Patents by Inventor ALLEN J. MINICH

ALLEN J. MINICH has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230400211
    Abstract: A control system includes an energy management system in operation with intelligent, network-connected thermostats located in structures. The thermostats are operable to control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Control during a demand response (DR) event period may be performed based on an optimal setpoint schedule of the HVAC system. Candidate setpoint schedules may be simulated to identify an optimal schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Allen J. Minich, Mark D. Stefanski
  • Patent number: 11739968
    Abstract: A control system includes an energy management system in operation with intelligent, network-connected thermostats located in structures. The thermostats are operable to control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Control during a demand response (DR) event period may be performed based on an optimal control trajectory of the HVAC system, where the control trajectory is optimal in that it minimizes a cost function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Allen J. Minich, Mark D. Stefanski
  • Publication number: 20200300491
    Abstract: A control system includes an energy management system in operation with intelligent, network-connected thermostats located in structures. The thermostats are operable to control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Control during a demand response (DR) event period may be performed based on an optimal control trajectory of the HVAC system, where the control trajectory is optimal in that it minimizes a cost function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Allen J. Minich, Mark D. Stefanski
  • Patent number: 10718539
    Abstract: A control system includes an energy management system in operation with intelligent, network-connected thermostats located in structures. The thermostats are operable to control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Control during a demand response (DR) event period may be performed based on an optimal control trajectory of the HVAC system, where the control trajectory is optimal in that it minimizes a cost function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Allen J. Minich, Mark D. Stefanski
  • Patent number: 10545517
    Abstract: In controlling the HVAC system, a need to determine an expected indoor temperature profile for a particular schedule of setpoint temperatures may arise. To make such a determination, a thermodynamic model of the structure is used. The thermodynamic model is generated by fitting weighting factors of a set of basis functions to a variety of historical data including time information, temperature information, and HVAC actuation state information. The set of basis functions characterize an indoor temperature trajectory of the structure in response to a change in HVAC actuation state, and include an inertial carryover component that characterizes a carryover of a rate of indoor temperature change that was occurring immediately prior to the change in actuation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Allen J. Minich, Joseph A. Ruff
  • Publication number: 20180181149
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for generating and implementing thermodynamic models of a structure. Thermostats disclosed herein are operable to control an HVAC system. In controlling the HVAC system, a need to determine an expected indoor temperature profile for a particular schedule of setpoint temperatures may arise. To make such a determination, a thermodynamic model of the structure may be used. The thermodynamic model may be generated by fitting weighting factors of a set of basis functions to a variety of historical data including time information, temperature information, and HVAC actuation state information. The set of basis functions characterize an indoor temperature trajectory of the structure in response to a change in HVAC actuation state, and include an inertial carryover component that characterizes a carryover of a rate of indoor temperature change that was occurring immediately prior to the change in actuation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Allen J. Minich, Joseph A. Ruff
  • Publication number: 20180088605
    Abstract: A control system includes an energy management system in operation with intelligent, network-connected thermostats located in structures. The thermostats are operable to control HVAC systems. Control during a DR event period may be performed based on an optimal control trajectory of the HVAC system, where the control trajectory is optimal in that it minimizes a cost function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Allen J. Minich, Mark D. Stefanski
  • Patent number: 9910449
    Abstract: Thermostats disclosed herein are operable to control an HVAC system. In controlling the HVAC system, a need to determine an expected indoor temperature profile for a particular schedule of setpoint temperatures may arise. To make such a determination, a thermodynamic model of the structure is used. The thermodynamic model may be generated by fitting weighting factors of a set of basis functions to a variety of historical data including time information, temperature information, and HVAC actuation state information. The set of basis functions characterize an indoor temperature trajectory of the structure in response to a change in HVAC actuation state, and include an inertial carryover component that characterizes a carryover of a rate of indoor temperature change that was occurring immediately prior to the change in actuation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Allen J. Minich, Joseph A. Ruff
  • Patent number: 9810442
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for carrying out a demand response (DR) event via an intelligent, network-connected thermostat associated with a structure. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat is operable to control an HVAC system. Control during a DR event period may be performed based on an optimal control trajectory of the HVAC system, where the control trajectory is optimal in that it minimizes a cost function comprising a combination of a first factor representative of a total energy consumption during the DR event period, a second factor representative of a metric of occupant discomfort, and a third factor representative of deviations of a rate of energy consumption over the DR event period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Allen J. Minich, Mark D. Stefanski
  • Publication number: 20140312128
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for generating and implementing thermodynamic models of a structure. Thermostats disclosed herein are operable to control an HVAC system. In controlling the HVAC system, a need to determine an expected indoor temperature profile for a particular schedule of setpoint temperatures may arise. To make such a determination, a thermodynamic model of the structure may be used. The thermodynamic model may be generated by fitting weighting factors of a set of basis functions to a variety of historical data including time information, temperature information, and HVAC actuation state information. The set of basis functions characterize an indoor temperature trajectory of the structure in response to a change in HVAC actuation state, and include an inertial carryover component that characterizes a carryover of a rate of indoor temperature change that was occurring immediately prior to the change in actuation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Nest Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: YOKY MATSUOKA, MARK MALHOTRA, ALLEN J. MINICH, JOSEPH A. RUFF
  • Publication number: 20140277761
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for carrying out a demand response (DR) event via an intelligent, network-connected thermostat associated with a structure. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat is operable to control an HVAC system. Control during a DR event period may be performed based on an optimal control trajectory of the HVAC system, where the control trajectory is optimal in that it minimizes a cost function comprising a combination of a first factor representative of a total energy consumption during the DR event period, a second factor representative of a metric of occupant discomfort, and a third factor representative of deviations of a rate of energy consumption over the DR event period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Nest Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: YOKY MATSUOKA, MARK MALHOTRA, ALLEN J. MINICH, MARK D. STEFANSKI