Building management system with power efficient discrete controllers

• US 10,088,186 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Malve, Sharath Babu, Mahasenan, Arun Vijayakumari, Thanikachalam, Guhapriyan
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US15/012,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20160146495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25011 : Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 : Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 : Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

A building control system includes a central coordinator and one or more discrete air conditioner controllers configured to communicate with one or more discrete air conditioner units servicing the building. In some instances, a discrete air conditioner controller may be configured to transition between a sleep mode and an active mode. The discrete air conditioner controller may also be configured to transmit over a mesh network in the active mode and to not transmit over the mesh network in the sleep mode. The discrete air conditioner controller may be configured to transition between the sleep mode and the active mode according to a schedule dictated by the central coordinator. Alternatively, or in addition, the discrete air conditioner controller may be configured to transition between the sleep and active modes in accordance with a beacon signal received from the central coordinator.

Claims

1. A building control system for controlling one or more building components that service a building, the building control system comprising:

a central coordinator comprising an wireless interface for wirelessly sending and receiving one or more wireless signals, a user interface for accepting one or more user interactions from a user, and a controller coupled to the input/output port, the user interface and the memory, the central coordinator is powered by a line voltage;

a discrete air conditioner controller configured to communicate with and control one or more discrete air conditioner units that service a building, the discrete air conditioner controller including a first wireless interface for wirelessly communicating with the central coordinator via a mesh network, and a second wireless interface for communicating with one or more discrete air conditioner units, the second wireless interface includes an infrared (IR) interface for transmitting IR control codes to the one or more discrete air conditioner units, the discrete air conditioner controller is powered by a battery;

the discrete air conditioner controller further includes one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of a temperature sensor, an occupancy sensor, a humidity sensor and a light sensor; and

wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to transition between a sleep mode in which less power is consumed and an active mode in which more power is consumed, wherein in the active mode the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to transmit over the mesh network, and wherein in the sleep mode the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to not transmit over the mesh network.

2. The building control system according to claim 1, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to communicate a measure related to a parameter sensed by the one or more sensors to the central coordinator via the first wireless interface when the discrete air conditioner controller is in the active mode.

3. The building control system according to claim 1, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to transition between the sleep mode and the active mode according to a schedule.

4. The building control system according to claim 3, wherein the schedule is communicated from the central coordinator to the discrete air conditioner controller via the mesh network.

5. The building control system according to claim 1, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to transition between the sleep mode and the active mode in accordance with a beacon signal received from the central coordinator.

6. A discrete air conditioner controller for communicating with and controlling one or more discrete air conditioner units that service a building, the discrete air conditioner controller operating in conjunction with a central coordinator of the building that has a wireless interface for wirelessly sending and receiving one or more wireless signals, a user interface for accepting one or more user interactions from a user, and a controller coupled to the input/output port, the user interface and the memory, the discrete air conditioner controller having a housing that houses:

a first wireless interface for wirelessly communicating with the central coordinator of the building via a first network;

a second wireless interface for communicating with the one or more discrete air conditioner units, the second wireless interface using a different communications protocol than the first wireless interface;

at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor includes one or more of a temperature sensor, an occupancy sensor, a humidity sensor and a light sensor;

a controller configured to transition the discrete air conditioner controller between a sleep mode in which less power is consumed and an active mode in which more power is consumed, and wherein in the active mode the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to communicate over the first network, and in the sleep mode the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to not communicate over the first network; and

a battery holder for holding a battery for powering the discrete air conditioner controller.

7. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 6, wherein the second wireless interface includes in infrared (IR) interface.

8. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor is inactive when the discrete air conditioner controller is in the sleep mode.

9. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 6, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to communicate a measure related to a parameter sensed by the at least one sensor to the central coordinator of the building via the first wireless interface when the discrete air conditioner controller is in the active mode.

10. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 6, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to switch from the sleep mode to the active mode when a measure related to a parameter sensed by the at least one sensor meets one or more predetermined criteria.

11. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 6, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to initiate a communication with one or more discrete air conditioner units when a measure related to a parameter sensed by the at least one sensor meets one or more predetermined criteria.

12. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 6, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to transition between the sleep mode and the active mode according to a schedule.

13. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 12, wherein the schedule is communicated from the central coordinator of the building to the discrete air conditioner controller via the first network.

14. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 6, wherein the duration of the active mode is dynamically updated according to one or more of density of nodes on the first network and the expected traffic on the first network.

15. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 6, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to transition between the sleep mode and the active mode in accordance with a beacon signal received from the central coordinator of the building.

16. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 6, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to transition from the sleep mode to the active mode a predetermined delay after receiving a beacon signal from the central coordinator of the building.

17. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 15, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller remains in the active mode for a duration that is dynamically set by the beacon signal.

18. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 6, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to remain in a pre-sleep state when in the sleep mode, such that when the discrete air conditioner controller subsequently transition to the active mode, the discrete air conditioner controller continues to execute from the pre-sleep state.

19. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 6, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to transmit data to the central coordinator of the building according to a predetermined schedule, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller transition from the sleep mode to the active mode in accordance with the predetermined schedule, wherein the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to return to the passive mode after the data has been transmitted to the central coordinator of the building.

20. The discrete air conditioner controller according to claim 6, further comprising at least one lighting controller for controlling one or more light banks each having at least one light.

21. A method of controlling a discrete air conditioner unit that services a building, the method comprising:

transmitting a command over a first wireless communications path from a central coordinator of the building to a discrete air conditioner controller located near a discrete air conditioner unit mounted on a ceiling, a wall or a window of the building;

in response to receiving the command over the first wireless communications path, transmitting a command over a second wireless communications path from the discrete air conditioner controller to the discrete air conditioner unit for controlling operation of the discrete air conditioner controller, wherein the first wireless communications path is not compatible with the second wireless communications path;

sensing one or more sensed parameters at the discrete air conditioner controller, and if the one or more sensed parameters meet one or more predetermined criteria, transmitting one or more commands over the second wireless communications path from the discrete air conditioner controller to the discrete air conditioner unit for controlling operation of the discrete air conditioner controller;

transitioning the discrete air conditioner controller between a sleep mode in which less power is consumed and an active mode in which more power is consumed, wherein in the active mode the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to transmit data to the central coordinator of the building via the first wireless communications path, and wherein in the sleep mode the discrete air conditioner controller is configured to not transmit data over the first wireless communications path.