Method and apparatus for reducing energy consumption in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning of unoccupied building zones
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for reducing energy consumption, said apparatus comprising:
- at least one occupancy detection device for generating an occupancy signal that is representative of an occupancy of a monitored zone;
at least one relay for being disposed along a heating, ventilation or cooling circuit, where said circuit includes a thermostat having a thermostat setpoint; and
a control circuit, coupled to said at least one occupancy detection device, for receiving said occupancy signal and for causing said at least one relay to interrupt operation of said thermostat if said occupancy signal indicates that said monitored zone is unoccupied.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment such that conditioned air supplied to unoccupied building zones is reduced to effect savings in energy. In one embodiment, additional relays are disposed between a thermostat and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment. Upon detection of a lack of occupancy of a monitored zone, the present invention causes the added relay or relays to open, thereby interrupting the thermostat'"'"'s ability to maintain a previously defined temperature. In turn, the present invention is then able to vary the temperature of the unoccupied zone to a different temperature setpoint than that of the thermostat.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An apparatus for reducing energy consumption, said apparatus comprising:
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at least one occupancy detection device for generating an occupancy signal that is representative of an occupancy of a monitored zone;
at least one relay for being disposed along a heating, ventilation or cooling circuit, where said circuit includes a thermostat having a thermostat setpoint; and
a control circuit, coupled to said at least one occupancy detection device, for receiving said occupancy signal and for causing said at least one relay to interrupt operation of said thermostat if said occupancy signal indicates that said monitored zone is unoccupied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for reducing energy consumption, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing at least one occupancy detection device for generating an occupancy signal that is representative of an occupancy of a monitored zone;
b) providing at least one relay for being disposed along a heating, ventilation or cooling circuit, where said circuit includes a thermostat having a thermostat setpoint; and
c) providing a control circuit for receiving said occupancy signal and for causing said at least one relay to interrupt operation of said thermostat if said occupancy signal indicates that said monitored zone is unoccupied. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for reducing energy consumption, said apparatus comprising:
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at least one occupancy detection device for generating an occupancy signal that is representative of an occupancy of a monitored zone;
at least one relay for being disposed along a heating, ventilation or cooling circuit, where said circuit includes a motorized damper and a thermostat having a thermostat setpoint; and
a control circuit, coupled to said at least one occupancy detection device, for receiving said occupancy signal and for causing said at least one relay to operate said motorized damper if said occupancy signal indicates that said monitored zone is unoccupied. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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32. A method for reducing energy consumption, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing at least one occupancy detection device for generating an occupancy signal that is representative of an occupancy of a monitored zone;
b) providing at least one relay for being disposed along a heating, ventilation or cooling circuit, where said circuit includes a motorized damper and a thermostat having a thermostat setpoint; and
c) providing a control circuit for receiving said occupancy signal and for causing said at least one relay to operate said motorized damper if said occupancy signal indicates that said monitored zone is unoccupied. - View Dependent Claims (31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42)
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41. The method of claim 47, wherein said at least one occupancy detection device further comprises an acoustic sensing device.
Specification
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Current AssigneeJames R. Disser
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Original AssigneeJames R. Disser
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InventorsDisser, James R.
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Application NumberUS10/090,467Publication NumberTime in Patent OfficeDaysField of SearchUS Class Current236/47CPC Class CodesF24F 11/30 for purposes related to the...F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy e...F24F 2110/10 TemperatureF24F 2120/10 OccupancyG05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of...
