Abstract: An elevator includes a car follower associated with each of a pair of guide rails, and carrying electromagnets which are spaced from electromagnets on an elevator car. The electromagnets on the car and car follower create a repulsive force tending to center the car between the car follower electromagnets associated with the two guide rails. Preferably, the car follower electromagnets are interconnected into a single car follower such that they move together.

Abstract: A position reference system for use with a conveyance, such as an elevator (12). The system includes a code affixed to or embedded within a suspension device or primary motion coupling such as a rope or coated steel belt (16). A reader (28) in a fixed location determines the position of the conveyance.

Abstract: A bypass factor of an evaporator is used to indicate when an air filter of an HVAC is clogged. The bypass factor represents the amount of air that is bypassed without direct contact with the evaporator. As the air filter clogs, the bypass factor decreases. The bypass factor can also be used for early detection of clogging of the air filter. A first bypass factor is calculated by using the temperature measurements, and a second bypass factor is calculated by using the airflow rate of the air. The difference between the two bypass factors determines the error. An increase in the error indicates that the air filter is clogged. A coefficient of performance of the evaporator can also be calculated to detect if the air filter is clogged. A decrease in the coefficient of performance indicates that the air filter is clogged.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a position of a moveable platform includes a plurality of transponder modules. The transponder modules include an electromagnetic transmitter adapted to emit an electromagnetic signal, and an acoustic receiver adapted to receive an acoustic signal. At least two of the plurality of transponders are disposed about the position to be measured. The apparatus also includes at least one transceiver module affixed to the moveable platform, which transceiver modules includes an acoustic transmitter adapted to emit an acoustic signal, an electromagnetic receiver adapted to receive an electromagnetic signal. The apparatus also includes a timing mechanism for measuring a plurality of durations between an emission of the acoustic signal and a receipt of the electromagnetic signal, and a computing mechanism for processing the plurality of durations to compute the position.

Abstract: A method and system estimates a desired output signal waveform based on measured state parameters. A model training step generates a model by empirically obtaining measured signal waveforms corresponding to measured state parameters. Features, such as mode shapes and mode amplitudes, are extracted from the measured signals and stored in an estimation model along with coefficients of the model that correlate measured state parameters with the mode amplitudes. During part operation, the state parameters measured during operation are entered into the estimation model to obtain estimated features in a estimated signal waveform. The estimated features are then used to synthesize the estimated signal reflecting the actual operation of the operating part. The estimation model therefore allows estimation of an entire signal waveform from the state parameters.

Abstract: The temperature of the air exiting an evaporator and the relative humidity of the air entering and exiting the evaporator can be calculated by using existing sensors in a vapor compression system. The temperature of the air exiting the evaporator is calculated by using the detected temperature of the air entering the evaporator, the saturation temperature of the air, and a bypass factor. The relative humidity of the air entering and exiting the evaporator are then estimated using a psychrometric chart. By using the existing sensors to determine the temperature of the air exiting the evaporator and the relative humidity of the air entering and exiting the evaporator, the load requirement of the vapor compression system can be calculated without employing additional sensors. The system capacity of the vapor compression system can be matched to the load requirement to allow the effective use of electric power.

Abstract: A positioning system for a moveable platform comprising at least one active array comprised of at least one light emitting element for transmitting a binary encoded identification, where the encoding may be spatial or temporal, positioned at a known location, at least one camera for acquiring an image of the at least one active array, component for receiving the binary encoded identification from the image, component for processing the image to determine the position of the active array with respect to the moveable platform, and component for combining the received binary encoded identification and the determined position to calculate a position of the moveable platform.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a position of a moveable platform comprising a plurality of RFID tags encoded with location information situated at known locations and a plurality of visual markers situated at precise, known locations. An RF reader attached to a moveable platform reads the RFID tags to determine the approximate location of the platform. A camera apparatus attached to the moveable platform scans the visual marker. The scanned image is processed to provide the precise position information of the platform.

Abstract: A positioning system for an elevator cab (37) includes transponder modules (10) having a unique ID for receiving a signal (39) and emitting an ultrasonic signal when the signal is equivalent to the unique ID with a determination of position based on the time duration of the signals.

Abstract: A position reference system for use with a conveyance, such as an elevator (12). The system includes a code affixed to or embedded within a suspension device or primary motion coupling such as a rope or coated steel belt (16). A reader (28) in a fixed location determines the position of the conveyance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a position referencing system and method for horizontal or vertical conveyance, e.g., an elevator. The position referencing system includes a plurality of spaced apart color elements or reflectors (42) attached to a static structure (40), such as a door frame in a hoistway or guideway, a light source (12) for illuminating one of the reflectors, and a sensing device (10, 48, 48?) for capturing an image of the illuminated reflector. The image captured by the sensing device is used to determine the position and/or speed of the conveyance, e.g., an elevator car.

Abstract: An elevator includes a car follower (22) associated with each of a pair of guide rails (25), and carrying electromagnets (24) which are spaced from electromagnets (26) on an elevator car (28). The electromagnets on the car and car follower create a repulsive force tending to center the car between the car follower electromagnets associated with the two guide rails. Preferably, the car follower electromagnets are interconnected into a single car follower such that they move together.

Abstract: A refrigerant system is provided with a method and a control programmed to perform the method, in which a low charge of refrigerant is identified. The mass flow of refrigerant through the system is calculated utilizing at least two different methods. The two calculated mass flow rates are compared, and if they differ by more than predetermined amount, a determination is made that there is a low charge of refrigerant within the system.

Abstract: A bypass factor of an evaporator is used to indicate when an air filter of an HVAC is clogged. The bypass factor represents the amount of air that is bypassed without direct contact with the evaporator. As the air filter clogs, the bypass factor decreases. The bypass factor can also be used for early detection of clogging of the air filter. A first bypass factor is calculated by using the temperature measurements, and a second bypass factor is calculated by using the airflow rate of the air. The difference between the two bypass factors determines the error. An increase in the error indicates that the air filter is clogged. A coefficient of performance of the evaporator can also be calculated to detect if the air filter is clogged. A decrease in the coefficient of performance indicates that the air filter is clogged.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the sufficiency of the refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system by use of temperature measurements. The temperature of the liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser coil and the outdoor temperature are sensed and representative electrical signals are generated. The electrical signals are converted to digital values that are than compared to predetermined optimal values to determine whether the system is properly charged with refrigerant. An appropriate LED is lighted to indicate that the system is undercharged, overcharged or properly charged. For non-TXV/EXV systems a third parameter i.e. the return air wet bulb temperature is also sensed and a representative digital value thereof is included in the comparison with the predetermined known values to determine if the charge is proper.

Abstract: The sufficiency of refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system is determined by a comparison of two sensed temperatures in the system, one being the liquid line temperature and the other being either the outdoor temperature or the condenser coil temperature. In one embodiment the two sensed temperatures are displayed on respective thermochromic strips which are so calibrated and juxtaposed as to provide a visual indication, by the relative positions of the two displayed sensed temperatures, as to whether the refrigerant charge is adequate. In another embodiment, the sensed liquid line temperature is displayed by way of a plurality of LEDs and the other temperature is displayed by way of a marker on a temperature scale. If the two displayed temperatures are aligned, then the refrigerant charge is optimized, and if they are not aligned, the system is undercharged or overcharged.

Abstract: A method and control for determining an air filter condition in an HVAC system forces a change in a motor speed for a fan for driving air through the air filter and into an environment to be conditioned. When the motor speed is changed, an expected change in temperature in the environment is monitored. If the actual change is not as expected, a determination may be made that the air filter is clogged.

Abstract: The temperature of the air exiting an evaporator and the relative humidity of the air entering and exiting the evaporator can be calculated by using existing sensors in a vapor compression system. The temperature of the air exiting the evaporator is calculated by using the detected temperature of the air entering the evaporator, the saturation temperature of the air, and a bypass factor. The relative humidity of the air entering and exiting the evaporator are then estimated using a psychrometric chart. By using the existing sensors to determine the temperature of the air exiting the evaporator and the relative humidity of the air entering and exiting the evaporator, the load requirement of the vapor compression system can be calculated without employing additional sensors. The system capacity of the vapor compression system can be matched to the load requirement to allow the effective use of electric power.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a position of a moveable platform includes a plurality of transponder modules comprising, an electromagnetic transmitter adapted to emit an electromagnetic signal, and an acoustic receiver adapted to receive an acoustic signal wherein at least two of the plurality of transponders are disposed about the position to be measured, at least one transceiver module affixed to the moveable platform comprising, an acoustic transmitter adapted to emit an acoustic signal, an electromagnetic receiver adapted to receive an electromagnetic signal, a timing mechanism for measuring a plurality of durations between an emission of the acoustic signal and a receipt of the electromagnetic signal, and a computing mechanism for processing the plurality of durations to compute the position.

Abstract: A method for detecting and predicting refrigerant level includes the steps of determining an estimated value for a parameter indicative of refrigerant level and comparing that estimated value to an actual value. The difference between the actual and estimated value provides a refrigerant charge indicator value. The charge indicator value is indicative of the amount of refrigerant contained within the system. A change value is combined with the charge indicator value to provide a prediction for the future value of the charge indicator value. This future value is determined based on a rate of change and charge indicator value over a selected period of time.