Patents Assigned to Control Technology
  • Patent number: 8826680
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a discharge pressure of a compressor relative to a suction pressure of the compressor. The discharge pressure and suction pressure of the compressor are monitored and compared with a predetermined maximum pressure ratio of discharge pressure to suction pressure. If the pressure ratio of discharge pressure to suction pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure ratio limit less than the maximum pressure ratio, a controller unloads the compressor. The predetermined pressure ratio limit is determined relative to the measured suction pressure. The discharge pressure and suction pressure are further monitored and the compressor is inhibited from being reloaded for a predetermined time delay. After the predetermined time delay has elapsed, the compressor is reloaded only if i) the discharge pressure falls below a predetermined reload pressure and ii) the chiller system requires additional cooling capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Curtis C. Crane, Martin L. Doll, Jr., Glenn E. Nickey
  • Patent number: 8827354
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle interior fitting part, in particular for a motor vehicle, and to a method for producing a vehicle interior fitting part. The vehicle interior fitting part has a first support element and an energy absorption element. The support element is integrally joined to the energy absorption element by means of a connecting region. The support element is provided such that it can be pre-assembled relative to the energy absorption element by means of the connecting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Martin Wolff, Alexander Schidan, Thorsten Meyer, Oliver Hube, Holger Kalus, Detlef Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20140249680
    Abstract: Systems and methods for limiting power consumption by a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) subsystem of a building are shown and described. A mathematical linear operator is found that transforms the unused or deferred cooling power usage of the HVAC system based on pre-determined temperature settings to a target cooling power usage. The mathematical operator is applied to the temperature settings to create a temperature setpoint trajectory expected to provide the target cooling power usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Wenzel
  • Publication number: 20140248042
    Abstract: A vaporizer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine has a vaporizer tube and a holding sleeve in which the vaporizer tube is inserted. A clamping sleeve sits on the vaporizer tube. The vaporizer tube includes two circumferentially surrounding clamping surfaces which protrude in a radial direction and cooperate with the holding sleeve and the clamping sleeve such that the clamping surfaces are clamped between the holding sleeve and the clamping sleeve by an axial clamping force to be gastight. At least one of the holding sleeve and the clamping sleeve includes a surrounding sealing edge which rests against the respective clamping surface via a line contact and forms an annular sealing seat. The vaporizer further includes a device preventing relative rotation between the holding sleeve and the vaporizer tube. A heater of the vaporizer is attached to the vaporizer tube using a resistance welding method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Noller, Juergen Klement, Otto Steinhauser, Toni Zipfel, Tobias Danner
  • Patent number: 8820105
    Abstract: A medium voltage power controller box is mounted on a chiller unit with the other components of the chiller system. The power controller box can be positioned on the chiller system unit to permit the power controller box to be close coupled to the motor, and specifically to the main motor lead exit hub without the need for any power conduit connections between the power controller box and the motor. In addition, the power controller box also does not require any control interface and receives controls from a control panel. A short conduit connection between the control panel and the power controller box is used to provide the necessary connections between the control panel and the power controller box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Dean K. Norbeck, John C. Hansen
  • Patent number: 8826165
    Abstract: Controllers for controlling heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems are provided. The controllers include graphical user interfaces for user adjustment of system settings. The graphical user interfaces also may be designed to present information that facilitates user understanding of system operations. In certain embodiments, the graphical user interfaces may display virtual representations of HVAC systems with graphical elements representing units and/or operating status of the HVAC systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ralph Harrod, Mimoun Abaraw, Bradley A. Beers, Grant E. Carmichael
  • Patent number: 8820837
    Abstract: A locking device for an adjustment fitting of a vehicle seat has a locking cam rotatable about a first axis, and an actuation element rotatable about a further axis. The locking device has a locking position and a release position. The actuation element has a toothing system and the locking cam has a mating toothing system. The toothing systems have respective opening flanks, at least one of which is flattened to bring about an initially increased opening transmission ratio in comparison to a further course of the toothing systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Ingo Kienke
  • Patent number: 8825185
    Abstract: A control system for using a predictive control with a control process having a time delay includes an adaptive feedback controller and a predictor. The predictor uses at least an adaptively updated control parameter from the adaptive feedback controller to predict the output of the control process during the time delay. The control system further includes a filter that dampens the rate of change of the adaptively updated control parameter provided to the predictor from the adaptive feedback controller to slow the adaptation of the predictor relative to the adaptation of the adaptive feedback controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Timothy Salsbury
  • Patent number: 8822007
    Abstract: The invention relates to a decorative element, to a dashboard of a motor vehicle, and to a method for manufacturing said decorative element, wherein the decorative element includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the decorative element being made of a first non-transparent material, wherein said first material has a decoration layer, and the second portion of the decorative element being made of a second transparent material, the first portion and the second portion of the decorative member being unitary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Vigour, Frederic Guillauminaud
  • Publication number: 20140245071
    Abstract: Systems and methods for building automation system management are shown and described. The systems and methods relate to fault detection via abnormal energy monitoring and detection. The systems and methods also relate to control and fault detection methods for chillers. The systems and methods further relate to graphical user interfaces for use with fault detection features of a building automation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer
  • Patent number: 8814273
    Abstract: A seat structure may be installed in a seat assembly. The seat structure may comprise plurality of tube members forming a substantially closed structure. Some of the tube members have a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along a substantial portion of its respective longitudinal length. At least a first set of the tube members has at least one of a different dimensional property and a different material property from a second set of the tube members such that mechanical properties of each tube member is configured for stress requirements for a respective region that the respective tube member occupies. The plurality of tube members are joined such that the plurality of tube members are in fixed positions relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ornela Zekavica, Daniel J. Sakkinen, Mark S. Williamson, Antoine Kmeid, Alexander I. Balin, Piotr Roszczenko, Yannis Poulos, Edward J. Lamont
  • Patent number: 8813657
    Abstract: A table can be folded in the interior of a motor vehicle and comprises a table top arranged on a vehicle-mounted support so that the table top can be moved from a resting position, in which the table plane is oriented substantially vertically, into a usage position oriented substantially horizontally. The support extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the table top is fastened to the support so the table top can be pivoted by a table top retainer from the vertical resting position into a horizontal position about a pivot axis in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The table top and/or the table top retainer can be locked in the usage position by a locking device when the table top is in the horizontal position and/or in the vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Joachim Winter, Harald Klein, Frank Wenz
  • Patent number: 8815383
    Abstract: A method of forming a component (14) includes providing a compressible member (22), compressing the compressible member to a compressed state, coupling a skin (20) to a substrate (18) wherein the compressible member is disposed between the skin and the substrate, and expanding the compressible material (26) to an expanded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ronald A. Bozio, Timothy J. Spahr, Scott A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 8813428
    Abstract: A door arrangement comprises a first carrier element and a second carrier element. The first carrier element has a first door module and the second carrier element has a second door module. The first door module is releasably fastened to the first carrier element by fastening means and has a first coupling element. The second door module has a second coupling element. The second door module has unlocking elements for releasing the fastening means in case of the first coupling element being coupled to the second coupling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Frank Zagromski
  • Patent number: 8814265
    Abstract: A headrest for a vehicle seat has a first section that is oriented towards the head of a seat occupant, a second section, and a third section. The second section is arranged between the first and third sections. In the event of an accident, the first section may be displaced, due to the relative displacement of the second section, from a working position into a safety position and a comfort position in the direction of the head of the occupant. The relative movement of the sections is a rotation about a rotational axis substantially parallel to the direction of displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ernst-Otto Froese, Thomas Dillinger, Alexander Hasler
  • Patent number: 8813511
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the operation of condenser fans are provided. At most discharge pressures, the operation of the condenser fans may be controlled based on a capacity of the compressor system. To adjust operation of the condenser fans, the speed of the fans and/or the number or operational fans may be adjusted. The control of the condenser fans based on compressor system capacity may be overridden at compressor discharge pressures that rise above a high pressure level and fall below a low pressure level. At the high and low discharge pressures, the fan speed and/or number of operating fans may be adjusted based solely on the discharge pressure rather than on the compressor system capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: William L. Kopko, Jose Ruel Yalung de la Cruz, Israel Federman
  • Publication number: 20140232164
    Abstract: A tailored vehicle seat component 12 having at least two portions with different properties that are joined together, such as by an adhesive or in a welding process (e.g., laser weld). These different properties include thickness, grades, surface finishes, coatings, and the like. The laser tailored welded vehicle seat 12 components may be incorporated into seat back frames 16, seat track assemblies 26, recliners 20, seat base frames 18, head restraints 88, cushion pans 132, and the like, to optimize manufacturing operations, mass, performance quality, and costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Sakkinen, Michael J. Thomas, Kurt A. Seibold, John D. Kotre, Christopher P. Kubacki, Mark A. Harris
  • Patent number: 8812061
    Abstract: A battery backup system for use with vehicle telematics electronics includes a phone module configured for operation by the vehicle telematics electronics. The system further includes a battery module configured to provide power to the phone module and a circuit configured to determine that backup power is needed. The circuit causes the battery module to provide the backup power to the phone module for completing a transmission via the phone module. The battery module can provide the backup power to the phone module without providing operating power to the vehicle telematics electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael Springs, Jaeyoung Yu, Prabin Pradhan, Todd Sanders, Justin G. Voogt
  • Patent number: 8807654
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a backrest and a seat part, at least one of which has a structural element with a cavity. At least one part of the cavity receives an insert in the region of a filling. The insert is connected to the structural element in a positively locking fashion at least with regard to one type of movement. The insert is bonded to the filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Stefan Funk, Martin Zynda, Stefan Josten, Bernd Engels, Andreas Hansen
  • Publication number: 20140226289
    Abstract: An interior panel, for use in a vehicle that includes a plurality of electrical devices and a vehicle component frame, includes printed electrical connection means for connecting the electrical devices in the vehicle and a substrate layer that has an inner surface directed towards the vehicle component frame. The electrical connection means are printed on the inner surface of the substrate layer using an electrically conductive ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Dennis J. VanHouten, Christopher S. Kring, Ben Sapak, Jack L. Johnson