Patents by Inventor Ted Wayne Sunderland

Ted Wayne Sunderland 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: 8395524
    Abstract: A merchandiser communication system including a first plurality of merchandisers arranged in a first row and a second plurality of merchandisers arranged in a second row. Each of the merchandisers includes a light assembly coupled to a case to illuminate a product display area, a light sensor coupled to the case to detect light pulses, and a microcontroller. The light sensor is in visual proximity with one or more of the adjacent merchandisers located across the aisle. The microcontroller is in electrical communication with the light assembly and the light sensor to operate the light assembly to encode the signal in light pulses of the light assembly that are not detectable by a human eye. The communication system also includes a visible light-based communication network in communication with the merchandisers and is operable to communicate the encoded light pulses among the merchandisers via the light assemblies and the light sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Ted Wayne Sunderland, Dennis L. Wagner
  • Patent number: 8128869
    Abstract: An air sanitization system including a reactive oxygen species generator, a variable speed fan, a pathogen sensor and a controller. The reactive oxygen species generator generates reactive oxygen species from an oxygen-containing gas and discharges the reactive oxygen species to a conditioned space. The variable speed fan directs the oxygen-containing gas to the reactive oxygen species generator at a controlled speed. The pathogen sensor senses a level of airborne pathogens in the conditioned space and generates a signal indicative of the level of pathogens sensed. The controller receives the signal from the pathogen sensor and varies the speed of the variable speed fan in response to the signal to decrease a speed of the variable speed fan in response to an increase in the level of airborne pathogens sensed by the pathogen sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventor: Ted Wayne Sunderland
  • Publication number: 20110126561
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerated merchandiser. The refrigerated merchandiser includes a case that defines a product display area, and at least one door that provides access to the product display area. The method includes sensing a parameter of an ambient environment adjacent the case, delivering a signal indicative of the sensed parameter to a controller, and determining a duty cycle using the controller based on the signal indicative of the sensed parameter. The method also includes detecting a change in the sensed parameter using the controller, interrupting the duty cycle by initiating a clearing interval using the controller in response to the controller receiving the signal indicative of the change in the sensed parameter, and clearing condensation from the door during the clearing interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: HUSSMANN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ted Wayne Sunderland, Craig Steven Reichert, Dennis L. Dickerson
  • Publication number: 20110081273
    Abstract: An air sanitization system including a reactive oxygen species generator, a variable speed fan, a pathogen sensor and a controller. The reactive oxygen species generator generates reactive oxygen species from an oxygen-containing gas and discharges the reactive oxygen species to a conditioned space. The variable speed fan directs the oxygen-containing gas to the reactive oxygen species generator at a controlled speed. The pathogen sensor senses a level of airborne pathogens in the conditioned space and generates a signal indicative of the level of pathogens sensed. The controller receives the signal from the pathogen sensor and varies the speed of the variable speed fan in response to the signal to decrease a speed of the variable speed fan in response to an increase in the level of airborne pathogens sensed by the pathogen sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: HUSSMANN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ted Wayne Sunderland
  • Patent number: 7905101
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerated merchandiser. The refrigerated merchandiser includes a case that defines a product display area, and at least one door that provides access to the product display area. The method includes sensing a parameter of an ambient environment adjacent the case, delivering a signal indicative of the sensed parameter to a controller, and determining a duty cycle using the controller based on the signal indicative of the sensed parameter. The method also includes detecting a change in the sensed parameter using the controller, interrupting the duty cycle by initiating a clearing interval using the controller in response to the controller receiving the signal indicative of the change in the sensed parameter, and clearing condensation from the door during the clearing interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Ted Wayne Sunderland, Craig Steven Reichert, Dennis L. Dickerson
  • Publication number: 20100117848
    Abstract: A merchandiser communication system including a first plurality of merchandisers arranged in a first row and a second plurality of merchandisers arranged in a second row. Each of the merchandisers includes a light assembly coupled to a case to illuminate a product display area, a light sensor coupled to the case to detect light pulses, and a microcontroller. The light sensor is in visual proximity with one or more of the adjacent merchandisers located across the aisle. The microcontroller is in electrical communication with the light assembly and the light sensor to operate the light assembly to encode the signal in light pulses of the light assembly that are not detectable by a human eye. The communication system also includes a visible light-based communication network in communication with the merchandisers and is operable to communicate the encoded light pulses among the merchandisers via the light assemblies and the light sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Hussmann Corporation
    Inventors: Ted Wayne Sunderland, Dennis L. Wagner
  • Publication number: 20090299953
    Abstract: A method of operating a report generation system for a merchandiser including a case defining a product display area, and a refrigeration system operable to condition the product display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Ted Wayne Sunderland
  • Publication number: 20080141689
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerated merchandiser. The refrigerated merchandiser includes a case that defines a product display area, and at least one door that provides access to the product display area. The method includes sensing a parameter of an ambient environment adjacent the case, delivering a signal indicative of the sensed parameter to a controller, and determining a duty cycle using the controller based on the signal indicative of the sensed parameter. The method also includes detecting a change in the sensed parameter using the controller, interrupting the duty cycle by initiating a clearing interval using the controller in response to the controller receiving the signal indicative of the change in the sensed parameter, and clearing condensation from the door during the clearing interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: HUSSMANN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ted Wayne Sunderland, Craig Steven Reichert, Dennis L. Dickerson