Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include methods of estimating a heat transfer via one or more thermal energy exchangers. An example method includes: acquiring a signal for a setpoint temperature; acquiring a signal for an inside temperature at a site; acquiring one or more signals indicative of positions of valves of the thermal energy exchangers; producing a value of setpoint temperature from the signal; producing a value of inside temperature; producing a value of position from the one or more signals; providing a calibrated model with the value of setpoint temperature and inside temperature and position; and using the calibrated model to estimate the heat transfer via the one or more thermal energy exchangers.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method of controlling heat exchange via a terminal unit of a terminal-side circuit of a system for HVAC with a source-side circuit coupled to the terminal-side circuit comprising: reading a terminal-side supply temperature signal; producing a supply temperature from the terminal-side supply temperature signal; estimating a percentage demand signal as a function of the supply temperature; estimating an actual demand for power by rescaling a value of maximum available power by the percentage demand signal; comparing the actual demand for power to the value of maximum available power; and if the actual demand for power exceeds the value of maximum available power: producing a first flow control signal based on the value of maximum available power; and controlling a flow of a fluid through the source-side circuit based on the first flow control signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aspirating smoke detectors (ASD). In an ASD, ambient air is aspirated and is fed to a fire detector unit for determining a signal level. For normal operation, the suction power is set to a nominal airflow value and this is increased from a minimum signal level value in order to shorten the transport time of aspirated smoke through the suction pipe to the fire detector unit. In some embodiments, an interruption signal provided for normal operation is output if the airflow exceeds an upper limit value for a minimum period. Independently thereof, the suction power is increased from the minimum signal level value only to the extent that the airflow does not exceed the upper limit value. Or, regardless thereof, the suction power is increased only for a timespan smaller than the minimum period in which the airflow exceeds the upper limit value.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method of managing a building automation environment comprising: determining coordinates of a wearable device and an associated wearer in the building automation environment; rendering a representative view of a portion of the building automation environment based on the determined coordinates and an environment map associated with the building automation environment, wherein the representative view includes a multi-dimensional view of the portion of the building automation environment and wherein the portion includes one or more devices in the building automation environment; and modifying operation parameters of the portion of the building automation environment through one of gesture-based and voice-based input.

Abstract: An HVAC system comprising: an appliance; a control assembly; a first motor; and a second motor. The control assembly: applies a electric signal to the first terminal of the first winding of the first motor for a number of intervals of time; afterwards, apply a second signal to the first terminal of the first winding; apply the first electric signal to the first terminal of the second winding for a second number of regular intervals of time; and after the application of the first electric signal to the first terminal of the second winding, apply the second electric signal to the first terminal of the second winding of the second motor; wherein the first number of regular intervals of time and the second number of regular intervals of time differ by one regular interval of time.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method of controlling a comfort parameter with a system comprising a user interface device, a sensor, and a control device, wherein the sensor measures a parameter different from the comfort parameter. The method may include: providing a demand signal requesting a change in the comfort parameter from a user using the user interface device; transmitting the demand signal from the user interface device to the control device; obtaining a reading from the sensor, the reading corresponding to a value of the parameter; analyzing the demand signal based on a current state of the system the reading obtained from the sensor; changing one or more settings of the system based on the analysis of the demand signal; and producing a control signal as a function of the one or more changed settings of the system.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for the digital capture of spaces of a building. In some embodiments, the method includes: scanning a corresponding space in the building by a scanning apparatus; capturing the corresponding space in a digital point cloud and/or by an image capture; performing an object recognition, based on the digital point cloud and/or the image capture, using means of artificial intelligence; mapping, after the object recognition is performed, the digital point cloud and/or the image capture in a digital building model; and in the case of the capture of defined objects in the building, capturing the respective defined object in a dedicated manner by the scanning apparatus. Attributes are allocated to the respective defined object by a voice input.

Abstract: A safety device tester that verifies the operation of a safety device by identifying the safety device, placing the safety device in a test mode, and recording the operation of the safety device, and then storing the recording data in the cloud.

Abstract: Methods for exchanging a predecessor domain registrar for the authentication and configuration of digital certificates of IoT devices with a new registrar. The predecessor registrar and the devices are stored using a blockchain. The method may include: determining by the predecessor the number of nearby attestations needed; entering the new registrar into the blockchain; gathering the attestations of the devices using the new registrar; checking whether the new registrar fulfills the defined number; accepting the technical installation with the new registrar as authentication and configuration entity for the devices; sending voucher requests to the new registrar; forwarding the voucher requests to an authorization authority; checking whether the respective device belongs to the new registrar; and if so, issuing a voucher for the corresponding device using the authorization authority and sending the voucher to the corresponding device.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for determining the mixing ratio R of a fluid comprising a mixture of at least two different fluids for a technical process in a device comprising: irradiating an ultrasonic signal with a transmission level along a measuring distance running inside a measuring section; measuring a receiving level of the ultrasonic signal at one end of the measuring distance; determining an ultrasonic attenuation of the ultrasonic signal attenuated by the fluid based at least on the transmission and receiving levels of the ultrasonic signal; measuring a temperature of the fluid flowing through the measuring section; and determining a mixing ratio of the at least two different fluids from the determined ultrasonic attenuation and from the measured fluid temperature.

Abstract: Maximum flow setting. A method of limiting flow through a valve (1) comprising: reading a time series of signals from a flow sensor (5a, 5b); producing a time series of flow rates from the time series of signals; producing an averaged series of values; producing a first bounded series of values by replacing values that are below a lower threshold (13) with the lower threshold (13); producing a second bounded series of values by replacing values that exceed an upper threshold (15) with values that equal the upper threshold (15); producing a maximum flow rate by applying a moving maximum filter (17) to the second bounded series; reading a set point signal (9); limiting the set point signal (9) to the maximum flow rate; producing an actuation signal from the limited set point signal; transmitting the actuation signal to an actuator (7).

Abstract: Various embodiments include a testing apparatus capable of testing gas flowing in a duct. The apparatus may include: a housing; a sampling tube extending from the housing to be inserted into the duct, the sampling tube including a gas entry channel and a gas exit channel isolated from each other, with a gas inlet of the gas entry channel and a gas outlet of the gas exit channel disposed in a part of the sampling tube leading into the duct and disposed at the same side of the sampling tube, wherein the gas inlet and the gas outlet have matching gas through-flow areas; and a sensor module disposed in the housing and in gas communication with the gas entry channel to test gas sampled from the gas entry channel.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a measurement chamber for a smoke detection unit of a smoke detector. The measurement chamber may include: at least a passage for smoke to be detected; and a measurement chamber cover with angular light trap structures on an inside of the measurement chamber. The angular light trap structures are shaped to follow the compact-design principle of a Fresnel stepped lens.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit acting as a line driver in a line between a central station and field devices connected thereto comprising: a DC/DC converter integrated in the circuit as a power stage comprising a DC/pulse converter with two electrically isolated switching stages; a logic block preceding the converter, generating control signals for the switches from a PWM signal and feeding them into the converter in an electrically isolated manner using drivers; a priority block generating the PWM signal; a first and a second controller. The priority block forwards output from the first or second controller. The first controller generates a fault signal based on a voltage limit and an output voltage fed back within the amplifier circuit via a feedback path. The second controller generates a fault signal based on a current limit and the output current. The central station defines the current limit and the voltage limit.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a control device for controlling one or more field devices connected to the control device by data technology in the form of a communication network. The control device includes a wireless service interface. The communication network connects the control device to one or more tools. The wireless service interface can be activated by first tool via the communication network.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a sensor facility for determining a switching state of an electromechanical switching element. The sensor facility may include: connection elements for electrically contacting respective connection contacts of the switching element; a coupling capacitor having two capacitor connections, wherein the first is coupled to a first connection element; a voltage generator providing a temporally variable electrical voltage, coupled to the second capacitor connection; a first overvoltage protection circuit coupled to a second connection element and blocking an electrical voltage greater than a maximum value of the temporally variable electrical voltage of the voltage generator; and a detector circuit coupled to the first overvoltage protection circuit and detecting electrical voltage to determine the switching state of the electromechanical switching element by evaluating the detected electrical voltage.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a control device comprising: a wireless service interface; and a controller. The control device receives a radio signal generated by a device via a suitable radio connection using a further wireless interface and activates the wireless service interface once receiving the radio signal.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a control device for field devices connected to the control device via a communications network, e.g. a field bus. The control device comprises a wireless service interface (e.g. Wi-Fi interface). The control device is designed to receive a service signal generated by a field device and to activate the wireless service interface in response. Another embodiment includes a method for transmitting data to a control device for controlling field devices connected to the control device via a communications network. A wireless service interface of the control device is activated via a service signal generated by a field device and sent to the control device. After the activation of the wireless service interface, data is transferred from a tool (e.g. engineering tool, commissioning tool) via the wireless service interface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aspirating smoke detectors (ASD). In an ASD, ambient air is aspirated and is fed to a fire detector unit for determining a signal level. For normal operation, the suction power is set to a nominal airflow value and this is increased from a minimum signal level value in order to shorten the transport time of aspirated smoke through the suction pipe to the fire detector unit. In some embodiments, an interruption signal provided for normal operation is output if the airflow exceeds an upper limit value for a minimum period. Independently thereof, the suction power is increased from the minimum signal level value only to the extent that the airflow does not exceed the upper limit value. Or, regardless thereof, the suction power is increased only for a timespan smaller than the minimum period in which the airflow exceeds the upper limit value.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a computer-implemented method for generating a building automation project of a building automation system. The method may include: receiving structural information regarding building equipment; generating a semantic model of the building automation system, including automatically extracting equipment information from the structural information; extending the semantic model of the building automation system by providing application information; and generating, based on the equipment information and application information of the extended semantic model, a building automation project adapted for loading on a building automation device.