Abstract: A fire and smoke actuator includes a temperature sensor for sensing an operating temperature of the fire and smoke actuator, a drive motor, an actuator output for coupling to the damper in order to move the damper between the open position and the closed position and a drivetrain that is operably coupled between the drive motor and the actuator output. The drive motor, when activated, is configured to actuate the actuator output, via the drivetrain, to move the damper between the open position and the closed position. A drive circuit is operably coupled to the drive motor and the temperature sensor and is configured to activate the drive motor to move the damper between the open position and the closed position at a non-zero speed that is based, at least in part, on the operating temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A device having a display and a user interface incorporating buttons, switches or keys that may be programmable for various functions related to the purpose of the device and its display. The keys may be programmed for virtually any functions available to or on the device. Also, some or all of the keys may be reprogrammed for other or new functions. The device may be programmed by the user with the keys on the device to obtain a custom design having functions assigned to the keys according to a particular design, desire or choice of the user. The keys may be situated on an area having touch sensitive technology such that touching a particular key will call forth a function that is assigned to the key. The keys may be in a touch sensitive area apart from the display or be fully or in partly on a touch sensitive display.

Abstract: An actuator is designed to control airflow in HVAC systems by opening and closing a damper. A slippage detector may be secured to a damper shaft to measure movement of the damper shaft. This measured movement may be compared to the expected movement of the damper shaft as indicated by the movement of a rotatable output of the actuator.

Abstract: A fire and smoke actuator includes a temperature sensor for sensing an operating temperature of the fire and smoke actuator, a drive motor, an actuator output for coupling to the damper in order to move the damper between the open position and the closed position and a drivetrain that is operably coupled between the drive motor and the actuator output. The drive motor, when activated, is configured to actuate the actuator output, via the drivetrain, to move the damper between the open position and the closed position. A drive circuit is operably coupled to the drive motor and the temperature sensor and is configured to activate the drive motor to move the damper between the open position and the closed position at a non-zero speed that is based, at least in part, on the operating temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: An actuator is designed to control airflow in HVAC systems by opening and closing a damper. A slippage detector may be secured to a damper shaft to measure movement of the damper shaft. This measured movement may be compared to the expected movement of the damper shaft as indicated by the movement of a rotatable output of the actuator.

Abstract: An external auxiliary switch mechanism having a base device and an expansion module. The base device may incorporate a transceiver and microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The expansion module may incorporate a transceiver and a microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The microcontroller of the expansion module may have a connection to one or more switches and/or a communication module connected to a network. Data may be transferred wirelessly between the transceiver of the base device and the transceiver of the expansion module with, for example, near-field communication techniques. In some versions of the present mechanism, the expansion module may derive power from signals from the basic device.

Abstract: An HVAC actuator that includes a motor to assist in driving an HVAC component between a first end stop and a second end stop, a return spring configured to provide a bias force toward the second end stop, and a controller operatively coupled to the motor. The controller may store a predetermined zero position that corresponds to the position of the HVAC component that results when the HVAC component is allowed to come to rest against the second end stop under the influence of the bias force of the return spring while the motor is interrupted from controlling the position and speed of the HVAC component. The controller may be configured to remove drive power to the motor before the HVAC component 14 reaches the predetermined zero position, allowing the return spring to gently park the HVAC component on the send end stop.

Abstract: An actuator system designed to avoid load position hunting. The system may eliminate a voltage drop of resistance of connecting wires between a load (e.g., a motor) and a power source, by removing current flow through the wires. A command source may provide a command voltage for controlling the load relative to a ground at the power source. However, the voltage may be different relative to a ground at the load. A switch may break a connection between the power source and the load, thus removing the potential difference between the grounds. After the command voltage is entered at the load, the switch may remove the break of the connection between the power source and the load. During the break, a power storage module, such as a capacitor, may provide a current flow to the load. The power storage module may be replenished with current when the break is removed.

Abstract: A power transformation system that may incorporate inductive-capacitive circuits configured to receive AC power and filter out output power, a voltage regulator (e.g., microprocessor), a transistor/switch configured to connect or disconnect the input inductive-capacitive circuit to or from, respectively, an output filter, and a level shifter configured to provide a control signal to the transistor to connect or disconnect the inductive-capacitive circuit via the transistor/switch, to or from, respectively, the output filter. The input inductive-capacitive circuit may provide power factor correction for the AC power. The level shifter may provide pulse width modulation control signals to the transistor/switch for connection or disconnection between the inductive-capacitive circuit and the output filter.

Abstract: An actuator system designed to avoid load position hunting. The system may eliminate a voltage drop of resistance of connecting wires between a load (e.g., a motor) and a power source, by removing current flow through the wires. A command source may provide a command voltage for controlling the load relative to a ground at the power source. However, the voltage may be different relative to a ground at the load. A switch may break a connection between the power source and the load, thus removing the potential difference between the grounds. After the command voltage is entered at the load, the switch may remove the break of the connection between the power source and the load. During the break, a power storage module, such as a capacitor, may provide a current flow to the load. The power storage module may be replenished with current when the break is removed.

Abstract: An external auxiliary switch mechanism having a base device and an expansion module. The base device may incorporate a transceiver and microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The expansion module may incorporate a transceiver and a microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The microcontroller of the expansion module may have a connection to one or more switches and/or a communication module connected to a network. Data may be transferred wirelessly between the transceiver of the base device and the transceiver of the expansion module with, for example, near-field communication techniques. In some versions of the present mechanism, the expansion module may derive power from signals from the basic device.

Abstract: An external auxiliary switch mechanism having a base device and an expansion module. The base device may incorporate a transceiver and microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The expansion module may incorporate a transceiver and a microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The microcontroller of the expansion module may have a connection to one or more switches and/or a communication module connected to a network. Data may be transferred wirelessly between the transceiver of the base device and the transceiver of the expansion module with, for example, near-field communication techniques. In some versions of the present mechanism, the expansion module may derive power from signals from the basic device.

Abstract: A device having a display and a user interface incorporating buttons, switches or keys that may be programmable for various functions related to the purpose of the device and its display. The keys may be programmed for virtually any functions available to or on the device. Also, some or all of the keys may be reprogrammed for other or new functions. The device may be programmed by the user with the keys on the device to obtain a custom design having functions assigned to the keys according to a particular design, desire or choice of the user. The keys may be situated on an area having touch sensitive technology such that touching a particular key will call forth a function that is assigned to the key. The keys may be in a touch sensitive area apart from the display or be fully or in partly on a touch sensitive display.

Abstract: An external auxiliary switch mechanism having a base device and an expansion module. The base device may incorporate a transceiver and microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The expansion module may incorporate a transceiver and a microcontroller connected to the transceiver. The microcontroller of the expansion module may have a connection to one or more switches and/or a communication module connected to a network. Data may be transferred wirelessly between the transceiver of the base device and the transceiver of the expansion module with, for example, near-field communication techniques. In some versions of the present mechanism, the expansion module may derive power from signals from the basic device.

Abstract: A device having a display and a user interface incorporating buttons, switches or keys that may be programmable for various functions related to the purpose of the device and its display. The keys may be programmed for virtually any functions available to or on the device. Also, some or all of the keys may be reprogrammed for other or new functions. The device may be programmed by the user with the keys on the device to obtain a custom design having functions assigned to the keys according to a particular design, desire or choice of the user. The keys may be situated on an area having touch sensitive technology such that touching a particular key will call forth a function that is assigned to the key. The keys may be in a touch sensitive area apart from the display or be fully or in partly on a touch sensitive display.

Abstract: A device having a display and a user interface incorporating buttons, switches or keys that may be programmable for various functions related to the purpose of the device and its display. The keys may be programed for virtually any functions available to or on the device. Also, some or all of the keys may be reprogramed for other or new functions. The device may be programmed by the user with the keys on the device to obtain a custom design having functions assigned to the keys according to a particular design, desire or choice of the user. The keys may be situated on an area having touch sensitive technology such that touching a particular key will call forth a function that is assigned to the key. The keys may be in a touch sensitive area apart from the display or be fully or in partly on a touch sensitive display.

Abstract: A device having a display and a user interface incorporating buttons, switches or keys that may be programmable for various functions related to the purpose of the device and its display. The keys may be programmed for virtually any functions available to or on the device. Also, some or all of the keys may be reprogrammed for other or new functions. The device may be programmed by the user with the keys on the device to obtain a custom design having functions assigned to the keys according to a particular design, desire or choice of the user. The keys may be situated on an area having touch sensitive technology such that touching a particular key will call forth a function that is assigned to the key. The keys may be in a touch sensitive area apart from the display or be fully or in partly on a touch sensitive display.

Abstract: A wall module of a building control system is described that is configured to capture a thermal image using a passive infrared (PIR) sensor four or more individually readable pixels arranged in two or more rows and two or more columns.

Abstract: A device having a display and a user interface incorporating buttons, switches or keys that may be programmable for various functions related to the purpose of the device and its display. The keys may be programed for virtually any functions available to or on the device. Also, some or all of the keys may be reprogramed for other or new functions. The device may be programmed by the user with the keys on the device to obtain a custom design having functions assigned to the keys according to a particular design, desire or choice of the user. The keys may be situated on an area having touch sensitive technology such that touching a particular key will call forth a function that is assigned to the key. The keys may be in a touch sensitive area apart from the display or be fully or in partly on a touch sensitive display.

Abstract: A wall module for use with a building control system is customizable for a particular application though the selection of different overlays, displays, and/or expansion modules. The selected overlay and the display, when provided, together may form the user interface of the desired wall module configuration. The expansion module may be selected to provide additional desired functionality. Different overlays, displays and/or expansion modules may be selected for different wall modules within a building control system.