Patents Assigned to Nortek AS
  • Patent number: 11416595
    Abstract: An authentication system accesses an image of a face of a user. The face of the user is partially covered by a facial mask. The authentication system detects an area on the facial mask and generates a first identification of the user based on the area on the facial mask. The authentication system also detects an exposed area uncovered by the facial mask on the face of the user and generates a second identification of the user based on the exposed area. The authentication system compares the first identification of the user with the second identification of the user, and authenticates the user based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventor: Darren Learmonth
  • Patent number: 11408681
    Abstract: An evaporative cooling system includes an evaporative cooler liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE), a first liquid-to-air heat exchanger (LAHE), and a cooling fluid circuit. The evaporative cooler LAMEE is disposed within a scavenger air plenum that is configured to channel a scavenger air stream. The first LAHE is disposed within a process air plenum that is configured to channel a process air stream. The cooling fluid circuit is configured to circulate an evaporative cooling fluid between the evaporative cooler LAMEE and the first LAHE. The evaporative cooler LAMEE is configured to utilize the scavenger air stream to evaporatively cool the cooling fluid. The first LAHE is configured to receive the cooling fluid from the evaporative cooler LAMEE and to allow the cooling fluid to absorb heat from the process air stream to cool the process air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solations Canada, Iac.
    Inventor: Philip Paul LePoudre
  • Patent number: 11378538
    Abstract: A water detection device (100) may have a water sensor on both a top and bottom of the device. A water sensor circuit (1004,1006,1100, 1101) may be configured to detect water by delivering a signal may be delivered to an electrical contact (1104, 1132), and the presence of water may be determined based upon detection of the signal at the other contact (1106, 1134). The water sensor circuit device (1101) may be configured with a comparator (1116) that uses hysteresis to provide sensitivity to the presence or absence of water. In a battery-powered water sensor, the water detection signal may be delivered as an alternating signal using, e.g., a signal modulator circuit (e.g., an oscillator circuit (1114) and gate (1120) optionally coupled to a wake-sleep controller (1112)) that is coupled to a battery (133), which may avoid oxidation or other forms of ionic corrosion. In some examples, a water detection signal may be recurrently delivered to the first contact (1132) to conserve battery power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventors: Ming Chuan Lee, Xuefeng Ma, Jian Hua Liu, Jian Hong Yin
  • Patent number: 11375641
    Abstract: Conditioning systems and methods for providing cooling to a heat load can include an evaporative cooler arranged in a scavenger plenum with a recovery coil downstream of the evaporative cooler. The conditioning systems can operate in various modes, including an adiabatic mode and an evaporative mode, and a blended mode between the adiabatic mode and the evaporative mode, depending on environmental conditions. The blended mode can be enabled by a fluid transmission and retention device fluidically connected to the inlet and outlet of the evaporative cooler, the recovery coil outlet, and the heat load. The fluid transmission and retention device can variably distribute the cooling fluid exiting the recovery coil and the cooling fluid exiting the evaporative cooler to one or both of the heat load and the evaporative cooler inlet. In an example, the fluid transmission and retention device includes a manifold. In another example, the fluid transmission and retention device includes one or more tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Paul Lepoudre, Christopher Regier, Marcel Van den Hurk
  • Patent number: 11354819
    Abstract: The primary purpose of the present invention is to enable devices/machines/systems to perform an optimized video analytics on images and videos. The present invention focuses on detecting, tracking, and classifying objects in a scene. Here, the tracking is performed by comparing objects across at least two frames and then associating the objects based on a cost matrix. Some examples of the objects include, but are not limited to, persons, animals, vehicles, or any other articles or items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control
    Inventors: Vaidhi Nathan, Maxim Sokolov, Chandan Gope
  • Patent number: 11336977
    Abstract: A device is configured to be mounted to a planar mounting panel, including, for example, a wall or ceiling of a home or other building. The device includes a housing, a fastener, a dogleg tab and a friction inducing member. The housing is configured to be received in an aperture in the mounting panel and includes a housing aperture. The fastener is disposed in the housing aperture. The dogleg tab is operatively coupled to one end of the fastener. The dogleg tab is configured to be disposed in a retracted position and to be disposed in an engagement position, in which engagement position the dogleg tab is disposed to engage an inside surface of the mounting panel. The friction inducing member is fixedly attached to the housing adjacent the housing aperture and friction-fit to the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Lee Merklin
  • Patent number: 11304335
    Abstract: Conditioning systems and methods for providing cooling to a heat load can include an evaporative cooler arranged in a scavenger plenum with a recovery coil downstream of the evaporative cooler. The conditioning systems can operate in various modes, including an adiabatic mode and an evaporative mode, depending on outdoor air conditions. The systems can operate in a blended mode between the adiabatic mode and the evaporative mode by varying the distribution of return water from the recovery coil into at least partially isolated sections of a storage tank, and selectively directing cold water from the evaporative cooler into the tank. The mix of warm and cold water exiting the tank can be varied to maintain the cold-water supply at or near a set point temperature for the heat load. In an example, the systems can include a pre-cooler in the plenum upstream of the evaporative cooler for pre-conditioning the scavenger air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip Paul LePoudre
  • Patent number: 11300364
    Abstract: A method of forming a membrane panel configured to be secured within an energy exchange assembly may include forming an outer frame defining a central opening, and integrating a membrane sheet with the outer frame. The membrane sheet spans across the central opening, and is configured to transfer one or both of sensible energy or latent energy therethrough. The integrating operation may include injection-molding the outer frame to edge portions of the membrane sheet. Alternatively, the integrating operation may include laser-bonding, ultrasonically bonding, heat-sealing, or the like, the membrane sheet to the outer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Ine.
    Inventors: Blake Norman Erb, Stephen Harold Hanson, Mohammad Afshin
  • Patent number: 11282373
    Abstract: A magnetometer sensor that detects tampering is described. The sensor samples magnetometer data and computes a set of vectors based on the magnetometer data. The sensor detects a tampering of the magnetic sensor based on determining that the set of vectors is outside the reference plane for the magnetometer sensor. The sensor generates a notification to a security system coupled to the magnetometer sensor. The notification indicating the tampering of the magnetometer sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventors: Frank Raymond Nichols, Sr., Sivakumar Kathan
  • Patent number: 11282389
    Abstract: Driver and pedestrian safety can be aided by systems and methods to provide identification and classification of objects in a vehicle travel path. Information about classified objects can be shared with a human driver to inform the driver about potentially hazardous conditions, or the information can be interpreted automatically by an operating system of the vehicle. In an example, a camera coupled to a vehicle can receive images from an image sensor. A computer system can use machine learning and neural network-based processing to identify an object present in the images and determine whether the object is a pedestrian. In an example, the computer system can process information from a region of interest in the images that comprises less than an entire field of view in the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Khadloya, Chandan Gope
  • Patent number: 11270703
    Abstract: An audio firewall system has a microphone that generates audio data. A speech-to-text engine converts the audio data to text data. The text data is parsed for a service wake word and corresponding content data. The service wake word identifies one of a local security system and a remote assistant server. A text-to-speech engine converts the service wake word and the corresponding content data to converted audio data. The converted audio data is provided to the remote assistant server. The content data is provided to the local security system. The audio firewall system receives a response from the remote assistant server or the local security system and outputs an audio signal corresponding to the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventors: Philip Alan Bunker, Mayank Saxena
  • Patent number: 11255332
    Abstract: A modular fan housing configured to hold an array of motors and fans is provided. The modular fan housing is configured for use in an air-handling system that delivers air to a ventilation system for at least a portion of a building. The fan housing comprises a plurality of modular units configured to be stacked adjacent to one another in at least one row or column to form an array. The modular units each include an interior surface and have a front end and a back end that define a chamber. The chambers are configured to receive the motors and fans. Sound attenuation layers extend along at least a portion of the interior surface of the corresponding chambers. The sound attenuation layers are positioned between at least some of the adjacent chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence G. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11164028
    Abstract: A system for detecting license plates is described. The system receives raw data comprising images of license plates. A base version of a ground truth is prepared based on the raw data, using a generic license plate detection (LPD). The system prepares input data for training a deep learning network. The deep learning network is trained with the prepared input data. A newly trained generic (LPD) is formed using data generated by the existing generic (LPD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventors: Ilya Popov, Krishna Khadloya, Sofiya Klyan
  • Patent number: 11143430
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling conditions in an enclosed space, such as a data center, or for providing cooling to a device, can include using a Liquid-to-Air Membrane Energy Exchanger (LAMEE) as an evaporative cooler. The LAMEE or exchanger can cool water to the outdoor air wet bulb temperature in a cooling system disposed outside of the enclosed space or device. The reduced-temperature water can be delivered to the enclosed space or device or can cool a coolant that is delivered to the enclosed space or device. The air in the enclosed space, or one or more components in the enclosed space, can be cooled by delivering the reduced-temperature water or coolant to the enclosed space, rather than moving the supply air from the enclosed space to the cooling system. In an example, the cooling system can include one or more cooling coils, upstream or downstream of the LAMEE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Davood Ghadiri Moghaddam, Philip Paul LePoudre, Manfred Gerber
  • Patent number: 11098723
    Abstract: A fan array is provided having a frame including a plurality of frame members. The frame members are joined to define a plurality of chambers. Each of a plurality of fan units is configured to be positioned in one of the plurality of chambers. Each fan unit has a motor. A plurality of local motor controllers are joined to corresponding motors. The local motor controllers are configured to control an operation of the corresponding fan unit. A master controller is configured to communicate with the local motor controllers. The master controller is configured to provide the local motor controllers with target operating parameters for the corresponding fan units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: David Benson, Brian J. Motland, Matthew Gassaway, Robert Techam
  • Patent number: 11092349
    Abstract: Conditioning systems and methods for providing cooling to a heat load can include an evaporative cooler arranged in a scavenger plenum with a pre-cooler upstream and a recovery coil downstream of the evaporative cooler. Outdoor or scavenger air can be conditioned in the evaporative cooler such that the conditioned scavenger air can provide cooling to a cooling fluid circulating through the recovery coil. The reduced-temperature cooling fluid can provide liquid cooling or air cooling for an enclosed space (for example, a data center) or for one or more devices that are enclosed or open to the atmosphere. Given the design and arrangement of the pre-cooler, evaporative cooler and recovery coil in the plenum, the system can operate in multiple modes. The pre-cooler can be configured to circulate a cooling fluid to condition the scavenger air. The pre-cooler fluid circuit can be coupled or decoupled from a process cooling fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Paul LePoudre, Manfred Gerber, Davood Ghadiri Moghaddam
  • Patent number: 11035618
    Abstract: A liquid panel assembly configured to be used with an energy exchanger may include a support frame having one or more fluid circuits and at least one membrane secured to the support frame. Each of the fluid circuits may include an inlet channel connected to an outlet channel through one or more flow passages. A liquid is configured to flow through the fluid circuits and contact interior surfaces of the membrane(s). The fluid circuits are configured to at least partially offset liquid hydrostatic pressure with friction loss of the liquid flowing within the fluid circuits to minimize, eliminate, or otherwise reduce pressure within the liquid panel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Paul LePoudre, Kenneth Paul Coutu, Howard Brian Hemingson
  • Patent number: 11030466
    Abstract: A license plate detection and recognition system receives training data comprising images of license plates. The system prepares ground truth data from the training data based predefined parameters. The system trains a first machine learning algorithm based on the ground truth data to generate a license plate detection model. The license plate detection model is configured to detect one or more regions in the images. The one or more regions contains a candidate for a license plate. The LPDR system generates a bounding box for each region. The LPDR system trains a second machine learning algorithm based on the ground truth data and the license plate detection model to generate a license plate recognition model. The license plate recognition model generates a sequence of alphanumeric characters with a level of recognition confidence for the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventors: Ilya Popov, Dmitry Yashunin, Semen Budenkov, Krishna Khadloya
  • Patent number: 11015845
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling temperature in an enclosed space can include an air-to-air heat exchanger (AAHX) and a direct evaporative cooler (DEC). The DEC can be located in a scavenger or outdoor air stream such that the DEC cools the outdoor air, which is then used to cool or reject heat from a process air stream passing through the AAHX. In an example, the AAHX can be a sensible wheel. In another example, the AAHX can be a counter-flow flat plate. The system can operate in various modes, including an economizer mode and an evaporation mode, depending, in part, on the outdoor air conditions and a load on the system. In some examples, the system can include a DX coil to provide additional cooling to the process air in another operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solations Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Davood Ghadiri Moghaddam, Philip Paul LePoudre, Manfred Gerber
  • Patent number: 10964058
    Abstract: A seed camera disposed a first location is manually calibrated. A second camera, disposed at a second location, detects a physical marker based on predefined characteristics of the physical marker. The physical marker is located within an overlapping field of view between the seed camera and the second camera. The second camera is calibrated based on a combination of the physical location of the physical marker, the first location of the seed camera, the second location of the second camera, a first image of the physical marker generated with the seed camera, and a second image of the physical marker generated with the second camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventor: Chandan Gope