Specific Thermally Responsive Controller Patents (Class 700/278)
  • Patent number: 11240974
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods, the grow module defining a plurality of grow chambers spaced apart along the circumferential direction. One or more resilient sealing elements, e.g., formed from silicone, are positioned at the distal ends of the grow module to seal a gap between the grow module and the liner. The resilient sealing elements define one or more air ducts for providing a flow of air through the resilient sealing element into one of the plurality of chambers and a flow regulating device for regulating the flow of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 11188832
    Abstract: Method and environment controller for validating a predictive model of a neural network. The environment controller receives at least one environmental characteristic value and determines a plurality of input variables. At least one of the plurality of input variables is based on one among the environmental characteristic value(s). The environment controller executes an environment control software module for calculating at least one output variable based on the plurality of input variables. The environment controller transmits the plurality of input variables to a training server executing a neural network training engine using the predictive model; and receives at least one inferred output variable from the training server. Each inferred output variable corresponds to one of the at least one output variable calculated by the environment control software module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: DISTECH CONTROLS INC.
    Inventor: Francois Gervais
  • Patent number: 11187448
    Abstract: The invention provides an air conditioner control method and device and an air conditioner. The air conditioner control device acquires a current temperature of a chilled water of a unit at a preset period; determine a target load of the unit, a target temperature of a chilled water and a target temperature of a cooling water based on a temperature of the chilled water set by a user and the current temperature of the chilled water; determine an evaporating parameter and a condensing parameter of the unit based on the target load of the unit, the target temperature of the chilled water and the target temperature of the cooling water; and determine operation parameters of a compressor based on the target load of the unit, the evaporation parameter and the condensation parameter. Therefore, the unit can operate based on the operation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai
    Inventors: Zhiping Zhang, Zhongkeng Long, Chiliang Luo, Bing Zhang
  • Patent number: 11190605
    Abstract: A system and method for connecting devices includes receiving from a first device a request to follow a second device, and setting a following relationship between the first device and the second device in response to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-Min Kim, Jong-Chang Lee, Won-Joo Park, Hyun-Sik Shim, Young-Hee Park, Moon-Sang Lee, Min-Soo Koo, Seung-Hyun Yoon, Ji-In Nam
  • Patent number: 11182714
    Abstract: A method for generating an optimal nominated capacity value for participation in a capacity market program (CMP) includes generating, by a processing circuit, an objective function comprising a nominated capacity term, wherein the nominated capacity term indicates a nominated capacity value, wherein the nominated capacity value is a curtailment value that a facility is on standby to reduce its load by in response to receiving a dispatch from a utility. The method includes optimizing, by the processing circuit, the objective function to determine the optimal nominated capacity value for a program operating period and transmitting, by the processing circuit, the optimal nominated capacity value to one or more systems associated with the CMP to participate in the CMP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Michael J. Wenzel, Mohammad N. Elbsat
  • Patent number: 11168908
    Abstract: A method for controlling an air conditioner includes obtaining initial indoor ambient temperature and humidity, obtaining an initial dew point temperature according to the initial indoor ambient temperature and humidity, controlling a temperature of an indoor heat exchanger coil to be equal to the initial dew point temperature and maintaining a current operating frequency of a compressor unchanged, obtaining a current indoor ambient temperature, judging whether the current indoor ambient temperature is lower than or equal to a set temperature, if so, obtaining a current indoor ambient humidity and obtaining a current moisture content and a current dew point temperature according to the current indoor ambient temperature and the current indoor ambient humidity, and controlling the air conditioner to perform humidification or dehumidification according to the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger coil, the current moisture content, and the current dew point temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhanli Xi, Jinbo Li, Bobo Zhang
  • Patent number: 11165270
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a battery and a battery management system. The battery management system is configured to derive a predicted battery demand based on observed usage patterns to predictively charge the battery to healthily accommodate the predicted battery demand. The battery management system is further configured to determine a predicted deviating battery demand based on a contextual signal. The predicted deviating battery demand differing from the predicted battery demand. The battery management system is further configured to predictively charge the battery to healthily accommodate the predicted deviating battery demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Daniel Owen, Dongli Zeng, Jeffrey Duane Bruce
  • Patent number: 11105525
    Abstract: A method for heating or cooling rooms in a building with a temperature-controlled system, the temperature-controlled system has a central heater or cooler with a run-around coil system having a supply line and a return line, a central circulation pump for circulating a temperature-control fluid in the run-around coil system, at least two heat exchanger devices that thermally supply one room of the building and are connected to the supply line and the return line of the run-around coil system, one valve with an actuator for each heat exchanger device, one room temperature sensor for each thermally supplied room, and a central open- and closed-loop control unit that is connected to the actuators of the valves and to the room temperature sensors. The method serves to bring about, in the thermally supplied rooms, a temperature transition from a starting state to an end state, with corresponding room temperature setpoint values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: OBLAMATIK AG
    Inventor: Roland Obrist
  • Patent number: 11073291
    Abstract: An external control unit to be connected between a power source and an electrically driven pump to act as a smart switch to convert a “dumb” pump into a smart pump. The control system of this invention comprises a microcontroller-operated switch, located between the power source and the pump, or other fluid flow control device to be operated by electricity, and which can be programmed to record usage data of, e.g., hot water, by the household; it sets up the operating times in accordance with such usage. A temperature sensor is connected to the microcontroller to sense a temperature change, in a hot water system is turned on, by measuring an increase in temperature to indicate flow through the hot water pipe, and to record such data. This will determine, in the context of a hot water system, when the pump should be activated to bring up hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Iaco, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Kellicker, Carl A. Perrone, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11073850
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Theresa N. Gillette
  • Patent number: 11054158
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirosato Sakai, Hidenori Syougen, Nobuyuki Morimoto, Tsuraki Nakajima, Shingo Takenawa, Masahiro Yamaguchi, Kazuki Doumoto
  • Patent number: 11034210
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Goel, Vijaykumar Sathyamurthi
  • Patent number: 11022335
    Abstract: 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 signa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventors: Robert J. Mowris, John Walsh
  • Patent number: 11015825
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: FORTUNE ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Ching Lin, Ching-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 10996702
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Cottrell
  • Patent number: 10990076
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Igor Cerqueira Oliveira, Ana Paula Appel, Paula Fernanda Pereira
  • Patent number: 10982583
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito Yoshiura, Daisuke Kobayashi, Yoichiro Higuchi, Yasushi Kusaka
  • Patent number: 10982867
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Chicago Controls Thermostats, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Lyle
  • Patent number: 10969130
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Petr Endel, Karel Marik, Ondrej Holub
  • Patent number: 10935268
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Pradeep Kumar Gottumukkala
  • Patent number: 10902531
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Promanthan Brains LLC
    Inventor: Oliver Markus Haynold
  • Patent number: 10900682
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Barbara Dean-Hendricks, Joshua Jacque Edberg, David Quam, Amy Ragland
  • Patent number: 10895395
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Kojima, Yoshiaki Koizumi, Hidetoshi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10816234
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Ajax, Joseph R. Ribbich
  • Patent number: 10767883
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: ENCYCLE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Bryan Malcolm, Mark Howard Kerbel, Paul Stidworthy
  • Patent number: 10760810
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Nakashima, Masamichi Kachi, Tsuraki Nakajima, Ayumi Konishi
  • Patent number: 10760808
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dafa Gui
  • Patent number: 10756919
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Todd Kerzner, Stephen Scott Trundle
  • Patent number: 10739031
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Skylett Environmental Engineering Co. Limited
    Inventors: Tak On Andrew Lau, Gin Nam Sze To
  • Patent number: 10718539
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Allen J. Minich, Mark D. Stefanski
  • Patent number: 10713674
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Hongbo Sun
  • Patent number: 10712718
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: David Quam, Kevin Weirich, Brad Paine, Michael Bruce, Ix
  • Patent number: 10697662
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Evan J. Fisher
  • Patent number: 10677490
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Tien-Szu Lo, Meng-Seng Chen, Hsiang-Pin Lee, Ying-Hsiu Chen
  • Patent number: 10655874
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventor: Alexander Lawrence Reeder
  • Patent number: 10605472
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Parthibarajan Perumal Sekar, Nellaivadivu Paphanasum, Kalaivani Periyanadar, Sivakumar Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 10584890
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc.
    Inventor: John Douglas Steinberg
  • Patent number: 10574054
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: TOTAL SOLAR INTERNATIONAL, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Maziar Vanouni, Ning Lu, Wente Zeng
  • Patent number: 10544956
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alie El-Din Mady, Konstantinos Kouramas, Marcin T. Cychowski, Lionel Andreas Hertig
  • Patent number: 10539854
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: VIEW, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Clark Brown, Deepika Khowal, Namrata Vora, Santosh V. Philip
  • Patent number: 10527308
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Mahar, Matthew J. Eyring, Clint H. Gordon-Carroll, Jeremy B. Warren, James E. Nye, Jefferson H. Lyman
  • Patent number: 10506743
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Dominick Lovicott, Hasnain Shabbir
  • Patent number: 10481780
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Adam Ruff, Jonathan P. Solnit, Edwin H. Satterthwaite
  • Patent number: 10465931
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation
    Inventor: Enda Barrett
  • Patent number: 10465921
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Milan Kriz, Petr Wagner
  • Patent number: 10466660
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: S.A. Armstrong Limited
    Inventor: Marcelo Javier Acosta Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 10451303
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Sina Jasteh
  • Patent number: 10352884
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Turner, Paul Robert Buda, Scott Robert Brown, Gary Brent Pollard, David R. Glasgow
  • Patent number: 10344995
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Senthil Chinnaiyan
  • Patent number: 10330336
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ENERGY ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Albert Reid Wallace