Patents Assigned to Control Technology
  • Patent number: 11038709
    Abstract: A building system for operating a building and managing building information, the building system comprising one or more memory devices configured to store instructions thereon. The instructions causing one or more processors to receive building data from one or more building data sources and generate a space graph based on the building data, wherein the space graph is a graph data structure comprising nodes representing entities and edges between the entities representing relationships between the entities. The instructions cause the one or more processors to ingest data values of the building data into the space graph, the data values associated with the entities, and perform one or more operations with the space graph based on both the relationships of the entities and the ingested data values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Youngchoon Park, Sudhi Sinha
  • Publication number: 20210172634
    Abstract: A freeze protection system for a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system is shown. The freeze protection system includes a temperature sensor positioned at an inlet of a coil within which a liquid is at risk of freezing, and a controller comprising a processor and memory. The memory stores instructions that are executed by the processor. The processor is instructed to obtain a measured temperature of the liquid at the inlet of the coil from the temperature sensor, compare the measured temperature of the liquid at the inlet of the coil with a freeze prevention temperature threshold, engage a freeze prevention action in response to a determination that the measured temperature of the liquid at the inlet of the coil is less than or equal to the freeze prevention temperature threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, Homero L. Noboa, Brennan H. Fentzlaff
  • Publication number: 20210172633
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring and controlling one or more environmental conditions of a building. The method comprises obtaining feedback from a first sensor at a first location within the building and feedback from a second sensor at a second location within the building. The method further comprises combining the feedback from the first sensor with the feedback from the second sensor in a weighted manner to generate a combined feedback, wherein a weight of the feedback from the first sensor relative to a weight of the feedback from the second sensor is based on a time of day. The method finally comprises operating HVAC equipment to drive the combined feedback toward a setpoint for the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: David E. Hoglund
  • Publication number: 20210173360
    Abstract: A method for initiating and automatically improving model-driven operations in a low-data scenario includes creating a regression model using pre-operation data prior to initiating the model-driven operations, using the regression model to initiate and perform the model-driven operations during an operational stage, collecting operational data during the operational stage, creating a first artificial neural network model using the operational data, transitioning from using the regression model to perform the model-driven operations to using the first artificial neural network model to perform the model-driven operations responsive to the operational data satisfying a first sufficiency threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Kirk H. Drees
  • Publication number: 20210172777
    Abstract: A system for controlling a flow rate of a fluid through a valve includes a controller. The controller is configured to receive a raw flow rate measurement from a flow rate sensor assembly configured to measure the flow rate. The controller is further configured to apply a flow rate measurement filter to the raw flow rate measurement to generate a filtered flow rate measurement. The controller is further configured to control actuation of an actuator configured to change the flow rate using the filtered flow rate measurement. The controller is configured to automatically adjust the flow rate measurement filter in response to detecting an event that causes stoppage of the actuation of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Homero L. Noboa, Camille M. Aucoin, Kirk H. Drees
  • Publication number: 20210173969
    Abstract: A method for updating a digital twin of a building, comprising receiving measurements from a plurality of sensors of a portable device at a location within the building, the measurements comprising values of a plurality of environmental conditions at the location of the portable device within the building at a first time; generating a point in the digital twin of the building, the point having virtual coordinates that correspond to the location of the portable device within the building; and training one or more models configured to generate the digital twin of the building based on the received measurements and the point in the digital twin of the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Nelson Abbey, Jeremiah Cahill, Juan Miguel Marino Camarasa, Adrian Collins, Ian Hennessy, Matthew Leach, Roisin O'Brien, Eleanor Alice O'Leary, Shane O'Sullivan, James Young
  • Patent number: 11032172
    Abstract: An asynchronous wireless data transmission system includes a wireless sensor and a data recipient device. The wireless sensor includes a measurement device configured to collect a plurality of samples of a measured variable at a plurality of different sampling times, a transmission generator configured to generate a compressed data object containing the plurality of samples of the measured variable, and a wireless radio configured to transmit the compressed data object at a transmission time asynchronous with at least one of the sampling times. The data recipient device includes an object decompressor configured to extract the plurality of samples of the measured variable from the compressed data object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Carlos Felipe Alcala Perez, Kirk H. Drees
  • Patent number: 11029048
    Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, a processing circuit, a wireless transceiver, and a power circuit. The processing circuit includes a processor and memory and is configured to operate the mechanical transducer according to a control program stored in the memory. The wireless transceiver is configured to facilitate bidirectional wireless data communications between the processing circuit and an external device. The power circuit is configured to draw power from a wireless signal received via the wireless transceiver and power the processing circuit and the wireless transceiver using the drawn power. The processing circuit is configured to use the power drawn from the wireless signal to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the actuator to the external device via the wireless transceiver, wirelessly receive data from the external device via the wireless transceiver, and store the data received from the external device in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin Weiss
  • Patent number: 11029053
    Abstract: A method for reducing the memory usage of a memory device of a building management system of a building includes receiving a request for a property of a data model stored in the memory device, wherein the data model includes relationships, wherein each relationship links one of multiple properties to serialized building data stored within the memory device, receiving, by the building management system, a request for a property of the data model, and generating, by the building management system, de-serialized data for the requested property in response to receiving the request by retrieving the serialized data from the memory device based on the relationships of the data model and de-serializing the retrieved serialized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Andrew J. Przybylski
  • Patent number: 11028555
    Abstract: An earthmoving machine comprises an implement. The implement defines a variable implement angle ?Bucket(t) indicative of a current position of the implement relative to horizontal as a function of time t. The implement comprises teeth extending a tooth height h and defining an active raking ratio r. Controllers are programmed to execute an implement teeth grading offset determination process that comprises determining a variable implement offset angle ?Delta(t) at least partially based on a difference between an original target design angle ?Tgt(t) and the variable implement angle ?Bucket(t), determining an implement offset IO based on h, r, and ?Delta(t), and determining a new target design elevation ElvTgt,New(t) based on IO and an original target design elevation ElvTgt,Orig(t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Kyle Davis
  • Patent number: 11029654
    Abstract: A building management system includes (i) one or more building systems including equipment configured to serve one or more spaces in a building and (ii) one or more circuits. The one or more circuits are configured to receive an input to invoke a control strategy to modify a condition of the one or more spaces; define an output of the control strategy where the output relates to a modification that impacts at least one of a location, an equipment type, or a point type; perform a query to identify one or more points associated with the output where the one or more points are defined in terms of at least one of the location, the equipment type, or the point type; and automatically modify one or more values of the one or more points to implement the control strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Suvidha Raina, Ryan A. Piaskowski, Charles C. Xing
  • Publication number: 20210164856
    Abstract: A system and method for sensing and indicating air pressure within an enclosed space is described. The system comprises a pressure sensing device and pressure indicator further comprising a housing enabled to house a plurality of electronic devices and having an opening, an elastomeric membrane covering the opening of the housing and capable of flexing inwards and outwards, a light emitting device to provide an illumination and a projector for projecting a positive pressure symbol and a negative pressure symbol. The elastomeric membrane flexes inwards along with a representation of the positive pressure symbol with an illumination of a first color when the pressure within the enclosed space is positive and the elastomeric membrane flexes outwards along with a representation of the negative pressure symbol with the illumination of a second color when the pressure within the enclosed space is negative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Thoni, Ryan J. Bykowski
  • Publication number: 20210164490
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor assembly is provided. The centrifugal compressor assembly includes a scroll assembly having a suction plate defining an inlet fluid passage, a suction plate housing, a diffuser plate, and a collector. The suction plate is detachably coupled to the suction plate housing, the suction plate housing is detachably coupled to the collector, and the diffuser plate is detachably coupled to the collector. The centrifugal compressor assembly further includes an impeller rotatably mounted in the scroll assembly for compressing fluid introduced through the inlet fluid passage, and a variable geometry diffuser system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jordan Q. Steiner, Paul W. Snell
  • Publication number: 20210164679
    Abstract: A control device for a building includes a segment display. The segment display includes a first character comprising at least seven segments, a second character comprising at least nine segments proximate to the first character, and a connecting character comprising at least two segments located between the first and second character. The control device further includes a processing circuit that, in a first operation, illuminates at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form a first letter and, in a second operation, illuminates at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form a second letter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Richard David Friend
  • Patent number: 11022382
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that includes a first slab having a first plurality of tubes extending between a first manifold and a second manifold and a second slab having a second plurality of tubes and a third plurality of tubes. The second plurality of tubes extends between a third manifold and a fourth manifold and the third plurality of tubes extends between the fourth manifold and a fifth manifold, such that the heat exchanger defines a refrigerant path sequentially through the first plurality of tubes, the second plurality of tubes, and the third plurality of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kevin M. Cao, Randal H. Edmunds
  • Patent number: 11025563
    Abstract: A network switch includes a device interface configured to facilitate communication between the network switch and a plurality of building devices that serve a space, network routing circuitry configured to route network communications associated with the building devices in accordance with one or more network parameters, a control circuit configured to control the plurality of devices via the network communications to provide a plurality of space use cases for the space. and a network manager circuit configured to determine values for the one or more network parameters based on the plurality of space use cases for the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Sheri L. Meyer, Radu M. Dorneanu, Mark L. Ziolkowski
  • Patent number: 11022947
    Abstract: An energy optimization system for a building includes a processing circuit configured to generate a user interface including an indication of one or more economic load demand response (ELDR) operation parameters, one or more first participation hours, and a first load reduction amount for each of the one or more first participation hours. The processing circuit is configured to receive one or more overrides of the one or more first participation hours from the user interface, generate one or more second participation hours, a second load reduction amount for each of the one or more second participation hours, and one or more second equipment loads for the one or more pieces of building equipment based on the received one or more overrides, and operate the one or more pieces of building equipment to affect an environmental condition of the building based on the one or more second equipment loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Mohammad N. ElBsat, Michael J. Wenzel, Nicole A. Madison, Tricia J. Valentine, Collin W. Eggert, Matthew J. Asmus, James P. Kummer, Carol T. Tumey, Peter A. Craig
  • Patent number: 11024292
    Abstract: One or more non-transitory computer readable media contain program instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to: receive first raw data including one or more first data points generated by a first object of a plurality of objects associated with one or more buildings; generate first input timeseries according to the one or more data points; access a database of interconnected smart entities, the smart entities including object entities representing each of the plurality of objects and data entities representing stored data, the smart entities being interconnected by relational objects indicating relationships between the smart entities; identify a first object entity representing the first object from a first identifier in the first input timeseries; identify a first data entity from a first relational object indicating a relationship between the first object entity and the first data entity; and store the first input timeseries in the first data entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Youngchoon Park, Sudhi R. Sinha, Vaidhyanathan Venkiteswaran, Vijaya S. Chennupati, Erik S. Paulson
  • Patent number: 11024148
    Abstract: An actuator in an HVAC system is provided. The actuator includes a motor and a drive device. The drive device is driven by the motor and coupled to an HVAC component for driving the HVAC component between multiple positions. The actuator further includes a processing circuit. The processing circuit is coupled to the motor and configured to transmit control signals to operate the motor to drive the HVAC component between a first position and a second position, monitor temperature data received from one or more temperature sensors, determine that the temperature data does not meet an expected performance criterion and transmit an alarm signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: John T. Pierson, John K. Krenzer, Aaron D. Wagner
  • Patent number: 11022140
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flow generating device for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning system. The flow generating device includes a housing having a channel defining a flow path of a fluid and a fan blade having a rotational axis extending through the channel, where the fan blade is configured to rotate to force the fluid along the flow path. A portion of the fan blade axially protrudes beyond the channel in a direction generally aligned with the flow path and a winglet extends from the portion of the fan blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jordan R. Jensen, Tyler P. McCune, Drew H. Carlton, Bennie D. Hoyt