Patents by Inventor Michael F. Finch
Michael F. Finch 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).
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Patent number: 8369998Abstract: An appliance controller is provided comprising an appliance including demand response settings. The settings include threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more threshold variables. The controller further comprises a signal from an associated utility to the appliance, wherein the appliance includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility. The controller receives and processes the signal from the associated utility. The signal is converted and compared to the demand response threshold variables and the appliance is operated in one or more power consuming functions based on the comparison of the signal to the demand response variables.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeff Donald Drake, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael F. Finch, Adam Hofmann, John K. Besore, Timothy M. Wetzel
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Patent number: 8280556Abstract: An HVAC system for conditioning air of an associated room includes one or more power consuming features/functions including at least one temperature controlling element for one of heating and cooling air. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the HVAC system in one of a plurality or operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the HVAC system in the energy savings mode.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John K. Besore, Michael F. Finch, Timothy Dale Worthington, Daniel Ryan Capelle
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Patent number: 8234018Abstract: An energy management system for an appliance comprising an interface to receive a schedule having an off-peak time segment and an on-peak time segment; a control to determine an operation to be performed by the appliance; a mode selecting device to select between an energy management mode and an immediate start mode; and a controller connected to the interface, the control, and the mode selecting device. The controller is arranged such that upon selection of the energy management mode, the controller initiates the operation when a majority of the energy consumption of the operation is within the off-peak time segment; and upon selection of the immediate start mode, the controller initiates the operation immediately.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John K. Besore, Timothy Worthington, Michael F. Finch, Jeff Donald Drake
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Publication number: 20120173857Abstract: An appliance is placed in a bootload mode and other operations of the appliance are powered down. Data is gathered through an appliance control module which activates the bootloader mode, and then receives the data and overwrites the remainder of the appliance controller memory. In this manner, software for an appliance is updated without having to enter the home.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2010Publication date: July 5, 2012Inventors: Henry Nader Kobraei, John K. Besore, Robert Bultman, Timothy Worthington, Michael F. Finch, Steven Root, Jeffrey Donald Drake
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Publication number: 20120123594Abstract: A system is disclosed comprising memory configured to store a temperature value based on a cost of a given energy resource, wherein the cost-based temperature value differs from a temperature value based on a temperature schedule. The system also comprises a controller operatively coupled to the memory and configured to compare the cost-based temperature value to the schedule-based temperature value, and to direct one of a cooling system and a heating system to maintain a temperature of an environment at the one of the cost-based temperature value and the schedule-based temperature value that results in an energy cost savings.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventors: Michael F. FINCH, Shelly E. Warms, Matthew Paul Schuhmann
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Publication number: 20120095606Abstract: An energy management system for an appliance comprising an interface to receive a schedule having an off-peak time segment and an on-peak time segment; a control to determine an operation to be performed by the appliance; a mode selecting device to select between an energy management mode and an immediate start mode; and a controller connected to the interface, the control, and the mode selecting device. The controller is arranged such that upon selection of the energy management mode, the controller initiates the operation when a majority of the energy consumption of the operation is within the off-peak time segment; and upon selection of the immediate start mode, the controller initiates the operation immediately.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Inventors: John K. Besore, Timothy Worthington, Michael F. Finch, Jeff Donald Drake
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Publication number: 20120065798Abstract: A household energy management system and method for managing multiple appliances is provided comprising: a central controller for managing power consumption of multiple appliances within a household, each appliance including an appliance controller; and, a communication network connecting the central controller to one or more of a utility meter and/or a demand server. The central controller maintains in a memory the managing of power consumption of the multiple appliances. The central controller instructs one or more appliances to shed load demand in response to inputs from the utility meter or demand server. Each appliance controller is configured to respond to shed load instructions from the central controller directed to it or directed to at least one other associated appliance by changing its load demand.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Inventors: MICHAEL F. FINCH, Jeff Donald Drake
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Publication number: 20120023987Abstract: A refrigerator comprises a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment and one or more power consuming features/functions including a refrigeration system for cooling the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility. The controller adjusts the temperature of the refrigerator and/or freezer from a normal setting to a higher point during an energy saving mode and then back to a normal temperature. The transition between low and high is controlled to reduce energy consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: John K. Besore, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael F. Finch, Darin Franks, William Newton, Jeff Donald Drake
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Publication number: 20120029711Abstract: A household energy management system is provided comprising a controller for managing power consumption of multiple devices within a household wherein the controller monitors energy usage data from a utility. The system further provides a utility meter for measuring an amount of energy usage by the household and a user interface through which a user can enter a parameter of the energy usage. The system yet further provides a local generator for generating energy for one or more of the energy consuming devices wherein the controller initiates the generator and changes at least some of the energy usage from the utility to the local generator when the energy usage level is within a predetermined percentage range of the parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: John K. Besore, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael F. Finch, Jeff Donald Drake, Nagaraju Valluri
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Publication number: 20110302802Abstract: A clothes dryer operates on at least one of first and second sources of power or fuel. The clothes dryer has a housing with a drum that receives associated laundry and a blower assembly for selectively circulating air in the drum to dry the laundry. The dryer is configured for connection with an associated first source of fuel/power for a first heater (e.g., electric) and additionally configured for connection with a different type, associated second source of fuel/power for a second heater (e.g., combustible fuel). Typically, the clothes dryer is adapted for both an electrical connection and a combustible fuel connection. A controller receives a signal or data from an external source indicative of price and usage operation of a particular power source. The controller can then provide an output that prompts the consumer for selection of different modes of operation using the first heater, second heater, or a combination of both.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Inventors: Joshua S. Wiseman, Michael F. Finch, Jerrod Aaron Kappler, Steven Keith Root, Chad Helms, Peter Pepe
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Publication number: 20110282504Abstract: A system and methods are provided for monitoring the power consumption of a particular energy consuming device of a plurality of energy consuming device devices and particular components thereof in real time. An energy management system can enable components of a device within a home network to power to different operational modes in order to determine different power consumption levels. The system can sort out anomalies and extract them from a power consumption profile created.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Inventors: John K. Besore, Timothy D. Worthington, Michael F. Finch, Lucas B. Spicer, Jeff D. Drake, Henry Kobraei
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Patent number: 8046855Abstract: A method and control system for automatically halting operation of a washing machine by stopping operation of the washing machine motor is provided. The washing machine that implements the method includes a motor controller having a primary microprocessor and a secondary microprocessor which serves as a backup redundancy processor in the event there is a malfunction with the primary microprocessor or the primary microprocessor fails to halt washing machine operation within a prescribed window of time. The primary microprocessor controls operation of all of the washing machine electrically controlled components. The secondary microprocessor is electrically connected to a lid switch and the washing machine motor and is configured to halt operation of the motor in response to the primary microprocessor failing to halt motor operation after the lid is open.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2007Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael F. Finch, Donald Richard Dickerson, Jr., Robert Hollenbeck, Meher Kollipara
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Publication number: 20110202194Abstract: A sub-meter device for use in a home energy management (HEM) network. The sub-meter device measure power characteristics related to usage of an appliance (or other device) within a HEM network and provides such data to a home energy controller or the like. The sub-meter device can include one or more sensors, such as a current transformer, Rogowski coil, shunt resistor, or hall effect sensor, for collecting data relating to at least one of real power consumption, reactive power consumption, line frequency, line voltage, power factor, leading/lagging voltage-current comparison, and apparent power, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2010Publication date: August 18, 2011Inventors: Henry Kobraei, John Besore, Robert Bultman, Timothy Worthington, Michael F. Finch, Jeff Drake
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Publication number: 20110148390Abstract: An energy consuming device comprises a power consuming feature/function and a controller operatively connected to the power consuming feature/function. The controller is configured to operate the device including the power consuming feature/function in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode during an associated off-peak demand period of an associated energy supplying utility and an energy savings mode during an associated peak demand period of the associated energy supplying utility. The controller is configured to provide a user a grace period during the associated peak demand period to allow the user to change the operating mode of the power consuming feature/function from the energy savings mode to another operating mode including the normal operating mode thereby allowing additional use of the power consuming feature/function during the associated peak demand period.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: Ashley Wayne Burt, Michael F. Finch, Gregory F. Gawron, Mark Davis Johnson, Jeffrey S. Weber
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Publication number: 20110148199Abstract: An energy management system and method for one or more appliances includes a controller for managing power consumption within a household. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of one or more energy parameters of an associated energy supplying utility, including at least a peak demand period or an off-peak demand period. The controller is configured to at least one of communicate to, control and operate one or more appliances in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The one or more appliances operate in the normal operating mode during the off-peak demand period and operate in the energy savings mode during the peak demand period. The controller is configured to control the return of the one or more appliances to the normal operating mode after the peak demand period is over to prevent an energy surge for the associated energy supplying utility.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: John K. Besore, Jeff Donald Drake, Michael F. Finch, Darin Franks, William Newton, Lucas Bryant Spicer, Timothy Dale Worthington
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Publication number: 20110153106Abstract: An appliance controller is provided comprising an appliance including demand response settings. The settings include threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more threshold variables. The controller further comprises a signal from an associated utility to the appliance, wherein the appliance includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility. The controller receives and processes the signal from the associated utility. The signal is converted and compared to the demand response threshold variables and the appliance is operated in one or more power consuming functions based on the comparison of the signal to the demand response variables.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: Jeff Donald Drake, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael F. Finch, Adam Hofmann, John K. Besore, Timothy M. Wetzel
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Publication number: 20110153110Abstract: In another aspect of the disclosure, a method of controlling an appliance is provided comprising establishing settings on an appliance related to threshold variables, wherein the settings include the threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more of the threshold variables. The method further comprises sending a signal from an associated utility to the appliance, wherein the appliance includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility. The controller receives and processes a signal from the associated utility, and converts and compares the signal to the threshold variables. The method still further comprises changing the operating of the appliance from a first state of operation to a second state of operation, wherein in the second state of operation one or more power consuming functions of the appliance are based on the comparison of the signal to the threshold variables and, returning the appliance to the first state of operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: JEFF DONALD DRAKE, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael F. Finch, John K. Besore
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Publication number: 20110153109Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of controlling an appliance comprising: profiling at least one appliance including one or more power consuming functions connected with a home energy management system (HEM); defining an energy event corresponding to each of the one or more power consuming functions; developing a home energy profile in the HEM of all the energy events including a calendar of energy events; manipulating the home energy profile by a user wherein the user cancels, delays, reschedules, or enables processing of the calendar of energy events; and, communicating through a translator board wireless communication between the HEM and the at least one appliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: JEFF DONALD DRAKE, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael F. Finch, John K. Besore
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Publication number: 20110153100Abstract: A system is provided for determining and displaying the cost of consuming power comprising an appliance including one or more power consuming functions wherein each of the one or more power consuming functions includes an associated power consumption amount. The system further provides a home energy management system (HEM) including a controller in communication with the appliance and configured to provide the HEM with the associated power consumption amount of each of the one or more power consuming functions. The controller is in signal communication with an associated utility, wherein the controller receives and processes a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller being configured to convert the current cost of supplied energy into a power consumption cost of the associated power consumption amount of the one or more power consuming functions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: John K. Besore, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael F. Finch, Jeff Donald Drake, Natarajah Venkatakrishnan
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Publication number: 20110153090Abstract: An HVAC system for conditioning air of an associated room includes one or more power consuming features/functions including at least one temperature controlling element for one of heating and cooling air. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the HVAC system in one of a plurality or operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the HVAC system in the energy savings mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: John K. Besore, Michael F. Finch, Timothy Dale Worthington, Daniel Ryan Capelle