Abstract: A thermostat comprises a detachable dial control unit that may be positioned with an anchoring component. The anchoring component may assume different forms including a wall plate, a wireless recharging dock, or a headless control unit/wall mounted unit that serve different needs of a user. The detachable dial control unit may be removed while still allowing the user to change thermostatic settings of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by rotating an outer ring indicative of thermostatic information and sending the information to a headless control unit/wall mounted unit via a wireless communication channel. To facilitate alignment of the detachable dial control unit with the anchoring component, each may comprise a plurality of alignment magnets having a magnetic polarity pattern. Also, a wireless charging dock and headless control unit/wall mounted unit may recharge the detachable dial control unit via an activated electromagnetic induction path.

Abstract: A thermostatic radiator valve supports a display that is configurable to display TRV information for a desired viewing direction to facilitate reading by a user, where the TRV comprises a configurable electronic display, a configuration circuit, and a processing device. The configuration circuit is capable of detecting when the TRV has been installed, determining a desired display orientation from a plurality of orientations with respect to a designated surface via a sensor in response to the detecting, and generating a display indicator indicative of the desired display orientation. The processing device is capable of receiving the display indicator and configuring the configurable electronic display to display the TRV information in the desired display orientation.

Abstract: A buried wireless unit measures various soil parameters of surrounding soil and reports them to centralized equipment. In order to provide reliable communication with the centralized equipment, the buried wireless unit may extend a pop-up antenna when transmitting soil parameter data and may subsequently retract the antenna. The wireless unit unwinds and winds a wire, where an electrical cable connects the antenna to a communication module, in order to extend and retract the antenna, respectively. The wireless unit comprises a bendable sleeve enabling the antenna to be flexible so that damage to the wireless unit is avoided if a vehicle (such as a tractor) rolls over the wireless unit. In order to preserve the battery powering the wireless unit, the wireless unit may skip retracting the antenna when the wireless unit determines that charging level of the battery is below a predetermined charging level.

Abstract: A smart plug that is partitioned into a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) in a three dimensional manner to reduce its size. Aspects consider the effect of the possible increased internal temperature as the size of the smart plug is reduced. For example, thick metal foils connect various components of a smart plug to reduce heat dissipation within the smart plug. Also, a metal foil may transfer heat from contact metal on a PCB to a side wall of a plastic housing of the smart plug. The smart plug may comprise a computing device that obtains information identifying the attached electrical device and accesses device data about the time duration during which the attached electrical device exhibits transient characteristics. The computing device then uses the accessed data to effectively control the attached electrical device.

Abstract: An entry sensor, which supports either wireless or wired operation, facilitates installation and is adjustable for gaps between a building entry barrier such as a door or window and the surrounding frame. The sensor, which may be implemented as a single piece design, includes an adjustment mechanism that enables an installer to vary the extension of the sensor to match the actual gap so that the sensor properly secures the building entry when closed. The sensor includes a detector that determines the state of a switch that is responsive to the movement of a plunger mechanism, where the state is indicative whether the building entry barrier is opened or closed, and that may determine whether the sensor is tampered with. The sensor also may facilitate battery replacement that protects the associated circuitry during the replacement.

Abstract: An entry sensor, which supports either wireless or wired operation, facilitates installation and is adjustable for gaps between a building entry barrier such as a door or window and the surrounding frame. The sensor, which may be implemented as a single piece design, includes an adjustment mechanism that enables an installer to vary the extension of the sensor to match the actual gap so that the sensor properly secures the building entry when closed. The sensor includes a detector that determines the state of a switch that is responsive to the movement of a plunger mechanism, where the state is indicative whether the building entry barrier is opened or closed, and that may determine whether the sensor is tampered with. The sensor also may facilitate battery replacement that protects the associated circuitry during the replacement.

Abstract: A smart plug that is partitioned into a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) in a three dimensional manner to reduce its size. Aspects consider the effect of the possible increased internal temperature as the size of the smart plug is reduced. For example, thick metal foils connect various components of a smart plug to reduce heat dissipation within the smart plug. Also, a metal foil may transfer heat from contact metal on a PCB to a side wall of a plastic housing of the smart plug. The smart plug may comprise a computing device that obtains information identifying the attached electrical device and accesses device data about the time duration during which the attached electrical device exhibits transient characteristics. The computing device then uses the accessed data to effectively control the attached electrical device.

Abstract: An entry sensor, which supports either wireless or wired operation, facilitates installation and is adjustable for gaps between a building entry barrier such as a door or window and the surrounding frame. The sensor, which may be implemented as a single piece design, includes an adjustment mechanism that enables an installer to vary the extension of the sensor to match the actual gap so that the sensor properly secures the building entry when closed. The sensor includes a detector that determines the state of a switch that is responsive to the movement of a plunger mechanism, where the state is indicative whether the building entry barrier is opened or closed, and that may determine whether the sensor is tampered with. The sensor also may facilitate battery replacement that protects the associated circuitry during the replacement.

Abstract: An entry sensor, which supports either wireless or wired operation, facilitates installation and is adjustable for gaps between a building entry barrier such as a door or window and the surrounding frame. The sensor, which may be implemented as a single piece design, includes an adjustment mechanism that enables an installer to vary the extension of the sensor to match the actual gap so that the sensor properly secures the building entry when closed. The sensor includes a detector that determines the state of a switch that is responsive to the movement of a plunger mechanism, where the state is indicative whether the building entry barrier is opened or closed, and that may determine whether the sensor is tampered with. The sensor also may facilitate battery replacement that protects the associated circuitry during the replacement.

Abstract: A clip for mounting a fluid delivery device adjacent a wall of an enclosure is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a base, a hook configured to support the base adjacent the wall, means for attaching a fluid delivery device to the base, and means for rotating the base. Additionally, a method for attaching a clip for mounting a fluid delivery device adjacent a toilet bowl is disclosed. The method includes securing a hook to a rim, engaging a tab of a base to an underside of the rim at an interface, and rotating the base in response to the interface to substantially engage the tab of the base with the underside of the rim.

Abstract: A device for spraying an inner surface of a toilet bowl with a cleaning fluid is disclosed. The device includes a container for the fluid, a fluid sprayer through which the fluid can be sprayed on the inner surface of the wall of the enclosure, a pumping apparatus for delivering fluid from the container to the fluid sprayer, a sensor for detecting the presence of an object near the fluid sprayer, and a controller. The controller executes a stored program that activates the sensor at a beginning time of a time interval before a scheduled spraying time stored in the controller, monitors electrical signals from the sensor during the time interval to determine if an object is near the fluid sprayer, and if the controller determines that an object has not been near the sensor during the time interval, activates the pumping apparatus for delivering fluid from the container to the fluid sprayer.