Abstract: An energy system having: a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system that includes an HVAC branch loop with an HVAC conditioning flow that flows in one direction or bidirectionally; a battery energy storage system (ESS) that includes a battery pack, having batteries, configured for an operating temperature within a target temperature range, an ESS conditioning loop with an ESS conditioning flow, wherein the ESS conditioning loop is thermally coupled to the battery pack, and the HVAC branch loop and the ESS conditioning loop are fluidly isolated from each other; a heat exchanger, wherein the HVAC branch loop and the ESS conditioning loop are thermally coupled to each other via the heat exchanger; and a controller configured to control flow within the HVAC branch loop and the ESS conditioning loop such that the battery pack operates within the target temperature range.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes an outdoor load connected to an AC bus; an indoor load connected to the AC bus; an energy storage device connected to the AC bus; an outdoor load power measurement unit configured to determine a power demand of the outdoor load; an indoor load power measurement unit configured to determine a power demand of the indoor load; and an energy storage device management unit configured to control power supplied by the energy storage device such that power supplied by the energy storage device offsets a combined power demand of the outdoor load and power demand of the indoor load.

Abstract: A power converter configured to supply power from one of an AC power grid or an energy storage device to an air conditioning system, the power converter including a positive DC line and a negative DC line; a first leg extending between the positive DC line and the negative DC line, the first leg including a first switch and a second switch; a second leg extending between the positive DC line and the negative DC line, the second leg including a third switch and a fourth switch; a third leg extending between the positive DC line and the negative DC line, the third leg including a fifth switch and a sixth switch; wherein the first leg, second and third leg are part of a three-phase inverter package; the AC power grid connected to a junction between the third switch and the fourth switch; and a controller.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower assembly including a blower motor; and an electronically commutated motor (ECM) controller in electrical communication with the blower motor, the ECM controller including: a rectifier electrically connected to an alternating current (AC) input source, the rectifier being configured to receive AC electricity from the AC input source and convert the AC electricity to direct current (DC) electricity; a DC electrical circuit including a first DC electrical circuit loop and a second DC electrical circuit loop, the rectifier being configured to circulate the DC electricity through the DC electrical circuit; and a relay located within the first DC electrical circuit loop, the relay being configured to open to break the first DC electrical circuit loop and close to complete the first DC electrical circuit loop in order to reduce standby power consumption of the ECM controller.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a first unit including a compressor; a controller; an energy storage device; and an AC power bus for connection to an AC power grid; wherein the controller is configured to power the first unit from the AC power grid in a normal mode and power the first unit from the energy storage device in a backup power mode.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes an first unit including a compressor; a controller; and one or more auxiliary DC power sources; the controller is configured to determine whether the one or more auxiliary DC power sources is producing excess power beyond a load of the first unit; when the one or more auxiliary DC power sources is not producing excess power beyond the load of the first unit, the controller supplies all power from the one or more auxiliary DC power sources to the first unit.

Abstract: A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system including: transmitting, using an equipment control board, an operation request in a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to an electronically commutate motor (ECM) controller of a blower motor, wherein the operation request includes a switching period command configured to vary a switching period of the PWM signal; operating the blower motor in accordance with the operation request by varying the switching period of the PWM signal; detecting a parameter of the blower motor for each of a plurality of switching periods as the switching period varies; and mapping the parameter of the blower motor for each of the plurality of switching periods.

Abstract: A system includes an air conditioning system including a first unit including a compressor and a second unit; an energy storage device; a first transfer switch providing a power connection to the first unit; and a system energy manager configured to control the first transfer switch to supply power to both the second unit and the first unit from one of an AC power grid or the energy storage device.

Abstract: A furnace including: a blower assembly compartment; a blower assembly located within the blower assembly compartment; a blower motor located within the blower assembly compartment, the blower motor operably connected to a fan of the blower assembly; an induced draft blower; an inducer motor operably connected to the induced draft blower; and a dual motor controller located within the blower assembly compartment, the dual motor controller being configured to independently control at least one of a torque or a speed of the blower motor and the inducer motor.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower assembly including a blower motor; and an electronically commutated motor (ECM) controller in electrical communication with the blower motor, the ECM controller including: a rectifier electrically connected to an alternating current (AC) input source, the rectifier being configured to receive AC electricity from the AC input source and convert the AC electricity to direct current (DC) electricity; a DC electrical circuit including a first DC electrical circuit loop and a second DC electrical circuit loop, the rectifier being configured to circulate the DC electricity through the DC electrical circuit; and a relay located within the first DC electrical circuit loop, the relay being configured to open to break the first DC electrical circuit loop and close to complete the first DC electrical circuit loop in order to reduce standby power consumption of the ECM controller.

Abstract: A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system including: transmitting, using an equipment control board, an operation request in a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to an electronically commutate motor (ECM) controller of a blower motor, wherein the operation request includes a switching period command configured to vary a switching period of the PWM signal; operating the blower motor in accordance with the operation request by varying the switching period of the PWM signal; detecting a parameter of the blower motor for each of a plurality of switching periods as the switching period varies; and mapping the parameter of the blower motor for each of the plurality of switching periods.

Abstract: A method of monitoring an air filter in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that includes operating a blower motor at a desired torque; monitoring a horsepower of the blower motor over a selected time period when the blower motor is operating at the desired torque; determining a moving average of the horsepower of the blower motor over the selected time period; detecting when the moving average drops below an established baseline moving average by a selected percentage; and activating a notification to check or change the air filter of the HVAC system.

Abstract: A graphical user interface system for displaying content on a user interface and for integrating and manipulating social network content includes a display window for displaying and manipulating content from at least one social network; a horizontal panel for manipulating content from at least one social network; and tabs on the horizontal panel and user-selectable for manipulating the content. The tabs disposed on the horizontal panel may include a post tab for selecting a type of content to be manipulated; a media tab for manipulating audio/visual media content; a social tab for manipulating one or more social media or communication content in the social network; a persona tab for configuring at least one user-persona associated with the content to be manipulated; and an account tab for managing at least one external user account or profile when interacting with the content.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling access to a user's account has a graphical user interface for displaying content on the user interface, a display window in the user interface for displaying content from at least one content source associated with the user's account, and a plurality of profile access modes selectable by the user for determining the scope of the user's access to the account, including a limited profile access mode for limiting the scope of user's access to the account and the content visible on the account. The system also has an identifier associated with the limited access mode. When the user attempts to access the account from a source associated with the identifier associated with the limited access mode, the user's account is accessible only through the limited profile access mode.

Abstract: A graphical user interface system for displaying content on a user interface and for integrating and manipulating social network content includes a display window for displaying and manipulating content from at least one social network; a horizontal panel for manipulating content from at least one social network; and tabs on the horizontal panel and user-selectable for manipulating the content. The tabs disposed on the horizontal panel may include a post tab for selecting a type of content to be manipulated; a media tab for manipulating audio/visual media content; a social tab for manipulating one or more social media or communication content in the social network; a persona tab for configuring at least one user-persona associated with the content to be manipulated; and an account tab for managing at least one external user account or profile when interacting with the content.

Abstract: A carriage including: a frame (12) collapsible from an open configuration to a closed configuration, the frame having a base (18) supported by wheels (16, 18, 20, 22) and a pair of longitudinally extending side members (24, 26) attached to the base, each side member having a major direction of extension with the directions being generally parallel and extending upward and rearward with respect to the base; locking means (30) for securing the frame in the open configuration; a handle (28) extending between the side members and remote the base, the handle operatively associated with the locking means for unlocking the frame; and carrying means securable to the frame to carry an item to be transported, wherein the handle is pivotably connected to one said side member such that in use, the handle upon actuation by a user unlocks the locking means moving the frame from the open configuration to the closed configuration and wherein in the closed configuration the handle is substantially parallel and adjacent the si