Patents Examined by Crystal J Barnes Bullock
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Patent number: 11693375Abstract: Systems and methods may use a low speed controller in addition to an economic optimizer to achieve long-term objectives without significantly disrupting or destabilizing an electrical system. Specific long-term objectives include maximizing a capacity factor incentive and regulating battery degradation, but the methods and systems herein can be extended to more long-term objectives. A low speed controller can adjust one or more parameters of a cost function based on the relation between the projected state of the electrical system and the one or more parameters to effectuate a change to the electrical system to attempt to comply with the long-term objective.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc.Inventor: Rebecca G. Wolkoff
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Patent number: 11695835Abstract: A method and system are provided that synchronize one or more appliances to one or more users' schedules. Sensor data may be obtained from a sensor. The sensor data may indicate a state of a first appliance. A user location may be determined. A first characteristic of the first appliance may be obtained. Based upon the user location and the sensor data, a schedule indicating when the user will desire a state change of the first appliance may be determined. A feature of the first appliance may be dynamically modified to cause the first appliance to operate according to the schedule. A notice may be sent to the user that contains information about the first appliance.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Google LLCInventors: John Henry Grossman, IV, Scott Bartlett
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Patent number: 11689051Abstract: A system of modules which control and measure energy usage at a building which are in communication with a software program executing on a remote server controlled by a third party. The third party said usage via the software program which communicates with the modules to modify energy usage and demand for energy and is responsible or liable for energy usage charges the building where the third party does not actually use the energy.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Budderfly, Inc.Inventor: Albert Subbloie
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Patent number: 11677239Abstract: A method is provided for controlling electrical load on a power grid from a load facility using demand response. The method includes accessing memory storing computer-readable program code for decision analysis of a specified time interval for a demand-response (DR) event. The method also includes executing the computer-readable program code, via a processor, to cause an apparatus to at least make a decision to participate in or opt out of the DR event. This includes the apparatus receiving values of variables that describe occupancy and usage of the load facility for one or more time intervals. The apparatus applies the values to an algorithm that maps the variables to a decision to participate in or opt out of the DR event for the specified time interval. And the apparatus automatically notifies an operator responsible for the DR event of the decision at least when the decision is to opt out.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: James Kenneth McKeever, Udhaya Kumar Dayalan, Thomas C. Basterash
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Patent number: 11670959Abstract: A system for analyzing energy usage measures one or more parameters indicative of energy usage for a plurality of sub-circuits, where the sampling rate for the measuring is substantially continuous, and automatically transmits information related to at least one of the measured parameters at a rate that enables monitoring of current energy usage. The system further detects a significant change in a measured parameter, determines whether the significant change in the measured parameter is caused by a change in energy usage, and automatically transmits information related to the significant change in the measured parameter caused by the change in energy usage after detecting the significant change.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: MELROK, LLCInventors: Michel Roger Kamel, Paul W. Donahue
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Patent number: 11644207Abstract: A thermostat for a building zone includes at least one of a model predictive controller and an equipment controller. The model predictive controller is configured to obtain a cost function that accounts for a cost of operating HVAC equipment during each of a plurality of time steps, use a predictive model to predict a temperature of the building zone during each of the plurality of time steps, and generate temperature setpoints for the building zone for each of the plurality of time steps by optimizing the cost function subject to a constraint on the predicted temperature. The equipment controller is configured to receive the temperature setpoints generated by the model predictive controller and drive the temperature of the building zone toward the temperature setpoints during each of the plurality of time steps by operating the HVAC equipment to provide heating or cooling to the building zone.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2019Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLPInventors: Robert D. Turney, Matthew J. Ellis, Michael J. Wenzel, Mohammad N. Elbsat, Juan Esteban Tapiero Bernal, Brennan H. Fentzlaff
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Patent number: 11635225Abstract: A plurality of independent air conditioners, a first air conditioner (AC) (9a), a second AC (9b), and a third AC (9c), are disposed in an air conditioning room. Individual target temperatures of each habitable room that are acquired from an input/output terminal (19) and an outdoor temperature that is acquired by an outdoor temperature sensor (7) are input to a mode setter (32). Based on the individual target temperatures and the outdoor temperature, the mode setter (32) sets a cooling mode and a cooling setpoint temperature for operation in the cooling mode, or a heating mode and a heating setpoint temperature for operation in the heating mode, for each of the first AC (9a), the second AC (9b), and the third AC (9c).Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2019Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Kanematsu, Naoyuki Funada, Ayumi Konishi
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Patent number: 11625747Abstract: An in-store customer transaction can be detected. Power charging credits can be assigned to the customer based, at least in part, on the in-store customer transaction. A charging station can be activated for the customer. Whether an amount of energy consumption by at least one user device of the customer from the charging station has reached a threshold value can be determined. The threshold value can be based, at least in part, on the charging credits assigned to the customer. Responsive to determining that the energy consumption by the at least one user device of the customer from the charging station has reached the threshold value, the charging station can cease or reduce power being delivered by the charging station to the at least one user device of the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Vikram Rengarajan, Subil Mathew Abraham
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Patent number: 11627039Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing environmental conditions and energy usage associated with a site. One exemplary method of regulating an environment condition at a site involves a server receiving environmental measurement data from a monitoring system at the site via a network, determining an action for an electrical appliance at the site based at least in part on the environmental measurement data and one or more monitoring rules associated with the site, and providing an indication of the action to an actuator for the electrical appliance.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Inventors: Gregory Wester, Matthew Paiz, Aleksandr Shulman
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Patent number: 11609016Abstract: An air conditioning control system includes an air conditioner, an air conditioning control device with a display, and an operation terminal with a camera. First authentication information included in a two-dimensional code displayed in the display in the air conditioning control device is collated with second authentication information acquired from the two-dimensional code imaged by the camera in the operation terminal and included in registration information transmitted from the operation terminal, to determine whether the first authentication information and the second authentication information match with each other. In response to the first authentication information and the second authentication information being determined to match with each other, the operation terminal that has terminal information included in the registration information is successfully authenticated and registered as an operation terminal that is enabled to perform a remote operation of the air conditioning control device.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATEDInventor: Akihiro Suzuki
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Patent number: 11592812Abstract: Methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable medium are described for sensor metrology data integration. A method includes receiving sets of sensor data and sets of metrology data. Each set of sensor data includes corresponding sensor values associated with producing corresponding product by manufacturing equipment and a corresponding sensor data identifier. Each set of metrology data includes corresponding metrology values associated with the corresponding product manufactured by the manufacturing equipment and a corresponding metrology data identifier. The method further includes determining common portions between each corresponding sensor data identifier and each corresponding metrology data identifier. The method further includes, for each of the sensor-metrology matches, generating a corresponding set of aggregated sensor-metrology data and storing the sets of aggregated sensor-metrology data to train a machine learning model.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Sidharth Bhatia, Garrett H. Sin, Heng-Cheng Pai, Pramod Nambiar, Ganesh Balasubramanian, Irfan Jamil
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Patent number: 11580610Abstract: A power management system obtains first data regarding several groups of electrical devices, including a budget and a respective priority metric associated with each of the groups. The system allots a respective amount of electrical power for use by each of the groups based on the first data. Further, the system obtains second data regarding the groups, including a respective amount of electrical power consumed by each of the groups. The system determines that a first group has consumed a first amount of electrical power that is greater than or equal to a second amount of electrical power that had been allotted for use by the first group. In response, the system re-allots at least a portion of a third amount of electrical power that had been allotted for use by a second group for use by the first group instead.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Adel Abu-Rejailah, Mohammed A. Batouq
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Patent number: 11570748Abstract: In one example embodiment, a power storage management system includes a user terminal, a power storage apparatus and an information processing apparatus. In one example embodiment, the information processing apparatus is configured to, using a mobile communication network (e.g., Global System for Mobile Communications or the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), communicate with the power storage apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hideki Noma, Tomoyuki Ono, Hiroshi Kawashima, Kayoko Tanaka, Ryoki Honjo, Shigeru Tajima, Daisuke Yamazaki, Kazumi Sato, Yoshihito Ishibashi
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Patent number: 11543786Abstract: Inference server and environment controller for inferring one or more commands for controlling an appliance. The environment controller receives at least one environmental characteristic value (for example, at least one of a current temperature, current humidity level, current carbon dioxide level, and current room occupancy) and at least one set point (for example, at least one of a target temperature, target humidity level, and target carbon dioxide level); and forwards them to the inference server. The inference server executes a neural network inference engine using a predictive model (generated by a neural network training engine) for inferring the one or more commands based on the received at least one environmental characteristic value and the received at least one set point; and transmits the one or more commands to the environment controller. The environment controller forwards the one or more commands to the controlled appliance.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: DISTECH CONTROLS INC.Inventors: Francois Gervais, Carlo Masciovecchio, Dominique Laplante
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Patent number: 11526138Abstract: Method and environment controller for inferring via a neural network one or more commands for controlling an appliance. A predictive model generated by a neural network training engine is stored by the environment controller. The environment controller receives at least one environmental characteristic value (for example, at least one of a current temperature, current humidity level, current carbon dioxide level, and current room occupancy). The environment controller receives at least one set point (for example, at least one of a target temperature, target humidity level, and target carbon dioxide level). The environment controller executes a neural network inference engine, which uses the predictive model for inferring the one or more commands for controlling the appliance based on the at least one environmental characteristic value and the at least one set point. The environment controller transmits the one or more commands to the controlled appliance.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Distech Controls Inc.Inventors: Francois Gervais, Carlo Masciovecchio, Dominique Laplante
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Patent number: 11511952Abstract: A system and method are provided for automated engaging of a truck trailer at a loading dock. Sensors measure a distance and an angle of alignment between the incoming trailer and a wall of the loading dock. An outside lighting system guides a truck driver backing the trailer toward the dock door. A vehicle restraint system fixates the trailer within the loading dock in response to signals from the sensors. An overhead dock door opens once the trailer is successfully fixated by the vehicle restraint system. A dock leveler deploys after the overhead dock door opens. An inside dock light indicates to dock personnel that the trailer is ready to be serviced. Once servicing of the trailer is finished, an automated release of the trailer from the loading dock may be initiated by PLC communication.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Niagara Bottling, LLCInventor: Robert Paul Avalos
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Patent number: 11502869Abstract: A method for adjusting devices upon detecting occupant is asleep in a security/automation system is described. In one embodiment, the method may include monitoring sensor data from one or more sensors, detecting an occupant sleeping, based at least in part on the monitored sensor data, and upon detecting the occupant sleeping, modifying one or more settings associated with one or more devices of the home automation system. In some cases, the method may include modifying at least one of an audio setting associated with the home automation system, a thermostat setting associated with the home automation system, a sensor setting associated with the home automation system, an appliance setting associated with the home automation system, and a security setting associated with the home automation system, or any combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: VIVINT, INC.Inventor: Michael D. Child
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Patent number: 11487259Abstract: A building management system that includes a plurality of slave devices, a remote server comprising a slave device configuration database, and a master controller. The master controller is configured to receive slave device configuration information stored in the slave device configuration database. The slave device configuration information includes at least one of cooling tower configuration parameters, chilled water pump configuration parameters, condenser water pump configuration parameters, air handling unit configuration parameters, rooftop air handling unit configuration parameters, variable air volume unit configuration parameters, chiller device configuration parameters, a rated device capacity, a rated device power, and a rated device speed. The master controller is further configured to control the plurality of slave devices using the slave device configuration information.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2019Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Homero L. Noboa
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Patent number: 11480355Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for space conditioning based on weather information are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive forecasted weather information, determine, based on the forecasted weather information, future weather conditions, determine based on the future weather conditions and historical setpoint data, whether conditioning of a space is expected, and generate an alert in response to conditioning of the space being expected.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Marek Sikora
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Patent number: 11449014Abstract: Example embodiments allow for networks of hybrid controllers that can be computed efficiently and that can adapt to changes in the system(s) under control. Such a network includes at least one hybrid controller that includes a dynamic sub-controller and a learned system sub-controller. Information about the ongoing performance of the system under control is provided to both the hybrid controller and to an over-controller, which provides one or more control inputs to the hybrid controller in order to modify the ongoing operation of the hybrid controller. These inputs can include the set-point of the hybrid controller, one or more parameters of the dynamic controller, and an update rate or other parameter of the learned system controller. The over-controller can control multiple hybrid controllers (e.g., controlling respective sub-systems of an overall system) and can, itself, be a hybrid controller.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: The University of ChicagoInventors: Henry Hoffmann, Lester Teichner, Benjamin Vear