Patent classifications
G05B2219/2628
DOOR SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED INSTALLATION, SET-UP, AND CLONING
A door system includes a controller for controlling the door system. A user computer system transmits information to the controller over a wireless connection to modify operating parameters for controlling the operation of the door system. During installation of the door system sensors may be utilized to determine if the door system has been installed properly. The sensors may be used to identify if the door system is mounted level and plum, and to review the movement, vibration, speed, acceleration, force, or the like of the sensors, and thus, the components to which the sensors are operatively coupled in order to make adjustments to the door assembly. Furthermore, the operating parameters of the installed door system, may be cloned and provided to other door systems in order to quickly clone and distribute the operating parameters of one or more door systems to one or more other door systems.
Method and apparatus for industrial product tamper detection
A tamper detection apparatus includes a switch and a tamper detection circuit with a non-volatile memory in an industrial product enclosure. In response to the switch detecting a door or panel of an industrial product enclosure being open when an electronic component or system in the enclosure is unpowered, the tamper detection circuit stores a tamper event code in the non-volatile memory. After the electronic component or system is powered, a system processor obtains the tamper event code from the tamper detection circuit and refrains from operating a machine or process pending reset of the industrial product by a user.
Displays for tintable windows
A tintable window is described having a tintable coating, e.g., an electrochromic device coating, for regulating light transmitted through the window. In some embodiments, the window has a transparent display in the window's viewable region. Transparent displays may be substantially transparent when not in use, or when the window is viewed in a direction facing away from the transparent display. Windows may have sensors for receiving user commands and/or for monitoring environmental conditions. Transparent displays can display graphical user interfaces to, e.g., control window functions. Windows, as described herein, offer an alternative display to conventional projectors, TVs, and monitors. Windows may also be configured to receive, transmit, or block wireless communications from passing through the window. A window control system may share computational resources between controllers (e.g., at different windows). In some cases, the computational resources of the window control system are utilized by other building systems and devices.
Displays for tintable windows
A tintable window is described having a tintable coating, e.g., an electrochromic device coating, for regulating light transmitted through the window. In some embodiments, the window has a transparent display in the window's viewable region. Transparent displays may be substantially transparent when not in use, or when the window is viewed in a direction facing away from the transparent display. Windows may have sensors for receiving user commands and/or for monitoring environmental conditions. Transparent displays can display graphical user interfaces to, e.g., control window functions. Windows, as described herein, offer an alternative display to conventional projectors, TVs, and monitors. Windows may also be configured to receive, transmit, or block wireless communications from passing through the window. A window control system may share computational resources between controllers (e.g., at different windows). In some cases, the computational resources of the window control system are utilized by other building systems and devices.
GARAGE DOOR SYSTEM AND METHOD
A universal system and method for controlling existing garage doors via existing garage door openers. The system includes a module operable both manually and automatically to control the existing garage door, Wifi communication circuitry to receive instructions wirelessly from a remote, circuitry for automatic and remote control of the garage door and circuitry for pushing garage door status information.
Multiple interacting systems at a site
Disclosed are platforms for communicating among one or more otherwise independent systems involved in controlling functions of buildings or other sites having switchable optical devices deployed therein. Such independent systems include a window control system and one or more other independent systems such as systems that control residential home products (e.g., thermostats, smoke alarms, etc.), HVAC systems, security systems, lighting control systems, and the like. Together the systems control and/or monitor multiple features and/or products, including switchable windows and other infrastructure of a site, which may be a commercial, residential, or public site.
Tintable window system computing platform
Resources of a system for controlling optically switchable windows may be used for a personal computing unit. The window system resources may include (i) a display associated with an optically switchable window, (ii) one or more processors of one or more controllers on a window network connected to a plurality of optically switchable windows in a building, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to vary tint states of the plurality of optically switchable windows in the building, (iii) memory of one or more controllers on the window network connected to the plurality of optically switchable windows in the building, and/or (iv) at least a part of the window network.
CONTROLLERS FOR OPTICALLY-SWITCHABLE DEVICES
This disclosure relates generally to optically-switchable devices, and more particularly, to systems, apparatus, and methods for controlling optically-switchable devices. In some implementations, an apparatus for controlling one or more optically-switchable devices includes a processing unit, a voltage regulator and a polarity switch. The processing unit can generate: a command voltage signal based on a target optical state of an optically-switchable device, and a polarity control signal. The voltage regulator can receive power at a first voltage and increase or decrease a magnitude of the first voltage based on the command voltage signal to provide a DC voltage signal at a regulated voltage. A polarity switch can receive the DC voltage signal at the regulated voltage to maintain or reverse a polarity of the DC voltage signal based on the polarity control signal. The polarity switch can output the DC voltage signal at the regulated voltage and at the polarity based on the polarity control signal to power the optically-switchable device. In some other implementations, the apparatus includes a processing unit, an energy storage device, and first and second voltage regulators.
METHOD FOR DATA COMMUNICATION WITH A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE BY A MOBILE COMPUTER DEVICE, MOBILE COMPUTER DEVICE AND DOMESTIC APPLIANCE
A method for controlling a smart appliance via a mobile device is disclosed herein. The mobile device is in communication with the smart appliance. The method includes the steps of sensing a current value of an operational feature of the smart appliance, communicating the current value to the mobile device, determining whether the current value matches another value that is related to the one operational feature, generating instructions to the smart appliance to adjust its current value to match the another value if the current and another values do not match, and communicating these instructions to the smart appliance. The method can be executed by software.
METHOD FOR DATA COMMUNICATION WITH A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE BY A MOBILE COMPUTER DEVICE, MOBILE COMPUTER DEVICE AND DOMESTIC APPLIANCE
A cooking appliance is disclosed having a sensing element that is arranged and configured to detect a current value of an operational feature. A memory is present which includes a database of a table of data of other values related to the operational features. Via a processor, the cooking appliance can access the database and compare the current and other values. When the current and other values do not match, the processor can then generate instructions to a control unit to cause the cooking appliance to adjust its settings such that the current value matches the other value. The operational features may include operating temperature, temperature setting, mode of heat generation and other settings on the cooking appliance.