THERMOSTAT WITH INTEGRATED PARTICLE SENSOR

• US 20150323941A1
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2012
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Particles Plus, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Particles Plus, Inc.
• Inventors: PARISEAU, David, GIANDOMENICO, Adam
• Application Number:
  US14/427,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20150323941A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/66 Volatile organic compounds [VOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/76 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A residential or commercial thermostat incorporating an airborne particle sensor. A standard thermostat device incorporating at least one temperature sensor and at least activation of heating and/or cooling with the addition of an on-board particle sensor. The particulate information could simply be displayed, or could be part of controlling filtration or air-handling equipment.

Claims

1. A thermostat system comprising:

at least one temperature sensor;

at least one control unit in communication with the temperature sensor; and

at least one airborne particle sensor in communication with the control unit,

wherein the airborne particle sensor sends information to the control unit.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the airborne particle sensor includes a gas sensor to measure total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC).

3. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor in communication with the control unit, wherein the second sensor measures oxygen content in the air.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a humidity sensor in communication with the control unit, wherein the humidity sensor measures relative humidity.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the control unit, wherein the display provides visual information.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising an input unit coupled to the control unit for allowing a user to provide input to the thermostat.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising:

a VOC sensor coupled to the control unit for measuring airborne organic compounds;

an oxygen sensor coupled to the control unit for measuring oxygen levels;

a humidity sensor coupled to the control unit for measuring moisture; and

a plurality of actuators, each coupled to the control unit for communicating with at least one external devise.

8. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein each of the sensors are used to control at one actuator selected from the plurality of actuators according to some pre-defined control algorithms and user-specified setpoints.

9. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein the various sensors are used to control the plurality of actuators according to control algorithms with user-defined weights and user-specified setpoints.

10. A thermostat control system comprising:

a first thermostat for measuring environmental information; and

a second thermostat for measuring environmental information, wherein the first thermostat is in communication with the second thermostat and wherein each thermostat comprises;

a control unit that includes a module for external communication;

a temperature sensor; and

a particle sensor, wherein the temperature sensor and the particle sensor are in communication with the control unit, and

wherein the control unit of the second thermostat sends a signal to the control unit of the first thermostat and wherein the signal includes information relating to temperature and particulate associated with the second thermostat.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the signal from the second thermostat along with a signal from the first thermostat are multiplexed at a multiplexing unit to produce a control signal that is sent to an external device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the external device is a heating unit and the control signal activates the heating unit.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the external device is a cooling unit and the control signal activates the cooling unit.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the external device is a particulate filter unit and the control signal activates the particulate filter unit.