Dynamically controlled environmental control system
First Claim
1. A method for helping to minimize energy utilization within a given area comprising:
- generating a detection signal indicative of motion within the given area;
activating a timer to help control energy utilization within the given area, said timer having a time out period;
enabling energy utilization within the given area in response to said detection signal;
disabling energy utilized within the given area when said time out period has elapsed;
using a zone controller for facilitating respective scheduled and unscheduled energy utilization within the area;
scheduling energy requirements within the given area;
enabling a service operator to change scheduled energy requirements within the given area remotely; and
programming said timer to a specific programmable time out period to facilitate scheduled and unscheduled energy requirements within the given area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An environmental control system includes a plurality of electronically controlled zone controllers mounted on local VAV boxes for regulating the lighting, temperature and ventilation in a plurality of small zone areas. Each zone controller includes a timer which may be adjusted dynamically to change environmental requirements for zone occupants. A remote master computer is coupled to each local controller to provide three modes of lighting and HVAC equipment control. The inventive method of using the system includes controlling selectively individual ones of the zone controllers to provide three modes of operation an OCCUPIED mode, a STANDBY mode, and an UNOCCUPIED mode where the time period for each mode is adjustable either locally from the zone or remotely from a remote console.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for helping to minimize energy utilization within a given area comprising:
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generating a detection signal indicative of motion within the given area; activating a timer to help control energy utilization within the given area, said timer having a time out period; enabling energy utilization within the given area in response to said detection signal; disabling energy utilized within the given area when said time out period has elapsed; using a zone controller for facilitating respective scheduled and unscheduled energy utilization within the area; scheduling energy requirements within the given area; enabling a service operator to change scheduled energy requirements within the given area remotely; and programming said timer to a specific programmable time out period to facilitate scheduled and unscheduled energy requirements within the given area.
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2. In an environmental control system having conditioning means in fluid communication with a source of primary cooling and for controlling the air conditioning requirements of at least one zone within a facility, and lighting means for supplying artificial light within the zone, an energy conservation arrangement comprising:
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means for generating a detection signal indicative of the presence of an occupant within the zone; microprocessor controller means for enabling energy utilization within the zone in response to said detection signal and for disabling energy utilization within the zone in the absence of said detection signal for a given period of time; said microprocessor controller means including zone controller means for facilitating respective scheduled and unscheduled air conditioning and lighting requirements within the zone, and remote controller means for enabling a service operator to change scheduled energy requirements within the zone remotely; and programmable retriggerable time out means having a programmable time out period, said programmable retriggerable time out means being responsive to said detection signal for causing said microprocessor controller means to control the air conditioning requirements of the zone and the lighting means to help optimize energy conservation within the zone during scheduled and unscheduled occupant activity within the zone; and wherein said given period of time is said programmable time out period. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A control arrangement for helping to minimize energy utilization within a given area, comprising:
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means for generating a detection signal indicative of motion within a given area; retriggerable time out means to help control energy utilization within the given area, said time out means having a time-out period; and microprocessor controller means for enabling energy utilization within the given area in response to said detection signal and for disabling energy utilization within the given area when said time out period has elapsed; wherein said microprocessor controller means includes zone controller means for facilitating respective scheduled and unscheduled energy requirements within the area; remote controller means for scheduling energy requirements within the area; wherein said remote controller means includes means for enabling a service operator to change scheduled energy requirements within the area remotely; and wherein said retriggerable time out means is programmable retriggerable time out means having a programmable time out period. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification