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.

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.

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 a first algorithm in an absence of the second controller, and the second controller is configured to control the heating element in accordance with a second algorithm.

Abstract: A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises a temperature sensor, a temperature control element, memory, and logic. The temperature sensor is configured to detect the temperature of the liquid residing within the tank, and the temperature control element is coupled to the tank. The memory stores data indicative of a usage history of the tank, and the logic is configured to automatically control the temperature control element based on the data.

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.

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.

Abstract: A lighting system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first switching unit, a second switching unit and a base unit. The first switching unit has at least one user input device for receiving user inputs for controlling a remote light source. The first switching unit is configured to transmit a first input message in response to a user input received via the at least one user input device, and the second switching unit is coupled to the light source. The base unit is configured to receive the first input message and to correlate the first input message with the second switching unit based on data stored in the base unit, and the base unit is further configured to transmit a first command to the second switching unit based on the first input message. The second switching unit is configured to change an operational state of the light source in response to the first command.

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.

Abstract: A water heating system has a tank, a heating element, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The heating element is mounted on the tank, and the temperature sensor is mounted on the heating element. The controller is coupled to the temperature sensor and is configured to detect a dry fire condition associated with the heating element based on the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises a temperature sensor, a temperature control element, memory, and logic. The temperature sensor is configured to detect the temperature of the liquid residing within the tank, and the temperature control element is coupled to the tank. The memory stores data indicative of a usage history of the tank, and the logic is configured to automatically control the temperature control element based on the data.

Abstract: A system for controlling temperature control elements used to alter temperatures of a liquid comprises a temperature sensor, a first temperature control element, a second temperature control element, and logic. The temperature sensor is configured to sense temperatures of the liquid, and the first and second temperature control elements are each configured to alter a temperature of the liquid. The logic is configured to selectively control, based on the sensed temperatures, activation states of the first and second temperature control elements such that a total activation time associated with the first temperature control element is substantially equal to a total activation time associated with the second temperature control element.

Abstract: A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises at least one temperature sensor, at least one temperature control element, and logic. The at least one temperature sensor is configured to detect temperatures of the liquid, and the at least one temperature control element is configured to alter a temperature of the liquid. The logic is configured to automatically establish different temperature thresholds for different time periods. Each of the different temperature thresholds is associated with a different one of the time periods. The logic is further configured to perform, for each of the time periods, a comparison between a temperature detected by the at least one temperature sensor and the associated temperature threshold and to control the temperature control element based on the comparison.

Abstract: An electronically controlled valve assembly is disclosed. The electronically controlled valve assembly includes a valve cartridge including a valve; and a motor coupled to the valve cartridge to control movement of the valve in response to an electronic control signal. An electronically controlled fluid dispensing apparatus and a method of electronically controlling fluid dispensation are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises a temperature sensor, a temperature control element, memory, and logic. The temperature sensor is configured to detect the temperature of the liquid residing within the tank, and the temperature control element is coupled to the tank. The memory stores data indicative of a usage history of the tank, and the logic is configured to automatically control the temperature control element based on the data.

Abstract: A system for controlling temperature control elements used to alter temperatures of a liquid comprises a temperature sensor, a first temperature control element, a second temperature control element, and logic. The temperature sensor is configured to sense temperatures of the liquid, and the first and second temperature control elements are each configured to alter a temperature of the liquid. The logic is configured to selectively control, based on the sensed temperatures, activation states of the first and second temperature control elements such that a total activation time associated with the first temperature control element is substantially equal to a total activation time associated with the second temperature control element.

Abstract: A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises a temperature sensor, a temperature control element, memory, and logic. The temperature sensor is configured to detect the temperature of the liquid residing within the tank, and the temperature control element is coupled to the tank. The memory stores data indicative of a usage history of the tank, and the logic is configured to automatically control the temperature control element based on the data.

Abstract: A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises at least one temperature sensor, at least one temperature control element, and logic. The at least one temperature sensor is configured to detect temperatures of the liquid, and the at least one temperature control element is configured to alter a temperature of the liquid. The logic is configured to automatically establish different temperature thresholds for different time periods. Each of the different temperature thresholds is associated with a different one of the time periods. The logic is further configured to perform, for each of the time periods, a comparison between a temperature detected by the at least one temperature sensor and the associated temperature threshold and to control the temperature control element based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system for monitoring temperature control elements that are used for altering temperatures of liquids comprises a tank, a temperature control element, and logic. The temperature control element is configured to alter a temperature of a liquid residing within the tank. The logic is configured to monitor the temperature control element and to provide a warning when the logic detects imminent failure of the temperature control element.

Abstract: An electronically controlled fluid dispensing apparatus is disclosed. An electronically controlled fluid dispensing apparatus of the present invention includes a user interface configured to deliver an electronic signal in response to a user selected temperature and flow rate, a controller communicating with the user interface to receive the electronic signal, and a valve assembly including a motor and a valve coupled to the motor. The controller includes logic configured to process the electronic signal to create a control signal indicative of the user selected temperature and flow rate. The motor is configured to drive the valve in response to the control signal to open the valve a sufficient distance to achieve the selected flow rate and temperature. A method of electronically controlling fluid dispensation and an apparatus and method for mixing fluids are also disclosed.