Abstract: A health condition of a person may be assessed from a thermal sensor signal. By increasing performance indices of a thermal camera (for example, resolution, frame rate, sensitivity), operation may be extended to identification verification, biometric data extraction and health condition analysis, and so forth. Prediction may be carried out by monitoring a time sequence of thermal images, and consequently early warning of the health condition may be provided. The apparatus may be used for, but not limited to, personalization of smart home devices through supervised and reinforcement learnings. The application of the apparatus may be, but not limited to, smart homes, smart buildings and smart vehicles, and so forth.

Abstract: A home computing cloud (HCC) supports one or more Internet of Things (IoT) devices, possibly with different connectively protocols, in a local environment. The HCC often reduces the amount of data traffic sent to a public computing cloud (PCC) by locally processing collected device data rather than by sending the device data to the PCC for processing. This approach reduces the amount of data traffic sent over the network, improves data privacy and helps to maintain a desired quality of service level. In order to do so, the HCC may download an appropriate data analytic model from the PCC, train the model, execute the trained model to obtain prediction information from collected IoT device data, and upload the trained model to the PCC. Alternatively, the HCC and PCC may execute sub-models of the analytic model and exchange the outputs of the sub-models with each other.

Abstract: A thermostatic radiator valve supports a display that is configurable to display TRV information for a desired viewing direction to facilitate reading by a user, where the TRV comprises a configurable electronic display, a configuration circuit, and a processing device. The configuration circuit is capable of detecting when the TRV has been installed, determining a desired display orientation from a plurality of orientations with respect to a designated surface via a sensor in response to the detecting, and generating a display indicator indicative of the desired display orientation. The processing device is capable of receiving the display indicator and configuring the configurable electronic display to display the TRV information in the desired display orientation.

Abstract: A home computing cloud (HCC) supports one or more Internet of Things (IoT) devices, possibly with different connectively protocols, in a local environment. The HCC often reduces the amount of data traffic sent to a public computing cloud (PCC) by locally processing collected device data rather than by sending the device data to the PCC for processing. This approach reduces the amount of data traffic sent over the network, improves data privacy and helps to maintain a desired quality of service level. In order to do so, the HCC may download an appropriate data analytic model from the PCC, train the model, execute the trained model to obtain prediction information from collected IoT device data, and upload the trained model to the PCC. Alternatively, the HCC and PCC may execute sub-models of the analytic model and exchange the outputs of the sub-models with each other.

Abstract: A mounting device facilitates connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) device, such as thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) and automatic temperature balanced actuator (ABA), to a hydronic heating/cooling system to control the temperature of a room by changing the flow of hot/cold water through radiator. The mounting devices includes a male section and a female section, which is attached to the IoT device. The mounting device may be installed in two stages. First, a male section is attached to a component of the hydronic heating/cooling system (for example, a valve or manifold) by threading the male section onto the component. Second, a female section, is positioned to male section and locked into place by rotating a rotary sleeve. The female section (with the IoT device) may be easily removed by rotating the rotary sleeve into an unlock position.

Abstract: A programmable thermostat supports at least one attribute where each different attribute values may support different sets of thermostatic settings. The programmable thermostat may be programmed based on the different attribute values rather than on temperature set points that are traditionally mapped to programmed times. Each set may include settings for a plurality of controlled equipment including a heating/cooling system, fan, ventilator, humidifier, and/or de-humidifier. Each embodiment may support attribute values associated with an occupancy attribute (which is indicative whether or not people are occupying an environmental entity) and/or a scenario attribute (which flexibly maps different thermostatic settings to different scenario attribute values). Stored configuration data about the thermostatic settings may be organized as a tree structure, where the leaves correspond to the thermostatic settings.

Abstract: A buried wireless unit measures various soil parameters of surrounding soil and reports them to centralized equipment. In order to provide reliable communication with the centralized equipment, the buried wireless unit may extend a pop-up antenna when transmitting soil parameter data and may subsequently retract the antenna. The wireless unit unwinds and winds a wire, where an electrical cable connects the antenna to a communication module, in order to extend and retract the antenna, respectively. The wireless unit comprises a bendable sleeve enabling the antenna to be flexible so that damage to the wireless unit is avoided if a vehicle (such as a tractor) rolls over the wireless unit. In order to preserve the battery powering the wireless unit, the wireless unit may skip retracting the antenna when the wireless unit determines that charging level of the battery is below a predetermined charging level.

Abstract: A home computing system (cloud) integrates a protocols gateway, WiFi router, cloud server, and mass storage device to support one or more Internet of Things (IoT) devices, possibly with different connectively protocols, in a local environment such as a residential home. The home computing cloud often reduces the amount of data traffic sent to a public computing cloud by locally processing collected device data rather than by sending the device data to the public computer cloud for processing. The home computing cloud may download an appropriate data analytic model from the public computing cloud, locally train (for example, reinforcement learning) the model, and locally execute the trained model to obtain prediction information from collected IoT device data. The home computing cloud also allows direct access of the connected IoT devices by user applications via the internet, through a protocols gateway and an IoT message translator.

Abstract: An aspect of the embodiments provides a compensation for the temperature rise effect on the printed circuit board (PCB) of an electronic thermostat to obtain better precision and performance. Once the measurements from the temperature sensors have stabilized, the compensated ambient temperature may be used by an associated system (for example, a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system).

Abstract: A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) assembly or automatic temperature balanced actuator (ABA) assembly controls a manifold assembly through a push pin bearing mechanism. The push pin bearing mechanism comprises a push pin that moves in a linear direction responsive to rotational movement of a motor gear that is coupled through a helical gear. Rotational movement of the push pin is prevented by a ball bearing assembly. Movement of the push pin is transferred to a manifold pin, which in turn, controls the manifold assembly. Because the push pin moves in a linear rather than a rotational fashion, erosion of the mated manifold pin is substantially reduced with respect to transitional approaches.

Abstract: A programmable thermostat supports at least one attribute where each different attribute values may support different sets of thermostatic settings. The programmable thermostat may be programmed based on the different attribute values rather than on temperature set points that are traditionally mapped to programmed times. Each set may include settings for a plurality of controlled equipment including a heating/cooling system, fan, ventilator, humidifier, and/or de-humidifier. Each embodiment may support attribute values associated with an occupancy attribute (which is indicative whether or not people are occupying an environmental entity) and/or a scenario attribute (which flexibly maps different thermostatic settings to different scenario attribute values). Stored configuration data about the thermostatic settings may be organized as a tree structure, where the leaves correspond to the thermostatic settings.

Abstract: The present invention supports the control of a plurality of controlled devices. With three dimensional accelerometer components, detection of a user action on a remote controller and the orientation of the remote controller are viable through small electronic devices. Aspects of the invention are based on the three dimensional accelerometer components to provide a remote controller that can detect the user action. Based on the user action, the remote controller transmits a signal to the controlled device which conveys the corresponding command. A selected controlled device may be matched to the remote controller. The remote controller and controlled device may also support a learning mode, in which the controlled device sends a list of supported commands to the remote controller. The remote controller then matches an associated action with each command in the command list.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods detect a health condition of a user that may be assessed from a thermal sensor signal and/or radar sensor signal. One or more resultant biometric vectors may be generated from biometric vectors based on the thermal and radar signals, where the resultant biometric vectors contain resultant information about one or more biometric features for a user. Hazard information about the user is obtained from the one or more resultant biometric vectors, where the hazard information is indicative of a health event for the user. Consequently, an appropriate action on behalf of the user may be performed to ameliorate the health condition. The one or more resultant biometric vectors may include additional biometric features and/or a time sequence of the resultant biometric vectors to enhance hazard prediction. Moreover, the apparatuses and methods may support the user in different settings including a home, business, or vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus supports smart assistant services with a plurality of smart service providers. The apparatus includes an audio device that receives a speech signal having a user utterance, captures the user utterance when the user utterance includes a user wake word, and sends the captured utterance to a backend computing device. The backend computing device replaces the user wake word with specific wake words associated with different smart service providers. The processed utterances are then sent to selected smart service providers. The backend computing device subsequently constructs feedback to the user utterance based on voice responses from the different smart service providers. The backend computing device then passes a digital representation of the feedback to the audio device, and the audio device converts the digital representation to an audio reply to the user utterance.

Abstract: A mounting device facilitates connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) device, such as thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) and automatic temperature balanced actuator (ABA), to a hydronic heating/cooling system to control the temperature of a room by changing the flow of hot/cold water through radiator. The mounting devices includes a male section and a female section, which is attached to the IoT device. The mounting device may be installed in two stages. First, a male section is attached to a component of the hydronic heating/cooling system (for example, a valve or manifold) by threading the male section onto the component. Second, a female section, is positioned to male section and locked into place by releasing a sliding sleeve. The female section (with the IoT device) may be easily removed by retracting the sliding sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus supports smart assistant services with a plurality of smart service providers. The apparatus includes an audio device that receives a speech signal having a user utterance, captures the user utterance when the user utterance includes a user wake word, and sends the captured utterance to a backend computing device. The backend computing device replaces the user wake word with specific wake words associated with different smart service providers. The processed utterances are then sent to selected smart service providers. The backend computing device subsequently constructs feedback to the user utterance based on voice responses from the different smart service providers. The backend computing device then passes a digital representation of the feedback to the audio device, and the audio device converts the digital representation to an audio reply to the user utterance.

Abstract: A smart electrical plug supports one or more electrical outlets and one or more universal serial bus (USB) outlets for charging electrical devices. Electrical power consumed through the one or more electrical outlets may be measured individually or in combination and reported via a wireless communication channel. The smart electrical plug may be implemented by a plurality of printed circuit board assemblies and distributed within a housing to reduce the effects of heat dissipation. The smart electrical plug may further reduce heat dissipation by utilizing one or more electrical circuit approaches.

Abstract: A health condition of a person may be assessed from a thermal sensor signal. By increasing performance indices of a thermal camera (for example, resolution, frame rate, sensitivity), operation may be extended to identification verification, biometric data extraction and health condition analysis, and so forth. Prediction may be carried out by monitoring a time sequence of thermal images, and consequently early warning of the health condition may be provided. The apparatus may be used for, but not limited to, personalization of smart home devices through supervised and reinforcement learnings. The application of the apparatus may be, but not limited to, smart homes, smart buildings and smart vehicles, and so forth.

Abstract: Building blocks for a smart device such as a thermostat include a user interface (UI) unit and a terminal (TML) unit. A UI unit may support one or more input data from a user and/or sensors and/or one or more control terminals. The UI unit may process each input datum or a combination of the input data, generate a control signal to one or more control terminals based on the processing, and send the control signal to one or more control terminals over a communication channel. A terminal unit, which may consist of one or more control terminals, transforms the received control signal into one or more controls to one or more associated environmental generators. One or more UI units may control one or more controlled apparatuses in conjunction with a mobile app to allow a unified user experience.

Abstract: A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) assembly or automatic temperature balanced actuator (ABA) assembly controls a manifold assembly through a push pin bearing mechanism. The push pin bearing mechanism comprises a push pin that moves in a linear direction responsive to rotational movement of a motor gear that is coupled through a helical gear. Rotational movement of the push pin is prevented by a ball bearing assembly. Movement of the push pin is transferred to a manifold pin, which in turn, controls the manifold assembly. Because the push pin moves in a linear rather than a rotational fashion, erosion of the mated manifold pin is substantially reduced with respect to transitional approaches.