Specific Thermally Responsive Controller Patents (Class 700/278)
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Patent number: 11073850Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for improving configuration of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. In some embodiments, a control system of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes control circuitry and memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the control circuitry, causes the control circuitry to control air flow supplied to a first building zone by the HVAC system based on a temperature setpoint schedule associated with the first building zone; and control air flow supplied to a second building zone by the HVAC system based on a constant temperature setpoint associated with the second building zone.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Theresa N. Gillette
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Patent number: 11054158Abstract: A ventilation fan includes a body unit, which has a fan disposed in a body case and a fan controller operable to control an air volume of the fan. The ventilation fan also includes a sensor module having an indoor environment detecting sensor and a module controller operable to control a detecting operation of the indoor environment detecting sensor. The body unit has a module mount on which the sensor module is mounted and another sensor module can be mounted in place of the sensor module. The module mount is connected to the fan controller. The module controller outputs detection information obtained based on a detection result of the indoor environment detecting sensor to the fan controller, which in turn controls the air volume of the fan based on the detection information inputted thereto.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirosato Sakai, Hidenori Syougen, Nobuyuki Morimoto, Tsuraki Nakajima, Shingo Takenawa, Masahiro Yamaguchi, Kazuki Doumoto
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Patent number: 11034210Abstract: An HVAC system includes a variable-speed compressor which compresses refrigerant flowing through the HVAC system, a blower which provides a flow of air through the HVAC system at a controllable flow rate, and a controller communicatively coupled to the variable-speed compressor and the blower. The controller receives a demand request, which includes a command to operate the HVAC system at a predefined setpoint temperature. In response to receiving the demand request, a setpoint temperature associated with the HVAC system is adjusted to the predefined setpoint temperature. A speed of the variable-speed compressor is decreased to a low-speed setting. Based on the decreased speed of the variable-speed compressor, an air-flow rate is determined to provide by the blower. The controllable flow rate of the flow of air provided by the blower is adjusted based on the determined air-flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Rakesh Goel, Vijaykumar Sathyamurthi
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Patent number: 11022335Abstract: A Fault Detection Diagnostic (FDD) correction method for increasing the cooling capacity delivered by an Air-Conditioning (AC) system with an economizer comprising: correcting/superseding at least one cooling fault/delay, the correcting/superseding selected from the group consisting of: correcting/superseding a High-limit-Shut-off-Temperature (HST) fault/delay based on detecting an Outdoor Air Temperature (OAT) is less than or equal to a High-limit-Control Temperature (HCT) during a thermostat call for cooling to enable economizer cooling otherwise delayed by the at least one HST fault/delay, superseding a thermostat second-stage time/temperature-deadband delay based on detecting an OAT is greater than or equal to an AC Control Temperature (ACT) during a call for cooling and energizing an AC compressor otherwise delayed by a thermostat second-stage time/temperature-deadband delay, superseding at least one economizer second-stage time/temperature delay based on detecting a thermostat second-stage cooling signaType: GrantFiled: May 7, 2020Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Inventors: Robert J. Mowris, John Walsh
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Patent number: 11015825Abstract: An intelligent air-drying system and method are provided. The intelligent air-drying system includes an air-drying device and an application program. The air-drying device includes a device body, a sensing unit, a heater, and a processing unit. The device body has a water-absorbing material for absorbing moisture in the air. The sensing unit is disposed on the device body to detect the humidity of the environment where the air-drying device is located. The heater is disposed on the device body to heat the water-absorbing material. The processing unit is coupled to the sensing unit and the heater, and the processing unit executes the application program. The startup timing of the heater is dynamically predicted based on the daily humidity change measured by the sensing unit, and the heater is started before the water-absorbing material reaches saturation to ensure the water-absorbing and dehumidifying capabilities of the water-absorbing material.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: FORTUNE ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Chia-Ching Lin, Ching-Min Chen
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Patent number: 10996702Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a provisioning system for a network includes a first device associated with a site. The first device includes a communication chip associated therewith. The system also includes a second device including a device identifier associated therewith. The communication chip is configured to read the device identifier on the second device to obtain information about the second device. The device identifier of the second device is transmitted to a cloud server. Information about the second device is received at the first device from the cloud server based on the device identifier. Based on the information from the cloud server about the second device it can then be joined to the network by the first device.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Cottrell
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Patent number: 10990076Abstract: An evapotranspiration mitigation method, system, and computer program product include checking a condition via a first sensor connected to an outside of a device to compute an evapotranspiration level and activating a roof opening of the device to deploy a roof from the device if the evapotranspiration level is greater than a pre-determined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Igor Cerqueira Oliveira, Ana Paula Appel, Paula Fernanda Pereira
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Patent number: 10982867Abstract: A thermostat includes: a controller adapted to control the function of an associated HVAC system; and user controls adapted to provide instructions to the controller including selecting between heating functions and cooling functions, wherein the controller is limited by a maximum temperature when heating functions are selected and limited by a minimum temperature when the cooling functions are selected, wherein the maximum temperature is a lower temperature than the minimum temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2015Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Chicago Controls Thermostats, Inc.Inventor: Michael Lyle
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Patent number: 10982583Abstract: A vehicle thermal energy control system that is able to achieve improved heat management in the entirety of a vehicle is provided. A thermal energy control system is provided in a vehicle and includes heat sources and a heat amount distributor configured to assign a demanded heat amount calculated from heat demands generated in the entirety of the vehicle, to each heat source on the basis of a suppliable heat amount of each heat source.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahito Yoshiura, Daisuke Kobayashi, Yoichiro Higuchi, Yasushi Kusaka
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Patent number: 10969130Abstract: Operating heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems using occupancy sensing systems is described herein. One device includes instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive a mapping between a space of a plurality of spaces of a building, a fixture of a plurality of occupancy sensing system fixtures in the building, and an HVAC device of a plurality of HVAC devices associated with the building, and modify an operation of the HVAC device based on the mapping and responsive to a determination of occupancy in the space by the fixture.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Petr Endel, Karel Marik, Ondrej Holub
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Patent number: 10935268Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining environmental data for an HVAC system are provided. Aspects include a housing, a transceiver, at least one environmental sensor, and a controller coupled to a memory, the controller configured determine a state of the at least one environmental sensor. And based at least in part on the state of the at least one environmental sensor being a failure state, obtain proximate environmental data.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventor: Pradeep Kumar Gottumukkala
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Patent number: 10900682Abstract: An HVAC controller, such as a thermostat, may be configured to allow a user to set and/or select schedule time period in which one or more indoor quality units (e.g. humidification, dehumidification, ventilation, etc.) will or will not operate, and/or will operated but using different settings. In some cases, the schedule time periods available for selection may correspond to the time periods of a programmable temperature schedule of the HVAC controller, but this is not required. In some instances, the HVAC controller may allow a user to select which indoor air quality units will or will not operate, and/or what settings the indoor air quality units will operate, during a user's vacation.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2017Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Barbara Dean-Hendricks, Joshua Jacque Edberg, David Quam, Amy Ragland
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Patent number: 10902531Abstract: According to some embodiments, a thermostat obtains real-time energy prices from a electricity grid. It may also obtain additional data from external data sources, such as predicted energy prices or weather predictions. The thermostat attempts to find a control strategy for when to switch available aggregates that may include furnaces and air conditioners on and off. In order to solve this integer programming problem, the thermostat uses a random search algorithm. According to some embodiments, various data sources, such as day-ahead prices and real-time prices, are combined into forecasts of electricity prices for the present and future time periods. In some embodiments, a thermostat selects predictively between heating or cooling by letting outside air in or by using heating and cooling aggregates. Additional embodiments are discussed and shown.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2014Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: Promanthan Brains LLCInventor: Oliver Markus Haynold
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Patent number: 10895395Abstract: An air-conditioner remote controller in an air conditioner system that includes the air-conditioner remote controller and an air conditioner that performs air-conditioning control using room temperature information received from the air-conditioner remote controller, includes: a storage unit to store room temperature information that is information on room temperature measured by a plurality of temperature sensors and store schedule information that sets, for each time zone, a temperature sensor to measure a room temperature to be used as room temperature information in the air-conditioning control of the air conditioner; and a control unit to perform control such that the room temperature information from the set temperature sensor is acquired from the storage unit and the acquired room temperature information is transmitted to the air conditioner in accordance with the schedule information.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Yoshihisa Kojima, Yoshiaki Koizumi, Hidetoshi Muramatsu
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Patent number: 10816234Abstract: An HVAC system within a building including an HVAC device having an air filter, a number of sensors, and a control device. The control device has a processor that is configured to determine a current air quality metric based on air quality measurements received by the sensor. The control device is further configured to calculate an average air quality metric based on the current air quality metric and a set of previous air quality metrics. The control device is further configured to store the average air quality metric. The control device is further configured to generate an air filter type recommendation based on the average air quality metric.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Michael J. Ajax, Joseph R. Ribbich
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Patent number: 10767883Abstract: Systems and methods for orchestrating the operation of energy-consuming loads, so as to minimize power consumption, are described. In some embodiments, the loads can be HVAC, refrigeration systems, air compressors, and the like, and orchestration is effected either directly or by means of the loads' respective controllers. In some aspects, the controllers can be Smart Thermostats and orchestration is effected through a Cloud-based orchestration platform or “COP.” In certain aspects, a COP uses specifically programmed application programming interfaces, or APIs, to control the operation of a single manufacturer's Smart Thermostats, where the manufacturer provides its own Cloud-based control platform, through which the COP operates. The COP can similarly orchestrate the operation of two or more manufacturers' Smart Thermostats through their respective Cloud-based control platforms. By these and other means, the operation of a variety of energy-consuming loads can be more easily and efficiently orchestrated.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: ENCYCLE CORPORATIONInventors: Peter Bryan Malcolm, Mark Howard Kerbel, Paul Stidworthy
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Patent number: 10760808Abstract: The present disclosure provides an inverter air conditioner control device based on a thermolator, which includes: a first controller, and an input interface, an outdoor unit communicating interface and a detecting interface all connected with the first controller, and an indoor unit controlled by a second controller, wherein, the input interface is connected with the thermolator, receives a control signal sent by the thermolator; the detecting interface is connected with a temperature detector, receives an indoor temperature signal; the first controller connects with a inverter air conditioner outdoor unit, controls an operation of the inverter air conditioner outdoor unit; the first controller sets a target reference temperature which is used for adjusting an operation frequency of a compressor of the inverter air conditioner outdoor unit. The present disclosure also provides a terminal, an inverter air conditioner control system and control method based on the thermolator.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2016Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignees: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.Inventor: Dafa Gui
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Patent number: 10760810Abstract: Equipment management system including two or more indoor environment control devices controlling the air environment in an indoor space; and control terminal connected to each of indoor environment control devices and configured to send and receive information to and from them. Control terminal includes external communication unit that communicates with mobile communication device connected through a public line; condition acquiring unit that acquires information related to an operating condition of indoor environment control devices from mobile communication device through external communication unit; operating condition determination unit that determines an operating condition of indoor environment control devices based on information acquired by condition acquiring unit; and control unit that operates indoor environment control devices under the operating condition determined by operating condition determination unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2017Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuusuke Nakashima, Masamichi Kachi, Tsuraki Nakajima, Ayumi Konishi
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Patent number: 10756919Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for using a robotic device to manipulate a manual control of a device. In one aspect, the system includes a robotic device, a first device that is located at a property and that has a manual control, and a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may include a network interface, a processor, and a storage device that includes instructions to cause the processor to perform operations. The operations may include determining an operating state of the first device, determining the state of the monitoring system, determining whether one or more of the manual controls associated with the first device should be manipulated to alter the operating state of the first device, and transmitting one or more instruction to the robotic device that instruct the robotic device to manipulate one or more manual controls that are associated the first device.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Alarm.com IncorporatedInventors: Daniel Todd Kerzner, Stephen Scott Trundle
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Patent number: 10739031Abstract: A system for an automatic temperature control of a space is described. The system includes a temperature maintaining unit, a controller connected to the temperature maintaining unit, and a user device that is communicably connected to the controller. There may also be a temperature sensing unit. The controller is configured to detect a presence of a user device within its vicinity. When the user device is detected, the controller reads the personal thermal comfort parameters from the user device, that may be stored within the user device. The controller further detects the temperature of the space through the temperature sensing unit and controls various functional parameters of the temperature maintaining unit based on the personal thermal comfort parameters of the user.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Skylett Environmental Engineering Co. LimitedInventors: Tak On Andrew Lau, Gin Nam Sze To
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Patent number: 10718539Abstract: A control system includes an energy management system in operation with intelligent, network-connected thermostats located in structures. The thermostats are operable to control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Control during a demand response (DR) event period may be performed based on an optimal control trajectory of the HVAC system, where the control trajectory is optimal in that it minimizes a cost function.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Allen J. Minich, Mark D. Stefanski
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Patent number: 10713674Abstract: A method reduces substation demand fluctuations using decoupled price scheme to mange load flexibility to follow renewable variations in a power distribution system. The price scheme includes base energy price component, up/down reserve usage price component, and up/down reserve usage variation price component. The operator adjusts the corresponding price components to achieve desired aggregated demand profile at a substation. Meanwhile, the operator determines the optimal amount of reduced loads, removed loads and transferred loads to minimize the total cost of substation power purchase, available but unused renewable penalty, and demand responses.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Hongbo Sun
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Patent number: 10712718Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed using a mobile device that includes a touch screen display configured to display information and to permit a user to enter information, a network connection configured to communicate with a remote server that is itself in operative communication with the HVAC controller, and a controller in operative communication with the touch screen display and the network connection. The controller may be configured to receive one or more messages related to the operation of the HVAC system via the network connection, and to display the one or more messages on the touch screen display.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2014Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: David Quam, Kevin Weirich, Brad Paine, Michael Bruce, Ix
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Patent number: 10697662Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, for optimizing a schedule of setpoint temperatures used in the control of an HVAC system are presented herein. A schedule of setpoint temperatures may be adjusted by small, incremental amounts so that the schedule migrates from the original schedule to a more energy-efficient schedule.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Evan J. Fisher
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Patent number: 10677490Abstract: A compensational control method includes the steps of: controlling a plurality of indoor air conditioning apparatuses to be in operation according to a target temperature; receiving continuously an operating parameter and an environmental datum from each of the indoor air conditioning apparatus; determining whether there is a specific indoor air conditioning apparatus that needs support; acquiring an adjacent indoor air conditioning apparatus which is influential for the specific indoor air conditioning apparatus according to an influence form which is previously built; establishing a supportive strategy according to a supportable operation capability of the adjacent indoor air conditioning apparatus; and adjusting the operating parameter of the adjacent indoor air conditioning apparatus according to the supportive strategy. Therefore, the adjacent indoor air conditioning apparatus is provided to improve an ambient temperature of an area where the specific indoor air conditioning apparatus is installed.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Tien-Szu Lo, Meng-Seng Chen, Hsiang-Pin Lee, Ying-Hsiu Chen
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Patent number: 10655874Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for tracking computing enthalpy measurements indicating abnormalities associated with operation of a heating, ventilating, and cooling (HVAC) system. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method includes: obtaining, from one or more sensors associated with the HVAC system, (i) temperature data including a source vent temperature measurement and a return vent temperature of the HVAC system, and (ii) humidity data including a source vent humidity measurement and a return vent humidity measurement of the HVAC system; computing an enthalpy measurement associated with operation of the HVAC system; determining that the computed enthalpy measurement indicates an efficiency issue associated with operation of the HVAC system; and in response to determining that the computed enthalpy measurement indicates the efficiency issue associated with operation of the HVAC system, taking action related to the HVAC system.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Alarm.com IncorporatedInventor: Alexander Lawrence Reeder
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Patent number: 10605472Abstract: A building automation system may include a memory for storing a first geofence for a first building component and a second geofence for a second building component. A controller may be operably coupled to the memory and may be configured to cause an adjustment to operation of the first building component in response to a user's mobile device crossing the first geofence and may cause an adjustment to operation of the second building component in response to the user's mobile device crossing the second geofence. The controller may be configured to receive one or more current conditions and to adapt a size of the first geofence and/or a size of the second geofence based on the received one or more current conditions.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Parthibarajan Perumal Sekar, Nellaivadivu Paphanasum, Kalaivani Periyanadar, Sivakumar Balakrishnan
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Patent number: 10584890Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods for using the geographic location of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one mobile electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2019Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc.Inventor: John Douglas Steinberg
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Patent number: 10574054Abstract: A method, a system, and computer readable medium for managing thermostatically controlled loads (TLCs). The method includes acquiring data from a plurality of TCLs including at least thermal parameters associated with each TCL of the plurality of TCLs and a regulation signal data and prioritizing the plurality of TCLs. The prioritization is based on a contribution of each TCL to an overall service. The method further includes generating an optimization curve based on the prioritization, determining an optimization attribute associated with each TCL of the plurality of TCLs, and outputting the optimization attribute associated with each TCL for a regulation period to each TCL. The optimization curve has at least reward criteria as an optimization parameter.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignees: TOTAL SOLAR INTERNATIONAL, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITYInventors: Maziar Vanouni, Ning Lu, Wente Zeng
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Patent number: 10544956Abstract: A control system for an HVAC system having at least one HVAC component, the control system comprising: a controller having a processor and a memory, the controller in signal communication with the at least one HVAC component, the controller configured to: determine a startup/shut-down setpoint and the time associated with a beginning or an end of a building occupancy period; determine a predicted weather condition for outside air at a location of the HVAC system; predict a set of indoor air conditions over the period from the current time until the building being occupied/unoccupied based on the determined setpoint and time and the predicted weather condition; and start/stop the at least one HVAC component when an actual room air condition approaches the predicted indoor air condition.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATIONInventors: Alie El-Din Mady, Konstantinos Kouramas, Marcin T. Cychowski, Lionel Andreas Hertig
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Patent number: 10539854Abstract: A method of controlling tint of a tintable window to account for occupant comfort in a room of a building. The tintable window is between the interior and exterior of the building. The method predicts a tint level for the tintable window at a future time based on a penetration depth of direct sunlight through the tintable window into the room at the future time and space type in the room. The method also provides instructions over a network to transition tint of the tintable window to the tint level.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: VIEW, INC.Inventors: Stephen Clark Brown, Deepika Khowal, Namrata Vora, Santosh V. Philip
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Patent number: 10527308Abstract: In some embodiments, security and/or automation systems, collectively referred to as automation systems, may offer a user the comforts of automatically controlling HVAC settings based at least in part on an alarm. The automation system may provide automatically meet desired HVAC conditions at select times and provide a more comfortable living situation. In some embodiments, the increased comfort level may enable or ease household activities. For example, if a person sleeps with a cooler temperature, it may be harder for the person to get out of bed. But an automated HVAC system may adjust the temperature such that when a person desires to wake up, the temperature is comfortable and may ease a transition from day to night.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Vivint, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Mahar, Matthew J. Eyring, Clint H. Gordon-Carroll, Jeremy B. Warren, James E. Nye, Jefferson H. Lyman
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Patent number: 10506743Abstract: Method, systems are provided for providing automated open-loop control of an airflow cooling system in an IHS (Information Handling System), where the open-loop control is automatically adjusted based on changes to the components installed by the IHS. An airflow impedance, providing an amount a component physically impedes airflow, is retrieved for a new component. An estimated airflow delivery to the installed location of the new component is determined and scaled based on the airflow impedance of the new component and based on the ability to bypass the new component with ventilated airflow. An airflow delivery target for the new component is determined based on the ambient air temperature available at the installed new component. The airflow delivery target is scaled based on the installed location of the new component. The airflow cooling system is operated to equalize the estimated airflow delivery to the new component with the airflow delivery target for new component.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.Inventors: Dominick Lovicott, Hasnain Shabbir
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Patent number: 10481780Abstract: A smart-home device includes a user interface including an electronic display having a first display mode and a second display mode, the first display mode generally requiring more power than said second display mode. The device also includes a processing system in operative communication with one or more environmental sensors for determining at least one environmental condition. The device additionally includes at least one sensor configured to detect a physical closeness of a user to the at least one sensor. The processing system may be configured to cause the electronic display to be in the first display mode when a closeness threshold has been exceeded, where the processing system is further configured to automatically adjust the closeness threshold based at least in part on a historical plurality of physical closeness events as detected by the at least one sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Joseph Adam Ruff, Jonathan P. Solnit, Edwin H. Satterthwaite
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Patent number: 10465921Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) boiler controller is described herein. One HVAC boiler controller includes a memory and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive a weather forecast for an area in which the boiler of the HVAC system is located, receive a current outdoor temperature, determine a set point of the boiler based, at least in part, on the received weather forecast and the received current outdoor temperature, and adjust the set point of the boiler to the determined set point.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Ademco Inc.Inventors: Milan Kriz, Petr Wagner
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Patent number: 10466660Abstract: A method and system for co-ordinating control of a plurality of sensorless devices. Each device includes a communication subsystem and configured to self-detect one or more device properties, the device properties resulting in output having one or more output properties. The method includes: detecting inputs including the one or more device properties of each device, correlating, for each device, the detected one or more device properties to the one or more output properties, and co-ordinating control of each of the devices to operate at least one of their respective device properties to co-ordinate one or more output properties for the combined output to achieve a setpoint. In some example embodiments, the setpoint can be fixed, calculated or externally determined.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: S.A. Armstrong LimitedInventor: Marcelo Javier Acosta Gonzalez
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Patent number: 10465931Abstract: The AUTOMATED CONTROL AND PARALLEL LEARNING HVAC APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“ACPLHVAC”) updates real time value function estimates through parallel and reinforcement learning, via ACPLHVAC components, by observing a defined state action space to maximize user Quality of Experience (QoE) and minimize associated energy required with regulating environmental spaces.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Schneider Electric IT CorporationInventor: Enda Barrett
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Patent number: 10451303Abstract: A temperature control system includes a blower impeller assembly that has a blower impeller, a motor coupled to and configured to drive the blower impeller, and a sensor that is coupled to the motor and configured to measure current drawn by the motor to maintain the blower impeller at a set angular speed. Further, the temperature control system includes a controller that is communicatively coupled to the sensor. The controller electronically detects at least one of a blockage in a vent coupled to the temperature control system and a malfunction of the blower impeller based on an amount of the current drawn by the motor to maintain the blower impeller at the set angular speed.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2018Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Sina Jasteh
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Patent number: 10352884Abstract: A system for comfort based management of thermal systems, including residential and commercial buildings with active cooling and/or heating, is described. The system can operate without commissioning information, and with minimal occupant interactions, and can learn heat transfer and thermal comfort characteristics of the thermal systems so as to control the temperature thereof while minimizing energy consumption and maintaining comfort.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.Inventors: Larry A. Turner, Paul Robert Buda, Scott Robert Brown, Gary Brent Pollard, David R. Glasgow
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Patent number: 10344995Abstract: A method for configuring a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system controller and an HVAC system controller are disclosed. The method includes displaying an installation profile icon on a user interface of the HVAC system controller, the installation profile icon representing an installation profile that includes one or more settings for one or more parameters. The HVAC system controller receives an input on the user interface of the HVAC system controller based on a selection of the installation profile icon. The method further includes setting the one or more parameters in a memory of the HVAC system controller based on the one or more settings for the one or more parameters in the installation profile in response to receiving the input.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2014Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Senthil Chinnaiyan
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Patent number: 10330336Abstract: Controlling heating and cooling in a conditioned space utilizes a fluid circulating in a thermally conductive structure in fluid connection with a hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and a ground heat exchanger. Air is moved past the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger, the air having fresh air supply and stale air exhaust. Sensors located throughout the conditioned space send data to a controller. User input to the controller sets the desired set point temperature and humidity. Based upon the set point temperature and humidity and sensor data, the controller sends signals to various devices to manipulate the flow of the fluid and the air in order to achieve the desired set point temperature and humidity in the conditioned space. The temperature of the fluid is kept less than the dew point at the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and the temperature of the fluid is kept greater than the dew point at the thermally conductive structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2018Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: ENERGY ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATIONInventor: Albert Reid Wallace
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Patent number: 10317862Abstract: A HVAC controller includes a housing and one or more heat-generating components contained within the housing. The heat-generating components cause a temperature inside the housing to exceed a temperature outside the housing. The controller includes a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature inside the housing and a controller event detector configured to detect, for each of the heat-generating components, a controller event that generates heat inside the housing. The controller further includes a temperature compensation module configured to identify a steady-state temperature gain associated with each of the detected controller events, to calculate a temperature offset using a summation of the steady-state temperature gains, and to determine the temperature of the building zone outside the housing by subtracting the temperature offset from the temperature measured inside the housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Michael J. Ajax, Justin J. Seifi
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Patent number: 10319052Abstract: An information terminal control method includes: (a) predicting whether an amount of power consumption in a shop exceeds a target value; (b) when the amount of power consumption in the shop is predicted to exceed the target value, causing a display of an information terminal to display a screen displaying a time period during which the amount of power consumption in the shop is predicted to exceed the target value; and (c) causing the display to display a screen displaying a message that presents an action to reduce the amount of power consumption in the time period.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Seiya Miyazaki, Minoru Takazawa, Wei Zhang, Takao Yamaguchi, Akio Nakano
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Patent number: 10317867Abstract: A thermostat update and copying system can include a first thermostat having a processor, a transmitter, a storage area. In some embodiments, the processor generates update data, the storage area maintains the update data, and the transmitter transmits the update data to multiple target devices. In some embodiments, the target devices include mobile devices capable of running applications to receive the update data and/or at least a second thermostat wherein the second thermostat is activated and update data is transmitted by the transceiver to the second thermostat.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2017Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Braeburn Systems LLCInventors: Glenn A. Moore, Daniel S. Poplawski
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Patent number: 10317104Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for optimizing a schedule of setpoint temperatures used in the control of an HVAC system. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat includes a schedule of setpoint temperatures that is used to control an HVAC system associated with a structure in which the thermostat is located. The schedule of setpoint temperatures is continually adjusted by small, unnoticeable amounts so that the schedule migrates from the original schedule to an optimal schedule. The optimal schedule may be optimal in terms of energy consumption or some other terms.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Evan Fisher
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Patent number: 10302502Abstract: A temperature sensor device has a digital interface with a first memory storing a current temperature value which can be read through the digital interface and a second memory storing a rate of temperature change value which can be read through the digital interface. Such a temperature sensor can be preferably used in a system with a cooling fan and a processor coupled with the digital interface of the temperature sensor. The processor is operable to control the cooling fan based on temperature measurement values and the rate of change in temperature retrieved from the temperature sensor through the digital interface.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATEDInventors: Lynn R. Kern, Mitchell E. Polonsky
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Patent number: 10302499Abstract: A method for adaptively adjusting a threshold used to detect the presence of a living being may include receiving a first set of sensor measurements acquired by a passive infrared (PIR) sensor during a time period when the living being is not expected to be present in a space monitored by the PIR sensor. Here, the sensor measurements may depend on one or more noise sensitivity characteristics of the PIR sensor. The method may include adjusting a threshold that may indicate a presence of the living being based on the first set of sensor measurements. The method may then receive a second set of sensor measurements acquired by the PIR sensor and detect the presence of the living being when at least one of the second set of sensor measurements exceeds the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2014Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: GOOGLE LLCInventors: Michael Dixon, Andrew Goldenson
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Patent number: 10302328Abstract: Various arrangements are provided related to thermal energy coordination systems. A thermal energy coordination system may analyze solar irradiance measurements to identify an overgeneration solar energy event. The system may activate a thermal energy storage event to coincide with the overgeneration solar energy event at the plurality of solar panels. The system, which can include many network-enabled smart thermostats, may control air conditioners or other HVAC system within various structures. The system may determine a time to initiate cooling and a temperature to which to cool the structure based upon the received indication of the thermal energy storage event. Cooling may be initiated by the system based on the determined time and the determined temperature in response to the received indication of the thermal energy storage event.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Johns ManvilleInventor: Bruce Ray
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Patent number: 10284385Abstract: Described herein are techniques and systems for controlling, from a mobile device, an environmental control system including at least one appliance for influencing one or more environmental parameters at a premises. The mobile device comprising a user-interactive application for sending commands to the environmental control system. The application having a foreground state for controlling the environmental control system based on user-adjustable parameters; and a background state, in which user notifications are generated. A method can comprise: when the application is in a background state: determining the mobile device has crossed a geolocation threshold; determining an environmental parameter of the premises satisfies a condition; displaying a notification to a user, comprising an option to initiate a command to control an appliance; detecting the user has selected an option; and sending a message to effect the command to the environmental control system.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2018Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: CENTRICA HIVE LIMITEDInventors: Nicola Combe, Nicholas Charles Leith
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Patent number: 10281338Abstract: A real time thermal monitoring and prediction system (TMPS) is provided for use in monitoring and operating a transformer. The TMPS may be used to estimate a maximum loading level for the transformer over a future time period using a dynamic thermal model for the transformer and ambient temperature forecasts. The transformer may be loaded to its maximum loading level during power congestion or a service restoration process.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2016Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: ABB Inc.Inventors: Xianyong Feng, Mirrasoul J. Mousavi