Position Or Extent Of Motion Of Movable Element Patents (Class 62/131)
  • Patent number: 11898789
    Abstract: An appliance mounting device is provided herein. The appliance includes a vacuum insulated structure having a liner positioned within a wrapper, wherein the liner and wrapper cooperate to define an interior cavity. The appliance further includes an insulating material positioned within the interior cavity and a hanger coupled to an adapter plate and a support member. The support member is configured to couple to an interior surface of the vacuum insulated structure while maintaining a vacuum in the interior cavity and a holding member is coupled to a first side of the adapter plate and configured to receive a positioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Lynne F. Hunter, Raffaella Gropallo, Giulia Marinello
  • Patent number: 11898764
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes a high-pressure subsystem and a low-pressure subsystem. After determining that refrigerant leak diagnostics should be performed, a controllable valve is closed between a condenser and compressor of the HVAC system. The compressor then operates until a predetermined input refrigerant pressure is reached. After the predetermined input refrigerant pressure is reached, operation of the compressor is stopped. After stopping operation of the compressor and waiting at least a predetermined wait time, the pressure in the low-pressure subsystem of the HVAC system is monitored. A rate of change of the pressure in the low-pressure subsystem is determined. If the rate of change is negative and a magnitude of the rate of change is greater than a threshold value, a leak location is determined to be in the low-pressure subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Payam Delgoshaei, Eric Berg
  • Patent number: 11885519
    Abstract: A retrofit control of a ductless mini-split system (DMSS) for use in relation to temperature monitoring within a property. Data indicating a command is transmitted to a controller associated with a ductless mini-split system. The command causes the controller to configure an operation to be performed by the ductless mini-split system. Power output associated with the ductless mini-split system is monitored based on transmitting the data indicating the command. A determination that the operation has been performed by the ductless mini-split system is made based on monitoring the power output. Data indicating that the operation has been performed by the ductless mini-split system is provided for output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventor: Gustaf Nicolaus Maxwell Lonaeus
  • Patent number: 11821677
    Abstract: A household appliance includes at least one movable door and at least one sensor for detecting a door movement, particularly a door opening angle of the at least one door. The at least one sensor includes at least one inertial sensor integrated into the at least one door. The household appliance is particularly advantageously a refrigerating device, especially a refrigerator, having a pivoting door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Grimminger, Christopher Rodney, Hans Peter Werner, Daniel Bihr
  • Patent number: 11774151
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heat pump assembly including a system or method for detecting a fault in the heat pump. Some embodiments include a method for detecting a switch over valve fault where the heat pump includes a refrigerant cycle, a compressor, a metering device, a first heat exchanger, an second heat exchanger, a temperature sensor, and a switch over valve, and where the method includes operating the HVAC system in one either a heating mode or a cooling mode, monitoring a refrigerant temperature associated with the refrigerant cycle using the temperature sensor, monitoring an outdoor ambient air temperature, determining a temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature, determining whether the temperature difference is greater than a predetermined temperature difference threshold, and declaring a switch over valve fault when the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined temperature difference threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Shivakumar Kolloju, Ragunanthanan Mylsamy, Jonathan E. Thrift, Dominique Schaefer Pipps
  • Patent number: 11685223
    Abstract: A climate control system includes a plurality of vent registers, an HVAC unit delivering conditioned air to the plurality of vent registers, a side door status monitoring device and a controller configured to control opening and closing of the plurality of vent registers in response to side door status data provided by the side door status monitoring device. A related climate control method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mukesh Kumar, Lawrence C. Karas, Andrew Dayton Phillips
  • Patent number: 11650628
    Abstract: In one general aspect, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a display case door that includes a panel assembly, a door frame, an electronic display, and a touchscreen. The door frame extends about and secured to a peripheral edge of the panel assembly. The electronic display overlays the panel assembly and is secured to the door frame. The touch screen overlaps a first portion of the electronic display, and the display includes a second portion which is not overlapped by the touchscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Anthony, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Nicholson, Pedro Almaguer, Mark Sandnes
  • Patent number: 11578887
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes a high-pressure subsystem and a low-pressure subsystem. After determining that refrigerant leak diagnostics should be performed, a controllable valve is closed between a condenser and compressor of the HVAC system. The compressor then operates until a predetermined input refrigerant pressure is reached. After the predetermined input refrigerant pressure is reached, operation of the compressor is stopped. After stopping operation of the compressor and waiting at least a predetermined wait time, the pressure in the low-pressure subsystem of the HVAC system is monitored. A rate of change of the pressure in the low-pressure subsystem is determined. If the rate of change is negative and a magnitude of the rate of change is greater than a threshold value, a leak location is determined to be in the low-pressure subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Payam Delgoshaei, Eric Berg
  • Patent number: 11536080
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator and, more specifically, a refrigerator which enables a user to easily open a door thereof. The present invention relates to a refrigerator and method for controlling the same, which can prevent a door thereof from opening by itself due to a malfunction. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerator may comprise: a cabinet having a storage chamber; a door for closing or opening the storage chamber; a sensor provided to sense whether a user is within or out of a sensing distance, to enable discrimination between sensing-on and sensing-off; a door opening device provided to automatically open the door; and a control unit for determining an operation condition of the door opening device on the basis of a time interval from the sensing-on to the sensing-off and a duration for which the sensing-on continues in the sensor, so as to control the operation of the door opening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jinho Chang, Dongjeong Kim, Seungyoon Cho
  • Patent number: 11454442
    Abstract: An abnormality determination device for a transporting refrigeration apparatus includes a determination unit that determines an abnormality of the transporting refrigeration apparatus installed on a container. In pre-trip inspection that is conducted before the container is loaded on a transporting device, a test operation is performed for test operating modes. The pre-trip inspection is conducted multiple times. The abnormality determination device is configured to obtain at least part of time series test data related to a same one of the test operating modes in the pre-trip inspection. The determination unit is configured to determine whether the transporting refrigeration apparatus has an abnormality based on a change trend of the time series test data related to a same one of the test operating modes when the pre-trip inspection is conducted multiple times, and when there is no abnormality, estimate an abnormality occurrence time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kiichirou Satou
  • Patent number: 11441837
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, a storage container or movable shelf, and a video recording module. The cabinet includes a storage compartment, a pair of oppositely disposed side walls, and a connecting portion that extends along a lateral direction of the cabinet and that is connected to the pair of side walls, the connecting portion having a front engaging face. The door is configured to cover the storage compartment and is connected to the front engaging face when closed. The storage container or movable shelf is located in the storage compartment and may be at least partially pulled out of the storage compartment. The video recording module or an illumination module is disposed at the connecting portion, faces toward a front of the cabinet, and is inclined downward to record a video of/illuminate the storage container or movable shelf that is at least partially pulled out of the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Li Du, Jing Hong, Yu Xia
  • Patent number: 11397041
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a method for controlling the same. The refrigerator includes a main body; a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber provided in the main body; a first evaporator provided in the first storage chamber, configured to generate cool air; a second evaporator provided in the second storage chamber, configured to generate the cool air; a switching valve configured to supply a refrigerant to at least one of the first evaporator or the second evaporator; and a controller configured to generate a control signal for controlling the switching valve so that the refrigerant supplied to at least one of the first evaporator or the second evaporator is distributed according to a predetermined reference, and lower the temperature of the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber to a predetermined temperature based on the generated control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Do-Hyung Kim, Su-Cheol Yoo, Jung Woo Yoo, Kook Jeong Seo, Chang-Hern Lee, Ha-Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 11351841
    Abstract: There is disclosed a transport refrigeration system comprising an electronically governed engine that drives a refrigeration circuit of the system. The engine control unit is configured to operate the engine in a droop mode of operation, in which the engine speed increases with decreasing engine loads from the refrigeration circuit, so as to maximise the cooling capacity of the system at low engine load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventor: Pierce D. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 11293689
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for generating schedule data based on action data, and a server and a refrigerator implementing the same. The method for generating schedule data based on action data according to an embodiment of the present invention includes, in a refrigerator including one or more divided storage spaces, a step of a storage unit of the refrigerator storing pattern base data including action data performed by the refrigerator and time data, a step of a communication unit of the refrigerator receiving a first learning data set from a server, a step of a schedule generation unit of the refrigerator generating first schedule data including predicted action data of the refrigerator and time data of the predicted action data by mapping a first learning data set to the pattern base data, and a step of a control unit of the refrigerator controlling an action of the refrigerator based on the first schedule data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Mok Hwang, Young Tag Kwon, Jin-Hoon Jung
  • Patent number: 10692470
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body defining a storage compartment that is divided into a plurality of storage sections, and a door coupled to the main body to selectively open or close the storage compartment. The door includes a door glass having at least one transparent display area, and a door frame surrounding one or more edges of the door glass and configured to protect the door glass. The transparent display area is configured to display, based on being touched by a user, information on food stored in one or more of the plurality of storage sections that corresponds to the touched transparent display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jaeyoung Lee, Seungcheol Baek, Jeonghwa Yang, Eunjung Suh, Eungyeong Gwon
  • Patent number: 10598427
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet forming a storage space, a main door that opens and closes the storage space while defining an opening part that is in communication with the storage space, a sub-door mounted to the main door and configured to open and close the opening part, the sub-door including a panel assembly for allowing selective viewing of an inside of the opening part, a detection device for detecting an operation of a user, a lighting unit inside the refrigerator that turns on based on user operation to allow selective viewing of the inner side of the opening part, and a display unit inside the refrigerator at a position corresponding to the panel assembly that becomes visible and displays an operation state of the refrigerator when the lighting unit turns on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kwanghyun Choi
  • Patent number: 10310482
    Abstract: Devices, methods, systems, and computer-readable media for a refrigeration rack monitor are described herein. One or more embodiments include a refrigeration system monitor, comprising a computing device with a memory storing instructions executable by a processor to: monitor real time performance metrics for a refrigeration system, wherein the real time performance metrics are received from temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and power sensors coupled to the refrigeration system, compare the real time performance metrics to a performance curve of devices associated with the refrigeration system, and generate health information for the devices associated with the refrigeration system based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Shockley, Anthony Pishnery
  • Patent number: 10254027
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the operation of the evaporator fans in a transport refrigeration system (TRS) are described. In some examples, the TRS is a multi-zone temperature control system (MTCS). The methods and systems described herein generally dynamically control a plurality of system fans in MTCSs in instances where running the system fans can lead to inefficiencies in energy consumption and fluctuations in temperature control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Srinivasa Rao Koppineedi, Panayu Robert Srichai
  • Patent number: 10194756
    Abstract: A light-emitting glazed door for a piece of refrigerating equipment, includes first and second glazing units forming an insulating glazing unit, the glazing units being spaced apart by a mastic seal; a peripheral light source with a source carrier; a system for extracting guided light in order to form at least one luminous zone; and a fastening part, namely a profile, making direct adhesive contact with the mastic seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Anne Gierens, Richard Wolff, Stéphane Dieu
  • Patent number: 10088218
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a method of control thereof, whereby after driving of a compressor and a blower fan is stopped as temperatures of a refrigeration compartment and a freezer compartment are in a satisfactory state, opening/closing operations of a damper are repeatedly performed, so that cold air in the freezer compartment is supplied into the refrigeration compartment. Alternatively, if the temperature of the refrigeration compartment reaches an upper limit temperature, the repeated opening/closing operations of the damper are started. The repeated opening/closing operations of the damper are performed until the temperature of the refrigeration compartment reaches a lower limit temperature, so that a cooling operation of the refrigeration compartment is performed only once while the compressor is being driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jinseok Hu, Namhun Kim, Youngdoo Kim
  • Patent number: 10044518
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a communication unit, a microphone, a display, and a controller to transmit a request for transmitting diagnostic data to a home appliance through the communication unit, to extract diagnostic data of the home appliance from sound received from the home appliance through the microphone, and to transmit a diagnostic data image, acquired by imaging the diagnostic data, to a server. Thereby, the mobile terminal may conveniently transmit the diagnostic data image based on the diagnostic data of the home appliance to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Dongwoo Han, Heejung Seo, Seunghyuck Kang
  • Patent number: 10036588
    Abstract: Door alarm systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed. A door alarm system may monitor a door of a refrigeration device and detect a failed attempt at closing the door. In response to detecting the failed attempt, the door alarm system may generate a notification of the detected, failed attempt so that remedial action may be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: SEARS BRANDS, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Angel Favila, Puneet Shivam
  • Patent number: 9989276
    Abstract: A condensate drainage enhancing device is provided for an evaporator. An integrally molded plastic part snap fits around the conventional lower manifold, with rails maintained in tight engagement with the front and rear edges of the refrigerant flow tubes. These interrupt the meniscus films of columns of retained water that would otherwise form and, which instead drains down ribs that depend from the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Karl P. Kroetsch, Kenneth R. Handley, III, Sourav Chowdhury, Lawrence P. Scherer, Scott B. Lipa, David G. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9976799
    Abstract: There is disclosed a refrigerator; a lighting device provided in the storage chamber, a first door rotatably coupled to the case to open and close the storage chamber, an auxiliary storage chamber provided in the first door, a second door, a front panel formed of a transparent material, an evaporation treatment unit evaporated on an overall back surface of the front panel to transmit lights partially, a variable transparency film attached to a back surface of the evaporation treatment unit provided in the front panel to get transparent when the power is supplied, a frame unit with an opening having a corresponding size to an opening provided in the first door, an insulation panel distant from the front panel, a power supply unit for supplying an electric power to the variable transparency film and the lighting device, a proximity sensor provided in the second door to sense a user's approaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woonkyu Seo, Soonho Jung, Jinhee Park
  • Patent number: 9696085
    Abstract: There is disclosed a refrigerator including a case having a storage chamber provided therein; a lighting device provided in the storage chamber to light an inner space of the storage chamber, a first door rotatably coupled to the case to open and close the storage chamber, an auxiliary storage chamber (50) provided in the first door to define a storage space, the auxiliary storage chamber (50) accessible through an opening formed in the first door, a second door (30) rotatably coupled to the first door in the same direction as the first door, a front panel attached to a front surface of the second door (30), the front panel formed of a transparent material, an evaporation treatment unit evaporated on an overall back surface of the front panel to transmit lights partially, a variable transparency film (120) attached to a back surface of the evaporation treatment unit provided in the front panel to get transparent when the power is supplied, a frame unit of the second door (30) on which the front panel is mount
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woonkyu Seo, Soonho Jung, Jinhee Park
  • Patent number: 9285151
    Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Tim L. Coulter, Thomas E. Gose, Steven G. Herndon, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Bill J. Koons, Brent A. Kramer, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Dean A. Martin, Alvin V. Miller, Kevin Lee Noel, Mauro M. Oliveira, Lester J. Ott, Ron S. Paulsen, Chad J. Rotter, David Allen Stauffer, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan M. Welch, Robert L. Wetekamp
  • Patent number: 8988247
    Abstract: Provided is a mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit that is configured to communicate with an air conditioner, a camera that captures an image of at least one photographic subject, a display unit to which the image that includes at least one graphic object corresponding to the at least one photographic subject, respectively, is output, and a controller that, if the at least one photographic subject is the air conditioner, outputs state information on the air conditioner, which includes operation information relating to a wind that is output from the air conditioner, to the vicinity of the graphic object corresponding to the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Younkyung Lee, Yongwoo Kim, Hyunju Kim, Jungmin Park, Joohyeon Oh, Junsoo Park
  • Patent number: 8978398
    Abstract: An expansion valve assembly includes a housing that defines a passage through which a fluid flows. The assembly also includes a diaphragm that deflects according to a characteristic of the fluid and valve member that is operably coupled to the diaphragm to move within the passage between a first position and a second position due to deflection of the diaphragm to regulate flow of the fluid through the passage. A stroke is defined by a distance between the first and second positions of the valve member. Moreover, the assembly includes a stroke measuring device having a first member and a second member. The first member is operably coupled to the valve member to move relative to the second member due to movement of the valve member. The stroke measuring device is operable to detect the amount of relative movement of the first and second members to detect the stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony W. Faulkner, Stephen Sinadinos
  • Patent number: 8667804
    Abstract: Thermal storage air conditioner including an outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger for making heat exchange, and at least one compressor for compressing refrigerant, an indoor unit having at least one indoor heat exchanger for making heat exchange, a thermal storage unit having a thermal storage tank for holding thermal storage substance therein, a thermal storage heat exchanger for receiving refrigerant from an outside of the thermal storage unit to heat exchange with the thermal storage substance in the thermal storage tank, and a securing member for securing the thermal storage heat exchanger so as to maintain the thermal storage heat exchanger submerged under the thermal storage substance in the thermal storage tank, and a functional unit for selective control of refrigerant flows among the outdoor unit, the indoor unit and the thermal storage unit according to an operation condition, thereby maintaining the thermal storage heat exchanger in the thermal storage tank securely, to prevent drop of he
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Yoon Koh, In Kyu Kim, Jin Ha Hwang
  • Publication number: 20140053586
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and apparatus for connecting remote and environmental sensors and other operating systems to a portable computing and communications device. The portable device configured to receive and process a set of data and transmit a response or message to at least the user on the quality of the data received. The portable device adapted to reconfigure the remote sensors or operating systems to produce a new set of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: TSI INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Arndt Poecher, Gerald M. Bark, Rajagopala Menon
  • Publication number: 20130327073
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a main body including first and second storage compartments, an input part selecting a cleaning mode or a normal cooling mode in each of the first and second storage compartments, a first evaporator cooling air to be supplied into the first storage compartment, a first fan motor blowing the air into the first evaporator, a second evaporator cooling air to be supplied into the second storage compartment, a second fan motor blowing the air into the second evaporator, and a control part controlling each of the first and second fan motors. The control part controls a fan motor corresponding to a corresponding storage compartment to adjust an amount of cool air supplied into the corresponding storage compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Seungho Lee, Daehyun Yoo, Donggyu Lee, Sungwoo Choi, Ayoung Choo, Nami Kim, Taegyeong Kim
  • Patent number: 8605393
    Abstract: A compressor monitoring system includes current and voltage monitors, current and voltage averaging modules, a control module, and a switch. The current monitor measures a current drawn by a motor of a compressor. The current averaging module generates first and second average current values based on the current measured by the current monitor. The voltage monitor measures a utility power voltage. The voltage averaging module generates first and second average voltage values based on the voltage measured by the voltage monitor. The control module selectively generates a fault signal when a first ratio is greater than a first predetermined threshold and a second ratio is less than a second predetermined threshold. The first ratio is based on the first and second average current values. The second ratio is based on the first and second average voltage values. The switch deactivates the motor when the fault signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagaraj B. Jayanth, George Ramayya
  • Patent number: 8489242
    Abstract: An energy management system for a home network is provided. The energy management system includes one or more power consuming devices, including at least a pool pump system having a motor and a filter with a filtration cycle, a central controller operatively connected to the power consuming devices and configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the current state of an associated utility, including at least a peak demand state and an off-peak demand state, and a display. The central controller is configured to operate the pool pump system in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, and to provide pool pump usage information to a user via a user interface on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nagaraju Valluri, John Besore, Timothy Worthington, Michael Finch, Jeff Drake
  • Patent number: 8443617
    Abstract: Provided is a rail assembly fixed to the sides of a storage compartment of a refrigerator, with rail housings supporting rail members that insert and extrude a storage container, and a light source fixed to a rail housing to indicate whether a certain function is being performed in the storage compartment and function as a lamp that illuminates the inside of the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jin-Woo Park
  • Patent number: 8375737
    Abstract: An ice maker for a domestic appliance comprises an ice tray, a water feed line which can be used to fill the ice tray with water, a water filter which is arranged in the water feed line such that it can be replaced, and a monitoring unit for calculating a value which is representative of the degree of wear of the filter. The monitoring unit has means for changing the representative value by a first fixed step width each time the ice tray is filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Hausmann, Peter Nalbach
  • Patent number: 8333081
    Abstract: An ice-making device includes a duct through which ice is dispensed and a duct-covering part opening and closing the duct. A sensor part senses whether the duct-covering part closes the duct and a control part controls the duct-covering part to open the duct when the sensor part senses that the duct-covering part fails to close the duct and the duct-covering part has been attempting to close the duct for at least a preset period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Do Han, Ho Youn Lee, Young Jin Kim, Tae Hee Lee, Sung Yong Shin
  • Patent number: 8136738
    Abstract: A control system for electrical appliances associated with an enclosure comprising a wireless occupancy sensor for monitoring the presence of a human occupant within the enclosure, a wireless receiver for receiving information from the sensor, electricity flow means capable of establishing or interrupting the flow of electricity to an electrical appliance associated with the enclosure in response to a signal from a controller, and a controller in communication with said receiver and said electricity flow means, the controller capable of monitoring environmental conditions in the enclosure and being programmable to drive the operation of the flow means in response to the information obtained by the receiver from the sensor according to a set of pre-established instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Energy Eye, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip Kopp
  • Patent number: 8099970
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a door opening device to easily open a door and a control method thereof are disclosed. The device opens doors using rotation of a driving motor, returns to an initial state without rotating the driving motor in reverse after opening doors, and opens doors using only forward and reverse rotation of driving motor when doors are sequentially opened. Moreover, position of rotation cam is detected at initial state when power is supplied or during operation to determine whether the device is malfunctioning. In the early time when position of the rotation cam is detected, the driving motor is rotated by force so that malfunction of driving motor due to chattering is prevented. Frequency of opening doors by a door opening signal is determined and the device is driven in a mode so that damage is prevented due to excessive operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Ho Cho, Jae Koog An, Chang Hem Lee
  • Patent number: 7984860
    Abstract: A regulation control system of air conditioning equipment is provided according to the present invention; the regulation control system mainly interconnects an entrance guarding device and/or a human body movement detecting device with an air conditioning control device, by this way, data of air conditioning usage surroundings condition are generated by the entrance guarding device and/or the human body movement detecting device, and then an air conditioning control device executes regulation and control over the air conditioning equipment based on the data of air conditioning usage surroundings condition with referring to a set of preset regulation parameters; thereby providing the air conditioning equipment with proper regulation and control to operate in preset conditions, and further achieving objective of energy management of the air conditioning equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiue-Juan Liao, Chun-Hung Huang, Tsung-Ray Wang, Shu-Fen Lin, Yu-Huan Wang, Chien-Yuan Chen
  • Publication number: 20110120159
    Abstract: Direct current air curtains are provided, which may be used to help reduce or prevent the exchange of heat between different areas. The direct current air curtain may be used in a variety of applications, including trailers, rail cars, vehicles and containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Fred Jevaney, Adam Giemza
  • Patent number: 7913500
    Abstract: A refrigerator control method is provided that may efficiently perform a defrosting operation. The method includes performing a normal operation of a refrigerating storage room and a normal operation of a freezing storage room selectively or simultaneously, setting a variable defrosting period, which is varied according to set parameters including the relative humidity of external air, and performing a defrosting operation based on the set defrosting period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyoung Keun Lim, Gye Young Song
  • Patent number: 7908875
    Abstract: A monitoring system is provided that is capable of determining when the temperature of at least one point along a refrigeration unit is not within a standard temperature range known for the operation of the refrigeration unit at the at least one point. In particular, the monitoring system is capable of alerting a technician or operator if, after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed after the refrigeration unit is expected to start, the temperature of the at least one point along the refrigeration unit is not within the standard temperature range known for operation of the refrigeration unit when the compressor is running. The predetermined elapsed time may be of a length of time necessary to allow for the refrigeration unit to complete a defrost and/or delog cycle and recover from such cycle. The monitoring of the at least one point along the system may be accomplished by the monitoring of a thermocouple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Seth Smith
  • Patent number: 7874170
    Abstract: A method and a control unit (4) for controlling a supply of power to an electrical circuit comprising a switch (3). An output voltage of a first power source (5), which is connected to the circuit, is measured and compared to a predefined threshold voltage. If the measured voltage is smaller than the threshold value it is determined that the switch (3) is in a closed state, and if the voltage is larger than the threshold value it is determined that the switch (3) is in an open state. The supply of power is controlled in accordance with the open/closed state of the switch (3). Preferably, the electrical circuit is connected to a second power source (9) when the switch (3) is in a closed state. Power is conserved while it is ensured that sufficient power is available when needed. The invention is very suitable for supplying power to a lamp (1) positioned inside a refrigeration compartment (2), especially when the system is battery powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Danfoss Compressors GmbH
    Inventors: Mads Andersen, Claus Schmidt, Ole Bachmann, Rune Thomsen
  • Patent number: 7854388
    Abstract: A method and control is provided wherein the sensors in a plurality of zones are properly associated with the dampers associated for each of the zones after installation. A technician goes to each zone and sends a signal from the sensor, and the control then makes a change at the associated damper. The technician can then ensure the two are properly associated within the control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Rajendra K. Shah, Christopher M. Puranen
  • Patent number: 7784707
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention is directed to a device including an environmental condition sensor, a light sensor; and a control module. The control module associates a light intensity above a defined threshold with an open-door status of a container. In another embodiment, a device includes an environmental condition sensor, a rewriteable memory that stores environmental condition data from the environmental condition sensor, and a wireless communication module that transmits stored environmental condition data. Embodiments of the invention may be useful to provide techniques for monitoring environmental conditions within a container, such as a refrigerated trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Xata Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Witty, Peter A. Thayer, Brett A. Landrum, Dennis A. Quy
  • Patent number: 7770404
    Abstract: An ice making system for a refrigerator is provided. The ice making system includes an ice maker body, an ejector rotatably coupled to the ice maker body that drops ice pieces made by the ice maker body, an ice bank drawably disposed below the ice maker body that stores the ice pieces dropped by the ejector, an ice sensing lever that senses an amount of the ice pieces stored in the ice bank, a lever holding device that elastically supports and couples the ice sensing lever, and a driving force transmitting device that transmits a rotation force received from the ejector to the lever holding device, thereby rotating the lever holding device. The ice sensing lever may move within a predetermined range when an external force is applied to the ice sensing lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Si-Yeon An, Seong-Wook Kim, Hyung-Kyu Park, Young-Sin Park, Wook-Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 7765818
    Abstract: A refrigeration unit and diagnostic method therefore are provided. The refrigeration unit includes: a housing with an insulated cavity for storing food and beverages; a vapor cycle system operative to cool the food and beverages in the insulated cavity; a plurality of sensors in communication with the vapor cycle system and outputting data relative to the vapor cycle system; and a controller that, according to the data from the plurality of sensors, determines an occurrence of an event. Wherein the controller logs the data from the plurality of sensors to a data structure according to a first data-logging mode, and logs the data to the data structure according to a second data-logging mode upon occurrence of the event. In one embodiment the refrigeration unit may be a refrigeration line replaceable unit (LRU) configured for an aircraft galley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Gilbert Walter Buck
  • Patent number: 7712320
    Abstract: A compressor is controlled by generating and storing a compressor operation log. In addition, a compressor operation is selected from the compressor operation log in response to a sensor failure. Furthermore, the compressor is modulated according to the selected compressor operation in response to the sensor failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Kendro Laboratory Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Bair, III, Bryan M. Elwood
  • Patent number: 7647784
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a main refrigerant circuit and a liquid level detection circuit. The main refrigerant circuit includes a compressor that compresses gas refrigerant, a heat source side heat exchanger, a receiver that stores liquid refrigerant, and user side heat exchangers. The liquid level detection circuit is arranged so as to be capable of drawing out a portion of the refrigerant in the receiver from a first predetermined position of the receiver, reducing the pressure of the refrigerant and heating it, measuring the temperature of the refrigerant, and then returning the refrigerant to the intake side of the compressor, in order to detect whether the liquid level in the receiver is at the first predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhide Mizutani, Hiromune Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 7617690
    Abstract: A freezer for the storage of blood plasma and other blood products includes a user interface device which permits a user to adjust operating parameters of the freezer. The user interface device is operable to display the current status of the freezer. A defrost icon is displayed when the freezer is in defrost mode. The user interface device a graphical representation of the temperature within the freezer over the previous twenty-four hours. The controller of the freezer stores temperature related events which can be displayed on the user interface device or downloaded to a remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Helmer, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis K. Dawes