Hvac Control Patents (Class 700/276)
  • Patent number: 10969132
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an HVAC system includes a first control unit communicatively coupled to a first plurality of HVAC units and a first interactive display. A second control unit communicatively coupled to a second plurality of HVAC units and a second interactive display. The first control unit is operable to detect and connect to the second control unit using a Wi-Fi direct protocol to create an HVAC control network that is designated as a primary communications network. The first control unit further operable to detect a Wi-Fi network including a wireless access point. The first control unit operable to re-designate the HVAC control network as a secondary communications network and to designate the Wi-Fi network as the primary communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Castillo, Jayprakash Charavda, Nguyen T. Ho, Sunil K. Khiani
  • Patent number: 10959321
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes an indoor equipment, a wiring connected to the indoor equipment at one end, and a communication interface connected to another end of the wiring and electrically connected to the indoor equipment via the wiring. The communication interface includes a housing made of resin, an insertion hole formed in the housing and into which a communication module of a cartridge type is inserted, and a control board provided inside the housing. The communication interface includes a first connector provided on a board surface of the control board and electrically connected to the communication module. The communication interface includes a pattern wiring provided on the board surface and discharging static electricity from the communication module before the communication module is electrically connected to the first connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Hamamoto, Akira Okamoto, Akihisa Sato
  • Patent number: 10955801
    Abstract: A system and approach for providing information about a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. A screen of the system on a display may have a portion revealing a perspective with a view of components such as cooling and heating coils, fans, dampers, sensors, and so forth. Data modules may be shown proximate to the components on the screen and indicate certain parameters about them. As second portion of the screen may show control and information modules related to items such as temperature and pressure control, and operating mode. The screen may also reveal relationships among sub-systems, applications, zones, alarms, and other items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Holaso, Stuart Donaldson, Kevin Callahan
  • Patent number: 10955158
    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 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karan Ahuja, Heena Bansal, Kuntal Dey, Seema Nagar, Roman Vaculin
  • Patent number: 10951433
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system for adapting a pool pump for wireless communication. In some embodiments, a system for adapting a pool pump with a serial communication port for communication with a user via a remote server, an internet connection, and internet enabled device is provided, the system comprising: a wireless gateway device connected to a router; and a wireless adapter connected to the serial communication port, comprising: a gateway node; a transceiver; and a processor programmed to: establish a wireless connection with the wireless gateway; receive a first message from the pool pump; cause the gateway node to modify the first message; cause the first modified message to be transmitted to the remote server via the wireless gateway; receive a second message from the remote server; modify the second message for output to the pool pump; and transmit the second modified message to the pool pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Hassan Khalid, Micheal Pasche, Brian Broga, Robert Westphal, Brian Boothe
  • Patent number: 10948906
    Abstract: A system including a wired or wireless automation device of an automation system that detects threats within a secured geographic area, a processor of the automation device that measures performance parameters of the automation device and reports the measured performance parameters to a control panel of the automation system and a processor of the control panel that compares the measured performance parameters of the automation device with one or more criteria, detects a potential failure of the automation device and presents recommendations for ameliorating the potential failure to an authorized human user of the automation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Sakthi Prakash Marakkannu, Vibgy Joseph, Balaji Bhathey Sivakumar
  • Patent number: 10949255
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a processing device receives an instruction to schedule an event associated with a remote target device, generates a schedule for the remote target device, and transmits the schedule to the remote target device. The processing device receives usage information from the remote target device and additional usage information from other remote devices. The processing device applies a machine learning algorithm to the usage information and the additional usage information to determine an update to the schedule. The processing device updates the schedule and sends the update to the remote target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ayla Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Jigar Vora, Joseph R. Eykholt, Sudha Sundaresan, Pablo Sebastián Rivera, David Russell Friedman, Adrian Caceres
  • Patent number: 10935405
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for identifying one or more water dispensing appliances that are currently using water. In one aspect, the method includes actions of obtaining a dispensing appliance signature, obtaining water consumption data that is based on first sensor data from a first sensor that is installed at the property, identifying a particular water dispensing appliance from among multiple different water dispensing appliances located at the property based on an analysis of (i) the water dispensing appliance signature and (ii) the water consumption data, and responsive to identifying the particular water dispensing appliance located at the property based on an analysis of (i) the water dispensing appliance signature and (ii) the water consumption data, generating output data based on the one or more particular water dispensing appliances that were identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew Daniel Correnti, Robert Picardi
  • Patent number: 10937295
    Abstract: A notification system for notifying detection of vaping, smoking, or potential bullying at a premises includes a plurality of sensors, each being configured to sense air quality, sound, and temperature at the premises, a memory configured to store a responsibility schedule, and positional information and base data for each of the plurality of sensors, a controller configured to determine detection of vaping, smoking, or potential bullying by comparing results sensed by the plurality of sensors with the base data, and a message server configured to send an alert to a person based on the responsibility schedule, a detection location, and a detection time. The person is responsible at the detection location and at the detection time based on the responsibility schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SOTER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Peterson, William Schweigert, Asheik Hussain, Mohammed Elbadry
  • Patent number: 10928371
    Abstract: A hand-held sensor and monitor system for sensing and monitoring atmospheric air quality. The system includes a plurality of sensors and a microcontroller in communication with the plurality of sensors to receive data therefrom. A mobile electronic device is in communication with the microcontroller and is capable of receiving data from the microcontroller. The plurality of sensors and the microcontroller are either integrated within the mobile electronic device or are attachable to and detachable from the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: AIR STATIONS LLC/ELEVATED ANALYTICS LLC JOINT VENTURE
    Inventors: Joseph D. Smith, Robert E. Jackson, Zachary P. Smith
  • Patent number: 10928790
    Abstract: A controller for multiple groups of equipment detects a staging event for a first group of equipment and determines when the staging event occurs. The controller determines whether a predetermined time period has elapsed since the staging event for the first group of equipment has occurred and prevents a second group of equipment from staging in response to a determination that the predetermined time period has not elapsed since the staging event for the first group of equipment has occurred. Preventing the second group of equipment from staging reduces peak energy consumption during the predetermined time period and reduces a demand charge based on the peak energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jon T. Mueller, Joseph P. Carmody
  • Patent number: 10928793
    Abstract: An energy management apparatus according to an embodiment is used in a management system including an information device management apparatus which has a first storage storing an information device table indicating a relationship between an information device identifier for identifying at least one information device and a zone identifier for each of zones and controls the information device based on the information device table and data received from the energy management apparatus. The energy management apparatus has an acquisitor, a data processor, a second storage and a communicator. The acquisitor acquires, regarding the zones, presence-absence information indicating a presence or absence of a person in each of the zones. The data processor generates the data based on the presence-absence information acquired by the acquisitor and the zone identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Angela Siega Belgera, Nobutaka Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10921011
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for determining airflow in a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) system to reduce overall power consumption. Methods include receiving efficiency data for one or more compressors of the HVACR system, receiving airflow power consumption data, determining, using a processor, a flow rate based on the efficiency data for the one or more compressors and the airflow power consumption data, and when the HVACR system is in a partial load condition and at least one of the one or more compressors are in operation, operating the HVACR system at the determined flow rate. Systems include one or more compressors, one or more blower fans, and a processor configured to determine an airflow rate for the one or more blower fans based on efficiency data for the one or more compressors and airflow power consumption data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: James P. Crolius, Thomas J. Clanin, Xin Li
  • Patent number: 10921008
    Abstract: An indoor comfort control system for controlling an indoor comfort system includes a microprocessor, a display, wireless transceiver and a specialized control system computer program. The control is accessible over the Internet via the transceiver. The control is diagnosed and configured by a third-party operating a third-party communication device. The control communicates with the third-party communication device over the Internet. The multi-party access is granted by a principal of the control, and communicated to the third-party communication device by a cloud server system. The control receives connection requests and commands from the third-party communication device over the Internet. The control further communicates responses to the third-party communication device over the Internet. The connection can be timed out based on an access time limit set by the principal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Braeburn Systems LLC
    Inventors: Glenn A Moore, Daniel S Poplawski
  • Patent number: 10907844
    Abstract: A home control system includes a thermostat configured to measure environmental conditions in a first room of a building and control heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) equipment within the building. The thermostat includes a central control hub configured to communicate with a plurality of remote sensor units via a data communications interface. The thermostat further includes a processing circuit configured to monitor and control non-HVAC equipment within the building. The system further includes a first remote sensor unit of the plurality of remote sensor units. The first remote sensor unit is configured to measure environmental conditions in a second room of the building and wirelessly communicate information associated with the measured environmental conditions to the central control hub. The thermostat is further configured to control both the HVAC equipment and the non-HVAC equipment within the building based on the information received from the remote sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Joseph R. Ribbich, John Peter Cipolla, Sudhi Sinha, Youngchoon Park, Michael L. Ribbich, Charles J. Gaidish, Donald R. Albinger
  • Patent number: 10907855
    Abstract: In a related-art air-conditioning apparatus, air is conditioned while an airflow direction or an airflow is directed to a position of a human body detected by a human body detection sensor, and hence the same air-stream control is performed for both of a person who feels comfortable and a person who feels hot. An air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention can adjust an angle of an airflow-direction flap in accordance with a thermal sensation level, and hence air-stream control matching thermal sensation of a human body can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10902320
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention comprises a system for control of a transaction state system utilizing a distributed ledger. First, the system includes an application plane layer adapted to receive instructions regarding operation of the transaction state system. Preferably, the application plane layer is coupled to the application plane layer interface. Second, a control plane layer is provided, the control plane layer including an adaptive control unit, such as a cognitive computing unit, artificial intelligence unit or machine-learning unit. Third, a data plane layer includes an input interface to receive data input from one or more data sources and to provide output coupled to a decentralized distributed ledger, the data plane layer is coupled to the control plane layer. Optionally the decentralized distributed ledger stores data on cryptocurrency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: MILESTONE ENTERTAINMENT, LLC
    Inventors: Randall M. Katz, Robert Tercek
  • Patent number: 10900684
    Abstract: A control system for a HVAC system includes a user interface configured to present information to a user and receive inputs from the user, a temperature sensor configured to measure an air temperature inside of the building space, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a user-preferred temperature setpoint, compare the user-preferred temperature setpoint to the measured air temperature, project an energy usage amount for the user-preferred energy setpoint, generate a user comfort score for the user-preferred energy setpoint, generate an overall score for the user-preferred temperature setpoint, and present, by the user interface, the user with a setpoint scoring interface including the overall score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jedidiah O. Bentz, Theresa N. Gillette, Shaun B. Atchison, John W. Uerkvitz
  • Patent number: 10893634
    Abstract: A climate control system for electronic equipment may include an electronic equipment room including a plurality of peripheral walls defining a chamber configured to receive a plurality of pieces of electronic equipment and having one or more interior partitions dividing the chamber into two or more subchambers. In addition, the system may also include a cooling system configured to provide the two or more subchambers with different levels of cooling, wherein at least one partition of the one or more interior partitions is movable from a first position defining a first subchamber to a second position defining a second subchamber in a different area of the room than the first subchamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Ryan Thomas Russell, Nathan Lee Post, Bryan J. Osterkamp, William Preston Culbertson, II, Courtney St. Martin, Ashley Raine Philbrick
  • Patent number: 10888027
    Abstract: A method includes, at a start time, controlling a cooling unit to start the cooling unit in a mechanical mode and controlling the cooling unit to transition, after waiting a waiting interval from the start time and over a transition interval, the cooling unit from the mechanical mode to an economizer mode. In the mechanical mode, the cooling unit receives return air, cools the return air, and releases the cooled return air as supply air. The supply air is air supplied to a cooled volume. In the economizer mode, the cooling unit receives outdoor air and releases the outdoor air as at least a portion of the supply air. Transitioning the cooling unit from the mechanical mode to the economizer mode includes transitioning, over the transition interval, from receiving only the return air to receiving progressively less of the return air and progressively more of the outdoor air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Equinix, Inc.
    Inventors: Tikhon Suresh Pichai, David Lyle Smith
  • Patent number: 10875380
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a vehicle climate control system for controlling climate conditions in various cabin regions of a vehicle cabin, where the climate control system is configured to control one or more vehicle components to change the set of climate conditions associated with one or more cabin regions to approximate a set of optimal comfort conditions. The climate control system controls various vehicle components to control climate conditions, including window assemblies, sunroof assemblies, etc. The climate control system determines optimal comfort conditions which optimize perceived temperature of various occupant body parts and maintain various climate characteristics within one or more sets of thresholds. Output configurations of various vehicle components can be determined based at least in part upon determined optimal comfort conditions of various cabin regions. Output configurations can be generated based at least in part upon various control mode priorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Faust, Emery A. Sanford, James Foster
  • Patent number: 10871298
    Abstract: A control system includes equipment and a controller. The equipment produces a resource by executing a first process when in a first state, and produces the resource by executing a second process when in a second state. The controller calculates a minimum second state operating time based on estimated cost savings resulting from operating in the second state relative to the first state. The minimum second state operating time is a minimum time amount that the equipment must operate in the second state for the estimated cost savings to offset cost of transitioning into the second state. The controller predicts whether the second process will be available for the minimum second state operating time during future time steps. The controller transitions the equipment from the first state to the second state in response to predicting that the second process will be available for the minimum second operating state time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Bradley J. Ridder, Graeme Willmott, Matthew J. Asmus
  • Patent number: 10871963
    Abstract: An apparatus for voltage regulation device adjustment includes an external factor module that determines external factors, where the external factors include conditions external to an electronic device that affect operating performance and operating costs. The electronic device includes a voltage regulator device (“VRD”) providing power to one or more components of the electronic device. The apparatus includes a firmware selection module that selects new firmware for the VRD of the electronic device in response to the determined external factors, and a firmware update module that replaces previously installed firmware on the VRD with the new firmware. The new firmware includes control settings for the VRD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: LENOVO Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) PTE. LTD
    Inventors: Luke Remis, Brian Totten, Delali Dogbey, Dipak Tailor, Douglas Evans, Jamaica L. Barnette
  • Patent number: 10866568
    Abstract: A facility providing systems and methods for managing and optimizing energy consumption and/or production is provided. The facility provides techniques for optimizing energy-consuming and energy-producing systems to meet specified demands or goals in accordance with various constraints. The facility relies on models to generate an optimization for an energy system. In order to use generic models to simulate and optimize energy consumption for an energy system, the generic models are calibrated to properly represent or approximate conditions of the energy system during the optimization period. After the appropriate models have been calibrated for a given situation using one or more modeling parameter sets, the facility can simulate inputs and responses for the corresponding system. The facility uses the generated simulations to generate a plan or control schedule to be implemented by the energy system during the optimization period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Tendril OE, LLC
    Inventors: Marissa Hummon, Patrick Sullivan, Brett Feldman
  • Patent number: 10866003
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a temperature of a building space includes an occupancy sensor configured to measure an occupancy signal indicating whether one or more occupants are within the building space and a processing circuit configured to receive the occupancy signal from the occupancy sensor. The processing circuit is configured to determine whether the number of occupants within the building space has increased by a predefined amount based on the received occupancy signal, decrease a value of a temperature setpoint for the building space from a first value to a second value in response to a determination that the number of occupants within the building space has increased by the predefined amount based on the received occupancy signal, and reduce the temperature of the building space by controlling one or more pieces of building equipment associated with the building space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Ajax, Joseph R. Ribbich, Nicholas S. Van Derven
  • Patent number: 10845081
    Abstract: A building management system includes one or more processors, and one or more computer-readable storage media communicably coupled to the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon that cause the one or more processors to: receive utterance data from a voice assist device; determine a location of the voice assist device; analyze the utterance data to identify a sentiment relating to a temperature of the location; and control an HVAC system to adjust the temperature of the location based on the sentiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Young M. Lee, Viswanath Ramamurti, Youngchoon Park, Sugumar Murugesan
  • Patent number: 10845255
    Abstract: In some implementations, a system performs proactive performance tests for an appliance before a time for an operational change in usage of the appliance. Usage data for an appliance associated with a property may be obtained. The obtained usage data indicates past activity of the appliance and present operational status of the appliance. Weather forecast data associated with a location of the property can be obtained. A time for an operational change in usage of the appliance can be predicted based at least on the obtained usage data for the appliance and the obtained weather forecast data. An operation directed to conducting one or more performance tests on the appliance can be performed before the predicted time for the operational change in usage of the appliance. One or more communications related to the one or more performance tests of the appliance can be provided to a client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen Scott Trundle
  • Patent number: 10837654
    Abstract: A user interface for a thermostat that controls a radiator valve can include a user input member that is movable from a home position to a set point increase or decrease position to increase or decrease a set point temperature of the thermostat. In some embodiments, a return mechanism returns the user input member to the home position after being released from one of the set point increase and decrease positions. The user interface can include an indicator panel and controller that controls the indicator panel to provide an indication of when the set point temperature of the thermostat is being adjusted. The user interface can also include a lockout controller that prevents further set point temperature adjustments using the user interface when the set point temperature differs from the environmental temperature by a specified amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Controls UK Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Howes, David Kempster, Mikael Eliaeson, Samuel Riley, James E. Parker, John Kent
  • Patent number: 10833893
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for integrated building operations management. Nodes in the sensor network can be configured to interface with a building control system to exchange sensor-related information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Senseware, Inc.
    Inventors: Julien G. Stamatakis, Thomas Hoffmann, Nathan A. Sacks
  • Patent number: 10823443
    Abstract: A self-adaptive smart setback heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) control system includes an HVAC unit configured to deliver at least one of heated air and cooled air to a target area. A temperature sensor determines a current internal air temperature (IAT) of the target area. An HVAC controller is in signal communication with the HVAC unit and the temperature sensor. The HVAC controller selectively operates in an active mode and a setback mode. The active mode controls the HVAC unit based on a first temperature setpoint value, and the setback mode controls the HVAC unit based on a second temperature setpoint value different from the first temperature setpoint value. The HVAC controller includes an electronic temperature setback unit that is configured change the IAT during the setback mode based on an actively determined upcoming temperature recovery rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xinyu Wu, Sheng Li, Xing Cai, Jun Pyo Lee, Marcin Cychowski
  • Patent number: 10824957
    Abstract: A management method manages a plurality of devices provided in a structure, a server includes storage storing operation information related to a plurality of devices and time information of a time at which it is expected that no one is present. The method specifies, for each device, operation times at which an operation is performed, operation information, specifying in-structure-absence times when it is expected that no one is present, both in accordance with the time information. For each device, time differences for the specified operation times are calculated. For each device, a performed certain operation is a behavior pattern correlated to a behavior when the person continues being present when a ratio of a frequency of the calculated time differences regarding the corresponding device, which is lower than a particular value, is equal to or lower than an other value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamaguchi, Koichi Kusukame, Shinichi Shikii, Motoji Ohmori, Takako Hirose
  • Patent number: 10823498
    Abstract: A method and system to control a refrigeration unit (104) in response to a cargo load (108) in a refrigerated container includes providing a plurality of sensors disposed within the refrigerated container, providing a cargo load temperature range and a cargo load excursion time limit corresponding to the cargo load, receiving a plurality of temperature readings corresponding to the cargo load via the plurality of sensors, operating the refrigeration unit in a power saving mode in response to the plurality of temperature readings within the cargo load temperature range, and operating the refrigeration unit in a standard mode in response to the plurality of temperature readings outside the cargo load temperature range for longer than the cargo load excursion time limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu H. Chen, Giorgio Rusignuolo, Marc Beasley, Luke DiMaggio, Kartik Kumar
  • Patent number: 10819138
    Abstract: A control method and/or an apparatus for an energy storage system having demand control and uninterrupted power supply (UPS) functions and an associated control system is provided. The control method for the energy storage system may include: an operation plan establishment step of predicting power to be consumed in a load, so as to estimate the capacity of energy (UPS capacity) which needs to be charged in the energy storage system in order to provide uninterrupted power supply when a power failure occurs, and the capacity of energy available for demand control; an energy storage system operation step of operating the energy storage system according to an operation plan established in the operation plan establishment step; and a step of re-establishing an operation plan according to an operation state of the energy storage system operated by the energy storage system operation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: KOREA ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung-Min Cho, Ji-Hoon Im, Sung-Eun Lee
  • Patent number: 10811892
    Abstract: A battery life monitoring approach for a power transformation powered system. “Signature profiling” and “power metering” may deal with statistically significant edge cases. Relative to product resources, a battery management module (BMM) may use software services from a “phantom module”, “power broker” and other low level board support package (BSP) software, such as A2D, time bases and memory R/W in order to execute routines needed for successful deployment of the product. The memory resources should be volatile and non-volatile memory resources to fulfill the needs of a fully functional power transformation BMM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Juntunen, John B. Amundson, Milos Cabel
  • Patent number: 10812541
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for determining one or more actions needed to execute a task communicated to a first device in an Internet of Things. At a first device in the Internet of Things, there is received a communication associated with a task. A data store is consulted for data associated with the task, and thereupon there is determined the present capability of the first device for executing the task collaboratively with at least one other device in the Internet of Things. The at least one other device is communicated with, to assess capability for executing the task collaboratively with the at least one other device. There are thereupon determined one or more actions of the first device that need to be taken to execute the task. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nilanjan Banerjee, Ravi Kothari, Amit Anil Nanavati, Raghavendra Singh
  • Patent number: 10809705
    Abstract: A central plant control system configured to serve one or more energy loads in a building comprises equipment configured to consume, produce, or store one or more resources including electricity, water, natural gas, steam, hot thermal energy, cold thermal energy, or electrical energy. The central plant control system further comprises an asset allocator configured to receive an input model that describes a physical layout of the equipment of the central plant and create a net list that defines connections between the equipment of the central plant using the input model. The asset allocator is further configured to discover one or more systems of interconnected equipment and one or more groups of equipment using the net list, formulate an optimization problem for the central plant using the systems and groups of equipment, and operate the equipment of the central plant according to the optimization problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Andrew J. Przybylski
  • Patent number: 10802513
    Abstract: An improved comfort control system for controlling an environment regulation system includes a processing unit, a video interface, an input subsystem, a hierarchy of switching mechanisms and a special computer program. The hierarchy of switching mechanisms includes an electronic switching mechanism having a jumper and a second tier switching mechanism implemented by the special computer program and including a key combination. When the control device is in an operation mode and the jumper is in an enabled position, entering the key combination causes the special computer program to switch the comfort control system to the configuration mode. When the comfort control system is in an operation mode and the jumper is in a disabled position, the special computer program does not switch the control device to the configuration mode from the operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Braeburn Systems LLC
    Inventors: Robert Rados, Daniel Poplawski
  • Patent number: 10794608
    Abstract: An air-conditioning control evaluation apparatus includes a storage unit and a computing unit. The storage unit stores building information, input information, control information, a set of building models, and a candidate selection criterion. The computing unit determines an item available as input data for a building model, identifies the distribution of observed data, selects a plurality of candidate building models from the set of building models based on the available item and candidate selection criterion, estimates each parameter based on a method corresponding to the distribution, determines one building model based on a predetermined statistic calculated for the plurality of building models and the residual between estimated and observed values calculated for each of the building models, and evaluates, by use of the determined building model, energy saving and comfort for a plurality of controls to be evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mio Motodani, Masae Sawada, Takaya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10798554
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for integrated building operations management. Nodes in the sensor network can be configured to interface with a building control system to exchange sensor-related information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Senseware, Inc.
    Inventors: Julien G. Stamatakis, Thomas Hoffmann, Nathan A. Sacks
  • Patent number: 10795331
    Abstract: A schedule data acquisition requestor requests and acquires schedule data from a sub controller. When a modification to the acquired schedule data is made, a schedule data update requestor sends the modified schedule data to the sub controller and requests an update. A schedule data update processor sends a permission notification to a main controller in response to the update request and writes the modified schedule data onto its own flash memory. Conversely, when a rejection notification is sent from the sub controller, the schedule data update requestor displays a warning message and new schedule data on a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Katsukura, Taichi Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 10798852
    Abstract: An air flow control method and system for cooling a data center including a server room is disclosed. The method including receiving a first differential pressure value of an air pressure of a first chamber relative to the air pressure of the outside area; receiving a second differential pressure value of the air pressure of a second chamber relative to the air pressure of the outside area; generating a first control signal to adjust the speed of an inlet fan based on the first differential pressure value; generating a second control signal to adjust an outlet fan speed based on the second differential pressure value; transmitting the control signals to the respective inlet and outlet fans to adjust the first differential pressure value to a first target value, and adjust the second differential pressure value to a second target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: YANDEX EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Mikhail Mikhailovich Deev, Aleksandr Alekseevich Konovalov, Petr Leonidovich Ronzhin
  • Patent number: 10789852
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for receiving requests for roadside assistance, generating user interfaces and using machine learning to generate roadside assistance instructions are provided. In some examples, a request for roadside assistance may be received. A user and one or more partners may be identified based on the request. In some examples, a profile associated with the user, partner or the like may be identified. A user interface may be generated based on the profile and may include features unique to the profile, partner, or the like. In some arrangements, the interface may include a first portion and a second portion. Selection of an option from the first portion may cause the system to identify data for display in the second portion and cause the data to be displayed in the second portion. Machine learning may be used to determine or identify one or more roadside assistance instructions and a roadside assistance instruction may be generated and executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventors: Alicia Bassett, Christopher J. Lieggi, Chad Allen Balk, Matthew Viane
  • Patent number: 10785047
    Abstract: Information regarding a user's personal schedule is received at an electronic computing device. Information regarding current and future utility costs is received. The information regarding the user's personal schedule, the information regarding the user's location and the information regarding the current and future utility costs is used to determine at least one financial impact based on a temperature setting. The at least one financial impact includes estimated costs for time intervals and historical billing cycles. A temperature effecting device or an energy effecting device in the home of the user is controlled using the at least one financial impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Joseph George Bodkin, John Edward Cronin
  • Patent number: 10767880
    Abstract: An HVAC system may include a VAV box including a damper movable between a first damper position and a second damper position and an HVAC controller that is mounted remotely from the VAV box. The HVAC controller may be configured to control the VAV box in accordance with a temperature set point entered into the HVAC controller and may be programmed with a test and balance procedure. In some cases, the HVAC controller may also be programmed with functionality that facilitates an installer or other technician in configuring and/or reconfiguring the VAV box. This may include providing a user interface that supports a test and balance procedure of the VAV box. Such functionality may be user-accessible via the user interface of the HVAC controller, and in some cases, may be used to drive the damper of the VAV box between various damper positions as well as perform other functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Shanna Leeland, Brent Barker, Jennifer Teves, Albert Holaso, Fred Becher, Kevin Callahan
  • Patent number: 10769935
    Abstract: A testing system and method for a security system is disclosed. In one example, the testing system includes a mobile computing device carried by an operator such as a technician and a configuration server, the configuration server communicating with one or more of an intrusion detection subsystem, video surveillance subsystem, and/or access control subsystem and providing testing information to the mobile device. In one embodiment, the testing system provides configuration information to security devices within the subsystems, where the configuration information includes associations between the devices of the subsystems for executing testing upon the devices in the associations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Stephan Frenette, Gabriel Labrecque, Jean-Sebastien Decoste
  • Patent number: 10760803
    Abstract: An indoor air quality (IAQ) system for a building includes a relative humidity (RH) sensor. The RH sensor is configured to measure a RH of the air within the building. At least one of a thermostat and an IAQ control module is configured to control humidification of the building based on the RH measured by the RH sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung M. Pham, Sahil Popli, Brian R. Butler, Winfield S. Morter
  • Patent number: 10763672
    Abstract: A load balancing apparatus for balancing the current supplied on each phase of a multiple phase supply, Each supply phase feeds an AC load, as well as an AC-DC converter. The apparatus measures the current supplied from each phase of the supply as well as the power consumed by each of the AC loads. The power consumed by each of the AC-DC converters is adjusted so that the sum of the current drawn by any one of the AC loads, plus the current drawn by the AC-DC converter on the same supply phase, is substantially balanced between the supply phases. Typically the AC-DC converters supply a common DC battery. In some embodiments each AC load includes a DC-AC converter configured to supply power from the common DC battery to one or more of the AC loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Enatel Limited
    Inventor: Murray Raymond Wyma
  • Patent number: 10753648
    Abstract: A water heater including a tank, first and second heating elements, first and second temperature sensors, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is operable to determine a first temperature value related to a first temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor, determine a second temperature value related to a second temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor, and receive a command from the external controller. When the received command is a first command, the controller control current to the first heating element based on the first temperature value traversing a first set point, and controls current to the second heating element based on the second temperature value traversing a second set point. When the received command is a second command, the controller controls current only to the first heating element and not the second heating element, the control being based on the first temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Brian T. Branecky
  • Patent number: 10746428
    Abstract: A method for dynamic cloud based control of building equipment via a cloud based building management system includes instantiating a sequencer in response to receiving a startup request, receiving, via the cloud based building management system, a sequence package, wherein the sequence package includes configuration information for interfacing the cloud based building management system with the building site, collecting building data from the building equipment of the building site based on the sequence package, causing a control process to execute based on the collected data, and dispatching a command to the building equipment based on a result of the execution of the control process, wherein the command includes a command to control the building equipment to control an environmental condition of the building site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Przybylski, Jon T. Mueller
  • Patent number: 10742940
    Abstract: One variation of a method for monitoring occupancy in a work area includes, at a sensor block: transitioning from an inactive state into an active state when an output of a motion sensor indicates motion in a work area; during a scan cycle in the active state, recording an image through an optical sensor at a time, detecting a set of humans in the image, detecting a second set of human effects in the image, predicting a second set of humans occupying but absent the work area based on the second set of human effects, and estimating a total occupancy in the work area at the time based on the set of humans and the second set of humans; and transmitting the total occupancy to a remote computer system for update of a scheduler for the work area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: VergeSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Ryan, Kelby Green