METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING AN OPERATIONAL MODE OF A BUILDING CONTROL COMPONENT
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting an operational mode of a building component of an environmental control system, the apparatus comprising:
- a sensor for outputting a signal related to a measure of power drawn by the building component;
a signal conditioning circuit coupled to the sensor, the signal conditioning circuit for conditioning the signal received from the sensor;
a comparator coupled to the signal conditioning circuit, the comparator for comparing the conditioned signal to a specified threshold associated with an ON condition of the building component; and
a wireless interface configured to wirelessly transmit a determination of whether the building component is ON or OFF based on a result determined by the comparator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure relates to methods, systems, and devices for detecting an operational mode of a building component of an environmental control system. In some instances, the apparatus may include a sensor for outputting a signal related to a measure of power drawn by the building component. The sensor may be a current sensor associated with a power cord of an air conditioning unit. The signal output by the sensor may be received by a signal conditioning circuit for conditioning the signal received from the sensor such as, for example, by amplifying and/or filtering. A comparator may be configured to compare the conditioned signal to a specified threshold associated with an ON condition and/or an OFF condition of the building component. The apparatus may include a wireless interface configured to wirelessly transmit a determination of whether the building component is ON or OFF based on the result determined by the comparator.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting an operational mode of a building component of an environmental control system, the apparatus comprising:
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a sensor for outputting a signal related to a measure of power drawn by the building component; a signal conditioning circuit coupled to the sensor, the signal conditioning circuit for conditioning the signal received from the sensor; a comparator coupled to the signal conditioning circuit, the comparator for comparing the conditioned signal to a specified threshold associated with an ON condition of the building component; and a wireless interface configured to wirelessly transmit a determination of whether the building component is ON or OFF based on a result determined by the comparator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A building control system for controlling one or more building components located within a building, the building control system comprising:
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an air conditioner coupled to a power source; a discrete air conditioner controller configured to communicate with and control one or more discrete air conditioner units located within the building via a first wireless communications path, the discrete air conditioner controller comprising a memory and a controller located within a housing, the memory storing an operating schedule for operating the one or more discrete air conditioner units and the controller configured to send out one or more commands to the one or more discrete air conditioner units in accordance with the operating schedule stored in the memory; a central coordinator comprising a user interface, a memory, and a controller, the controller of the central coordinator configured to receive and accept an operating schedule from a user via the user interface and to send at least a portion of the operating schedule to the discrete air conditioner controller via a second wireless communications path, wherein at least a portion of the operating schedule is stored in the memory of the discrete air conditioner controller; and an operational mode sensor associated with the air conditioner, the operational mode sensor comprising; a current sensor for outputting a signal related to a measure of power drawn by the building component; a signal conditioning circuit coupled to the current sensor, the signal conditioning circuit for conditioning the signal received from the current sensor; a comparator coupled to the signal conditioning circuit, the comparator for comparing the conditioned signal to a specified threshold associated with an ON condition of the building component; and a wireless interface configured to communicate a determination of whether the building component is ON or OFF based on a result determined by the comparator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of confirming that one or more commands that were wirelessly sent to a building component of a building were received and implemented, the method comprising:
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wirelessly sending one or more commands to a building component of a building, the one or more commands configured to change an operational mode of the building component to a predetermined operational mode; sensing a measure of power consumed by the building component; comparing the measure of power consumed by the building component to a specified threshold associated with the predetermined operational mode of the building component, and based on the comparison, determining whether the building component is in the predetermined operational mode; wirelessly sending one or more messages that indicate whether the building component is in the predetermined operational mode; and if the building component is in the predetermined operational mode, confirming that the one or more commands were received and implemented by the building component. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification