Air quality based ventilation control for HVAC systems
First Claim
1. A building controller configured to communicate with and control one or more components of an HVAC system of a building, the building controller comprising:
- an input/output port for sending and/or receiving data over a network;
a memory for storing one or more operating parameters including one or more user-specified air quality thresholds;
a user interface; and
a controller coupled to the input/output port, the memory, and the user interface, the controller configured to;
receive and accept one or more user-specified air quality thresholds from a user via the user interface;
receive a first signal indicative of a measure of indoor air quality;
receive a second signal indicative of a measure of outdoor air quality;
determine based at least in part on the one or more user-specified air quality thresholds stored in the memory, the measure of indoor air quality, and the measure of outdoor air quality that ventilation via one or more open windows of the building will maintain or improve the measure of indoor air quality relative to the user-specified air quality thresholds; and
generate an alert in response to determining that ventilation via the one or more open windows of the building will maintain or improve the measure of indoor air quality relative to the user-specified air quality thresholds.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An HVAC controller and/or server may be programmed to determine if ventilation of a building is desired based, at least in part, on the one or more user-specified air quality thresholds stored in a memory, and one or more of a measure of indoor air quality and a measure of outdoor air quality. The air quality parameter threshold may relate to an air quality index, an air pollutant concentration, a smog alert, a pollen count, a dew point, a chance of precipitation, and/or the like. In addition, the HVAC controller and/or server may take into account current or future weather conditions when determining the ventilation needs of a building. Upon determining that ventilation is needed or recommended, the HVAC controller may send or display a message to the user. The message may recommendation that the user open a window or operate a ventilation system, as desired.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A building controller configured to communicate with and control one or more components of an HVAC system of a building, the building controller comprising:
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an input/output port for sending and/or receiving data over a network; a memory for storing one or more operating parameters including one or more user-specified air quality thresholds; a user interface; and a controller coupled to the input/output port, the memory, and the user interface, the controller configured to; receive and accept one or more user-specified air quality thresholds from a user via the user interface; receive a first signal indicative of a measure of indoor air quality; receive a second signal indicative of a measure of outdoor air quality; determine based at least in part on the one or more user-specified air quality thresholds stored in the memory, the measure of indoor air quality, and the measure of outdoor air quality that ventilation via one or more open windows of the building will maintain or improve the measure of indoor air quality relative to the user-specified air quality thresholds; and generate an alert in response to determining that ventilation via the one or more open windows of the building will maintain or improve the measure of indoor air quality relative to the user-specified air quality thresholds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A server connectable to a building controller located within a building over a network, the server comprising:
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a data storage device for storing data indicative of environmental conditions inside of and outside of the building; a controller configured to monitor the data indicative of environmental conditions inside of and outside of the building and determine if ventilation of the building via the one or more open windows will maintain or improve a measure of indoor air quality relative to the user-specified air quality thresholds based, at least in part, on the data indicative of environmental conditions inside of and outside of the building; and an input/output block for providing an alert to a user when the controller determines that window ventilation of the building will maintain or improve the measure of indoor air quality relative to the user-specified air quality thresholds. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification