Emerson Electric Company

Diagraph Corporation

Edward B Evans

G Scott Vogel

William P Butler

Steven L Carey

John S Haefner

Jeffrey N Arensmeier

Donald E Donnelly

Carl J Mueller

Thomas B Lorenz

David Scott Drew

James P Garozzo

John M Sartain

Thomas J Fredricks

Lihui Tu

Jimmy L Droit

Amr E Gado

John R Sartain

Ron Miles

Swapna Subhash Baviskar

Donald E Donelly

Joann Donelon

Donald D Porter

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of controllers and methods for use in climate control systems. In an exemplary embodiment, a controller for use in a climate control system includes a charger for providing a charge current to a battery of the controller. The controller also includes a variable resistance for selectively limiting the charge current. A control is configured to monitor the charge current and a voltage of the battery. Based on the monitoring, the control varies the resistance to keep the monitored voltage in a range defined by (a) a top charge voltage less than full capacity of the battery and (b) a discharge end voltage greater than a cut-off voltage of the battery. The monitored voltage has a substantially minimized rate of change within the range.

Managing charge of a battery in a climate control device to prolong battery life

A climate control system includes a conditioning system for controlling air conditions of a space and a drain fitting coupling a condensate drain line to an air circulation unit of the conditioning system. The drain fitting includes multiple sensors configured to detect a water level in the air circulation unit relative to the drain fitting, and to output a signal to a controller indicative of contact with water. The controller is then configured to output a signal to a thermostat of the conditioning system upon determining that the water level is indicative of the drain line being plugged or blocked. The climate control system may also include a remote service provider system that allows remote interaction with the conditioning system.

Climate control systems, and methods relating thereto

Controllers and methods for controlling operation of a climate control appliance for heating and/or cooling a space are provided. One example controller includes a memory for storing at least one temperature offset and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to receive the reduced operation request from at least one of a utility provider and a user of the controller, to receive a sensed temperature from at least one sensor disposed within the space, and to determine an artificial temperature based on the sensed temperature and the at least one temperature offset associated with the reduced operation request. The processor is configured to, in response to the reduced operation request, operate the climate control appliance based on a comparison of the set-point temperature and artificial temperature during a reduced operation interval, to thereby reduce operation of the climate control appliance in response to the reduced operation request.

Controlling a climate control appliance in response to a reduced operation request

In exemplary embodiments, HVAC communication bus decoders and corresponding methods are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an HVAC communication bus decoder includes a control circuit having an input for coupling to an HVAC communication bus and one or more relays each having an output for coupling to a legacy HVAC system monitoring device. The control circuit is configured to read one or more messages transmitted on the HVAC communication bus, decode the one or more messages to determine a desired mode of operation called for by a thermostat connected to the HVAC communication bus, and energize at least one of the one or more relays to emulate a corresponding legacy HVAC signal representing the mode of operation called for by the thermostat to be provided to the legacy HVAC monitoring device.

HVAC communication bus decoders and corresponding methods

A thermostatic controller generally includes a transceiver configured to receive a signal that includes an energy price rate for a given time period, and an electronic memory device in which one or more energy price rates received by the transceiver are stored. A microprocessor is configured to select the lowest energy price rate received within a given time period for establishing a base energy price rate; determine if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate; and respond to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to an energy consuming appliance indicating that the energy consuming appliance should be in an off state and/or to one or more ceiling fans to activate, deactivate and/or change speed of the one or more ceiling fans.

Load reduction based on percentage change in energy price

A control system for a water heater generally includes a water heater controller configured to receive upper and lower sensor temperatures associated with water in the respective upper and lower portions of the tank. The water heater controller is configured to determine a value indicative of a portion of water in the tank at a desired set-point temperature as a function of the upper sensor temperature, the lower sensor temperature, and the desired set-point temperature. The water heater controller is configured to wirelessly transmit at least one signal indicative of said value indicative of the portion of water in the tank at the desired set-point temperature. A user interface includes a plurality of selectively illuminated segmented portions. The user interface is configured to receive said value from the water heater controller and to selectively illuminate a number of segmented portions representative of said value.

Systems and methods for controlling a water heater

An exemplary embodiment of a refrigerant charge monitoring system includes first and second sensors. The first sensor is operable for sensing temperature of a liquid refrigerant line that is connected to, within, or extending from an outlet of a condenser. The second sensor is operable for sensing pressure of the liquid refrigerant line. A controller is configured to determine at least one target pressure value from the sensed temperature of the liquid refrigerant line. The controller is configured to determine if the level of refrigerant charge is at, above or below an acceptable level based on a comparison of the sensed pressure of the liquid refrigerant line to the at least one target pressure value.

Refrigerant charge level detection

A thermostatic controller is configured for curtailing load when energy price rate is high. One or more energy price rates received by a receiver device are stored in an electronic memory. A microprocessor is operable to select from the one or more energy price rates the lowest energy price rate received within a given time period for establishing a base energy price rate. The microprocessor is operable to determine if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate. In response to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor, the microprocessor is configured to select a first temperature offset corresponding to the first percentage or multiplier factor and change the set point temperature by the first temperature offset.

A thermostat is provided that receives one or more inputs from at least one heating system of a climate control system, and initiates an appropriate action in response to the input. The thermostat can turn off a heat pump providing substandard heat and responsively turn on a fuel-fired auxiliary furnace. The thermostat may discontinue further operation of the auxiliary furnace upon receiving an operating error signal associated with the auxiliary furnace, and responsively turn on the heat pump to provide for continued heating. The thermostat may also discontinue operation of the fuel-fired furnace and turn on a circulating fan in response to an input signal indicating a furnace high-temperature or a carbon monoxide presence.

Climate control system including responsive controllers

A system for controlling the operation of a heating or cooling system includes a system controller, a memory in which system parameter information relating to the heating or cooling system is stored, and a communication device through which the system controller is configured to transmit and receive signals to/from at least one component controller. The system controller is configured to receive via the communication device a data signal from the at least one component controller that includes information relating to operational parameters for at least one system component installed in the heating and cooling system. The system controller is configured to store in the memory the received operational parameters corresponding to the at least one system component. The stored operational parameters may be retrievable for communication to a replacement component controller in the event that the at least one component controller is replaced.

Universal apparatus and method for configurably controlling a heating or cooling system

A control for a water heater is provided that comprises a pressure switch for sensing a predetermined level of airflow sufficient for maintaining proper burner operation, and a temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the water in the tank. The control further comprises a processor for controlling the operation of the burner to maintain the water temperature above a predetermined value. When the processor receives a signal from the pressure switch or temperature switch indicating a malfunction, the processor shuts down the burner and subsequently attempts to restart the burner. The processor will lock-out further burner operation after a predetermined number of consecutive shut downs occurs, and will communicate any malfunction information to a remote display device.

A system controller is provided that includes a communication network for transmitting and receiving information from an installed blower motor controller, and a removable memory device connected to the system controller. The removable memory device includes stored system parameter information related to a particular heating or cooling system, which information includes at least motor related parameters related to one or more types of blower motors. The system controller further includes a processor that receives, via the communication network, identifying information from the blower motor controller that identifies the type of blower motor that is installed. The processor is configured to retrieve motor related parameters corresponding to the specific identified blower motor from the memory device, and to send the corresponding motor related parameters to the blower motor controller.

A printhead for ink jet printing apparatus having a plurality of orifices for delivery of droplets of ink with delivery controlled by miniature solenoids, one for each orifice, each solenoid having a plunger directly engageable with a membrane to block flow of ink to a respective orifice and electromagnetically retractable from the membrane for flow of ink for delivery of a droplet of ink from the respective orifice, with provision for proportional valve action for each orifice. A removable and replaceable dot mask plate having a pattern of holes is sandwiched between a body and a back plate of the printhead and certain of the plungers of the solenoids are aligned with holes in the dot mask and, in a forward extended position, extend through the holes to engage the membrane. The dot mask masks or blocks other plungers of the printhead.

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Edward B Evans