includes a controller that is configured to display one or more screens on a user interface that include a home screen including a selectable display element that indicates a number of the plurality of sensors that are currently being used by the controller in controlling the HVAC system. Upon selection of the selectable display element, the controller displays a sensor priority screen that includes a plurality of graphic constructs that each identify a building space and a current temperature for that building space. The controller is configured to control the HVAC system in accordance with the current temperature reported by each of the number of the plurality of sensors that are currently being used by the controller in controlling the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Christopher R. Jones, Joseph Carlos Vargas