Patents by Inventor Kirby N. Bicknell
Kirby N. Bicknell 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: 11853050Abstract: Architectures or techniques are presented that can determine a setting for an environment control (EC) or HVAC system in response to a fault with the EC system that controls an environment of an occupant. Significantly, the determined setting can be intentionally selected as one that does not comport with the expectations or desired comfort level of the occupant. Thus, a condition can be created in the environment that is determined to be likely to cause the occupant to examine a user interface associated with the EC system. The user interface can present an indication of the fault, which otherwise may go unnoticed, particularly in cases where the occupant has no reason to interact with the EC system due to the environment meeting expectations.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventor: Kirby N. Bicknell
-
Publication number: 20220113717Abstract: Architectures or techniques are presented that can determine a setting for an environment control (EC) or HVAC system in response to a fault with the EC system that controls an environment of an occupant. Significantly, the determined setting can be intentionally selected as one that does not comport with the expectations or desired comfort level of the occupant. Thus, a condition can be created in the environment that is determined to be likely to cause the occupant to examine a user interface associated with the EC system. The user interface can present an indication of the fault, which otherwise may go unnoticed, particularly in cases where the occupant has no reason to interact with the EC system due to the environment meeting expectations.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Inventor: Kirby N. Bicknell
-
Patent number: 11221615Abstract: Architectures or techniques are presented that can determine a setting for an environment control (EC) or HVAC system in response to a fault with the EC system that controls an environment of an occupant. Significantly, the determined setting can be intentionally selected as one that does not comport with the expectations or desired comfort level of the occupant. Thus, a condition can be created in the environment that is determined to be likely to cause the occupant to examine a user interface associated with the EC system. The user interface can present an indication of the fault, which otherwise may go unnoticed, particularly in cases where the occupant has no reason to interact with the EC system due to the environment meeting expectations.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2018Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventor: Kirby N. Bicknell
-
Patent number: 10852020Abstract: An HVAC system includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a thermostat, and a remote control device. The indoor unit comprises a first variable speed drive (VSD) to control a speed of HVAC rotary components within the indoor unit, and the outdoor unit comprises a second VSD to control a speed of HVAC rotary components within the outdoor unit. The thermostat in communication with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit comprises a communication interface, and a system controller in communication with the communication interface. The remote control device transmits a signal to the system controller to alter the speed of the HVAC rotary components, where the HVAC rotary components operate at a high speed mode which is above the preset speed limit of the respective HVAC rotary component to achieve an enhanced cooling mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2019Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Jason Thomas LeRoy, Kirby N. Bicknell, Christopher Blake Smith, John Hughes, Gregory S. Brown
-
Patent number: 10670281Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a top cover for an outdoor HVAC unit. The top cover may comprise a dome-shaped top surface; outer edges surrounding the dome-shaped top surface; at least one ventilated grille disposed between the outer edges and the outdoor unit; and a plurality of channels configured to drain water from the dome-shaped top surface and away from the at least one ventilated grille.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2018Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Steven Jones, Richard L. Jameson, Kirby N. Bicknell
-
Publication number: 20200142391Abstract: Architectures or techniques are presented that can determine a setting for an environment control (EC) or HVAC system in response to a fault with the EC system that controls an environment of an occupant. Significantly, the determined setting can be intentionally selected as one that does not comport with the expectations or desired comfort level of the occupant. Thus, a condition can be created in the environment that is determined to be likely to cause the occupant to examine a user interface associated with the EC system. The user interface can present an indication of the fault, which otherwise may go unnoticed, particularly in cases where the occupant has no reason to interact with the EC system due to the environment meeting expectations.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2018Publication date: May 7, 2020Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventor: Kirby N. Bicknell
-
Publication number: 20190293307Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a top cover for an outdoor HVAC unit. The top cover may comprise a dome-shaped top surface; outer edges surrounding the dome-shaped top surface; at least one ventilated grille disposed between the outer edges and the outdoor unit; and a plurality of channels configured to drain water from the dome-shaped top surface and away from the at least one ventilated grille.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Steven Jones, Richard L. Jameson, Kirby N. Bicknell
-
Publication number: 20190170380Abstract: An HVAC system includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a thermostat, and a remote control device. The indoor unit comprises a first variable speed drive (VSD) to control a speed of HVAC rotary components within the indoor unit, and the outdoor unit comprises a second VSD to control a speed of HVAC rotary components within the outdoor unit. The thermostat in communication with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit comprises a communication interface, and a system controller in communication with the communication interface. The remote control device transmits a signal to the system controller to alter the speed of the HVAC rotary components, where the HVAC rotary components operate at a high speed mode which is above the preset speed limit of the respective HVAC rotary component to achieve an enhanced cooling mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2019Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Jason Thomas LeRoy, Kirby N. Bicknell, Christopher Blake Smith, John Hughes, Gregory S. Brown
-
Patent number: 10203127Abstract: An HVAC system includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a thermostat, and a remote control device. The indoor unit comprises a first variable speed drive (VSD) to control a speed of HVAC rotary components within the indoor unit, and the outdoor unit comprises a second VSD to control a speed of HVAC rotary components within the outdoor unit. The thermostat in communication with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit comprises a communication interface, and a system controller in communication with the communication interface. The remote control device transmits a signal to the system controller to alter the speed of the HVAC rotary components, where the HVAC rotary components operate at a high speed mode which is above the preset speed limit of the respective HVAC rotary component to achieve an enhanced cooling mode.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2017Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Jason Thomas LeRoy, Kirby N. Bicknell, Christopher Blake Smith, John Hughes, Gregory S. Brown
-
Publication number: 20170314799Abstract: An HVAC system includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a thermostat, and a remote control device. The indoor unit comprises a first variable speed drive (VSD) to control a speed of HVAC rotary components within the indoor unit, and the outdoor unit comprises a second VSD to control a speed of HVAC rotary components within the outdoor unit. The thermostat in communication with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit comprises a communication interface, and a system controller in communication with the communication interface. The remote control device transmits a signal to the system controller to alter the speed of the HVAC rotary components, where the HVAC rotary components operate at a high speed mode which is above the preset speed limit of the respective HVAC rotary component to achieve an enhanced cooling mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Jason Thomas LeRoy, Kirby N. Bicknell, Christopher Blake Smith, John Hughes, Gregory S. Brown
-
Patent number: 7024283Abstract: A method identifies at what outdoor temperature a heating or cooling system will need to operate at full capacity (e.g., 100% duty cycle) to maintain a desired indoor temperature. The tolerable outdoor temperature limit is identified by extrapolating data collected upon sampling the system's performance (e.g., duty cycle) at various loads (e.g., difference between outdoor temperature and the indoor temperature). In a similar manner, the method can also predict a best achievable indoor temperature for a given outdoor temperature. The tolerable outdoor temperature limit and best achievable indoor temperature can be displayed to indicate whether the system needs servicing.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2002Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: American Standard International Inc.Inventor: Kirby N. Bicknell
-
Publication number: 20040083029Abstract: A method identifies at what outdoor temperature a heating or cooling system will need to operate at full capacity (e.g., 100% duty cycle) to maintain a desired indoor temperature. The tolerable outdoor temperature limit is identified by extrapolating data collected upon sampling the system's performance (e.g., duty cycle) at various loads (e.g., difference between outdoor temperature and the indoor temperature). In a similar manner, the method can also predict a best achievable indoor temperature for a given outdoor temperature. The tolerable outdoor temperature limit and best achievable indoor temperature can be displayed to indicate whether the system needs servicing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Inventor: Kirby N. Bicknell