Patents by Inventor Joseph E. Childs

Joseph E. Childs 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: 20230314044
    Abstract: Control of an electric water heater based on a two-mass model may be provided. First, a reserve capacity of an Electric Water Heater (EWH) may be determined. Next, a safe deferred time for the EWH based on the determined reserve capacity may be determined. Then a grid service event initiation may be received. In response to receiving the grid service event initiation, the EWH may be caused to not heat water for the determined safe deferred time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Souvik Chandra, Mohd Azrin Mohd Zulkefli, Arun Sukumaran Nair, Roger Alexander, Roger Rognli, Joseph E. Childs
  • Publication number: 20210071925
    Abstract: A load control device for improving energy efficiency of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system by controlling shed times of a compressor of the HVAC system. The load control device includes a compressor cutoff switch, a sensing circuit, and a processor. The processor determines a subsequent mandatory shed time based upon a previous shed time, a previous run time, and a minimum run time. A subsequent mandatory shed longer than the previous mandatory shed time causes a subsequent run time to be increased, thereby increasing system efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Joseph E. Childs, Roger W. Rognli, Brock M. Simonson
  • Patent number: 9528717
    Abstract: An extended run time device for extending the time that a compressor-based heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system runs so as to increase energy efficiency of the HVAC system. The extended run time device includes a sensing circuit, a switching device and a processor. Based upon a signal from the sensing circuit, the processor causes the switching device to transmit a proxy control signal to the compressor, thereby causing power to the compressor to be maintained for a time period longer than a time period requested by the temperature control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Joseph E. Childs, Roger W. Rognli, Robert J. Cox, Brock Simonson
  • Patent number: 9403441
    Abstract: A load-managing electricity service (LMES) system for managing and controlling electricity-consuming loads supplied by a common distribution transformer. The LMES system includes: a communicative distribution transformer (CDT) sensor that includes a transceiver, a sensing circuit and a processor configured to determine whether a power load of the transformer exceeds an upper threshold. The LMES system also includes a load-control device (LCD) configured to communicate with the CDT sensor, and to selectively decrease or increase the power load of the distribution transformer by managing the electricity-consuming leads at consumer premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Ashworth, Robert J. Cox, Joseph E. Childs
  • Publication number: 20140058575
    Abstract: A load-managing electricity service (LMES) system for managing and controlling electricity-consuming loads supplied by a common distribution transformer. The LMES system includes: a communicative distribution transformer (CDT) sensor that includes a transceiver, a sensing circuit and a processor configured to determine whether a power load of the transformer exceeds an upper threshold. The LMES system also includes a load-control device (LCD) configured to communicate with the CDT sensor, and to selectively decrease or increase the power load of the distribution transformer by managing the electricity-consuming leads at consumer premises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Nicholas Ashworth, Robert J. Cox, Joseph E. Childs
  • Publication number: 20130219931
    Abstract: An extended run time device for extending the time that a compressor-based heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system runs so as to increase energy efficiency of the HVAC system. The extended run time device includes a sensing circuit, a switching device and a processor. Based upon a signal from the sensing circuit, the processor causes the switching device to transmit a proxy control signal to the compressor, thereby causing power to the compressor to be maintained for a time period longer than a time period requested by the temperature control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Joseph E. Childs, Roger W. Rognli, Robert J. Cox, Brock Simonson