Abstract: A refrigerator includes a speaker assembly disposed on an upper side of the cabinet so as to be inclined forward, and the speaker assembly is disposed to be exposed to the outside to efficiently transmit sound to the outside of the refrigerator. Further, the cover member disposed on the upper side of the speaker assembly may prevent the penetration of water, foreign matter, etc. on the outside. The refrigerator also includes a rotatable USB port located above the door so that the user may easily connect the USB device to the USB port.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be configured to control one or more HVAC components within an HVAC system. The HVAC controller may include a user interface, such as but not limited to a touchscreen display, that enables a user to view and/or manipulate settings within the HVAC controller including but not limited to parameters within a programmable schedule. In some cases, the HVAC controller may provide the user with a better user experience when viewing or editing the programmable schedule.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance has an ice and water dispenser with a container receptacle. The refrigeration appliance has a light projector for projecting information into the container receptacle. A method serves to operate a refrigeration appliance, in which information is projected into a container receptacle of an ice and water dispenser by a light projector.

Abstract: Programmable controller technology, in which data is received that identifies a particular type of HVAC system component that is to be controlled by a programmable controller. Based on receiving data identifying the particular type of HVAC system component, configuration information is accessed for the particular type of HVAC system component. A configuration is determined for one or more interface ports of the programmable controller based on the configuration information for the particular type of HVAC system component. The interface ports of the programmable controller are configured according to the determined configuration. A connection between the particular type of HVAC system component and the programmable controller that satisfies the determined configuration is detected.

Abstract: At least one aspect of the present disclose is directed towards a temperature control device that includes a face plate, a housing, and an adjustment mechanism. The housing may protrude away from the rear side of the face plate. The housing may include a mounting mechanism that includes a set of clamps configured to engage at least a portion of an inner surface. The set of clamps may be adjustable based on alterations to the adjustment mechanism. The housing may also include one or more cavities that may be configured to receive at least a portion of the set of clamps when the set of clamps is collapsed into the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for real-time performance check of transport refrigeration units comprising the steps of: comparing via controller temperature sensors by pairs and determining from these comparisons by pairs if one or more temperature sensors are defective or in some extent deviates from expected temperature readings; at the same time measuring/monitoring the mass flow of cooling agent through a compressor and through an evaporator expansion valve Vexp which the controller by comparison determines if mass flow through the compressor do not deviate more than 25% from the mass flow through that evaporator expansion valve Vexp; if said deviation of mass flow through the compressor is more than 25% different from said mass flow through the expansion device Vexp, an error signal is provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for operating a wall mounted thermostat. An example computer-implemented method includes receiving an indication of a physical touch to an exposed portion of a housing of the thermostat, wherein the housing is movable when touched. The method also includes determining a thermostat command associated with where the housing is touched and movement of the housing in response to the touch, and operating the thermostat according to the determined thermostat command.

Abstract: An operation detecting device of an opening and closing body for a vehicle, includes: a detecting section that detects an operation by a user with respect to an opening and closing body of a vehicle; an input section that receives an opening and closing body motion signal which indicates whether or not the opening and closing body is in motion or idle; a determination section that determines whether or not the operation is performed using different detection conditions for a case in which the opening and closing body is in motion and a case in which the opening and closing body is idle; and an output section that outputs a control signal which causes the opening and closing body to move or stop based on the determination result of the determination section.

Abstract: A damper controller may be configured to send damper control commands to open and close an outdoor air damper to provide free cooling as necessary to satisfy a temperature setpoint inside the building. In some cases, the damper controller may initiate a damper fault test to determine if a damper fault is present. The damper fault test may be based, at least in part, on an outdoor air temperature input, a discharge air temperature input, a commanded damper position, and a damper fault temperature threshold. If a damper fault is determined, the damper controller may send an alert indicative of a detected damper fault. In some cases, the damper fault test results may be weighted to reduce the false positives alerts.

Abstract: An energy management system having a centralized site controller includes thermostats in multiple zones, each thermostat acting as a remote terminal to the controller. Each thermostat provides an interface to the site controller while acting as the thermostat for each zone. The thermostat displays the state of the building's systems for any zone and allows the local user to override set points. The central site controller determines how many thermostats are enabled with a terminal mode, including their read and write permissions on other zones. Override requests received by the central controller are merged with settings for current control algorithms. After a preconfigured time, the central controller reinstates the current control algorithm. The system can be shut down using a thermostat in remote terminal mode with appropriate permission. System status changes are sent to remote thermostats for display and remote thermostat terminals are polled for change requests.

Abstract: The obtainment unit obtains information indicative of a content of manual-operation performed by a user regarding control of an intended apparatus from a group of loads, and stores it as manual-operation information including an obtaining time. The identification unit identifies a type of control of the manual-operation information. The determination unit counts the number of times of obtaining the manual-operation information within a counting period equal to two days or more, for each type and for each time period, and determines whether the number of times of obtaining the same type of manual-operation information within the same time period is equal to a predetermined threshold or more. When the number of times of obtaining the same type of manual-operation information within the same time period is determined to be equal to the predetermined threshold or more, the schedule change unit changes a control schedule based on this manual-operation information.

Abstract: An occupancy sensing electronic thermostat is described that includes a thermostat body, an electronic display that is viewable by a user in front of the thermostat, a passive infrared sensor for measuring infrared energy and an infrared energy directing element formed integrally with a front surface of the thermostat body. The passive infrared sensor may be positioned behind the infrared energy directing element such that infrared energy is directed thereonto by the infrared energy directing element. The thermostat may also include a temperature sensor and a microprocessor programmed to detect occupancy based on measurements from the passive infrared sensor.

Abstract: Lock boxes may be used to protect a building controller from tampering. In some cases, a lock box may include a back plate that is configured to be mounted to a wall or a junction box and a front cover that may be secured to the back plate and locked in place. In some cases, the back plate may be configured to help secure a building controller thereto. In some cases, the back plate may be configured to secure a wall mountable connector to which the building controller may be secured. In some instances, the back plate may include mounting features that can engage corresponding mounting features of the wall mountable connector in order to secure the wall mountable connector to the back plate of the lock box.

Abstract: A household appliance (2) has a frontal panel (48) with a front side (62) facing the outside of the appliance (2) in an assembled state and a rear side (64) opposite to the front side (62) facing the interior of the appliance (2) in an assembled state and with an aperture (58). The appliance further has a cover element (60) covering the aperture (58) on the front side (62), and a receptacle (78) arranged on the rear side (64) behind the aperture (58). The receptacle (78) has a sealing element (86) which in an assembled state is in contact with the covering element (60), thereby providing a sealed space between the cover element (60) and the sealing element (86).

Abstract: An air condition and lamp control system based on a light sensing of a vehicle may include an illumination sensor configured to detect an amount of irradiation of light irradiated into an interior side of the vehicle to be distinguished in a left and a right, an air condition controller configured to receive a left input voltage and a right input voltage according to the amount of irradiation of light detected by the illumination sensor and to independently compensate for left and right interior temperatures, a voltage amplifier configured to sum the left input voltage and the right input voltage which are transferred from the illumination sensor and to amplify the summed voltage to an amplified voltage, and a lamp controller configured to receive the amplified voltage amplified by the voltage amplifier, to compare the amplified voltage and a prestored lamp operation voltage, and to drive a lamp apparatus.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for displaying different temperatures by a thermometer and the thermometer. The method includes the following steps of: obtaining a temperature value, determining whether the temperature value is within a first temperature range, if yes, displaying an indicator pointing to a first color mark located outside of a display screen. According to the method for displaying different temperatures by the thermometer and the thermometer in the invention, the use is convenient, the reaction is intuitive, and the manufacturing cost is effectively reduced.

Abstract: An HVAC controller is described that is configured to be more intuitive and user friendly to program and operate than convention HVAC controllers. In some instances, the HVAC controller may include a touch screen interface that provides greater flexibility in displaying information to the user and/or soliciting information from the user.

Abstract: A wall mountable connector configured to facilitate a user in removing a first thermostat from the wall mountable connector and installing a new, different second thermostat on the wall mountable connector without having to do any wiring work. The field wires remain coupled to the wall mountable connector, and the wall mountable connector provides the appropriate electrical connections between the field wires and the first and second thermostats. In some cases, the wall mountable connector may include a memory for storing data communicated by a first thermostat, and to communicate the stored data to a subsequently installed second thermostat. In some instances, the first and second thermostats may be selected from a line of compatible thermostats.

Abstract: An infrared detector based on carbon nanotubes is provided. The infrared detector includes a detecting element, a first electrode and a second electrode. The detecting element includes an absorbing part and a non-absorbing part. A first end is located in the absorbing part. A second end is located in the non-absorbing part. An angle between the absorbing part and the non-absorbing part is less than 90 degrees. A first electrode is electrically connected with the first end. A second electrode is electrically connected with the second end.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus support system has a smartphone including a GPS, a camera, a communication unit that communicates with a center computer, a screen, and a control unit. When the control unit is activated at a location at which the air-conditioning apparatus is installed, the control unit executes a step of assuming a location detected by the GPS to be the location at which the air-conditioning apparatus is installed and causing the center computer to register the location, and, after registration has been made, when the control unit is activated at the location at which the air-conditioning apparatus is installed, in the case where the air-conditioning apparatus is registered in the center computer, the control unit causes the screen to display information about the air-conditioning apparatus.

Abstract: A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes a body having a central electronic display surrounded by a ring that can be rotated and pressed inwardly to provide user input in a simple and elegant fashion. The current temperature and setpoint temperature are graphically displayed as prominent tick marks over a range of background tick marks on the electronic display. Different colors can be displayed to indicate currently active HVAC functions, and different intensities of colors can be displayed to indicate an amount of heating or cooling required to reach a target temperature. The setpoint temperature for the device can be altered by user rotation of the rotatable ring, and the programmed schedule can be displayed to the user and altered by the user by virtue of rotations and inward pressings of the ring.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that increases resolution of a resistance sensor. The apparatus may include a variable current source that produces a variable current in response to a current value. The apparatus may also include a variable resistance device that generates a variable voltage associated with the variable current. The variable resistance may have a low resistance value and a high resistance value. In addition, the apparatus may include a controller that receives a voltage value associated with the variable voltage and controls the current value in order to result in an increase in resolution of a range between the low resistance value and a high resistance value.

Abstract: Programmable controller technology, in which data is received that identifies a particular type of HVAC system component that is to be controlled by a programmable controller. Based on receiving data identifying the particular type of HVAC system component, configuration information is accessed for the particular type of HVAC system component. A configuration is determined for one or more interface ports of the programmable controller based on the configuration information for the particular type of HVAC system component. The interface ports of the programmable controller are configured according to the determined configuration. A connection between the particular type of HVAC system component and the programmable controller that satisfies the determined configuration is detected.

Abstract: An electronic assembly may have a display, a display holder, and a printed circuit board (PCB). The display may have a front side for viewing the display, a back side, and side walls extending between the front side and the back side. The display holder may have a recess for receiving at least part of the display, where the display holder may extend adjacent part of the front side of the display and adjacent at least part of the side walls of the display. The PCB may be secured relative to the display holder and adjacent the back side of the display. The PCB may be in operative communication with the display. In some cases, a spacer may be situated between the back side of the display and the PCB.

Abstract: An operating control unit for an electrical appliance with an operating field is mounted on an underside of the operating field. The operating control unit includes a frame body, a flat component carrier being mounted to the frame body from behind and having piezo-active sensor elements, and a back support mounted to a back side of the frame body and enclosing the component carrier. The operating control unit has after pre-assembly two different assembly states. In a pre-mount state the back support is fixed to the frame body enclosing the component support, and some locking means of the frame body are formed as pre-mount locking means and are holding the back support against disassembly. In a final-assembly state the back support is pressed against the frame body with less distance between the two, and final-assembly locking means of the frame body are holding the back support in a closer position than the pre-mount locking means.

Abstract: A system includes an internal combustion engine having a thermostat provided to selectively allow coolant flow through the engine, and a coolant temperature determination device that provides a coolant temperature value. The system further includes a controller structured to functionally execute operations to diagnose the thermostat. The controller determines whether the engine is providing a high output operation. When the engine is providing a high output operation, the controller determines the thermostat is passed in response to the coolant temperature value exceeding a first threshold temperature value.

Abstract: A passive detector includes a sensor configured to sense an environmental parameter and to generate an output signal at an output of the sensor in response to the sensed environmental parameter. An energy scavenging circuit is coupled to the sensor, the energy scavenging circuit configured to convert a first voltage, V1, across the sensor to a second voltage, V2, where V2>V1. A discriminator is powered by the second voltage and is coupled to the output of the sensor. A nonvolatile memory is coupled to an output of the discriminator. The discriminator is configured to compare the sensor output signal to a threshold and, in response to the sensor output signal being above the threshold, to provide a programming signal at the output of the discriminator. The programming signal is configured to cause data to be stored or erased in the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A monitoring module for connection to a diagnostic device having two or more light emitting sources for indicating operating fault conditions of an apparatus. The monitoring module feeds information signals to a communication link for reception at a remote location. The monitoring module is secured over a series of light emitting diodes of the diagnostic device and reproduces these for local access. The series of LED's indicate fault conditions of the apparatus which in this embodiment is a hot water heater. Accordingly, the operation of the hot water heater at its fault status can be monitored from a remote location and on site.

Abstract: A system and method for display of multiple data sets related to building systems is provided. A first building system includes a first sensor that generates first operating data corresponding to the first building system. A second building system includes a second sensor that generates second operating data corresponding to the second building system. A data server stores the first operating data and the second operating data. A user terminal accesses the first operating data and the second operating data, receives user input selecting the first operating data and the second operating data for display, and displays the first operating data and the second operating data together in a graphical display.

Abstract: An external apparatus which is controlled by a communication apparatus, comprises a control unit configured to execute functions corresponding to operation information received from the communication apparatus, a changing unit configured to change the operation information that are assigned in every function, wherein the operation information is changed by the changing unit each time connection to the communication apparatus is established, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the changed operation information that are assigned in every function to the communication apparatus together with decryption information for the changed operation information that is encrypted.

Abstract: An air-conditioning management apparatus is capable of selecting an air-conditioning device that affects an air-conditioning environment at a specific position in an air-conditioned space from a plurality of air-conditioning devices. An area that is within an air-conditioned space to which a specific position P belongs in an arrangement plan and that is within a predetermined range from the specific position is obtained as a control target range. An air-conditioning device whose installation position in the arrangement plan is included in the control target range is selected as a control target air-conditioning device.

Abstract: A device configured to control one or more components of an HVAC system. The device includes a display, a controller in communication with the display, and wherein the controller is configured to receive one or more user defined environmental settings. Further, the controller communicates with one or more environmental sensors, wherein the environmental sensors detect one or more environmental conditions. In addition, the controller is further configured to provide a visual indication on the display for the detected environmental conditions with respect to the user defined environmental settings. This visual indication includes one or more bounded region having an interior space indicative of user comfort level, wherein the bounded regions have one or more borders, and wherein the borders at least partially represent the user defined environmental settings.

Abstract: A number of methods for testing an HVAC system for a building structure from a remote location outside of the building structure are disclosed. Generally, the HVAC system has a primarily active component and a primarily dormant component. The method includes the steps of transmitting a test request to the HVAC system from the remote location, performing a test on the primarily dormant component of the HVAC system in response to the test request, and producing a test result. The test result can then be transmitted to a location outside of the building structure.

Abstract: A lamp control system with various control ways includes an AC power source; a wave generator; a driving circuit; a lamp set receiving power from the driving circuit to drive the lamp set; a microprocessor receiving power from the lamp set as driving power thereof and receiving, signals from the wave generator as driving signals; a switching circuit; the switching circuit being connected to the microprocessor and receiving the signals from the microprocessor for operating the lamp; the switching circuit also controlling current flowing through the lamp set and thus controlling the illumination of the lamp set; a sensing circuit connected to the microprocessor for detecting variations of environment illuminations and then transferring detecting signals to the microprocessor to cause the microprocessor to control the switching circuit to operate the lamp set; and an illumination setting by which a user can set illumination of the lamp set.

Abstract: An environmentally-controlled structure for a cold chain. The structure includes a sensor, an identification reader, an environment implementer, and a controller. The sensor senses a parameter indicative of an environmental condition in the environmentally-controlled structure. The identification reader is positioned relative to the environmentally-controlled structure and reads information about the goods from an identification device associated with the goods. The environment implementer modifies the environmental condition inside the environmentally-controlled structure. The controller receives the indication of the environmental condition inside the environmental control structure from the sensor, receives the information about the goods from the identification reader, and controls the environment implementer to maintain a desired environment inside the environmentally-controlled structure based on the information about the goods and the indication of the environmental condition.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of testing a HVAC unit for a disconnected damper motor is provided. An outside air section of a damper assembly is closed and air is circulated through the unit. If a discharge air temperature is not substantially equal to a return air temperature, the damper motor is determined to be disconnected. Otherwise, an economizing function having a free cooling target temperature is started. An outside air temperature is compared to the free cooling target temperature. If the outside air temperature is less than the free cooling target temperature, the damper motor is determined to be disconnected if the damper motor has been commanded to fully open the outside air section. If the outside air temperature is not less than the free cooling target temperature, the damper motor is determined to be disconnected if a discharge air temperature is not substantially equal to an outside air temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling and scheduling power distribution in a power network, such as household power network. One disclosed embodiment is a system comprising a central controller and a control device coupled to a household appliance. The central controller can comprise computing hardware coupled to a wireless transceiver. The central controller can be configured to generate and transmit control signals for controlling the operational state of the household appliance according to the schedule. Furthermore, the control device can be configured to receive the transmitted control signals from the central controller and to control the operational state of the household appliance in response to the control signals.

Abstract: A temperature controller for controlling a thermal module that raises or lowers the temperature of a thermal control platform that includes a reading interface and a control unit. The reading interface is used for reading parameters of the thermal control platform that are stored in a memory module. The control unit is connected to the reading interface for receiving the parameters read by the reading interface and for sending a control signal to the thermal module according to the corresponding parameters. The thermal module then raises or lowers the temperature according to the control signal. Accordingly, the temperature controller automatically adjusts the temperature control to different thermal control platforms.

Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods of use of an HVAC graphical interface dashboard. In various embodiments, the dashboard includes a weather tab, wherein invoking the weather tab advances to a weather screen. The dashboard also includes an indoor humidity tab. A programs tab and a home tab are also provided. The home screen has a single icon that gives a user an indication that there is at least one alert present in the dashboard.

Abstract: An energy management system having a centralized site controller is provided with thermostats in multiple zones, each thermostat having the capability of acting as a remote terminal to the controller. Each thermostat provides an interface to the site controller while simultaneously acting as the thermostat for each zone. The thermostat can display information concerning the state of the building's lighting and HVAC systems for any zone and allow the local user to initiate local overrides of set points. In an embodiment, override requests are received by the central controller and merged with the settings for the current control algorithms.

Abstract: An energy management device providing a series of user interface enhancements that enable the creation and modification of energy management schedules. The energy management device may provide these user interface enhancements in connection with a touch screen interface, as the user interface receives and processes a variety of touch screen gestures from users intended to create and manipulate the energy management schedules. The user interface enhancements may include calendar views with customizable periods of interest, calendar views with overlays of scheduling and pricing information, and clocks providing runtime indications of specific energy consuming systems.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may include a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly releasably securable to the first sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly may include a housing having the back and a cover, a printed circuit board at least substantially enclosed by the housing, a battery compartment formed in the back of the housing for receiving one or more batteries, and a display exposed for viewing through an aperture in the cover of the housing for viewing the display by a user. The printed circuit board may include one or more battery terminals that extend from the printed circuit board through the back of the housing and into the battery compartment. In some cases, the battery compartment may define a cup-shaped reservoir that may be configured to collect leakage from one or more of the batteries.

Abstract: A thermostat includes a housing, a user interface, and a processing system configured to control an HVAC system using setpoint temperature values. The thermostat may also include a plurality of HVAC connectors configured to receive corresponding HVAC control wires, and a connection sensing module configured to determine the identities of HVAC connectors into which corresponding wires have been inserted. The processing system is further configured to select and display one or more user inquiries using the user interface based on which connectors have wires inserted, thereby enhancing and streamlining the user installation procedure.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for generating and/or displaying a graphical user interface used to control an energy-consuming system, such as a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system. Such an electronic device may include, for example, a processor that generates the graphical user interface and an electronic display that displays the graphical user interface. The graphical user interface may include a menu formed from discrete display elements that, owing to the way in which the discrete display elements are shifted into and out of view on the screen, appear to be spatially related to one another.

Abstract: A wiring configuration tool may be configured to determine a new wiring configuration for a replacement HVAC controller based, at least in part, on the existing wiring configuration for a current HVAC controller and, for example, the make and model of the replacement HVAC controller. The wiring configuration tool may be hosted by a server that provides a user interface for interacting with the user. The user may access the wiring configuration tool via a web services interface, a smart phone application or in any other suitable manner.

Abstract: An operation alteration of a network attached thermostat to control power usage. Control wires for a heating and air conditioning system may be connected to a thermostat control circuit configured to control the system. A power extraction circuit may be coupled to the control wires configured to extract power from the control wires. The power may be put into a storage device. The power may be provided to the thermostat control circuit and a WiFi radio module. The radio module may provide a network connection for the thermostat. Circuitry and techniques may be provided to reduce power usage by the thermostat components.

Abstract: A room heater is controlled according to a difference between a detected temperature detected by a first room-temperature detector and a predetermined set temperature. When a detected temperature detected by a second room-temperature detector falls below a first reference temperature, the operation is started on receiving an on-command from a thermostat. When the detected temperature by the second room-temperature detector has raised above a second reference temperature which is set higher than the first reference temperature, the operation is stopped on receiving an off-command from the thermostat. The room heater is controlled to raise a set temperature by a predetermined value if it does not receive the off-command by passing of a first predetermined period of time after having received the on-command or if the detected temperature detected by the first room-temperature detector has been at the set temperature or higher without receiving the off-command for a second predetermined period of time.

Abstract: Remote control of energy consumption is realized using a readily installable, flexible approach. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a remote source communicates with a wireless controller for executing energy usage control. The remote source sends signals to the wireless controller via a gateway located near or, in one implementation, forming part of the wireless controller. In response to the signals, the wireless controller sets control settings for operating one or more of a variety of equipment types, such as a furnace, air conditioner, water heater or heat pump. With this approach, wired connections from the gateway to energy-consuming equipment do not necessarily need to be made in order to effect remote energy-consumption control. For instance, when used in connection with a controller wired to the energy-consuming equipment, the gateway need only communicate wirelessly with the controller and does not necessarily need to be coupled to the energy-consuming equipment.

Abstract: In order to perform overheating protection of a controller for water-heating heaters 3A and 38 for in-vehicle heating, an energization circuit for a heater 3 (3A, 38) includes IGBTs 11 and 12 as switching devices that are disposed therein to be in series with the heater 3, and a first temperature sensor (first thermistor) 21 which measures temperature of these IGBTs 11,12. A comparator 25 is provided to transmit a signal when the temperature of the IGBTs 11,12 is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature. Then, the IGBTs 1112 can be forcibly turned OFF via the IGBT driver 13 in response to a signal from the comparator 25 without a microprocessor 14 intervening therebetween.

Abstract: A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component.