Volatile composition dispenser having a temperature sensor to remotely control an air handling device

• US 10,429,806 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2015
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Hasenoehrl, Erik John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bodden, Evral E
• Application Number:
  US14/879,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20170102159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 700278
• 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 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

A system for controlling the temperature in at least one room is provided. The system includes a central communication unit that is communicably connected with a memory configured to store at least one temperature set point. The system includes a volatile composition dispenser having a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is communicably connectable with the central communication through a wireless communication link. The system includes an air handling device communicably connectable with the central communication unit. The central communication unit compares incoming signals of temperature measurement from the temperature sensor with the temperature set point and sends outgoing instructions to the air handling device to heat or cool a room to the temperature set point if the temperature measurement is different from the temperature set point and to turn off if the temperature measurement is equal to the temperature set point.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the temperature in at least one room, the system comprising:

a central communication unit capable of receiving incoming signals and sending outgoing instructions, the central communication unit communicably connected with a memory configured to store at least one temperature set point;

a volatile composition dispenser having a temperature sensor, wherein the volatile composition dispenser comprises a volatile composition, wherein the temperature sensor is communicably connectable with the central communication through a wireless communication link, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature in a room and send temperature measurements in the form of incoming signals to the central communication unit; and

an air handling device communicably connectable with the central communication unit and configured to turn on or off upon receipt of an outgoing instruction from the central communication unit,

wherein the central communication unit compares the incoming signals of temperature measurement from the temperature sensor on the volatile composition dispenser with the temperature set point and sends outgoing instructions to the air handling device to heat or cool a room to the temperature set point if the temperature measurement from the temperature sensor on the volatile composition dispenser is different from the temperature set point and to turn off if the temperature measurement is equal to or substantially equal to the temperature set point,

wherein the volatile composition dispenser is movable throughout the at least one room or movable into a different room.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central communication unit is located in a different room from the volatile composition dispenser.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication link is selected from the group consisting of:

Wi-Fi;

Bluetooth;

ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, Thread, Mesh Network, or combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the volatile composition dispenser is configured with mesh network border router functionality.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the central communication unit is communicably connectable with a computer or smart device comprising a user interface, wherein the temperature set point is adjustable through the user interface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least two volatile composition dispensers are communicably connectable with the central communication unit, a first volatile composition dispenser comprising a first temperature sensor and a second volatile composition dispenser comprising a second temperature sensor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the memory stores a first temperature algorithm for a first time period and a second temperature algorithm for a second time period, wherein the central communication unit uses temperature measurements from the first temperature sensor during the first time period and the central communication unit uses the temperature measurements from the second temperature sensor during the second time period, wherein the first and second time periods are different.

8. A method of controlling the temperature in at least one room with a volatile composition dispenser and an air handling device, the volatile composition dispenser having a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor and the air handling device are each communicably connectable with a central communication unit, the central communication unit communicably connected with a memory capable of storing set points, wherein the volatile composition dispenser comprises a volatile composition, wherein the volatile composition dispenser is movable throughout the at least one room or movable into a different room, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) setting a temperature set point in the memory;

(b) measuring the temperature in the at least one room with the temperature sensor on the volatile composition dispenser;

(c) sending a temperature measurement to the central communication unit;

(d) comparing the temperature measurement with the temperature set point;

(e) sending an outgoing instruction to the air handling device to heat or cool the at least one room to the temperature set point if the temperature measurement from the temperature sensor on the volatile composition dispenser is different than the temperature set point or to turn the air handling device off if the temperature measurement is equal or substantially equal to the temperature set point; and

(f) optionally repeating steps (a) through (e).

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of positioning the volatile composition dispenser in a different room than the central communication unit.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the volatile composition dispenser is communicably connectable with central communication unit through a wireless communication link.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the central communication unit communicably connectable with a computer or smart device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the memory is stored on the central communication unit or on a cloud-based system.

13. A method of controlling the temperature in at least two rooms during different time periods with at least one volatile composition dispenser and an air handling device, wherein the temperature sensor and the air handling device are each communicably connectable with a central communication unit, wherein the central communication unit is communicably connected with a memory capable of storing set points, wherein the volatile composition dispenser comprises a volatile composition, wherein the volatile composition dispenser is movable throughout the at least one room or movable into a different room, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a first temperature set point in the memory of the central communication unit, wherein the central communication unit is programmed to use the first temperature set point during a first time period;

(b) storing a second temperature set point in the memory of the central communication unit, wherein the central communication unit is programmed to use the second temperature set point during a second time period that is different from the first time period;

(c) measuring the temperature in a first room with a first temperature sensor of a volatile composition dispenser during the first time period;

(d) sending the first temperature measurement to the central communication unit;

(e) comparing the first temperature measurement with the first temperature set point with the central communication unit;

(f) sending an outgoing instruction to the air handling device in the first time period to turn on if the first temperature measurement is different than the first temperature set point or to turn off if the first temperature measurement is the same as the first temperature set point;

(g) measuring the temperature in a second room with a second temperature sensor during the second time period;

(h) sending the second temperature measurement to the central communication unit;

(i) comparing the second temperature measurement with the second temperature set point with the central communication unit;

(j) sending an outgoing instruction to the air handling device in the set time period to turn on if the second temperature measurement is different than the second temperature set point or to turn off if the second temperature measurement is the same as the second temperature set point; and

(k) optionally repeating any of steps (a) through (j).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the central communication unit comprises the second temperature sensor.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a second volatile composition dispenser comprises the second temperature sensor.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first time period is during the day and the second time period is at night.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein a user can adjust the first and second temperature set points using a computer or smart device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the temperature sensors are communicably connectable with the central communication unit through a wireless communication link.