Automatic Control Patents (Class 62/132)
  • Patent number: 11903499
    Abstract: A controller for a refrigerated display case includes processing circuitry configured to receive operational data from multiple refrigerated display cases and an ambient temperature reading from an ambient temperature sensor. The processing circuitry is configured to determine a limp level for a rack that includes the multiple refrigerated display cases based on the operational data and the ambient temperature reading. The processing circuitry is configured to determine an operational cooling parameter for each of the multiple refrigerated display cases based on the limp level. The operational cooling parameter indicates an amount of cooling or a corresponding cooling operation for each refrigerated display case. The processing circuitry is configured to operate each of the multiple refrigerated display cases using the operational cooling parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Pedro Greiner, Wendy Dinch, Nate Kaemingk
  • Patent number: 11852368
    Abstract: An air conditioner electric control assembly includes an electric control board including an alternating-current power supply input interface configured to receive an external alternating-current power supply, a first power supply interface connected to the alternating-current power supply input interface and configured to output a high-voltage alternating current, a second power supply interface configured to connect a low-voltage alternating-current power supply or a low-voltage direct-current power supply, a rectifier circuit mounting site connected to the second power supply interface, a filter circuit mounting site connected to the rectifier circuit mounting site, a drive circuit connected to the filter circuit mounting site, a switch device connected to the drive circuit, and a microcontroller unit (MCU) connected to the drive circuit and configured to control the drive circuit to drive the switch device to switch state to drive a load to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuezheng Han
  • Patent number: 11711908
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rack cooling module for an electronics rack. The module includes a manifold section that has a supply manifold that is coupled to a supply manifold connector, the supply manifold is arranged to supply liquid coolant from a coolant source to supply manifold connectors, and a return manifold that is coupled to return manifold connectors, the return manifold is arranged to return liquid coolant from the return manifold connector to the coolant source. The module also includes a detection section that has a channel that extends vertically within the detection section and a leak detection sensor that is disposed within the channel, a pump that couples the channel to the return manifold, and a valve that couples the channel to the supply manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Tianyi Gao
  • Patent number: 11697326
    Abstract: A vent device includes at least one stage ventilation assembly, each stage of the at least one stage ventilation assembly includes an inner layer element and an outer layer element. An air duct is formed between the outer layer element and the inner layer element, and the air duct has an air duct outlet. Each stage of the at least one stage ventilation assembly has an air duct open position and closed position. The outer layer element and the inner layer element are configured to be able to move along the first direction relative to each other between the air duct open position and closed position. In the air duct closed position, the inner layer element closes the air duct outlet, and in the air duct open position, the inner layer element opens the air duct outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Jie Yu, Jibang Yang
  • Patent number: 11653757
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an automatically adjustable smart shelf, a cargo storing method, and an unmanned logistics system. The automatically adjustable smart shelf includes a shelf outer frame and a control unit. A first movable shelf layer and a second movable shelf layer provided on the shelf outer frame and respectively movable along a first direction and a second direction intersecting with each other. A control unit can control the first movable shelf layer and the second movable shelf layer to move along the first direction and the second direction respectively, so as to form various sizes of storage space for storing various cargos accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING JINGDONG QIANSHI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Jun Xiao, Jinhua Cai, Yanguang Liu, Chen Fan
  • Patent number: 11448366
    Abstract: A dense fluid recovery and supply pressure sensing system includes a dense fluid source, recovery tank and working tank, where the recovery tank is in connection with the dense fluid source with an input pipe configured with a pre-pressure valve and pre-pressure compressor, and the bottom of the recovery tank is configured with a weight measuring device measuring the weight of the recovery tank and in electric connection with the pre-pressure compressor, allowing the pre-pressure compressor to control the go and stop of the compression according to a value measured by the weight measuring device; the working tank is in connection with the recovery tank through a delivery pipe configured with a pressure building compressor and configured with a recovery pipe, another end of the recovery pipe is in connection with the input pipe of the recovery tank, and the recovery pipe is configured with a recovery valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventor: Hui-Ping Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11255560
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a plurality of indoor units each individually conditioning air in an air-conditioning target space, a storage unit storing detection values of a plurality of suction temperature sensors in time series, a timer measuring, for each of the plurality of indoor units, a preset temperature arrival period it takes for a suction temperature to reach a preset temperature for the air-conditioning target space after start of a thermo-on state or a thermo-off state, a calculation unit calculating, for each of the plurality of indoor units, a temperature change slope representing a change in the suction temperature for the preset temperature arrival period, and a determination unit comparing the temperature change slope of each of the plurality of indoor units with a determination threshold to determine, as an abnormal indoor unit, the indoor unit having the temperature change slope greater than the determination threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Chisato Taniguchi, Chika Tanabe
  • Patent number: 11255592
    Abstract: An air duct assembly is provided that is configured to supply air to a compartment and including: an outer cover housing, configured to be fixed to an outer side of a compartment wall defining the compartment, an external accommodating cavity being defined inside the outer cover housing; an inner cover housing, configured to be disposed opposite to the outer cover housing on an inner side of the compartment wall, an internal accommodating cavity being defined inside the inner cover housing. An air inlet is formed in the outer cover housing, so as to allow external air to enter the external accommodating cavity via the air inlet. A vent is formed in the compartment wall, so that the external accommodating cavity communicates with the internal accommodating cavity. An air outlet is formed in the inner cover housing, so as to supply the air in the internal accommodating cavity to the inside of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ning Wang, Shufei Ren, Meng Wang, Falin Yang
  • Patent number: 11230157
    Abstract: A method comprises the steps of using microcomputer circuitry and logic generating data format providing activation and deactivation of a portable air cooling unit and operating the blower fan at differing speeds optimizing and conserving the rate of expending pre-cooled refrigerant. First, deactivating the unit during periods when cooling is unnecessary. Using sensors, including proximity sensors, for sensing the data format of individuals. The logic upon detecting an individual within the predefined range generates data format activating the chilled air output and deactivating the unit upon not sensing objects. The data format associated with the objects, dimensional aspect of range and operations of the portable air cooling unit are stored in the memory. Additionally, the active coupling of the temperature sensors operates the fan at lower speeds when the outside temperature is within the cooler temperature setting spectrum. Alternatively, switches are provided for operating the portable air cooling units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Sivathanu B. Kumar
  • Patent number: 11231194
    Abstract: A method for controlling an air conditioner including: determining at least one first air conditioner within a first preset distance from the air conditioner; determining control information of the air conditioner based on current operating state of the at least one first air conditioner; and controlling operation of the air conditioner according to the control information of the air conditioner. An electronic device and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: GD Midea Air-Conditioning Equipment Co., Ltd., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD
    Inventors: Qifeng Fan, Jiwei Hei
  • Patent number: 11226662
    Abstract: A management device includes: storage unit which stores a known intake air temperature of a heating element, and a heat transfer characteristic of a cooling device; heat extraction amount calculation unit which calculates a heat extraction amount of the cooling device, by use of the refrigerant information input by the input means, and a cooling capacity of the refrigerant; and air volume calculation unit which calculates an air volume of air supplied to the cooling device, by applying the heat extraction amount to air volume dependence of the heat extraction amount, being derived by use of air volume dependence of a difference temperature between a temperature of the refrigerant and a temperature of exhaust air from the heating element, and the heat transfer characteristic, the air volume dependence of the difference temperature being derived by use of the intake air temperature, the power consumption, and the refrigerant information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Miyamoto, Manussanun Buranachokphaisan, Minoru Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 11085662
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system includes an air-conditioning apparatus including an outdoor unit storing outdoor-unit identification information an indoor unit storing indoor-unit identification information, and a remote controller including a third memory configured to store the outdoor-unit identification information and the indoor-unit identification information and a display unit configured to display error information when an abnormal condition occurs in the air-conditioning apparatus. The remote controller is configured to obtain the outdoor-unit identification information from the outdoor unit and to obtain the indoor-unit identification information from the indoor unit. The remote controller is configured to store the obtained outdoor-unit identification information and indoor-unit identification information into the third memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Koizumi, Masafumi Tomita
  • Patent number: 11067325
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle including at least one outdoor unit including a plurality of compressors and indoor units each placed in indoor spaces comprises a plurality of compressors for supplying refrigerant to indoor units; and a controller for controlling cooperatively a plurality of the compressors in the outdoor unit to provide a capacity for air-conditioning in the indoor spaces through the indoor units, wherein the controller controls operation of the compressors so as to minimize a cost including start/stop of each compressor by prediction of an air-conditioning requirement in a next time chunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, Inc.
    Inventors: Liming Yang, Matthew J. Asmus
  • Patent number: 11035602
    Abstract: A clear ice maker assembly for use in a home refrigerator appliance, the clear ice maker assembly including: an evaporator plate that is cooled via contact with a refrigerant tube; at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part disposed below the evaporator plate and having one or more walls that together with a surface of the evaporator plate form an ice mold cavity; a spray bar having at least one opening for introducing water vertically into the ice mold cavity such that a clear ice piece forms on the surface of the evaporator plate inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part; a water reservoir system configured to supply water to the spray bar; and an ejection system configured to eject the clear ice piece formed inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Nilton Bertolini, Silas Patrick Mallon, Jorge Carlos Montalvo Sanchez
  • Patent number: 10914485
    Abstract: A method of controlling an air conditioner system, the method including transmitting, by a first unit among a plurality of units belonging to a particular group, a wireless tuning command to a second unit; measuring, by the second unit, reception sensitivity and a transmission and reception success rate by wirelessly communicating with units belonging to the particular group while reducing a signal strength from a default signal strength; when the reception sensitivity and the transmission and reception success rate satisfy the predetermined standard, determining, by the second unit, that the signal strength corresponding to a level right before a level satisfying a predetermined standard is the signal strength to be used; and transmitting, by the second unit, information related to the determined signal strength to the first unit. Accordingly, an optimal signal strength at which mutual interference is prevented may be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Seontae Yoon
  • Patent number: 10488102
    Abstract: A household cooling appliance has a housing with a receiving space for food, a door for closing the receiving space, wherein the door is movably arranged at the housing, an ice maker with an ice tray, wherein the ice maker with the ice tray is arranged in the door, a first cooling device, which is arranged at the door and by which the ice tray is cooled, wherein the first cooling device comprises a waste heat unit by which the waste heat resulting from the cooling of the ice tray can be dissipated, and a second cooling device, which is arranged at the housing and by which the receiving space is cooled. The waste heat unit of the first cooling device is thermally coupled with the second cooling device such that the waste heat of the waste heat unit can be transferred to the second cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Kudret Baysal, Carsten Weiss, Bernd Mettel, Axel Kluger, Johannes Schlosser, Markus Spielmannleitner, Michael Laudahn
  • Patent number: 10420425
    Abstract: A refrigerated display case (20) having at least one unit composed of a plurality of wall assemblies, namely a bottom assembly (22.3), a rear wall assembly, and a top assembly (22.1), which delimit a cooling space at the bottom, the rear, and the top, and having a cooling unit (1) whose components include at least one evaporator (11), one condenser (13, 13?), and one electric control unit (15). An environmentally friendly refrigerated display case (20) is achieved in that the cooling unit (1) includes at least two closed refrigerant circuits (10, 10?), which convey propane as a refrigerant and are each provided with a compressor (12, 12?), and in order to variably control the cooling output, at least one compressor (12, 12?) is embodied with a speed regulation and at least one compressor (12, 12?) is embodied for operation at a constant speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: AHT COOLING SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: Reinhold Resch
  • Patent number: 10401065
    Abstract: Provided is an expansion valve, including: a case having a valve chamber formed therein; and a valve element arranged in the valve chamber. The case includes: a side wall portion to which a first pipe is connected; and an end wall portion to which a second pipe is connected. The end wall portion has a fluid communication hole to be opened and closed by the valve element. The fluid communication hole is formed so that the following expression is satisfied: L<?/2, where L represents an axial length of the fluid communication hole, and ? represents a resonance wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yusuke Shimazu
  • Patent number: 10323869
    Abstract: A combined suction header and accumulator for a refrigeration system is described that may protect a compressor from refrigerant liquid entering the compressor while reducing superheat used to evaporate the refrigerant. The combined suction header and accumulator unit for a refrigeration system includes a suction header coupled to an exit side of an evaporator. The suction header includes a main body and receives a flow of refrigerant from the evaporator. The flow of refrigerant includes a liquid portion and a vapor portion. The combined suction header and accumulator unit includes a liquid accumulator disposed within the main body of the suction header. The liquid accumulator blocks the liquid portion of the flow of refrigerant from exiting the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Control Technology Company
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Mislak, Douglas A. Kester
  • Patent number: 10101054
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air conditioning system with dual control over temperature and humidity and a control method thereof, in which the VRF air conditioning system includes multiple indoor machines, an outdoor machine and a controller; the outdoor machine is provided with a first connector and a second connector; each indoor machine includes an indoor throttle valve, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, a third solenoid valve, a temperature detector and a humidity detector; the controller controls the VRF air conditioning system by controlling the indoor throttle valve, the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve and the third solenoid valve in each indoor machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignees: GD MIDEA HEATING & VENTILATING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhao Huang
  • Patent number: 9951985
    Abstract: A system includes a compressor driven by a motor. A condenser receives working fluid from the compressor. An evaporator is in fluid communication with the condenser and the compressor. A first sensor produces a first signal indicative of one of current and power drawn by the motor. A second sensor produces a second signal indicative of a discharge line temperature. A processing circuitry processes the first signal and the second signal to determine a freeze time. The processing circuitry processes the freeze time, the current signal, and the discharge line temperature signal to determine a working fluid charge level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay Bahel, Kurt James Knapke
  • Patent number: 9759467
    Abstract: A compressor controller includes: a control amount calculation unit configured to calculate at least two control amounts including a first control amount for controlling a first control object that relates to a gas amount for cooling a cryogenic apparatus, and a second control amount for controlling a second control object that relates to the refrigerant gas amount and that is different from the first control object, the second control amount being common with the first control amount; and a selection unit configured to select a control object to be controlled from at least two control objects including the first control object and the second control object on the basis of a comparison between the at least two common control amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 9728826
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes circulating a fluid through a heat exchanger and a battery pack when the battery pack requires cooling, and circulating the fluid through an exhaust gas heat recovery device and the battery pack when the battery pack requires heating. An exemplary system includes a battery pack, a heat exchanger, an exhaust gas heat recovery device, and a fluid valve moveable to a cooling position that permits a fluid to circulate between the heat exchanger and the battery pack and a heating position that permits the fluid to circulate between the exhaust gas heat recovery device and the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Alan Lear, Sam Revach, Scott James Thompson, Robert Hasse
  • Patent number: 9073405
    Abstract: A telematics service system and a terminal predict a driving start time of a vehicle based on a driving pattern of a user, compare status information of the vehicle and a set temperature before the predicted driving start time of the vehicle, and generate a temperature control signal so that an interior temperature of the vehicle reaches the set temperature. The terminal is fixed inside the vehicle. A vehicle electronic control device attached to the vehicle collects the status information of the vehicle, provides the collected information to the terminal device, and controls a temperature adjustment device of the vehicle in accordance with the temperature control signal of the terminal device to adjust the interior temperature of the vehicle to reach the set temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: SK PLANET CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoon Jeong Choi, Dae Lim Son, Eun Bok Lee, Jun Yong Jung
  • Patent number: 9046094
    Abstract: A method of determining a time delay for turning off an evaporator fan in a refrigerator after a compressor of the refrigerator is turned off includes operating the evaporator fan in the refrigerator for a period of time, operating the compressor of the refrigerator to cool the refrigerator to a predetermined temperature after turning off the evaporator fan, determining a power consumption value for operating the compressor to cool the refrigerator, repeating the previous steps to obtain a plurality of times and a plurality of power consumption values, selecting the time coinciding with a lowest power consumption value, and adapting the refrigerator to use the time as the time delay for turning off the evaporator fan in the refrigerator after the compressor of the refrigerator is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ali R. Buendia Garcia, Alberto Regio Gomes, Tushar Kulkarni, Andrew D. Litch, Peter J. Richmond
  • Patent number: 9024765
    Abstract: A method, system or computer usable program product for providing alerts of inefficiency of an environmental conditioning system including, responsive to a cycle initiation by the environmental conditioning system, measuring a difference between an intake temperature and an outlet temperature after a predetermined period of time, and responsive to the difference being below a minimum level, generating an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark J. Hoesl
  • Publication number: 20150107274
    Abstract: A machine (10) for the production and dispensing of food products such as ice cream and the like comprises a tub (11) cooled by a refrigerating circuit (12) and a motor-driven helical mixer (14) which rotates inside the tub. The tub is provided at the front with a tap (15) for dispensing the product through a dispensing outlet (16) and comprises a control system (21), a sensor (23) for rotation of the mixer and an interface panel (22) which are connected to the control system (21) so that, when rotation of the mixer (13) is detected by means of the sensor (23), the control system (21) shows on the interface panel (22) an animated image (28) representing said rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Marco Corrado Ugolini
  • Publication number: 20150101357
    Abstract: A machine (10) for the production and dispensing of food products such as ice cream and the like comprises a tub (11) containing a cylindrical evaporator (12) of a refrigerating circuit (13) and motor-driven helical mixer (14) which rotates coaxially inside the evaporator. The tub is also provided at the front with a tap (15) for dispensing the product through a dispensing outlet (16) which is arranged above a front zone of the machine which receives a container (18) for holding a measured amount of product. Behind the receiving zone the machine has, in the form of a single module (20), a control panel provided with means (21) for displaying information about the machine, pushbuttons (22) for operating the machine and a sensor (23) which detects the presence of an object which is placed in the vicinity of the receiving zone and activates the machine so as to prepare it for dispensing via the tap when the presence of an object is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Marco Corrado Ugolini
  • Publication number: 20150096310
    Abstract: An ice maker assembly and a method for operating an ice maker are provided. The method includes measuring a temperature of the ice maker and determining a first derivative of the temperature of the ice maker with respect to time. An operating state of the ice maker is established based at least in part on the temperature of the ice maker and the first derivative of the temperature of the ice maker with respect to time. Knowledge of the operating state of the ice maker can assist with preventing damage to a motor of the ice maker and with detecting super-cooled liquid water in a mold body of the ice maker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Keith Wesley Wait, Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8989894
    Abstract: An ice machine includes an insulated compartment to store ice, a dispenser having access to the insulated compartment to dispense ice from the insulated compartment, a card reader, and a controller in communication with the card reader and the dispenser. The controller stores permission settings including a public setting and a private setting. The controller is to receive a card number from the card reader. The controller is to determine whether to initiate ice dispensing using the dispenser based on the card number, the public setting and the private setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: David W. Tenberg, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150068224
    Abstract: A control system for an automatic icemaker including an icemaker module and a control module. The icemaker module includes a DC motor to drive rotation of a twist-type ice cube tray. The control module incorporates an integrated circuit with a programmable digital microprocessor for controlling the functions of the icemaker module. The control module accesses AC power and converts the AC power to DC power for powering a DC motor, an integrated circuit, and a microprocessor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Ryan M. Subera
  • Patent number: 8966930
    Abstract: A container data center system includes a container, a plurality of servers, at least a regulation device, a first refrigeration device and a second refrigeration device. The container defines a first receiving room and a second receiving room isolated from the first receiving room. The servers are received in the first receiving room. The at least a regulation device is received in second receiving room. The at least regulation device is electrically connected to the servers for regulating the servers. The first refrigeration device is installed outside the container for cooling the first receiving room. The second refrigeration device is installed outside the container for cooling the second receiving room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tai-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 8935935
    Abstract: Methods for monitoring a sensor of a refrigerator appliance are provided. The methods include activating an auto-fill feature of the refrigerator appliance and receiving a signal from a sensor of the refrigerator appliance. The method also includes displaying a message on a display of the refrigerator appliance if the sensor does not detect the container within the dispenser recess. The message can provide a user with feedback regarding the auto-fill feature and assist the user with properly operating the auto-fill feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Waugh, Tyler James Doering, Jonathan Charles Crosby, Ryan Michael Hartlage
  • Publication number: 20150007962
    Abstract: A beverage cooling device capable of improving cooling efficiency is disclosed. The beverage cooling device includes: a beverage storing tank having an inlet through which a new beverage is injected and an outlet through which a cooled beverage is discharged; a cooling unit for cooling a beverage supplied to the beverage storing tank by forming a frozen layer on an inner side wall surface of the beverage storing tank; a beverage flow guide unit provided in the beverage storing tank and increasing cooling efficiency by increasing an area which is in contact with the frozen layer while the beverage injected from the inlet is moved to the outlet; and a passage securing unit preventing a passage through which the beverage is movable from being blocked by the frozen layer formed to be expanded to the beverage flow guide unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Hee-Jong Yoon
  • Publication number: 20150007593
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a scrubber bed, a cooling unit operatively connected to the scrubber bed, and a frame configured for a user to carry the apparatus. The cooling unit includes a compressor, a condensing coil operatively connecting the compressor to an expansion valve, and an evaporating coil operatively connecting the expansion valve to the compressor, and a first fluid circulating through the compressor, the condensing coil, the expansion valve, and the evaporating coil. A method of cooling a gas in a rebreather apparatus includes scrubbing an exhalation gas to produce a recycled gas having a lower concentration of carbon dioxide than the exhalation gas, compressing, condensing, expanding, and evaporating a refrigerant in a closed-loop system, transferring heat energy from the recycled gas to the refrigerant, and metering a cooled gas to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Mark Alan Johnson, Gene Melton
  • Patent number: 8925339
    Abstract: Automated control of a cooling system cooling at least one electronic component is provided. The control includes monitoring over a period of time variation of an operational variable of the cooling system or of the at least one electronic component, and based, at least in part, on variation of the operational variable over the period of time, automatically determining whether to adjust control of the cooling system to limit variation of the operational variable. In one implementation, depending on the variation of the operational variable, and whether control of the cooling system has been previously adjusted, the method may further include automatically determining a probability of fail or an expected residual life of the cooling system, and responsive to the predicted probability of fail exceeding a first acceptable threshold or the expected residual life being below a second acceptable threshold, automatically scheduling for a cooling system repair or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kearney, Rejean P. Levesque, K. Paul Muller, Andrew H. Vogel, Emmanuel Yashchin
  • Publication number: 20140360213
    Abstract: A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator is able to store food at a low temperature and to effectively remove bacteria of the food stored in a storage room, to maintain the storage room clean.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Mina SON, Jeongyon KIM, Hyeonjin KIM, Byunghyun KIM, Eunjeong KIM
  • Publication number: 20140298836
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) having a body (2), a storage tank (3) wherein liquid is stored and at least one light source (4) that is disposed in the storage tank (3), providing the liquid to be sterilized, and wherein the liquid in the storage tank (3) is sterilized by using the light emitted from the light source (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
    Inventors: Mehmet Ali Oral, Aylin Met
  • Patent number: 8825184
    Abstract: A method for operating a vapor compression system modifies each control signal of a set of control signals with a corresponding modification signal of a set of modification signals, wherein each modification signal includes a perturbation signal, and the pertubation signals haver different frequencies and determines a metric signal representing perturbations in the system caused by the set of modification signals. Next, the method adjusts a value of each modification signal based on a function of a phase between the modification signal and a corresponding frequency component of the metric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan J. Burns
  • Patent number: 8820104
    Abstract: This invention is characterized by an air conditioning system that jets actively a refrigerant into an evaporator in an active jetting manner so as to enhance the diffusibility and uniformity thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8794017
    Abstract: A system for managing distribution of a cooling medium includes a sensor configured to detect a condition, a first agent configured to receive the detected condition and to determine whether a characteristic of the cooling medium controlled via a first actuator is to be manipulated based upon the detected condition. The system also includes a second agent configured to receive at least one of the detected condition and the flow manipulation determination of the first actuator and to determine whether a characteristic of the cooling medium controlled by a second actuator is to be manipulated based upon the at least one of the detected condition and the characteristic manipulation determination of the first actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Cullen E. Bash, Chandrakant Patel, Ratnesh Kumar Sharma, Amip J. Shah
  • Patent number: 8781634
    Abstract: In an air conditioning system and a communication method thereof a wireless network may be established between indoor units and a controller or between outdoor units so as to allow communications therebetween, thereby facilitating device addition or device deletion. Also, one or more outdoor units and a plurality of indoor units may be controlled without a dedicated communication line or with using a less mount of the dedicated communication line, and the outdoor units or indoor units may perform communications using one or more communication technologies, such as wireless communication and pipe communication technologies and wireless communication and dedicated line communication technologies, while performing communications with the controller using the wireless communication technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Juntae Kim, Sangchul Youn
  • Patent number: 8769968
    Abstract: A refrigerant system and a method for controlling the same are provided. A refrigerant system includes: an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in an operating loop of the refrigerant system and configured to perform a heat exchange between outdoor air and a refrigerant; a compressor disposed in the operating loop and configured to compress the refrigerant; an indoor heat exchanger disposed in the operating loop and configured to perform a heat exchange between indoor air and the refrigerant; an expander disposed in the operating loop and configured to expand the refrigerant; a refrigerant storage connected to the operating loop and configured to receive and store the refrigerant from and discharge the refrigerant to the operating loop; and a refrigerant storage controller configured to control a total amount of refrigerant in the operating loop based on an indoor air conditioning load and an amount of the stored refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hojong Jeong, Baikyoung Chung, Jaehwa Jung, Yongcheol Sa, Byungsoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20140165602
    Abstract: An ice maker, including sensors to measure usage parameters and transmit the same to a controller. The controller is operably connected to a plurality of ice forming systems, and directs the systems to operate in a high energy mode or a low energy mode, based on the usage parameter. The usage parameters may include an ice level, a change in the ice level over time, the amount of time that a dispenser is actuated, the time of day, or historical usage patterns. The ice forming systems may include one or more of a thermoelectric device coupled to a bottom surface of an ice forming plate, a forced air system to circulate cold air, a forced air system to circulate warm air, and a temperature control system to maintain a temperature gradient between a first chamber above the ice forming plate and a second chamber below the ice forming plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: PATRICK J. BOARMAN
  • Patent number: 8734640
    Abstract: A water purifying apparatus, comprises: a filtering unit for filtering water supplied from a wellhead into purified water; a water tank unit including a cold water tank for storing the purified water in a cold water state, and a hot water tank for storing the purified water in a hot water state; a discharging unit for selectively discharging out the purified water stored in the water tank unit; a state detecting unit for detecting an operation state of at least one of the filtering unit, the water tank unit, and the discharging unit; a controller for comparing the information detected by the state detecting unit with a preset reference, thereby judging an abnormal state of the water purifying apparatus; and a state displaying unit for displaying the abnormal state information to outside. When the water purifying apparatus has a breakdown, mal-operated components of the water purifying apparatus may be checked by being displayed on the state displaying unit, without being checked by an A/S specialist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Yong Shin, Deul-Re Min
  • Publication number: 20140130531
    Abstract: A system includes a control module and a monitor module. The control module selectively operates a component of the system in an ON state. The system receives power from an electrical grid. The monitor module selectively detects a fault event of the electrical grid in response to (i) an amount of current drawn by the component or (ii) a voltage of power received by the component. In response to detecting the fault event, the control module switches the component from the ON state to a second state, determines a first delay period according to a random process, identifies an apparent conclusion of the fault event, and in response to the apparent conclusion of the fault, waits for the first delay period before switching the component back to the ON state. The component consumes less power in the second state than in the ON state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nagaraj JAYANTH, George RAMAYYA
  • Patent number: 8724320
    Abstract: A fan system includes a pulse signal generation portion and a plurality of fans. Each of the plurality of fans preferably includes a motor portion; an impeller arranged to be rotated by the motor portion; a drive circuit arranged to drive the motor portion; a rotation detection portion arranged to detect rotation of the motor portion; and a rotation rate control circuit arranged to, based on a reference pulse signal supplied from the pulse signal generation portion and an actual rotation pulse signal supplied from the rotation detection portion, exercise feedback control on a rotation rate of the motor portion in accordance with a period of the reference pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: George Harlan, Masayuki Kato, Hideyuki Takemoto, Masamune Hiraki
  • Patent number: 8694131
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling an operation of a vapor compression system are disclosed, such that a performance of the system measured in accordance with a metric of the performance is optimized. A control signal is modified with a modification signal including a perturbation signal having a first frequency, wherein the control signal controls at least one component of the vapor compression system. A metric signal representing a perturbation in the performance of the system caused by the modification signal is determined, wherein the metric signal has a second frequency substantially equal to the first frequency. The control signal is adjusted based on a function of a phase between the perturbation signal and the metric signal, such that the performance is optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan J. Burns, Scott A. Bortoff, Christopher Laughman
  • Publication number: 20140060096
    Abstract: Ultraviolet radiation is directed within an area. The target wavelength ranges and/or target intensity ranges of the ultraviolet radiation sources can correspond to at least one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations including a virus destruction operating configuration and a bacteria disinfection operating configuration. Each configuration can include a unique combination of the target wavelength range and target intensity range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Shur, Maxim Shatalov, Timothy James Bettles, Yuri Bilenko, Saulius Smetona, Alexander Dobrinsky, Remigijus Gaska
  • Publication number: 20140020418
    Abstract: A data center cooling system may include heat transfer equipment to cool a liquid coolant without vapor compression refrigeration, and the liquid coolant is used on a liquid cooled information technology equipment rack housed in the data center. The system may also include a controller-apparatus to regulate the liquid coolant flow to the liquid cooled information technology equipment rack through a range of liquid coolant flow values based upon information technology equipment temperature thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, Hien P. Dang, Pritish R. Parida, Mark D. Schultz, Arun Sharma