Self-powering automated building control components
First Claim
1. A building automation system of radios forming a network, the system comprising:
- a network of wireless radios within a building operable to direct the operation of building equipment to control a building environment of the building; and
at least one wireless radio being a self-powered wireless radio having an energy generator operable to harvest energy to power, at least in part, the self-powered wireless radio.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network of wireless radios automatically conserves energy, directs the operation of equipment, and locates assets and personnel. The network may identify changes in the occupancy of a building area and automatically alter the building environment according to predetermined settings, personal preferences, or unexpected conditions. Each wireless radio may be powered by a dedicated energy generator. The dedicated energy generator may harvest or scavenge energy from the building, building equipment, or building environment. The energy generator may be vibration driven and generate electrical energy from the vibration of energy generator components. The energy generator may be a micro-electro-mechanical device and/or include one or more layers of piezoelectric material. The energy generator may generate electrical energy from light, thermal, kinetic, radio frequency, or other forms of energy associated with the building, building equipment, or building environment. The energy generator also may generate electrical energy from the movement of individuals.
220 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A building automation system of radios forming a network, the system comprising:
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a network of wireless radios within a building operable to direct the operation of building equipment to control a building environment of the building; and
at least one wireless radio being a self-powered wireless radio having an energy generator operable to harvest energy to power, at least in part, the self-powered wireless radio. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A building automation system of radios forming a network, the system comprising:
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a network of wireless radios dispersed throughout a building, each wireless radio having a receiver and a transmitter; and
a self-powered wireless radio interconnected with the network, the self-powered wireless radio having a receiver, a transmitter, and an energy generator to generate electrical energy that powers the self-powered wireless radio and being affixed on a movable item, wherein the network is operable to automatically determine the location of the movable item within the building. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of using data received from a network of radios, the system comprising:
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receiving data from or within a network of wireless radios dispersed throughout a building, each wireless radio having a receiver and a transmitter;
powering at least one wireless radio from electrical energy generated from a micro-electric-mechanical device; and
automatically altering the operation of building environmental equipment in response to data received by the wireless radio powered by the micro-electric-mechanical device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable medium having instructions executable on a computer stored thereon, the instructions comprising:
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receiving data from or within a network of wireless radios, each wireless radio comprising a receiver, a transmitter, and a sensor, each sensor operable to sense a value of a parameter;
automatically altering operation of equipment in response to the data received; and
powering at least one wireless radio from an energy generator that harvests energy from the building, building equipment, or the building environment. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification