A predictive HVAC equipment monitoring system, the predictive HVAC equipment monitoring system having an HVAC system with a first sensor of a sensor array disposed a vapor refrigerant line exiting from an evaporating unit of the HVAC system, the first sensor being adapted to gather pressure data, a second sensor of the sensor array disposed on a vapor refrigerant line entering a compressor of the HVAC system, the second sensor adapted to gather temperature data, and a predictive HVAC controlling unit, the predictive HVAC controlling unit adapted to receive the temperature and pressure data and evaluate the temperature and pressure data to determine whether a potential failure modality exists or is eminent, the first sensor further adapted to communicate with the predictive HVAC controlling unit, and the second sensor further adapted to communicate with the predictive HVAC controlling unit.

In one embodiment, an HVAC system includes an indoor unit having a furnace, an outdoor heat pump unit having a compressor and an outdoor coil, a refrigerant line coupled to the indoor unit and the outdoor heat pump unit, and an EEV coupled to the refrigerant line. The HVAC system further includes one or more controllers operable to determine an occurrence of a first event, initiate a closure of the EEV, initiate operation of the compressor at a completion of the air conditioning cycle to pump down a refrigerant to the outdoor coil, and cease operation of the compressor when a low-pressure switch is tripped.

In one embodiment, an HVAC system includes an indoor unit having a furnace, an outdoor heat pump unit having a compressor and an outdoor coil, a refrigerant line coupled to the indoor unit and the outdoor heat pump unit, and a valve coupled to the refrigerant line. The HVAC system further includes one or more controllers operable to determine that the outdoor heat pump unit is in operation during an air conditioning cycle. The controllers are further operable to determine an outdoor temperature and compare the outdoor temperature to a predetermined temperature. The controllers are further operable to initiate a closure of the valve coupled to the refrigerant line and initiate operation of the compressor at an end of the air conditioning cycle to pump down a refrigerant to the outdoor coil in response to comparing the outdoor temperature to the predetermined temperature.

A system for transferring heat via a refrigerant between an indoor heat exchange coil and an outdoor heat exchange coil of an HVAC system of a building includes an expansion valve and a compressor. The system includes a compressor discharge refrigerant temperature sensor, an outdoor air temperature source, a controller operatively coupled to the compressor discharge refrigerant temperature sensor and the outdoor air temperature source. The controller identifies a difference between the temperatures indicative of the temperature of the compressed refrigerant at or near the output of the compressor and the measure of outdoor air temperature source, identifies a change in the identified difference over time, and reports a fault when the change in the difference exceeds a threshold.

A household appliance, such as a dishwasher, for treating an item, such as a dish, in a treating chamber according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.

A monitoring system for a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system of a residential or commercial building includes an evaporator unit device and four temperature sensors. The evaporator unit device includes an electrical sensor that measures current supplied to a circulator blower of the HVAC system. The measured current from the first electrical sensor is used to diagnose a problem with the circulator blower. The first temperature sensor that measures a temperature of refrigerant flowing between a condenser of the HVAC system and an expansion valve of the HVAC system. The second temperature sensor measures a temperature of refrigerant flowing between an evaporator and a compressor. The third temperature sensor measures a temperature of air flowing away from the evaporator. The fourth temperature sensor measures a temperature of air flowing toward the evaporator. The evaporator unit device transmits sensor data to a remote monitoring service over a data network.

A driving device drives a motor including a rotor having a neodymium rare earth magnet. The driving device includes an inverter, a first detector that outputs a first detection signal corresponding to a motor driving current supplied to the motor, a protection level setting unit that sets an overcurrent protection level, a second detector that outputs a second detection signal corresponding to a driving state of the motor, and a control device. The control device executes first control of lowering the motor driving current immediately after the motor driving current corresponding to the first detection signal exceeds the overcurrent protection level. When the protection level setting unit lowers the overcurrent protection level to a new current level based on the second detection signal, the control device executes second control of lowering the motor driving current to a level lower than the new current level.

Systems and methods for remote monitoring of refrigeration systems to detect leaks of refrigerant include a local monitoring station, having at least one sensor configured to be in communication with a refrigeration system having refrigerant, the sensor measuring at least one parameter of the refrigeration system. At least one server is in communication with the local monitoring station and accessible by at least one user communication device. Software residing at least partially on the local monitoring station and/or the server: records data from the sensor periodically to generate recorded sensor data; collects the recorded sensor data over time to generate collected sensor data; determines via at least one algorithm, using the collected sensor data, whether a refrigerant leak is occurring in the refrigeration system being monitored to thereby generate a state of the refrigeration system; and communicates the state of the refrigeration system to the at least one server.

An actively heated mug has a body with a chamber that can receive and hold a beverage and a heating element to actively heat the chamber, batteries, and circuitry that controls the operation of the heating element. A user interface is electrically connected to the circuitry and has one or more buttons actuatable a) to turn on the heating element, b) to adjust a temperature setting to one of multiple temperature settings to control the operation of the heating element to heat or maintain the liquid at a user selected temperature setting, and c) to turn off the heating element.

An actively heated drinkware container includes a vessel with a chamber that receives and holds a volume of liquid. The drinkware container includes a heating module with a first heating element operable to heat one portion of the chamber and a second heating element operable to heat another portion of the chamber, the second heating element spaced from the first heating element. Operation of the first and second heating elements generates a circulation current in the volume of liquid in the chamber that mixes the liquid and diffuses a temperature of the liquid to thereby reduce temperature stratification of the liquid in the chamber and so that a temperature of the liquid throughout the volume of liquid in the chamber is approximately uniform.