Patents by Inventor K. Alexander

K. Alexander 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: 10698399
    Abstract: A system for predicting HVAC equipment failure includes an actuator and a controller. The actuator is coupled to the HVAC equipment and configured to drive the HVAC equipment between multiple positions. The actuator includes a processing circuit configured to collect internal actuator data characterizing an operation of the actuator and a communications circuit coupled to the processing circuit. The communications circuit is configured to transmit the internal actuator data outside the actuator. The controller is configured to provide control signals to the actuator and receive the internal actuator data from the actuator. The controller includes a failure predictor configured to use the internal actuator data to predict a time at which the HVAC equipment failure will occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Brownie, Gary A. Romanowich, Robert K. Alexander, Nathan J. Vandermause
  • Patent number: 10684029
    Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, a processing circuit, a wireless transceiver, and a power circuit. The processing circuit includes a processor and memory and is configured to operate the mechanical transducer according to a control program stored in the memory. The wireless transceiver is configured to facilitate bidirectional wireless data communications between the processing circuit and an external device. The power circuit is configured to draw power from a wireless signal received via the wireless transceiver and power the processing circuit and the wireless transceiver using the drawn power. The processing circuit is configured to use the power drawn from the wireless signal to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the actuator to the external device via the wireless transceiver, wirelessly receive data from the external device via the wireless transceiver, and store the data received from the external device in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin Weiss
  • Patent number: 10679131
    Abstract: Endpoint device, central data collection point, and associated methods for collecting data over a communication network between endpoints and the central collection point. Actual measurements from a sensor are obtained by the endpoint device at a relatively fine time granularity. The endpoint device generates reports for receipt by a central data collection point. The reports include regular reports containing a portion of the actual measurements representing sensor measurements at a relatively coarse time granularity, and exception reports, containing information representing one or more of the actual measurements that differ in frequency or granularity of regular report measurements. Each of the exception reports is generated in response to a determination that at least one of the actual measurements differs from a predicted value for that at least one of the one or more actual measurements by an amount that exceeds a pre-established limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Roger K. Alexander
  • Publication number: 20200136677
    Abstract: A sensor in a building HVAC system includes a transducer configured to measure a variable in the building HVAC system and to generate a sensor reading indicating a value of the measured variable. The sensor includes a communications interface configured to provide the sensor reading to a control device in the building HVAC system and a near field communication (NFC) circuit separate from the communications interface. The NFC circuit is configured to facilitate bidirectional NFC data communications between the sensor and a mobile device. The sensor includes a processing circuit having a processor and memory. The processing circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the sensor to the mobile device via the NFC circuit, wirelessly receive data from the mobile device via the NFC circuit, and store the data received from the mobile device in the memory of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. Rumler, Steven L. Whitsitt, Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin A. Weiss
  • Patent number: 10636929
    Abstract: An avalanche photodiode detector is provided with a substrate including an array of avalanche photodiodes. An optical interface surface of the substrate is arranged for accepting external input radiation. There is provided at least one cross-talk blocking layer of material including apertures positioned to allow external input radiation to reach photodiodes and including material regions positioned for attenuating radiation in the substrate that is produced by photodiodes in the array. Alternatively at least one cross-talk blocking layer of material is disposed on the optical interface surface of the substrate to allow external input radiation to reach photodiodes and attenuate radiation in the substrate that is produced by photodiodes in the array. At least one cross-talk filter layer of material can be disposed in the substrate adjacent to the photodiode structures, including a material that absorbs radiation in the substrate that is produced by photodiodes in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: K. Alexander McIntosh, David C. Chapman, Joseph P. Donnelly, Douglas C. Oakley, Antonio Napoleone, Erik K. Duerr, Simon Verghese, Richard D. Younger
  • Publication number: 20200119982
    Abstract: A system on a chip for enabling communication between a building management system (BMS) device and a BMS network. The system on a chip includes a device interface, a network interface, and a processing circuit. The device interface is configured to connect the system on a chip to the BMS device via a serial communication link. The network interface configured to connect the system on a chip to the BMS network. The processing circuit is configured to identify and update an attribute of an equipment object associated with the BMS device that corresponds to a command received from the BMS network via the network interface and transmit a message to the BMS device via the device interface using the updated attribute of the equipment object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Donald A. Gottschalk, Michael R. Brownie, Gary A. Romanowich, Robert K. Alexander, Nathan J. Vandermause
  • Publication number: 20200088436
    Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, a processing circuit, a wireless transceiver, and a power circuit. The processing circuit includes a processor and memory and is configured to operate the mechanical transducer according to a control program stored in the memory. The wireless transceiver is configured to facilitate bidirectional wireless data communications between the processing circuit and an external device. The power circuit is configured to draw power from a wireless signal received via the wireless transceiver and power the processing circuit and the wireless transceiver using the drawn power. The processing circuit is configured to use the power drawn from the wireless signal to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the actuator to the external device via the wireless transceiver, wirelessly receive data from the external device via the wireless transceiver, and store the data received from the external device in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin Weiss
  • Publication number: 20200088437
    Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, a processing circuit, a wireless transceiver, and a power circuit. The processing circuit includes a processor and memory and is configured to operate the mechanical transducer according to a control program stored in the memory. The wireless transceiver is configured to facilitate bidirectional wireless data communications between the processing circuit and an external device. The power circuit is configured to draw power from a wireless signal received via the wireless transceiver and power the processing circuit and the wireless transceiver using the drawn power. The processing circuit is configured to use the power drawn from the wireless signal to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the actuator to the external device via the wireless transceiver, wirelessly receive data from the external device via the wireless transceiver, and store the data received from the external device in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin Weiss
  • Patent number: 10571304
    Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes an inductive sensor, a conductive target, and a controller. The conductive target has multiple different portions that become aligned with the inductive sensor as a position of the actuator changes. Each of the multiple different portions have a different inductance. The controller receives a signal from the inductive sensor indicating an observed inductance of the portion of the conductive target aligned with the inductive sensor. The controller uses a stored relationship between the observed inductance and the position of the actuator to determine the position of the actuator based on the observed inductance. The controller operates the actuator to change the position of the actuator based on the determined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert K. Alexander, Gary A. Romanowich, Russell T. Jenks, Cory C. Strebe, Kevin A. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20190339031
    Abstract: A semiautomatic shotgun comprising a receiver, a barrel, a forward gas block assembly attached to the barrel, a slider assembly rearward of the gas block assembly extending into the receiver. Upon firing a shotshell the explosive gases in the barrel are diverted through two ports into the gas block assembly, specifically into a pair of lateral pressure relief valves positioned on both sides of the barrel. The pressure relief valves further having a gas pathway to a piston chamber. A piston is forced rearwardly and engages a slider of the slider assembly that is linked to a breech block in the receiver. The breech block loads unfired shells and ejects the fired shells accomplishing the semiautomatic recycling. The dual pressure relief valves actuate to moderate and limit the gas pressure that enters the piston chamber when using shotshells of different power levels thereby providing consistency in the recycling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Aaron K. Alexander, John Linscott
  • Patent number: 10361334
    Abstract: An avalanche photodiode detector is provided with a substrate including an array of avalanche photodiodes. An optical interface surface of the substrate is arranged for accepting external input radiation. There is provided at least one cross-talk blocking layer of material including apertures positioned to allow external input radiation to reach photodiodes and including material regions positioned for attenuating radiation in the substrate that is produced by photodiodes in the array. Alternatively at least one cross-talk blocking layer of material is disposed on the optical interface surface of the substrate to allow external input radiation to reach photodiodes and attenuate radiation in the substrate that is produced by photodiodes in the array. At least one cross-talk filter layer of material can be disposed in the substrate adjacent to the photodiode structures, including a material that absorbs radiation in the substrate that is produced by photodiodes in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: K. Alexander McIntosh, David C. Chapman, Joseph P. Donnelly, Douglas C. Oakley, Antonio Napoleone, Erik K. Duerr, Simon Verghese, Richard D. Younger
  • Publication number: 20190222265
    Abstract: A sensor in a building HVAC system includes a transducer configured to measure a variable in the building HVAC system and to generate a sensor reading indicating a value of the measured variable. The sensor includes a communications interface configured to provide the sensor reading to a control device in the building HVAC system and a near field communication (NFC) circuit separate from the communications interface. The NFC circuit is configured to facilitate bidirectional NFC data communications between the sensor and a mobile device. The sensor includes a processing circuit having a processor and memory. The processing circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the sensor to the mobile device via the NFC circuit, wirelessly receive data from the mobile device via the NFC circuit, and store the data received from the mobile device in the memory of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. Rumler, Steven L. Whitsitt, Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin A. Weiss
  • Patent number: 10345062
    Abstract: A semiautomatic shotgun comprising a receiver, a barrel, a forward gas block assembly attached to the barrel, a slider assembly rearward of the gas block assembly extending into the receiver. Upon firing a shotshell the explosive gases in the barrel are diverted through two ports into the gas block assembly, specifically into a pair of lateral pressure relief valves positioned on both sides of the barrel. The pressure relief valves further having a gas pathway to a piston chamber. A piston is forced rearwardly and engages a slider of the slider assembly that is linked to a breech block in the receiver. The breech block loads unfired shells and ejects the fired shells accomplishing the semiautomatic recycling. The dual pressure relief valves actuate to moderate and limit the gas pressure that enters the piston chamber when using shotshells of different power levels thereby providing consistency in the recycling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Savage Arms, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron K. Alexander, John Linscott
  • Publication number: 20190195008
    Abstract: A movable wall panel system may include a bottom drop seal assembly that maintains a constant force relative to a floor portion of an environment through a damper. The movable wall panel system may include an automatic top seal assembly that seals a gap between the movable wall panel system and a ceiling of the environment. The moveable wall panel system may include multiple panels and a plurality of seals positioned between adjacent panels to seal a gap between the adjacent panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Brad Jones, Aaron K. Alexander, Phil Middaugh, Mark J. McDonough, Adam Burke, Mike Beeler, Robert K. Schuyler, Phillip M. Watson, Matthew Puccio, Thomas L. Goldsmith, Bryan T. Welch
  • Publication number: 20190195009
    Abstract: A movable wall panel system may include a bottom drop seal assembly that maintains a constant force relative to a floor portion of an environment through a damper. The movable wall panel system may include an automatic top seal assembly that seals a gap between the movable wall panel system and a ceiling of the environment. The moveable wall panel system may include multiple panels and a plurality of seals positioned between adjacent panels to seal a gap between the adjacent panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Brad Jones, Aaron K. Alexander, Phil Middaugh, Mark J. McDonough, Adam Burke, Mike Beeler, Robert K. Schuyler, Phillip M. Watson, Matthew Puccio, Thomas L. Goldsmith, Bryan T. Welch
  • Publication number: 20190149069
    Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a motor and a drive device driven by the motor. The drive device is coupled to a movable HVAC component for driving the movable HVAC component between multiple positions. The actuator includes an input connection configured to receive an input signal and a processing circuit coupled to the motor. The processing circuit is configured to determine whether the input signal is an AC voltage signal or a DC voltage signal. The processing circuit is configured to operate the motor using an AC motor control technique in response to determining that the input signal is an AC voltage signal and configured to operate the motor using a DC motor control technique in response to determining that the input signal is a DC voltage signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert K. Alexander, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard P. Clement
  • Patent number: 10291292
    Abstract: A sensor in a building HVAC system includes a transducer configured to measure a variable in the building HVAC system and to generate a sensor reading indicating a value of the measured variable. The sensor includes a communications interface configured to provide the sensor reading to a control device in the building HVAC system and a near field communication (NFC) circuit separate from the communications interface. The NFC circuit is configured to facilitate bidirectional NFC data communications between the sensor and a mobile device. The sensor includes a processing circuit having a processor and memory. The processing circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the sensor to the mobile device via the NFC circuit, wirelessly receive data from the mobile device via the NFC circuit, and store the data received from the mobile device in the memory of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. Rumler, Steven L. Whitsitt, Robert K. Alexander, Christopher Merkl, Gary A. Romanowich, Bernard Clement, Kevin A. Weiss
  • Patent number: 10278113
    Abstract: In a self-organizing wireless multihop network, each node device selects operation among short-range (SR) and long-range (LR) communication modes, among which the SR mode uses a higher data rate than the LR mode. Each node device advertises connectivity link availability for neighboring node devices, and selectively initiates a link in response to connectivity availability advertised by at least one neighboring node device. The availability advertising is performed in the SR and the LR communication modes, according to a periodicity that is dynamically-variable in response to prevailing circumstances in the local neighborhood. The link initiation is selectively performed in one of either the SR or the LR communication mode based on selection criteria that include data throughput performance associated with different neighboring node devices with which connectivity is available via a certain communication mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Roger K. Alexander, Jianming Yuan, Tzeta Tsao, Sergey Sukhobok
  • Patent number: 10222232
    Abstract: A sensor data collection system includes a plurality of sensors operatively coupled to a corresponding set of endpoints, the endpoints configured to communicate sensor data to a central data collection point via a data communication protocol. A proxy service-enabled endpoint facilitates interoperability with the data collection system for the benefit of endpoints that are otherwise incompatible with the data communication protocol. The endpoint includes a remote endpoint interface module configured to receive communications from at least one of the incompatible endpoints containing incompatible endpoint sensor data. A remote endpoint virtualization module operatively coupled to the remote endpoint interface module and associated with the at least one of the incompatible endpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Roger K. Alexander
  • Patent number: 10203671
    Abstract: An actuator in an HVAC system includes a housing, a motor, a hub configured to receive a shaft, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to operate the actuator in at least a first speed mode and a second speed mode that is faster than the first speed mode. The processing circuit is further configured to perform a calibration process for the actuator. The calibration process includes temporarily shifting the actuator from the first speed mode to the second speed mode and driving the shaft through a predetermined sequence of positions with the actuator in the second speed mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Gary A. Romanowich, Kevin A. Weiss, Jeff S. Flannery, Russell W. Diamond, Robert K. Alexander