Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling air handling systems
First Claim
1. A flow control system for controlling air flow through the ducts of an HVAC system having at least one efferent end for expelling air into a room, comprising:
- a flow control device interfaced with at least one of the HVAC ducts, said flow control device operable to control the flow of air therethrough in response to flow control signals;
a flow control command device disposed in the vicinity of said one efferent end of the HVAC duct for generating flow control commands;
an ultrasonic transmitter coupled to said flow control command device, wherein said transmitter is operable to generate and transmit an ultrasonic carrier modulated with said flow control commands to said flow control device through the HVAC duct;
an ultrasonic receiver for receiving said ultrasonic carrier modulated with said flow control commands and extracting said flow control commands therefrom; and
a control system for converting said flow control commands to said flow control signals for transfer to said flow control device to control the operation thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flow control device (34) is provided and is interfaced with at least one of the HVAC ducts (14). The flow control device (34) is operable to control the flow of air through the HVAC ducts (14) in response to flow control signals. A flow control command device (24) is disposed proximate to one efferent end (16) of the HVAC duct (14) for generating flow control commands. An ultrasonic transmitter (23) is provided and is coupled to the flow control command device (24). The transmitter (24) is operable to generate and transmit an ultrasonic carrier (26) modulated with the flow control commands to the flow control device (34) through the HVAC duct (14). An ultrasonic receiver (28) is provided for receiving the ultrasonic carrier modulated with the flow control commands and extracting the flow commands therefrom. A control system (30) is provided for converting the flow control commands to flow control signals for transfer to the flow control device (34) to control the operation thereof. A remotely disposed central control system (84) is provided for interpreting and analyzing the flow control commands received by the ultrasonic transceiver (82) in accordance with a control program and generating flow control signals to control the flow control devices (34) in response to receipt of the flow control commands by the ultrasonic transceiver (82).
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A flow control system for controlling air flow through the ducts of an HVAC system having at least one efferent end for expelling air into a room, comprising:
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a flow control device interfaced with at least one of the HVAC ducts, said flow control device operable to control the flow of air therethrough in response to flow control signals; a flow control command device disposed in the vicinity of said one efferent end of the HVAC duct for generating flow control commands; an ultrasonic transmitter coupled to said flow control command device, wherein said transmitter is operable to generate and transmit an ultrasonic carrier modulated with said flow control commands to said flow control device through the HVAC duct; an ultrasonic receiver for receiving said ultrasonic carrier modulated with said flow control commands and extracting said flow control commands therefrom; and a control system for converting said flow control commands to said flow control signals for transfer to said flow control device to control the operation thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A flow control system for controlling air flow through a plurality of ducts of an HVAC system, each having at least one efferent end for expelling air into a room, comprising:
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a plurality of flow control devices, each interfaced with a selected one of the HVAC ducts, said flow control devices operable to control the flow of air therethrough in response to flow control signals; a plurality of flow control command devices, each disposed in the vicinity of an efferent end of one of the selected HVAC ducts for generating flow control commands; an ultrasonic transmitter coupled to each said flow control command device, wherein said ultrasonic transmitter is operable to generate and transmit an ultrasonic carder modulated with said flow control commands to said flow control device through the associated HVAC duct; a plurality of ultrasonic receivers, each associated with one of the HVAC ducts and operable to receive said associated ultrasonic carrier modulated with said flow control commands, each of said receives for extracting said flow control commands therefrom; and a control system for convening said extracted flow control commands to said flow control signals for transfer to said flow control device to control the operation thereof.
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14. A flow control system for controlling air flow through the ducts of an HVAC system having at least one efferent end for expelling air into a room, comprising:
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a flow control device interfaced with at least one of the HVAC ducts, said flow control device operable to control the flow of air therethrough in response to flow control signals; a flow control command device disposed proximate to said one efferent end of the HVAC duct for generating flow control commands; a wireless transmitter coupled to said flow control command device, wherein said transmitter is operable to generate and transmit a signal containing said flow control commands received from said flow control command device; a wireless receiver and ultrasonic transmitter disposed in the vicinity of said efferent end of the HVAC duct wherein said receiver is operable to receive said signal from said wireless transmitter and wherein said ultrasonic transmitter is operable to transmit an ultrasonic carrier modulated with said flow control commands received from said wireless transmitter to said flow control device through the HVAC duct; an ultrasonic receiver disposed within the HVAC duct for receiving said ultrasonic carrier modulated with said flow control commands and extracting said flow control commands therefrom; and a control system for converting said flow control commands to said flow control signals for transfer to said flow control device to control the operation thereof.
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15. A flow control system for controlling air flow through the ducts of an HVAC system having at least one efferent end for expelling air into a room, comprising:
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a flow control device interfaced with at least one of the HVAC ducts, said flow control device operable to control the flow of air therethrough in response to flow control signals; a flow control command device disposed proximate to said one efferent end of the HVAC duct for generating flow control commands; a pressure wave transmitter coupled to said flow control command device, wherein said transmitter is operable to generate and transmit a pressure wave carrier modulated with said flow control commands to said flow control device through the HVAC duct; a pressure wave receiver for receiving said pressure wave carrier modulated with said flow control commands and extracting said flow control commands therefrom; and a control system for convening said flow control commands to said flow control signals for transfer to said flow control device to control the operation thereof.
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16. A method for controlling air flow through the ducts of an HVAC system having at least one efferent end for expelling air into a room, comprising the steps of:
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controlling the air flow through the HVAC ducts in response to flow control signals using a flow control device interfaced with at least one of the HVAC ducts; generating flow control commands proximate to the one efferent end of the HVAC duct using a flow control command device; transmitting the flow control commands via an ultrasonic carrier modulated with the flow control commands through the HVAC duct; receiving the ultrasonic carrier modulated with the flow control commands by an ultrasonic receiver and extracting the flow control commands therefrom; and convening the flow control commands to flow control signals to be used in the step of controlling. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for controlling air flow through a plurality of ducts of an HVAC system, each having at least one efferent end for expelling air into a room, comprising the steps of:
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controlling the air flow through the ducts in response to flow control signals using flow control devices interfaced with each of said HVAC ducts; generating flow control commands proximate to each efferent end of the HVAC ducts using flow control command devices; transmitting the flow control commands via an ultrasonic carrier modulated with the flow control commands through the HVAC ducts; receiving the ultrasonic carrier modulated with the flow control commands by ultrasonic receivers and extracting the flow control commands therefrom; and converting the flow control commands to flow control signals to be used in the step of controlling.
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27. A method for controlling air flow through the ducts of an HVAC system having at least one efferent end for expelling air into a room, comprising the steps of:
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controlling the air flow through the ducts in response to flow control signals using a flow control device interfaced with at least one of said HVAC ducts; generating flow control commands proximate to the one efferent end of the HVAC duct using a flow control command device; transmitting the flow control commands via a wireless signal containing the flow control commands; receiving the wireless signal containing the flow control commands; re-transmitting the flow control commands via an ultrasonic carrier modulated with the flow control commands through the HVAC duct; receiving the ultrasonic carrier modulated with the flow control commands by an ultrasonic receiver and extracting the flow control commands therefrom; and converting the flow control commands to flow control signals to be used in the step of controlling.
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28. A method for controlling air flow through the ducts of an HVAC system having at least one efferent end for expelling air into a room, comprising the steps of:
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controlling the air flow through the HVAC ducts in response to flow control signals using a flow control device interfaced with at least one of the HVAC ducts; generating flow control commands proximate to the one efferent end of the HVAC duct using a flow control command device; transmitting the flow control commands via a pressure wave carrier modulated with the flow control commands through the HVAC duct; receiving the pressure wave carrier modulated with the flow control commands by a pressure wave receiver and extracting the flow control commands therefrom; and converting the flow control commands to flow control signals to be used in the step of controlling.
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Specification