Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Honeywell International Inc.

Ademco Inc.

Kenneth B Kidder

Paul B Patton

Steven C Nichols

Robert D Juntunen

James I Bartels

William R Landis

Timothy M Tinsley

Wilmer L Adams

Cary Leen

Ralph Collins Brindle

Rodney L Clark

Eric James Barton

Paul C Wacker

Gregory Young

John T Adams

Steven R Hoglund

Patrick C Tessier

Christopher Goh

Patrick R Lemire

Gary A Smith

Alfred J Gaskell

Cherry Lv

Robert A Black, Jr

Curtis E Westley

John R Aggers

David C Ullestad

Ronald Benton

John S Fultz

Gary A Peterson

Robert A Black

Zeng Huapeng

Robert L Linderberg

Systems, apparatuses and methods for synchronizing communication actions between multiple communication devices by accounting for discrepancies between timing functionality in communicating devices. A time value indicative of a remote device's view of current time is received. Where it is determined that the time value differs from a locally generated view of current time by at least an established amount, the range of time in which communications signals with the remote device will be monitored and transmitted is extended.

System, apparatus and method for synchronizing communications between devices

A mailbox data storage mechanism for a remote device in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning environment. The mechanism, as a part of a gateway device and acting as a citizen of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning environment, may collect system information regularly and maintain a copy of the latest data locally which can be a response to external access requests in time at any moment. The mechanism may limit the latency for external access and improve user experience. The mechanism may help satisfy multiple interfaces.

Mailbox data storage system

Systems, methods and apparatuses for replacing communication devices in a system. Configuration data of a replacement device (which may include a sub-part of the device) that is requesting inclusion in the system is received by a receiving device, which determines whether the received configuration data matches existing configuration data stored for an existing device currently included in the system. Upon identifying a match of the relevant configuration data, the device data associated with the existing device is identified, and replaced with device data of the replacement device, thereby effecting a one-step replacement of the existing device by providing the configuration data of the replacement device.

System, method and apparatus for replacing wireless devices in a system

Systems, apparatuses and methods for communicating messages via frequency hopping and utilizing multiple different frequency hopping sequences to facilitate the message or other data exchange. A transmitter frequency hopping sequence is provided that is derived from a set of available frequencies. A receiver frequency hopping sequence is also derived from those frequencies. The transmitter frequency hopping sequence differs from the receiver frequency hopping sequence, at least in regards to the order that the frequencies of the respective sequence will be involved in the message communication. The next frequency in the transmitter frequency hopping sequence is identified in which to transmit data. The data is transmitted at the identified communication frequency when that same frequency arises in the receiver frequency hopping sequence.

System, apparatus and method for communicating messages using multiple frequency hopping sequences

Systems, apparatuses and methods for selecting an appropriate frequency hopping sequence in a system of communicating devices. A random seed value is generated at the host device at its point of deployment. A frequency hopping sequence is generated using the random seed value. Other embodiments involve verifying whether the randomly generated seed value is indeed random in the operational vicinity.

System, method and apparatus for selecting frequency hopping sequences

A comfort control system for controlling the comfort level in a building includes a comfort control unit and a remote control unit. The remote control unit communicates with the comfort control unit from a remote location. In one illustrative embodiment, the remote control unit includes a temperature sensor for sensing an ambient air temperature near the remote control unit, and a measure related to the sensed temperature may be communicated to the comfort control unit. A detection block may be included in the remote control unit for detecting when the ambient air temperature sensed by the temperature sensor in the remote control unit is likely to be influenced by a user or other undesirable condition. The comfort control unit may take this into account when controlling the comfort control system of the building.

HVAC remote control unit and methods of operation

Systems and methods for the auxiliary stage control of multistage thermostats are disclosed. An illustrative multistage thermostat for a multistaged HVAC system installed within a building or structure can include a processor having a control algorithm adapted to operate the thermostat in either a normal mode for achieving rapid temperature changes within the building or structure or an economy mode for conserving energy usage. In the economy mode of operation, the thermostat can be configured to determine a target time for achieving a temperature setpoint by either delaying or suppressing activation of the system's auxiliary stage. The target time can be adjusted in part based on the past usage characteristics of the auxiliary stage, the behavior of the user, and/or the progress of the primary stage in achieving the setpoint change without operating the auxiliary stage.

Auxiliary stage control of multistage thermostats

A controller, multiple zone control apparatus, and method for controlling temperature independently in each zone for use in a structure having an interior divided into a plurality of zones. The controller is constructed and arranged to control the temperature in each zone by actuating a temperature effecting device to communicate a temperature conditioned fluid to the zone. The controller is constructed and arranged to determine a zone temperature error for each of the zones based upon the difference between a predetermined temperature and the temperature represented by a signal sent from a sensor located in the zone in which the error is to be determined. The controller also is constructed and arranged to compare the errors of a plurality of zones to determine the zone of greatest error. The controller has a predetermined on/off cycle for each zone for actuating the temperature effecting device such that when the cycle is in an &ldquo;on&rdquo; condition, the temperature effecting device communicates fluid to the zone and when the cycle is in an &ldquo;off&rdquo; condition, then the device does not communicate fluid to the zone. The controller is constructed and arranged to actuate the temperature effecting device when the on/off cycle of the zone of greatest error dictates such actuation. The controller also has a synchronizing mechanism to synchronize the on/off cycles of each zone when a predetermined triggering event occurs.

Zone of greatest demand controller, apparatus, and method

An apparatus and method for providing a microprocessor having an inaccurate oscillator with a desired time base. The cycles of the output signal of the oscillator are counted by a first counter until the counted number equals a predetermined correction count. The first counter then produces a timing signal. A second counter is set up to create an actual count indicative of the number of output signals occurring during a predetermined number of periods of an AC signal generator connected to the microprocessor. A predetermined desired count is then subtracted from the actual count to produce a difference count. The difference count is then added to the old correction count to create a new correction count. By iterating this process until the difference count is equal to zero, the timing signal is modified until it is equal to the desired time base.

Self correcting time base for inaccurate oscillators

An apparatus ensures that a controller memory is programmed to store safety critical information corresponding to a heating system in which it is installed. The heating system has a controller and a controller memory which controls the heating system based on input parameters provided to the controller and based on safety critical information stored in the controller memory. A program signal is generated when the controller memory is electrically disconnected from the heating system indicating that the controller memory must be programmed to include safety critical information. Operation of the heating system is inhibited in response to the program signal.

Flame safeguard control anti-swap feature

The position of the power output member of a motor actuator which is normally controlled by a microprocessor in response to system-supplied condition signals may be set manually by providing a manually controlled selector signal to the microprocessor allowing manually controlled adjustment signals rather than the normal condition signals to form the parameters from which is derived the motor control signal. In the preferred embodiment, a first switch generates the selector signal and a second switch generates the adjustment signal. Such apparatus allows a repairer or installer to adjust a mechanical positioning system driven by the motor actuator while the positioning system is in a variety of precisely selected positions. This control system contains a feature allowing one to change position of the motor actuator's power output member either continuously or incrementally by appropriately manipulating the switch which generates the adjustment signal.

Manual damper motor control

The present invention is a method and apparatus for conditioning an AC input signal to a control system having a plurality of AC input signals. An AC system signal is substantially phase-synchronous with the AC input signal. The AC input signal is sampled a plurality of times to determine whether it is present or absent during a periodic half cycle of the AC system signal. A result value is determined which represents a state of the AC input signal determined a majority of the times that it was sampled. It is then determined whether the state of the result value has changed.

Method and apparatus for conditioning AC input signals

The present invention is a method and apparatus for preventing a decision made by a controller from being made based on incomplete information where the controller periodically runs a decision making routine. The controller makes decisions based on a plurality of AC input signals being present or absent. The presence or absence of the AC input signals is read by the controller during a read cycle performed during periodic half cycles of the AC system signal. The AC system signal and the AC input signals are substantially phase-synchronizes. Before the controller runs the decision making routine, the controller determines whether the presence or absence of the AC input signals has changed since the previous decision making routine. Where the presence or absence of the AC input signals has changed since the previous decision making routine, the decision making routine is delayed for a predetermined number of half cycles of the AC system signal.

Method and apparatus for preventing race conditions in a control system

A method and apparatus determine signal quality of AC input signals to a control system where the AC input signals and an AC system signal are phase-synchronous. A read cycle, for reading the AC input signals, is scheduled to be performed during periodic cycles of the AC system signal. The presence or absence of the AC system signal is determined. A number of good read cycles are counted where the good read cycles represent the read cycles performed when the AC system signal is present. A ratio is determined between the number of good read cycles counted during a predetermined time and a total number of read cycles scheduled to be performed during the predetermined time.

Growing community of inventors

Coon Rapids, MN, United States of America

Kenneth B Kidder