Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for boiling a liquid such as water. The liquid is heated at full power when the measured temperature of the liquid is below a first predetermined threshold. When the temperature is above the first predetermined threshold and below a second predetermined threshold, partial power, which may be based on the duty cycle, is applied to the heater. When the measured temperature of the liquid reaches the second predetermined threshold, power is removed from the heater after a predetermined time. When the increase of the measured temperature is less than a predetermined temperature change during a predetermined time duration, it is determined that the liquid is boiling and power is removed to the heater. If the level is too high or too low, an alarm may be activated and/or power removed from the heater.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and systems for adjusting a communication channel between a control unit and a remote sensor. A system may include a control unit that controls an environmental unit and a remote sensor that provides data about an environmental factor as measured at the remote sensor. The remote sensor transmits a radio frequency (RF) signal that conveys the data to control unit through a directional antenna. The RF signal is received by the control unit through an omnidirectional antenna, and a signal strength parameter is determined from the received RF signal. A signal strength indication unit provides an indication from the signal strength parameter as a user adjusts the position of the directional antenna. With embodiments of the invention, a signal strength module generates an audio signal in accordance with an audio characteristic, which is indicative of the signal strength of the received RF signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and computer readable media for obtaining information about a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and sending the information to a remote networked device. A control circuit deactivates loads of a HVAC system so that a sampling circuit can inject a test signal into the loads. Based on a resulting signal, a processor determines what loads are connected to a thermostat. The processor can consequently determine the type of the HVAC system. The processor may further utilize a lookup table that maps possible values of the resulting signal with different types of HVAC systems. The thermostat may consequently send information about the load configuration to a networked device. The thermostat may further detect a change of the load configuration and notify the networked device and may periodically inject the test signal into the connected loads when the control relays are deactivated.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and computer readable media for obtaining status information from a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and sending the status information to a remote networked device using a data container. A thermostat obtains status information from a HVAC system, associates the status information with a corresponding index number, and includes the index number and HVAC information in a data container. The data container can assume different forms, including a customer-defined cluster or a publicly accessible cluster. The HVAC information may be encoded so that the HVAC information can be included as an attribute of the publicly accessible cluster. HVAC information may include relay status of a relay in the HVAC system. The relay is identified by an index number that is included in an attribute. A networked device typically receives the HVAC information from the thermostat in at least one data container.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses, methods, and computer readable media for updating memory containing representations of computer-executable instructions in a processing system. A primary processor receives original sets of computer-readable instructions and updated sets of computer-readable instructions for the processors in processor system from a host system. The sets of computer-readable instructions are stored in memory (e.g., flash memory), where each processor in the system may utilize different sets. The primary processor then initiates updating its firmware with the corresponding updated set. If the update is unsuccessful, the primary processor reverts to the original set and the update process is terminated. Otherwise, the firmware update proceeds to the secondary processor. If the firmware update succeeds, the next secondary processor is updated.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses, methods, and computer readable media for supporting communications for a plurality of transmitter-receiver pairs on a common frequency spectrum. A transmitting device transmits a consecutively sequenced signal sequentially containing messages to a corresponding receiving device. A duty cycle adjustment circuit determines the duration between adjacent messages so that the consecutively sequenced signal is characterized by a randomized duty cycle. The duty cycle adjustment circuit selects the duration from a sequence that is characterized by an average duration. The duty cycle adjustment circuit obtains the duration from an array by determining an index from a function of a random variable. A receiving device receives a consecutively sequenced signal sequentially containing messages from a transmitting device, where the consecutively sequenced signal is characterized by a randomized duty cycle.

Abstract: The present invention supports the remote control of an environmental unit based on an effective temperature that is indicative of a comfort index to an occupant of a controlled environmental space. The remote controller obtains a plurality of environmental factors, e.g., temperature, relative humidity, and air speed, in order to determine an effective temperature. When the effective temperature is sufficiently different from a set point temperature, the remote controller activates an environmental unit to change the effective temperature in accordance with the set point temperature. The environmental unit may include an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump. Also, the remote controller may communicate with at least one remote sensor over a wireless communications channel in order to obtain the environmental factors for determining the effective temperature.

Abstract: The present invention supports the remote control of a controlled device. A hybrid device receives a control signal over an infrared communications channel or a wireless networking channel. The hybrid device can replace an IR receiver module in the controlled device in order to provide backward compatibility as well as provide universal operation with a wireless networking controller. The hybrid device processes a signal received over one of the communications channels. When a signal is received over the infrared communications channel, the processor converts the signal to an output code that is sent to a device controller. When a signal is received over the wireless networking communications channel, the processor converts the signal to a wireless command, converts the wireless command to an output code, and sends the output code to the device controller. All output codes are transparent for the two communications channels.

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: Aspects of the invention provide apparatuses, methods, and systems that support measuring and conveying energy consumption by an electrical device. An apparatus includes an energy sensor that measures an incremental energy value consumed by an electrical device. Apparatus obtains the incremental energy value, accumulates an energy usage measurement in accordance with the incremental energy value, provides requested information about energy consumption of the electrical device in response to a request from a network controller, and adjusts the energy usage measurement in accordance with the requested information. The total energy consumption may be partitioned into at least one energy component, in which the at least one energy component corresponds to the energy consumption of the electrical device during an associated time interval. A network controller may use the energy consumption information to determine a new set temperature for a thermostat unit that instructs the device control logic.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for controlling the brightness of a display unit based on detected movement of an external object such as a user. An apparatus includes a display, e.g., a color liquid crystal display (LCD) or organic light emitting diode (OLED). A proximity circuit generates a transmitted signal and a received signal. The received signal results from the transmitted signal being reflected by an external object. A control unit processes the received signal to determine a degree of motion of the external object. When the degree of motion is greater than a first predetermined threshold but not greater than a second predetermined threshold, the display is activated and operating at partial intensity. When the degree of motion is greater than the second predetermined threshold, the display is activated at full intensity. The degree of motion may be determined from the variation of the received signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for determining a liquid level inside a container by using an effective capacitance associated with one or more sense electrodes that are located inside the container. Embodiments may support different types of liquids, including water, and support different electrical appliances, including electric kettles, coffee makers, and water treatment appliances having a non-transparency housing such as stainless steel and black color Lucite or glass that cannot directly indicate the water level. A value of capacitance characteristic associated with a sensing electrode is determined. The water level may be displayed to the user on any kind of electronic panel, e.g., liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) display, or vacuum fluorescent display (VFD). Also, a correction factor may be applied to a determined capacitance associated with a sensing electrode to compensate for the operating temperature of the sensor electrode and the liquid.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for boiling a liquid such as water. The liquid is heated at full power when the measured temperature of the liquid is below a first predetermined threshold. When the temperature is above the first predetermined threshold and below a second predetermined threshold, partial power, which may be based on the duty cycle, is applied to the heater. When the measured temperature of the liquid reaches the second predetermined threshold, power is removed from the heater after a predetermined time. When the increase of the measured temperature is less than a predetermined temperature change during a predetermined time duration, it is determined that the liquid is boiling and power is removed to the heater. If the level is too high or too low, an alarm may be activated and/or power removed from the heater.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for restricting access to a control unit in an environmental system based on a lock level. The control unit (e.g., a thermostat) is configured with a selected lock level, where each lock level is mapped to an associated set of features. A user is able to access any of the features from the associated set of features without entering a security sequence. Also, a feature parameter may be restricted in accordance with the activated lock level. The control unit may be reconfigured with a different lock level by an administrator only when a security sequence is entered. Also, features may be mapped by an administrator to a set of features when the control unit is operating in the locked state. When the control unit is operating in the unlocked state, all supported features can be accessed by a user.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and systems for adjusting a communication channel between a control unit and a remote sensor. A system may include a control unit that controls an environmental unit and a remote sensor that provides data about an environmental factor as measured at the remote sensor. The remote sensor transmits a radio frequency (RF) signal that conveys the data to control unit through a directional antenna. The RF signal is received by the control unit through an omnidirectional antenna, and a signal strength parameter is determined from the received RF signal. A signal strength indication unit provides an indication from the signal strength parameter as a user adjusts the position of the directional antenna. With embodiments of the invention, a signal strength module generates an audio signal in accordance with an audio characteristic, which is indicative of the signal strength of the received RF signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for controlling an environmental system with an adjustable speed motor from environmental information received through a network A network controller receives differential environmental information through the network. A motor controller, which controls the speed of the variable speed motor, obtains the received differential environmental information from the network controller, determines a desired speed of a variable speed motor of the environmental system based on the received differential temperature, and adjusts the operating speed of the variable speed motor to approximate the desired speed. The network controller further receives discrete environmental information through the network, where the discrete environmental information includes at least one measured environmental factor and an environmental set point.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for updating a target device from a clock device through a network. The clock device obtains a time value from a clock source and sends the time value to a target device. A node within the network determines a time delay, adjusts the time value in accordance with the time delay, and sends the adjusted time value to the target device. The node may determine a time delay from an internal timer or from a measurement message when adjusting the time value. The clock device may send a subsequent time update message to the target device if the target device does not acknowledge reception of a time update. The clock device may also send a time update message to a target device when a status change of daylight savings time occurs and obtain a subsequent time value from a clock source.

Abstract: The present invention supports a solar lamp that includes a solar panel that charges a battery to power a display panel and a processor. Based on environmental factors measured by a sensor, the processor instructs the display panel to change colors based on the value of an environmental factor. If the measured environmental factor changes values, the processor may subsequently instruct the display panel to change colors. The solar lamp may be controlled by a remote controller. The solar lamp has a receiver circuit that receives control data from the remote controller to configure the display panel. Based on the control data, a processor may instruct the display panel to change colors or change intensity. The remote controller controls a solar lamp through a wireless communications channel. Based on an indication, a processor sends control data through a wireless transmitter circuit to configure the display panel of the solar lamp.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses, computer media, and methods for controlling the speed and direction of a controlled device. An input device provides input information, which is converted into speed information and direction information. A controlled device, e.g., a variable speed motor, is then instructed to operate at a device speed and direction in accordance with the speed information and direction information. The remote device may include a circular input device through which a user draws strokes. The remote device instructs the controlled device to operate at a device speed and a direction in accordance with extracted characteristics of the entered stroke such as the speed of drawing the stroke and the direction of the stroke. The remote device then transmits a signal with speed and direction information to control the controlled device.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for providing security for a secured unit with a security code. The secured unit may be locked to prevent an unauthorized user from accessing the secured unit. In order to unlock the secured unit, a user enters a sequence of strokes through an input device, e.g., a circular input device. A security module extracts stroke information from the entered strokes and unlocks the secured unit when the extracted stroke information matches the security code. Stroke information may be indicative of the locations of the start and end points and the direction of each stroke. A security code is configured for a secured unit by a user entering a sequence of strokes through an input device. The security code is determined from stroke information. The stroke information may be verified by the user re-entering the sequence of strokes.