UNIVERSAL DEMAND-RESPONSE REMOTE CONTROL FOR DUCTLESS SPLIT SYSTEM

• US 20120271460A1
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cooper Technologies Incorporated (Cooper Technologies)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Incorporated (Cooper Technologies)
• Inventors: Rognli, Roger W.
• Application Number:
  US13/092,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20120271460A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0003 characterised by a split arrangement, wherein parts of the air-conditioning system, e.g. evaporator and condenser, are in separately located units
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/50 Load
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1934 each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means

Abstract

A universal demand-response remote-control device for controlling a control unit of a ductless, split air-conditioning system. The remote-control device includes a long-distance communications module and includes a local communications module. The remote-control device also includes a processor in electrical communication with the long-distance communications module and the local communications module.

Claims

1. A universal demand-response remote-control device for controlling an infrared-responsive control unit of a ductless, split air-conditioning system, the remote-control device comprising:

a long-distance communications module including a long-distance transceiver, the long-distance communications module providing a network connection to a long-distance communications network transmitting a load-control message for controlling an electrical load of a ductless, split air-conditioning system at a premise;

a processor in electrical communication with the long-distance communications module;

a first local communications module in electrical communication with the processor and the long-distance communications module, the first local-communications module including a local transceiver transmitting a command associated with the received load-control message to an infrared-responsive control unit of the ductless, split air-conditioning system located inside the premise to control operation of the electrical load, wherein the infrared-responsive control unit is located inside the premise, and the electrical load is located outside the premise.

2. The remote-control device of claim 1, further comprising a key pad receiving control input from a user to enable the user to manually control operation of the ductless, split air-conditioning system.

3. The remote-control device of claim 1, further comprising a housing enclosing the long-distance communications module, the processor and the first local-communications module, the housing adapted to be held by a user operating the remote-control device and including a battery to power the remote control device.

4. The remote-control device of claim 3, further comprising a display.

5. The remote-control device of claim 1, wherein the first local communications module comprises an infrared communications module transmitting an infrared signal to the control unit.

6. The remote-control device of claim 1, wherein the first local communications module comprises a radio-frequency (RF) communications module transmitting an RF signal to an RF to infrared converter at the control unit.

7. The remote-control device of claim 1, further comprising a second local communications module, the second local communications module communicating with devices other than the control unit of the ductless, split air-conditioning system.

8. The remote-control device of claim 7, further comprising a power sensor adapted to sense power at the electrical load, and to communicate data associated with the power at the electrical load to the second local communications module.

9. The remote-control device of claim 1, wherein the air-conditioning system is a cooling system, and the electrical load is a compressor.

10. The remote-control device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply and monitor device in communication with the processor of the remote-control device and providing data associated with a power quality of an electrical power supply to the remote-control device.

11. The remote-control device of claim 3, further comprising a master station, the master station including structure that mates with a portion of the remote-control device and circuitry that charges a battery of the remote-control device.

12. The remote control device of claim 11, wherein the master station further comprises a cable connected to a power supply device, the cable comprising an antenna for the long distance communications module.

13. The remote-control device of claim 1, wherein the local transceiver comprises a one-way, receive-only device.

14. A remote-control system for controlling a plurality of ductless, split air-conditioning units, the remote-control system comprising:

a master station including;

a long-distance communications module including a long-distance transceiver, the long-distance communications module providing a network connection to a long-distance communications network transmitting load-control messages for controlling electrical loads of one or more ductless, split air-conditioning systems;

a local-communications module including a local transceiver;

a processor in electrical communication with the long-distance communications module and the master local-communications module;

a first, battery-operated handheld remote-control device in communication with the master station, including;

a local communications module including a local transceiver receiving load-control message data from the master station and transmitting commands associated with the load-control message data to a first inside, infrared-responsive control unit of the one or more ductless, split air-conditioning systems, thereby controlling operation of a first outside electrical load of the one or more ductless, split air-conditioning systems; and

a second, handheld remote-control device in communication with the master station, including;

a local communications module including a local transceiver receiving load-control message data from the master station and transmitting commands associated with the load-control message data to a second inside, infrared-responsive control unit of the one or more ductless, split air-conditioning systems, thereby controlling operation of a second outside electrical load of the one or more ductless, split air-conditioning systems.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the long-distance communications network comprises a long-distance radio-frequency (RF) communications network, the local transceiver of the master station comprises an RF transceiver, and the local transceivers of the first and second handheld remote-control devices comprise infrared transmitters.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the long distance transceiver of the master station comprises a one-way, receive-only device.

17. A method of controlling an electrical load of a ductless, split air-conditioning system outside a premise and controlled by a remote-control device located inside the premise, the method comprising:

causing a remote-control device having a long-distance communications module and a local communications module to be provided to a user for use inside the premise, the long-distance communications module configured to interface with a long-distance communications network and the local communications module configured to communicate with an inside infrared-responsive control unit of a ductless, split air-conditioning system at the premise having an outside unit with an electrical load;

transmitting a load-control message over the long-distance communications network to the long-distance communications module of the remote-control device located inside the premise, the load-control message causing the remote-control unit to transmit a load-control command to the inside control unit of the indoor portion of the ductless, split air-conditioning unit, thereby controlling power to the electrical load.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting a load-control message over the long-distance communications network comprises transmitting a load-control message over a radio-frequency (RF) long-distance communications network.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the remote-control unit is configured to transmit the load-control command to the inside control unit of the indoor portion of the ductless, split air-conditioning unit using an infrared (IR) signal.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving data over the long-distance communication network, the data associated with energy usage of the electrical load as transmitted from the remote-control device.