Power-Sensing Circuit for Wireless Zone Sensors

• US 20130140016A1
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Storm, Timothy Wayne, Mitchell, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,639,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/205
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• 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 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1934 each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in a dwelling is provided. The system includes a plurality of wireless thermostats disposed throughout multiple zones within the dwelling and operable to control climate conditions in the corresponding zones. The system further includes a primary power source operable to supply power to thermostats for operating in a high-power mode when operatively connected thereto. The thermostats each include a secondary power source operable to supply power to the thermostats for operating in a low-power mode when the corresponding thermostat is not powered by the primary power source. Thermostats operating in the high-powered mode and are operable to receive and repeat signals originating from one or more thermostats operating in the low-power mode.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for controlling climate conditions in a dwelling including a plurality of zones, the system comprising:

a plurality of wireless thermostats disposed throughout the plurality of zones within the dwelling, each thermostat being operable to control a climate condition in a corresponding zone, the corresponding zone being selected from the plurality of zones;

a master control unit communicatively linked to the plurality of wireless thermostats and operable to receive a plurality of signals therefrom, the plurality of signals being communicated through a network associated with the system;

a primary power source linked to the master control unit and operable to supply power to each thermostat operatively connected thereto, wherein each thermostat powered by the primary power source is operable to operate in a high-power mode,

wherein each thermostat includes a corresponding secondary power source operable to supply power for operating in a low-power mode,

wherein each thermostat not powered by the primary power source is powered by the corresponding secondary power source, and

wherein each thermostat operating in the high-power mode is configured as a repeater and operable to receive and route signals received through a wireless portion of the network, the signals being selected from the plurality of signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each thermostat includes a corresponding power sensing circuit operable to determine whether power is being supplied from the primary power source or the corresponding secondary power source, respectively.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a thermostat operates in the low-power mode unless the corresponding power sensing circuit determines that the primary power source is actively supplying power to the thermostat.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein a thermostat operating in the high-power mode is configured to automatically revert to the low-power mode if the corresponding power sensing circuit determines that the primary power source is not supplying power to the thermostat.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each thermostat operating in the low-power mode is operable to selectively communicate signals wirelessly through the wireless portion of the network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each thermostat operating in the low-power mode ignores signals communicated by other thermostats throughout the wireless portion of the network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each thermostat operating in the high power mode is operable to route received signals to one of the master control unit or an additional thermostat operating in the high-power mode.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the received signals is a wireless signal originating from a thermostat while operating in the low power mode.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each thermostat operating in the high-power mode is operable to route wireless signals using spread-spectrum transmissions.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each thermostat operating in the high-power mode is operable to route wireless signals using spread-spectrum transmissions based on at least one spread-spectrum transmission scheme selected from the group consisting of:

direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS);

frequency-hopping spread-spectrum (FHSS);

adaptive frequency-hopping (AFH) spread-spectrum;

time-hopping spread spectrum (THSS); and

chirp spread spectrum (CSS).

11. The system of claim 8, wherein each thermostat operating in the high-power mode is operable to amplify received wireless signals prior to routing the received wireless signals.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein each thermostat is communicatively linked to a corresponding sensor operable to measure a parameter associated with the corresponding zone, respectively,

wherein each thermostat is configured to receive measurement signals from the corresponding sensor, respectively, the measurement signals being indicative of sensed parameters at the corresponding zone, and

wherein the plurality of signals communicated to the master control unit are control signals based on the measurement signals received from the plurality of thermostats, respectively.

13. A zone thermostat for use in a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system having multiple zone thermostats, comprising:

a component configured for wireless communication and operable to transmit a signal indicative of a measured zone parameter to a processor, the processor being operable to communicate control signals based on the signal to a master control unit associated with the HVAC system;

an auxiliary power source operable to supply power to the zone thermostat; and

a power sensing circuit configured to determine whether the zone thermostat is operatively connected to a primary power source, the primary power source being operable to provide a steady supply of power to the zone thermostat,

wherein the zone thermostat is powered by the primary power source and operates as a repeating thermostat in a high-power mode when the power sensing circuit determines that the zone thermostat is operatively connected thereto;

wherein the zone thermostat is powered by the auxiliary power source and operates as a non-repeating thermostat in a low-power mode when the zone thermostat is not powered by the primary source, and

wherein, when the zone thermostat is operating as the repeating thermostat in the high-power mode, the repeating thermostat is operable to receive and route control signals received from other zone thermostats, the other zone thermostats being selected from the multiple zone thermostats.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the other zone thermostats is operable to wirelessly communicate the control signals to the repeating thermostat, and

wherein the repeating thermostat is operable to route received control signals to one of the master control unit or at least an additional repeating thermostat, the additional repeating thermostat being selected from the multiple zone thermostats.

15. The zone thermostat of claim 14, wherein at least one of the received control signals originated from a non-repeating zone thermostat.

16. The zone thermostat of claim 13, wherein, when the zone thermostat operates as the non-repeating thermostat in the low-power mode, the non-repeating thermostat is configured with at least one lesser sensing or wireless communication capability than when the zone thermostat operates as the repeating thermostat in the high-power mode.

17. A method for operating a zone thermostat in a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system having multiple zone thermostats, the method comprising the steps of:

actively detecting whether a primary power source is supplying power to the zone thermostat;

operating in a low-power mode, using power supplied from a secondary power source, upon detecting that the primary power source is not supplying power to the zone thermostat; and

operating in a high-power mode upon detecting that the primary power source is supplying power to the zone thermostat;

wherein, when in the low-power mode;

selectively measuring parameters in a zone; and

communicating wireless signals based on the measured parameters through a network to a master control unit;

wherein, when in the high-power mode;

actively measuring the parameters in the zone;

communicating signals based on the measured parameters through the network to the master control unit; and

routing other signals received from other zone thermostats through the network, the other zone thermostats being selected from the multiple zone thermostats.

18. The method of clam 17, wherein, when in the low-power mode:

ignoring wireless signals communicated through the network from the other thermostats associated with the HVAC system;

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, when in the high-power mode, routing the other signals to one of the master control unit or an additional zone thermostat operating in the high-power mode, the additional zone thermostat being selected from the multiple zone thermostats.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

actively detecting if the primary power source is operatively connected and operable to supply power to the zone thermostat when the zone thermostat is operating in the low-power mode;

discontinuing using the power supplied from the secondary power source to operate in the low-power mode upon detecting that the primary power source is operatively connected to the zone thermostat and operable to supply power thereto; and

operating in the high-power mode using power supplied from the primary power source.