Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Nordberg
Timothy J. Nordberg 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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Patent number: 11719436Abstract: A locally powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include an igniter, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that produces an electrical signal having power when exposed to a flame, and a local power source for providing power when the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device is not exposed to a flame. In some cases, the intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a memory for storing information about an ignition sequence for igniting a pilot flame, and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller may be configured to initiate the ignition sequence of the pilot flame using information stored in the memory, determine whether the ignition was successful by monitoring the electrical signal produced by the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, and adjust the information stored in the memory based on whether the ignition sequence completed successfully.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2019Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Brent Chian, Bruce L. Hill, Timothy J Nordberg, Rolf L. Strand, Douglas Bird, Peter Anderson
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Patent number: 11268695Abstract: A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a first power source and a second power source separate from the first power source, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, an igniter and a controller. The thermal electric and/or photoelectric device may charge the first power source when exposed to a flame. The controller and the igniter may receive power from the first power source when the first power source has sufficient available power, and may receive power from the second power source when the first power source does not have sufficient available power.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Brent Chian, Douglas D. Bird, Peter M. Anderson, Timothy J Nordberg, Thomas Johnson, Rolf L. Strand
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Publication number: 20200025375Abstract: A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a first power source and a second power source separate from the first power source, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, an igniter and a controller. The thermal electric and/or photoelectric device may charge the first power source when exposed to a flame. The controller and the igniter may receive power from the first power source when the first power source has sufficient available power, and may receive power from the second power source when the first power source does not have sufficient available power.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2019Publication date: January 23, 2020Inventors: Brent Chian, Douglas D. Bird, Peter M. Anderson, Timothy J Nordberg, Thomas Johnson, Rolf L. Strand
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Patent number: 10429068Abstract: A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a first power source and a second power source separate from the first power source, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, an igniter and a controller. The thermal electric and/or photoelectric device may charge the first power source when exposed to a flame. The controller and the igniter may receive power from the first power source when the first power source has sufficient available power, and may receive power from the second power source when the first power source does not have sufficient available power.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2016Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Brent Chian, Douglas Bird, Peter Anderson, Timothy J. Nordberg, Thomas Johnson, Rolf L. Strand
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Publication number: 20190249871Abstract: A locally powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include an igniter, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that produces an electrical signal having power when exposed to a flame, and a local power source for providing power when the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device is not exposed to a flame. In some cases, the intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a memory for storing information about an ignition sequence for igniting a pilot flame, and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller may be configured to initiate the ignition sequence of the pilot flame using information stored in the memory, determine whether the ignition was successful by monitoring the electrical signal produced by the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, and adjust the information stored in the memory based on whether the ignition sequence completed successfully.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Brent Chian, Bruce L. Hill, Timothy J Nordberg, Rolf L. Strand, Douglas Bird, Peter Anderson
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Patent number: 10337747Abstract: A furnace controller for a modulating furnace that helps provide a balance between energy efficiency and occupant comfort across various burner firing rates and/or across various circulating blower speeds. In some cases, the furnace controller can be configured to permit a user to customize operation of the furnace in accordance with their particular needs and/or desires with respect to efficiency and comfort. A selection may be made between an energy efficiency setting and a user comfort setting. Then, a plenum parameter such as a discharge air temperature (DAT) or discharge air flow (DAF) may be regulated in accordance with the selected setting.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Nordberg, Brent Chian, Douglas D. Bird, Michael W. Schultz, Peter M. Anderson
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Patent number: 10309906Abstract: A low powered system for providing sufficient current to a fuel control mechanism drive. The system may have a fuel control mechanism pick circuit that has an energy storage mechanism for providing a large amount of current for a short time to the fuel control mechanism drive. A safety switch may be enabled with a special signal to let current flow to the fuel control mechanism drive to operate a corresponding fuel control mechanism for controlling fuel to a pilot light or heating element. The pilot light or heating element may provide heat to a thermoelectric source that generates electrical power from the heat. The electrical power may go to a single DC-to-DC converter and voltage clamp for providing a voltage source to a microcontroller and other circuits of the system. The pick circuit may prevent a harmful reverse flow of current from the storage mechanism to the thermoelectric source.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2018Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Brent Chian, David Kucera, Trevor C. Haag, Timothy J. Nordberg, Adam Foley
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Patent number: 10208954Abstract: A locally powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include an igniter, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that produces an electrical signal having power when exposed to a flame, and a local power source for providing power when the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device is not exposed to a flame. In some cases, the intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a memory for storing information about an ignition sequence for igniting a pilot flame, and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller may be configured to initiate the ignition sequence of the pilot flame using information stored in the memory, determine whether the ignition was successful by monitoring the electrical signal produced by the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, and adjust the information stored in the memory based on whether the ignition sequence completed successfully.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2013Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Brent Chian, Bruce L. Hill, Timothy J. Nordberg, Rolf L. Strand, Douglas Bird, Peter Anderson
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Publication number: 20180313766Abstract: A low powered system for providing sufficient current to a fuel control mechanism drive. The system may have a fuel control mechanism pick circuit that has an energy storage mechanism for providing a large amount of current for a short time to the fuel control mechanism drive. A safety switch may be enabled with a special signal to let current flow to the fuel control mechanism drive to operate a corresponding fuel control mechanism for controlling fuel to a pilot light or heating element. The pilot light or heating element may provide heat to a thermoelectric source that generates electrical power from the heat. The electrical power may go to a single DC-to-DC converter and voltage clamp for providing a voltage source to a microcontroller and other circuits of the system. The pick circuit may prevent a harmful reverse flow of current from the storage mechanism to the thermoelectric source.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Brent Chian, David Kucera, Trevor C. Haag, Timothy J. Nordberg, Adam Foley
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Patent number: 10094593Abstract: A furnace includes a combustion blower and one or more pressure switches. In some cases, the one or more pressure switches may be used to calculate one or more operating points for the combustion blower. Additional operating points may be calculated by interpolation and/or extrapolation, as appropriate. The furnace may temporarily alter these operating points as necessary to keep the furnace safely operating in response to minor and/or transient changes in the operating conditions of the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Brent Chian, Timothy J. Nordberg
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Patent number: 10036710Abstract: A low powered system for providing sufficient current to a fuel control mechanism drive. The system may have a fuel control mechanism pick circuit that has an energy storage mechanism for providing a large amount of current for a short time to the fuel control mechanism drive. A safety switch may be enabled with a special signal to let current flow to the fuel control mechanism drive to operate a corresponding fuel control mechanism for controlling fuel to a pilot light or heating element. The pilot light or heating element may provide heat to a thermoelectric source that generates electrical power from the heat. The electrical power may go to a single DC-to-DC converter and voltage clamp for providing a voltage source to a microcontroller and other circuits of the system. The pick circuit may prevent a harmful reverse flow of current from the storage mechanism to the thermoelectric source.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2017Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Brent Chian, David Kucera, Trevor C. Haag, Timothy J. Nordberg, Adam Foley
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Patent number: 9939384Abstract: A low powered system for providing sufficient current to a fuel control mechanism drive. The system may have a fuel control mechanism pick circuit that has an energy storage mechanism for providing a large amount of current for a short time to the fuel control mechanism drive. A safety switch may be enabled with a special signal to let current flow to the fuel control mechanism drive to operate a corresponding fuel control mechanism for controlling fuel to a pilot light or heating element. The pilot light or heating element may provide heat to a thermoelectric source that generates electrical power from the heat. The electrical power may go to a single DC-to-DC converter and voltage clamp for providing a voltage source to a microcontroller and other circuits of the system. The pick circuit may prevent a harmful reverse flow of current from the storage mechanism to the thermoelectric source.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Brent Chian, David Kucera, Trevor C. Haag, Timothy J. Nordberg, Adam Foley
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Publication number: 20180003643Abstract: A low powered system for providing sufficient current to a fuel control mechanism drive. The system may have a fuel control mechanism pick circuit that has an energy storage mechanism for providing a large amount of current for a short time to the fuel control mechanism drive. A safety switch may be enabled with a special signal to let current flow to the fuel control mechanism drive to operate a corresponding fuel control mechanism for controlling fuel to a pilot light or heating element. The pilot light or heating element may provide heat to a thermoelectric source that generates electrical power from the heat. The electrical power may go to a single DC-to-DC converter and voltage clamp for providing a voltage source to a microcontroller and other circuits of the system. The pick circuit may prevent a harmful reverse flow of current from the storage mechanism to the thermoelectric source.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Brent Chian, David Kucera, Trevor C. Haag, Timothy J. Nordberg, Adam Foley
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Publication number: 20170370852Abstract: A low powered system for providing sufficient current to a fuel control mechanism drive. The system may have a fuel control mechanism pick circuit that has an energy storage mechanism for providing a large amount of current for a short time to the fuel control mechanism drive. A safety switch may be enabled with a special signal to let current flow to the fuel control mechanism drive to operate a corresponding fuel control mechanism for controlling fuel to a pilot light or heating element. The pilot light or heating element may provide heat to a thermoelectric source that generates electrical power from the heat. The electrical power may go to a single DC-to-DC converter and voltage clamp for providing a voltage source to a microcontroller and other circuits of the system. The pick circuit may prevent a harmful reverse flow of current from the storage mechanism to the thermoelectric source.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2017Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventors: Brent Chian, David Kucera, Trevor C. Haag, Timothy J. Nordberg, Adam Foley
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Patent number: 9752990Abstract: A low powered system for providing sufficient current to a fuel control mechanism drive. The system may have a fuel control mechanism pick circuit that has an energy storage mechanism for providing a large amount of current for a short time to the fuel control mechanism drive. A safety switch may be enabled with a special signal to let current flow to the fuel control mechanism drive to operate a corresponding fuel control mechanism for controlling fuel to a pilot light or heating element. The pilot light or heating element may provide heat to a thermoelectric source that generates electrical power from the heat. The electrical power may go to a single DC-to-DC converter and voltage clamp for providing a voltage source to a microcontroller and other circuits of the system. The pick circuit may prevent a harmful reverse flow of current from the storage mechanism to the thermoelectric source.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Brent Chian, David Kucera, Trevor C. Haag, Timothy J. Nordberg, Adam Foley
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Patent number: 9678483Abstract: A controller that controls both safety and application functions of connected equipment is disclosed. The controller allows a user to freely program application specific functions while preventing the application functions from affecting the safety functions of the controller. This may give the user more flexibility and leeway when programming the application specific programming functions, without having to worry about affecting the safe operation of the connected equipment.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2011Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Nordberg, Jim I. Bartels, Nathan Longen
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Publication number: 20170115005Abstract: A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a first power source and a second power source separate from the first power source, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, an igniter and a controller. The thermal electric and/or photoelectric device may charge the first power source when exposed to a flame. The controller and the igniter may receive power from the first power source when the first power source has sufficient available power, and may receive power from the second power source when the first power source does not have sufficient available power.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2016Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: Brent Chian, Douglas Bird, Peter Anderson, Timothy J. Nordberg, Thomas Johnson, Rolf L. Strand
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Patent number: 9494320Abstract: A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a first power source and a second power source separate from the first power source, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, an igniter and a controller. The thermal electric and/or photoelectric device may charge the first power source when exposed to a flame. The controller and the igniter may receive power from the first power source when the first power source has sufficient available power, and may receive power from the second power source when the first power source does not have sufficient available power.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Brent Chian, Douglas Bird, Peter Anderson, Timothy J. Nordberg, Thomas Johnson, Rolf L. Strand
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Publication number: 20160209054Abstract: A furnace controller for a modulating furnace that helps provide a balance between energy efficiency and occupant comfort across various burner firing rates and/or across various circulating blower speeds. In some cases, the furnace controller can be configured to permit a user to customize operation of the furnace in accordance with their particular needs and/or desires with respect to efficiency and comfort. A selection may be made between an energy efficiency setting and a user comfort setting. Then, a plenum parameter such as a discharge air temperature (DAT) or discharge air flow (DAF) may be regulated in accordance with the selected setting.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: Timothy J. Nordberg, Brent Chian, Douglas D. Bird, Michael W. Schultz, Peter M. Anderson
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Patent number: 9316413Abstract: A furnace controller for a modulating furnace that helps provide a balance between energy efficiency and occupant comfort across various burner firing rates and/or across various circulating blower speeds. In some cases, the furnace controller can be configured to permit a user to customize operation of the furnace in accordance with their particular needs and/or desires with respect to efficiency and comfort. A selection may be made between an energy efficiency setting and a user comfort setting. Then, a plenum parameter such as a discharge air temperature (DAT) or discharge air flow (DAF) may be regulated in accordance with the selected setting.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Nordberg, Brent Chian, Douglas D. Bird, Michael W. Schultz, Peter M. Anderson