MODULAR REGISTER VENT FOR ZONE HEATING AND COOLING
First Claim
1. An electronically-controlled register vent for providing zoned heating and cooling, comprising:
- a first register vent portion comprising a first fixed member and a first movable member wherein said first register vent portion is substantially closed when said first movable member is in a first position relative to said first fixed member and said first register vent portion is substantially open when said first movable member is in a second position relative to said first fixed member;
a second register vent portion comprising a second fixed member and a second movable member, said first fixed portion and said second fixed member configured to be connected to form a register vent assembly;
a controller;
a mechanical actuator provided to said controller, said mechanical actuator configured to move said first movable member and said second moveable member;
a wireless communication system provided to said controller;
a temperature sensor provided to said controller, said temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of air inside a duct; and
a power source provided to said controller, said controller configured to control said actuator in response to a wireless communication received from a zone thermostat.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular 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 modular ECRV can be configured to various sizes and form-factors that conform 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. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones and provides heating and cooling to the various zones according to a cost budget.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. An electronically-controlled register vent for providing zoned heating and cooling, comprising:
-
a first register vent portion comprising a first fixed member and a first movable member wherein said first register vent portion is substantially closed when said first movable member is in a first position relative to said first fixed member and said first register vent portion is substantially open when said first movable member is in a second position relative to said first fixed member; a second register vent portion comprising a second fixed member and a second movable member, said first fixed portion and said second fixed member configured to be connected to form a register vent assembly; a controller; a mechanical actuator provided to said controller, said mechanical actuator configured to move said first movable member and said second moveable member; a wireless communication system provided to said controller; a temperature sensor provided to said controller, said temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of air inside a duct; and a power source provided to said controller, said controller configured to control said actuator in response to a wireless communication received from a zone thermostat. - 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)
-
Specification