Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Amundson

Christopher R. Amundson 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).

  • Patent number: 11774130
    Abstract: A controller for an economizer that provides outdoor air to a conditioned space. The controller includes an error calculator configured determine an indoor air quality (IAQ) setpoint error based on an actual IAQ and an IAQ setpoint, an outdoor air flow (OAF) setpoint adjuster configured to determine an adjusted OAF setpoint based on at least one of the IAQ setpoint error, an initial OAF setpoint, and an OAF setpoint upper limit, and a proportional variable deadband controller (PVDC) configured to adjust an operational deadband of the economizer and adjust an operation of at least one of an actuator and a damper of the economizer to achieve the adjusted OAF based on at least one of an actual OAF and the adjusted OAF setpoint. Achieving the adjusted OAF drives the actual IAQ to the IAQ setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Tyler K. Paddock, Christopher R. Amundson, Nathan T. Ostrye
  • Patent number: 11561018
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to a system, a method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium for controlling a central plant. In one aspect, the system obtains a control envelope for a device controlled by the controller. The control envelope comprises boundaries of a plurality of control regions in a multidimensional operating space for the device. Each control region is enclosed by a corresponding boundary. The system counts a number of times that a ray of the device crosses the boundary of a control region. The system determines whether an operating point of the device is within the control region based on the counted number. The system operates the device according to a predetermined control technique corresponding to the control region, in response to determining that the operating point of the device is within the control region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Tyler K. Paddock, Nathan T. Ostrye, Aron M. Seiler, Christopher R. Amundson
  • Patent number: 11466887
    Abstract: A masterless building device system for controlling an environmental condition of a building, includes a first building device and a second building device. The first building device includes a first processing circuit configured to determine, via a first sensor of the first building device, a first environmental condition value of the environmental condition. The first processing circuit is configured to broadcast the first environmental condition value to a second building device via a network. The first processing circuit is configured to receive, via the network, a second environmental condition value broadcast by the second building device, generate a calculated environmental condition value based on the first environmental condition value and the second environmental condition value, and control the environmental condition based on the calculated environmental condition value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Kraig D. Ritmanich, Christopher R. Amundson, Aron M. Seiler
  • Publication number: 20210215374
    Abstract: A controller for an economizer that provides outdoor air to a conditioned space. The controller includes an error calculator configured determine an indoor air quality (IAQ) setpoint error based on an actual IAQ and an IAQ setpoint, an outdoor air flow (OAF) setpoint adjuster configured to determine an adjusted OAF setpoint based on at least one of the IAQ setpoint error, an initial OAF setpoint, and an OAF setpoint upper limit, and a proportional variable deadband controller (PVDC) configured to adjust an operational deadband of the economizer and adjust an operation of at least one of an actuator and a damper of the economizer to achieve the adjusted OAF based on at least one of an actual OAF and the adjusted OAF setpoint. Achieving the adjusted OAF drives the actual IAQ to the IAQ setpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Tyler K. Paddock, Christopher R. Amundson, Nathan T. Ostrye
  • Patent number: 10914476
    Abstract: A multi-circuit refrigeration system includes a first plurality of compressors, a second plurality of compressors, and a control panel. The control panel is configured to receive an input related to humidity from a humidity sensor or humidistat. Based on the input, the control panel is configured to sequence operation of the first plurality of compressors and the second plurality of compressors between a balanced mode and a clustered mode. In the balanced mode, a first compressor of the first plurality of compressors and a first compressor of second plurality of compressors are energized before a second compressor of the first plurality of compressors or a second compressor of the second plurality of compressors is energized. In the clustered mode, the first compressor and the second compressor of the first plurality of compressors are energized before the first compressor or the second compressor of the second plurality of compressors is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technolgy Company
    Inventors: Nathan T. Ostrye, Aron Marc Seiler, Christopher R. Amundson, Tyler Paddock
  • Patent number: 10914480
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system to control a climate of a space via a first control loop and a second control loop interacting with the first control loop. The system includes a first controller of the first control loop to generate a first control signal based on a first modified set point and a first feedback signal. The system further includes a second controller of the second control loop to generate a second control signal based on a second modified set point and a second feedback signal. The system further includes a decoupler configured to predict a first effect of the first control signal on the second control loop and a second effect of the second control signal on the first control loop, and generate the first modified set point and the second modified set point to reduce the first effect and the second effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy I. Salsbury, Carlos Felipe Alcala Perez, John M. House, Christopher R. Amundson
  • Patent number: 10866007
    Abstract: A controller for an economizer that provides outdoor air to a conditioned space. The controller includes an error calculator configured determine an indoor air quality (IAQ) setpoint error based on an actual IAQ and an IAQ setpoint, an outdoor air flow (OAF) setpoint adjuster configured to determine an adjusted OAF setpoint based on at least one of the IAQ setpoint error, an initial OAF setpoint, and an OAF setpoint upper limit, and a proportional variable deadband controller (PVDC) configured to adjust an operational deadband of the economizer and adjust an operation of at least one of an actuator and a damper of the economizer to achieve the adjusted OAF based on at least one of an actual OAF and the adjusted OAF setpoint. Achieving the adjusted OAF drives the actual IAQ to the IAQ setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Tyler K. Paddock, Christopher R. Amundson, Nathan T. Ostrye
  • Patent number: 10838440
    Abstract: A controller for a plurality of devices of a building control system that operate in parallel to provide a desired capacity of heating or cooling for a building space includes a capacity identifier configured to identify the desired capacity of heating or cooling for the building space. The controller further includes a combination finder configured to generate a list of combinations of devices that can be energized to provide the desired capacity. The controller further includes a combination filter configured to remove any combinations from the list that do not meet one or more requirements. The controller further includes a combination selector configured to select one of the combinations based on at least one of a runtime and a transition count. The controller further includes a signal generator configured to generate control signals in accordance with the selected combination and operate the plurality of devices using the control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Nathan T. Ostrye, Tyler K. Paddock, Aron M. Seiler, Christopher R. Amundson
  • Publication number: 20200271339
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to a system, a method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium for controlling a central plant. In one aspect, the system obtains a control envelope for a device controlled by the controller. The control envelope comprises boundaries of a plurality of control regions in a multidimensional operating space for the device. Each control region is enclosed by a corresponding boundary. The system counts a number of times that a ray of the device crosses the boundary of a control region. The system determines whether an operating point of the device is within the control region based on the counted number. The system operates the device according to a predetermined control technique corresponding to the control region, in response to determining that the operating point of the device is within the control region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Tyler K. Paddock, Nathan Thomas Ostrye, Aron M. Seiler, Christopher R. Amundson
  • Publication number: 20200232670
    Abstract: A masterless building device system for controlling an environmental condition of a building, includes a first building device and a second building device. The first building device includes a first processing circuit configured to determine, via a first sensor of the first building device, a first environmental condition value of the environmental condition. The first processing circuit is configured to broadcast the first environmental condition value to a second building device via a network. The first processing circuit is configured to receive, via the network, a second environmental condition value broadcast by the second building device, generate a calculated environmental condition value based on the first environmental condition value and the second environmental condition value, and control the environmental condition based on the calculated environmental condition value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kraig D. Ritmanich, Christopher R. Amundson, Aron M. Seiler
  • Publication number: 20200224913
    Abstract: A controller for an economizer that provides outdoor air to a conditioned space. The controller includes an error calculator configured determine an indoor air quality (IAQ) setpoint error based on an actual IAQ and an IAQ setpoint, an outdoor air flow (OAF) setpoint adjuster configured to determine an adjusted OAF setpoint based on at least one of the IAQ setpoint error, an initial OAF setpoint, and an OAF setpoint upper limit, and a proportional variable deadband controller (PVDC) configured to adjust an operational deadband of the economizer and adjust an operation of at least one of an actuator and a damper of the economizer to achieve the adjusted OAF based on at least one of an actual OAF and the adjusted OAF setpoint. Achieving the adjusted OAF drives the actual IAQ to the IAQ setpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Tyler K. PADDOCK, Christopher R. AMUNDSON, Nathan T. OSTRYE
  • Patent number: 10619880
    Abstract: A masterless building device system for controlling an environmental condition of a building, includes a first building device and a second building device. The first building device includes a first processing circuit configured to determine, via a first sensor of the first building device, a first environmental condition value of the environmental condition. The first processing circuit is configured to broadcast the first environmental condition value to a second building device via a network. The first processing circuit is configured to receive, via the network, a second environmental condition value broadcast by the second building device, generate a calculated environmental condition value based on the first environmental condition value and the second environmental condition value, and control the environmental condition based on the calculated environmental condition value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kraig D. Ritmanich, Christopher R. Amundson, Aron M. Seiler
  • Patent number: 10564615
    Abstract: An equipment controller in a building management system (BMS) includes a feature detector and a dynamic point list generator. The feature detector is configured to receive sensor input from a sensor and determine a set of features available to the equipment controller based on the sensor input. The dynamic point list generator is configured to determine unavailable features based on the set of available features and identify one or more points in a complete point list associated with the set of unavailable features. The dynamic point list generator is configured to generate a dynamic point list by removing the identified points from the complete point list and expose the dynamic point list to a BMS controller communicably connected to the equipment controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Christopher R. Amundson, David A. Kondrad, Kraig D. Ritmanich, Aron M. Seiler, Jameel Ahmed, Curtis C. Crane, Vivek V. Gupta, Daniel F. Leising, Brandon A. Sloat, Lisa E. Strand
  • Publication number: 20190376702
    Abstract: A multi-circuit refrigeration system includes a first plurality of compressors, a second plurality of compressors, and a control panel. The control panel is configured to receive an input related to humidity from a humidity sensor or humidistat. Based on the input, the control panel is configured to sequence operation of the first plurality of compressors and the second plurality of compressors between a balanced mode and a clustered mode. In the balanced mode, a first compressor of the first plurality of compressors and a first compressor of second plurality of compressors are energized before a second compressor of the first plurality of compressors or a second compressor of the second plurality of compressors is energized. In the clustered mode, the first compressor and the second compressor of the first plurality of compressors are energized before the first compressor or the second compressor of the second plurality of compressors is energized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Nathan T. Ostrye, Aron Marc Seiler, Christopher R. Amundson, Tyler Paddock
  • Publication number: 20190331358
    Abstract: A masterless building device system for controlling an environmental condition of a building, includes a first building device and a second building device. The first building device includes a first processing circuit configured to determine, via a first sensor of the first building device, a first environmental condition value of the environmental condition. The first processing circuit is configured to broadcast the first environmental condition value to a second building device via a network. The first processing circuit is configured to receive, via the network, a second environmental condition value broadcast by the second building device, generate a calculated environmental condition value based on the first environmental condition value and the second environmental condition value, and control the environmental condition based on the calculated environmental condition value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Kraig D. Ritmanich, Christopher R. Amundson, Aron M. Seiler
  • Patent number: 10408473
    Abstract: A multi-circuit refrigeration system includes a first plurality of compressors, a second plurality of compressors, and a control panel. The control panel is configured to receive an input related to humidity from a humidity sensor or humidistat. Based on the input, the control panel is configured to sequence operation of the first plurality of compressors and the second plurality of compressors between a balanced mode and a clustered mode. In the balanced mode, a first compressor of the first plurality of compressors and a first compressor of second plurality of compressors are energized before a second compressor of the first plurality of compressors or a second compressor of the second plurality of compressors is energized. In the clustered mode, the first compressor and the second compressor of the first plurality of compressors are energized before the first compressor or the second compressor of the second plurality of compressors is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Nathan T. Ostrye, Aron Marc Seiler, Christopher R. Amundson, Tyler Paddock
  • Publication number: 20190163213
    Abstract: A controller for a plurality of devices of a building control system that operate in parallel to provide a desired capacity of heating or cooling for a building space includes a capacity identifier configured to identify the desired capacity of heating or cooling for the building space. The controller further includes a combination finder configured to generate a list of combinations of devices that can be energized to provide the desired capacity. The controller further includes a combination filter configured to remove any combinations from the list that do not meet one or more requirements. The controller further includes a combination selector configured to select one of the combinations based on at least one of a runtime and a transition count. The controller further includes a signal generator configured to generate control signals in accordance with the selected combination and operate the plurality of devices using the control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Nathan T. Ostrye, Tyler K. Paddock, Aron M. Seiler, Christopher R. Amundson
  • Publication number: 20190154289
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system to control a climate of a space via a first control loop and a second control loop interacting with the first control loop. The system includes a first controller of the first control loop to generate a first control signal based on a first modified set point and a first feedback signal. The system further includes a second controller of the second control loop to generate a second control signal based on a second modified set point and a second feedback signal. The system further includes a decoupler configured to predict a first effect of the first control signal on the second control loop and a second effect of the second control signal on the first control loop, and generate the first modified set point and the second modified set point to reduce the first effect and the second effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy I. Salsbury, Carlos Felipe Alcala Perez, John M. House, Christopher R. Amundson
  • Patent number: 10253997
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system to control a climate of a space via a first control loop and a second control loop interacting with the first control loop. The system includes a first controller of the first control loop to generate a first control signal based on a first modified set point and a first feedback signal. The system further includes a second controller of the second control loop to generate a second control signal based on a second modified set point and a second feedback signal. The system further includes a decoupler configured to predict a first effect of the first control signal on the second control loop and a second effect of the second control signal on the first control loop, and generate the first modified set point and the second modified set point to reduce the first effect and the second effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy I. Salsbury, Carlos Felipe Alcala Perez, John M. House, Christopher R. Amundson
  • Publication number: 20180363932
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system to control a climate of a space via a first control loop and a second control loop interacting with the first control loop. The system includes a first controller of the first control loop to generate a first control signal based on a first modified set point and a first feedback signal. The system further includes a second controller of the second control loop to generate a second control signal based on a second modified set point and a second feedback signal. The system further includes a decoupler configured to predict a first effect of the first control signal on the second control loop and a second effect of the second control signal on the first control loop, and generate the first modified set point and the second modified set point to reduce the first effect and the second effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy I. Salsbury, Carlos Felipe Alcala Perez, John M. House, Christopher R. Amundson