SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATION OF AN HVAC SYSTEM TO ADJUST AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE

• US 20130190932A1
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Research Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Research Products Corporation
• Inventors: Schuman, Daniel C.
• Application Number:
  US13/355,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190932A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

A system for the temporary adjustment of ambient temperature in an environment to improve the short term comfort of a user is also provided. The system includes an HVAC system including a unit to condition air, the HVAC system in operable communication with the environment to provide conditioned air, a thermostat in communication with the HVAC system, the thermostat adapted to measure the ambient temperature of the environment and to provide control instructions to the HVAC system, and a control module residing on the thermostat, the control module adapted to execute program parameters upon activation of a program execution button. A method for temporarily adjusting an ambient temperature of an environment regulated by an HVAC system is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for temporarily adjusting an ambient temperature of an environment regulated by an HVAC system comprising:

activating a control program through actuation of a program execution switch;

interrupting a thermostat control event in place at the time of activating the control program;

generating a temporary temperature set point by combining a reference temperature with a temperature offset;

implementing the temporary temperature set point as a target temperature on the thermostat;

activating the HVAC system to heat or cool the environment;

measuring an adjusted ambient temperature in the environment regulated by the HVAC system through the thermostat;

determining whether the adjusted ambient temperature equals the temporary temperature set point;

repeating the step of measuring the adjusted ambient temperature and determining whether the adjusted ambient temperature equals the temporary temperature set point if the adjusted ambient temperature does not equal the temporary temperature set point; and

restoring the thermostat control event and terminating the method if the adjusted ambient temperature does equal the temporary temperature set point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference temperature in the generating step is the ambient temperature of the environment measured during the generating step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature offset is stored on the thermostat.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a temporary temperature set point further comprises:

determining whether the reference temperature is within an HVAC operation temperature limit; and

restoring the thermostat control event and terminating the method if the reference temperature is not within an HVAC operation temperature limit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of restoring the thermostat control event and terminating the method further comprises deactivating the HVAC system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising after the step of activating the HVAC system to heat or cool the environment:

determining if an amount of time in a timer exceeds a maximum operation time period;

increasing the amount of time remaining in a timer by a desired increment if the amount of time remaining in the timer does not exceed the maximum operation time period; and

restoring the thermostat control event and terminating the method if the amount of time remaining in the timer does exceed the maximum operation time period.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the step of restoring the thermostat control event and terminating the method if the adjusted ambient temperature does equal the temporary temperature set point further comprises deactivating the HVAC system; and

the step of restoring the thermostat control event and terminating the method if the amount of time remaining in the timer does exceed the maximum operation time period further comprises deactivating the HVAC system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising after the step of activating the HVAC system to heat or cool the environment:

determining if an amount of time remaining in a timer is greater than zero;

reducing the amount of time remaining in a timer by a desired increment if the amount of time remaining in the timer is greater than zero; and

restoring the thermostat control event and terminating the method if the amount of time remaining in the timer is not greater than zero.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the step of restoring the thermostat control event and terminating the method if the adjusted ambient temperature does equal the temporary temperature set point further comprises deactivating the HVAC system; and

the step of restoring the thermostat control event and terminating the method if the amount of time remaining in the timer is not greater than zero further comprises deactivating the HVAC system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the program execution switch in the step of activating the control program resides on the thermostat.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating the HVAC system to heat or cool the environment further comprises operating the HVAC system at the highest stage of heating or cooling output.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermostat control event during the step of interrupting a thermostat control event in place at the time of activating the control program is different than the thermostat control event during the step of restoring the thermostat control event and terminating the method if the adjusted ambient temperature does equal the temporary temperature set point.

13. A method for temporarily adjusting an ambient temperature of an environment regulated by an HVAC system comprising:

activating a control program through actuation of a program execution switch;

interrupting a thermostat control event in place at the time of activating the control program;

activating the HVAC system to heat or cool the environment;

determining if an amount of time remaining in a timer is greater than zero;

reducing the amount of time remaining in a timer by a desired increment if the amount of time remaining in the timer is greater than zero;

repeating the determining and reducing steps if the amount of time remaining in the timer is greater than zero; and

restoring the thermostat control event and terminating the method if the amount of time remaining in the timer is not greater than zero.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of activating the HVAC system to heat or cool the environment further comprises operating the HVAC system at the highest stage of heating or cooling output.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the program execution switch in the step of activating the control program resides on the thermostat.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of restoring the thermostat control event and terminating the method further comprises deactivating the HVAC system.

17. A system for the temporary adjustment of ambient temperature in an environment to improve the short term comfort of a user comprising:

an HVAC system including a unit to condition air, the HVAC system in operable communication with the environment to provide conditioned air;

a thermostat in communication with the HVAC system, the thermostat adapted to measure the ambient temperature of the environment and to provide control instructions to the HVAC system;

a control module residing on the thermostat, the control module adapted to execute program parameters upon activation of a program execution button, the program parameters include;

a first program parameter adapted to interrupt a thermostat control event which is in place at the time of activation of the program execution button;

a second program parameter adapted to generate a temporary temperature set point by combining a reference temperature with a temperature offset;

a third program parameter adapted to implement the temporary temperature set point as a target temperature on the thermostat;

a fourth program parameter adapted to activate the HVAC system to heat or cool the environment;

a fifth program parameter adapted to measure an adjusted ambient temperature in the environment;

a sixth program parameter adapted to determine whether the adjusted ambient temperature equals the temporary temperature set point;

a seventh program parameter adapted to repeat the measurement of the adjusted ambient temperature in the environment and the determination as to whether the adjusted ambient temperature equals the temporary temperature set point if the adjusted ambient temperature does not equal the temporary temperature set point; and

an eighth program parameter adapted to restore the thermostat control event and terminate the program parameters if the adjusted ambient temperature does equal the temporary temperature set point.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the reference temperature is the ambient temperature of the environment at the time of activation of the program execution button.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the program parameters further comprise:

a ninth program parameter adapted determine if an amount of time remaining in a timer is greater than zero;

a tenth program parameter adapted to reduce the amount of time remaining in a timer by a desired increment if the amount of time remaining in the timer is greater than zero;

a eleventh program parameter adapted to repeat the tenth and eleventh program parameters if the amount of time remaining in the timer is greater than zero; and

a twelfth program parameter adapted to restore the thermostat control event and terminate the program parameters if the amount of time remaining in the timer is not greater than zero

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the eighth program parameter and twelfth program parameter each include deactivation of the HVAC system.