Retrofit damper system

• US 20010048030A1
• Filed: 01/08/2001
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Carr, D. Mitchell, Sharood, John N.
• Application Number:
  US09/755,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20010048030A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/49.3
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00018 using phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 : Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/14 : by determining electrical parameters of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 : the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A wireless damper include a register, a controller regulating the amount of air flow provided by the register, and a radio frequency communications circuit. The radio frequency communications circuit provides a signal to the controller to adjust the air flow. A register regulation mechanism opens and closes the register in response to a signal from the controller to regulate air flow through the damper. The register regulation mechanism can be a variable switch, that adjusts the amount of air flow through the damper or a magnetic latch. A battery supplies power to the controller, the register regulation mechanism, and the radio frequency communications circuit.

Claims

1. A wireless damper comprising:

a register;

a controller regulating the amount of air flow provided by the register; and

a radio frequency communications circuit,

wherein the radio frequency communications circuit provides a signal to the controller to adjust the amount of air flow provided by the register.

2. The damper of

claim 1

further comprising a register regulation mechanism connected between the register and the controller, wherein the regulation mechanism opens and closes the register in response to a signal from the controller to regulate air flow through the damper.

3. The damper of

claim 2

wherein the register regulation mechanism comprises a variable switch which variably adjusts the amount of air flow through the damper.

4. The damper of

claim 2

wherein the register regulation mechanism comprises a magnetic latch which opens and closes the register.

5. The damper of

claim 1

further comprising a battery that supplies power to the damper.

6. The damper of

claim 5

wherein the controller monitors a power level of the battery and sends a signal for transmission by the radio frequency communications circuit when the power level reaches a predetermined amount.

7. The damper of

claim 5

wherein the controller opens the register if a power level of the battery reaches the predetermined amount.

8. The damper of

claim 2

further comprising a battery that supplies power to the controller, the register regulation mechanism, and the radio frequency communications circuit.

9. The damper of

claim 2

further comprising a sensor for determining a condition at the damper.

10. The damper of

claim 9

wherein the controller adjusts the register regulation mechanism in response to the condition determined by the sensor.

11. The damper of

claim 10

wherein the controller receives the determined condition from the sensor and sends a signal with the determined condition to the radio frequency communications device for transmission of the determined condition signal.

12. The damper of

claim 9

wherein the sensed condition is temperature.

13. The damper of

claim 1

wherein the radio frequency communications circuit comprises a radio frequency transceiver.

14. The damper of

claim 1

wherein the controller includes a processor that sends a signal to the radio frequency communications circuit to identify the damper.

15. The damper of

claim 1

wherein the controller includes a processor that determines if a signal received by the radio frequency communications circuit is addressed to the damper.

16. The damper of

claim 15

wherein the controller includes a memory for storing damper identification and the processor determines if a signal is addressed to the damper using the stored damper identification.

42. The damper of

claim 1

wherein the communications means comprises a radio frequency transceiver.

17. A wireless air flow control system comprising:

a wireless damper including a battery; and

a zone controller;

wherein the zone controller sends a signal to the wireless damper to control the amount of air flow through the damper.

18. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 17

wherein the wireless damper comprises:

a register;

a damper controller regulating the amount of air flow provided by the register; and

a radio frequency communications circuit,

wherein the radio frequency communications circuit receives the air flow control signal and the damper controller adjusts the amount of air flow in response to the air flow control signal.

19. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 18

further comprising a register regulation mechanism connected between the register and the damper controller, wherein the regulation mechanism opens and closes the register in response to signals from the damper controller to regulate air flow through the damper.

20. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 19

wherein the register regulation mechanism comprises a variable switch that adjusts the amount of air flow through the damper.

21. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 19

wherein the register regulation mechanism comprises a magnetic latch that opens and closes the register.

22. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 18

wherein the damper controller monitors a power level of the battery and sends a signal for transmission by the radio frequency communications circuit to the zone controller when the power level reaches a predetermined amount.

23. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 22

further comprising a display on which the zone controller displays a message identifying that the damper'"'"'s battery power level is low.

24. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 22

further comprising a display on which the zone controller displays a message identifying that the damper'"'"'s battery needs replacing.

25. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 17

further comprising a sensor configured to sense a condition and provides an indication of the condition to the zone controller, wherein the zone controller sends a control signal to the wireless damper to regulate the air flow based on the sensed condition.

26. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 17

further comprising a user interface that provides a signal to the zone controller which controls the damper in response to the signal from the user interface.

27. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 26

wherein the user interface comprises a thermostat.

28. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 26

wherein the user interface comprises a computer.

29. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 18

further comprising a control server that controls the zone controller in coordination with other building functions under control of the control server.

30. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 18

further comprising a building air flow generation mechanism wherein the zone controller opens and closes the damper in response to activation and deactivation of the air flow generation mechanism.

31. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 18

wherein the damper controller includes a processor wherein the processor sends a signal to zone controller identifying the damper.

32. The wireless air flow control system of

claim 18

wherein the damper controller includes a processor that determines if a signal received by the radio frequency communications circuit is addressed to the damper.

33. A wireless damper comprising:

a means for regulating air flow;

a means for controlling the amount of air flow provided by the air flow regulating means; and

a means for communicating,

wherein the means for communicating provides a signal to the control means to adjust the air flow.

34. The damper of

claim 33

comprising a means for adjusting the air flow regulation means in response to signals from the control means.

35. The damper of

claim 34

wherein the air flow adjusting means comprises a variable switch that adjusts the amount of air flow through the damper.

36. The damper of

claim 34

wherein the air flow adjusting means comprises a magnetic latch, that opens and closes the air flow adjusting means.

37. The damper of

claim 33

further comprising a means for supplying power to the damper.

38. The damper of

claim 37

wherein the control means monitors a power level of the power supply means and sends a signal for transmission by the communication means when the power level reaches a predetermined amount.

39. The damper of

claim 37

wherein the control means opens the air flow regulation means if a power level in the power supply means reaches a predetermined amount.

40. The damper of

claim 33

comprising a means for sensing a condition at the damper.

41. The damper of

claim 40

wherein the control means adjusts the air flow regulation means in response to the sensed condition.