ENERGY CONSERVATION SYSTEM

• US 20090171506A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DBS Lodging Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: DBS Lodging Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Donaldson, David, Comyns, Brad
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/277
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

An energy conservation system is provided to lower energy consumption in an unoccupied room. A master controller provides control of power consumption to an occupant of a room through an occupant action to create an occupied mode and otherwise be in an unoccupied mode. A thermostat is controlled by the master controller. A radio frequency transceiver is located within the master controller and a second radio frequency transceiver remote from the master radio frequency transceiver is provided. The second radio frequency transceiver is coupled to an electrical switching circuit responsive to a radio frequency signal received from said radio frequency transceiver. A controlled power device is coupled to the electrical switching circuit such that an energy input to the device is controlled by the master controller in the unoccupied mode.

Claims

1. An energy conservation system comprising:

a master controller providing control of power consumption to an occupant of a room through occupant action to create an occupied mode and otherwise be in an unoccupied mode;

a thermostat controlled by said master controller;

a radio frequency transceiver located within said master controller and having a broadcast range;

a second radio frequency transceiver remote from the master radio frequency transceiver and coupled to an electrical switching circuit responsive to a radio frequency signal received from said radio frequency transceiver; and

a controlled power device coupled to the electrical switching circuit such that an energy input to said device is controlled by said master controller in the unoccupied mode wherein the room occupant action that activates said master controller is insertion of a card into said master controller or the activation of a door slide switch.

2. The energy conservation system of claim 1 wherein said controlled power device is a HVAC system having an unoccupied mode preselected temperature, said thermostat operating said HVAC system towards the unoccupied mode preselected temperature in the unoccupied mode.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said HVAC system is a packaged terminal air conditioner.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said controlled power device is less than all of a plurality of receptacles of a wall plug.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said controlled power device is a HVAC system and further comprising a door or window monitor in communication with said master controller to de-energize said HVAC system when a door or window is open.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said master controller is positioned by an entry door to and within a patron lodging room.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said master controller has an aperture defining an entry to a pocket adapted to receive a keycard or mini-keycard.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency transceiver further comprises a frequency modulation switch that allows for the transmitted frequency to be varied.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said thermostat is in two-way radiofrequency communication with said master controller.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said master controller is battery powered.

11. A process of room energy conservation comprising:

removing a keycard or min-keycard or moving a door slide switch to place power consumption under control of a master controller within a room in an unoccupied mode;

sending a radio frequency signal from said transmitter within said master controller to a radio frequency receiver coupled to an electrical switching circuit within a controlled power device; and

de-activating said controlled power device in response to the radio frequency signal being received by the receiver indicative the unoccupied mode to provide room energy conversation.

12. The process of claim 11 further comprising:

modulating a thermostat control unit with the radio frequency signal to operate a HVAC system towards an unoccupied preselected temperature.

13. The process of claim 11 further comprising monitoring the room for an open door or window to communicate an open signal to said master controller and de-energizing a HVAC system in response to the open signal.

14. The process of claim 13 wherein the door is a balcony sliding door.

15. The process of claim 11 wherein the electrical switching circuit is a relay.

16. The process of claim 13 wherein the open signal is communicated by a battery-powered transceiver capable of two-way communication.

17. The process of claim 11 further comprising overriding said master controller in the unoccupied state.