Energy control system

• US 4,407,447 A
• Filed: 12/07/1981
• Issued: 10/04/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sta-Tech International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sta-Tech International Incorporated
• Inventors: Sayegh, Marshall
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/328,014
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49, 236/78 B, 165/22
• US Class Current: 236/49.3
• 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 11/61 using timers
• 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 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/54 Heating and cooling, simultaneously or alternatively
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

An energy control system for a dwelling with a plurality of rooms is disclosed wherein said system has a plurality of occupancy sensors, with each sensor adapted to detect the presence of a human being in a room. The occupancy sensors are all connected to a computer with the computer controlling a plurality of dampers that regulate the air flow in the air ducts into the various rooms. Upon the detection of the presence of a human being in a room by the occupancy sensor, the computer sends a signal to the air damper controlling the air flow into that room to open the air flow through that air duct.

Claims

1. A fluid control system for regulating the delivery of a fluid to a region to control the temperature of said region, wherein said region having a plurality of confined spaces, said fluid generated by a generating means in response to a thermostat, and delivered to said confined spaces in a plurality of delivery channel means, said control system comprising:

a plurality of occupancy sensing means, with each occupancy sensing means for detecting the presence of a human being in a confined space, and to produce an occupancy signal in response thereto;

a plurality of valve control means with one valve control means in each of said delivery channel means, each of said valve control means for regulating the amount of fluid passing through said delivery channel means in response to a control signal;

a plurality of temperature sensing means, with each temperature sensing means for measuring the temperature of each confined space and for producing a temperature signal in response thereto; and

logic means for receiving said plurality of occupancy signals and temperature signals and for producing control signals to activate the valve control means to direct the delivery of said fluid to the confined spaces in accordance with the following priority until the capacity of said generating means is reached;

(a) all occupied confined spaces as detected by the occupancy sensing means, wherein the temperature signal of each occupied confined space is compared to said thermostat and in the event the temperature of said occupied confined space is insufficient, said logic means is adapted to control the valve control means to deliver said fluid to said occupied confined spaces until the temperature of said space is sufficient; and

(b) unoccupied confined spaces in accordance with the following priority, wherein the temperature signal of each unoccupied confined space is compared to said thermostat, and said logic means is adapted to control the valve control means to deliver the fluid to the confined space which is insufficient and which has the highest differential between the temperature of said confined space and said thermostat.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said region is a dwelling;

and each confined space is a room.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein

said fluid is air;

said generating means is a central heating or cooling forced air apparatus;

each delivery channel means is an air duct; and

each valve control means is an air damper means.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising

a plurality of delay means;

and

each of said occupancy signal is passed through a delay means to said logic means;

said system for delivering air to an occupied room as detected by said occupancy sensing means after a period of time set by said delay means and said room is still occupied.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of said occupancy sensing means is an infrared detector.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein each of said occupancy sensing means is an ultrasonic detector.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein each room is categorized into a plurality of time dependent zones.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said system is adapted to produce control signals to said air damper means to direct the air flow to the rooms in accordance with the following priority:

(a) occupied rooms as detected by the occupancy sensing means that are temperature insufficient;

(b) unoccupied rooms in the primary zone, in accordance with the priority of rooms which are temperature insufficient and which have the highest differential between the temperature of said room and said thermostat; and

(c) unoccupied rooms that are temperature insufficient in other zones.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said logic means is further adapted to activate said central forced air apparatus in the event a percentage of the temperature of the rooms in the primary zone, as compared to said thermostat is insufficient.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said percentage is at least a majority of the temperature sensing means.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising

an outside temperature sensing means adapted to measure the temperature outside of said dwelling;

said outside temperature sensing means connected to said logic means.