Method of and system for determination of measured parameter gradients for environmental system control

• US 10,222,768 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2016
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecovent Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ecovent Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Lancaster, Nicholaus Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Desta, Elias
• Application Number:
  US15/018,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20160153674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/40 Pressure, e.g. wind pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/70 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/72 Carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/08 of the flexible-diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object G01N3/00, G01N5/00, G01N7/00, G01N9/00, G01N11/00, G01N13/00, G01N15/00, G01N17/00, G01N19/00, G01N21/00, G01N22/00, G01N23/00, G01N24/00, G01N25/00, G01N27/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 : using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 : Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 : Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A method of and system for determination of measured parameter gradients for environmental system control is presented. A system includes a sensor assembly with a first face opposite to and spaced apart from a second face and first and second sensors. The first sensor is adjacent to the first face and senses a first value of an environmental variable nearby. The second sensor is adjacent to the second face and senses a second value of the environmental variable nearby. The system includes a processor and a memory with instructions that cause the processor to: receive the first and second values and estimate a third value of the environmental variable at a distance spaced apart from the second face based on the first and second values. The system includes a sensor communication system for transmitting information including at least one of the first, second, and third value of the environmental variable.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a sensor assembly comprising;

a first face,

a second face, the second face being on the opposite side of the sensor assembly relative to the first face, and the second face being spaced apart from the first face,

a first sensor disposed adjacent to the first face, the first sensor configured to sense a first value of an environmental variable in proximity to the first face, and

a second sensor disposed adjacent to the second face, the second sensor configured to sense a second value of the environmental variable in proximity to the second face;

a processor and a memory readable by the processor, the memory comprising instructions that when executed cause the processor to;

receive the first value of the environmental variable,

receive the second value of the environmental variable, and

estimate a third value of the environmental variable at a distance spaced apart from the second face based on the first and second values of the environmental variable; and

a sensor communication system configured to transmit information, the information including at least one of the first, second, and third value of the environmental variable.

2. The system of claim 1, the sensor assembly including the processor and the memory.

3. The system of claim 2, the sensor assembly including the sensor communication system.

4. The system of claim 1, the sensor assembly further comprising:

an electrical plug disposed on the first face of the sensor assembly; and

an electrical outlet disposed on the second face of the sensor assembly,

the sensor assembly being configured such that the first face is disposed adjacent to a wall surface when the electrical plug of the sensor assembly is coupled to an electrical outlet in the wall surface.

5. The system of claim 1, the memory further comprising instructions that when executed cause the processor to receive information about a time of day and cause the processor to further base the estimate of the third value of the environmental variable on the time of day.

6. The system of claim 1, the memory further comprising instructions that when executed cause the processor to further base the estimate of the third value of the environmental variable on a distance of separation between the first sensor and the second sensor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are temperature sensors, and the environmental variable is temperature.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the estimate of the third value of the environmental variable at the distance spaced apart from the second face estimates the temperature of a room in which the sensor assembly is disposed.

9. A method comprising:

providing a sensor assembly comprising;

a first face,

a second face, the second face being on the opposite side of the sensor assembly relative to the first face, and the second face being spaced apart from the first face,

a first sensor disposed adjacent to the first face, the first sensor configured to sense a first value of an environmental variable in proximity to the first face, and

a second sensor disposed adjacent to the second face, the second sensor configured to sense a second value of the environmental variable in proximity to the second face;

receiving the first value of the environmental variable at a processor;

receiving the second value of the environmental variable at the processor;

estimating, by the processor, a third value of the environmental variable at a distance spaced apart from the second face based on the first and second values of the environmental variable; and

transmitting at least one of the first, second, and third value of the environmental variable.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving information about a time of day, and wherein the estimating, by the processor, of the third value of the environmental variable being further based on the time of day.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the estimating, by the processor, of the third value of the environmental variable being further based on a distance of separation between the first sensor and the second sensor.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are temperature sensors, and the environmental variable is temperature.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the estimate of the third value of the environmental variable at the distance spaced apart from the second face estimates the temperature of a room in which the sensor assembly is disposed.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensor assembly includes the processor, and wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a transmitter configured to transmit the at least one of the first, second, and third values of the environmental variable.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the transmitting of the at least one of the first, second, and third values of the environmental variable includes transmitting the third value.

16. The method of claim 9, the sensor assembly further comprising:

an electrical plug disposed on the first face of the sensor assembly; and

an electrical outlet disposed on the second face of the sensor assembly,

the sensor assembly being configured such that the first face is disposed adjacent to a wall surface when the electrical plug of the sensor assembly is coupled to an electrical outlet in the wall surface.