Patents by Inventor Robert D. Turney

Robert D. Turney 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: 20230085072
    Abstract: A method includes operating equipment to affect a variable state or condition of a space and training weights of a neural network by outputting control dispatches from the neural network based on simulated inputs, simulating costs associated with operating the equipment in accordance with control dispatches, and adjusting the weights to reduce the costs. The method also includes generating a control dispatch for the equipment by applying an actual measurement relating to the space as an input to the neural network, and controlling the equipment in accordance with the control dispatch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Robert D. Turney, Henry O. Marcy, V
  • Patent number: 11507033
    Abstract: A method includes operating equipment to affect a variable state or condition of a space and determining a set of learned weights for a neural network by modeling an estimated cost of operating the equipment over a plurality of simulated scenarios. Each simulated scenario includes simulated measurements relating to the space. The neural network is configured to generate simulated control dispatches for the equipment based on the simulated measurements. The method also includes configuring the neural network for online control by applying the set of learned weights, applying actual measurements relating to the space to the neural network to generate a control dispatch for the equipment, and controlling the equipment in accordance with the control dispatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Robert D. Turney, Henry O. Marcy, V
  • Publication number: 20220365495
    Abstract: A controller for operating building equipment of a building including processors and non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the processors, cause the processors to perform operations including obtaining a first setpoint trajectory from a cloud computation system. The first setpoint trajectory includes setpoints for the building equipment or for a space of the building. The setpoints correspond to time steps of an optimization period. The operations include determining whether a connection between the controller and the cloud computation system is active or inactive at a time step of the optimization period and determining an active setpoint for the time step of the optimization period using either the first or second setpoint trajectory based on whether the connection between the controller and the cloud computation system is active or inactive at the time step. The operations include operating the building equipment based on the active setpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Michael J. Wenzel, Robert D. Turney, Jiaqi Li, Matthew J. Ellis, Mohammad N. ELBSAT
  • Patent number: 11487277
    Abstract: A model predictive maintenance (MPM) system for building equipment includes an equipment controller configured to operate the building equipment to affect a variable state or condition in a building and an operational cost predictor configured to predict a cost of operating the building equipment over a duration of an optimization period. The MPM system includes a maintenance cost predictor configured to predict a cost of performing maintenance on the building equipment over the duration of the optimization period and an objective function optimizer configured to optimize an objective function to predict a total cost associated with the building equipment over the duration of the optimization period. The objective function includes the predicted cost of operating the building equipment and the predicted cost of performing maintenance on the building equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
    Inventors: Robert D. Turney, Sudhi R. Sinha
  • Patent number: 11445024
    Abstract: A smart edge controller for building equipment that operates to affect a variable state or condition within a building. The controller includes processors and non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the processors, cause the processors to perform operations including obtaining sensor data indicating environmental conditions of the building and include determining an amount of available processing resources at the smart edge controller or at the building equipment. The operations include automatically scaling a level of complexity of an optimization of a cost function based on the available processing resources and include performing the optimization of the cost function at the automatically scaled level of complexity to generate a first setpoint trajectory. The first setpoint trajectory includes operating setpoints for the building equipment at time steps within an optimization period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Robert D. Turney, Serdar Suindykov, Mohammad N. Elbsat, Michael J. Wenzel
  • Publication number: 20220268471
    Abstract: A heating ventilating or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a unit configured for use in a heating or a cooling operation for an environment. The unit includes an interface configured to receive electric energy from an alternative energy source and a controller configured to perform an optimization of an objective function for the unit to determine a first amount of electric energy to receive from an energy grid and a second amount of the electric energy from the alternative energy source for use in the heating or cooling operation at each time step of an optimization period in response to a cost characteristic of the electric energy received from the energy grid. The unit is configured to use the first amount and the second amount for the heating or cooling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Robert D. Turney, Nishith R. Patel, Karl F. Reichenberger
  • Patent number: 11416955
    Abstract: A model predictive maintenance system for building equipment including one or more processing circuits including processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processors, cause the processors to perform operations. The operations include obtaining an objective function that defines a cost of operating the building equipment and performing maintenance on the building equipment as a function of operating decisions and maintenance decisions for the building equipment for time steps within a time period. The operations include performing an optimization of the objective function to generate a maintenance and replacement strategy for the building equipment over a duration of an optimization period. The operations include estimating a savings loss predicted to result from a deviation from the maintenance and replacement strategy. The operations include adjusting an amount of savings expected to be achieved by energy conservation measures for the building equipment based on the savings loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Mohammad N. Elbsat, Michael J. Wenzel, Jingduo Fan, Robert D. Turney
  • Patent number: 11415334
    Abstract: A controller for maintaining occupant comfort in a space of a building. The controller includes processors and non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the processors, cause the processors to perform operations. The operations include obtaining building data and obtaining occupant comfort data. The operations include generating an occupant comfort model relating the building data to a level of occupant comfort within the space based on the building data and the occupant comfort data. The operations include generating time-varying comfort constraint for an environmental condition of the space using the occupant comfort model and include performing a cost optimization of a cost function of operating building equipment over a time duration to determine a setpoint for the building equipment. The operations include operating the building equipment based on the setpoint to affect the variable state or condition of the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Robert D. Turney, Mohammad N. ElBsat, Matthew J. Ellis, Anas W. I. Alanqar, Michael J. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 11409274
    Abstract: A model predictive maintenance system for building equipment that performs operations including obtaining an objective function defining a cost of operating and performing maintenance on the equipment as a function of operating and maintenance decisions for time steps within a time period of a life cycle horizon and including performing a first computation of the objective function under a first scenario where maintenance is performed on the equipment during the period, a result of the first computation indicating a first cost. The operations include performing a second computation under a second scenario in which maintenance is not performed during the period, a result indicating a second cost. The operations include initiating an automated action to perform maintenance on the equipment in accordance with decisions defined by the first scenario if the first cost is less than or equal to the second cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Michael J. Wenzel, Jingduo Fan, Mohammad N. Elbsat, Robert D. Turney
  • Patent number: 11409253
    Abstract: A mobile commissioning device for commissioning building equipment in or around a building includes a processing circuit. The processing circuit includes a processor and memory storing instructions executed by the processor. The processing circuit establishes location of the mobile commissioning device and building equipment within the building. The processing circuit also detects and receives commissioning data from building equipment located within a building zones of the building as the mobile commissioning device moves between the building zones. The processing circuit further stores the commissioning data from the building equipment in a temporary commissioning database within the mobile commissioning device and transmits the commissioning data from the temporary commissioning database to a permanent server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Garrett Wiens-Kind, Robert D. Turney, Daniel J. Brandt, Zijian Cao, Fang Du, Shaoyan Pan
  • Patent number: 11391484
    Abstract: A building control system includes one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions. When executed by the one or more processors, the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations including using an artificial intelligence model to adjust a threshold value of a constraint based on user input provided via one or more user devices during a first time period. The user input indicates user satisfaction with an environmental condition of a building space during the first time period. The operations include using the threshold value of the constraint to operate equipment that affect the environmental condition of the building space during a second time period subsequent to the first time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Robert D. Turney
  • Patent number: 11385605
    Abstract: A controller for operating building equipment of a building including processors and non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the processors, cause the processors to perform operations including obtaining a first setpoint trajectory from a cloud computation system. The first setpoint trajectory includes setpoints for the building equipment or for a space of the building. The setpoints correspond to time steps of an optimization period. The operations include determining whether a connection between the controller and the cloud computation system is active or inactive at a time step of the optimization period and determining an active setpoint for the time step of the optimization period using either the first or second setpoint trajectory based on whether the connection between the controller and the cloud computation system is active or inactive at the time step. The operations include operating the building equipment based on the active setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Michael J. Wenzel, Robert D. Turney, Jiaqi Li, Matthew J. Ellis, Mohammad N. Elbsat
  • Publication number: 20220214656
    Abstract: An environmental control system of a building including a first building device operable to affect environmental conditions of a zone of the building by providing a first input to the zone. The system includes a second building device operable to independently affect a subset of the environmental conditions by providing a second input to the zone and further includes a controller including a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to perform an optimization to generate control decisions for the building devices. The optimization is performed subject to constraints for the environmental conditions and uses a predictive model that predicts an effect of the control decisions on the environmental conditions. The processing circuit is configured to operate the building devices in accordance with the control decisions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: ROBERT D. TURNEY, MICHAEL J. WENZEL, MOHAMMAD N. ELBSAT, LIMING YANG, MATTHEW J. ELLIS, MASAYUKI NONAKA
  • Publication number: 20220205668
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of thermostats corresponding to a plurality of HVAC systems that serve a plurality of spaces and a computing system communicable with the plurality of thermostats via a network. The computing system is configured to, for each space of the plurality of spaces, obtain a set of training data relating to thermal behavior of the space, identify a model of thermal behavior of the space based on the set of training data, perform a model predictive control process using the model of thermal behavior of the space to obtain a temperature setpoint for the space, and provide the temperature setpoint to the thermostat corresponding to the HVAC system serving the space. The plurality of thermostats are configured to control the plurality of HVAC systems in accordance with the temperature setpoints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Kerry M. Bell, Bridget E. Kapler, Alan S. Schwegler, Leyla Mousavi, Kierstyn R. Robbins, Robert D. Turney, Matthew J. Ellis, Michael J. Wenzel, Mohammad N. ElBsat, Juan Esteban Tapiero Bernal, Brennan H. Fentzlaff
  • Patent number: 11371739
    Abstract: A building control system includes one or more controllers configured to obtain comfort feedback provided by one or more occupants of a building in response to exposing the one or more occupants to a first set of environmental conditions of the building. The one or more controllers are also configured to generate, based on the comfort feedback, one or more thresholds defining a range of values for an environmental condition of the building within which the one or more occupants are predicted to be comfortable, execute a predictive control process subject to one or more constraints based on the one or more thresholds to generate setpoints for building equipment, and operate the building equipment to drive the environmental condition of the building toward the setpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Wenzel, Mohammad N. Elbsat, Fang Du, Nicolaus P. Meyer, Anas W. I. Alanqar, Robert D. Turney
  • Publication number: 20220186962
    Abstract: A predictive controller for building equipment associated with a building includes one or more processing circuits configured to control electric energy used by the building equipment. The building equipment includes an electric energy using component. The one or more processing circuits are configured to utilize a predictive cost function to determine a first amount of the electric energy supplied from an energy grid source and a second amount of the electric energy supplied from a second energy source to the electric energy using component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Robert D. TURNEY, Nishith R. PATEL, Mohammad N. ELBSAT, Michael J. WENZEL
  • Patent number: 11346572
    Abstract: A central energy facility (CEF) includes a plurality of powered CEF components, a battery unit, and a predictive CEF controller. The powered CEF components include a chiller unit and a cooling tower. The battery unit is configured to store electric energy from an energy grid and discharge the stored electric energy for use in powering the powered CEF components. The predictive CEF controller is configured to optimize a predictive cost function to determine an optimal amount of electric energy to purchase from the energy grid and an optimal amount of electric energy to store in the battery unit or discharge from the battery unit for use in powering the powered CEF components at each time step of an optimization period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Robert D. Turney, Nishith R. Patel
  • Publication number: 20220092500
    Abstract: A control system includes building equipment configured to consume electrical energy and generate thermal energy, electrical energy storage configured to store and discharge electrical energy, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine, for a plurality of time steps within a time horizon, an amount of electrical energy to store in the electrical energy storage or discharge from the electrical energy storage using a value function. The value function includes an expected revenue from participating in an incentive-based demand response (IBDR) program, an expected cost of participating in the IBDR program, and a penalty cost based on an amount by which a predicted output of the building equipment or the electrical energy storage changes between time steps within the time horizon. The controller is configured to control the electrical energy storage to store or discharge the amount of electrical energy determined using the value function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, Michael J. Wenzel, Robert D. Turney
  • Patent number: 11281173
    Abstract: An environmental control system of a building including a first building device operable to affect environmental conditions of a zone of the building by providing a first input to the zone. The system includes a second building device operable to independently affect a subset of the environmental conditions by providing a second input to the zone and further includes a controller including a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to perform an optimization to generate control decisions for the building devices. The optimization is performed subject to constraints for the environmental conditions and uses a predictive model that predicts an effect of the control decisions on the environmental conditions. The processing circuit is configured to operate the building devices in accordance with the control decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Robert D. Turney, Michael J. Wenzel, Mohammad N. Elbsat, Liming Yang, Matthew J. Ellis, Masayuki Nonaka
  • Patent number: 11274849
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of thermostats corresponding to a plurality of HVAC systems that serve a plurality of spaces and a computing system communicable with the plurality of thermostats via a network. The computing system is configured to, for each space of the plurality of spaces, obtain a set of training data relating to thermal behavior of the space, identify a model of thermal behavior of the space based on the set of training data, perform a model predictive control process using the model of thermal behavior of the space to obtain a temperature setpoint for the space, and provide the temperature setpoint to the thermostat corresponding to the HVAC system serving the space. The plurality of thermostats are configured to control the plurality of HVAC systems in accordance with the temperature setpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Kerry M. Bell, Bridget E. Kapler, Alan S. Schwegler, Leyla Mousavi, Kierstyn R. Robbins, Robert D. Turney, Matthew J. Ellis, Michael J. Wenzel, Mohammad N. ElBsat, Juan Esteban Tapiero Bernal, Brennan H. Fentzlaff