Patents by Inventor Michael Francis Finch

Michael Francis 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).

  • Publication number: 20120029725
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a hybrid heating system that includes a heat pump and a gas heater is disclosed. Peak demand or pricing information is received from gas and electric utilities, and outdoor ambient temperature data is also fed to a smart hybrid thermostat. A controller processes this data and calculates overall efficiency of operating the heat pump versus the gas heater by accessing stored performance data relating to the heat pump in memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Lafleur, Nagaraju Valluri, John K. Besore, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael Francis Finch, Jeffrey Donald Drake
  • Publication number: 20120029713
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods are disclosed for controlling load shedding and payback spikes of a population by segregating the population into subsets based on predicted energy consumption usage and peak load profiles. Subset populations respond independently from another based on a communication message sent to the population. Each subset population of homes with one or more energy consuming devices responds based on a generated value generated from a randomizing distribution routine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Lucas Bryant Spicer, John K. Besore, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael Francis Finch
  • Publication number: 20120029714
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that includes a central controller that communicates data available from an Energy Services Interface (ESI) to devices over multiple secondary networks of a home in different communication protocols. The controller is a home energy gateway that includes multiple communication modules for binding to a meter on a primary network and to form multiple secondary networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph Mark Brian, Michael Francis Finch, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20110264296
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system for updating of schedules to a device controlled by an energy management system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Jeff Donald Drake, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael Francis Finch, Jay Andrew Broniak, Christopher Recio, Joseph Mark Brian
  • Publication number: 20110202195
    Abstract: A home energy management (HEM) device for use in a HEM system including a plurality of energy consuming devices and a HEM gateway adaptor module connectable to a host device. The home energy gateway (HEG) module is configured to utilize services/components of existing household electronics. Accordingly, a HEM device for controlling a plurality of energy consuming devices in a HEM network comprises a host device having hardware for performing at least one service, and a HEG adaptor module connectable to the host device, the HEG module including at least a home energy usage database for storing data related to usage of energy consuming devices in the home energy management network. The HEG module is configured to utilize at least one service of the host to carry out at least one function related to controlling the plurality of energy consuming devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Francis Finch, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20110202196
    Abstract: A system and method of operating an energy data management and control system has a first communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface, a second communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a Utility company, and a third communication network to access data from and provide data to accessories within a home. The system reformats the data from any of the first, second and third communication networks for communication with another of the first, second and third communication networks, wherein at least one of the communication networks operate on a protocol different from another one of the communications networks. The data defines various operations of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20110202190
    Abstract: A device configured in a unitary housing which includes a computing device with memory that stores energy information. A power supply and prongs attach to the power supply in the same unitary housing, wherein the prongs are configured to plug into a wall outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20110202783
    Abstract: A device configured in a unitary displayless housing, including a computing device that stores, manipulates and communicates energy data, and the displayless external surface of the unitary housing, including status indicator lights to show the status of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20110202198
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the operation of accessories in a home energy management system which manages a plurality of communication networks. The schedules are generated by using a central controller and interacting with a user interface found on a device separate from the central controller. The plurality of schedules are stored in the storage of the central controller, and a current schedule is selected from the stored schedules. The selected schedule is loaded onto an accessory through one of the communication channels for controlling the associate accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20110202910
    Abstract: A premises data management system includes a first communication network configured to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface. Another communication network is configured to access data from and provides data to accessories within the premises management system. A gateway of the system includes a first interface channel and another interface channel. The gateway receives the data from the first communication network, via the first interface channel. The gateway reformats the data from the first communication network for communication to the other communication network via the other interface channel. The gateway also requests data from the accessories via the other interface channel and replies to the user interface via the first interface channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20110202189
    Abstract: An energy data management control system is configured to allow a user to control operation of the data management among a plurality of modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20110153104
    Abstract: 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 compensates for line voltage variations by sensing line voltage and adjusting the 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 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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Jeff Donald Drake, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael Francis Finch, Joseph Mark Brian, Henry Nader Kobraci, Darin L. Franks, Chad Michael Helms, Nagaraju Valluri
  • Patent number: 7765837
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub mounted within the cabinet, and a basket rotationally mounted within the tub for relative rotation therewith. A suspension assembly supports the tub within the cabinet. A variable speed motor is included for rotating the basket about a rotation axis, and an inverter is operatively coupled to the motor. A controller is operatively coupled to the inverter and the motor and is configured to control the motor based on a drag torque on the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Gregory Hoppe, Larry Lee Hawkins, Derek Lee Watkins, Mark Aaron Weaver, Michael Francis Finch, Stephen Bernard Froelicher, Benton Bartley Oukrop