Abstract: Systems and methods for building and using a false alarm predicting model to determine whether to alert a user and/or relevant authorities about an alarm signal from a security system are provided. Such systems and methods can include a learning module receiving the alarm signal and additional information associated with the alarm signal, using the false alarm predicting model to process a combination of the alarm signal and the additional information to determine whether the combination represents a false alarm or a valid alarm, and transmitting a status signal indicative of whether the combination represents the false alarm or the valid alarm to an automated dispatcher module, and the automated dispatcher module using the status signal to automatically determine whether to alert the user and/or the relevant authorities about the alarm signal.

Abstract: A communication rate between a cloud-based server and an HVAC controller located within a building may be controlled based on the amount of power available at the HVAC controller. The cloud-based server may notify a user if the amount of power available at the HVAC controller is determined to be low.

Abstract: Systems and methods for speech recognition are provided. Some methods can include detecting a relative location of a user within one of a plurality of voice pickup areas of a multi-directional microphone array and the multi-directional microphone array activating a setting of the multi-directional microphone array based on the relative location of the user within the one of the plurality of voice pickup areas.

Abstract: A water heater control system comprising an energy storage system electrically connected to a pilot valve operator and electrically isolated from a main valve operator. The energy storage system may be electrically connected to an ignition circuit. A thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the pilot flame and electrically connected to a main valve operator. The water heater system may include a microcontroller configured to establish electrical communications between the device and the energy storage system, the pilot valve operator, and the main valve operator. The microcontroller may be configured to recognize a call for main burner operation, and may also be configured to check an available voltage of the energy storage system against a setpoint. The microcontroller may establish pilot flame operation with or without main burner operation, depending on whether a call for heat or recharging of the energy storage system is required.

Abstract: A locally powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include an igniter, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that produces an electrical signal having power when exposed to a flame, and a local power source for providing power when the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device is not exposed to a flame. In some cases, the intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a memory for storing information about an ignition sequence for igniting a pilot flame, and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller may be configured to initiate the ignition sequence of the pilot flame using information stored in the memory, determine whether the ignition was successful by monitoring the electrical signal produced by the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, and adjust the information stored in the memory based on whether the ignition sequence completed successfully.

Abstract: A water heater may include a water tank, a burner, a pilot for igniting the burner, an ignitor for igniting the pilot, a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with a flame of the pilot, a controller for controlling an ignition sequence of the pilot using the ignitor, and a rechargeable power storage device for supplying power to the ignitor and the controller. The rechargeable power storage device may be rechargeable using the energy produced by the thermoelectric device. The controller is configured to selectively ran only the pilot for at least pan of a heating cycle to increase the recharge lime of the rechargeable power storage device while still healing the water in the water heater.

Abstract: In some examples, a method includes receiving, from a carbon-monoxide (CO) sensor, an indication of an above-threshold level of CO for an above-threshold amount of time; determining, from a plurality of appliances, a subset of appliances associated with the CO sensor; and deactivating the subset of appliances.

Abstract: An HVAC controller is configured to automatically change between a HEAT mode and a COOL mode in accordance with a sensed temperature in the building structure, a HEAT temperature set point and a COOL temperature set point. The user is allowed to adjust the HEAT temperature set point and the COOL temperature set point, with the HVAC controller automatically adjusting one of the set points in response to the user making a change to the other of the other of the set points that violates a minimum deadband. If the user readjusts the user-adjusted set point in a way that no longer violates the minimum deadband, the HVAC controller will adjust the other set point back towards its previous setting.

Abstract: An apparatus includes processing circuitry configured to output, to a plurality of devices, an initial superframe configured in an initial superframe mode of a plurality of superframe modes. Each superframe mode of the plurality of superframe modes allocating each slot of a plurality of slots for wireless communication to a first protocol, a second protocol, or a third protocol. In response to determining a change in bandwidth, the processing circuitry is configured to select an updated superframe mode from the plurality of superframe modes. The processing circuitry is further configured to output, to the plurality of devices, an updated superframe configured in the updated superframe mode.

Abstract: A radio frequency antenna system is provided and can include a radio printed circuit board, a first antenna element located proximate an edge of the radio printed circuit board, a second antenna element located proximate the edge of the radio printed circuit board, and a cancelation circuit located on the radio printed circuit board and connected to feeding points of the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein the cancelation circuit can provide a cancelation effect at output ports of the cancelation circuit with respect to signals broadcast by the first antenna element and the second antenna element over air.

Abstract: A device may be configured to control a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system within a building. The device includes a rotatable dial comprising a first gear; a second gear configured to engage with the first gear, wherein a rotation of the first gear causes the second gear to rotate; a magnet placed on the second gear, wherein the magnet rotates with the second gear; a sensor configured to generate an electrical signal which indicates a rotational position of the magnet, wherein the rotational position of the magnet indicates the rotational position of the second gear; and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to receive, from the sensor, the electrical signal which indicates the rotational position of the second gear; and change a temperature set point based on a change in the rotational position of the second gear.

Abstract: A thermostat that is configured to be releasably secured to a wall mountable connector, wherein the wall mountable connector includes a jumper switch that permits an installer or other professional to easily form an electrical connection between different wiring terminals of the wall mountable connector in accordance with how particular field wires are connected to the wiring terminals of the wall mountable connector. The thermostat is further configured to automatically determine the position of the jumper switch of the wall mountable connector, and in some cases, change the control of at least some functionality of the thermostat and/or HVAC equipment depending on the position of the jumper switch.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system may be zoned into one or more zone. The HVAC system may include HVAC components, sensors, and one or more register vents that may include vent dampers (e.g., electronically controllable vent dampers or manually operated vent dampers). Opening and closing of the vent dampers may facilitate creating zones or sub-zones in the HVAC system configuration. An HVAC control system may receive a request for conditioned air in one or more of the zones, determine a damper setting for at least one of the vent dampers, communicate the determined damper setting to a vent damper or user interface, determine which HVAC components should be active, if any, and/or provide controls signals to activate or keep active the HVAC components that are determined to be active.

Abstract: A hydronic floor heating system as it relates to an HVAC apparatus, approach and system. Aspects of the present system and approach may include a radiant floor optimization mode, low floor temperature in vacation mode, modifying a 300 Hz, or so, reading principle base on implementation of Pseudo-random jittering of a reading event improving short-term accuracy of the individual readings, and a combination of hardware and software filters for using thermal sensors with extended cable length.

Abstract: In some examples, a device can control one or more heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) components within a building and control a digital user interface. The device includes a dial, the digital user interface, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to scroll, in response to detecting a set of user inputs to one or both of the digital user interface and the dial, through a sequence of carousel screens for display on the digital user interface and display, on the digital user interface after a period of time following a most recent user input of the set of user inputs, a default carousel screen of the sequence of carousel screens. Additionally, the processing circuitry is configured to display, on the digital user interface, an idle screen corresponding to the default carousel screen of the sequence of carousel screens.

Abstract: This disclosure includes techniques for controlling smart home devices upon entering a home with a fingerprint sensor in a doorbell device. After capturing a fingerprint of a digit of a guest and sending the fingerprint to a server device, the server device matches the fingerprint of the digit to an entry in a guest fingerprint database for a first user. The server device sends an operational command to a smart home device separate from the doorbell device and located at a same premises as the doorbell device. In response to receiving the operational command from the server device, the smart home device performs an action corresponding to the operational command.

Abstract: A humidifier includes a container for containing a fluid; a cartridge for nebulizing the fluid, the cartridge configured to be fixed inside the container, the cartridge including a cartridge housing including a bottom side that is configured to contact a bottom of the container, a top side opposite to the bottom side; a back side; a front side; a left side; and a right side; and a handle on the top side of the cartridge housing, the handle projecting upward and away from the cartridge housing.

Abstract: A system includes a sensor device, a hub device, and a keypad device. The hub device is in communication with the sensor device using time divisional multiple access (TDMA) The keypad device is in communication with the hub device. The keypad device is configured to operate in: a keypad mode and a wireless repeater mode. In the keypad mode, the keypad device is in communication with the hub device but not in direct communication with the sensor device. In the wireless repeater mode, the keypad device is in communication with the hub device and in direct communication with the sensor device using TDMA such that the keypad device, in the wireless repeater mode, acts as a wireless repeater between the hub device and the sensor device.

Abstract: A water heater control system the water heater system comprising a rechargeable and non-rechargeable power source. In one or more examples, a controller such as a microcontroller of the water heater system is configured to receive power from the non-rechargeable power source and does not receive power from the rechargeable power source. Various other components of the water heater system are configured to receive power from the rechargeable power source. The system may comprise an energy storage system electrically connected to a pilot valve operator and electrically isolated from a main valve operator. The controller may be configured to recognize a call for main burner operation and may also be configured to check an available voltage of the energy storage system against a setpoint.