Patents by Inventor Nicholas S. Van Derven
Nicholas S. Van Derven 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: 11604002Abstract: A thermostat is disclosed. The thermostat can include one or more temperature sensors configured to measure one or more temperature values. The thermostat can include a processing circuit. The processing circuit can receive the one or more temperature values from the one or more temperature sensors. The processing circuit can receive one or more central processing unit (CPU) usage values, wherein the one or more CPU usage values indicate computing usage of the processing circuit. The processing circuit can determine, based on an empirical model comprising one or more gain values and one or more filters and based on one or more signals, a temperature of the building. The one or more signals comprise the one or more temperature values and the one or more CPU usage values. The empirical model accounts for dynamics of heat generated by the processing circuit and airflow acting on the thermostat.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2018Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLPInventors: Nathan M. Zimmerman, Michael J. Ajax, Nicholas S. Van Derven, John M. House, Timothy I. Salsbury
-
Patent number: 11441799Abstract: A building system comprising one or more memory devices storing instructions that, are executed by one or more processors. The instructions include retrieving one or more instructions for installing a thermostat with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and causing a user interface to display the one or more instructions. The instructions further include receiving one or more confirmation indications of the one or more instructions being performed successfully by a user and causing the user interface to display an interface including one or more indication that the one or more instructions were performed successfully by the user.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2019Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLPInventors: Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven, William P. Alberth, Jr., Alan S. Schwegler, Corey A. Poquette, Michael J. Ajax
-
Patent number: 11162698Abstract: A system for controlling air quality of a building space includes an air quality sensor configured to sense the air quality of the building space, an exhaust fan configured to exhaust air from inside the building space to outside the building space, a switch device configured to control the exhaust fan to exhaust the air from inside the building space to outside the building space, and a controller comprising a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to determine an air quality level of the building space based on the air quality sensor, determine whether the air quality level is less than an air quality threshold, and cause the switch device to operate the exhaust fan to exhaust air from inside the building space to outside the building space in response to a determination that the air quality level is less than the air quality threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLPInventors: Michael J. Ajax, Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven
-
Patent number: 10866003Abstract: A controller for controlling a temperature of a building space includes an occupancy sensor configured to measure an occupancy signal indicating whether one or more occupants are within the building space and a processing circuit configured to receive the occupancy signal from the occupancy sensor. The processing circuit is configured to determine whether the number of occupants within the building space has increased by a predefined amount based on the received occupancy signal, decrease a value of a temperature setpoint for the building space from a first value to a second value in response to a determination that the number of occupants within the building space has increased by the predefined amount based on the received occupancy signal, and reduce the temperature of the building space by controlling one or more pieces of building equipment associated with the building space.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2018Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Michael J. Ajax, Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven
-
Patent number: 10731885Abstract: A controller for controlling an environmental condition of a building space includes a proxy sensor configured to measure a proxy value indicating whether an occupant is within the building space and an occupancy sensor configured to measure an occupancy value. The controller includes a processing circuit configured to determine whether the occupant is within the building space based on the occupancy value of the occupancy sensor, generate a proxy parameter based on a first proxy value measured via the proxy sensor in response to a determination that the occupant is not within the building space based on the occupancy value of the occupancy sensor, determine whether the occupant is within the building based on a second proxy value measured via the proxy sensor and the generated proxy parameter, and control one or more pieces of building equipment to control the environmental condition of the building space.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Michael J. Ajax, Nicholas S. Van Derven, Joseph R. Ribbich
-
Patent number: 10627126Abstract: A thermostat includes a housing, a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs, processing electronics configured to operate the touch-sensitive display, and a mounting plate. The housing includes a base that has walls that define an internal volume. The housing also includes a display mount cantilevered upward from the top wall. The display mount includes a mounting surface perpendicular to the top wall of the base. The housing also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs. The touch-sensitive display is attached to the mounting surface of the display mount. The processing electronics are positioned within the interior volume of the base. The mounting plate is configured for attaching the housing to a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the bottom wall by a hinge so that the housing may pivot between an open position and a closed position.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven
-
Publication number: 20200041154Abstract: A building system comprising one or more memory devices storing instructions that, are executed by one or more processors. The instructions include retrieving one or more instructions for installing a thermostat with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and causing a user interface to display the one or more instructions. The instructions further include receiving one or more confirmation indications of the one or more instructions being performed successfully by a user and causing the user interface to display an interface including one or more indication that the one or more instructions were performed successfully by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven, William P. Alberth, JR., Alan S. Schwegler, Corey A. Poquette, Michael J. Ajax
-
Patent number: 10458669Abstract: A thermostat for controlling HVAC equipment via one or more control wires includes a user interface, a wiring terminal, and a processing circuit. The user interface is configured to display output to a user. The wiring terminal includes one or more connection points. The processing circuit is configured to determine one or more wiring instructions for wiring the thermostat with the HVAC equipment and cause the user interface to display the one or more instructions. The instructions instruct the user to connect the control wires to the connection points.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven, William P. Alberth, Jr., Alan S. Schwegler, Corey A. Poquette, Michael J. Ajax
-
Publication number: 20190178511Abstract: A thermostat is disclosed. The thermostat can include one or more temperature sensors configured to measure one or more temperature values. The thermostat can include a processing circuit. The processing circuit can receive the one or more temperature values from the one or more temperature sensors. The processing circuit can receive one or more central processing unit (CPU) usage values, wherein the one or more CPU usage values indicate computing usage of the processing circuit. The processing circuit can determine, based on an empirical model comprising one or more gain values and one or more filters and based on one or more signals, a temperature of the building. The one or more signals comprise the one or more temperature values and the one or more CPU usage values. The empirical model accounts for dynamics of heat generated by the processing circuit and airflow acting on the thermostat.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2018Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Nathan M. Zimmerman, Michael J. Ajax, Nicholas S. Van Derven, John M. House, Timothy I. Salsbury
-
Publication number: 20180299153Abstract: A controller for controlling a temperature of a building space includes an occupancy sensor configured to measure an occupancy signal indicating whether one or more occupants are within the building space and a processing circuit configured to receive the occupancy signal from the occupancy sensor. The processing circuit is configured to determine whether the number of occupants within the building space has increased by a predefined amount based on the received occupancy signal, decrease a value of a temperature setpoint for the building space from a first value to a second value in response to a determination that the number of occupants within the building space has increased by the predefined amount based on the received occupancy signal, and reduce the temperature of the building space by controlling one or more pieces of building equipment associated with the building space.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Michael J. Ajax, Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven
-
Publication number: 20180299150Abstract: A system for controlling air quality of a building space includes an air quality sensor configured to sense the air quality of the building space, an exhaust fan configured to exhaust air from inside the building space to outside the building space, a switch device configured to control the exhaust fan to exhaust the air from inside the building space to outside the building space, and a controller comprising a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to determine an air quality level of the building space based on the air quality sensor, determine whether the air quality level is less than an air quality threshold, and cause the switch device to operate the exhaust fan to exhaust air from inside the building space to outside the building space in response to a determination that the air quality level is less than the air quality threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Michael J. Ajax, Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven
-
Publication number: 20180299158Abstract: A controller for controlling an environmental condition of a building space includes a proxy sensor configured to measure a proxy value indicating whether an occupant is within the building space and an occupancy sensor configured to measure an occupancy value. The controller includes a processing circuit configured to determine whether the occupant is within the building space based on the occupancy value of the occupancy sensor, generate a proxy parameter based on a first proxy value measured via the proxy sensor in response to a determination that the occupant is not within the building space based on the occupancy value of the occupancy sensor, determine whether the occupant is within the building based on a second proxy value measured via the proxy sensor and the generated proxy parameter, and control one or more pieces of building equipment to control the environmental condition of the building space.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Michael J. Ajax, Nicholas S. Van Derven, Joseph R. Ribbich
-
Publication number: 20180283716Abstract: A thermostat for controlling HVAC equipment via one or more control wires includes a user interface, a wiring terminal, and a processing circuit. The user interface is configured to display output to a user. The wiring terminal includes one or more connection points. The processing circuit is configured to determine one or more wiring instructions for wiring the thermostat with the HVAC equipment and cause the user interface to display the one or more instructions. The instructions instruct the user to connect the control wires to the connection points.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven, William P. Alberth, JR., Alan S. Schwegler, Corey A. Poquette, Michael J. Ajax
-
Patent number: 10082216Abstract: Disclosed is a system to dynamically operate a valve including a direct current (DC) stepper motor. The system includes a valve detector to identify the valve and to determine whether the valve is operable in multiple operating modes. The system further includes a mode selector electrically coupled to the valve detector. The mode selector selects an operating mode from the multiple operating modes. The system further includes a current selector electrically coupled to the mode selector. The current selector selects a target current level based on the selected operating mode. The system further includes a motor controller electrically coupled to the current selector and the DC stepper motor. The motor controller drives the DC stepper motor with a drive current at the selected target current level.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2017Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Nicholas S. Van Derven, Kraig D. Ritmanich, Peter J. Wawer
-
Publication number: 20180203475Abstract: A user control device includes an electronic display, an orientation sensor, and a controller. The electronic display has a substantially transparent front surface and a substantially transparent rear surface opposite the front surface. The orientation sensor is configured to detect an orientation of the electronic display. The controller is configured to modify visual media presented by the electronic display based on the orientation of the electronic display. The visual media are presented as non-mirrored images that appear non-mirrored when viewed through the front surface and appear mirrored when viewed through the rear surface, in response to a determination that the electronic display has a first orientation. The visual media are presented as mirrored images that appear mirrored when viewed through the front surface and appear non-mirrored when viewed through the rear surface, in response to a determination that the electronic display has a second orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2018Publication date: July 19, 2018Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Nicholas S. Van Derven, Wesley J. Irek, Michael J. Ajax, Justin J. Seifi
-
Publication number: 20180128508Abstract: A thermostat includes a housing, a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs, processing electronics configured to operate the touch-sensitive display, and a mounting plate. The housing includes a base that has walls that define an internal volume. The housing also includes a display mount cantilevered upward from the top wall. The display mount includes a mounting surface perpendicular to the top wall of the base. The housing also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs. The touch-sensitive display is attached to the mounting surface of the display mount. The processing electronics are positioned within the interior volume of the base. The mounting plate is configured for attaching the housing to a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the bottom wall by a hinge so that the housing may pivot between an open position and a closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2018Publication date: May 10, 2018Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven
-
Patent number: 9890971Abstract: A thermostat includes a housing, a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs, processing electronics configured to operate the touch-sensitive display, and a mounting plate. The housing includes a base that has walls that define an internal volume. The housing also includes a display mount cantilevered upward from the top wall. The display mount includes a mounting surface perpendicular to the top wall of the base. The housing also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs. The touch-sensitive display is attached to the mounting surface of the display mount. The processing electronics are positioned within the interior volume of the base. The mounting plate is configured for attaching the housing to a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the bottom wall by a hinge so that the housing may pivot between an open position and a closed position.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven
-
Publication number: 20160327301Abstract: A thermostat includes a housing with an interior volume, a display attached to the housing, a first circuit board positioned within the interior volume, a second circuit board positioned within the interior volume, wherein the first circuit board is positioned perpendicular to the second circuit board, processing electronics mounted to at least one of the first circuit board and the second circuit board, the processing electronics configured to operate the display, and a battery positioned within the interior volume and configured to provide power to the display and the processing electronics.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Joseph R. Ribbich, Michael J. Ajax, Nicholas S. Van Derven
-
Publication number: 20160327302Abstract: A thermostat includes a housing, a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs, processing electronics configured to operate the touch-sensitive display, and a mounting plate. The housing includes a base that has walls that define an internal volume. The housing also includes a display mount cantilevered upward from the top wall. The display mount includes a mounting surface perpendicular to the top wall of the base. The housing also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to display visual media and receive user inputs. The touch-sensitive display is attached to the mounting surface of the display mount. The processing electronics are positioned within the interior volume of the base. The mounting plate is configured for attaching the housing to a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the bottom wall by a hinge so that the housing may pivot between an open position and a closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven