HVAC System with Motion Sensor

• US 20160069582A1
• Filed: 08/17/2015
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Buduri, Arun Kumar
• Application Number:
  US14/828,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20160069582A1
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/12 Position of occupants

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a motion sensor located in a system controller, a zone thermostat, and/or a zone sensor. The zone sensor is configured to detect motion within a space conditioned by the HVAC system. In response to either detecting motion and/or not detecting motion, the HVAC system may alter a display setting, such as intensity and/or brightness of backlighting, on the system controller and communicate information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor to at least one of another system controller of another HVAC system and/or a remote system.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a motion sensor; and

an HVAC system controller configured to selectively communicate information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor to a remote system.

2. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is carried by the system controller.

3. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is located remote from the system controller.

4. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the remote system is a security provider.

5. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the remote system is a home automation provider.

6. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the remote system comprises a smartphone.

7. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the remote system is a second HVAC system.

8. The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the second HVAC system is configured to selectively control a visual display of the second HVAC system in response to the information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor.

9. The HVAC system of claim 8, wherein the second HVAC system is configured alter an amount of energy consumed by the visual display in response to the information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor.

10. A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

providing an HVAC system comprising a motion sensor; and

communicating information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor to a remote system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the motion sensor is carried by a system controller of the HVAC system.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the motion sensor is located remote from a system controller of the HVAC system.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the remote system is a security provider.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the remote system is a home automation provider.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the remote system comprises a smartphone.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the remote system is a second HVAC system.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the second HVAC system is configured to selectively control a visual display of the second HVAC system in response to the information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second HVAC system is configured alter an amount of energy consumed by the visual display in response to the information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor.