Patents by Inventor Terry G. Phillips

Terry G. Phillips 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: 10240817
    Abstract: A water heating system includes a tank, one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system, and a first controller mounted on the tank. The first controller is coupled to the one or more heating elements and includes logic to activate and deactivate the heating elements according to a first threshold value. The water heater also includes a second controller that is selectively coupled to the first controller and configured to communicate the first threshold value to the first controller, and perform an additional function related to the operation of the water heater. The first controller is configured to receive the first threshold value from the second controller and control the one or more heating elements based on the received threshold value, and to control the one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system in a physical absence of the second controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terry G. Phillips, Wade C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 9615545
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Christopher Kamery, Marko Lubic, Wade Patterson, Steve Conrad, Jason S. Gurley, Terry G. Phillips, John J. White
  • Publication number: 20160192623
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. RICH, Christopher KAMERY, Marko LUBIC, Wade PATTERSON, Steve CONRAD, Jason S. GURLEY, Terry G. PHILLIPS, John J. WHITE
  • Publication number: 20150276267
    Abstract: A water heating system includes a tank, one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system, and a first controller mounted on the tank. The first controller is coupled to the one or more heating elements and includes logic to activate and deactivate the heating elements according to a first threshold value. The water heater also includes a second controller that is selectively coupled to the first controller and configured to communicate the first threshold value to the first controller, and perform an additional function related to the operation of the water heater. The first controller is configured to receive the first threshold value from the second controller and control the one or more heating elements based on the received threshold value, and to control the one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system in a physical absence of the second controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Terry G. Phillips, Wade C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 9101113
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Christopher Kamery, Marko Lubic, Wade Patterson, Steve Conrad, Jason S. Gurley, Terry G. Phillips, John J. White, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9057534
    Abstract: A water heating system includes a tank, one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system, and a first controller mounted on the tank. The first controller is coupled to the one or more heating elements and includes logic to activate and deactivate the heating elements according to a first threshold value. The water heater also includes a second controller that is selectively coupled to the first controller and configured to communicate the first threshold value to the first controller, and perform an additional function related to the operation of the water heater. The first controller is configured to receive the first threshold value from the second controller and control the one or more heating elements based on the received threshold value, and to control the one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system in a physical absence of the second controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terry G. Phillips, Wade C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8977791
    Abstract: A water heater having a modular control system. The water heater includes a tank, a heating element, a first controller, and a second controller. The heating element is coupled to the tank. The first controller is supported by the tank and includes a housing, a first communication port, a processor, and a first memory storing executable instructions that are executed by the processor. The first controller determines whether the first controller is connected to the second controller through the communication port. The first controller controls an operation of the water heater according to a first algorithm when the first controller is not connected to the second controller. The operation of the water heater is controlled based on an algorithm stored on the second controller when the first controller is connected to the second controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Terry G. Phillips, Wade C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8887671
    Abstract: A water heating system, comprises a tank, a bracket, a heating element, and a controller. The bracket has a hole and a notch. The heating element is mounted on the tank, and the heating element passes through the hole. The controller is inserted into the notch. Further, the controller comprises a relay coupled to the heating element and logic configured to control a state of the relay. The logic resides in a portion of the controller that is inserted into the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Wade C. Patterson, Terry G. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20140327542
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. RICH, Christopher KAMERY, Marko LUBIC, Wade PATTERSON, Steve CONRAD, Jason S. GURLEY, Terry G. PHILLIPS, John J. White, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8779925
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T Rich, Christopher Kamery, Marko Lubic, Wade Patterson, Steve Conrad, Jason S. Gurley, Terry G. Phillips, John J. White, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140175183
    Abstract: A water heating system includes a tank, one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system, and a first controller mounted on the tank. The first controller is coupled to the one or more heating elements and includes logic to activate and deactivate the heating elements according to a first threshold value. The water heater also includes a second controller that is selectively coupled to the first controller and configured to communicate the first threshold value to the first controller, and perform an additional function related to the operation of the water heater. The first controller is configured to receive the first threshold value from the second controller and control the one or more heating elements based on the received threshold value, and to control the one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system in a physical absence of the second controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terry G. Phillips, Wade C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8660701
    Abstract: A water heater has a modular control system. The water heater comprises a tank, a heating element, a first controller, and a second controller. The heating element is coupled to the tank. The first controller is mounted on the tank and has a first communication port. The second controller has a second communication port communicatively coupled to the first communication port of the first controller. The first controller is configured to control the heating element in accordance with any desired algorithm in an absence of the second controller, and the second controller is configured to perform at least one function in addition to or in lieu of the first controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Terry G. Phillips, Wade C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8245669
    Abstract: A water heating system, comprise a tank, a heating element, and a controller that is coupled to the heating element. The controller comprises a base, a housing, a relay, logic and, a temperature sensor. The base is composed of thermally conductive material, and the housing is composed of electrically insulating material. The housing is coupled to the base, and the logic is configured to control the a state of the relay. Further, the temperature sensor contacts the base and is coupled to the logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Terry G. Phillips, James Bullington
  • Publication number: 20110298615
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Christopher Kamery, Marko Lubic, Wade Patterson, Steve Conrad, Jason S. Gurley, Terry G. Phillips, John J. White, JR.
  • Patent number: 8061308
    Abstract: A water heating system has a tank, a first heating element, a first temperature sensor, and a controller. The first heating element is mounted on the tank, and the controller is electrically coupled to the first temperature sensor. The controller is configured to detect a stacking condition based on the first temperature sensor and to disable the first heating element in response to detection of the stacking condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Terry G. Phillips
  • Patent number: 8064757
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to systems and methods for estimating and indicating temperature characteristics of temperature controlled liquids. A system in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has a tank filled at least partially with a liquid, such as water, and the system has a plurality of temperature sensors mounted on the tank. During operation, a controller compares temperatures sensed by these temperature sensors to a predefined temperature profile for the liquid within the tank in order to estimate the likely temperature characteristics of such liquid. The controller then reports these estimated temperature characteristics via a user interface. As an example, the controller may estimate and report the amount of liquid above a threshold temperature that can be drawn from the tank. Based on the reported temperature characteristics, a user may make decisions about whether or how to use liquid drawn from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Wade C. Patterson, Terry G. Phillips
  • Patent number: 8009437
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to wireless communication modules that can be used for enabling wireless communication in various applications. A wireless communication module in accordance with one embodiment may be interfaced with other devices, such as nodes of a wireless sensor network (WSN). The module has rows of male integrated circuit (IC) pins that may be interfaced with female pin receptacles of another device. The module receives wireless signals and provides the data of such wireless signals to the other device. The module also receives data from the other devices and packetizes such data for wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Synapse Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Shelton, Terry G. Phillips, Thomas J. Watson
  • Patent number: 7881831
    Abstract: A water heating system including a tank to store water, a temperature sensor positioned to detect a temperature of the water, and a temperature control element configured to alter the temperature of the water. The system also includes a controller configured to control the temperature of the water based on a first temperature threshold during a first time period and monitor the amount of time that the temperature control element is in either the activated state or the deactivated state during the first time period. The control then determines a second temperature threshold for a subsequent time period based on the monitored amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Wade C. Patterson, Terry G. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20100082134
    Abstract: A water heater having a modular control system. The water heater includes a tank, a heating element, a first controller, and a second controller. The heating element is coupled to the tank. The first controller is supported by the tank and includes a housing, a first communication port, a processor, and a first memory storing executable instructions that are executed by the processor. The first controller determines whether the first controller is connected to the second controller through the communication port. The first controller controls an operation of the water heater according to a first algorithm when the first controller is not connected to the second controller. The operation of the water heater is controlled based on an algorithm stored on the second controller when the first controller is connected to the second controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Terry G. Phillips, Wade C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7672751
    Abstract: A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises a tank, a first heating element, a first switch, a temperature-based switch, and logic. The first heating element is mounted on the tank, and the temperature-based switch is coupled to the first heating element and to the first switch. The logic is configured to control a state of the first switch based on a temperature of a liquid residing in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Wade C. Patterson, Terry G. Phillips