Patents by Inventor Paul Layton

Paul Layton 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: 11118590
    Abstract: A circulator blower controller for a circulator blower of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building includes an interface configured to receive a demand signal with an operating mode from a thermostat. A switching circuit selectively connects power to a tap of a motor of the circulator blower. A data store configured to store a mapping from a speed to the tap. For each tap, a processor observes power consumed by the circulator blower while power is connected to the tap by the switching circuit. The processor determines the mapping by sorting the taps based on observed power consumption. The processor selects a first speed based on the demand signal from the thermostat. The processor identifies a first tap from the mapping based on the first speed and generates the tap selection signal to control the switching circuit to connect power to the first tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Arensmeier, Paul Layton, Jacob Nielson
  • Publication number: 20210239345
    Abstract: A monitoring system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is disclosed. The monitoring system includes at least one processor and a computer readable medium that includes instructions executable by the at least one processor. The instructions include: determining a capacity of a filter of the HVAC system based at least on dimensions of the filter; determining a threshold based on the capacity of the filter; monitoring a state of a circulator blower of the HVAC system; and calculating a filter usage based on the state of the circulator blower and one of (i) a power consumed by the circulator blower and (ii) an operation mode of the HVAC system. The instructions also include generating, in response to the filter usage exceeding the threshold, an alert suggesting replacement of the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. ARENSMEIER, Priotomo ABIPROJO, Paul LAYTON, Murray PICKARD, Horst JAESCHKE
  • Publication number: 20200158120
    Abstract: A circulator blower controller for a circulator blower of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building includes an interface configured to receive a demand signal with an operating mode from a thermostat. A switching circuit selectively connects power to a tap of a motor of the circulator blower. A data store configured to store a mapping from a speed to the tap. For each tap, a processor observes power consumed by the circulator blower while power is connected to the tap by the switching circuit. The processor determines the mapping by sorting the taps based on observed power consumption. The processor selects a first speed based on the demand signal from the thermostat. The processor identifies a first tap from the mapping based on the first speed and generates the tap selection signal to control the switching circuit to connect power to the first tap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. ARENSMEIER, Paul LAYTON, Jacob NIELSON
  • Patent number: 10496065
    Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is provided. The monitoring system includes a monitoring server and a monitoring client. The monitoring server is configured to receive an aggregate current value from a monitoring device, wherein the aggregate current value represents a total current flowing through the HVAC system, determine a commanded operating mode of the HVAC system in response to the aggregate current value, wherein operating modes of the HVAC system include at least one of an idle mode and an ON mode, and analyze a system condition of the HVAC system based on the determined commanded operating mode. The monitoring client is configured to command the monitoring server to execute validation testing based on data received from monitoring the HVAC system, display results of validation testing, display real-time system performance data, and display an alert during a system malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Justin Dean Conley, Julie Ann Harpring, Jeffrey N. Arensmeier, Paul Layton, Scott Valentine, Thomas Ryan Koby
  • Patent number: 10373126
    Abstract: A method of operating a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) monitoring system includes, at a remote monitoring apparatus, receiving and storing frames of data from a local monitoring device installed at a building. Each of the frames includes time domain current data based on a measured aggregate current supplied to a plurality of components of an HVAC system of the building and frequency domain data based on the measured aggregate current. The method includes, based on the frequency domain current data and exclusive of individual current data from a plurality of individual current sensors, determining an individual contribution of a first component of the HVAC system to the measured aggregate current. The method includes transmitting information based on the stored current data to an HVAC manufacturer. The method includes, if a problem is identified with the first component using the determined individual contribution, transmitting an alert message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Arensmeier, Steven A. Cox, Jr., Paul Layton
  • Patent number: 10309405
    Abstract: A circulator blower controller for a circulator blower of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building includes an interface configured to receive a demand signal with an operating mode from a thermostat. A switching circuit selectively connects power to a tap of a motor of the circulator blower. A data store configured to store a mapping from a speed to the tap. For each tap, a processor observes power consumed by the circulator blower while power is connected to the tap by the switching circuit. The processor determines the mapping by sorting the taps based on observed power consumption. The processor selects a first speed based on the demand signal from the thermostat. The processor identifies a first tap from the mapping based on the first speed and generates the tap selection signal to control the switching circuit to connect power to the first tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Arensmeier, Paul Layton, Jacob Nielson
  • Publication number: 20180130031
    Abstract: A method of operating a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) monitoring system includes, at a remote monitoring apparatus, receiving and storing frames of data from a local monitoring device installed at a building. Each of the frames includes time domain current data based on a measured aggregate current supplied to a plurality of components of an HVAC system of the building and frequency domain data based on the measured aggregate current. The method includes, based on the frequency domain current data and exclusive of individual current data from a plurality of individual current sensors, determining an individual contribution of a first component of the HVAC system to the measured aggregate current. The method includes transmitting information based on the stored current data to an HVAC manufacturer. The method includes, if a problem is identified with the first component using the determined individual contribution, transmitting an alert message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. ARENSMEIER, Steven A. COX, JR., Paul LAYTON
  • Publication number: 20170292725
    Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building is provided. The monitoring system includes a monitoring server and a monitoring client. The monitoring server is configured to receive an aggregate current value from a monitoring device, wherein the aggregate current value represents a total current flowing through the HVAC system, determine a commanded operating mode of the HVAC system in response to the aggregate current value, wherein operating modes of the HVAC system include at least one of an idle mode and an ON mode, and analyze a system condition of the HVAC system based on the determined commanded operating mode. The monitoring client is configured to command the monitoring server to execute validation testing based on data received from monitoring the HVAC system, display results of validation testing, display real-time system performance data, and display an alert during a system malfunction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Justin Dean CONLEY, Julie Ann HARPRING, Jeffrey N. ARENSMEIER, Paul LAYTON, Scott VALENTINE, Thomas Ryan KOBY
  • Patent number: 9741023
    Abstract: A method of operating a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) monitoring service is described. The method includes: providing a local device for installation in an HVAC system of a residential or commercial building; periodically receiving data from the local device across a wide area network, wherein the received data includes electrical sensor data including at least one of current or power; and storing the received data. The method further includes: analyzing the stored data to selectively identify problems and selectively predict faults of the HVAC system; receiving a subscription fee corresponding to the building, the subscription fee applying to a calendar period; and during the calendar period, providing information on the identified problems and the predicted faults to a customer corresponding to the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Arensmeier, Steven A. Cox, Jr., Paul Layton
  • Publication number: 20170167744
    Abstract: A circulator blower controller for a circulator blower of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building includes an interface configured to receive a demand signal with an operating mode from a thermostat. A switching circuit selectively connects power to a tap of a motor of the circulator blower. A data store configured to store a mapping from a speed to the tap. For each tap, a processor observes power consumed by the circulator blower while power is connected to the tap by the switching circuit. The processor determines the mapping by sorting the taps based on observed power consumption. The processor selects a first speed based on the demand signal from the thermostat. The processor identifies a first tap from the mapping based on the first speed and generates the tap selection signal to control the switching circuit to connect power to the first tap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. ARENSMEIER, Paul LAYTON, Jacob NIELSON
  • Publication number: 20150302414
    Abstract: A system and method include a monitoring system that monitors operating parameters of an HVAC system at a customer location and that generates an alert or service request based on the operating parameters. A server is in communication with the monitoring system and receives the alert or service request from the monitoring system, compares the alert or service request to a listing of alerts and service requests covered under a service plan associated with the HVAC system at the customer location, determines whether the alert or service request is covered under the service plan based on the comparison, and schedules and dispatches a contractor to perform service under the service plan when the alert or service request is covered under the service plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Steven A. Cox, Paul Layton
  • Publication number: 20140278681
    Abstract: A system and method includes a database storing faults, each fault having an indicator corresponding to whether the associated fault is designated for self-maintenance. A monitoring system is in communication with the database and monitors operating parameters of an HVAC system at a customer location, detects or predicts a fault in the HVAC system, determines whether the fault is designated for self-maintenance, and communicates an alert corresponding to the fault to a customer device. When the alert received by the customer device indicates that the fault in the HVAC system is designated for self-maintenance, the customer device displays an identification of a replacement component associated with maintenance for the fault and a first interface to receive at least one of a first selection for a contractor to deliver the replacement component and a second selection for purchasing the replacement component through a commercial retailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steven A. Cox, Paul Layton
  • Publication number: 20140279571
    Abstract: A system and method for a contractor locator and dispatch service is provided. A customer device is associated with an HVAC system at a customer location. Contractor devices are each associated with a contractor at a contractor location and stores contractor information including contractor location data corresponding to the contractor location and contractor availability data corresponding to an availability of the associated contractor. A server receives a service request for the HVAC system from the customer device and contractor information from each of the contractor devices. The server applies selection criteria to the received contractor information and determines potential contractors for the service request based on the selection criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Steven A. Cox, Paul Layton