Specific Thermally Responsive Controller Patents (Class 700/278)
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Publication number: 20100204838Abstract: An air conditioning system that may incorporate a controller, a variable capacity compressor responsive to the controller, an evaporator in communication with an input of the compressor, and at least one cooling component for generating an airflow over the evaporator to generate a cooling airflow using the evaporator, the cooling component being responsive to the controller. A first input enables a user to provide a user determined dry bulb temperature range for an enclosed environment, and a second input enables the user to provide a user determined moisture content range for the enclosed environment. The controller controls at least one of the compressor and the cooling component to vary a sensible heat ratio (SHR), in order to maintain a dry bulb temperature and the moisture content within the enclosed environment in accordance with the user defined ranges.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: Liebert CorporationInventors: Frank DiPaolo, Stephen Sillato
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Publication number: 20100204837Abstract: Climate control system for the rooms of buildings, where the air is treated by cooling, wherein a cooling tank (2) is in the upper part of the room to be cooled and is connected to water consumers (6).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2008Publication date: August 12, 2010Inventor: Jan Rybon
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Publication number: 20100198414Abstract: Structural wall panels and methods and systems for controlling the interior temperature of a building are provided. The structural wall panels advantageously include a fluid conduit disposed within an interior concrete layer of the structural wall panel where the conduit is adapted to convey a thermal transfer fluid through the interior concrete layer. A thermal insulation layer may be provided between the first concrete layer and an exterior surface of the wall. The thermal transfer fluid can be heated and/or cooled to regulate the temperature of the interior concrete layer and thereby control the temperature of the interior of the building. The interior concrete layer may have a high thermal mass to increase the thermal efficiency of the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2009Publication date: August 5, 2010Inventors: Steven C. Kroll, John W. Andrews
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Publication number: 20100198370Abstract: A method for controlling a controlled variable of a building zone to minimize an error between the controlled variable and a setpoint includes receiving an input at a first interface regarding the controlled variable from a sensor provided in the building. The method further includes using a processing circuit to determine a sign of the error based on the input and the setpoint. The method yet further includes using the processing circuit to cause a controller configured to affect the controlled variable to respond to the error at a first rate when a first sign of the error is present. The method further includes using the processing circuit to cause the controller to respond to the error at a second rate when a second sign of the error is present, the first rate being slower than the second rate. The first sign of the error can be associated with a high energy expenditure required to minimize the error relative to an energy expenditure required to minimize the error relative to the second sign.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2009Publication date: August 5, 2010Inventor: Timothy Salsbury
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Publication number: 20100186734Abstract: The invention relates to a solar air heater comprising—at least one transparent or translucent front panel comprising at least one first flow passage, said first flow passage substantially elongated and extending along the surface of the front panel,—a back panel preferably substantially parallel with the front panel,—at least one heat absorbing element, preferably located between the front panel and the back panel,—at least one air inlet,—at least one air outlet,—at least a second flow passage between the front panel and the heat absorption element, and—at least a third flow passage between the heat absorption element and the back panel, whereby air flowing through the solar air heater from an air inlet to an air outlet will pass at least a first, a second and a third flow passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2008Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventor: Paul Riis Arndt
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Publication number: 20100174414Abstract: Control units for three indoor units of air conditioners installed in a same indoor space are connected by a communication line. Each of the control units can grasp the detection information of the human detection sensor, preset temperature information of the remote controller, inlet temperature information of the inlet temperature sensor of all of the other air conditioners in the same space. On the basis of the above-mentioned information, each of the control units calculates an air-conditioning load of each of the air-conditioning target spaces and the air-conditioning load of an entire air-conditioning space on the basis of these air-conditioning target spaces in the same manner. A compressor is driven and controlled on the basis of a calculation result thereof to perform a power-saving operation of the entire air-conditioning space.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Masahiko TAKAGI, Masanobu Baba, Norikazu Ishikawa
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Patent number: 7748640Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostat including a user interface module. The user interface module has a display, a plurality of user interface buttons, and a first power and communications interface. The thermostat also includes an I/O module, the I/O module electrically coupled to a HVAC plant and the I/O module having a plurality of switches to control the HVAC plant, and a second power and communications interface. The user interface module and the I/O module are communicatively coupled and exchange power via the power and communications interfaces and the thermostat can be mounted and operated in one of two user selectable installations: a stacked configuration comprising a thermostat having the user interface module directly mounted to the I/O module, or a remote configuration comprising a thermostat having the user interface module remotely mounted from the I/O module.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Michael A. Roher, Tim Comerford, William F. Van Ostrand, Shannie Van Ostrand, legal representative, Jerry Dean Ryan
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Publication number: 20100163633Abstract: Distributed nodes, such as intelligent register controllers, of a heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system wirelessly communicate with each other on a peer-to-peer basis, forming a network, and collectively control the HVAC system, without a central controller. The intelligent register controllers collectively control the amount of conditioned air introduced into each region. Each node may base its operation at least in part on information about one or more (ideally all) of the other nodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2009Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: Aquante LLCInventors: Jon Barrett, Ronald Lingemann
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Publication number: 20100162742Abstract: An air conditioner (10) composed of a refrigerating apparatus includes a controller (90). A heating control section (91) of the controller (90) feeds electric current in an open phase state to an electric motor (62) of a compressor (30) to heat the compressor (30) in operation stop of the air conditioner (10). The heating control section (91) monitors the detection value of an outdoor air temperature sensor (72) during the operation stop of the air conditioner (10) and keeps on stopping feeding the electric current to the electric motor (62) during the time when the detection value decreases.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2007Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventors: Junichi Shimoda, Hidehiko Kinoshita
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Publication number: 20100168924Abstract: Remote control of energy consumption is realized using a readily installable, flexible approach. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a remote source communicates with a wireless controller for executing energy usage control. The remote source sends signals to the wireless controller via a gateway located near or, in one implementation, forming part of the wireless controller. In response to the signals, the wireless controller sets control settings for operating one or more of a variety of equipment types, such as a furnace, air conditioner, water heater or heat pump. With this approach, wired connections from the gateway to energy-consuming equipment do not necessarily need to be made in order to effect remote energy-consumption control. For instance, when used in connection with a controller wired to the energy-consuming equipment, the gateway need only communicate wirelessly with the controller and does not necessarily need to be coupled to the energy-consuming equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2010Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Patrick C. Tessier, Jeffrey S. Hartzler
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Publication number: 20100168923Abstract: The present invention relates to an air conditioner, including a temperature detection unit configured to detect an indoor temperature, a human body detection unit configured to rotatably operate and detect a person within an indoor area, a position determination unit configured to determine a position of the person based on data detected by the human body detection unit, and a control unit configured to perform an automatic operation for controlling a current of air according to the position of the person, determined by the position determination unit, if the indoor temperature reaches a first reference temperature according to an entry of an automatic operation mode and to perform a preparation operation for executing the automatic operation if the indoor temperature does not reach the first reference temperature, in the case where the automatic operation mode has been set.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2009Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Hee Woong Park, Dong Ju Kim, Nae Hyun Park
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Publication number: 20100161135Abstract: The invention is related to a method and an apparatus for controlling a ventilating system or an air conditioning system of buildings. This controlling is used predominantly in industrial real estates and serves for the establishment and maintenance of the desired room conditions. The method for controlling a ventilating system or an air conditioning system according to the invention uses the air density as the essential parameter for the controlling. The air density depends on the temperature, the air humidity and the air pressure. The air density difference between the introduced air and the room air is kept small.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2006Publication date: June 24, 2010Inventor: Helmut Nerling
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Patent number: 7735459Abstract: A modular boiler system includes a boiler control, a first boiler in operative connection with the boiler control, and a temperature sensor in operative connection with the first boiler. The system also features at least one secondary boiler in operative connection with the master boiler. The boiler control is operatively connected to only the first boiler and it enables the first boiler to control a boiler parameter of the first boiler and the at least one secondary boiler.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2007Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Westcast, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth W. Cohen, Richard Osienski, Brian Hannigan, Mark Rawson, Nathaniel Dewey, John Wilson
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Publication number: 20100145528Abstract: A controller equipped with a user interface having multiple-day programming capabilities, including methods of programming such devices, are disclosed. The user interface may include one or more menus or screens that can be used to program a schedule for one or more selected days during the week. An illustrative method of programming the controller may include the steps of entering a scheduling routine, selecting multiple days for schedule modification, changing the schedule parameters for one or more periods during the selected days, and then exiting the scheduling routine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2010Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Gabriel A. Bergman, Eugene J. Takach, Marcus D. Stoner, John B. Amundson, Philip O. Readio, Paul G. Schwendinger, James A. Wolfbauer, Jeff D. Boll, Ian Thomson, Colin T. Ferguson, George J. Mcleod
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Patent number: 7729809Abstract: Systems, methods, and program product to calculate global energy utility targets and to model and determine an optimal solution for a non-thermodynamically constrained process or cluster of processes subject to non-thermodynamic constraints under all possible process changes and streams specific minimum temperature approaches, are provided. An exemplary system can utilize thermodynamic constraints exhibited in stream-specific minimum temperature approach values ?Tmini as optimization parameters, in addition to other process conditions degrees of freedom including the addition of new waste heat carrier streams to target for minimizing energy consumption of the non-thermodynamic constrained waste heat recovery problem and to identify the optimal operating conditions that result in desired minimum energy consumption subject to the non-thermodynamic constraints.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventor: Mahmoud Bahy Noureldin
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Publication number: 20100131112Abstract: Controllers and methods are disclosed for aiding a user in programming a schedule of a programmable controller. In an illustrative embodiment, a guided programming routine can be activated by a user, which then guides a user through two or more screens that are designed to collect sufficient information from the user to generate and/or update at least some of the schedule parameters of the controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2010Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: John B. Amundson, Heidi J. Finch, Brent D. Vick
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Publication number: 20100127089Abstract: A humidity control apparatus has a humidity control apparatus having a humidifying part for humidifying air and a dehumidifying part for dehumidifying to control humidity of a humidity control space. The dehumidifying part has: a main body part that is configured to encapsulate a working fluid therein and to cause a heat-pipe phenomenon. A heat-insulating part fits externally to the main body part and a heat absorption part absorbs heat from a base side part located on one side of the main body part in relation to the heat-insulating part and thereby condenses the working fluid that evaporated into gas in a front side part located on the other side of the main body part in relation to the heat-insulating part. The dehumidifying part dehumidifies the air by means of the front side part of the main body part where the working fluid in liquid form evaporates.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2008Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: ESPEC CORP.Inventor: Shinichirou Sakami
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Publication number: 20100131110Abstract: A controlling method and a controlling system for saving energy of a building are provided. In the present method, a user environment requirement is obtained first. Then, a plurality of cover ratios of a sunshade device on an opening of a building is defined, and according to an environment parameter and the user environment requirement, a total electricity consumption required by air conditioning equipment and by lighting equipment in the building corresponding to each of the cover ratios is calculated. Finally, a cover ratio that produces the minimum total electricity consumption is obtained, and the sunshade device, the air conditioning equipment and the lighting equipment are adjusted according to the obtained cover ratio, so as to make the building meet the user environment requirement and maintain a status of the minimum total energy consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2008Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION INDUSTRYInventors: Kun-Cheng Tsai, Chung-Yu Wang, Jing-Tian Sung
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Publication number: 20100131111Abstract: An air-conditioner's electricity bill is often the biggest ticket item in commercial building's operating expense. Conventionally, the condensing unit, or the compressor, and the cooling water tower of a typical split air conditioner system are controlled independently. The cooling water pump for the cooling water tower is usually turned on with full power when the air conditioner is on, irrelevant of the season, the weather or the humidity. The apparatus of this invention frequency-controls the cooling water pump motor to regulate the pump motor load and to achieve the energy savings, based on the factors, such as the temperature difference between the cooling water and the return water, etc. This apparatus of this invention includes a return-water temperature sensor, a cooling water temperature sensor, a CPU circuit board assembly, a compressor high pressure loop sensor, a compressor low pressure loop tensor, and a compressor status sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2009Publication date: May 27, 2010Inventor: Jen-Jui Cheng
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Publication number: 20100114341Abstract: An electronic device controlling system for a home includes a data processing center, and at least a detector connecting to the data processing center. The detector sends detected signals to the data processing center. The data processing center sends control signals to control at least one electronic device according to the detected signals. A method for controlling electronic devices is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: LI-RONG ZHANG
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Patent number: 7711451Abstract: The invention relates to a control unit for a refrigeration or air conditioning device, comprising a main processor that is situated in a housing and that controls the temperature, fan and/or the defrosting process of a refrigeration or air conditioning device. Contact points for a co-processor, which is separate from the main processor and is suitable for controlling an electronic expansion valve, are located in said housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Emerson Electric GmbH & Co., OHGInventors: Peter Aue, Ali R. Nejad, Hans-Jürgen Bersch, Bernd Kowanz
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Publication number: 20100106333Abstract: The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In an embodiment, the HVAC data processing and communication network includes at least one environmental sensor, at least one subnet and a subnet controller. The subnet controller is configured to discover the at least one environmental sensor, the at least one subnet and at least one damper controller. The subnet controller is further configured to set up the network for zoned operation in the event that at least two of the at least one environmental sensor are discovered.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2009Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Wojciech Grohman, Amanda Filbeck
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Publication number: 20100101264Abstract: An air conditioning blow-out panel is configured to be attached/detached to/from a main body of an air conditioning indoor unit. The air conditioning blow-out panel includes an airflow regulation mechanism, a driving unit, a control unit and a network connection unit. The airflow regulation mechanism is configured to regulate at least one of the airflow volume and the airflow direction. The driving unit is configured to drive the airflow regulation mechanism. The control unit is configured to control the driving unit. The network connection unit is connected to a network connection to obtain sensor information. The network connection unit is configured to receive a control command generated based on the sensor information and to transmit it to the control unit. Furthermore, the control unit is configured to control the driving unit based on the control command generated based on the sensor information obtained through the network connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Atsushi Nishino, Satoshi Hashimoto
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Publication number: 20100106332Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for distributing a resource (such as electricity) using a resource allocation system. In one exemplary embodiment, a plurality of requests for electricity are received from a plurality of end-use consumers. The requests indicate a requested quantity of electricity and a consumer-requested index value indicative of a maximum price a respective end-use consumer will pay for the requested quantity of electricity. A plurality of offers for supplying electricity are received from a plurality of resource suppliers. The offers indicate an offered quantity of electricity and a supplier-requested index value indicative of a minimum price for which a respective supplier will produce the offered quantity of electricity. A dispatched index value is computed at which electricity is to be supplied based at least in part on the consumer-requested index values and the supplier-requested index values.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2009Publication date: April 29, 2010Inventors: David P. Chassin, Robert G. Pratt
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Publication number: 20100102136Abstract: The disclosure includes an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment the network includes a duct, a blower and a controller. The blower is configured to receive a control message from a data bus. The duct is configured to direct air flow from the blower. The controller is configured to publish the control message to the data bus. The controller thereby commands the blower to provide air to the duct at an initial volume rate and to increase the volume rate until the controller detects onset of a cutback mode of the blower.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2009Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Darko Hadzidedic, Timothy E. Wallaert, Joe Powell
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Publication number: 20100106334Abstract: The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network. In an embodiment, the network includes a user interface, a first subnet controller and a second subnet controller. The first subnet controller is configured to operate with a first zone of the network with a first program schedule. The second subnet controller is configured to operate with a second zone of the network with a second program schedule. The second subnet controller is further configured to override the first and second schedules to operate the first and the second zones according to hold settings received from the user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2009Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Wojciech Grohman, Amanda Filbeck, Timothy E. Wallaert
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Patent number: 7698022Abstract: A system, methods, and user-friendly program product to calculate global energy utility targets and define optimal driving force distribution for a process or cluster of processes under all possible process changes and streams specific minimum temperature approach values, simultaneously, and without enumeration, are provided. The program product can utilize stream-specific minimum temperature approach values ?Tmini, where the superscript i represents the specific hot stream, as the optimization parameters instead of the single global ?Tmin currently used, in addition to identifying the optimal operating conditions. The program product can define optimal process conditions and an optimal driving force distribution in heat recovery systems, and can produce an optimal Pareto-curve that shows the rigorous trade off between energy cost and capital cost for any energy recovery system.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2007Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Mahmoud Bahy Noureldin, Ahmed Saleh Aseeri
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Publication number: 20100084482Abstract: A thermostat includes an improved user interface, including automatic scheduling, remote control, system failure warning messages, and Energy Star compliance messages. Diagnostics can be provided without additional communication links to the thermostat. A sub-base accepts multiple thermostats and uses color coded terminals to ease installation. Glow-in-the dark features reduce power needs. In one embodiment, thermostats are coupled to AC power sources and communicate using wireless communications to control an HVAC system. A dampered system can be effected through a thermostat that communicates directly with zoned dampers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2009Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicant: PRO1 IAQInventors: Kimberly A. Kennedy, Jeffrey Edgar
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Publication number: 20100076608Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling air conditioning facilities, and a system and method for power management of a computer room. In an air-conditioning facility control system of a computer room (cooling room) equipped with air-conditioning facilities for air-cooling the computer room in which a large number of information processing units are installed, an air-conditioner monitoring and controlling unit calculates a temperature sensitivity coefficient of each information processing unit, and that of each air conditioner, and then determines discharge air temperature of each air conditioner by use of the temperature sensitivity coefficients in such a manner that the sum of squares of a deviation of a change in discharge air temperature of each information processing unit becomes the smallest, and in such a manner that the sum total of the power consumption of the individual air conditioners becomes the smallest.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2009Publication date: March 25, 2010Inventors: Tadakatsu NAKAJIMA, Takeshi Kato, Yoko Shiga, Hitoshi Matsushima
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Publication number: 20100070090Abstract: Use of compressed air for indoor ambient temperature conditioning is disclosed. Thermal energy is imparted to or extracted from a quantity of compressed air, and the compressed air is then directed to be released inside a structure enclosing a space, whose ambient temperature needs to be controlled. Thus, the compressed air may be used as a direct heat conduction/extraction medium. A flow of external air is created over a heat exchanger mass (a “heating mass” or a “cooling mass”), so that thermal energy of the compressed air flowing inside the heat exchanger mass is transferred to the external flow of air flowing outside the heat exchanger mass. Thus, in addition to being a direct heat conduction/extraction medium, the compressed air is being used as a heat transfer medium, that ultimately gets mixed with the flow of external air. A fresh supply of external air may be used rather than using re-circulated air, in order to maintain a high quality of breathable air.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: AIR ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Seyed Hadi MIRPOURIAN, Peter James Gall
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Publication number: 20100070091Abstract: An appliance for conditioning air of a room comprises one or more power consuming features/functions including a temperature controlling element for one of heating and cooling air. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the appliance in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the appliance in the energy savings mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Inventors: Eric K. Watson, John K. Besore, Brice Alan Bowley, Jeff Donald Drake, Micheal F. Finch, John Joseph Roetker, Steven Keith Root, Gregory M. Thomas, Natarajan Vankatakrishnan
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Publication number: 20100065245Abstract: An An air conditioning system includes an indoor heat exchanger, a fan, a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a control device. The fan sends air cooled or heated by the indoor heat exchanger and the like to a room in a house via a duct. The compressor is installed outside the house and the capacity thereof can be controlled. The outdoor heat exchanger, together with the indoor heat exchanger and the compressor, forms a heat pump. The control device controls the capacity of the compressor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2007Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Nobuhiro Imada, Masamitsu Kitagishi
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Publication number: 20100070089Abstract: Controllers for controlling heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems are provided. The controllers include graphical user interfaces for user adjustment of system settings. In certain embodiments, the graphical user interfaces may include slide bars for adjusting temperature set points. In certain embodiments, the graphical user interfaces may include selectable calendars for adjusting program schedules for the HVAC systems. In certain embodiments, the graphical user interfaces may include screens for adjusting a nightlight feature of the controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Gregory Ralph Harrod, Bradley A. Beers, Grant E. Camichael, Amanda L. Slavens, Jeremiah M. Horn, Mimoun Abaraw
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Publication number: 20100070092Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a room environment including both the temperature and humidity of the air space within a room, regardless of the type and size of the terminal heat exchanger and regardless of variations in the temperature, flow rate, or other parameters of the cooling/heating medium supply received from the central heating and cooling supply system, and that improves the efficiency of operation of the terminal heat exchanger within the room, and the efficiency of operation of the central heating and cooling system supply for the facility.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Inventors: Edward A. Winter, Richard M. Bostian
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Publication number: 20100070093Abstract: Controllers for controlling heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems are provided. The controllers include graphical user interfaces for user adjustment of system settings. The graphical user interfaces also may be designed to present information that facilitates user understanding of system operations. In certain embodiments, the controllers may allow users to adjust balance point and/or LTCO temperature values. In these embodiments, the graphical user interfaces may include slide bars for adjusting the balance point and/or LTCO temperature values.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Gregory Ralph Harrod, Bradley A. Beers, Grant E. Carmichael, Brian D. Rigg
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Publication number: 20100057259Abstract: A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium being operable to perform a thermal analysis of a data center and overlay the thermal analysis on a map of the data center to provide an overlaid thermal analysis. Additionally, the computer executable code is operable to dynamically control at least one blower and at least one vent in the data center based on the overlaid thermal analysis to direct cool air to a section of the data center in need of cooling.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2008Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher J. DAWSON, Vincenzo V. Diluoffo, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Michael D. Kendzierski
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Patent number: 7664575Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus including a heater or furnace includes a controller for receiving control signals from a thermostat and from a user interface for initiating a contingency mode of operation when a signal from the thermostat is not available. The user interface includes a visual display and multiple keys for entering the contingency mode which includes selecting a capacity of heat output of the apparatus and a duty cycle. The user interface may be disposed in the apparatus cabinet and connected directly to a microprocessor based controller for the apparatus. The contingency mode is automatically aborted if a fault signal is received by the controller, a signal is received from a thermostat or power to the apparatus is interrupted.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2007Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Roger L. Boydstun, Gordon Jeffrey Hugghins
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Publication number: 20100036533Abstract: An air-conditioning system includes an air-conditioning unit that is switchable between local air-conditioning and overall air-conditioning, a data acquisition unit configured to acquire state quantity data of a requester, and a control unit. The control unit calculates comfort assessment values for both the requester and a neighbor, and controls the air-conditioning unit so that the local air-conditioning is performed to an extent whereby the comfort assessment value of the neighbor is kept in a comfort range and the comfort assessment value of the requester can be within the comfort range.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2008Publication date: February 11, 2010Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Masuda, Atsushi Nishino, Satoshi Hashimoto
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Publication number: 20100023168Abstract: An intermediary device for air conditioning control is connected to an air conditioning interface for generating and outputting an operation/non-operation request signal to a heat source on the basis of a room temperature and a temperature setting. The intermediary device has a receiving unit, a temperature-setting estimating unit, and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit receives the operation/non-operation request signal as input. The temperature-setting estimating unit calculates an estimated value of the temperature setting on the basis of at least the operation/non-operation request signal. The transmitting unit transmits to air conditioners the estimated value calculated in the temperature-setting estimating unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2007Publication date: January 28, 2010Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Takashige Kai, Masaya Nishimura, Mizuki Tanaka
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Publication number: 20100010679Abstract: A method of monitoring and controlling an active environmental control system to impose energy efficient use of the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2007Publication date: January 14, 2010Inventor: Edward A. Kassel
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Publication number: 20090319087Abstract: The method for controlling the operation of the cooled or heated water pump of the air conditioning installation is provided. In accordance with the present invention, the flow rate of the cooled or heated water is adapted to be controlled to correspond to the variation of the energy demand on the load side unit. This can be effected by controlling on the basis of the temperature of the cooled or heated water not only the state of the operation of the heat source, but also the number of revolution of the motor for driving the cooled or heated water pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2007Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: HASEGAWA ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuichi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Ogawa
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Publication number: 20090299533Abstract: A system for controlling air-conditioning of a vehicle includes an input, an offset generator module, and an evaporator temperature control module. The input receives an input temperature. The offset generator module receives a psychrometric parameter of air inside the vehicle and generates offsets based on the input temperature and the psychrometric parameter. The evaporator temperature control module generates a target evaporator temperature based on the offsets.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Inventors: Mark A. Hill, Alfred Jeckel, Curt O'Donnell, Mark Bigler, Lance Tagliapietra
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Publication number: 20090299534Abstract: An environmentally controlled shipping container including a storage space and a refrigeration system that includes a prime mover, a compressor driven by the prime mover and providing a flow of refrigerant, a condenser that receives the flow of refrigerant from the compressor, an evaporator in heat exchange relation with the storage space to remove heat from air supplied to the storage space. A controller operates the refrigeration system in one of a continuous mode wherein the prime mover operates continuously, a standard start/stop mode wherein the prime mover operates intermittently such that while the prime mover is operating in the standard start/stop mode the compressor provides a maximum flow of refrigerant, and a modulated start/stop mode wherein the prime mover operates intermittently such that while the prime mover is operating in the modulated start/stop mode the operating parameters of the refrigeration system may be modulated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventor: Bradley M. Ludwig
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Publication number: 20090282357Abstract: A thermostat system having dedicated informational regions in a display and associated buttons or softkeys for sequential operation. The system may maximize utilization of a sectioned display and buttons for system navigation. The informational, selection and/or action design takes into consideration operational button groupings for straightforward comfort settings as well as editing of the clock, day-of-week, schedules, and so forth. Sections, regions or areas of the display may indicate immediate button operations. The changeable information in the regions associated with the softkeys or buttons may provide sequential operation of the thermostat system. The system may have multiple schedules and setpoints for heating and cooling comfort setting flexibility. A combining of individual schedules may be automatically selected. Also, there may be a system switch mode, for example, between heat and cool, where the schedules may be individually edited.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2009Publication date: November 12, 2009Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: David A. Schultz, Patrick C. Tessier, Cary Leen
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Publication number: 20090276062Abstract: An environment control device, an environment control method, an environment control program, and a computer-readable recording medium containing the environment control program for enabling the user to actually have a comfortable feeling in a reliable manner and further to maintain such a comfortable state, are provided. A biological information measuring portion acquires time-series data of the biological information of the user. A chaos analysis portion calculates a parameter about the biological information through chaos analysis of the time-series data acquired by the biological information measuring portion. A state inferring portion infers a comfortable feeling of the user on the basis of the parameter calculated by the chaos analysis portion. A device control portion controls generation of a stimulus to be given to the user on the basis of the result of inference made by the state inferring portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2006Publication date: November 5, 2009Inventors: Etsuko Kanai, Masami Funakura, Yasutaka Maeda
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Publication number: 20090276096Abstract: A device and a method for controlling a display make use of a virtual display buffer that acts as an intermediary between data input and display output. The data stored in the virtual display buffer is in a generic, readable first format. A display software driver translates the data stored in the virtual display buffer to a second format usable by a hardware display driver to control a specific display device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2009Publication date: November 5, 2009Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Jerry L. Proffitt, Laurie L. Werbowsky, Tim Comerford, Chad A. Powell
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Patent number: 7610910Abstract: A building component system includes a building component that is controllable between a first state and a second state in response to a sensed condition. The system may include a sensor on a first side of the building component and a sensor on the second side of the building component. The building component may be a window that is controllable between an opaque state and a clear state by a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) network that senses the conditions on both sides of the window.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Osman Ahmed
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Patent number: 7606635Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for controlling environmental zones in a residence or other building using radio frequency enabled environmental controllers. At least one damper is associated with each of the various zones. From each environmental controller, a command is wirelessly transmitted, where the command includes an environmental control command and a respective unique identifier associated with the environmental controller. The command is received at a zone controller, and each environmental controller is bound with a respective one of the zones using the respective unique identifier associated with the environmental controller. The damper(s) associated with the zone that is bound with the environmental controller associated with the unique identifier from the command are operated in response to the zone controller. Environmental adjustment equipment is operated, which is responsive to the zone controller to execute the environmental control command.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2006Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: James L. Fisher
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Publication number: 20090259346Abstract: An energy management system includes a control and uplink module adapted to selectively monitor and control at least one energy consuming device, the control and uplink module in communication with an electronic storage device and adapted to transmit data to the electronic storage device, a sensor in communication with the control and uplink module, wherein the sensor is adapted to execute a pre-configured measurement and transmit a signal to the control and uplink module representative of the measurement, and an interface adapted for the entry of at least one operational parameter to the control and uplink module, at least one of the signal from the sensor and the operational parameter employed by the control and uplink module to facilitate an operation of the energy consuming device, the interface employing the data transmitted to the storage device to provide an analysis of an operation of the energy consuming device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2009Publication date: October 15, 2009Inventors: Thomas A. Reed, Douglas A. Wittenmyer
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Publication number: 20090255284Abstract: A refrigerant circuit and an operation control means are provided. A refrigerant circuit is configured by the interconnection of a heat source unit, a plurality of utilization units, and expansion mechanisms. The heat source unit has a compressor and a heat source side heat exchanger. The utilization units have utilization side heat exchangers. The operation control means is capable of performing a refrigerant quantity judging operation to control constituent equipment such that a first state value becomes a first target control value. In addition, during the refrigerant quantity judging operation, the operation control means maintains a cooling capacity of a first utilization unit among the plurality of utilization units, which air conditions a predetermined space.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2007Publication date: October 15, 2009Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Manabu Yoshimi