Patents by Inventor Sean Meyn

Sean Meyn 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: 10692158
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for providing ancillary services to a power grid using a power consumption component at a customer premises. The apparatus may control a load with discrete, finite states of power or an on/off load at a customer premises using a controller. The controller may comprise a processor, which may be configured to receive a regulation signal associated with an ancillary service for the power grid; determine whether to modify a state of power of the power consumption component based on a probability function, local measurement at the premises, and the received regulation signal; and based at least in part on a determination to modify the state of power of the power consumption component, modify the state of power of the power consumption component. The system may be distributed, with different controllers at different customer premises independently making power state decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated, INRIA (French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation)
    Inventors: Sean Meyn, Ana Busic
  • Patent number: 10230240
    Abstract: Techniques for providing ancillary services to a power grid using customer premises such as commercial buildings. The techniques may involve receiving a regulation signal from a grid operator that is specific to a commercial building and modifying power consumption by at least one power consumption component in the building based on the regulation signal. The power consumption component may be a fan and/or a chiller of a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The regulation signal may be tracked in a at least a portion of a frequency band from about 4 seconds to about 60 minutes, and the control architecture may depend on the portion of the frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated
    Inventors: Prabir Barooah, Sean Meyn
  • Patent number: 10169833
    Abstract: Techniques for providing ancillary services to a power grid using customer premises such as commercial buildings. The techniques may involve receiving a regulation signal from a grid operator that is specific to a commercial building and modifying power consumption by at least one power consumption component in the building based on the regulation signal. The power consumption component may be a fan of a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. Conducted experiments demonstrate that up to 15% of fan power capacity may be deployed for regulation purposes while maintaining indoor temperature deviation to no more than 0.2° C. The regulation signal may be tracked in a frequency band from about 4 seconds to 10 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated
    Inventors: Prabir Barooah, Sean Meyn
  • Publication number: 20180189899
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for providing ancillary services to a power grid using a power consumption component at a customer premises. The apparatus may control a load with discrete, finite states of power or an on/off load at a customer premises using a controller. The controller may comprise a processor, which may be configured to receive a regulation signal associated with an ancillary service for the power grid; determine whether to modify a state of power of the power consumption component based on a probability function, local measurement at the premises, and the received regulation signal; and based at least in part on a determination to modify the state of power of the power consumption component, modify the state of power of the power consumption component. The system may be distributed, with different controllers at different customer premises independently making power state decisions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicants: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., INRIA (French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation)
    Inventors: Sean Meyn, Ana Busic
  • Publication number: 20160261116
    Abstract: Techniques for providing ancillary services to a power grid using customer premises such as commercial buildings. The techniques may involve receiving a regulation signal from a grid operator that is specific to a commercial building and modifying power consumption by at least one power consumption component in the building based on the regulation signal. The power consumption component may be a fan and/or a chiller of a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The regulation signal may be tracked in a at least a portion of a frequency band from about 4 seconds to about 60 minutes, and the control architecture may depend on the portion of the frequency band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Prabir Barooah, Sean Meyn
  • Publication number: 20140339316
    Abstract: Techniques for providing ancillary services to a power grid using customer premises such as commercial buildings. The techniques may involve receiving a regulation signal from a grid operator that is specific to a commercial building and modifying power consumption by at least one power consumption component in the building based on the regulation signal. The power consumption component may be a fan of a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. Conducted experiments demonstrate that up to 15% of fan power capacity may be deployed for regulation purposes while maintaining indoor temperature deviation to no more than 0.2° C. The regulation signal may be tracked in a frequency band from about 4 seconds to 10 minutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Prabir Barooah, Sean Meyn
  • Publication number: 20110213588
    Abstract: A system computes occupancy estimates based on one or more inputs, including sensor data from one or more sensor devices, constraints on allowable occupancy levels, and one or more utility functions. An occupancy estimator organizes the sensor data, the utility functions and an occupancy estimate into an objective function and executes a constrained optimization algorithm that computes the occupancy estimate, subject to the constraints, such that the objective function is minimized. The computed occupancy estimate is provided as an output by the system to one or more control and/or monitoring systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: UTC FIRE & SECURITY
    Inventors: Yiqing Lin, Stella M. Oggianu, Amit Surana, Sean Meyn, Igor I. Fedchenia
  • Publication number: 20100299116
    Abstract: An occupancy estimator calculates an occupancy estimate (x) of a region based on sensor data (z) provided by one or more sensor devices and a model-based occupancy estimate generated by an occupant traffic model (f). The occupant traffic model (f) is based on predicted movement of occupants throughout a region. The occupancy estimation system includes an occupancy estimator algorithm (20) that combines the sensor data (z) and the model-based occupancy estimate generated by the occupant traffic model (f) to generate an occupancy estimate (x) for the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert N. Tomastik, Sean Meyn