Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for managing energy in a multi-dwelling unit are described herein. One method includes determining an energy consumption of each of a plurality of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units, wherein each of the plurality of HVAC units is associated with a different space of a multi-dwelling unit having a plurality of spaces, normalizing the energy consumption of each of the plurality of HVAC units, and ranking the normalized energy consumptions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mitigating condensation in a sensor module of a combustion appliance are disclosed. In one example, a fluid flow from a main conduit is cooled with a passive heat exchanger. A sensor of a sensor module may be heated to a temperature above the cooled fluid flow. Cooling the incoming fluid flow with a passive heat exchanger and/or heating the downstream flow sensor may help mitigate condensation in the sensor module, and in particular, on the sensor device. This may help increase the reliability of the system.

Abstract: A device for securing USB or Firewire port interconnections includes a microcontroller comprising a processor; a first connector/lead in communication with the microcontroller and configured to be coupled with a USB or Firewire external device; and a second connector/lead in communication with the microcontroller and configured to be coupled with a protected host. An optional user interface communicates with the microcontroller. When the microcontroller detects that the external device is coupled to the first connector/lead, the processor is configured to display a prompt on the user interface for a user to initiate inputs prior to the external device being allowed to connect with the protected host; or is configured to automatically prevent the external device from being connected with the protected host if the external device is on a blacklist of devices known to have device handlers in the protected host at a BIOS level, without modifying the protected host.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a plurality of legacy graphics files associated with a control system for an industrial process, each legacy graphics file comprising a plurality of legacy graphics objects. The method also includes parsing the legacy graphics files to identify primitive graphic objects in each legacy graphics file. The method also includes determining relationships among the identified primitive graphic objects to determine a group of primitive graphic objects that form one component of the industrial process. The method also includes determining one or more patterns among the identified primitive graphic objects. The method also includes saving the one or more patterns in a pattern library.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to valves, and more particularly, to gas valve assemblies. In one example, the valve assembly may include a valve body with an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid path extending between the inlet and outlet ports, one or more valves situated about the fluid path, one or more valve actuators for selectively moving respective valves, one or more sensors for sensing one or more parameters within the fluid path, and a controller secured relative to the valve body and in communication with the one or more sensors for determining one or more valve assembly conditions based on the one or more sensed parameters. Illustratively, the controller may be configured to communicate information from the valve assembly to a combustion appliance controller that is located remotely from the valve assembly through a communications interface of the controller and across a communications bus.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying and connecting to field devices in an industrial plant. In an example embodiment, steps or operations can be implemented for providing credentials associated with a user through Li-Fi wireless communications, detecting a light pattern associated with the Li-Fi Wireless communications with a light sensor attached to a field device, transmitting a signal from the light sensor to a controller, which decodes the credentials associated with the user, and if the credentials are authorized, allowing the user to obtain device data associated with the field device wherein said data includes a location of said field device within said industrial plant. Such data can be obtained from a control room and/or a server through a wireless data communications network (e.g., wireless bidirectional communications).

Abstract: A method includes receiving one or more operating conditions from one or more field devices of one or more industrial plants in response to receiving one or more alarm signals. The method also includes determining one or more industrial plant states based on the one or more operating conditions. The method further includes identifying one or more historical alarm episodes stored in one or more data stores based on the one or more industrial plant states. In addition, the method includes identifying one or more recommended historical alarm episodes of the one or more historical alarm episodes based on one or more benchmark metrics of the one or more historical alarm episodes. The method also includes generating the one or more recommended historical alarm episodes for display on a user interface.

Abstract: A propeller pitch control system for a turboprop engine of an aircraft includes an engine control unit and a pitch control unit. The engine control unit is operable to determine a phase of flight of the aircraft and is configured to supply control commands. The pitch control unit is coupled to receive the control commands from the engine control unit and includes a housing, a beta piston, a position sensor, a beta tube, and an electrohydraulic valve. The engine control unit only commands the electrohydraulic valve to move the beta piston from the fully retracted position when the engine control unit determines the aircraft is conducting pre-takeoff roll taxiing operations or is conducting post landing touchdown operations.

Abstract: Technologically improved vehicle control systems and methods are described. The provided vehicle control systems and methods embody an inner loop auto-throttle control for causing delta-throttle changes, i.e., servo changes, to achieve desired acceleration targets. The system generates an error on a potential flight path angle using a received thrust acceleration command. The error on the potential flight path angle is converted into an equivalent acceleration. A throttle rate command TLA_ratecmd is generated by converting the equivalent acceleration into the throttle rate command TLA_ratecmd.

Abstract: A heat exchanger system includes a core structure with an oil flow path configured to receive an oil flow. The heat exchanger system also includes a fuel flow path included in the core structure and configured to receive a fuel flow. The fuel flow path is coupled to the oil flow path to allow the fuel flow to receive heat from the oil flow in the oil flow path. Also, the heat exchanger system includes a supplemental airflow path defined at least partly by the core structure and configured to receive a supplemental airflow that receives heat from at least one of the oil flow and the fuel flow.

Abstract: A propeller oil control system for a turboprop engine of an aircraft includes an engine control unit and a propeller oil controller. The engine control unit is operable to determine a flight phase of the aircraft and is configured to supply control commands. The propeller oil controller is coupled to receive a supply of oil and to discharge the oil at a discharge oil pressure. The propeller oil controller includes an electrohydraulic servo valve that receives the control commands moves to a plurality of positions between a first position and a mid-position, and a plurality of positions between the mid-position and a second position. The engine control unit only commands the electrohydraulic servo valve to move out of the first position when the engine control unit determines the aircraft is conducting a take-off roll or the aircraft is in flight.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying an affinity group are provided. Some systems and methods may include matching respective access times associated with a plurality of access cards over a defined search period and using a swipe time interval to identify the affinity group of at least one of the plurality of access cards.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for updating a graphic user interface (GUI) of a vehicle. For instance, the method may include generating and displaying a checklist GUI with a plurality of tasks on a display; determining whether information indicating that a task of the plurality of tasks has been completed has been received; in response to determining that the information indicating that the task has been completed has been received, determining whether a user or a system indicated that the task is complete; in response to determining that the user indicated that the task is complete, updating the checklist GUI to change a status indicator of the task to a first type of status indicator; and in response to determining that the system indicated that the task is complete, updating the checklist GUI to change the status indicator of the task to a second type of status indicator.

Abstract: An HVAC component may be configured using a wearable device and a mobile device that is operatively coupled to the wearable device. The wearable device may be configured to capture one or more gestures that correspond to a particular HVAC component command, and to communicate the captured gestures to the mobile device. In response, the mobile device may carry out the HVAC component command that corresponds to the captured gesture. In this way, an installer may configure the HVAC component while lessening the need to directly enter commands into the mobile device and/or some other device.

Abstract: A baseband tracking channel in a GNSS receiver is provided. The baseband tracking channel comprises: a code generator to generate a local signal correlating with an incoming signal received by the GNSS receiver; a multiplier that multiplies the local signal with a baseband signal corresponding to an incoming signal received by the GNSS receiver to generate a code removed signal; a prompt correlator including at least one integration register that integrates samples of the code removed signal corresponding to a first portion of each pseudorandom noise code chip of the code removed signal to provide a first integration register output, and integrates samples corresponding to a second portion of each PRN code chip to provide a second integration register output; and a side peak tracking detection module that generates information indicating when side peak tracking is occurring based on the first integration register output and the second integration register output.

Abstract: A system having a mixed air box with inputs of return air from a space or spaces of a building, and of outside air. The mixed air box may have an output of discharge air to the space or spaces of the building. The air from the output may be return air that is conditioned with cooling, heat, or outside air. A damper may be situated at the input of outside air to the mixed air box. A temperature sensor may be positioned at the input for outside air and at the output of discharge air. A cooling mechanism may be at the output of the discharge air. The temperature sensor may be downstream from the cooling mechanism. An economizer may have connections with the damper, the temperature sensor and the cooling mechanism.

Abstract: An optical image tracker is disclosed. The optical image tracker includes a multi-dimensional translation stage. An optical image detector is disposed on a surface of the multi-dimensional translation stage. An objective lens is coupled to the optical image detector and configured to focus a collimated beam of light on the optical image detector, wherein the collimated beam of light includes a specific field of view within a field of regard, and the multi-dimensional translation stage is configured to position the optical image detector to detect the collimated beam of light.

Abstract: Premixed fuel and air are emitted in a staged fashion from a burner. A header delivers premixed fuel and air to a primary stage of combustion through a first plurality of outlets in communication with the pre-mixer. The same or another header may deliver premixed fuel and air to a secondary stage of combustion through a second plurality of outlets. A tile wall is located on the tile between the first plurality of outlets and the second plurality of outlets. A candelabra piece made of metal may comprise the pre-mixer and the header. In assembly, the candelabra piece may be inserted into the burner tile.