SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ZONE HEATING AND COOLING USING CONTROLLABLE SUPPLY AND RETURN VENTS
First Claim
1. A system for zoned 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 electronically-controlled register vent provided to a supply vent;
a second electronically-controlled register vent provided to a return vent; and
a central system;
said central system configured to obtain a first setpoint temperature and a first current zone temperature from said first zone thermostat, to obtain a second setpoint temperature and a second current zone temperature from said second zone thermostat, and to compute a first vent opening amount for said first electronically-controlled register vent and a second vent opening amount for said second-electronically controlled register vent according to said first and second current zone temperatures.
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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 and the opening of an ECRV provided to a supply vent and the opening of an ECRV provided to a return vent.
174 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for zoned 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 electronically-controlled register vent provided to a supply vent; a second electronically-controlled register vent provided to a return vent; and a central system; said central system configured to obtain a first setpoint temperature and a first current zone temperature from said first zone thermostat, to obtain a second setpoint temperature and a second current zone temperature from said second zone thermostat, and to compute a first vent opening amount for said first electronically-controlled register vent and a second vent opening amount for said second-electronically controlled register vent according to said first and second current zone temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for controlling the temperature of a first zone and a second zone in a building, comprising:
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receiving a first temperature measurement from said first zone and a second temperature measurement from said second zone; calculating a vent opening of a first electronically-controlled register vent and a vent opening for a second electronically-controlled register vent, wherein said first electronically-controlled register vent is provided to a supply plenum and wherein said second electronically-controlled register vent is provided to a return plenum and wherein said first and second electronically-controlled register vents are provided to said; calculating a vent opening of a third electronically-controlled register vent and a vent opening for a fourth electronically-controlled register vent, wherein said third electronically-controlled register vent is provided to a supply plenum and wherein said fourth electronically-controlled register vent is provided to a return plenum and wherein said third and fourth electronically-controlled register vents are provided to said second zone; and controlling said vent opening of said first electronically-controlled register vent, said vent opening of said second electronically-controlled register vent, said vent opening of said third electronically-controlled register vent, and said vent opening of said fourth electronically-controlled register vent. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for zoned temperature control comprising:
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a first zone thermostat to measure a temperature of a first zone; a first electronically-controlled register vent provided to a supply vent; a second electronically-controlled register vent provided to a return vent; and a central system; said central system configured to obtain a first setpoint temperature and a first current zone temperature from said first zone thermostat, and to compute a first vent opening amount for said first electronically-controlled register vent and a second vent opening amount for said second-electronically controlled register vent according to said first zone temperature and according to a relative priority of said first zone as compared to a second zone. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification