Air Controller Or Director Patents (Class 62/186)
  • Patent number: 12235031
    Abstract: Multi-compressor chiller systems can be efficiently operated by determining real time efficiency curves for the compressors currently in operation, along with any compressors that may be added to address demand, and using these efficiency curves to determine changes to compressor operation to improve efficiency in meeting chiller demand. The efficiency curves can be parabolic curves. The data used to determine the efficiency curves can be obtained through operation at a variety of lift points and a variety of load points within those lift points. The efficiency curves can be solved to find intersections where there may be staging points for adding or subtracting compressors from operation to efficiently meet demand. This operation can be automated through a controller of a control system for the multi-compressor chiller system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Brian A. Kirkman, Lee R. Cline
  • Patent number: 12220970
    Abstract: A cooling device for, for example, a cooling object has a refrigerant circuit with an evaporator, in which a cold air flow for the cooling object exchanges heat with the refrigerant, and a defrosting system for de-icing the evaporator. The defrosting system is controlled according to the degree of icing of the evaporator. The degree of icing of the evaporator is determined by the control unit of the defrosting system on the basis of the temperature of the cold air flow from the cooling object to the evaporator, the temperature and/or the operating pressure of the refrigerant upstream of the evaporator and at least one operating parameter of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Florian Deschler, Joachim Lyszus, Thomas Herbert, Matthew Schwind, Andreas Maigler
  • Patent number: 12209769
    Abstract: A system for humidifying and cooling an air flow and includes a frame, porous evaporation panels mounted on the frame, water dispersing elements arranged above the panels and a supply system including a control unit configured to supply water to the dispersing elements. The control unit includes the control elements that can be independently controlled from each other between an evaporation configuration wherein the water supply flow-rate is equal to a flow-rate of the water that is evaporated through the associated porous evaporation panel, and a cleaning configuration wherein the water supply flow-rate is greater than a flow-rate of the water that is evaporated through the porous evaporation panel, so as to create a water flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: DEVATEC
    Inventor: Jean-François Frambot
  • Patent number: 12163681
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a compressor, an outdoor fan, and a controller configured to perform a fan intermittent operation for causing the outdoor fan to run and stop repeatedly after the compressor stops. The controller is configured to, in the fan intermittent operation, in a case where the outdoor fan is running and there is no snow accumulation on the outdoor fan, change a stop upper limit time for the outdoor fan depending on a running time of the outdoor fan in the fan intermittent operation and cause the outdoor fan to stop running after changing the stop upper limit time for the outdoor fan. The controller is configured to, in a case where a stop time of the outdoor fan exceeds the changed stop upper limit time, cause the outdoor fan to run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Watanabe, Shohei Ishimura, Mizuo Sakai
  • Patent number: 12152819
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switch cabinet arrangement with at least one switch cabinet housing and at least one cooling device for cooling air contained in the switch cabinet arrangement, wherein the cooling device has at least one refrigerant circuit including a flammable refrigerant, wherein the switch cabinet arrangement has at least one refrigerant sensor which detects a concentration of the flammable refrigerant in the air and is evaluated by a control unit which is adapted to trigger a safety function for reducing the concentration of the flammable refrigerant in the air below the threshold value if a threshold value of the concentration is exceeded. A corresponding method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: RITTAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Heimberg, Steffen Wagner
  • Patent number: 12097749
    Abstract: An embodiment method for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle includes determining a target subcooled temperature of a refrigerant based on a temperature and a pressure of the refrigerant discharged from an outlet of a compressor when the compressor operates, calculating a change in enthalpy of the refrigerant based on the determined target subcooled temperature in a process of condensing and subcooling the refrigerant, calculating a change in enthalpy of air passing over an exterior surface of a condenser based on the calculated refrigerant enthalpy change, and calculating a required fan duty of a cooling fan based on the calculated air enthalpy change, wherein the cooling fan is configured to blow the air to the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Ki Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 12083864
    Abstract: A method of controlling an air-cargo transport refrigeration unit to regulate a compressor speed and a condenser fan speed is provided. Also, a method of controlling an air-cargo transport refrigeration unit based on determining an in-flight condition of the refrigeration unit is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Luis Ocejo Rodriguez, Vipin Vijayan, Frantisek Zebra
  • Patent number: 12044456
    Abstract: A refrigerator (100) having an air blower (102) located downstream of a transverse side of an evaporator (150) is provided. The refrigerator includes: a cabinet defining a cooling chamber (133) and at least one storage compartment, the evaporator (150) arranged in the cooling chamber (133), and the air blower (102) arranged on the transverse side of the evaporator (150) and located downstream of the evaporator (150) in an airflow path. The air blower (102) does not occupy a space behind or in front of the evaporator (150), which reduces a space occupied by the cooling chamber (133) in a front-rear direction, and ensures the thickness of a foamed material between the rear of the cooling chamber (133) and a housing of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianlin Miao, Wei Li, Chunyang Li, Ming Wang
  • Patent number: 12007134
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes an evaporator. The evaporator includes a sensor configured to measure a property value (i.e., a saturated suction temperature or a saturated suction pressure) associated with saturated refrigerant flowing through the evaporator. The system includes a variable-speed compressor configured to receive the refrigerant and compress the received refrigerant. The system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and the variable-speed compressor. The controller monitors the property value measured by the sensor and detects a system fault, based on the monitored property value. In response to detecting the system fault, the controller operates the compressor in a freeze-prevention mode, which is configured to maintain the property value above a setpoint value by adjusting a speed of the variable-speed compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Rakesh Goel
  • Patent number: 11976827
    Abstract: An outdoor unit includes a housing, a heat exchanger, an electric component box, a substrate, and a heat dissipator including multiple fins. The fins each have a first end situated in a windward side of an air passage formed between adjacent ones of the fins, and the first end faces the electric component box. When the heat dissipator and the electric component box are viewed from above, a first clearance gap having a first width and a second clearance gap having a second width greater than the first width are formed between the first end and the electric component box. The second clearance gap is situated closer to a back panel than the first clearance gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Iwazaki, Koichi Arisawa, Takuya Shimomugi, Keisuke Mori, Yuya Kondo, Satoru Ichiki, Keisuke Uemura
  • Patent number: 11970048
    Abstract: A transport climate control system for providing climate control to a climate controlled space of a transport unit. The transport climate control circuit includes a compressor, an evaporator and at least two fans. The transport climate control circuit also includes a controller for controlling the transport climate control circuit and for defrosting the evaporator coil. When a defrost event is triggered, the controller instructs the transport climate control circuit to supply heat to or around one section of the evaporator coil, and independently controls each of the at least two fans to move the air around the evaporator coil in a controlled direction so that heat from the one section of the evaporator coil is used to convectively heat the inlet of the evaporator coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Panayu Robert Srichai, Bradley M. Ludwig, Christopher John Vath
  • Patent number: 11945283
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermal management system of gas injection type for a vehicle and, more particularly, to a thermal management system of gas injection type for a vehicle, which can implement various types of heating and cooling modes according to vehicle operating conditions and improve heating efficiency by increasing the flow rate of circulating refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Jong Won Kim
  • Patent number: 11898977
    Abstract: A temperature control device and a temperature control method for use in measuring thermal properties of materials at high and low temperatures are disclosed herein. The temperature control device is configured for controlling a temperature of a test volume inside a test cell and is capable of providing both extremely high and low test volume temperatures over a wide temperature range. The temperature of the test volume is controlled using opposing heating and cooling by controlling a supply of thermal energy to the test cell from a heating subsystem while simultaneously removing thermal energy from the test cell using a cooling subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Thermtest Inc.
    Inventors: Dale Hume, James Kozlowski
  • Patent number: 11859845
    Abstract: A networked HVAC system is implemented as part of a multi-unit dwelling. At least one HVAC unit is installed within each unit of the multi-unit dwelling. Each individual HVAC unit includes a localized HVAC unit controller, which is connected to an external network. The HVAC unit controller also can be connected to any other controllable HVAC devices in the unit, such as an exhaust fan. The HVAC system addresses the open-loop issue by monitoring temperature, air flow, humidity, air pressure, occupancy, window open/close state, and HVAC units of all units in a multi-unit dwelling, as well as common areas, and optimizing operating parameters to minimize wide swings in operational states and managing the overall system of multiple units/common areas so that energy usage and temperature/ventilation control is optimized. The HVAC system also enables learning and predictive modeling for adapting to real-time and anticipated condition requirements within each zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Renu, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Zane DeLoach, Paul Edward Reeves, Sean Burke, Sanjiv Sirpal, Mohammad Aliakbari Miyanmahaleh, Ehsan Taghavi, Brian Reeves, Taylor Michael Keep
  • Patent number: 11807072
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, while receiving power from an external power source and responsive to receiving a request for cleaning an interior of a vehicle, operating an electric heater of a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration using the power received from the external power source. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while vehicle battery power and fuel are conserved by using power supplied from the external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Jones, Fred Koberstein, Stephen White, Peter Mitchell Lyon, John Rollinger, Scott Thompson, M. Scott Christensen, David Hancock, Adam Richards, Steve Skikun, Frank Fusco
  • Patent number: 11801765
    Abstract: This application discloses a charging pile and a charging pile control method. The method includes: obtaining a first temperature of at least one charging apparatus that is in a first state and that is in a charging pile; obtaining a second temperature of at least one charging apparatus that is in a second state and that is in the charging pile, where the second state is a sleep state; calculating a temperature difference between the second temperature and the first temperature; determining whether the temperature difference is greater than a first threshold, where the first threshold is an upper-limit temperature of the temperature difference; and when the temperature difference is greater than the first threshold, starting a heat dissipation fan of the charging apparatus that is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gesheng Liu, Jianghui Yang, Feng Liu, Ping Kuang
  • Patent number: 11768025
    Abstract: A multiple drawer refrigerator, where each drawer is separately controllable to a temperature for a refrigerator or a freezer. Each drawer is isolated from all the other drawers, so that items in one drawer do not leech smells to another drawer, and so that opening one drawer does not release cold air from the other drawers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventor: Stephanie E Thoen
  • Patent number: 11767852
    Abstract: A blower may include a lower case having a suction port and a fan and an upper case having at least one main discharge port and at least one auxiliary discharge port. The auxiliary discharge port may be positioned in front of and below the main discharge port to discharge air introduced through the suction port upward. A door may open and/or close the auxiliary discharge port, and a door motor may power the door. The upper case may be formed as two towers defining a blowing space therebetween, and the at least one auxiliary discharge port may include a plurality of auxiliary discharge ports formed in inner walls of the two towers to face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaehyeon Kim, Yongmin Kim, Kidong Kim, Seokho Choi, Hyungho Park, Hoojin Kim, Chiyoung Choi
  • Patent number: 11746583
    Abstract: A refrigerator is configured to enable a user to open doors of the refrigerator easily. The refrigerator performs a method for controlling the doors to prevent from opening due to a malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sunghun Lee, Dongjeong Kim
  • Patent number: 11747058
    Abstract: Air recirculation systems for heat pumps are disclosed. The air recirculation systems include a heat pump subsystem and a recirculation subsystem. The recirculation subsystem can include one or more arms that direct cool, dehumidified air flowing from the heat pump subsystems back to air inlets. The recirculation subsystems can transition from open to closed configurations either manually or via motors. The air recirculation systems can include a controller that outputs a control signal to the motors to open or close the recirculation subsystems. The control signals can be based on temperature data, current data, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Piyush Porwal, Alex Williams, Tobey Fowler
  • Patent number: 11710869
    Abstract: A vehicle battery pack for an electric vehicle includes a battery, a battery-cooling-air channel, a fume exhaust channel, a fume-ventilation restricting unit, a temperature sensor, a blower fan, and a controller. Cooling air that cools the battery flows through the battery-cooling-air channel. Fumes generated from the battery flow through the fume exhaust channel. The fume exhaust channel is coupled to the battery-cooling-air channel. The fume-ventilation restricting unit closes off the fume exhaust channel from the battery-cooling-air channel in a normal state, whereas causing the battery-cooling-air channel and the fume exhaust channel to communicate with each other in an abnormal state. The temperature sensor detects a temperature of the fumes. The controller controls the blower fan, and increase the air volume of the blower fan on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Ikeda, Shinichi Kimura, Yukio Karasawa
  • Patent number: 11703275
    Abstract: A remote system for monitoring and controlling one or more devices for use in the cryogenic processing of a sample is provided. A remote server capable of transmitting freezing profile data to one or more freezers, transmitting transportation profile data to one or more transportation devices, and transmitting thawing profile data to one or more thawing devices. The remote server is also capable of receiving detected data from the one or more freezers relating to the freezing of a sample in accordance with the freezing profile data, receiving detected data from the one or more transportation devices relating to the transportation of a sample in accordance with the transportation profile data, and receiving detected data from the one or more thawing machines relating to the thawing of a sample in accordance with the thawing profile data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Asymptote Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Nancekievill, Rupert Rutledge
  • Patent number: 11686491
    Abstract: A control system for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a sensor configured to detect a concentration of refrigerant in air. The control system also includes a controller configured to receive feedback from the sensor indicative of the concentration of refrigerant in air, determine that the concentration of refrigerant in air is less than a threshold value, and determine that the HVAC system is in an operating mode. The controller is configured to operate a blower of the HVAC system for a predetermined time period based on the determinations that the concentration of refrigerant in air is less than the threshold value and that the HVAC system is in the operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Aneek M. Noor, Shawn A. Hern, Tyler P. McCune, Cody J. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11674702
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an air duct device and an air handling apparatus. The air duct device can include a first air duct and a second air duct. The first air duct has an air inlet and an air outlet. The second air duct has an air input channel passing by the air outlet of the first air duct, and an air outlet that is in communication with the first air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Lianyu Shan
  • Patent number: 11647767
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an active controlled atmosphere (CA) system to regulate the atmosphere in a cargo storage space. The controlled atmosphere system comprises: a plurality of gas exchange modules, each being operable to vary the level of a respective component gas in the cargo storage space, and/or at least one gas exchange module operable in a plurality of different modes to vary the level of a respective component gas in the cargo storage space; and a control module configured to control operation of each gas exchange module according to a plurality of different predetermined atmospheric control logics. Each atmospheric control logic defines operational gas exchange modules and/or operational modes for use over respective operational ranges of atmospheric conditions, and each atmospheric control logic is configured to cause operation of a different combination of gas exchange modules and/or modes over a comparable operational range, independently of any setpoints for gas component levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Petra Stavova, Jiri Zita, Martin Vojik, Michal Kolda
  • Patent number: 11650006
    Abstract: A remote system for monitoring and controlling one or more devices for use in the cryogenic processing of a sample is provided. A remote server capable of transmitting freezing profile data to one or more freezers, transmitting transportation profile data to one or more transportation devices, and transmitting thawing profile data to one or more thawing devices. The remote server is also capable of receiving detected data from the one or more freezers relating to the freezing of a sample in accordance with the freezing profile data, receiving detected data from the one or more transportation devices relating to the transportation of a sample in accordance with the transportation profile data, and receiving detected data from the one or more thawing machines relating to the thawing of a sample in accordance with the thawing profile data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: ASYMPTOTE LTD.
    Inventors: Alexander Nancekievill, Rupert Rutledge
  • Patent number: 11639820
    Abstract: Multi-compressor chiller systems can be efficiently operated by determining real time efficiency curves for the compressors currently in operation, along with any compressors that may be added to address demand, and using these efficiency curves to determine changes to compressor operation to improve efficiency in meeting chiller demand. The efficiency curves can be parabolic curves. The data used to determine the efficiency curves can be obtained through operation at a variety of lift points and a variety of load points within those lift points. The efficiency curves can be solved to find intersections where there may be staging points for adding or subtracting compressors from operation to efficiently meet demand. This operation can be automated through a controller of a control system for the multi-compressor chiller system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Brian A. Kirkman, Lee R. Cline
  • Patent number: 11635229
    Abstract: Provided is an air conditioner including a housing including a discharge path, a first discharge wall forming the discharge path, and a second discharge wall arranged at a side opposite to the first discharge wall and an airflow controller including a guide member configured to move between a first location provided at an inside of the first discharge wall and a second location protruding outside of the first discharge wall. The air conditioner controls a discharge airflow while minimizing loss of discharge air volume through an airflow controller without using a general blade, and controls a discharge airflow of air discharged through a discharge path having a circular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji Won Ryu, Hyun Uk Park, Kyung Ho Hwang, Tae-In Eom, Jae Min Park
  • Patent number: 11619431
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigeration system. The method includes operating a multi-temperature refrigeration system that has a plurality of heat absorption heat exchangers in a single temperature mode. A number of the plurality of heat absorption heat exchangers are determined that require defrosting a single heat absorption heat exchanger is directed into a different operational state when the number of heat absorption heat exchangers that require defrosting is equal to one. E of the plurality of heat absorption heat exchangers is directed into a defrost mode when the number of heat absorption heat exchangers that requires defrosting is more than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Raymond L. Senf, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11514527
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides for an exemplary inventive system that may include executable program code and a computer processor which, when executing the particular program code, is configured to perform operations of: receiving, for a population of energy consuming physical assets, asset-specific historical data and asset-specific current energy consumption data from utility meter(s), sensor(s), or both; determining, for each respective physical asset category, each respective frequency of breakdowns and each respective average severity of each breakdown; determining, an adjusted breakdown loss value per each physical asset for each respective physical asset category; determining a respective average current energy consumption value per each physical asset for each respective physical asset category; associating each respective energy consuming location to a particular physical asset category; generating, based on usage-based breakdown insurance premium value of the respective energy
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: THE HARTFORD STEAM BOILER INSPECTION AND INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard B. Jones, Paul A. Cullum
  • Patent number: 11512866
    Abstract: An indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes an air-sending unit configured to send air subjected to heat exchange with refrigerant to an air-conditioning target space through an air outlet, the air-conditioning target space being divided into a plurality of areas, an up-and-down airflow direction adjuster configured to adjust an angle in an up-and-down direction of a blowing direction of the air sent through the air outlet, a right-and-left airflow direction adjuster configured to adjust an angle in a right-and-left direction of the blowing direction of the air sent through the air outlet, and a controller configured to control the angle of the up-and-down airflow direction adjuster and the angle of the right-and-left airflow direction adjuster. The controller is configured to control the up-and-down airflow direction adjuster and the right-and-left airflow direction adjuster to continuously change the angle in the up-and-down direction and the angle in the right-and-left direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuhei Umekage, Makoto Kurihara
  • Patent number: 11458808
    Abstract: A shutter system for use in a vehicle. The shutter system comprises a panel mounted on a conduit through which air flows, the panel having a first plurality of apertures for permitting air to flow therethrough; and a grille movably mounted on a surface of the panel, the grille having a second plurality of apertures for permitting air to flow therethrough. In an open position, the grille is aligned with the panel such that the first and second plurality of apertures are aligned to permit air to flow through both the first and second plurality of apertures. In a closed position, the grille is aligned with the panel such that the first and second plurality of apertures are not aligned and air is blocked from flowing through the first and second plurality of apertures. The shutter system comprises a first actuator mechanism coupled to the panel and the grille and comprising a first bias spring and a first shape-memory alloy (SMA) spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wonhee M. Kim, Calin Tapuchievici, Nicholas J. Christoff, Kevin P. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11402114
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a smart air purifier, the method including: obtaining first air cleanliness of a first area in which a first air purifier is placed, and obtaining second air cleanliness of a second area in which a second air purifier is placed; when at least one of the first air cleanliness or the second air cleanliness is equal to or smaller than a preset threshold value, driving both the first air purifier and the second air purifier; monitoring a variation of the first air cleanliness and the second air cleanliness; calculating a weight that is proportional to the variation of the first air cleanliness and the second air cleanliness; and setting a driving mode for the first air purifier and the second air purifier based on the weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaewoong Jeong, Sangjun Oh, Youngman Kim, Kyuho Lee, Seunghyun Hwang
  • Patent number: 11397016
    Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a thermostat is configured for use in a climate control system. The thermostat is operable to use two-way communication for communicating operational information between the thermostat and at least one rooftop unit (RTU) within the climate control system. For example, the two-way communication comprises sending first operational information to the RTU and receiving second operational information from the RTU. The operational information comprising one or more climate control commands, setpoints, configuration information, diagnostics, and/or sensor data. The thermostat is further operable to operate the climate control system based on the operational information communicated between the thermostat and the RTU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Farhad Abrishamkar, Anna Vishinsky, Alan E. Bennett
  • Patent number: 11375640
    Abstract: A data cabinet is disclosed, having a cabinet body for enclosing one or more rack-mounted units, the cabinet body having an inlet for allowing a cooling medium to enter the cabinet and an outlet for allowing the cooling medium to exit the cabinet, a rack for supporting the one or more rack-mounted units within the cabinet body, and one or more sealing members. The rack and the cabinet body define a first plenum space in fluid communication with the inlet and a second plenum space in fluid communication with the outlet. The sealing members substantially block the cooling medium from flowing between the first and second plenum spaces, whilst permitting the cooling medium to flow from the first plenum space to the second plenum space through the one or more rack-mounted units. This arrangement can improve the cooling efficiency, by increasing the flow rate through the rack-mounted units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventor: Jeff Hunter
  • Patent number: 11353225
    Abstract: A fan coil thermostat includes a controller that implements a control algorithm that includes an Auto fan speed mode. The controller is programmed to permit a user to manually select a fan speed setting using the user interface. In response, the controller initiates a timer, and automatically returns to the Auto fan speed mode once the timer expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Levi H. Geadelmann, Daniel J. Sullivan, Camel Zhang, Gary Yang, Angela Zhao
  • Patent number: 11338646
    Abstract: A heat pump system for a motor vehicle comprises at least two heat exchangers 10, 12, through which, for heating and/or cooling the motor vehicle interior, a flow is conducted, and at least two coolant circulations 14, 16 separable from one another, of which at least one is connectable, independently of the other coolant circulation, with one, two or more heat exchangers 10, 12 such that through these, in the presence of a connection with two or more heat exchangers 10, 12, a flow is successively conducted and the other coolant circulation is connectable with at least one heat exchanger 10, 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Toni Spies, Navid Durrani, Philipp Kozalla
  • Patent number: 11333376
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, it is determined whether or not the room is heated according to a temperature difference between a room temperature Tp and a set temperature Ts, and even when there is little or no heating load due to the temperature difference between the room temperature Tp and the set temperature Ts, the floor heating is performed by determining a temperature difference between the room temperature Tp and a floor temperature Tb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Juyoun Lee, Jaeheuk Choi
  • Patent number: 11326827
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a cool air circulation unit for directly supplying heat-exchanged cool air to a storage compartment is disclosed. The cool air circulation unit supplies and discharges the cool air, which has been heat-exchanged in an evaporator, to and from the storage compartment through a flow passage provided inside a partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwang Su Heo, Young-Bae Hong, Ki-Hyun Kim, Jong-hoon Oh
  • Patent number: 11280516
    Abstract: A method of controlling a ceiling type air conditioner including a panel located on a ceiling surface, outlets formed to correspond to four sides of the panel, and first to fourth discharge vanes for opening and closing the outlets, and each of the first to fourth discharge vanes including an upper discharge vane and a lower discharge vane located below the upper discharge vane and rotating along with the upper discharge vane includes performing first operation, performing second operation, performing third operation, and performing fourth operation in which the first discharge vane rotates in the second angle group, the second discharge vane rotates in the third angle group, the third discharge vane rotates in the fourth angle group and the fourth discharge vane rotates in the first angle group. The first to the fourth angle groups are set such that rotation angles of the discharge vanes have different ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Juyoun Lee, Jusu Kim
  • Patent number: 11225752
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus is disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet configured to define a receiving space for receiving laundry, the cabinet having an open surface, a door hingedly provided at the cabinet for opening and closing the open surface of the cabinet, a laundry support unit provided in the receiving space for supporting laundry, and a machinery compartment provided in the cabinet for defining a space that is separate from the receiving space, the machinery compartment being provided therein with an air supply unit for dehumidifying or heating air in the receiving space and supplying the dehumidified or heated air into the receiving space. The air supply unit dehumidifies air in a room that communicates with the receiving space in the state in which the door is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Wansik Nam, Donghyun Kim, Jumin Park
  • Patent number: 11060776
    Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigeration device including a variable speed compressor and variable speed evaporator and condenser fans includes modifying a PID control scheme by calculating a factor to reduce the restart speed of the compressor depending on the length of time the compressor was at rest, and modulating the point of oscillation of the control process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Eric R. Seo, Glenn Eric Bonney
  • Patent number: 11040593
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant safety system includes temperature, ambient, and interior monitoring modules. The temperature monitoring module includes at least one temperature sensor. The temperature monitoring module is configured to detect temperatures in zones within an interior of a vehicle. The ambient temperature sensor is configured to detect an ambient temperature within the interior of the vehicle. The interior monitoring module is configured to: based on the detected temperatures of the zones, determine for the zones at least one of a temperature gradient over time or a temperature gradient over space; determine if the ambient temperature is outside a predetermined range; and in response to the ambient temperature being outside the predetermined range and based on the at least one of a temperature gradient over time or a temperature gradient over space, detecting an occupant in the vehicle and performing a countermeasure to prevent an injury to the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventors: Changhai Chen, Michael Chen, Daniel Chen
  • Patent number: 11024148
    Abstract: An actuator in an HVAC system is provided. The actuator includes a motor and a drive device. The drive device is driven by the motor and coupled to an HVAC component for driving the HVAC component between multiple positions. The actuator further includes a processing circuit. The processing circuit is coupled to the motor and configured to transmit control signals to operate the motor to drive the HVAC component between a first position and a second position, monitor temperature data received from one or more temperature sensors, determine that the temperature data does not meet an expected performance criterion and transmit an alarm signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: John T. Pierson, John K. Krenzer, Aaron D. Wagner
  • Patent number: 11002474
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet in which a storage space is formed; a main evaporator which is installed at one side of an inner portion of the storage space to cool the storage space; a case which is installed on the other side the inner portion of the storage space and defines a deep-freezing storage chamber; a drawer which is accommodated in the case so as to be retractable and withdrawable and in which food is stored; and a rapid cooling module which is provided on a rear side of the inner portion of the case and rapidly cools the deep-freezing storage chamber, in which the rapid cooling module may includes an auxiliary evaporator; and a thermoelectric device which is coupled to the auxiliary evaporator and cools the deep-freezing storage chamber through heat exchange by heat conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seongjae Kim, Seunghwan Oh, Heayoun Sul
  • Patent number: 10969126
    Abstract: An air handling system includes a movable evaporative media section. The movable evaporative media section is movable between a closed position and an open position. When the movable evaporative media section is in an open position, the movable evaporative media section exposes an opening to the air flow and is positioned to allow at least a portion of the air flow in the volume to flow around the movable evaporative media section and through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Munters Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Dinnage, Daniel Unge, Anders Nelson
  • Patent number: 10962241
    Abstract: An indoor environmental control and air distribution system for a building includes: an air handling unit; a manifold connected to the air handling unit having a chamber formed by a plurality of walls and a plurality of orifices formed through at least one of the walls; air distribution conduits each independently having a first end connected to the orifices of the manifold and a second end extending out from the manifold into different zones throughout the building; and an airflow modulating device having one or more airflow regulating dampers independently configured to move into at least two positions in which each position provides a different percentage of total air volume to each air distribution conduit. A method of using the indoor environmental control and air distribution system is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: RHEIA, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Poerschke, Robert Beach, Anthony Grisolia
  • Patent number: 10948214
    Abstract: An HVAC system for a building includes an airside economizer, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. The airside economizer includes a first air intake configured to receive return air from within a building, a second air intake configured to receive outdoor air from outside the building, and an air discharge configured to provide discharge air to the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Soumyadeep Ray, Milan Mitra, Sayan Chakraborty, Anjani Kumari
  • Patent number: RE49863
    Abstract: A variable refrigerant package air conditioner is shown that is easy to install in new construction with a unique base that causes collected mixture that overflows to drain outside the building. A control system is shown that has motors and compressor that are pulse width modulated so the air conditioner is infinitely variable while maintaining the highest possible power factor. Dehumidification of outside air occurs as it is mixed with inside air. By gradually approaching a temperature set point and even reheating after dehumidification, moisture is removed from the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Friedrich Air Conditioning, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Eicher, George C. Cagle, Eduardo J. Guerrero, Bascom Clayton Cotner
  • Patent number: RE50221
    Abstract: A variable refrigerant package air conditioner is shown that is easy to install in new construction with a unique base that causes collected mixture that overflows to drain outside the building. A control system is shown that has motors and compressor that are pulse width modulated so the air conditioner is infinitely variable while maintaining the highest possible power factor. Dehumidification of outside air occurs as it is mixed with inside air. By gradually approaching a temperature set point and even reheating after dehumidification, moisture is removed from the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Friedrich Air Conditioning, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Eicher, George C. Cagle, Eduardo J. Guerrero, Bascom Clayton Cotner