Automatically Balancing Register for HVAC Systems
First Claim
1. A system for controlling an HVAC system having a plurality of HVAC vents, each vent of the plurality of HVAC vents disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the system comprising:
- a plurality of intelligent controlled registers, wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;
is in airflow communication with a corresponding vent of the plurality of HVAC vents;
is in data communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and
includes a controller configured to execute an autonomous local control program, such that the controller processes data provided by each other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers so as to;
collectively control the plurality of HVAC vents on a peer-to-peer basis, such that, if a location in the building corresponding to another register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers fails to reach a first desired temperature despite the another register being fully open, and a location in the building corresponding to the intelligent controlled register has reached a second temperature, the intelligent controlled register decreases airflow therethrough.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Distributed nodes, such as intelligent register controllers, of a heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system wirelessly communicate with each other on a peer-to-peer basis, forming a network, and collectively control the HVAC system, without a central controller. The intelligent register controllers collectively control the amount of conditioned air introduced into each region. Each node may base its operation at least in part on information about one or more (ideally all) of the other nodes. Each intelligent register controller automatically determines how much conditioned air to allow into its region, or how much return air to allow to be withdrawn from its region. Each register controller automatically determines when and to what extent to operate its respective controllable damper.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for controlling an HVAC system having a plurality of HVAC vents, each vent of the plurality of HVAC vents disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the system comprising:
a plurality of intelligent controlled registers, wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; is in airflow communication with a corresponding vent of the plurality of HVAC vents; is in data communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and includes a controller configured to execute an autonomous local control program, such that the controller processes data provided by each other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers so as to; collectively control the plurality of HVAC vents on a peer-to-peer basis, such that, if a location in the building corresponding to another register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers fails to reach a first desired temperature despite the another register being fully open, and a location in the building corresponding to the intelligent controlled register has reached a second temperature, the intelligent controlled register decreases airflow therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for controlling an HVAC system having a plurality of HVAC vents, each vent of the plurality of HVAC vents disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the system comprising:
a plurality of intelligent controlled registers, wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; is in airflow communication with a corresponding vent of the plurality of HVAC vents; is in data communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and includes a controller configured to execute an autonomous local control program, such that the controller processes data provided by each other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers so as to; collectively control the plurality of HVAC vents on a peer-to-peer basis, so as to, absent an external input specifying a setpoint temperature for the register, equalize temperatures of the locations in the building.
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20. A method for controlling an HVAC system having a plurality of HVAC vents, each vent of the plurality of HVAC vents disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the HVAC system including a plurality of intelligent controlled registers, wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers:
- (a) is in airflow communication with a corresponding vent of the plurality of HVAC vents, (b) is in data communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers and (c) includes a controller, the method comprising;
executing an autonomous local control program by the controller of one register of the plurality of intelligently controlled registers; processing, by the controller, data provided by each other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers so as to; collectively control the plurality of HVAC vents on a peer-to-peer basis, such that, if a location in the building corresponding to another register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers fails to reach a first desired temperature despite the another register being fully open, and a location in the building corresponding to the intelligent controlled register has reached a second temperature, the intelligent controlled register decreases airflow therethrough.
- (a) is in airflow communication with a corresponding vent of the plurality of HVAC vents, (b) is in data communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers and (c) includes a controller, the method comprising;
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21. A method for controlling an HVAC system having a plurality of HVAC vents, each vent of the plurality of HVAC vents disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the HVAC system including a plurality of intelligent controlled registers, wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers:
- (a) is in airflow communication with a corresponding vent of the plurality of HVAC vents, (b) is in data communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers and (c) includes a controller, the method comprising;
executing an autonomous local control program by the controller of one register of the plurality of intelligently controlled registers; processing, by the controller, data provided by each other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers so as to; collectively control the plurality of HVAC vents on a peer-to-peer basis, so as to, absent an external input specifying a setpoint temperature for the register, equalize temperatures of the locations in the building.
- (a) is in airflow communication with a corresponding vent of the plurality of HVAC vents, (b) is in data communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers and (c) includes a controller, the method comprising;
Specification