Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100108290 | METHODS AND EQUIPMENT FOR HEATING AND COOLING BUILDING ZONES - As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a device for enabling an HVAC component to be easily connected to, and disconnected from, an HVAC system. The device can include a modular distribution box, hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes, HVAC component supply and HVAC component return pipes, and hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, each of which can be coupled to the modular distribution box, and each of which can have a connector. The hot HVAC fluid inlet pipe's connector can be configured to connect to a hot HVAC pipe, and the cold HVAC fluid inlet pipe's connector can be configured to connect to a cold HVAC pipe. The HVAC component supply pipe's connector can be configured to connect to an inlet pipe of the HVAC component, and the HVAC component return pipe's connector can be configured to connect to an outlet pipe of the HVAC component. The hot HVAC fluid outlet pipe's connector can be configured to connect to the hot HVAC pipe, and the cold HVAC fluid outlet pipe's connector can be configured to connect to the cold HVAC pipe. The hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes, the HVAC component supply and HVAC component return pipes, and the hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, permit the entire modular distribution box to be connected to and disconnected from the HVAC component and the HVAC system as a whole unit. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114384 | CONTROLS FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY HEAT PUMPS - As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a method of providing improved efficiency in heating/cooling. The method can include operating an HVAC system that includes first and second heat pump compressors working together with corresponding heat pump expansion valves and heat pump heat exchangers. The method can include collecting HVAC fluid information concerning actual conditions of an HVAC fluid flowing in the HVAC system via sensors positioned in various places throughout the HVAC system. The method can include transmitting an update that includes HVAC fluid information. The method can include receiving control instructions at a heat pump controller. The method can include implementing the control instructions with the heat pump controller. Steps of the method can be repeated periodically during operation of the HVAC system. | 05-06-2010 |
20100326099 | HIGH-EFFICIENCY HEAT PUMPS - As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a high-efficiency heat pump that includes a frame, as well as a first circuit, a first compressor, a condenser heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve, an evaporator heat exchanger, and a controller. The first circuit, the first compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the first electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger can be supported by the frame. The first compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the first electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger can be connected to the first circuit. The controller can be in electronic communication with the first electronic expansion valve, and the controller can be configured to control operation of the first electronic expansion valve and/or the second electronic expansion valve. | 12-30-2010 |
20100326622 | METHODS AND EQUIPMENT FOR GEOTHERMALLY EXCHANGING ENERGY - As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a round energy transfer component. The ground energy transfer component can include an outer tube having an upper end and a lower end. The outer tube can be constructed out of generally thermally conductive material. The ground energy transfer component can include an inner tube. The inner tube can be constructed out of generally thermally insulative material. The inner tube can be coupled to the outer tube and positioned generally coaxially with the outer tube to define a generally thermally insulated interior of the inner tube and a channel between the inner tube and the outer tube. The inner tube can have an upper end and a lower end, with the inner tube's lower end defining one or more openings to permit fluid communication between the channel and the interior of the inner tube. The ground energy transfer component can include a base connected to the lower end of the outer tube to substantially seal the lower end of the outer tube. The ground energy transfer component can include first and second connectors coupled to the inner and outer tubes. The first and second connectors can be configured to connect the ground energy transfer component to HVAC pipes of an HVAC system so that HVAC fluid from the HVAC system can flow through the ground energy transfer component. The channel can be configured to create more turbulence in the flowing HVAC fluid than is the interior of the inner tube. | 12-30-2010 |
20110265499 | CONTROLS FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY HEAT PUMPS - As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a method of providing improved efficiency in heating/cooling. The method can include operating an HVAC system that includes first and second heat pump compressors working together with corresponding heat pump expansion valves and heat pump heat exchangers. The method can include collecting HVAC fluid information concerning actual conditions of an HVAC fluid flowing in the HVAC system via sensors positioned in various places throughout the HVAC system. The method can include transmitting an update that includes HVAC fluid information. The method can include receiving control instructions at a heat pump controller. The method can include implementing the control instructions with the heat pump controller. Steps of the method can be repeated periodically during operation of the HVAC system. | 11-03-2011 |
20110265502 | HIGH-EFFICIENCY HEAT PUMPS - As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a high-efficiency heat pump that includes a frame, as well as a first circuit, a first compressor, a condenser heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve, an evaporator heat exchanger, and a controller. The first circuit, the first compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the first electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger can be supported by the frame. The first compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the first electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator heat exchanger can be connected to the first circuit. The controller can be in electronic communication with the first electronic expansion valve, and the controller can be configured to control operation of the first electronic expansion valve and/or the second electronic expansion valve. | 11-03-2011 |
20110265972 | METHODS AND EQUIPMENT FOR GEOTHERMALLY EXCHANGING ENERGY - As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a round energy transfer component. The ground energy transfer component can include an outer tube having an upper end and a lower end. The outer tube can be constructed out of generally thermally conductive material. The ground energy transfer component can include an inner tube. The inner tube can be constructed out of generally thermally insulative material. The inner tube can be coupled to the outer tube and positioned generally coaxially with the outer tube to define a generally thermally insulated interior of the inner tube and a channel between the inner tube and the outer tube. The inner tube can have an upper end and a lower end, with the inner tube's lower end defining one or more openings to permit fluid communication between the channel and the interior of the inner tube. The ground energy transfer component can include a base connected to the lower end of the outer tube to substantially seal the lower end of the outer tube. The ground energy transfer component can include first and second connectors coupled to the inner and outer tubes. The first and second connectors can be configured to connect the ground energy transfer component to HVAC pipes of an HVAC system so that HVAC fluid from the HVAC system can flow through the ground energy transfer component. The channel can be configured to create more turbulence in the flowing HVAC fluid than is the interior of the inner tube. | 11-03-2011 |
20110265974 | METHODS AND EQUIPMENT FOR HEATING AND COOLING BUILDING ZONES - As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a device for enabling an HVAC component to be easily connected to, and disconnected from, an HVAC system. The device can include a modular distribution box, hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes, HVAC component supply and HVAC component return pipes, and hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, each of which can be coupled to the modular distribution box, and each of which can have a connector. The hot HVAC fluid inlet pipe's connector can be configured to connect to a hot HVAC pipe, and the cold HVAC fluid inlet pipe's connector can be configured to connect to a cold HVAC pipe. The HVAC component supply pipe's connector can be configured to connect to an inlet pipe of the HVAC component, and the HVAC component return pipe's connector can be configured to connect to an outlet pipe of the HVAC component. The hot HVAC fluid outlet pipe's connector can be configured to connect to the hot HVAC pipe, and the cold HVAC fluid outlet pipe's connector can be configured to connect to the cold HVAC pipe. The hot and cold HVAC fluid inlet pipes, the HVAC component supply and HVAC component return pipes, and the hot and cold HVAC fluid outlet pipes, permit the entire modular distribution box to be connected to and disconnected from the HVAC component and the HVAC system as a whole unit. | 11-03-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140129825 | ADAPTIVE VIDEO SERVER WITH FAST INITIALIZATION AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH - A streaming video server includes a virtual file system that stores playlist data corresponding to a plurality of video programs available from at least one video source and that stores at least one initial video program segment for each of the plurality of video segments. The streaming video server receives a request for a selected one of the plurality of video programs from a client device. The selected one of the plurality of video programs is retrieved from the at least one video source in response to the request. A plurality of encoded segments are generated from the selected one of the plurality of video programs, based on rate data. A multiplexer generates a plurality of output segments from the at least one initial video program segment corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of video programs and the plurality of encoded video program segments. | 05-08-2014 |
20140130115 | ADAPTIVE VIDEO SERVER WITH DATA RATE CONTROL AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH - A streaming video server includes a virtual file system that stores playlist data corresponding to a plurality of video programs available from at least one video source and that stores variant playlist data corresponding to each of the plurality of video programs that indicates a single variant for streaming each of the plurality of video programs. The streaming video server receives a request for a selected one of the plurality of video programs from a client device. The selected one of the plurality of video programs is retrieved from the at least one video source in response to the request. A rate generator generates rate data based on the transmission feedback data. A plurality of encoded segments are generated from the selected one of the plurality of video programs, based on rate data. | 05-08-2014 |
20140164482 | VIDEO SERVER WITH BOOKMARK PROCESSING AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH - A streaming server includes a command handler that is operable to receive a request for a selected video program from the client device that has been previously bookmarked by the client device at a bookmark position. The command handler sends an event playlist to the client device having a plurality of event playlist segments including a last segment that is based on the bookmark position. The command handler receives a request for the last segment of the plurality of event playlist segments from the client device and sends the last segment of the plurality of event playlist segments to the client device. The command handler sends a full playlist to the client device after sending the last segment of the plurality of event playlist segments to the client device. | 06-12-2014 |
20140164483 | CLIENT DEVICE WITH VIDEO PLAYER AND CLIENT-SIDE PROXY AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH - A client device includes a video player that generates a program request for a selected video program. A client-side proxy passes the program request from the video player to the streaming video server for the video program. The client-side proxy identifies that the selected video program has been previously bookmarked by the video player at a bookmark position, intercepts a request from the video player to the streaming video server for at least one first segment of the selected video program, and in response, sending at least one corresponding fixed segment to the video player. The client-side proxy passes a request from the video player to the streaming video server for a plurality of second segments of the selected video program, wherein the plurality of second segments commence at a position corresponding to the bookmark position. | 06-12-2014 |
20140165120 | CLIENT DEVICE WITH VIDEO PLAYLIST TRANSLATION VIA CLIENT-SIDE PROXY AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH - A client device includes a client-side proxy that is operable to receive server playlist data corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of video programs, to generate proxy playlist data corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of video programs based on the server playlist data and to send the proxy playlist data to the video player. In particular, the client-side proxy generates the proxy playlist data by translating the server playlist data from a first playlist format, such as a sliding window format of the HLS protocol, to a second playlist format, such as an event playlist format. | 06-12-2014 |
20140215536 | STREAMING VIDEO SERVER WITH SEGMENT LENGTH CONTROL AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH - A streaming server includes a virtual file system that stores playlist data corresponding to video programs available from at least one video source and that further stores variant playlist data corresponding to each of the video programs for streaming. A command handler receives a request for a video program from a client device. A video encoder encodes the selected video program into a plurality of video program segments in response to the request. The plurality of video program segments each have a length that is controlled based on length data, wherein the plurality of video segments includes one or more initial video program segments having at least one initialization length and steady state video program segments having a steady state length where the initialization length is less than the steady state length. | 07-31-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090204137 | SAFETY SCALPEL - A scalpel enabling both safe blade engagement or disengagement and safe passing among personnel during surgical procedures. The blade arm assembly of the scalpel is positionable in three positions, including a retracted position, an operational extended position and a fully extended position for engagement and disengagement of the blade. | 08-13-2009 |
20100268258 | SAFETY SCALPEL - A scalpel enabling both safe blade engagement or disengagement and safe passing among personnel during surgical procedures. The scalpel is positionable in three configurations, including a blade shielded position, a blade exposed and operational position and a fully extended position for engagement and disengagement of the blade. | 10-21-2010 |
20120221044 | Dynamic Tensioning System and Method - Systems and methods of applying dynamic force to tissues to promote healing. Systems of this invention may be applied to tissue to bolster the tissues, move the tissues, or expand the tissue. Systems of this invention may also include a tension indication feature, allowing measured application of dynamic force to the tissue. | 08-30-2012 |