BATTERY-OPERATED WIRELESS ZONE CONTROLLERS HAVING MULTIPLE STATES OF POWER-RELATED OPERATION
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones.
14 Citations
22 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A zone controller, comprising:
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a sensor for sensing pressure within the duct; and a controller configured to; operate the zone controller in a first state and a second state; and alternate the zone controller between the first state and the second state over a period of time, wherein; the second state is configured such that the zone controller is configured to perform at least one of; monitor the pressure within a duct via measurements from the sensor; and communicate a pressure measurement for the pressure within the duct as measured by the sensor from the zone controller to a central controller located remote from the zone controller. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for controlling a zone controller, the method comprising:
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alternating, over time, an operation of the zone controller between a first state and a second state; monitoring, by the zone controller, pressure within a duct that provides airflow from the HVAC system to the environmental zone associated with the zone controller while in at least one of the first state or the second state; communicating pressure data for the environmental zone associated with the zone controller from the zone controller to a central controller while in the second state but not in the first state; and controlling actuation of the electronically-controlled register vent at least partially based on the pressure data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A vent control system, comprising:
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a central controller; and a plurality of zone controllers remotely located from and in wireless communication with the central controller, each zone controller further comprising; a sensor for sensing pressure associated with the duct; and a controller configured to; operate the zone controller in a first state and a second state; and alternate the zone controller between the first state and the second state over a period of time, wherein; the second state is configured such that the zone controller is configured to perform at least one of;
monitor the pressure within the duct via measurements from the sensor; andcommunicate a pressure measurement for the pressure within the duct as measured by the sensor from the zone controller to the central controller located remote from the zone controller.
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Specification