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).
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Publication number: 20210010693Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Timothy C. Gamroth, Michael J. Wenzel, Mohammad N. ElBsat, David S. Eidson, James Burke, Kirk H. Drees, Thomas M. Seneczko
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Publication number: 20200406079Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Jeremy T. Cogswell, Manuel R. Silva, Jr., Timothy C. Gamroth, Kirk P. Henderson
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Patent number: 10880107Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 26, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Timothy C. Gamroth, Nicholas J. Schaf, Joseph Piccolo, III
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Publication number: 20200326677Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: TIMOTHY C. GAMROTH, JOSEPH PICCOLO, III, AVICHAL CHUM
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Publication number: 20200318842Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Robert C. Hall, JR., Timothy C. Gamroth, Nicholas J. Schaf
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Publication number: 20200264236Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2019Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Timothy C. Gamroth
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Publication number: 20200240666Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Timothy C. GAMROTH, Craig E. TRIVELPIECE, Joseph PICCOLO, III, Kirk H. DREES
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Publication number: 20200228367Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2019Publication date: July 16, 2020Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Timothy C. Gamroth, Nicholas J. Schaf, Robert C. Hall, JR.
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Publication number: 20200228621Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Timothy C. Gamroth, Nicholas J. Schaf, Robert C. Hall, Jr., Xin Zhang
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Publication number: 20200188718Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2020Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Craig E. Trivelpiece, Robert C. Hall, Jr., Timothy C. Gamroth
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Patent number: 10661109Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 4, 2019Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Craig E. Trivelpiece, Robert C. Hall, Jr., Timothy C. Gamroth
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Publication number: 20200054909Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Craig E. Trivelpiece, Robert C. Hall, JR., Timothy C. Gamroth
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Publication number: 20200044876Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Joseph PICCOLO, III, Craig E. Trivelpiece, Timothy C. Gamroth
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Publication number: 20190349218Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: David E. Hoglund, Robert C. Hall, Timothy C. Gamroth
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Patent number: 10441832Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 17, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Craig E. Trivelpiece, Robert C. Hall, Jr., Timothy C. Gamroth
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Publication number: 20180375444Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Timothy C. Gamroth
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Publication number: 20180316513Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Timothy C. Gamroth, Nicholas J. Schaf, Joseph Piccolo, III
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Publication number: 20180314219Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Timothy C. Gamroth, Yingchun Xu
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Systems and methods for extending the battery life of a wireless sensor in a building control system
Patent number: 10042340Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 6, 2016Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Heidi A. Hofschulz, Robert D. Turney, Timothy C. Gamroth, Matthew J. Ellis -
Patent number: 9952074Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 11, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Mark G. Freund, Troy A. Goldschmidt, Gary W. Gavin, Brandon A. Sloat, Timothy C. Gamroth