A slider function is provided in a human machine interface (HMI) using buttons. In order to allow a user to increase or decrease a parameter setting, a message is displayed in a display area with at least one visible linear border of a display device, prompting the user to swipe in a direction to increase or decrease the parameter setting. Three or more selectable buttons are displayed in a series parallel to at least one visible linear border in a selection area of a touchscreen device. A selected increase or decrease in the parameter setting is determined based on the order in which at least two adjacent buttons of the three or more selectable buttons are selected by the user. The display device and the touchscreen device can be parts of a single touchscreen device. The single touchscreen device includes the display area and the selection area.
G06F 3/04886 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
G06F 3/04817 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance using icons
G06F 3/04842 - Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements
G06F 3/04847 - Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
A device in the home is connected to a home control system that includes a control system device in the home and one or more servers outside of the home. A device identifier of a device in a home is discovered using a mobile application of a mobile device when the mobile device is in the home. The device is configured to communicate wirelessly via a first protocol of one or more protocols. The device identifier is sent to a control system device in the home using the mobile application. The device identifier is sent through one or more servers in communication with the control system device using a wireless duplex server communication protocol. A control device identifier and an encryption key of the control system device are sent to the device using the mobile application using the first protocol when the mobile device is in the home.
A central HVAC thermostat controls a central HVAC system of a home. The thermostat further includes a control unit and remote-control device for controlling at least one room HVAC system in a room of the home. The control unit generates control data for the at least one room HVAC system. The remote-control device receives the control data from the control unit. The remote-control device converts the control data to wireless control signals. Finally, the remote-control device sends the wireless control signals to the at least one room HVAC system using a first wireless communication technology. The at least one room HVAC system can include at least one air conditioner or at least one heat pump. The first wireless communication technology can be infrared technology. The control unit further transmits the control data to the remote-control device using a second wireless communication technology.
An EV charger locking system includes a plunger, one or more springs, and an electrically controlled actuator. The plunger contacts a lockable portion of an EV charger inserted into a channel of an EV charging socket. When uncompressed, the one or more springs position a tip of the plunger in a return position in or above a hole of the channel. When compressed, the one or more springs apply a force in a second direction to return the tip to the return position. When activated, the actuator applies a mechanical force to the plunger in a first direction to move the tip through the hole and to position the tip in a locking position in the channel to contact the lockable portion. When deactivated, the actuator removes the mechanical force from the plunger, allowing the plunger to be returned to the return position by the one or more springs.
B60L 53/16 - Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
H01R 13/629 - Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure
H01R 13/635 - Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure for disengagement only by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force
H01R 13/642 - Means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling by position or shape of contact members
H01R 43/26 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device
A power line communication device measures a total current flowing through one or more power lines providing power to EV chargers. The device establishes communication with at least one of the EV chargers using the one or more power lines as the communications medium. The device further communicates power management information to the EV chargers. When the device receives a request from the EV chargers, it calculates a current for each of the EV chargers from the total current, the preset maximum current, or both the total current and the preset maximum current, and communicates a calculated current to each of the EV chargers. Alternatively, the device can provide the total current to one of the EV chargers that acts as a power manager and communicates power management information to the other EV chargers using the one or more power lines as the communications medium.
An EV charger includes a modular housing system that includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing is adapted to enclose electrical circuitry that connects power source inputs from a power source input cable to EV charging outputs of an EV charging output cable. The first housing includes a first port and a second port. The first housing receives the input cable through the first port and sends the output cable through the second port. The second housing includes multiple ports. The second housing receives the output cable through one of its ports. The second housing further includes an EV charging socket or a tethered EV charger connector for charging an EV. In one embodiment, the second housing can be separated from the first housing using a conduit. In another embodiment, the second housing can be directly connected to the first housing.
An apparatus supports smart assistant services with a plurality of smart service providers. The apparatus includes an audio device that receives a speech signal having a user utterance, captures the user utterance when the user utterance includes a user wake word, and sends the captured utterance to a backend computing device. The backend computing device replaces the user wake word with specific wake words associated with different smart service providers. The processed utterances are then sent to selected smart service providers. The backend computing device subsequently constructs feedback to the user utterance based on voice responses from the different smart service providers. The backend computing device then passes a digital representation of the feedback to the audio device, and the audio device converts the digital representation to an audio reply to the user utterance.
Current thermostat data including room temperature readings, thermostat control commands, and user input temperature set point changes is collected. The current thermostat data is sent from a thermostat to a cloud server that creates and continually updates a first server machine learning model trained using previous and the current thermostat data, a second thermostat machine learning model is created for sending control commands to the thermostat using the previous and the current thermostat data, and the second thermostat machine learning model is updated. The second thermostat machine learning model is updated by sending updated model parameters from the first server machine learning model to the second thermostat machine learning model. One or more new thermostat commands determined from the current thermostat data are received from the second thermostat machine learning model and the one or more new thermostat commands are executed.
G05B 13/02 - Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion electric
F24F 11/58 - Remote control using Internet communication
F24F 11/64 - Electronic processing using pre-stored data
A lawnmower is instructed to move from a reference point along the boundary wire and to follow the boundary wire along a boundary path back to the reference point, using data from at least one wire sensor of the lawnmower. One or more elements are determined along the boundary path using distance data from at least one distance sensor of the lawnmower and using angular velocity data from at least one direction sensor of the lawnmower. The one or more elements are identified as one of at least three different types of elements. The mowing area is calculated from the identified types of the one or more elements and the distance data and angular velocity data received for the one or more elements. Other important features are obtained from the calculation of the mowing area including, but not limited to, multiple starting points and a parallel mowing pattern.
An EV charger connector holder includes a housing with a base and cover and at least one removable socket plug. The housing includes a first opening and a second opening. The base includes a base plate, a first base plug-holding structure, and a second base plug-holding structure. The cover includes a first cover plug-holding structure and a second cover plug-holding structure. When the base and the cover are attached, the first base plug-holding structure and the first cover plug-holding structure form a first housing port at the first opening and the second base plug-holding structure and the second cover plug-holding structure form a second housing port at the second opening. The removable socket plug includes an outside structure adapted for fixation to the first housing port or the second housing port and an inside structure adapted for receiving and locking to a first type of electrical connector.
A smart thermostatic system is disclosed that applies one or more of a reinforcement and/or adaptive learning model for a new environment with the trained model from another environment so as to initiate status of a thermostatic device. In one example, the thermostatic system uses a pretrained machine learning model that is transferred from a first thermostatic system to a second thermostatic system in a similar sub-environment. Temperature data and other data collected by the thermostatic device is used to fine-tune and train the pretrained model to learn, predict, and better adjust the operation of the thermostatic system.
G05B 13/02 - Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion electric
19.
Local Computing Cloud That is Interactive With a Public Computing Cloud
A home computing cloud (HCC) supports one or more Internet of Things (IoT) devices, possibly with different connectively protocols, in a local environment. The HCC often reduces the amount of data traffic sent to a public computing cloud (PCC) by locally processing collected device data rather than by sending the device data to the PCC for processing. This approach reduces the amount of data traffic sent over the network, improves data privacy and helps to maintain a desired quality of service level. In order to do so, the HCC may download an appropriate data analytic model from the PCC, train the model, execute the trained model to obtain prediction information from collected IoT device data, and upload the trained model to the PCC. Alternatively, the HCC and PCC may execute sub-models of the analytic model and exchange the outputs of the sub-models with each other.
G06F 11/07 - Responding to the occurrence of a fault, e.g. fault tolerance
H04L 12/28 - Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
H04L 67/12 - Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
G06F 18/214 - Generating training patternsBootstrap methods, e.g. bagging or boosting
A thermostatic radiator valve supports a display that is configurable to display TRV information for a desired viewing direction to facilitate reading by a user, where the TRV comprises a configurable electronic display, a configuration circuit, and a processing device. The configuration circuit is capable of detecting when the TRV has been installed, determining a desired display orientation from a plurality of orientations with respect to a designated surface via a sensor in response to the detecting, and generating a display indicator indicative of the desired display orientation. The processing device is capable of receiving the display indicator and configuring the configurable electronic display to display the TRV information in the desired display orientation.
F24F 11/523 - Indication arrangements, e.g. displays for displaying temperature data
F24F 11/84 - Control systems characterised by their outputsConstructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers using valves
F24F 140/00 - Control inputs relating to system states
G01P 15/18 - Measuring accelerationMeasuring decelerationMeasuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration in two or more dimensions
G09G 3/18 - Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of a single character by selection from a plurality of characters, or by composing the character by combination of individual elements, e.g. segments by control of light from an independent source using liquid crystals
21.
Buried wireless unit for measuring and reporting environmental parameters
A buried wireless unit measures various soil parameters of surrounding soil and reports them to centralized equipment. In order to provide reliable communication with the centralized equipment, the buried wireless unit may extend a pop-up antenna when transmitting soil parameter data and may subsequently retract the antenna. The wireless unit unwinds and winds a wire, where an electrical cable connects the antenna to a communication module, in order to extend and retract the antenna, respectively. The wireless unit comprises a bendable sleeve enabling the antenna to be flexible so that damage to the wireless unit is avoided if a vehicle (such as a tractor) rolls over the wireless unit. In order to preserve the battery powering the wireless unit, the wireless unit may skip retracting the antenna when the wireless unit determines that charging level of the battery is below a predetermined charging level.
H04B 1/38 - Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
H04Q 9/00 - Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
A programmable thermostat supports at least one attribute where each different attribute values may support different sets of thermostatic settings. The programmable thermostat may be programmed based on the different attribute values rather than on temperature set points that are traditionally mapped to programmed times. Each set may include settings for a plurality of controlled equipment including a heating/cooling system, fan, ventilator, humidifier, and/or de-humidifier. Each embodiment may support attribute values associated with an occupancy attribute (which is indicative whether or not people are occupying an environmental entity) and/or a scenario attribute (which flexibly maps different thermostatic settings to different scenario attribute values). Stored configuration data about the thermostatic settings may be organized as a tree structure, where the leaves correspond to the thermostatic settings. A programmable thermostat/ventilator controller may also instruct a ventilator system to run during an adjustable pre-occupancy purge time duration before an environmental entity is occupied.
F24F 11/49 - Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
F24F 11/54 - Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
A programmable thermostat supports at least one attribute where each different attribute values may support different sets of thermostatic settings. The programmable thermostat may be programmed based on the different attribute values rather than on temperature set points that are traditionally mapped to programmed times. Each set may include settings for a plurality of controlled equipment including a heating/cooling system, fan, ventilator, humidifier, and/or de-humidifier. Each embodiment may support attribute values associated with an occupancy attribute (which is indicative whether or not people are occupying an environmental entity) and/or a scenario attribute (which flexibly maps different thermostatic settings to different scenario attribute values). Stored configuration data about the thermostatic settings may be organized as a tree structure, where the leaves correspond to the thermostatic settings. A programmable thermostat/ventilator controller may also instruct a ventilator system to run during an adjustable pre-occupancy purge time duration before an environmental entity is occupied.
F24F 11/54 - Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
F24F 11/61 - Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication using timers
F24F 11/64 - Electronic processing using pre-stored data
F24F 11/65 - Electronic processing for selecting an operating mode
F24F 11/77 - Control systems characterised by their outputsConstructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure for controlling air flow rate or air velocity by controlling the speed of ventilators
F24F 11/80 - Control systems characterised by their outputsConstructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air
An aspect of the embodiments provides a compensation for the temperature rise effect on the printed circuit board (PCB) of an electronic thermostat to obtain better precision and performance. Once the measurements from the temperature sensors have stabilized, the compensated ambient temperature may be used by an associated system (for example, a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system).
G05D 23/19 - Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
G05D 23/32 - Automatic controllers with an auxiliary heating device affecting the sensing element, e.g. for anticipating change of temperature with provision for adjustment of the effect of the auxiliary heating device, e.g. as a function of time
F24F 11/30 - Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
A home computing system (cloud) integrates a protocols gateway, WiFi router, cloud server, and mass storage device to support one or more Internet of Things (IoT) devices, possibly with different connectively protocols, in a local environment such as a residential home. The home computing cloud often reduces the amount of data traffic sent to a public computing cloud by locally processing collected device data rather than by sending the device data to the public computer cloud for processing. The home computing cloud may download an appropriate data analytic model from the public computing cloud, locally train (for example, reinforcement learning) the model, and locally execute the trained model to obtain prediction information from collected IoT device data. The home computing cloud also allows direct access of the connected IoT devices by user applications via the internet, through a protocols gateway and an IoT message translator.
A home computing cloud (HCC) supports one or more Internet of Things (IoT) devices, possibly with different connectively protocols, in a local environment. The HCC often reduces the amount of data traffic sent to a public computing cloud (PCC) by locally processing collected device data rather than by sending the device data to the PCC for processing. This approach reduces the amount of data traffic sent over the network, improves data privacy and helps to maintain a desired quality of service level. In order to do so, the HCC may download an appropriate data analytic model from the PCC, train the model, execute the trained model to obtain prediction information from collected IoT device data, and upload the trained model to the PCC. Alternatively, the HCC and PCC may execute sub-models of the analytic model and exchange the outputs of the sub-models with each other.
H04L 12/28 - Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
H04L 67/12 - Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
An apparatus supports smart assistant services with a plurality of smart service providers. The apparatus includes an audio device that receives a speech signal having a user utterance, captures the user utterance when the user utterance includes a user wake word, and sends the captured utterance to a backend computing device. The backend computing device replaces the user wake word with specific wake words associated with different smart service providers. The processed utterances are then sent to selected smart service providers. The backend computing device subsequently constructs feedback to the user utterance based on voice responses from the different smart service providers. The backend computing device then passes a digital representation of the feedback to the audio device, and the audio device converts the digital representation to an audio reply to the user utterance.
A health condition of a person may be assessed from a thermal sensor signal. By increasing performance indices of a thermal camera (for example, resolution, frame rate, sensitivity), operation may be extended to identification verification, biometric data extraction and health condition analysis, and so forth. Prediction may be carried out by monitoring a time sequence of thermal images, and consequently early warning of the health condition may be provided. The apparatus may be used for, but not limited to, personalization of smart home devices through supervised and reinforcement learnings. The application of the apparatus may be, but not limited to, smart homes, smart buildings and smart vehicles, and so forth.
G06F 21/32 - User authentication using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
B60N 2/00 - Seats specially adapted for vehiclesArrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
B60W 40/08 - Estimation or calculation of driving parameters for road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit related to drivers or passengers
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communicationsNetwork security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
G06V 20/59 - Context or environment of the image inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
G06V 40/10 - Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestriansBody parts, e.g. hands
G06V 10/143 - Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths
A mounting device facilitates connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) device, such as thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) and automatic temperature balanced actuator (ABA), to a hydronic heating/cooling system to control the temperature of a room by changing the flow of hot/cold water through radiator. The mounting devices includes a male section and a female section, which is attached to the IoT device. The mounting device may be installed in two stages. First, a male section is attached to a component of the hydronic heating/cooling system (for example, a valve or manifold) by threading the male section onto the component. Second, a female section, is positioned to male section and locked into place by rotating a rotary sleeve. The female section (with the IoT device) may be easily removed by rotating the rotary sleeve into an unlock position.
F16L 37/23 - Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is maintained by means of balls, rollers, or helical springs under radial pressure between the parts by means of balls
F16K 51/00 - Other details not peculiar to particular types of valves or cut-off apparatus
F16L 21/08 - Joints with sleeve or socket with additional locking means
A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) assembly or automatic temperature balanced actuator (ABA) assembly controls a manifold assembly through a push pin bearing mechanism. The push pin bearing mechanism comprises a push pin that moves in a linear direction responsive to rotational movement of a motor gear that is coupled through a helical gear. Rotational movement of the push pin is prevented by a ball bearing assembly. Movement of the push pin is transferred to a manifold pin, which in turn, controls the manifold assembly. Because the push pin moves in a linear rather than a rotational fashion, erosion of the mated manifold pin is substantially reduced with respect to transitional approaches.
A mounting device facilitates connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) device, such as thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) and automatic temperature balanced actuator (ABA), to a hydronic heating/cooling system to control the temperature of a room by changing the flow of hot/cold water through radiator. The mounting devices includes a male section and a female section, which is attached to the IoT device. The mounting device may be installed in two stages. First, a male section is attached to a component of the hydronic heating/cooling system (for example, a valve or manifold) by threading the male section onto the component. Second, a female section, is positioned to male section and locked into place by releasing a sliding sleeve. The female section (with the IoT device) may be easily removed by retracting the sliding sleeve.
G05D 23/185 - Control of temperature with auxiliary non-electric power
B21D 53/02 - Making other particular articles heat exchangers, e.g. radiators, condensers
B23P 19/04 - Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformationTools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes for assembling or disassembling parts
F24D 19/10 - Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
32.
Biometric data capturing and analysis using a hybrid sensing systems
Apparatuses and methods detect a health condition of a user that may be assessed from a thermal sensor signal and/or radar sensor signal. One or more resultant biometric vectors may be generated from biometric vectors based on the thermal and radar signals, where the resultant biometric vectors contain resultant information about one or more biometric features for a user. Hazard information about the user is obtained from the one or more resultant biometric vectors, where the hazard information is indicative of a health event for the user. Consequently, an appropriate action on behalf of the user may be performed to ameliorate the health condition. The one or more resultant biometric vectors may include additional biometric features and/or a time sequence of the resultant biometric vectors to enhance hazard prediction. Moreover, the apparatuses and methods may support the user in different settings including a home, business, or vehicle.
G16H 50/30 - ICT specially adapted for medical diagnosis, medical simulation or medical data miningICT specially adapted for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics for calculating health indicesICT specially adapted for medical diagnosis, medical simulation or medical data miningICT specially adapted for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics for individual health risk assessment
G16H 10/60 - ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
A heating/cooling system modulates the temperature of water flowing through a hydronic emitter by mixing water flows through a mixing valve. The mixing valve has an inlet connect to a water flow pipe, an inlet connected to a water return pipe, and an outlet connected to the hydronic emitter. Water flows through the inlets are configured to obtain a desired mixed water flow at a targeted temperature through the outlet. A controller receives temperature information from a thermometer and then determines the targeted temperature of the outlet. The controller then determines an inlet ratio and configures the mixing valve based on the ratio. The heating/cooling system may support one or more heating/cooling zones and may operate either in a heating or a cooling mode.
A health condition of a person may be assessed from a thermal sensor signal. By increasing performance indices of a thermal camera (for example, resolution, frame rate, sensitivity), operation may be extended to identification verification, biometric data extraction and health condition analysis, and so forth. Prediction may be carried out by monitoring a time sequence of thermal images, and consequently early warning of the health condition may be provided. The apparatus may be used for, but not limited to, personalization of smart home devices through supervised and reinforcement learnings. The application of the apparatus may be, but not limited to, smart homes, smart buildings and smart vehicles, and so forth.
G06K 9/00 - Methods or arrangements for reading or recognising printed or written characters or for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints
B60N 2/00 - Seats specially adapted for vehiclesArrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
B60W 40/08 - Estimation or calculation of driving parameters for road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit related to drivers or passengers
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots
G06F 21/32 - User authentication using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communicationsNetwork security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
A controller assembly allows an adjusted flow of water through a hydronic emitter in order to heat or cool an environmental entity. The controller assembly operates in two phases: a calibration phase and an operational phase. During the calibration phase, the controller assembly discovers a valve position where water starts to flow through the hydronic emitter based on signals from a temperature sensor and/or a sound sensor. The temperature sensor may be mounted in close proximity of the emitter inlet so that the controller assembly can detect when the temperature starts to change. The sound sensor may be mounted on the valve body to detect a rushing water sound that is associated with a start of the water flow. The discovered valve position is subsequently used by the controller assembly to adjust water flow between a minimum flow and a maximum flow.
F24F 11/84 - Control systems characterised by their outputsConstructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers using valves
F16K 37/00 - Special means in or on valves or other cut-off apparatus for indicating or recording operation thereof, or for enabling an alarm to be given
F24D 3/12 - Tube and panel arrangements for ceiling, wall, or underfloor heating
F24F 5/00 - Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by group or
G05B 19/042 - Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers using digital processors
36.
Pulse modulated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control
off) may be a proportional lower floor temperature compared to a traditional circuit supporting a constant water flow. The UFH system may heat a plurality of rooms, each having different floor temperature limitations. The floor temperatures may be limited differently by pulsing the hydronic emitters (circuits) rooms differently.
F24D 19/10 - Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
F24D 3/02 - Hot-water central heating systems with forced circulation, e.g. by pumps
F24D 3/14 - Tube and panel arrangements for ceiling, wall, or underfloor heating incorporated in a ceiling, wall or floor
G05B 11/28 - Automatic controllers electric in which the output signal is a pulse-train using pulse-height modulationAutomatic controllers electric in which the output signal is a pulse-train using pulse-width modulation
G05B 11/42 - Automatic controllers electric with provision for obtaining particular characteristics, e.g. proportional, integral, differential for obtaining a characteristic which is both proportional and time-dependent, e.g. P. I., P. I. D.
G05D 23/19 - Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
37.
Temperature delta control for a hydronic heating/cooling system
A controller assembly controls water flow through individual emitters of a heating/cooling system based on a temperature setpoint and room temperature indicator obtained from an associated thermostat. The controller assembly provides delta temperature room control using a high precision movement actuator fitted with two pipe temperature sensors to power modulate individual radiators, underfloor heating circuits or fan-coils to provide energy efficiency for individual room heating/cooling control. Based on the temperature difference between the room temperature and the setpoint the controller assembly controls water flow through the emitter by adjusting a valve to attain a target temperature delta between the inlet and outlet of the emitter. As the room temperature approaches the setpoint so that the temperature difference decreases, the power output of the emitter is modulated to achieve desirable performance characteristics.
F24F 11/83 - Control systems characterised by their outputsConstructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
F24D 19/10 - Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
F24D 3/04 - Hot-water central heating systems with the water under high pressure
G05B 19/042 - Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers using digital processors
F24F 3/06 - Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatmentApparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the arrangements for the supply of heat-exchange fluid for the subsequent treatment of primary air in the room units
38.
Method and apparatus to provide comprehensive smart assistant services
An apparatus supports smart assistant services with a plurality of smart service providers. The apparatus includes an audio device that receives a speech signal having a user utterance, captures the user utterance when the user utterance includes a user wake word, and sends the captured utterance to a backend computing device. The backend computing device replaces the user wake word with specific wake words associated with different smart service providers. The processed utterances are then sent to selected smart service providers. The backend computing device subsequently constructs feedback to the user utterance based on voice responses from the different smart service providers. The backend computing device then passes a digital representation of the feedback to the audio device, and the audio device converts the digital representation to an audio reply to the user utterance.
G10L 15/30 - Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
39.
Scalable smart environment for controlling a plurality of controlled apparatuses using a connection hub to route a processed subset of control data received from a cloud computing resource to terminal units
Building blocks for a smart device such as a thermostat include a user interface (UI) unit and a terminal (TML) unit. A UI unit may support one or more input data from a user and/or sensors and/or one or more control terminals. The UI unit may process each input datum or a combination of the input data, generate a control signal to one or more control terminals based on the processing, and send the control signal to one or more control terminals over a communication channel. A terminal unit, which may consist of one or more control terminals, transforms the received control signal into one or more controls to one or more associated environmental generators. One or more UI units may control one or more controlled apparatuses in conjunction with a mobile app to allow a unified user experience.
A smart electrical plug supports one or more electrical outlets and one or more universal serial bus (USB) outlets for charging electrical devices. Electrical power consumed through the one or more electrical outlets may be measured individually or in combination and reported via a wireless communication channel. The smart electrical plug may be implemented by a plurality of printed circuit board assemblies and distributed within a housing to reduce the effects of heat dissipation. The smart electrical plug may further reduce heat dissipation by utilizing one or more electrical circuit approaches.
H01R 13/66 - Structural association with built-in electrical component
H01R 13/713 - Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch the switch being a safety switch
H01R 25/00 - Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits
H05K 1/14 - Structural association of two or more printed circuits
H02J 3/14 - Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
H05K 5/00 - Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus
G01R 19/25 - Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof using digital measurement techniques
H01R 27/02 - Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for simultaneous co-operation with two or more counterparts
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) assembly or automatic temperature balanced actuator (ABA) assembly controls a manifold assembly through a push pin bearing mechanism. The push pin bearing mechanism comprises a push pin that moves in a linear direction responsive to rotational movement of a motor gear that is coupled through a helical gear. Rotational movement of the push pin is prevented by a ball bearing assembly. Movement of the push pin is transferred to a manifold pin, which in turn, controls the manifold assembly. Because the push pin moves in a linear rather than a rotational fashion, erosion of the mated manifold pin is substantially reduced with respect to transitional approaches.
A heating system includes a single thermostat that controls multiple thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controllers that control heat transfer to radiators in a room. Each TRV controller has the capability to automatically detect the open/closing point and maximum heating point and to register corresponding pin positions of the valve. Each TRV controller is subsequently instructed by the thermostat to adjust the valve in relation to a determined percentage of the registered pin positions, thus accounting for the varying characteristics among the valves in the system. The TRV controller detects the maximum heating point by checking the rate of temperature rising and the open/closing point by sensing the temperature turning point through a temperature sensor situated appropriately in relation to the associated radiator.
F24D 19/10 - Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
F24D 19/00 - DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMSDOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMSELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR Details
F16K 37/00 - Special means in or on valves or other cut-off apparatus for indicating or recording operation thereof, or for enabling an alarm to be given
F16K 31/04 - Operating meansReleasing devices electricOperating meansReleasing devices magnetic using a motor
G05D 23/19 - Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
43.
Integrated wireless power sensor system for sensing and control of equipment
A system utilizes the colocation of the sensing and the control or other powered sections of the product to supplement the environmental conditions in which the energy harvesting sensors operate, thus providing a robust energy source for sensors to operate.
H02J 50/80 - Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
H02J 7/02 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries for charging batteries from AC mains by converters
A self-adjusting balance valve controller controls water flow through a hydronic emitter in a heating and/or cooling temperature control system. The valve controller obtains a measured temperature differential between an inlet and an outlet of the hydronic emitter and determines a displacement of a coupling pin from the measured temperature differential. The valve controller then instructs a driving mechanism to move, through a coupling mechanism, the coupling pin to adjust a valve that results in a desired water flow through the hydronic emitter. The valve controller may maintain a stable temperature differential at a desired differential value, which may be obtained through a user interface or from a memory device. Moreover, the desired differential value may vary with different times of operation or temperature control situations.
A smart plug that is partitioned into a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) in a three dimensional manner to reduce its size. Aspects consider the effect of the possible increased internal temperature as the size of the smart plug is reduced. For example, thick metal foils connect various components of a smart plug to reduce heat dissipation within the smart plug. Also, a metal foil may transfer heat from contact metal on a PCB to a side wall of a plastic housing of the smart plug. The smart plug may comprise a computing device that obtains information identifying the attached electrical device and accesses device data about the time duration during which the attached electrical device exhibits transient characteristics. The computing device then uses the accessed data to effectively control the attached electrical device.
H01R 13/66 - Structural association with built-in electrical component
H02J 13/00 - Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the networkCircuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
H05K 1/14 - Structural association of two or more printed circuits
G01R 21/133 - Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor by using digital technique
H01R 24/30 - Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable with additional earth or shield contacts
H01R 24/78 - Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall with additional earth or shield contacts
The present invention supports the control of a plurality of controlled devices. With three dimensional accelerometer components, detection of a user action on a remote controller and the orientation of the remote controller are viable through small electronic devices. Aspects of the invention are based on the three dimensional accelerometer components to provide a remote controller that can detect the user action. Based on the user action, the remote controller transmits a signal to the controlled device which conveys the corresponding command. A selected controlled device may be matched to the remote controller. The remote controller and controlled device may also support a learning mode, in which the controlled device sends a list of supported commands to the remote controller. The remote controller then matches an associated action with each command in the command list.
G06F 3/048 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
G06F 3/0346 - Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the userAccessories therefor with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
G06F 3/01 - Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
G06F 3/038 - Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
A technique provides apparatuses, methods, and computer readable media for sending sleep information from an end device to a central unit of a network, in which the wake-up time of the end device is aligned to the scanning time for the central unit. The technique addresses at least two considerations: the clock accuracy of the end device is accounted for, and the reason that the end device requests sleep mode operation is provided. To address the above considerations, the end device may send its clock tolerance information and/or request for sleep mode (RSM) command to the central unit once the end device is connected via the network. The central unit may then adjust the scanning time based on the clock tolerance information. If the central unit receives a response from the end device during the adjusted scanning time, the central unit deems that the end device is still connected.
The present invention provides apparatuses and computer readable media for obtaining status information from a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and sending the status information to a remote networked device using a data container. A thermostat obtains status information from a HVAC system, associates the status information with a corresponding index number, and includes the index number and HVAC information in a data container. The data container can assume different forms, including a customer-defined cluster or a publicly accessible cluster. The HVAC information may be encoded so that the HVAC information can be included as an attribute of the publicly accessible cluster. HVAC information may include relay status of a relay in the HVAC system. The relay is identified by an index number that is included in an attribute. A networked device typically receives the HVAC information from the thermostat in at least one data container.
The present invention provides apparatuses, methods, and computer readable media for updating memory containing representations of computer-executable instructions in a processing system. A primary processor receives original sets of computer-readable instructions and updated sets of computer-readable instructions for the processors in processor system from a host system. The sets of computer-readable instructions are stored in memory (e.g., flash memory), where each processor in the system may utilize different sets. The primary processor then initiates updating its firmware with the corresponding updated set. If the update is unsuccessful, the primary processor reverts to the original set and the update process is terminated. Otherwise, the firmware update proceeds to the secondary processor. If the firmware update succeeds, the next secondary processor is updated. Otherwise, all of the updated processors revert to the corresponding original set of computer-readable instructions and the updating process is terminated.
The present invention supports the control of a plurality of controlled devices. With three dimensional accelerometer components, detection of a user action on a remote controller and the orientation of the remote controller are viable through small electronic devices. Aspects of the invention are based on the three dimensional accelerometer components to provide a remote controller that can detect the user action. Based on the user action, the remote controller transmits a signal to the controlled device which conveys the corresponding command. A selected controlled device may be matched to the remote controller. The remote controller and controlled device may also support a learning mode, in which the controlled device sends a list of supported commands to the remote controller. The remote controller then matches an associated action with each command in the command list.
G06F 3/0346 - Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the userAccessories therefor with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
G06F 3/01 - Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for controlling the brightness of a display unit based on detected movement of an external object such as a user. An apparatus includes a display, e.g., a color liquid crystal display (LCD) or organic light emitting diode (OLED). A proximity circuit generates a transmitted signal and a received signal. The received signal results from the transmitted signal being reflected by an external object. A control unit processes the received signal to determine a degree of motion of the external object. When the degree of motion is greater than a first predetermined threshold but not greater than a second predetermined threshold, the display is activated and operating at partial intensity. When the degree of motion is greater than the second predetermined threshold, the display is activated at full intensity. The degree of motion may be determined from the variation of the received signal.
G09G 3/36 - Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix by control of light from an independent source using liquid crystals
G09G 5/00 - Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators
The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for boiling a liquid such as water. The liquid is heated at full power when the measured temperature of the liquid is below a first predetermined threshold. When the temperature is above the first predetermined threshold and below a second predetermined threshold, partial power, which may be based on the duty cycle, is applied to the heater. When the measured temperature of the liquid reaches the second predetermined threshold, power is removed from the heater after a predetermined time. When the increase of the measured temperature is less than a predetermined temperature change during a predetermined time duration, it is determined that the liquid is boiling and power is removed to the heater. If the level is too high or too low, an alarm may be activated and/or power removed from the heater.
The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for restricting access to a control unit in an environmental system based on a lock level. The control unit (e.g., a thermostat) is configured with a selected lock level, where each lock level is mapped to an associated set of features. A user is able to access any of the features from the associated set of features without entering a security sequence. Also, a feature parameter may be restricted in accordance with the activated lock level. The control unit may be reconfigured with a different lock level by an administrator only when a security sequence is entered. Also, features may be mapped by an administrator to a set of features when the control unit is operating in the locked state. When the control unit is operating in the unlocked state, all supported features can be accessed by a user.
The present invention provides apparatuses and systems for adjusting a communication channel between a control unit and a remote sensor. A system may include a control unit that controls an environmental unit and a remote sensor that provides data about an environmental factor as measured at the remote sensor. The remote sensor transmits a radio frequency (RF) signal that conveys the data to control unit through a directional antenna. The RF signal is received by the control unit through an omnidirectional antenna, and a signal strength parameter is determined from the received RF signal. A signal strength indication unit provides an indication from the signal strength parameter as a user adjusts the position of the directional antenna. With embodiments of the invention, a signal strength module generates an audio signal in accordance with an audio characteristic, which is indicative of the signal strength of the received RF signal.
The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for updating a target device from a clock device through a network. The clock device obtains a time value from a clock source and sends the time value to a target device. A node within the network determines a time delay, adjusts the time value in accordance with the time delay, and sends the adjusted time value to the target device. The node may determine a time delay from an internal timer or from a measurement message when adjusting the time value. The clock device may send a subsequent time update message to the target device if the target device does not acknowledge reception of a time update. The clock device may also send a time update message to a target device when a status change of daylight savings time occurs and obtain a subsequent time value from a clock source.
The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for configuring an electrical device to a selected orientation. Direction information that is indicative of the orientation of the electrical device is provided by a directional detection switch. A processor selects a selected orientation from a plurality of permitted orientations by processing the direction information and instructs a display unit to operate in the selected orientation. Different adjacent contacts of a directional detection switch are activated corresponding to different orientation of the electrical device. A conductive ball may be positioned by gravity and consequently conducts an electrical current between two corresponding adjacent contacts based on the orientation of the electrical device. A display unit of an electrical device may include an output component or an input component that is configured based on the orientation of the electrical device.
G09G 5/00 - Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators
G06F 3/041 - Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
G01P 15/135 - Measuring accelerationMeasuring decelerationMeasuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration by making use of inertia forces with conversion into electric or magnetic values by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass
57.
Apparatus for temperature control using a cycle rate control algorithm
The present invention controls a room temperature by controlling an environmental control unit. A total span about a setpoint temperature is adjusted in accordance with a previous total span and a multiplicative factor. The multiplicative factor is periodically updated from a desired cycle time and a previous cycle time. The room temperature may also be controlled by adjusting a duty cycle for controlling an environmental control unit. The duty cycle is adjusted based on an error associated with a previous control cycle and an attenuation factor. A new control cycle may be started by cutting the previous control cycle or a current control cycle may be extended if a predetermined condition is detected. The control mode is selected based on environmental characteristics and room characteristics. The control mode may include a span control mode and a duty cycle control mode that is selected from the cycle rate.
G05B 13/00 - Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
11 - Environmental control apparatus
Goods & Services
Electrical products; safety and security apparatus and instruments; personal and property protection devices; safety and security products namely personal and property protection devices and alarms such as smoke/fire, carbon monoxide (CO), combustible gas, and related accessories; alarms and detectors for personal and property protection; smoke, fire, carbon monoxide (CO) and combustible gas alarms and detectors; electrical control panels and switches; remote control apparatus; home and building control apparatus and instruments; electrical apparatus and instruments for the control of lighting, temperature, energy management/metering and door/room entry installations; thermostats; programmable thermostats; door entry controls; electronic timers; parts and accessories for all the aforesaid goods. Apparatus for lighting, heating, steam generating, refrigerating, drying and ventilating purposes; heating, ventilation and refrigeration products; heating, ventilation and refrigeration products including thermostats, zoning, air flow/quality and related accessories; apparatus for monitoring, controlling and regulating air flow, air quality and temperature; air conditioning apparatus; air filtering and purifying apparatus; lighting apparatus; parts and accessories for all the aforesaid goods.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Heating, ventilation and refrigeration products, namely, thermostats; Safety and security products, namely, smoke, fire, carbon dioxide, and combustible gas alarms; home and building controls, namely, electric light switches, gas meters
