USA Technologies, Inc.

Bayview Technology Group, Incorporated

Other

Digital Equipment Corporation

Encore Computer Corporation

Hydraconnect Sales LLC

Hydra Connect LLC

Bayview Ventures, Inc.

David J Schanin

Richard R Billig

Ronald M Salett

Paul C Kotschenreuther

Anthony Anzelmo

Bernard O Geaghan

A Ronald Caprio

Dan Van Der Hoop

Gary Strong

John P Cyr

Russel L Moore

John Reed Bartlett

Stephen S Corbin

Charles S Namias

Steven J Frank

David F Ford

Daniel Bernard Van Der Hoop

Russell L Moore

Brian D Gill

Trevor A Creary

David W Zopf

Mark J Matale

An HDMI switch system determines whether or not to make a connection requested by an HDMI sink and whether to send video alerts to the sink based on AV stream format and sink capabilities. To these ends, the switch system includes a metadata abstractor to determine a sink's capabilities from EDID data and to characterize an audio-visual stream. These devices are used to either analyze an existing data stream, or construct a new data stream based on the sink's capabilities.

HDMI switch system with video alerts

A phase-controlled power delivery system for a load such as an incandescent lamp controls the rate of transition of an AC power waveform as a function of switch temperature or other heat-related parameter to provide for time-varying optimization of a tradeoff between heat and noise.

Transition-rate control for phase-controlled AC power delivery system

An HDMI&#x2122; (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) switch includes a CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) processor for controlling high-definition audio-visual (AV) equipment. The CEC processor accepts user commands and translates them to control HDMI devices over HDMI; the translations can be manufacturer specific so that devices with different CEC implementations can be combined in a single system. CEC communications between HDMI devices is precluded or at least controlled to avoid problems due to incompatible CEC implementations and unwanted interactions. The CEC processor causes the HDMI switch to appear as an HDMI source to HDMI sink devices and as an HDMI sink to HDMI source devices for the purposes of assigning physical addresses. While CEC is designed to handle AV systems having only one sink (display), the novel HDMI switch provides for CEC-controlled AV systems with multiple displays, e.g., in different rooms.

Consumer electronics control (CEC) processor

A vending machine that dispenses items for use with a power source. Power control circuitry is electrically coupled between the power source and one or more vending components of the vending machine. A controller is adapted to manage the supply of electrical power to such components by transitioning between a normal-operation mode and at least one power-conserving mode. An audio signal detector is provided that generates at least one dispensing event signal that represents the occurrence of one or more sound-based dispensing events. The controller transitions between the power-conserving mode(s) and the normal-operation mode based upon the at least one dispensing event signal from the audio signal detector, and possibly other data signals supplied to the controller.

Method and apparatus for conserving power consumed by a vending machine utilizing audio signal detection

A spread-spectrum power converter uses an inter-cycle duty-cycle error compensation to achieve a combination of high-precision tracking of a target average duty cycle and a favorable noise signature. The pulse train consists of a series of cycles having cycle durations of a positive integer of clock cycles, pulse durations of a whole number of clock cycles, and duty cycles corresponding to a ratio of pulse durations over cycle durations. The pulse durations are selected at least in part as functions of a target average duty cycle, the respective cycle durations, and a ripple (or other) error from other cycles in the train. The cycle durations can also be in part a function of the target average duty cycle so that the duty cycle errors can be minimized.

Spread spectrum power converter with duty-cycle error compensation

A refrigerated appliance that dispenses items for use with a power source and includes a cooling system. Power control circuitry is electrically coupled between the power source and components (for example, a compressor and one or more circulating fans of the cooling system) of the appliance. A controller, which is operably coupled to the power control circuitry, is adapted to manage the supply of electrical power to such components by intelligently transitioning between a normal-operation mode and at least one power-conserving mode. To achieve efficient power conservation, an audio signal detector is provided that generates at least one dispensing event signal that represents the occurrence of one or more sound-based dispensing events. The controller automatically transitions between the power-conserving mode(s) and the normal-operation mode based upon at least one dispensing event data signal supplied to the controller by the audio signal detector, and possibly other data signals supplied to the controller.

Method and apparatus for conserving power consumed by a refrigerated appliance utilizing audio signal detection

Methods and apparatus that manage electric power consumed by an appliance are disclosed. The appliance has an interior accessible by consumers through a door having an open state and a closed state. The appliance includes a cooling system having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation for cooling the interior of the appliance. Power consumption is managed by monitoring the appliance to identify the open state of the door and transitioning the cooling system of the appliance from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation responsive at least in part to identification of the open state of the door.

Method and apparatus for power management control of a cooling system in a consumer accessible appliance

Power-management control methods and apparatus are disclosed. Power-management control is achieved by monitoring operational characteristics (such as current, compressor relay control signals, internal temperature) of an appliance during an extended period of operation, analyzing such operational characteristics to derive a characteristic cycle time of the cooling system of the appliance, and automatically decoupling the appliance from a power source in response to control signals provided by sensor(s). The appliance may be automatically coupled to the power source after expiration of a shutdown time period, which is automatically adjusted by the power management control system based upon the characteristic cycle time of the cooling system.

Method and apparatus for power management control of a compressor-based appliance that reduces electrical power consumption of an appliance

A refrigerated vending machine for dispensing items (such as soda cans or other beverage containers) includes a power source and a cooling system (e.g., evaporator, condenser, compressor, circulating fan). Power control circuitry selectively provides electrically coupling of at least one component of the cooling system to the power source. A controller, operably coupled to the power control circuitry, is adapted to control the power control circuitry in a power-conserving mode of operation and in a normal-operation mode. The controller automatically transitions from the power-conserving mode to the normal-operation mode based upon an activity event signal. The activity event signal may be provided by an occupancy sensor that senses occupancy in the vicinity of the refrigerated appliance. Alternatively, the activity event signal may represent vending activity (e.g., money insertion). The controller automatically transitions from the normal-operation mode to the power conservation mode based upon a temperature signal provided by an internal temperature sensor and/or the ouput of the occupancy sensor. The power-conserving mode of operation and the normal-operation mode provide different internal temperature characteristics (e.g., varying temperature variance) within a chamber in the refrigerated appliance.

Refrigerated vending machine exploiting expanded temperature variance during power-conservation mode

A refrigerated appliance that dispenses items includes a power source and a cooling system. Power control circuitry is electrically coupled between a power source (e.g., power cord coupled to a wall outlet) and components (for example, a compressor and one or more circulating fans of the cooling system) of the appliance. A controller, which is operably coupled to the power control circuitry, is adapted to manage the supply of electrical power to such components by intelligently transitioning between a normal-operation mode and at least one power-conserving mode. To achieve efficient power conservation, the controller automatically transitions between the at least one power-conserving mode and the normal-operation mode based upon at least one temperature signal, at least one dispensing event signal, and possibly other data signals supplied to the controller.

Method and apparatus for conserving power consumed by a refrigerated appliance utilizing dispensing event data signals

A refrigerated vending machine provides separate power conservation modes for the cooling system and the panel lights. Power conservation for the panel lights takes into account whether the vending machine is located indoors or outdoors. The location can be indicated by a setting by the vending machine operator or may be determined automatically according to maximum brightness or color temperature. If the vending machine is outdoors, the panel lights are turned off when the ambient is bright (to save energy when the panel lights are not needed) and turned on when the ambient is dark (to attract customers). If the vending machine is indoors, the panel lights are turned off when the ambient is dark (since the room is presumably vacant) and turned on when the ambient is bright (indicating the room is in use). Optionally, an occupancy sensor can be used to turn off the panel lights if the room light is on but no one has been detected in it. The cooling system uses a conservation mode in which circulation fans are switched off so only items in a position to be dispensed first or second are kept at the desired temperature.

Power-conservation system based on indoor/outdoor and ambient-light determinations

A refrigerated soda vending machine includes sensors for monitoring various parameters such as temperature within its refrigerated chamber and for monitoring occupancy in the chamber vicinity. Sensor data is used to determine when to switch between normal and power-conservation modes of operation. In either mode, a cooling system is regulated so that a compressor goes on when an upper internal temperature threshold is reached and off when a lower internal temperature threshold is reached. In normal mode, fans circulate air to maintain a relatively uniform temperature throughout the chamber. During power-conservation mode, the fans are mostly off when the compressor is off. In the absence of circulation, the temperature within the refrigerated chamber stratifies so that a lower cool zone and an upper warm zone can be differentiated. Soda cans are held in vertical stacks so that the lowest cans are located in the cool zone.

A refrigerated soda vending machine includes sensors for monitoring various parameters such as temperature within its refrigerated chamber and for monitoring occupancy in the vicinity of the chamber. The sensor data is used to determine when to switch between a normal mode of operation and a power-conservation mode of operation. In either mode of operation, a cooling system is regulated so that a compressor goes on when an upper internal temperature threshold is reached and off when a lower internal temperature threshold is reached. In the normal mode of operating, fans circulate air within the chamber to maintain a relatively uniform temperature throughout the chamber. During power-conservation mode, the fans are off most of the time the compressor is off. In the absence of circulation, the temperature within the refrigerated chamber stratifies so that a lower cool zone and an upper warm zone can be differentiated. Soda cans are held in vertical stacks so that the lowest cans are located in the cool zone. Cans are dispensed from the bottom of the stacks and thus only from the cool zone. With this arrangement, a patron can obtain an optimally chilled soda even though the average temperature in the chamber is above the optimal temperature range. Thus, energy can be conserved and operating costs reduced while meeting patron's expectations for cold sodas at all times.

An external power-management device controls the supply of electric power from a wall outlet to a refrigerated vending machine. The system includes a switch that couples power in an ON condition and decouples in an OFF condition. The switch is controlled by a controller based on data received from a current sensor, an occupancy sensor, a temperature sensor, and a time-of-year circuit. Upon startup, the current is monitored to determine maxima and minima for the vending machine. The system supplies power to the appliance during business hours as indicated by the time-of-year circuit and while the vicinity is occupied as determined by the occupancy sensor irrespective of the values for current and temperature. Absent the current sensor, the power would be decoupled after a predetermined duration of non-occupancy during nonbusiness hours. However, if the current sensor indicates a high (relative to the previously determined minima and maxima) current at the proposed shutdown time, shutdown is aborted to avoid interruption of a compression (cooling) cycle initiated by the vending machine. The temperature is used in determining when, after shutdown, power is resumed to permit vending machine contents to be cooled.

External power management device with current monitoring precluding shutdown during high current

A power conservation system (PCS) includes a data handler, a controller and a power switch. The data handler is located between a host network and a network printer, while the power switch is between an AC power source and the printer's power input. The PCS can thus shut down the printer during periods when no data is being sent to the printer. The PCS monitors data to and from the printer, allowing it to track the printer's state and to capture its network identification. State tracking permits the PCS to emulate the printer when it is down and when it is booting. Additionally, the information stored in a state memory of the data handler can permit the printer's last ready state to be reconstructed after it turns on and boots to a ready state. In some cases, the data handler can answer network requests without turning on the printer. Thus, the PCS provides for effective power conservation while remaining invisible to a user.

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Denver, CO, United States of America

David J Schanin