Patents Assigned to INNOVATIVE BUILDING ENERGY CONTROL
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Patent number: 11692728Abstract: Systems and methods for air flow circulation are described which utilize one or more air conditioning units as well as transfer grilles to move cooler air from one space to another. The transfer grilles can include bi-directional in-line fans to move air between spaces in discrete ducts located between the spaces. Motorized dampers can be controlled by a controller that receives information about various rooms and areas from temperature and occupancy sensors within those rooms or areas. In this manner, conditioned air can be directed to those rooms that are occupied and whose temperature needs correction based on a thermostat setting, and use of the air conditioning unit can be avoided when a cool air source is present in another space.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Innovative Building Energy ControlInventor: Gangyi Zhou
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Patent number: 11137167Abstract: Devices for retrofitting existing, manual airflow registers are described that convert a manual register with blades into a motorized damper. The devices include a support structure attached to the register and having a motor that moves a linking apparatus. The linking apparatus is coupled with a lever of the register that itself is coupled with the blades such that movement of the lever rotates the blades and therefore control the amount of airflow through the register. By moving the linking apparatus via a motor, the lever can also be moved allowing the manual airflow register to be automatically controlled with the need to replace the existing register.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2018Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Innovative Building Energy ControlInventors: Gangyi Zhou, Ruijun Tian
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Patent number: 10806008Abstract: The inventive subject matter provides a system and a method for automatically controlling appliances via a mechanical or digital controller. In one aspect of the invention, the system includes a first circuitry communicatively coupled with one or more sensors and configured to generate a pulse-width modulation signal based in part on a reading from the sensor. The system also includes a dimming module configured to control a lighting device or other external device as a function of the signal. The dimming module can include a micro controller unit that receives the signal as well as a synchronized signal from a circuit that receives sampling information from a driving circuit, and generates a second pulse-width modulation signal that is sent to the driving circuit to control the external device.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Innovative Building Energy ControlInventor: Gangyi Zhou
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Patent number: 10788232Abstract: Systems and methods for air flow circulation are described which utilize one or more air conditioning units as well as transfer grilles to move cooler air from one space to another. The transfer grilles can include bi-directional in-line fans to move air between spaces in discrete ducts located between the spaces. Motorized dampers can be controlled by a controller that receives information about various rooms and areas from temperature and occupancy sensors within those rooms or areas. In this manner, conditioned air can be directed to those rooms that are occupied and whose temperature needs correction based on a thermostat setting, and use of the air conditioning unit can be avoided when a cool air source is present in another space.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Innovative Building Energy ControlInventor: Gangyi Zhou
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Patent number: 10555404Abstract: Systems and methods for managing one or more light sources or other devices are disclosed that utilize a dimmer and demodulator. The systems and methods can be used to modulate light from light sources having four-wire drivers. Each dimmer and demodulator follow a protocol of a lighting control system, and permit use of the lighting control system with lighting fixtures having 0-10 VDC dimming drivers. The dimmer and demodulator preferably communicate via a power line carrier method, which delivers the A/C electrical power and the lighting demand simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: INNOVATIVE BUILDING ENERGY CONTROLInventor: Gangyi Zhou
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Publication number: 20190313514Abstract: Systems and methods for managing one or more light sources or other devices are disclosed that utilize a dimmer and demodulator. The systems and methods can be used to modulate light from light sources having four-wire drivers. Each dimmer and demodulator follow a protocol of a lighting control system, and permit use of the lighting control system with lighting fixtures having 0-10 VDC dimming drivers. The dimmer and demodulator preferably communicate via a power line carrier method, which delivers the A/C electrical power and the lighting demand simultaneously.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Applicant: Innovative Building Energy ControlInventor: Gangyi ZHOU
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Patent number: 9927821Abstract: The inventive subject matter provides a system and a method for automatically controlling appliances via a mechanical controller. In one aspect of the invention, the system includes a first circuitry communicatively coupled with one or more sensors and configured to generate a motor controlling signal based in part on a reading from the sensor. The system also includes a mechanical device in contact with a lever of the mechanical controller. The system also includes a second circuitry configured to cause the mechanical device to move the lever as a function of the signal received from the first circuitry to control the appliance.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: INNOVATIVE BUILDING ENERGY CONTROLInventor: Gangyi Zhou