Patents by Inventor Timothy C. Gamroth

Timothy C. Gamroth 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: 20210010693
    Abstract: A building management system (BMS) for filtering a fluid within a building is shown. The system includes one or more sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of a first fluid within an air duct of the BMS and measure one or more characteristics of a second fluid after the second fluid has been filtered. The system further includes a pollutant management system configured to receive data from the one or more sensors and control a filtration process. The filtration process selects a filter of a plurality of filters based on a level of the one or more characteristics of the first fluid and the one or more characteristics of the second fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy C. Gamroth, Michael J. Wenzel, Mohammad N. ElBsat, David S. Eidson, James Burke, Kirk H. Drees, Thomas M. Seneczko
  • Publication number: 20200406079
    Abstract: A sprinkler for a fire suppression system includes a body defining an inlet and an outlet fluidly coupled to one another, a frame assembly including a frame member coupled to the body and extending away from the outlet, a deflector coupled to the frame member and offset from the outlet, a seal assembly configured to sealingly engage the body to prevent flow through the outlet, and a trigger assembly. The trigger assembly includes a shape memory alloy element configured to deform from an unactuated configuration to an actuated configuration in response to reaching an activation temperature. In the unactuated configuration, the trigger assembly directly engages both the frame assembly and the seal assembly and holds the seal assembly in sealed engagement with the body. In the actuated configuration, the trigger assembly permits the seal assembly to disengage from the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Jeremy T. Cogswell, Manuel R. Silva, Jr., Timothy C. Gamroth, Kirk P. Henderson
  • Patent number: 10880107
    Abstract: A temporary building network system for forming a temporary network for a building includes a first network device and a second network device. The first network devices includes an energy storage device configured to power the first network device using stored energy, a wireless radio configured to communicate with the second network device, and an indicator device configured to indicate a wireless radio connection strength to a user. The first network device includes a processing circuit configured to cause the wireless radio to communicate with the second network device via the temporary network, determine the wireless radio connection strength for the wireless connection between the first network device and the second network device based on a communication with the second network device via the temporary network, and cause the indicator device to indicate the determined wireless radio connection strength to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy C. Gamroth, Nicholas J. Schaf, Joseph Piccolo, III
  • Publication number: 20200326677
    Abstract: A sensory communication device for a building space includes a housing, a plug structure attached to the housing, insertable into an electrical outlet to receive power from the electrical outlet, and capable of supporting the housing when inserted into the electrical outlet, sensors located partially within the housing and capable of measuring environmental variables within a building space, a wireless radio that transmits measurements of the environmental variables, and electrical outlets located on an external surface of the housing and electrically connected to the plug structure to provide power to external devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: TIMOTHY C. GAMROTH, JOSEPH PICCOLO, III, AVICHAL CHUM
  • Publication number: 20200318842
    Abstract: A building system for a building includes an environmental controller including a controller radio. The environmental controller is configured to communicate a wake-up message. The building system includes an environmental sensor including a wake-up radio and a main radio. The environmental sensor is configured to operate the main radio in a low power state. The environmental sensor is configured to receive the wake-up message from the controller radio via the wake-up radio. The environmental sensor is configured to operate the main radio in a high power state in response to a reception of the wake-up message via the wake-up radio. The environmental sensor is configured to communicate sensor data of the environmental sensor to the controller radio via the main radio in response to the main radio operating in the high power state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert C. Hall, JR., Timothy C. Gamroth, Nicholas J. Schaf
  • Publication number: 20200264236
    Abstract: A wireless device includes a battery that stores and discharges energy to power the wireless device, an event detector that detects one of more energy consumption events occurring in the wireless device, an event counter that accumulates a total number of each of the energy consumption events detected by the event detector, an energy database that stores energy data indicating the pre-determined amount of energy consumption associated with each of the energy consumption events, and a wireless radio configured to transmit a message containing the amount of energy remaining in the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Timothy C. Gamroth
  • Publication number: 20200240666
    Abstract: A system for controlling temperature of a building space includes HVAC equipment configured to serve the building space, a plurality of sensors configured to measure a plurality of parameters relating to the building space, and a control system. The control system is configured to receive data from the plurality of sensors, generate a plurality of disturbance heat flow estimates for the building space based on the data from the plurality of sensors, determine a feedforward heat flow contribution based on the disturbance heat flow estimates, determine a feedback heat flow contribution based on a measured temperature of the building space and a temperature setpoint for the building space, combine the feedforward heat flow contribution and the feedback heat flow contribution to determine a rate of heat flow to be provided to the building space by the HVAC equipment, and control the HVAC equipment to provide the rate of heat flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy C. GAMROTH, Craig E. TRIVELPIECE, Joseph PICCOLO, III, Kirk H. DREES
  • Publication number: 20200228367
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a building network system for a building. The system includes network devices forming a network for the building. Each of the network devices include a communications processing circuit including an access point configured to communicate with any of the network devices to form the network, and a second processing circuit removably communicably connected to the communications processing circuit. The communications processing circuit and the second processing circuit are configured to operate independently of each other. The access point is a wireless radio configured to wirelessly communicate with the access points of any of the network devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy C. Gamroth, Nicholas J. Schaf, Robert C. Hall, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200228621
    Abstract: A building network system for a building includes network devices forming a network for the building. Each network device includes a communications interface and a processing circuit. The communications interface is configured to communicate with other network devices of the multiple network devices. The processing circuit stores a first profile and a second profile. The first profile includes a first set of configuration settings that cause the network device to operate according to a first network topology when the first profile is active. The second profile includes a second set of configuration settings that cause the network device to operate according to a second network topology when the second profile is active. The processing circuit is configured to transition the network device from operating according to the first network topology to operating according to the second network topology by deactivating the first profile and activating the second profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy C. Gamroth, Nicholas J. Schaf, Robert C. Hall, Jr., Xin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200188718
    Abstract: A method for detecting an event in or around a building. The method includes recording a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless signal transmitted between devices in or around the building during a baseline time period and recording a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless signal during a second time period after the baseline time period. An event in or around the building is detected in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic, the event degrading the wireless signal during the second time period. An alarm is triggered in response to detecting the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Craig E. Trivelpiece, Robert C. Hall, Jr., Timothy C. Gamroth
  • Patent number: 10661109
    Abstract: A method for detecting an event in or around a building. The method includes recording a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless signal transmitted between devices in or around the building during a baseline time period and recording a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless signal during a second time period after the baseline time period. An event in or around the building is detected in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic, the event degrading the wireless signal during the second time period. An alarm is triggered in response to detecting the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Craig E. Trivelpiece, Robert C. Hall, Jr., Timothy C. Gamroth
  • Publication number: 20200054909
    Abstract: A method for detecting an event in or around a building. The method includes recording a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless signal transmitted between devices in or around the building during a baseline time period and recording a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless signal during a second time period after the baseline time period. An event in or around the building is detected in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic, the event degrading the wireless signal during the second time period. An alarm is triggered in response to detecting the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Craig E. Trivelpiece, Robert C. Hall, JR., Timothy C. Gamroth
  • Publication number: 20200044876
    Abstract: A wireless infrastructure component for integration with a building fire system includes a first mounting interface and a wireless communications interface. The first mounting interface is configured to physically couple to a mounting surface and includes a first power connector that is configured to receive power from the building fire system. The wireless communications interface is electrically coupled to the first power connector and is configured to use the power from the building fire system in order to conduct wireless communications with one or more wireless devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Joseph PICCOLO, III, Craig E. Trivelpiece, Timothy C. Gamroth
  • Publication number: 20190349218
    Abstract: A system and method of identifying faulted devices in an Ethernet network of a building management system (BMS). The system includes a network manager device, a first client device, and a second client device. A first port of the first client device is connected to a first port of the network manager device, a first port of the second client device is connected to a second port of the first client device and a second port of the second client device is connected to a second port of the network manager device. A third port of the first client device is connected to a port of a device external to a ring of the network. The network manager device is configured to transmit a frame having a count field. The first client device is configured to increment the count field once based on a successful transmission of the frame to the second client device and increment the count field twice based on a failed transmission to the second client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: David E. Hoglund, Robert C. Hall, Timothy C. Gamroth
  • Patent number: 10441832
    Abstract: A fire detection and suppression system includes a wireless mesh network and a controller. The wireless mesh network includes of a plurality of wireless mesh nodes distributed throughout the building. The wireless mesh nodes transmit and receive wireless signals during a baseline time period and record a baseline set of signal characteristics and transmit and receive the wireless signals during a second time period after the baseline time period and record a second set of signal characteristics. The controller is configured to determine that the second set of signal characteristics are abnormal relative to the baseline set of signal characteristics as a result of a fire within the building degrading the wireless signals during the second time period. A fire is detected by the controller based on these signals and corrective action is initiated in response to detecting the fire within the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Craig E. Trivelpiece, Robert C. Hall, Jr., Timothy C. Gamroth
  • Publication number: 20180375444
    Abstract: An occupancy sensing device for determining occupancy of a zone of a building includes a first vibration sensor, a second vibration sensor, and a processing circuit. The first vibration sensor is configured to sense vibrations associated with movement of an occupant and generate a first signal based on the sensed vibrations. The second vibration sensor is configured to sense the vibrations associated with the movement of the occupant and generate a second signal based on the sensed vibrations. The processing circuit is configured to receive the first signal from the first vibration sensor, receive the second signal from the second vibration sensor, and determine whether the occupant is entering or exiting the zone based on the first and second signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Timothy C. Gamroth
  • Publication number: 20180316513
    Abstract: A temporary building network system for forming a temporary network for a building includes a first network device and a second network device. The first network devices includes an energy storage device configured to power the first network device using stored energy, a wireless radio configured to communicate with the second network device, and an indicator device configured to indicate a wireless radio connection strength to a user. The first network device includes a processing circuit configured to cause the wireless radio to communicate with the second network device via the temporary network, determine the wireless radio connection strength for the wireless connection between the first network device and the second network device based on a communication with the second network device via the temporary network, and cause the indicator device to indicate the determined wireless radio connection strength to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Timothy C. Gamroth, Nicholas J. Schaf, Joseph Piccolo, III
  • Publication number: 20180314219
    Abstract: A power over Ethernet (PoE) device system for a building including building devices connected together and to a PoE source via a network. The PoE source is configured to provide each of the building devices with PoE. A first building device of the building devices includes a communication subsystem circuit configured to receive the PoE from the PoE source via one of the building devices, power the communication subsystem circuit using the PoE received from the PoE source via the one of the building devices, and communicate with the PoE source and the building devices via the network. The first building device includes a functional subsystem circuit configured to power the functional subsystem circuit using power received from a permanent power source of the building and control an environmental condition of the building using the power received from the permanent power source of the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Timothy C. Gamroth, Yingchun Xu
  • Patent number: 10042340
    Abstract: A building control system includes a wireless measurement device and a controller. The wireless measurement device measures a plurality of values of an environmental variable and uses the plurality of measured values to predict one or more future values of the environmental variable. The wireless device periodically transmits, at a transmission interval, a message that includes a current value of the environmental variable and the one or more predicted values of the environmental variable. The controller receives the message from the wireless device and parses the message to extract the current value and the one or more predicted future values of the environmental variable. The controller periodically and sequentially applies, at a controller update interval shorter than the transmission interval, each of the extracted values as an input to a control algorithm that operates to control the environmental variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Heidi A. Hofschulz, Robert D. Turney, Timothy C. Gamroth, Matthew J. Ellis
  • Patent number: 9952074
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system with automated flow direction detection is provided. The HVAC system includes one or more hoses configured to provide airflow from HVAC equipment, a bidirectional pressure sensor coupled to the hoses, and a controller coupled to the bidirectional pressure sensor. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the bidirectional pressure sensor, determine a direction of the airflow relative to the bidirectional pressure sensor based on the signal, correct the signal for a reversed hose polarity relative to the bidirectional sensor based on the direction of the airflow, and perform a control activity using the corrected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Mark G. Freund, Troy A. Goldschmidt, Gary W. Gavin, Brandon A. Sloat, Timothy C. Gamroth