Including Automatic Control Means Patents (Class 454/229)
  • Patent number: 12031965
    Abstract: A building loses or gains heat through its envelope based on the differential between the indoor and outdoor temperatures. The losses or gains are due to conduction and infiltration. Conventionally, these effects are typically estimated by performing an on-site energy audit. However, total thermal conductivity, conduction, and infiltration can be determined empirically. The number of air changes per hour are empirically measured using a CO2 concentration monitoring device, which enables the infiltration component of total thermal conductivity to be measured directly. The conduction component of thermal conductivity can then be determined by subtracting the infiltration component from the building's total thermal conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: CLEAN POWER RESEARCH, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Hoff
  • Patent number: 11846440
    Abstract: Appropriate ventilation for a building space while maintaining building comfort includes tracking one or more interior environmental conditions within the building space and one or more exterior environmental conditions outside of the building space during operation of the HVAC system. An environmental model for the building space is learned over time based at least in part on these tracked environmental conditions, where the environmental model predicts an environmental state of the building space in response to operation of the HVAC system under various interior and exterior environmental conditions. A maximum allowed ventilation rate that can be achieved without causing the HVAC system to compromise on any of one or more comfort conditions of the building space is predicted using the environmental model. The outdoor air ventilation damper of the HVAC system is then controlled to provide an appropriate ventilation up to or at the predicted maximum allowed ventilation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Bhavesh Gupta, Manish Sharma, Prabhat Ranjan
  • Patent number: 11774117
    Abstract: A system and related method are disclosed for controlling condensation in a space. The system includes a fan and one or more sensors for sensing environmental conditions such as temperature and relative humidity associated with the space and/or objects within the space. For instance, the sensors may sense a surface temperature of an object within the room. The system also includes a controller capable of receiving measurements from the sensor(s) and controlling the fan based on the sensed information. The system may additionally include a heater and/or a damper for transferring outside air into the space, either of which may be controlled by the controller based on the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA T, LLC
    Inventors: Christian R. Taber, Mark Toy, Jay Fizer, Ed Quinn
  • Patent number: 11754309
    Abstract: Implementations are directed to a smart filter apparatus including an air filter, a sensor supported by the air filter and sensitive to a pathogen, and a control unit in data communication with the sensor and operable to perform operations including receiving, from the sensor, an indication of the pathogen present in air incident on the sensor, generating, by the control unit, a pathogen alert response, and providing, by the control unit, the pathogen alert response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Accenture Global Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Aditi Maheshwari, Mark Benjamin Greenspan, Lavinia Andreea Danielescu
  • Patent number: 11655995
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method of controlling operations of an air conditioner by analyzing a user's behavior pattern, and an air conditioner, the present disclosure according to an embodiment includes an air blower configured to discharge air, a camera configured to acquire images of a space in which an indoor unit of the air conditioner is disposed, and a control unit configured to extract features from the image acquired by the camera, to generate image descriptions, and to control the air conditioner using parameters generated in response to the image descriptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sung Mok Hwang, Sang Yun Kim, Jin Ok Kim, Yun Sik Park, Dayun Han
  • Patent number: 11499731
    Abstract: A forced air handling system includes an automated monitoring system. A method of operating the automated monitoring system includes initiating a calibration mode of operation via a controller. A plurality of dampers may then close via the controller. Once closed, a duct in communication with the plurality of dampers may be pressurized. A first air flow measuring exiting each one of the plurality of dampers may be obtained by a flow sensor. The duct is then depressurized and a second airflow measurement is taken, via the controller, exiting each one of the plurality of dampers. The controller calculates a statistical difference between the first and second airflow measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kushal Mukherjee, Rohan Chabukswar, Anarta Ghosh
  • Patent number: 11428428
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) unit includes an energy recovery wheel, a first exhaust fan configured to draw a first air flow across the energy recovery wheel and discharge the first air flow from the HVAC unit, a second exhaust fan configured to draw a second air flow across the energy recovery wheel and discharge the second air flow from the HVAC unit, and a controller configured to operate the first exhaust fan and the second exhaust fan in an economizer mode and configured to operate the first exhaust fan and suspend operation of the second exhaust fan in an energy recovery mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Marcel P. Ferrere, Jr., Rajiv K. Karkhanis, Aron M. Seiler
  • Patent number: 11364460
    Abstract: A HEPA/VOC air handling system is disclosed. It has a HEPA air filtration unit and an air handling unit. The HEPA air filtration unit has a fresh air intake, an inside air intake, a pre-filter unit, a HEPA air filter, and HEPA fan. The HEPA fan draws fresh air and inside air into a HEPA chamber to form combined air that moderates the fresh air toward the inside air's temperature and humidity to inhibit shocking or damaging the components in the HEPA air filtration unit. The combined air passes through the pre-filter unit and then the HEPA air filter to form HEPA filtered combined air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: AMERICAIR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jim Woods, Juan Valle, Gregory Inns, Tim Snelgrove
  • Patent number: 11302164
    Abstract: Embodiments of a sensor device, method and system employ a multiplicity of environmental sensors as a single monitoring and alerting mechanism, operable to provide a profile of any contaminant in terms of various gases and particles in the atmosphere, quantified in terms of relative concentrations. In various embodiments, the sensor device can comprise hardware and firmware elements, including an electronic control system, a case, a shield and a cover. The environmental sensors can be secured as part of the electronic control system and the shield can be formed so as to facilitate proper channeling of air and sound for effective operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Halo Smart Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David Antar, Paul Galburt, Frank L. Jacovino, John B. Plunkett
  • Patent number: 11302165
    Abstract: Embodiments of a sensor device, method and system employ a multiplicity of environmental sensors as a single monitoring and alerting mechanism, operable to provide a profile of any contaminant in terms of various gases and particles in the atmosphere, quantified in terms of relative concentrations. In various embodiments, the sensor device can comprise hardware and firmware elements, including an electronic control system, a case, a shield and a cover. The environmental sensors can be secured as part of the electronic control system and the shield can be formed so as to facilitate proper channeling of air and sound for effective operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Halo Smart Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David Antar, Paul Galburt, Frank L. Jacovino, John B. Plunkett
  • Patent number: 11287154
    Abstract: A ducting system has a first upstream location is to be connected to a first source of air. A downstream location in the duct is to be connected to a second source of air. The upstream location has a first valve, and the downstream location has a second valve. An end location of the duct is to be connected to a sink. A control for the valves achieves a desired pressure and temperature of air at the end location. The first temperature sensor is located at a position intermediate the upstream location and the downstream location. A second temperature sensor is located at a position intermediate the downstream location and the end location. A control is programmed to determine the health of the first and second valves based upon a difference between temperatures sensed by the first and second sensors. An air use system and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gary M. McBrien, Peter A. Dorian
  • Patent number: 11187240
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blower. A blower according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an upper fan for generating a first airflow, which is suctioned through an upper suction part and is then discharged; a lower fan disposed under the upper fan to generate a second airflow, which is suctioned through a lower suction part and is then discharged; an airflow changing device disposed between the upper fan and the lower fan to generate a third airflow by joining the first airflow and the second airflow; and a control part for controlling the rotation speed of each of the upper fan and the lower fan to adjust the discharge direction of the third airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Myungjin Ku, Heechul Park
  • Patent number: 11175052
    Abstract: An air conditioner and a control method thereof perform cooling through an outlet if room temperature or room humidity is high to reduce the room temperature or the room humidity, and closing the outlet to perform cooling at low velocity through an outlet hole if room temperature or room humidity reaches a predetermined value so that a user can little feel the wind velocity of cooling of the air conditioner, while maintaining indoor space at pleasant temperature or humidity. By performing cooling at low velocity through the outlet hole formed in the lower portion of the air conditioner, it is possible to cool the lower area of indoor space at pleasant temperature when a user is asleep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Kweon Ha, Hee-Chan Kang, Jong Woon Kim, Tae Woo Kim, Seung Jun Park, Byoung-Ok Ahn, Hong Seok Jun, Jun Hwang, Kwon Jin Kim, Na Yeong Byeon, Hyeong Joon Seo
  • Patent number: 11156376
    Abstract: Smoke and/or soot damage to an interior of a property, such as a residential building or home, may be mitigated. A controller is in communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the property. The controller is configured to receive an alert and/or intelligent home telematics data generated based upon a potential presence of smoke in a location associated with the property, either exterior or interior to the property. In response to receiving the alert and/or intelligent home telematics data, the controller is further configured deactivate an air circulation function of the HVAC system to mitigate smoke or fire damage to the property. The intelligent home telematics data may be generated by various smoke, fire, audio, visual, infrared, motion, and/or other smart sensors mounted about the interior and/or exterior of the property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: Rosemarie G. Grant
  • Patent number: 11156225
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a flow generating device comprising: a main body comprising a first suction part and a second suction part disposed at sides opposite to each other, a first inner discharge part through which air suctioned into the first suction part passes, a second inner discharge part through which air suctioned into the second suction part passes, and at least one outer discharge part through which air passing through the first inner discharge part and air passing through the second inner discharge part are discharged to the outside; a first fan disposed between the first suction part and the first inner discharge part; and a second fan disposed between the second suction part and the second inner discharge part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Heechul Park, Myungjin Ku, Hongseok Kim, Eunsun Lee
  • Patent number: 11118590
    Abstract: A circulator blower controller for a circulator blower of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building includes an interface configured to receive a demand signal with an operating mode from a thermostat. A switching circuit selectively connects power to a tap of a motor of the circulator blower. A data store configured to store a mapping from a speed to the tap. For each tap, a processor observes power consumed by the circulator blower while power is connected to the tap by the switching circuit. The processor determines the mapping by sorting the taps based on observed power consumption. The processor selects a first speed based on the demand signal from the thermostat. The processor identifies a first tap from the mapping based on the first speed and generates the tap selection signal to control the switching circuit to connect power to the first tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Arensmeier, Paul Layton, Jacob Nielson
  • Patent number: 11112141
    Abstract: An air handling unit includes a rain hood configured to receive an air flow from an external environment surrounding the rain hood, and a sensor disposed within the rain hood and configured to monitor air flow parameters indicative of a flow rate of the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: AIR DISTRIBUTION TECHNOLOGIES IP, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy A. Vogel
  • Patent number: 11079127
    Abstract: A system includes an inlet to collect air from outside a building; an air filter coupled to the inlet; a baffle to receive air from the inlet; an actuator coupled to the baffle; one or more sensors exposed to air from the air filter to determine air quality; a controller coupled to the one or more sensors and the actuator, the controller closing the baffle if air quality is below a threshold; and an outlet positioned after the baffle to deliver air to the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Blockchain Generation Ventures
    Inventors: Bao Tran, Dave Nyhof
  • Patent number: 11067089
    Abstract: A flow generator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an upper fan configured to suction upper air and generate a first airflow, an upper fan housing configured to accommodate the upper fan from a lower side thereof and comprising a first discharge part through which the suctioned upper air is discharged, a lower fan configured to suction lower air and generate a second airflow, a lower fan housing configured to accommodate the lower fan from an upper side thereof and comprising a second discharge part through which the suctioned lower air is discharged, an air guide disposed between the upper fan and the lower fan to guide generation of a third airflow in which the first airflow and the second airflow are mixed with each other, and a control unit configured to control a rotational speed of the lower fan or the upper fan to adjust a discharge direction of the third airflow, wherein the first discharge part is disposed to face the second discharge part with respect to the flow guide par
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yongmin Kim, Dongryul Park
  • Patent number: 10982865
    Abstract: A system and related method are disclosed for controlling condensation in a space. The system includes a fan and one or more sensors for sensing environmental conditions such as temperature and relative humidity associated with the space and/or objects within the space. For instance, the sensors may sense a surface temperature of an object within the room. The system also includes a controller capable of receiving measurements from the sensor(s) and controlling the fan based on the sensed information. The system may additionally include a heater and/or a damper for transferring outside air into the space, either of which may be controlled by the controller based on the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA T, LLC
    Inventors: Christian R. Taber, Mark Toy, Jay Fizer, Ed Quinn
  • Patent number: 10969133
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for managing the comfort of building occupants. The system utilizes a model-based approach for targeting occupant comfort levels. The system allows for voting input from building occupants regarding their respective comfort. Additionally, the system provides a user interface to gather occupant input and use said input as a parameter in a comfort model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: PASSIVELOGIC, INC.
    Inventor: Troy Aaron Harvey
  • Patent number: 10962242
    Abstract: A workstation cooling system includes a radiant panel configured to be disposed in a workstation. The workstation cooling system also includes a water supply conduit configured to provide a cooling water flow to an inlet of the radiant panel and a water return conduit configured to receive the cooling water flow from an outlet of the radiant panel. The workstation cooling system additionally includes a control valve configured to receive control signals to adjust the cooling water flow provided to the radiant panel to enable the radiant panel to absorb heat to maintain a target temperature of the workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: John Andrew Weems
  • Patent number: 10935266
    Abstract: An HVAC register airflow control system and an air flow control method are provided. A housing of the system is in fluid communication with an air source for supplying an airflow. The housing includes an air outlet to the enclosed space. A detection sensor detects occupancy information of the enclosed space. A controller generates a control signal based on the occupancy information and controls the shape change of a damper made of a shape memory material. The damper is controlled to switch between a first operative configuration for preventing the airflow from entering the enclosed space and a second operative configured for permitting the airflow to enter the enclosed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Ya Wang, Zhangjie Chen
  • Patent number: 10907847
    Abstract: Disclosed is an intelligent heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) system. Located within an architectural structure, the HVAC system incorporates an airborne contaminant-flow calculator. When sensors (or a human operator) detect an “incident” (e.g., a contaminant is detected or an unexpected breach occurs in the structure that may be associated with the introduction of a contaminant), the HVAC system recalculates airflows for the structure. If the newly recalculated airflow so warrants, the HVAC system protects the structure's occupants from the airborne contaminant by changing the airflow through the structure (e.g., the HVAC system closes a shutter in the air ducts, turns up a fan, or redirects airflow to a standby filtration system). The HVAC system's calculator uses a closed-form solution for calculating the airflow in order to present its results in a timely fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRSENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
    Inventor: Mark D Ginsberg
  • Patent number: 10888021
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a computer enclosure with a first fan, a second fan, a fan controller, and an input for receiving a signal from a microphone indicating an amount of noise at a target location. The apparatus further includes a first actuator coupled to the first fan for adjusting an axial position of the first fan, wherein the controller controls the operation of the first actuator to position the first fan to reduce the noise indicated by the signal from the microphone with the first and second fans in operation. The microphone senses sound pressure and the controller automatically adjusts a position of one or more fans using an actuator to change the distance from the fan to the microphone, which may be co-located with a user, to provide destructive interference at the location of the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Bryan L. Young, Gary D. Cudak, Amy L. Rose, Jennifer J. Lee-Baron, John S. Crowe, Nathan J. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10823447
    Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator includes first and second blowers, a pressure transducer and a controller. The first blower is configured to direct a first air stream into a first zone of an enclosure. A second blower configured to direct a second air stream into a second zone of the enclosure. A pressure transducer is configured to determine internal air pressure within the enclosure. A controller is configured to control the first blower and/or the second blower in response to the internal air pressure. A method includes fabricating a rooftop unit and an ERV housing, the rooftop unit comprising an economizer, the ERV housing comprising first and second blowers and a pressure transducer. The method further includes coupling the ERV housing to the economizer and coupling a controller to the pressure transducer, the controller configured to control the first and/or second blowers in response to the internal air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Steve Schneider
  • Patent number: 10690370
    Abstract: The present invention includes a plurality of fan motors, first and second inverters for individually driving the fan motors, respectively, and one and a common control unit that performs a control arithmetic for each of the fan motors and generates an individual driving signal given to each of the inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Uemura, Kazunori Hatakeyama, Yosuke Shinomoto, Mitsuo Kashima, Takashi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10636271
    Abstract: An indoor air quality control system, including a plurality of fixed detectors, an unmanned vehicle platform and a cloud computing platform. The fixed detectors detect the indoor air quality at respective designated positions in an indoor area. The unmanned vehicle platform moves along a designated route in the indoor area. When an index corresponding to the indoor air quality at a designated position reaches an air pollution warning value, a processing unit of the unmanned vehicle platform controls the unmanned vehicle platform to move towards a corresponding one of the designated positions and controls an air cleaning device on the unmanned vehicle platform to perform air cleaning. The cloud computing platform receives the indoor air quality detected by the respective fixed detectors and the mobile air quality detected by a mobile detector on the unmanned vehicle platform over the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TAMKANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shih-Hao Chang, Wen-Yen Li, Hsu-Tang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10627378
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are volatile organic compound monitoring or detection systems and methods, including systems having both a reference air intake component and at least one air sample intake line. In certain embodiments, the systems provide for continuously repeating cycles of testing and calibration/recalibration. Further implementations relate to systems having two or more intake lines that can be positioned to take air samples at distances ranging from 5 feet to 200 feet or more apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: GreenAire Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: John Konieczka, Ken Kubitz, Timothy Austin
  • Patent number: 10571143
    Abstract: A venue occupant comfort system, comprises a processor that stores computer executable components stored in memory. A plurality of sensors sense ambient conditions associated with exterior and interior conditions of a venue. A context component infers or determines context of an occupant of the venue. A crowd estimation component infers, based at least in part on mining social networks, size of crowd expected at the venue. A comfort model component implicitly and explicitly trained on occupant comfort related data analyzes information from the plurality of sensors, the crowd estimation component and context component. A comfort controller adjusts environmental conditions of the venue based at least in part on output of the comfort model component. The adjustments to venue environment can optionally be differentiated by zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karan Ahuja, Heena Bansal, Kuntal Dey, Seema Nagar, Roman Vaculin
  • Patent number: 10545067
    Abstract: A method and system for testing airtightness of a building envelope (10). An air flow generator (21) is provided that is switchable between at least two different flow rates (Q0,Q1). The air flow generator (21) is repeatedly switched between a first flow rate (Q0) and a second flow rate (Q1) for modulating the building pressure (P1) as a function of time (t) between respective equilibrium pressure values at the first flow rate (Q0) and the second flow rate (Q1). The relative building pressure (?P) is measured by a differential pressure transducer (31) and recorded as a function of time (t). A pressure modulation amplitude (?Pmodulation) is calculated for providing a measure of the airtightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Johan Cornelis Phaff, Wouter Antonius Borsboom, Bastiaan Knoll
  • Patent number: 10408487
    Abstract: A secondary controller that controls a secondary device and is used with a primary controller that controls a primary device. The secondary controller detects primary control signals sent to or from the primary controller, and controls the secondary device based on the detection such that the secondary device does not operate when the primary device is operating, or so that the secondary device operates in a relatively lesser capacity when the primary device is operating. Also described is an outdoor air cooling and ventilation apparatus for supplying outdoor air to an indoor space, which may optionally be used with the secondary controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: Mark J. Berman
  • Patent number: 10379508
    Abstract: A facility for performing setpoint adjustment-based duty cycling techniques by adjusting the setpoint of a device or component is described. The facility reduces energy consumption for a system, such as an HVAC system, or device by adjusting or modulating an associated setpoint or temperature setting. The facility modulates the setpoint between a base setpoint value and another setpoint value based on a mode of the system. When the system is in a cooling mode, the facility modulates the temperature between the base setpoint value and a higher setpoint value. When the system is in heating mode, the facility modulates the temperature between the base setpoint value and a lower setpoint value. The facility may modulate the setpoint between the two setpoint values based on an offset value or a fixed setpoint value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Tendril Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric M. Shiflet
  • Patent number: 10353355
    Abstract: An indoor environment model creation device is configured to create an indoor environment model of an indoor space in which air-conditioning equipment configured to condition air, an indoor humidity sensor configured to measure an indoor humidity of the indoor space, and a CO2 sensor configured to measure a CO2 concentration in the indoor space are installed. The indoor environment model includes a plurality of physics models in which heat, moisture, and CO2 concentration parameters are included. The indoor environment model creation device includes: a data storage unit configured to store operation data of the air-conditioning equipment in a learning target period as learning-use input data, and store measurement data measured by the CO2 sensor and the humidity sensor; and a model parameter learning unit configured to comprehensively learn the plurality of physics models with use of the learning-use input data and the measurement data, which are stored in the data storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masae Sawada, Mio Motodani, Osamu Nakajima, Takaya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10317105
    Abstract: A fan array fan section in an air-handling system includes a plurality of fan units arranged in a fan array and positioned within an air-handling compartment. One preferred embodiment may include an array controller programmed to operate the plurality of fan units at peak efficiency by computing the power consumed in various configurations and selecting the configuration requiring minimum power to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence G. Hopkins, Brian James Motland, Matthew Gassaway
  • Patent number: 10058013
    Abstract: A cooling system circulates cooling air through information technology (IT) modules within a large scale information handling system (IHS). An air handling unit (AHU) directs cooling air through an IT module. The AHU is in communication with a controller. The controller is also in communication with an ambient condition interface to determine a level of a contaminant in outside air. The controller further: determines whether the level of the contaminant exceeds a threshold; and in response to determining that the level of the contaminant exceeds the threshold, configures the AHU to perform a mechanical cooling mode that excludes the outside air by recirculating air within an IT module via the AHU. In response to the level of contaminants not exceeding the threshold and other detected ambient conditions are favorable to using outside air to cool the IHS, the controller configures the AHU to use outside air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Ty Schmitt, Mark Bailey, Trey Wiederhold, Tyler Duncan
  • Patent number: 9737841
    Abstract: A method for air purification is disclosed, comprising directing air through a particle removal filter that acts to filter the air for particle phase pollutants to thereby produce particulate filtered air; and directing an amount of the particulate filtered air through a gas removal filter that acts to filter the particulate filtered air for gas phase pollutants to thereby produce gas filtered air; the particle removal filter with the first blower and the gas removal filter with the second blower are housed in different enclosures and they are allowed to operate in a way that; the two different units are selectable to operate separately without connection in a first mode, and to operate together connectively in a second mode; when the two different units are selected to operate together connectively in the second mode, the amount of particulate filtered air directed through the gas removal filter is based on a concentration of particle phase pollutants in the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Sui Chun Law
  • Patent number: 9719689
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a climatic beam located in a room. The climatic beam includes a first portion and a second portion, and a divider located along a length of the climatic beam to separate the first portion from the second portion. The climatic beam further includes a coil supplied with a flow of fluid. A fresh air duct is connected to the first portion to provide a flow of fresh air into the first portion, and a fan is located at the second portion and is configured to draw a flow of primary air across the coil and into the second portion. A beam exit allows a flow of the fresh air and the primary air into the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Olivier Josserand, Patrick Renault, Jacques René Schmid
  • Patent number: 9693486
    Abstract: Described herein is an air handling unit that includes canopies for compressor fans and exhaust fans located on a top thereof, which canopies provide for noise abatement and a canopy to assist in keeping precipitation out. The canopies further include louvers that can be controlled to provide for even further noise abatement and precipitation control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Switch, Ltd.
    Inventor: Rob Roy
  • Patent number: 9676249
    Abstract: A method for controlling a climate control system is disclosed. In one example, the climate control system includes an air mixing valve that is adjusted in response to a energy conversion device load demand. The method may provide improved climate control in a vehicle cabin during high energy conversion device load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Patent number: 9552611
    Abstract: Methods and systems for modifying resources equipped to manage loss events and processing associated therewith based on an analysis of real-time data. An insurance provider can maintain historical data that indicates resources usage data for managing previously-occurring loss events. The insurance provider can receive real-time first-party and third-party loss event data from a variety of sources, the loss event data being associated with a recent or forecasted loss event. The insurance provider can compare the received loss event data to the historical data to determine that resources configured to manage insurance claim processing resulting from the loss event may need to be modified. In embodiments, the resources may be hardware or software resources, a workforce, physical goods or supplies, or other resources. The insurance provider can facilitate the appropriate resource modification by interfacing with various components and entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael K. Cook
  • Patent number: 9321543
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer program product and a device for the condition monitoring of a component or system, such as for an aircraft or spacecraft. The method includes: providing an optimized decision tree, the nodes of which contain attributes of an input vector, the leaves of which each contain a classification function and the connections of which between the nodes are weighted; providing an input vector derived from a data signal; implementing a condition monitoring in which the condition of the component or system is determined using the weighted decision tree and on the basis of the input vector. In addition to an item of information concerning which of the classification functions of the decision tree best corresponds to the input vector, an additional item of information concerning the probability with which the other classes of the decision tree correspond to the examined input vector is calculated and output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Randerath, Mike Gerdes, Dieter Scholz
  • Patent number: 9200832
    Abstract: While cooling operation is continued, a compressor is stopped when a detection temperature Tm reaches a control temperature Tc that is a lower temperature than a set temperature Ts only by a bias temperature ?Tb, and rotation of a turbofan is stopped if a human body is not present in a room R, or the rotation of the turbofan is continued and a value of the detection temperature Tm is corrected to a correction detection temperature Ta that is a lower temperature than the detection temperature Tm only by a predetermined temperature correction amount ?Tm. While the correction detection temperature Ta is a temperature that is equal to or lower than the set temperature Ts (the control temperature Tc for prevention of hunting) (Ta=Tm??Tm?Tc), the rotation of the turbofan is continued as long as a person is present in the room R, and thermo ON is resumed if the correction detection temperature Ta exceeds the set temperature Ts (Ta>Ts).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 9182143
    Abstract: A room pressure controlling system having a local exhaust valve, a supply air valve, a common exhaust air valve, controllers and a differential pressure sensor. The controller calculates a correction control output value for the valve operated as the room pressure controlling valve, which is either the supply air valve or the common exhaust air valve, based on a setting value and a room pressure measured by the differential pressure sensor. The controller evaluates whether or not the supply airflow rate and/or the exhaust airflow rate is changing, and if an airflow rate is changing, emphasizes rapid responsiveness of the room pressure control than a reduction in the frequency of actuation of the room pressure controlling valve, if the airflow rate is stable, the controller emphasizes the reduction in the frequency of actuation of the room pressure controlling valve than the rapid responsiveness of the room pressure control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Fujimura, Yasuhito Oomagari, Rintaro Oomura
  • Patent number: 9121738
    Abstract: A measuring device of air flow rate for an air conditioning system which accurately measures the flow rate of cooling air blowing out of the openings of some rectangular units and in which the locations of the openings can be changed according to the location of equipment. The measuring system includes a plurality of panels constituting a floor surface, ceiling surface, or wall surface, a rectangular vent unit with openings located in place of a given one of the panels, a space with a given height formed by pillars on the back sides of the rectangular vent unit and the panels, and an air conditioner for supplying cooking air to the space. The cooling air from the space passes through the openings. A measuring means for measuring the flow rate of cooling air passing through the openings is located in a rib which forms the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Sano, Hayato Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9115907
    Abstract: A ventilation system for a building in some cases includes a main HVAC blower for moving temperature-conditioned air through the building plus a smaller ventilation blower for providing fresh air. A controller regulates the ventilation blower's speed to provide a target ventilation flow rate regardless of changes in the pressure differential between the indoor and outdoor air. To ensure that the target rate is appropriate for a particular building, the target flow rate is determined based on a ventilation setting that reflects a specified number of bedrooms and a specified amount of floor space of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne Helt, Roy Randall Crawford
  • Patent number: 9017155
    Abstract: An installation for cooling an electronic device includes an air conditioner having an air outlet for blowing cooling air to a room; a first detector adjacent to the air outlet of the air conditioner, for detecting a temperature of the cooling air; a rack accommodating the electronic device, the rack having an air inlet for receiving the cooling air from the air conditioner and an air outlet for exhausting air to the room; a second detector adjacent to the air inlet of the rack, for detecting a temperature of air received through the air inlet of the rack; and a controller for acquiring the temperatures detected by the first and the second detectors, and controlling a quantity of the cooling air blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner so as to decrease a difference between the temperatures detected by the first and the second detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yuji Ohba, Junichi Ishimine, Ikuro Nagamatsu, Masahiro Suzuki, Tadashi Katsui, Nobuyoshi Yamaoka, Seiichi Saito, Akira Ueda, Yasushi Uraki
  • Patent number: 8958920
    Abstract: An air conditioning controller includes a supply air temperature controller controlling a temperature of supply air provided to an air conditioner so a supply air temperature measurement value matches a supply air temperature setting value; a total air volume device measuring/calculating a total supply air volume value that is the total of the air volumes to each individual variable air volume unit; a supply air volume controller controlling an air volume of supply air to the air conditioner, depending on the total air volume value; an air volume insufficiency evaluator evaluating if the air volume is insufficient by comparing the total air volume value to a total air volume lower limit value; and a supply air temperature setter changing the supply air temperature setting value in a direction that the variable air volume unit increase the air volume, when there is an evaluation that the air volume is insufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Ryouta Dazai
  • Patent number: 8930030
    Abstract: A method performed by a zone controller for a zone of a building for improving energy efficiency in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The method includes operating in a ventilation mode. A temperature of the zone and outside air conditions for the building are monitored. A determination is made regarding whether to switch from the ventilation mode to an economizing mode based on a first set point for the temperature of the zone and based on the outside air conditions. The first set point is determined based on a second set point for the temperature that is different from the first set point. A determination is made regarding whether to activate the HVAC system based on the second set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Bester, Robert Bartmess
  • Publication number: 20150003817
    Abstract: A system and method of heating or cooling a room of a building provides supplemental warmer or cooler air to the room with an inline duct supplemental heating and cooling device mounted along an air duct that supplies the room with air from a main furnace and/or cooling unit associated with the building. A thermostat is used to set a desired temperature for the room, and a controller of the supplemental heating and cooling device is in communication with the thermostat, and activates an electric heater and/or fan as appropriate to warm or cool the room as needed. When the device is used to cool the room, the fan may be operated to draw cooled air through the duct from the main cooling unit and/or from other areas in the building that are linked via ductwork.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Eric P. Mulder