A protocol for controlling lighting devices within a network enables bidirectional communication between different connected devices, any of which may function as a server, a device, a broker, or multiple of these roles. Upon initialization of the network, a server device requests a basic configuration data file from each device on the network and, thereafter, requests a more extensive configuration data file identifying capabilities and functionalities of the device which the manufacturer has made discoverable. Each device sends its basic configuration file to the server device upon any of power on, reboot, reset, hardware configuration change, or software change to the respective device. A device on the network can also be a collection of sub-devices each of which may be separately identified, and their respective capabilities evaluated, so that the server can separately control either the device or any of the individual sub-devices.

A thermostat of an HVAC system receives active event parameters from a utility provider. The active event parameters include a start time, a stop time, and a predefined temperature setpoint for the active event, which is associated with a requirement to decrease energy consumption between the start time and the stop time. Following the start time, the thermostat adjusts a setpoint temperature of the HVAC system to the predefined setpoint temperature.

A temperature controller for electronic smoking device includes a metal heating sheet for heating a cigarette and a controller for controlling temperature of the heating sheet by collecting a real-time resistance of the heating sheet. The power drive unit is electrically connected to a power source and the heating sheet respectively, the control unit is electrically connected to the power drive unit and the real-time resistance detection unit respectively, and the analog-to-digital conversion unit is configured to convert an analog signal output by the real-time resistance detection unit into a digital signal that is transmitted to the control unit. The real-time resistance detection unit is configured to detect a real-time resistance of the heating sheet, and the control unit is configured to adjust an output power of the power drive unit according to the real-time resistance of the heating sheet. The controller realizes precise temperature control and convenient operation.

The aim of the invention is rapid automatic tuning the parameters of a digital proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller by analog feedback of an actual value for automation of technological processes with programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

The proposed invention is based on the use of nine tuning equations derived by reverse engineering of a PID controller.

Adjusting the PID controller parameters K.sub.p, K.sub.i and K.sub.d is performed in a closed control loop with negative feedback separately in time, i.e. independently of each other in iteration steps k for K.sub.p, m for K.sub.i and n for K.sub.d (see FIG. 1).

The adaptive tuning method is compact, independent of other methods and algorithms, mathematically balanced (i.e. minimal computational resource requirements), and easy to implement.

Setting up a PID controller by this method does not require a preliminary evaluation of a controlled system and the creation of its mathematical model. This implies its universal applicability.

A rotative lumber piece charger for transferring lumber pieces. The rotative lumber piece charger comprises: a driving shaft rotating about a longitudinal axis and a transfer wheel comprising a main body mounted to the driving shaft and rotating therewith. The rotative lumber piece charger also comprises a lumber piece grasping assembly rotatably connected to the main body and rotatable with respect to the main body about a lumber rotation axis. The lumber piece grasping assembly is operative to grasp a section of a corresponding one of the lumber pieces, temporarily retain the section of the lumber piece and release the lumber piece. The rotative lumber piece charger further comprises an angular orientation control system connected to the lumber piece grasping assembly. The angular orientation control system rotates the lumber piece grasping assembly about the lumber rotation axis.

A data acquisition system for dielectric analysis measurements, including a sensor interface configured to connect to one or more sensors located within an active machining zone of an industrial manufacturing machine, a module processor coupled to the sensor interface and configured to receive measurement values from one or more sensors connected to the sensor interface, a cloud interface coupled to the module processor, and a machine interface coupled to the module processor. The measurement values indicate physical properties of workpieces processed in the active machining zone of an industrial manufacturing machine. The cloud interface is configured to connect to cloud-based resources, and the machine interface is configured to connect to a controller of the industrial manufacturing machine. The module processor is configured to transmit the received measurement values from the one or more dielectric sensors to cloud-based resources via the cloud interface and to transmit manufacturing control signals to the controller of the industrial manufacturing machine via the machine interface, the manufacturing control signals being based on parameters received from cloud-based resources via the cloud interface.

Methods are described for monitoring a power grid at an output of a power converter. Operational parameters of the power converter may be determined as a result of data collected during monitoring. A grid code for the power grid to which the power converter is to be connected may be received subsequent to the collecting. An operational mode of the power converter may be established, based, at least on part, on the operational parameters and the grid code. In the event the grid code and the operational parameters match, the power converter may be activated for electrical power production based on the operational mode. When the grid code and the operational parameters do not match, an error condition may be raised.

Embodiments of this present disclosure may include a system with a first power converter and a control system. The first power converter may supply a first output power to a first backplane at least sometimes concurrent to a second power converter supplying a second output power to a second backplane. The control system may be electrically coupled to the first backplane and the second backplane. The control system may balance a first electrical property and a second electrical property provided to each of one or more load components electrically coupled to the first backplane and the second backplane.

A smart energy device performs a method which includes executing, during a first time period, a first control event wherein an operational parameter of the smart energy device is controlled by the first control event during a first time period. A second control event is then executed, during a second time period, wherein the operational parameter of the smart energy device is controlled by the second control event during a second time period beginning at an end of the first time period. In response to detection of a first defined trigger condition, the method includes opting out of control of the operational parameter of the smart energy device by the second control event and transitioning to control of the operational parameter of the smart energy device by the first control event during a third time period following the detection of the first defined trigger condition.

A network of wireless remote climate sensors in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system permits the creation of personalized microclimates within an enclosed space. In addition to collecting temperature and humidity data, the wireless remote climate sensors can detect whether the enclosed space is occupied by a human. Human detection is made possible by optional cameras, microphones, and gas sensors on the wireless remote climate sensors. As the human moves throughout the enclosed space, the HVAC system is able to track the human's movement using the wireless remote climate sensors. The HVAC system may adjust airflow to different portions of the enclosed space based on the human's location. The result is an efficient use of system resources to keep users at their ideal temperature.