SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ZONE HEATING AND COOLING
First Claim
1. A system for zone temperature control comprising:
- a first zone thermostat to measure a temperature of a first zone;
a second zone thermostat to measure a temperature of a second zone;
a first controlled register vent configured to vent air from a first duct into said first zone;
a second controlled register vent configured to vent air from a second duct into said second zone; and
a control system that computes a first vent opening amount for said first controlled register vent and a second vent opening amount for said second controlled register vent according to an ambient temperature of said first zone, an ambient temperature of said second zone, a setpoint temperature of said first zone, a setpoint temperature of said second zone, and a priority of said first zone relative to said second zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones.
74 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A system for zone temperature control comprising:
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a first zone thermostat to measure a temperature of a first zone;
a second zone thermostat to measure a temperature of a second zone;
a first controlled register vent configured to vent air from a first duct into said first zone;
a second controlled register vent configured to vent air from a second duct into said second zone; and
a control system that computes a first vent opening amount for said first controlled register vent and a second vent opening amount for said second controlled register vent according to an ambient temperature of said first zone, an ambient temperature of said second zone, a setpoint temperature of said first zone, a setpoint temperature of said second zone, and a priority of said first zone relative to said second zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for zone temperature control comprising:
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measuring a temperature of a first zone;
measuring a temperature of a second zone;
computing a first vent airflow amount for a first controlled register vent and a second vent airflow amount for a second controlled register vent according to an ambient temperature of said first zone, an ambient temperature of said second zone, a setpoint temperature of said first zone, a setpoint temperature of said second zone, and a priority of said first zone relative to said second zone;
sending a command to said first controlled register vent instructing said first controlled register vent to provide airflow according to said first airflow amount; and
sending a command to said second controlled register vent instructing said second controlled register vent to allow airflow according to said second airflow amount. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification