Patents by Inventor Gerhard Bruns

Gerhard Bruns 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: 10812287
    Abstract: A building automation system and method is provided for isolating device communications in a BACnet/IP building automation network. The system may comprise at least one processor in a BACnet device configured via executable instructions included in at least one memory to communicate UDP messages for field devices onto an Ethernet network for receipt by at least one other BACnet device on the Ethernet network. The at least one processor may be configured to receive and store in a memory a configurable local subnet, a BACnet/IP UDP port, and a local UDP port. The at least one processor may also be configured to determine a UDP message that is to be broadcast only on the local subnet. In addition, the at least one processor may be responsive to the determination, to broadcast the UDP message to BACnet devices on the same local subnet using the local UDP port stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG
    Inventors: William Choi, Andreas Schlumberger, Gerhard Brun
  • Patent number: 10785049
    Abstract: A common automation system controller configured using a graphical approach for use in a building automation system is provided. There is an increasing demand for flexible and adaptable room or building automation applications with an easy and intuitive way for application configuration. In pre-engineering as well as during installation and commissioning, the application configuration for preloaded or loadable device needs to be easily changeable and can be used for operating and/or monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Brun, Heinrich Meier, Herbert Meier
  • Patent number: 10671030
    Abstract: Web-based interaction with building automation is provided. The interaction, regardless of the access point, is browser based. For IP access, hypertext protocol (http) communications of the browser are performed. The web-enabled controller serves responses with building automation information. For non-IP access, a web-server operating as an application in the same device as the browser intercepts the http communication and reformats the communication as appropriate for the non-IP access. Based on a response from the building automation system, the device local web-server responds to the browser. For communicating across different types of networks in the building automation system, controllers may use the embedded web-server to reformat as needed and route requests. The same look, feel, functionality, and/or usability may be provided using the browser regardless of the connectivity to the building automation network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Robert L. Kalafut, Gerhard Brun, Andreas Schlumberger, Ralph Sigrist
  • Publication number: 20190273629
    Abstract: A building automation system and method is provided for isolating device communications in a BACnet/IP building automation network. The system may comprise at least one processor in a BACnet device configured via executable instructions included in at least one memory to communicate UDP messages for field devices onto an Ethernet network for receipt by at least one other BACnet device on the Ethernet network. The at least one processor may be configured to receive and store in a memory a configurable local subnet, a BACnet/IP UDP port, and a local UDP port. The at least one processor may also be configured to determine a UDP message that is to be broadcast only on the local subnet. In addition, the at least one processor may be responsive to the determination, to broadcast the UDP message to BACnet devices on the same local subnet using the local UDP port stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: William Choi, Andreas Schlumberger, Gerhard Brun
  • Patent number: 10341134
    Abstract: A building automation system and method is provided for isolating device communications in a BACnet/IP building automation network. The system may comprise at least one processor in a BACnet device configured via executable instructions included in at least one memory to communicate UDP messages for field devices onto an Ethernet network for receipt by at least one other BACnet device on the Ethernet network. The at least one processor may be configured to receive and store in a memory a configurable local subnet, a BACnet/IP UDP port, and a local UDP port. The at least one processor may also be configured to determine a UDP message that is to be broadcast only on the local subnet. In addition, the at least one processor may be responsive to the determination, to broadcast the UDP message to BACnet devices on the same local subnet using the local UDP port stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: William Choi, Andreas Schlumberger, Gerhard Brun
  • Patent number: 10248089
    Abstract: Flexible control is provided in building automation. By dividing a floor space into segments, different segments may be assigned to rooms. The operation of the building automation likewise includes room level and segment level control functions and corresponding objects. To assign or reassign a given segment to a room, the segment is linked to the room using an identifier of the corresponding room control function. The building automation equipment and corresponding control for the segment is linked to the room operation. The separation of the room and segment functions may avoid any or extensive manual engineering other than re-assignment. The assignment or reassignment of segments to rooms may be performed online (e.g., at a panel or management station), offline (e.g., at a computer or engineering station), or automatically (e.g., moveable wall system).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Brun, Heinrich Meier, Franz Renggli
  • Publication number: 20180375681
    Abstract: A building automation system and method is provided for isolating device communications in a BACnet/IP building automation network. The system may comprise at least one processor in a BACnet device configured via executable instructions included in at least one memory to communicate UDP messages for field devices onto an Ethernet network for receipt by at least one other BACnet device on the Ethernet network. The at least one processor may be configured to receive and store in a memory a configurable local subnet, a BACnet/IP UDP port, and a local UDP port. The at least one processor may also be configured to determine a UDP message that is to be broadcast only on the local subnet. In addition, the at least one processor may be responsive to the determination, to broadcast the UDP message to BACnet devices on the same local subnet using the local UDP port stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: William Choi, Andreas Schlumberger, Gerhard Brun
  • Publication number: 20180167229
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the technical field of building management systems or building automation systems comprising a plurality of building devices, e.g. BACnet devices. In some embodiments, a method for providing network communication between BACnet devices via the Internet may include: initiating an outbound HTTPS connection to a pre-defined URL locating a communication web service, by a building automation BACnet device (a node of a local building automation network); and initiating an outbound HTTPS connection to the pre-defined URL locating the communication web service, by a BACnet tool. The building automation BACnet device serves as a gateway device for further BACnet devices of said local building automation network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Brun, Bernhard Isler, Ralph Sigrist
  • Patent number: 9946233
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods provide a building automation system that includes a controller, a web server and a client. The controller includes building automation objects that may be used to generate a model that includes elements, wherein each element is associated with one or more of the objects. The web server includes business logic that reads and subscribes to the objects. Each object notifies the business logic of changes to the data of the object. The business logic processes the data from the objects to provide model update commands based on the changed data. The client includes presentation logic that displays the model, receives the model update commands from the business logic, updates the model using the model update commands, and displays the updated model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Brun, Ralph Sigrist
  • Publication number: 20170214541
    Abstract: A common automation system controller configured using a graphical approach for use in a building automation system is provided. There is an increasing demand for flexible and adaptable room or building automation applications with an easy and intuitive way for application configuration. In pre-engineering as well as during installation and commissioning, the application configuration for preloaded or loadable device needs to be easily changeable and can be used for operating and/or monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Brun, Heinrich Meier, Herbert Meier
  • Patent number: 9658607
    Abstract: A system is provided for communicating common data associated with building automation objects between building automation devices across a network. The common data corresponds to a group of one or more building automation objects representing points associated with a plurality of field devices controlled or monitored in a building by the building automation devices. The system comprises a first building automation device having a group master object that includes a group identifier. A second building automation device includes a group member object having the same group identifier as the group master object. The group master object exchanges the common data to each of the building automation devices having a group member object that has the same group identifier as the group master object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG
    Inventors: James J. Coogan, William Choi, Gerhard Brun
  • Patent number: 9651924
    Abstract: A common automation system controller configured using a hierarchical approach for use in a building automation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Brun, James Coogan, Heinrich Meier, Herbert Meier, Franz Renggli
  • Patent number: 9625885
    Abstract: A system, process, and method for modeling a building automation system is provided that permits a control program to easily and efficiently add field devices, gather data from, and provide data to field devices, iterate though all field devices in a hierarchical structure, poll the field devices, evaluate the results, and react accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Brun, Herbert Meier, David E. Bornside, Diego Madone
  • Patent number: 9519276
    Abstract: A system for automating a building has an object describing a building section and at least one object describing an automation function and a functional unit having at least one open-loop and/or closed-loop control program, with the object describing a building section having an overview list, in which semantic information units for the building section concerned are able to be stored. A semantic information unit for the building section concerned identifies an automation function which is provided in the building section. The object describing the automation function has an overview list, in which semantic information units for the automation function concerned are able to be stored. The semantic information unit includes a relation to a further object. The relation is implemented such that a bidirectional exchange of data between the corresponding objects is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Brun, Andreas Fehr, Herbert Meier
  • Publication number: 20160320760
    Abstract: Flexible control is provided in building automation. By dividing a floor space into segments, different segments may be assigned to rooms. The operation of the building automation likewise includes room level and segment level control functions and corresponding objects. To assign or reassign a given segment to a room, the segment is linked to the room using an identifier of the corresponding room control function. The building automation equipment and corresponding control for the segment is linked to the room operation. The separation of the room and segment functions may avoid any or extensive manual engineering other than re-assignment. The assignment or reassignment of segments to rooms may be performed online (e.g., at a panel or management station), offline (e.g., at a computer or engineering station), or automatically (e.g., moveable wall system).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Brun, Heinrich Meier, Franz Renggli
  • Patent number: 9400493
    Abstract: A system, process, and method for modeling a building automation system is provided that permits a control program to easily and efficiently add building automation devices and automatically name them to improve efficiency and reduce errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Brun, Herbert Meier
  • Publication number: 20150253748
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods provide a building automation system that includes a controller, a web server and a client. The controller includes building automation objects that may be used to generate a model that includes elements, wherein each element is associated with one or more of the objects. The web server includes business logic that reads and subscribes to the objects. Each object notifies the business logic of changes to the data of the object. The business logic processes the data from the objects to provide model update commands based on the changed data. The client includes presentation logic that displays the model, receives the model update commands from the business logic, updates the model using the model update commands, and displays the updated model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Gerhard Brun, Ralph Sigrist
  • Publication number: 20150160628
    Abstract: Web-based interaction with building automation is provided. The interaction, regardless of the access point, is browser based. For IP access, hypertext protocol (http) communications of the browser are performed. The web-enabled controller serves responses with building automation information. For non-IP access, a web-server operating as an application in the same device as the browser intercepts the http communication and reformats the communication as appropriate for the non-IP access. Based on a response from the building automation system, the device local web-server responds to the browser. For communicating across different types of networks in the building automation system, controllers may use the embedded web-server to reformat as needed and route requests. The same look, feel, functionality, and/or usability may be provided using the browser regardless of the connectivity to the building automation network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Robert L. Kalafut, Gerhard Brun, Andreas Schlumberger, Ralph Sigrist
  • Patent number: 9022488
    Abstract: A braking system for a vehicle, particularly a commercial vehicle, includes an operating brake device for providing an operating brake function for braking the vehicle, and a parking brake device for providing a parking brake function independently of the operating brake system. If one of the two braking devices partially or completely fails, the vehicle can be braked automatically by means of the other braking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Beier, Uwe Bensch, Christoph Brockmann, Gerhard Bruns, Henning Förster, Olaf Jantz, Hartmut Rosendahl, Wolfgang Strache, Jens Willms
  • Patent number: 8915336
    Abstract: A brake includes a brake shoe, an actuating element for pressing the brake shoe against a brake disc, and at least one lever disposed such that it increases the braking force applied by the brake shoe to the brake disc by deflecting a tangential force acting on the brake shoe during braking. The actuating element comprises at least one brake disc side part, an actuator side part, and a coupling part disposed between the brake disc side part and the actuator side part, wherein the coupling part can be pivoted relative to the brake disc side part and/or the actuator side part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Beier, Gerhard Bruns, Olaf Jantz, Hartmut Rosendahl