METHOD FOR DETECTING PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL TO CONTROL HVAC SETTINGS

• US 20130166073A1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wallaert, Timothy E., DiFulgentiz, Bobby, Pine, Matthew F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,103,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/12 Position of occupants

Abstract

A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system includes a system controller configured to control the operation of a demand unit to maintain an environmental set point of a control zone. The system controller is further configured to control the demand unit in response to a location signal received from a location-reporting device.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, comprising:

a system controller configured to control the operation of a demand unit to maintain an environmental set point of a control zone; and

wherein said system controller is further configured to control said demand unit in response to a location signal received from a location-reporting device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising said location-reporting device.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said location-reporting device comprises a GPS receiver, and said location signal includes global position coordinates of said location-reporting device.

4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said location-reporting device comprises a cellular transceiver, and said location signal is determined at least in part by triangulation with cellular transmission towers.

5. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said location-reporting device comprises a Bluetooth transmitter and said system controller is configured to determine a location of said location-reporting device from an RF carrier signal.

6. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said location-reporting device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder.

7. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said location-reporting device is configured to perform one or more of facial recognition, thermal imaging, acoustic imaging and voice recognition.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system controller is further configured to determine a user profile from said location signal and to select said environmental set point according to said user profile.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said location signal is a first location signal received from a first location-reporting device, and said system controller is further configured to disregard said first location signal in the event that said system controller receives a second location signal from a second location-reporting device.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system controller is further configured to change a current environmental set point of a control zone from an unoccupied value to an occupied value in the event that said location-reporting device moves from a location outside said control zone to a location within said control zone.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system controller is configured to change a control status of a control zone from an unoccupied status to an occupied status when said location-reporting device enters said control zone.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein system controller is configured to change a control status of a control zone from an unoccupied status to an occupied status when a ground track of said location-reporting device converges on said controller.

13. A method of manufacturing a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, comprising:

configuring a system controller to control the operation of a demand unit to maintain an environmental set point of a control zone; and

configuring said system controller to control said demand unit in response to a location signal received from a location-reporting device.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising configuring said location-reporting device to transmit said location signal to said system controller.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said location-reporting device comprises a GPS receiver, and said location signal includes global position coordinates of said location-reporting device.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said location-reporting device comprises a cellular transceiver, and said location signal is determined at least in part by triangulation with cellular transmission towers.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said location-reporting device comprises a Bluetooth transmitter and said system controller is configured to determine a location of said location-reporting device from an RF carrier signal.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said location-reporting device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder.

19. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said location-reporting device is configured to perform one or more of facial recognition, thermal imaging, acoustic imaging and voice recognition.

20. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising configuring said system controller to determine a user profile from said location signal and to select said environmental set point according to said user profile.

21. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said location signal is a first location signal received from a first location-reporting device, and further comprising configuring said system controller to disregard said first location signal in the event that said system controller receives a second location signal from a second location-reporting device.

22. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising configuring said system controller to change a current environmental set point of a control zone from an unoccupied value to an occupied value in the event that said location-reporting device moves from a location outside said control zone to a location within said control zone.

23. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising configuring said system controller to change a control status of a control zone from an unoccupied status to an occupied status when said location-reporting device enters said control zone.

24. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising configuring said system controller to change a control status of a control zone from an unoccupied status to an occupied status when a ground track of said location-reporting device converges to said controller.