DEVICES FOR RECEIVING AND USING ENERGY FROM A BUILDING ENVIRONMENT

• US 20100187832A1
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Asmus, Matthew J., Menden, Thomas J., Seneczko, Thomas M., Brunette, Paul D., Bushong, Philip L, Gamroth, Timothy J., Ruiz, John I., Drees, Kirk H., Holland, Scott T.
• Application Number:
  US12/670,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20100187832A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.A
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25178 Serial communication, data, also repeater
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25359 Special power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/25 using a mesh network, e.g. a public urban network such as public lighting, bus stops or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/886 using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A device for use in a building automation system includes a first circuit configured to receive non-electrical energy from an environment in which the device is placed and convert the non-electrical energy to electrical energy. The electrical energy is used to power the first circuit. The first circuit configured to sense a parameter based on the non-electrical energy. A communications interface configured to be powered by the electrical energy and configured to communicate the sensed parameter to the building automation system.

Claims

1. A device for use in a building automation system, comprising:

a first circuit configured to receive non-electrical energy from an environment in which the device is placed and to convert the non-electrical energy to electrical energy, the electrical energy being used to power the first circuit, wherein the first circuit is configured to sense a parameter of the environment based on the non-electrical energy; and

a communications interface configured to be powered by the electrical energy and configured to communicate the sensed parameter to the building automation system.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the communications interface comprises a wireless transceiver.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first circuit comprises at least one of a piezoelectric element and an electrostatic element for the sensing and converting.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first circuit comprises at least one of a thermoelectric element, a pyroelectric element, an element for collecting ambient radiation, and a photovoltaic element for the sensing and converting.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the building automation system comprises a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the parameter is an air flow or a temperature of the environment.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an energy storage device,

wherein the first circuit is configured to provide electrical energy to the energy storage device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the electrical energy is used to power the first circuit by receiving stored electrical energy from the energy storage device.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary power source configured to provide electrical energy when the first circuit is not converting the non-electrical energy into electrical energy at a rate sufficient to power the first circuit.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first circuit is configured to route the electrical energy based on the parameter of the non-electrical energy;

and

wherein the routing comprises switching between two or more electrical paths, a first electrical path configured to respond in a first way to electrical energy and a second electrical path configured to respond in a second way to the electrical energy.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second circuit configured to receive second non-electrical energy from the environment and to convert the second non-electrical energy to electrical energy, the electrical energy being used to power the second circuit, the second circuit configured to sense a second parameter based on the second non-electrical energy.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the second non-electrical energy received by the second circuit is of a different type of non-electrical energy than that received by the first circuit.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the second circuit is tuned for a different parameter range of the non-electrical energy as compared to the parameter range used by the first circuit.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the first circuit is configured to use time constant information for a process, the time constant information received at the communications interface to adjust the rate at which the first circuit senses a parameter of the environment based on the non-electrical energy, wherein sensing the parameter and communicating the parameter to the building automation system form a step of the process;

and

wherein the first circuit is further configured to adjust a communications parameter of the communications interface based on at least one of the sensed parameter, a measure relating to the electrical energy, and state of charge information of an energy storage device coupled to the first circuit and configured to receive the electrical energy.

15. A method for converting energy in a building automation system, comprising:

receiving non-electrical energy at a first circuit from an environment in which the first circuit is placed;

converting the non-electrical energy to electrical energy using the first circuit;

sensing a parameter based on the non-electrical energy using the first circuit;

communicating the sensed parameter to the building automation system using a communications interface; and

powering the first circuit and the communications interface using the electrical energy.