Patents Assigned to Vigilent Corporation
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Patent number: 11567966Abstract: Embodiments determine the effect of an environmental maintenance device on other environmental maintenance devices in environmentally controlled space. The determined effects may be modeled and graphically represented using, for example, an effectiveness map. In the case of a data center, an exemplary effectiveness map may illustrate the effect that one or more computer room air conditioners (CRACs) have on themselves and on other CRACs in the data center. In the case of an office building, an exemplary effectiveness map may illustrate the effect that one or more selected variable air volume (VAV) terminal units have on their own thermostat readings and the thermostat readings of other VAV terminal units in the office building.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Clifford C. Federspiel, Peter C. Varadi
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Patent number: 11181289Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for an automated customer service platform with human augmented conversational interleaving is disclosed. The method comprises estimating a latent load of the air in a zone being disinfected; selecting a set of one or more control from a plurality of control that is expected to improve the optimization metric; optimizing a metric for the set of allowable control and changing the setpoints of the set of control when the optimized metric has converged.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2021Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Clifford Conrad Federspiel, Peter Christian Varadi, Robert W. Thronson, Benjamin Casey, James Patrick Rynne, Cedric J. Clotilde
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Patent number: 10969128Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for minimizing power consumption in a cooling system. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises one or more processors, one or more sensors associated with one or more regulated environments and one or more chillers that regulate temperature of the one or more regulated environments and a storage device, coupled to the one or more processors, storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors performs a method. The method comprises gathering readings from the one or more sensors, determining a cost and power consumption associated with setting values for a plurality of control variables associated with the one or more chiller plants, selecting values for the control variables with a minimum cost as optimized control variable values and applying the optimized control variable values to the plurality of control variables to minimize power consumption of the cooling system.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2015Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Clifford Federspiel, Prasad Nair
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Patent number: 10417596Abstract: Methods are provided for calculating a reserve value or a risk value for various locations in an environmentally-controlled space such as a data center, and using the reserve value or risk value to allocate environmental maintenance modules and/or load. For example, an influence model can predict a change in a sensor value at a location for a corresponding change in an operation level of an actuator of one of the environmental maintenance modules. Based on the influence model and an operation level of the actuator, a reserve value can be determined for the location. A risk value for the location can be determined using a risk metric that may use the reserve value, a current sensor value at the location, and a threshold sensor value at the location.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2016Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Peter C. Varadi, Willem Maas, Clifford C. Federspiel
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Patent number: 10410502Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing environmental management in a monitored facility. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining at least one mathematical expression representing the behavior of at least one piece of equipment in a monitored equipment housing facility; and generating, for the at least one piece of equipment and using the at least one mathematical expression, a predicted impact of an operational state of the at least one piece of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2018Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Clifford Federspiel, Daniel N. Miller, Peter Varadi, Kennard White
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Patent number: 10108154Abstract: Systems and methods are described for updating an influence model used to manage physical conditions of an environmentally controlled space. A method comprises operating an environmental maintenance system in a first production mode with the influence model until an event causes the system to enter a second production mode. In the second production mode a first actuator's operation level is varied and operation levels of other actuators are optimized. The influence model is adjusted based on the operation levels.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: VIGILENT CORPORATIONInventors: Peter Christian Varadi, Jerry Chin, Steven David Horowitz, Clifford Federspiel
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Patent number: 9898917Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatuses for environmental management using a smart alarm comprising, receiving one or more readings from one or more sensors, wherein the sensors are of at least one or more distinct logical types, generating one or more derived points representing the one or more readings from the sensors and alerting one or more alarm units when the derived points satisfy an alarm condition.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Daniel N. Miller, Peter Varadi, Kennard White, Clifford Federspiel
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Patent number: 9857779Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for controlling an environmental maintenance system that includes a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators. The operation levels of the actuators can be determined by optimizing a cost function subject to a constraint, e.g., having no more than a certain number of sensors that are out of range. A predictor model can predict whether certain operation levels of the actuators violate the constraint. The search for acceptable operation levels (i.e., ones that do not violate constraints) can be performed by analyzing points on lines in an N-dimensional space, where N is the number of actuators. The subset of acceptable operation levels along with a cost function (e.g., that incorporates energy consumption information) can be used to change operation levels of the modules to keep the temperatures within a desired range while using minimal energy.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventor: Peter Christian Varadi
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Patent number: 9822989Abstract: Systems and methods of stabilizing HVAC systems with multiple HVAC units configured to control return air temperature or discharge air temperature are provided. HVAC units that are controlled by the return air temperature compare the return air temperature to a setpoint that determines whether the HVAC unit's operation increases, decreases, or stays the same. By adjusting the setpoint of an HVAC unit based on certain criteria (e.g., a desired operational effort of an HVAC unit) the system can be stabilized. A temperature setpoint reset (TSPR) system can be included in each HVAC unit that resets the temperature setpoint (TSP) of the HVAC unit so that the HVAC unit operates within a desired operational effort (e.g. compressor speed or valve position). A master feedback loop and optimizer loop may be implemented to further control the behavior of the HVAC system.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventor: Clifford C. Federspiel
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Publication number: 20170234559Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for minimizing power consumption in a cooling system. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises one or more processors, one or more sensors associated with one or more regulated environments and one or more chillers that regulate temperature of the one or more regulated environments and a storage device, coupled to the one or more processors, storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors performs a method. The method comprises gathering readings from the one or more sensors, determining a cost and power consumption associated with setting values for a plurality of control variables associated with the one or more chiller plants, selecting values for the control variables with a minimum cost as optimized control variable values and applying the optimized control variable values to the plurality of control variables to minimize power consumption of the cooling system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2015Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: VIGILENT CORPORATIONInventors: Clifford FEDERSPIEL, Prasad NAIR
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Publication number: 20170045252Abstract: A method of obtaining an operational redundancy value, for a system having a plurality of environmental maintenance modules for maintaining an environmental value within a specified range, includes monitoring the modules while the modules are running, to receive operational data regarding a level of operation of each of the modules. The method also includes determining an operational weight for each of the modules based on the operational data of each of the modules, computing an available capacity of the system based on the operational weights of the modules, and determining a required capacity for the system to maintain the environmental value within the specified range when a load exists for the modules. The method also includes calculating the operational redundancy value based on the available capacity and the required capacity and providing a message based on the operational redundancy value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2016Publication date: February 16, 2017Applicant: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Clifford C. Federspiel, James Sheridan, Dan Mascola
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Publication number: 20170046640Abstract: Methods are provided for calculating a reserve value or a risk value for various locations in an environmentally-controlled space such as a data center, and using the reserve value or risk value to allocate environmental maintenance modules and/or load. For example, an influence model can predict a change in a sensor value at a location for a corresponding change in an operation level of an actuator of one of the environmental maintenance modules. Based on the influence model and an operation level of the actuator, a reserve value can be determined for the location. A risk value for the location can be determined using a risk metric that may use the reserve value, a current sensor value at the location, and a threshold sensor value at the location.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2016Publication date: February 16, 2017Applicant: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Peter C. Varadi, Willem Maas, Clifford C. Federspiel
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Patent number: 9568924Abstract: A control strategy for heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) units used to condition the environment in data centers and other commercial buildings such as retail stores with an open-plan design is provided to coordinate the operation of the actuators of the HVAC units. A supervisory controller receives feedback signals from a plurality of environmental sensors and uses a set of references values to determine control signals to the actuators of the HVAC units. A pseudoinverse of a transfer function matrix G may be used to determine the control signals from errors in the feedback signals relative to the reference signals.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventor: Clifford C. Federspiel
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Patent number: 9317045Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling environmental maintenance modules (e.g. HVAC units) using sensors are provided. Values measured by the sensors can be used to determine a change in operation levels of the modules to keep the sensor values within a desired range. For example, a stopped module can be increased or started for more cooling when a sensor temperature is too hot. The module predicted to have the greatest effect on the temperature of hot sensor can be started. As another example, a module can be stopped (or otherwise have an operation level decreased), if the sensor temperatures are within range, and the decrease in operation level is predicted not to cause an out-of-range condition.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2014Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Clifford C. Federspiel, Kurt Federspiel, Jerry Chin
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Patent number: 9291358Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for controlling an environmental maintenance system that includes a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators. The operation levels of the actuators can be determined by optimizing a penalty function. As part of the penalty function, the sensor values can be compared to reference values. The optimized values of the operation levels can account for energy use of actuators at various operation levels and predicted differences of the sensor values relative to the reference values at various operation levels. The predicted difference can be determined using a transfer model. An accuracy of the transfer model can be determined by comparing predicted values to measured values. This accuracy can be used in determining new operational levels from an output of the transfer model (e.g., attenuating the output of the transfer model based on the accuracy).Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2014Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Clifford C. Federspiel, Jerry Chin
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Patent number: 8924026Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for controlling an environmental maintenance system that includes a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators. The operation levels of the actuators can be determined by optimizing a penalty function. As part of the penalty function, the sensor values can be compared to reference values. The optimized values of the operation levels can account for energy use of actuators at various operation levels and predicted differences of the sensor values relative to the reference values at various operation levels. The predicted difference can be determined using a transfer model. An accuracy of the transfer model can be determined by comparing predicted values to measured values. This accuracy can be used in determining new operational levels from an output of the transfer model (e.g., attenuating the output of the transfer model based on the accuracy).Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Clifford C. Federspiel, Jerry Chin
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Publication number: 20140337256Abstract: Systems and methods are described for updating an influence model used to manage physical conditions of an environmentally controlled space. A method comprises operating an environmental maintenance system in a first production mode with the influence model until an event causes the system to enter a second production mode. In the second production mode a first actuator's operation level is varied and operation levels of other actuators are optimized. The influence model is adjusted based on the operation levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: VIGILENT CORPORATIONInventors: PETER CHRISTIAN VARADI, JERRY CHIN, STEVEN DAVID HOROWITZ, CLIFFORD FEDERSPIEL
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Publication number: 20140121843Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling environmental maintenance modules (e.g. HVAC units) using sensors are provided. Values measured by the sensors can be used to determine a change in operation levels of the modules to keep the sensor values within a desired range. For example, a stopped module can be increased or started for more cooling when a sensor temperature is too hot. The module predicted to have the greatest effect on the temperature of hot sensor can be started. As another example, a module can be stopped (or otherwise have an operation level decreased), if the sensor temperatures are within range, and the decrease in operation level is predicted not to cause an out-of-range condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2014Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: VIGILENT CORPORATIONInventors: Clifford C. Federspiel, Kurt Federspiel, Jerry Chin
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Patent number: 8688243Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods of controlling a variable-speed fan of an environmental maintenance module that controls temperatures of a plurality of zones of a building are provided. A first critical zone of the building is identified by analyzing the first zone temperature errors, which are used to determine a final speed setting of the variable-speed fan. Systems, apparatus, and methods of calibrating an environmental maintenance module that controls a temperature of a zone of a building are also provided. A location parameter is calculated for a plurality of zone temperatures, and a scale parameter is computed that quantifies a variation of the zone temperatures relative to a location parameter. A first temperature setpoint for the zone is determined and used in controlling the temperature of the zone.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Clifford Federspiel, Kurt Federspiel
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Patent number: 8634962Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for controlling environmental maintenance modules (e.g. HVAC units) using sensors are provided. Values measured by the sensors can be used to determine a change in operation levels of the modules to keep the sensor values within a desired range. For example, a stopped module can be increased or started for more cooling when a sensor temperature is too hot. The module predicted to have the greatest effect on the temperature of hot sensor can be started. A transfer matrix, which provides a relation between a change in operation level and resulting sensor changes, can be used to perform the above predictions. As another example, a module can be stopped (or otherwise have an operation level decreased), if the sensor temperatures are within range, and the decrease in operation level is predicted not to cause an out-of-range condition.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2010Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Vigilent CorporationInventors: Clifford C. Federspiel, Kurt Federspiel, Jerry Chin