Low-cost wireless HVAC systems
First Claim
1. A building having a plurality of HVAC zones, each zone including an air conditioning and/or heating and ventilating (HVAC) system comprising a plurality of components including:
- HVAC apparatus for conditioning and moving air within the corresponding zone in response to condition demand manifestations signals;
setpoint means for providing a manifestation of desired value of a characteristic of air which affects indoor air quality in said corresponding zone;
sensor means responsive to said characteristic of air for providing a manifestation of the actual value of said characteristic in said corresponding zone;
demand means for generating a condition demand indication signal in response to said manifestation of actual value as a function of said manifestation of desired value and for providing an HVAC condition demand manifestation corresponding to said condition demand indicating signal; and
each zone further comprising;
a low power, SAW-stabilized, narrow band, AM transmitter at one of said components for transmitting a corresponding one of said manifestations; and
a SAW-stabilized, narrow band, AM receiver at another one of said components for receiving said corresponding one of said manifestations.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Communication between the various elements of HVAC systems is effected by means of low-cost, low-power, narrow-band AM SAW-stabilized transmitters 21, 27, 39, 86 and receivers 18, 28, 47, 89. A residential embodiment (FIG. 1) transmits temperature information from each room of the house to a master control 24, which is used to control the HVAC demand and to control the damper in the corresponding room. In a first commercial building embodiment (FIGS. 2 and 3), thermostat/transceiver 61-66 assemblies transmit not only demand and control information from the corresponding thermostat 78 (with switches), but relay information transmitted from other thermostat/transceiver assemblies, whereby messages are retransmitted from one floor to the next to overcome the high attenuation of commercial building construction in reaching rooftop HVAC systems 71-76. In a second commercial building embodiment (FIG. 4), messages are transmitted from a thermostat/transceiver assembly 92 in each floor to a relaying transceiver assembly 96 in a stairwell, the transmissions to rooftop units 93, 97 being made with little attenuation through the stairwell and the roof. Message protocols with or without acknowledgement may be used. Relative humidity and CO2 level may be controlled as well as temperature.
214 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A building having a plurality of HVAC zones, each zone including an air conditioning and/or heating and ventilating (HVAC) system comprising a plurality of components including:
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HVAC apparatus for conditioning and moving air within the corresponding zone in response to condition demand manifestations signals; setpoint means for providing a manifestation of desired value of a characteristic of air which affects indoor air quality in said corresponding zone; sensor means responsive to said characteristic of air for providing a manifestation of the actual value of said characteristic in said corresponding zone; demand means for generating a condition demand indication signal in response to said manifestation of actual value as a function of said manifestation of desired value and for providing an HVAC condition demand manifestation corresponding to said condition demand indicating signal; and
each zone further comprising;a low power, SAW-stabilized, narrow band, AM transmitter at one of said components for transmitting a corresponding one of said manifestations; and a SAW-stabilized, narrow band, AM receiver at another one of said components for receiving said corresponding one of said manifestations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An air conditioning and/or heating and ventilating (HVAC) system comprising a plurality of components including:
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HVAC apparatus for conditioning and moving air in response to condition demand manifestations provided thereto; setpoint means for providing a manifestation of a desired value of a characteristic of air which affects indoor air quality; sensor means responsive to said characteristic of air for providing a manifestation of the actual value of said characteristic; and demand means for generating a condition demand indication signal in response to said manifestation of actual value as a function of said manifestation of desired value and for providing an HVAC condition demand manifestation corresponding to said condition demand indicating signal; and
further comprising;a low power, SAW-stabilized, narrow band, AM transmitter at one of said components for transmitting a corresponding one of said manifestations; and a SAW-stabilized, narrow band, AM receiver at another one of said components for receiving said corresponding one of said manifestations. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating an air conditioning and/or heating and ventilating (HVAC) system having a plurality of components including HVAC apparatus for conditioning and moving air in response to condition demand manifestations provided thereto, setpoint means for providing a manifestation of a desired value of a characteristic of air which affects indoor air quality, sensor means for providing a manifestation of actual value of said characteristic, and demand means for generating a condition demand indication signal in response to said manifestation of actual value as a function of said manifestation of desired value and for providing an HVAC condition demand manifestation corresponding to said condition demand indicating signal, said method comprising:
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transmitting at least one of said manifestations by means of a low power, SAW-stabilized, narrow band, AM transmitter at the corresponding one of said components; and receiving said one manifestation by means of a SAW-stabilized, narrow band, AM receiver at another one of said components. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of operating a plurality of HVAC zones in a building, each zone including an air conditioning and/or heating and ventilating (HVAC) system having a plurality of components including HVAC apparatus for conditioning and moving air within the corresponding zone in response to condition demand manifestations signals, setpoint means for providing a manifestation of desired value of a characteristic of air which affects indoor air quality in said corresponding zone, sensor means for providing a manifestation of actual value of said characteristic in said corresponding zone, demand means for generating a condition demand indication signal in response to said manifestation of actual value as a function of said manifestation of desired value and for providing an HVAC condition demand manifestation corresponding to said condition demand indicating signal, said method comprising:
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in each zone, transmitting at least one of said manifestations by means of a low power, SAW-stabilized, narrow band, AM transmitter at one of said components corresponding to said zone; and receiving said one manifestation by means of a SAW-stabilized, narrow band, AM receiver at another one of said components corresponding to said zone. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification