Connecting Split HVAC Systems to the Internet and/or Smart Utility Meters

• US 20130334326A1
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Shan, Ping
• Granted Patent: US 10,013,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/51
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for connecting split HVAC systems (and/or for providing such connectivity) to networks and/or smart meters, thereby allowing a split HVAC system to be controllable via the Internet and/or a smart meter. An exemplary embodiment includes a system for use with a split HVAC system having at least one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit having a receiver. In this exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a control having connectivity to a network and/or a smart utility meter. An equipment interface module is configured for wireless communication with the receiver of the at least one indoor unit and the control. The equipment interface module is operable for communicating instructions from the control to the receiver of the at least one indoor unit, thereby allowing operation of the at least one indoor unit to be controllable via the network and/or smart utility meter.

Claims

1. A system for use with a split HVAC system including at least one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit having a receiver, the system comprising:

a control having connectivity to a network and/or a smart utility meter; and

an equipment interface module configured for wireless communication with the receiver of the at least one indoor unit and the control, such that the equipment interface module is operable for communicating instructions from the control to the receiver of the at least one indoor unit, thereby allowing operation of the at least one indoor unit to be controllable via the network and/or smart utility meter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the control is configured with connectivity to the Internet, such that operation of the at least one indoor unit is controllable by a user via the Internet when the control is connected to the Internet; and

/or

the control is configured with connectivity to a smart utility meter such that operation of the at least one indoor unit is controllable by a utility provider via the smart utility meter when the control is connected to the smart utility meter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the equipment interface module is configured for communication with an infrared receiver of the at least one indoor unit, whereby the equipment interface module is operable for communicating instructions from the control via infrared signals to the infrared receiver; and

/or

the equipment interface module comprises a radio frequency transceiver configured for communication with the control via radio frequency signals.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the equipment interface module is configured for bi-directional communication with the control via sending and receiving radio frequency signals to/from the control; and

the equipment interface module is configured for unidirectional communication with the receiver of the at least one indoor unit by sending infrared signals to the receiver.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the equipment interface module is configured to be operable as a communications bridge between the control and the receiver of the at least one indoor unit, whereby the equipment interface module is operable for converting instructions from the control to appropriate commands for the at least one indoor unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the equipment interface module comprises:

an emitter for sending instructions from the control to an infrared receiver of the at least indoor unit, which instructions are for an onboard controller of the at least one indoor unit; and

a collector for intercepting contrary instructions from a handheld infrared remote control of the at least indoor unit, to thereby allow the equipment interface to countermand the contrary instructions.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control comprises a zone control having one or more programmed schedules and set point temperatures for each of a plurality of zones in which is located a corresponding one of multiple indoor units of an multi-split HVAC system.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the system includes an equipment interface module for each indoor unit of the multi-split HVAC system and that is operable for comparing a sensed temperature of the zone in which it is located with a set point temperature and for sending an appropriate command to the indoor unit in that zone.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the zone control includes a temperature sensor, and the zone control is operable for sending the sensed temperature to the equipment interface modules; and

/or

each equipment interface module includes a temperature sensor and is operable for comparing the temperature sensed thereby with a set point temperature from the zone control; and

/or

each indoor unit includes a temperature sensor and an onboard controller operable for comparing a sensed temperature from the temperature sensor with a set point temperature from the zone control.

10. A multi-split HVAC system comprising at least one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units, and the system of claim 1, wherein:

the equipment interface module comprises a plurality of equipment interface modules, one for each indoor unit; and

the control comprises a zone control operable for controlling operation of all of the indoor units by communicating with the equipment interface module and the receiver of each indoor unit.

11. The multi-split HVAC system of claim 10, wherein:

the zone control is configured with connectivity to the Internet, such that operation of all of the indoor units is controllable by a user via the Internet when the zone control is connected to the Internet; and

/or

the zone control is configured with connectivity to a smart utility meter such that operation of all of the indoor units is controllable by a utility provider via the smart utility meter when the zone control is connected to the smart utility meter.

12. A multi-split HVAC system comprising:

at least one outdoor unit;

a plurality of indoor units each having an infrared receiver;

a zone control;

a plurality of radio frequency transceivers, each of which is configured for communication with the zone control via radio frequency signals and for communication with a corresponding one of the infrared receivers via infrared signals, whereby the radio frequency transceivers are operable for communicating instructions from the zone control to the receivers, thereby allowing operation of all of the indoor units to be controllable by the zone control.

13. The multi-split HVAC system of claim 12, wherein:

the zone control is configured with connectivity to the Internet, such that operation of all of the indoor units is controllable by a user via the Internet when the zone control is connected to the Internet; and

/or

the zone control is configured with connectivity to a smart utility meter such that operation of all of the indoor units is controllable by a utility provider via the smart utility meter when the zone control is connected to the smart utility meter.

14. A method for wirelessly, remotely controlling a split HVAC system having at least one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit comprising:

remotely setting an instruction for the at least one indoor unit via a network, a smart meter, or a zone control;

wirelessly transmitting the instruction to an equipment interface module that converts the instruction to a command for the at least one indoor unit; and

wirelessly transmitting the command to a receiver of the at least one indoor unit, whereby operation of the at least one indoor unit may be controllable according to the command.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method includes:

a user remotely setting an instruction for the at least one indoor unit via zone control or the Internet connected to the zone control; and

/or a utility provider remotely setting an instruction for the at least one indoor unit via the smart meter connected to the zone control; and

/or

the zone control wirelessly transmits the instruction to the equipment interface module.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein:

wirelessly transmitting the instruction to an equipment interface module comprises wirelessly transmitting radio frequency signals to a radio frequency transceiver; and

wirelessly transmitting the command to a receiver comprises wirelessly transmitting infrared signals to an infrared receiver of the at least one indoor unit.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein:

wirelessly transmitting the instruction to an equipment interface module comprises wirelessly transmitting the instructions to a plurality of equipment interface modules; and

wirelessly transmitting the command to a receiver of the at least one indoor unit comprises wirelessly transmitting the command to a plurality of receivers of a plurality of indoor units, such that operation of all of the indoor units is controllable by the zone control.