SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AIR TEMPERATURE CONTROL USING A TARGET TIME BASED CONTROL PLAN

• US 20170234557A1
• Filed: 02/12/2016
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodman Manufacturing Company LP (Daikin Industries Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Goodman Manufacturing Company LP (Daikin Industries Ltd)
• Inventors: Notaro, Douglas, Fisher, Jim
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature

Abstract

A system and method for controlling the air temperature of a building using a control plan based on a target time. The system includes a controller which may be connected to a number of indoor and outdoor heating ventilation and air-conditioning units. The system may include a thermostat. The system may also operate without a thermostat. The method includes determining a control plan to reach a desired temperature in a target time. The method also includes updating the plan by comparing the actual time to reach the desired temperature with the target time.

Claims

1. A system for controlling air temperature in a building comprising:

a controller communicatively coupled to at least one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units, wherein the controller comprises a processing unit and a memory module and the controller selectively operates the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units in accordance with a temperature control plan to reach a desired air temperature in a target time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a communication module.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication module sends or receives at least one of performance data and operations data with one or more communicatively coupled devices.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a terminal block communicatively coupled to a legacy thermostat.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a communicating equipment terminal for communicating data and control signals to one or more communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning units.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a non-communicating equipment terminal for controlling one or more non-communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning units.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises one or more sensor interfaces.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one sensor interface is communicatively coupled to an air temperature sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller discovers one or more properties of the heating ventilation and air-conditioning units.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller updates the temperature control plan based on measured performance.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises one or more accessory interfaces.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the target time is selected based on a user preference for performance or efficiency.

13. A method of controlling air temperature in a building comprising:

receiving a heating or cooling call;

operating one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units based on a control plan;

determining a satisfy time;

comparing the satisfy time to a target time;

updating the control plan; and

repeating the steps when a new heating or cooling call is received.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

communicatively coupling the one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units to a controller;

discovering the one or more coupled heating ventilation and air-conditioning units;

determining the target time; and

determining an initial control plan.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the controller further comprises a communication module.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the controller further comprises a terminal block communicatively coupled to a legacy thermostat.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the control plan is based on a heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit capacity and further comprises a current capacity, a new capacity, and an optional correction factor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the control plan is updated according to the equation:

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the control plan is based on a heating ventilation and air-conditioning unit low stage time and further comprises a current low stage time, a new low stage time, and an optional correction factor.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the control plan is updated according to the equation:

21. An air temperature controller comprising a processing unit and a memory module, wherein the controller is capable of selectively operating one or more heating ventilation and air-conditioning units in accordance with a temperature control plan to reach a desired air temperature in a target time.

22. The controller of claim 21 further comprising a communication module capable of communicatively coupling with one or more devices.

23. The controller of claim 22, wherein the communication module is capable of sending or receiving at least one of performance data and operations data with one or more communicatively coupled devices.

24. The controller of claim 21 further comprising a terminal block capable of communicatively coupling to a legacy thermostat.

25. The controller of claim 21 further comprising a communicating equipment terminal capable of communicating data and control signals to one or more communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning units.

26. The controller of claim 21 further comprising a non-communicating equipment terminal capable of controlling one or more non-communicating heating ventilation and air-conditioning units.

27. The controller of claim 21 further comprising one or more sensor interfaces capable of communicatively coupling with one or more sensors.

28. The controller of claim 21, wherein the controller is capable of discovering one or more properties of the heating ventilation and air-conditioning units.

29. The controller of claim 21, wherein the controller is capable of updating the temperature control plan based on measured performance.

30. The controller of claim 21 further comprising one or more accessory interfaces capable of communicatively coupling with one or more accessories.