Patents by Inventor CHRISTOPHER HEINTZELMAN
CHRISTOPHER HEINTZELMAN 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).
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Patent number: 11796204Abstract: In some examples, a device can control an HVAC system within a building. The device includes a memory configured to store an actual configuration of the HVAC system and processing circuitry operably coupled to the memory. The processing circuitry is configured to determine which field wires connect a terminal to the HVAC system. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine an actual configuration of the HVAC system based on which field wires connect the terminal to the HVAC system and determine a geographic location of the HVAC controller or of the device. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that the actual configuration includes an irregularity based on the determined geographic location and generate an output in response to determining that the actual configuration includes an irregularity.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2019Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Joseph C. Vargas
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Patent number: 11790747Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring a status of a building comprising a first sensor configured to detect a first condition in the space and a second sensor configured to detect a second condition in the space is disclosed. The system may further comprise a memory for storing one or more rules each configured to identify one or more issues in the space based on the first and/or second conditions in the space and a communications module configured to communicate with a remote device over a network. A controller may be configured to apply the one or more rules to the first and second detected conditions in the space to identify the one or more issues and provide a notification to the remote device via the communications module.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Brian Beale, David J. Emmons, Joseph Bodkin, John Cronin
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Patent number: 11708991Abstract: An HVAC controller is configured to automatically change between a HEAT mode and a COOL mode in accordance with a sensed temperature in the building structure, a HEAT temperature set point and a COOL temperature set point. The user is allowed to adjust the HEAT temperature set point and the COOL temperature set point, with the HVAC controller automatically adjusting one of the set points in response to the user making a change to the other of the other of the set points that violates a minimum deadband. If the user readjusts the user-adjusted set point in a way that no longer violates the minimum deadband, the HVAC controller will adjust the other set point back towards its previous setting.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Christopher R. Jones, Joseph Carlos Vargas
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Publication number: 20230081270Abstract: A building monitoring system includes a first sensor configured to detect a first condition in the space, a second sensor configured to detect a second condition in the space, and a robotic sentinel. The robotic sentinel includes a memory for storing one or more rules each configured to identify an alert condition for the space based on the first and/or second conditions in the space, a communications module configured to communicate with a remote device over a network, and a controller operatively coupled to the sensors, the memory, and the communications module. The controller is configured to apply the one or more rules to the first and second detected conditions in the space to identify one or more alert conditions and determine what action is required by the robotic sentinel, and if action is required, command the robotic sentinel to travel to a location of the alert condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Soumitri Kolavennu, Warren Young, Joseph Bodkin, John Cronin
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Publication number: 20230003406Abstract: In some examples, a device controls a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system within a building. The device includes an analog display including a set of markers. Additionally, the devices includes processing circuitry configured to determine whether one or both of a cooling set point mode and a heating set point mode is activated and cause a set point to change from a first set point value to a second set point value in response to receiving a first rotation input to a dial. Additionally, the processing circuitry is configured to control a set of LEDs to transition from illuminating a first marker of the set of markers to illuminating a second marker of the set of markers, wherein the first marker corresponds to the first set point value and the second marker corresponds to the second set point value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2020Publication date: January 5, 2023Inventors: Christopher R. Jones, Jaymeson Tucker, Michael Crites, Christopher Heintzelman
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Patent number: 11534919Abstract: A building monitoring system includes a first sensor configured to detect a first condition in the space, a second sensor configured to detect a second condition in the space, and a robotic sentinel. The robotic sentinel includes a memory for storing one or more rules each configured to identify an alert condition for the space based on the first and/or second conditions in the space, a communications module configured to communicate with a remote device over a network, and a controller operatively coupled to the sensors, the memory, and the communications module. The controller is configured to apply the one or more rules to the first and second detected conditions in the space to identify one or more alert conditions and determine what action is required by the robotic sentinel, and if action is required, command the robotic sentinel to travel to a location of the alert condition.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2019Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: ADEMCO INC.Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Soumitri Kolavennu, Warren Young, Joseph Bodkin, John Cronin
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Publication number: 20220146134Abstract: An HVAC controller is configured to receive signals from a plurality of sensors positioned in different spaces. The HVAC controller includes a controller that is configured to display one or more screens on a user interface that include a home screen including a selectable display element that indicates a number of the plurality of sensors that are currently being used by the controller in controlling the HVAC system. Upon selection of the selectable display element, the controller displays a sensor priority screen that includes a plurality of graphic constructs that each identify a building space and a current temperature for that building space. The controller is configured to control the HVAC system in accordance with the current temperature reported by each of the number of the plurality of sensors that are currently being used by the controller in controlling the HVAC system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2022Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Christopher R. Jones, Joseph Carlos Vargas
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Patent number: 11236923Abstract: An HVAC controller is configured to receive signals from a plurality of sensors positioned in different spaces. The HVAC controller includes a controller that is configured to display one or more screens on a user interface that include a home screen including a selectable display element that indicates a number of the plurality of sensors that are currently being used by the controller in controlling the HVAC system. Upon selection of the selectable display element, the controller displays a sensor priority screen that includes a plurality of graphic constructs that each identify a building space and a current temperature for that building space. The controller is configured to control the HVAC system in accordance with the current temperature reported by each of the number of the plurality of sensors that are currently being used by the controller in controlling the HVAC system.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Christopher R. Jones, Joseph Carlos Vargas
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Publication number: 20210350685Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring a status of a building comprising a first sensor configured to detect a first condition in the space and a second sensor configured to detect a second condition in the space is disclosed. The system may further comprise a memory for storing one or more rules each configured to identify one or more issues in the space based on the first and/or second conditions in the space and a communications module configured to communicate with a remote device over a network. A controller may be configured to apply the one or more rules to the first and second detected conditions in the space to identify the one or more issues and provide a notification to the remote device via the communications module.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Brian Beale, David J. Emmons, Joseph Bodkin, John Cronin
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Patent number: 11162699Abstract: In some examples, a system controls a set of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) components in order to regulate one or more parameters of a building. The system includes an HVAC controller device including a dial and a touch screen display. Additionally, the system includes an external server configured to communicate with the HVAC controller via a communication link. The external server is configured to receive data which indicates a set of information from one or more devices. Additionally, the external server is configured to generate, based on the set of information and a set of screen templates stored in a memory of the external server, a screen for display by the touch screen display without updating firmware of the HVAC controller device, and output, to the HVAC controller device, the screen for display by the touch screen display.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Christopher R. Jones, Christopher Heintzelman, David Johnson, Brian Kearns, Cameron Kip Vreeland, David Schultz
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Patent number: 11095469Abstract: A wireless occupancy sensor that is configured to be deployed within a building space includes a sensor body, an occupancy sensor that is housed by the sensor body, a light emitting diode (LED) that is housed by the sensor body, a wireless transceiver that is housed by the sensor body and is configured to be in wireless communication with a remote device. A controller is housed by the sensor body and is operably coupled to the occupancy sensor, the LED and the wireless transceiver and is configured to receive via the wireless transceiver a request to illuminate the LED from the remote device and in response to receiving the request, illuminate the LED in order to help visually identify the wireless occupancy sensor in the building space.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2018Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Travis Read, Eric Barton, Karla Morales, Liliana Reategui, Christopher Heintzelman
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Patent number: 11074797Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring a status of a building comprising a first sensor configured to detect a first condition in the space and a second sensor configured to detect a second condition in the space is disclosed. The system may further comprise a memory for storing one or more rules each configured to identify one or more issues in the space based on the first and/or second conditions in the space and a communications module configured to communicate with a remote device over a network. A controller may be configured to apply the one or more rules to the first and second detected conditions in the space to identify the one or more issues and provide a notification to the remote device via the communications module.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Brian Beale, David J. Emmons, Joseph Bodkin, John Cronin
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Patent number: 11067307Abstract: An HVAC controller includes a housing, a user interface and a controller that is operably coupled to the user interface and is configured to display a HOME screen on the user interface that provides the user with current system operating information and enabling the user to access a hierarchical menu structure for viewing and/or editing one or more settings of the HVAC controller. The hierarchical menu structure includes a plurality of menu branches each having two or more hierarchical menu levels with a leaf menu at the bottom of each branch, where for a first group of the leaf menus, the user must navigate “back” to return to the HOME screen while for a second group of the leaf menus, the user is returned to the HOME screen after the user indicates the user is done with the leaf menu, without having to wait for the timeout period.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Christopher R. Jones, Joseph Carlos Vargas
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Patent number: 11061374Abstract: A building management system comprising a plurality of sensors, each sensor of the plurality of sensors configured to detect a condition of the building is disclosed. The system may further comprise a memory for storing one or more events, each event configured to identify an action from a sequence of sensed conditions, a communications module configured to communicate with a remote device over a network, and a controller operatively coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, the memory, and the communications module. The controller may be configured to compare the plurality of sensed conditions to the one or more events to identify an action and determine what, if any response is required, and if a response is required, provide a notification to the remove device via the communications module.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Warren Young, Soumitri Kolavennu, Christopher Heintzelman, Joseph Bodkin, John Cronin
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Publication number: 20210148595Abstract: An HVAC controller is configured to automatically change between a HEAT mode and a COOL mode in accordance with a sensed temperature in the building structure, a HEAT temperature set point and a COOL temperature set point. The user is allowed to adjust the HEAT temperature set point and the COOL temperature set point, with the HVAC controller automatically adjusting one of the set points in response to the user making a change to the other of the other of the set points that violates a minimum deadband. If the user readjusts the user-adjusted set point in a way that no longer violates the minimum deadband, the HVAC controller will adjust the other set point back towards its previous setting.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Christopher R. Jones, Joseph Carlos Vargas
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Publication number: 20210102723Abstract: In some examples, a device can control an HVAC system within a building. The device includes a memory configured to store an actual configuration of the HVAC system and processing circuitry operably coupled to the memory. The processing circuitry is configured to determine which field wires connect a terminal to the HVAC system. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine an actual configuration of the HVAC system based on which field wires connect the terminal to the HVAC system and determine a geographic location of the HVAC controller or of the device. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that the actual configuration includes an irregularity based on the determined geographic location and generate an output in response to determining that the actual configuration includes an irregularity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2019Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Joseph C. Vargas
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Patent number: 10907852Abstract: The occupancy status of a building space may be determined by sensing an indication of motion in the building space, in response to sensing the indication of motion in the building space, starting an occupied time period having a length during which the building space is indicated as being occupied, determining a measure related to a number of subsequent sensed indications of motion in the building space during the occupied time period, and selectively adjusting the length of the occupied time period based on the measure related to the number of subsequent sensed indications of motion in the building space during the occupied time period.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, David Johnson, Steven Hoglund, Jeffrey Boll, David Schultz, Steven C. Nichols
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Patent number: 10908001Abstract: A wireless sensor assembly includes a wall plate that is configured to be secured to a wall of a building using either a threaded fastener or a releasable adhesive strip, the wall plate including an aperture therethrough for accommodating the threaded fastener and a recess on a back surface of the wall plate to accommodate at least part of the releasable adhesive strip. The wireless sensor assembly includes a sensor housing including a front housing region and a back housing region, the back housing region configured to be releasably secured to the wall plate, the back housing region including a recess that is configured to receive at least part of the wall plate when the back housing region is releasably secured to the wall plate.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Travis Read, Nathan Carlson, Christopher Heintzelman, Karla Morales
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Patent number: 10907854Abstract: An HVAC controller is configured to automatically change between a HEAT mode and a COOL mode in accordance with a sensed temperature in the building structure, a HEAT temperature set point and a COOL temperature set point. The user is allowed to adjust the HEAT temperature set point and the COOL temperature set point, with the HVAC controller automatically adjusting one of the set points in response to the user making a change to the other of the other of the set points that violates a minimum deadband. If the user readjusts the user-adjusted set point in a way that no longer violates the minimum deadband, the HVAC controller will adjust the other set point back towards its previous setting.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Christopher Heintzelman, Christopher R. Jones, Joseph Carlos Vargas
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Patent number: 10859281Abstract: A thermostat assembly includes a thermostat and a trim ring. The thermostat includes a user interface, a thermostat housing having a front portion with a front portion side wall and a back portion with a back portion side wall, the back portion side wall being offset from the front portion side wall, and a controller disposed within the thermostat housing and operably coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to accept input from a user via the user interface and provide one or more control signals to control the HVAC system. The trim ring includes an outer surface that transitions from a larger back side profile to a smaller front side profile. A front side of the trim ring includes a thermostat recess that is configured to receive at least part of the back portion of the thermostat.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Travis Read, Rajat Shail, Eric Barton, David Kynoch, Christopher Heintzelman