Terry J Phillips

US Patent:

6989514, Jan 24, 2006

Filed:

Sep 8, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/937016

Inventors:

Wade C. Patterson - Huntsville AL, US
Terry G. Phillips - Meridianville AL, US

Assignee:

Synapse, Inc. - Huntsville AL

International Classification:

H05B 1/02

US Classification:

219492, 219486, 219485, 219497, 392454, 392464, 307 39

Abstract:

A system for controlling temperature control elements used to alter temperatures of a liquid comprises a temperature sensor, a first temperature control element, a second temperature control element, and logic. The temperature sensor is configured to sense temperatures of the liquid, and the first and second temperature control elements are each configured to alter a temperature of the liquid. The logic is configured to selectively control, based on the sensed temperatures, activation states of the first and second temperature control elements such that a total activation time associated with the first temperature control element is substantially equal to a total activation time associated with the second temperature control element.

US Patent:

7065431, Jun 20, 2006

Filed:

Feb 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/772032

Inventors:

Wade C. Patterson - Huntsville AL, US
Terry G. Phillips - Meridianville AL, US

Assignee:

Synapse, Inc. - Huntsville AL

International Classification:

G05D 23/00

US Classification:

700299, 419483, 419490, 432 36

Abstract:

A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises a temperature sensor, a temperature control element, memory, and logic. The temperature sensor is configured to detect the temperature of the liquid residing within the tank, and the temperature control element is coupled to the tank. The memory stores data indicative of a usage history of the tank, and the logic is configured to automatically control the temperature control element based on the data.

US Patent:

7259718, Aug 21, 2007

Filed:

Mar 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/390881

Inventors:

Wade C. Patterson - Huntsville AL, US
Thomas J. Watson - Madison AL, US
Terry Phillips - Meridianville AL, US
M. Bennet Perritt - Madison AL, US

Assignee:

Rocket City Technology, Inc. - Huntsville AL

International Classification:

G01S 3/02

US Classification:

342463

Abstract:

An electronic pet fence is provided having several stationary transceivers and a mobile collar transceiver attached to the pet. Boundary and keep out locations are determined during a learning mode and stored in memory. Determination logic responds to signals exchanged between the stationary transceivers and the collar transceiver during an operation mode to determine if the pet is located within the defined boundary.

US Patent:

7574120, Aug 11, 2009

Filed:

May 11, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/432103

Inventors:

Wade C. Patterson - Huntsville AL, US
Terry G. Phillips - Meridianville AL, US

Assignee:

A. O. Smith Corporation - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A47J 27/00

US Classification:

392441, 392447

Abstract:

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to systems and methods for estimating and indicating temperature characteristics of temperature controlled liquids. A system in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has a tank filled at least partially with a liquid, such as water, and the system has a plurality of temperature sensors mounted on the tank. During operation, a controller compares temperatures sensed by these temperature sensors to a predefined temperature profile for the liquid within the tank in order to estimate the likely temperature characteristics of such liquid. The controller then reports these estimated temperature characteristics via a user interface. As an example, the controller may estimate and report the amount of liquid above a threshold temperature that can be drawn from the tank. Based on the reported temperature characteristics, a user may make decisions about whether or how to use liquid drawn from the tank.

US Patent:

7603204, Oct 13, 2009

Filed:

Apr 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/409229

Inventors:

Wade C. Patterson - Huntsville AL, US
Terry G. Phillips - Meridianville AL, US

Assignee:

A. O. Smith Corporation - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

700299, 219497

Abstract:

A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises a temperature sensor, a temperature control element, memory, and logic. The temperature sensor is configured to detect the temperature of the liquid residing within the tank, and the temperature control element is coupled to the tank. The memory stores data indicative of a usage history of the tank, and the logic is configured to automatically control the temperature control element based on the data.

US Patent:

7672751, Mar 2, 2010

Filed:

Mar 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/691723

Inventors:

Wade C. Patterson - Huntsville AL, US
Terry G. Phillips - Meridianville AL, US

Assignee:

A. O. Smith Corporation - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

700206, 700282

Abstract:

A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises a tank, a first heating element, a first switch, a temperature-based switch, and logic. The first heating element is mounted on the tank, and the temperature-based switch is coupled to the first heating element and to the first switch. The logic is configured to control a state of the first switch based on a temperature of a liquid residing in the tank.

US Patent:

7881831, Feb 1, 2011

Filed:

Oct 12, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/577457

Inventors:

Wade C. Patterson - Huntsville AL, US
Terry G. Phillips - Meridianville AL, US

Assignee:

A. O. Smith Corporation - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

G05D 23/00

US Classification:

700299, 432 36, 219483

Abstract:

A water heating system including a tank to store water, a temperature sensor positioned to detect a temperature of the water, and a temperature control element configured to alter the temperature of the water. The system also includes a controller configured to control the temperature of the water based on a first temperature threshold during a first time period and monitor the amount of time that the temperature control element is in either the activated state or the deactivated state during the first time period. The control then determines a second temperature threshold for a subsequent time period based on the monitored amount of time.

US Patent:

8009437, Aug 30, 2011

Filed:

May 2, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/114546

Inventors:

Gary W. Shelton - Huntsville AL, US
Terry G. Phillips - Meridianville AL, US
Thomas J. Watson - Madison AL, US

Assignee:

Synapse Wireless, Inc. - Huntsville AL

International Classification:

H05K 7/02

US Classification:

361772, 361770, 361814, 439 44, 439 55, 439 70

Abstract:

The present disclosure generally pertains to wireless communication modules that can be used for enabling wireless communication in various applications. A wireless communication module in accordance with one embodiment may be interfaced with other devices, such as nodes of a wireless sensor network (WSN). The module has rows of male integrated circuit (IC) pins that may be interfaced with female pin receptacles of another device. The module receives wireless signals and provides the data of such wireless signals to the other device. The module also receives data from the other devices and packetizes such data for wireless communication.