Battery-operated wireless zone controllers having multiple states of power-related operation
First Claim
1. A zone controller, comprising:
- a sensor for sensing pressure within a duct; and
a controller configured to;
operate the zone controller in a first state and a second state; and
alternate the zone controller between the first state and the second state over a period of time, the second state being configured such that the zone controller is configured to;
monitor the pressure within the duct via measurements from the sensor; and
communicate a pressure measurement for the pressure within the duct, as measured by the sensor, from the zone controller to a central controller located remote from the zone controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones.
413 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A zone controller, comprising:
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a sensor for sensing pressure within a duct; and a controller configured to; operate the zone controller in a first state and a second state; and alternate the zone controller between the first state and the second state over a period of time, the second state being configured such that the zone controller is configured to; monitor the pressure within the duct via measurements from the sensor; and communicate a pressure measurement for the pressure within the duct, as measured by the sensor, from the zone controller to a central controller located remote from the zone controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling a zone controller, the method comprising:
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alternating, over time, an operation of the zone controller between a first state and a second state; monitoring, by the zone controller, pressure within a duct that provides airflow from a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to an environmental zone associated with the zone controller, while in at least one of the first state or the second state; communicating pressure data for the environmental zone associated with the zone controller from the zone controller to a central controller, while in the second state but not in the first state; and controlling actuation of an electronically-controlled register vent at least partially based on the pressure data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A vent control system, comprising:
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a central controller; and a plurality of zone controllers remotely located from and in wireless communication with the central controller, each zone controller further comprising; a sensor for sensing pressure associated with a duct; and a controller configured to; operate the zone controller in a first state and a second state; and alternate the zone controller between the first state and the second state over a period of time, the second state being configured such that the zone controller is configured to perform at least one of; monitor the pressure within the duct via measurements from the sensor; and communicate a pressure measurement for the pressure within the duct, as measured by the sensor, from the zone controller to the central controller. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A zone controller, comprising:
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a sensor for sensing pressure within a duct; and a controller configured to; operate the zone controller in a first state and a second state; and alternate the zone controller between the first state and the second state over a period of time, the second state being configured such that the zone controller is configured to; monitor the pressure within the duct via measurements from the sensor; and communicate a pressure measurement for the pressure within the duct, as measured by the sensor, from the zone controller to a central controller located remote from the zone controller, wherein the zone controller is arranged on-board an electronically-controlled register vent for controlling airflow from a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system through the duct into one of multiple environmental zones. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A zone controller, comprising:
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a sensor for sensing pressure within a duct; and a controller configured to; operate the zone controller in a first state and a second state; and alternate the zone controller between the first state and the second state over a period of time, the second state being configured such that the zone controller is configured to perform at least one of; monitor the pressure within the duct via measurements from the sensor; and communicate a pressure measurement for the pressure within the duct, as measured by the sensor, from the zone controller to a central controller located remote from the zone controller, wherein while the zone controller is set to the first state, the zone controller sleeps between the measurements made by the sensor of the pressure within the duct. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A zone controller, comprising:
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a sensor for sensing pressure within a duct; a communication interface configured to communicate environmental condition data, for an environmental zone associated with the zone controller, to a central controller; a temperature sensor configured to monitor temperature of the environmental zone associated with the zone controller; and a controller configured to; operate the zone controller in a first state and a second state; and alternate the zone controller between the first state and the second state over a period of time, the second state being configured such that the zone controller is configured to perform at least one of; monitor the pressure within the duct via measurements from the sensor; and communicate, via the communication interface, a pressure measurement for the pressure within the duct, as measured by the sensor, from the zone controller to the central controller located remote from the zone controller. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A zone controller, comprising:
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a sensor for sensing pressure within a duct; and a controller configured to; operate the zone controller in a first state and a second state; alternate the zone controller between the first state and the second state over a period of time, the second state being configured such that the zone controller is configured to perform at least one of; monitor the pressure within the duct via measurements from the sensor; and communicate a pressure measurement for the pressure within the duct, as measured by the sensor, from the zone controller to a central controller located remote from the zone controller; receive a wake-up signal instructing the zone controller to change from the first state to the second state; and in response to receiving the wake-up signal, change an operational state of the zone controller from the first state to the second state such that a communication interface is activated for sending communications to another device. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A zone controller, comprising:
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a sensor for sensing pressure within a duct; and a controller configured to; operate the zone controller in a first state and a second state; and alternate the zone controller between the first state and the second state over a period of time, the second state being configured such that the zone controller is configured to; monitor the pressure within the duct via measurements from the sensor; and communicate a pressure measurement for the pressure within the duct, as measured by the sensor, from the zone controller to a central controller located remote from the zone controller, wherein the controller is configured to alternate between the first state and the second state after a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. A zone controller, comprising:
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a sensor for sensing pressure within a duct; and a controller configured to; operate the zone controller in a first state and a second state; and alternate the zone controller between the first state and the second state over a period of time, the second state being configured such that the zone controller is configured to perform at least one of; monitor the pressure within the duct via measurements from the sensor; and communicate a pressure measurement for the pressure within the duct, as measured by the sensor, from the zone controller to a central controller located remote from the zone controller; and alternate to a third state, the third state being a state in which the zone controller is configured to receive, wirelessly, instructions from the central controller. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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Specification