Individual workspace environmental control
First Claim
1. A method of improving comfort for a user occupying a substantially closed individual workspace within a building, the building further including a primary supply of conditioned air available to the workspace, and the method comprising the steps of:
- determining a cooling setpoint temperature for the workspace;
selecting a cooling threshold temperature for the workspace greater than the cooling setpoint temperature for the workspace;
monitoring the workspace so as to detect occupancy of the workspace;
monitoring a temperature of the workspace;
if occupancy of the workspace is detected and the workspace temperature exceeds the setpoint temperature, providing conditioned air from the primary supply into the workspace to cool the workspace; and
while occupancy of the workspace is detected and the workspace temperature exceeds the cooling threshold temperature, additionally and automatically providing supplemental comfort services so as to improve comfort for the user without directly affecting load on the building primary supply.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In building environmental control, primary HVAC services are supplemented to improve individual user comfort by automatically adjusting lighting levels and airflow direction mix in the individual workspace. An individual terminal unit provides these individualized supplemental services without affecting loading on the primary HVAC system. Multiple individual terminal units disposed in an open, common area communicate with one another and adjust operations in response to neighborhood conditions to improve overall system efficiency and save energy while optimizing individual user comfort.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of improving comfort for a user occupying a substantially closed individual workspace within a building, the building further including a primary supply of conditioned air available to the workspace, and the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a cooling setpoint temperature for the workspace; selecting a cooling threshold temperature for the workspace greater than the cooling setpoint temperature for the workspace; monitoring the workspace so as to detect occupancy of the workspace; monitoring a temperature of the workspace; if occupancy of the workspace is detected and the workspace temperature exceeds the setpoint temperature, providing conditioned air from the primary supply into the workspace to cool the workspace; and while occupancy of the workspace is detected and the workspace temperature exceeds the cooling threshold temperature, additionally and automatically providing supplemental comfort services so as to improve comfort for the user without directly affecting load on the building primary supply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of controlling the environment in a substantially closed individual workspace within a building, the building including a primary supply of conditioned air available to the workspace, and the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a cooling setpoint temperature for the workspace; defining a cooling threshold temperature for the workspace greater than the cooling setpoint temperature for the workspace; monitoring the workspace so as to detect occupancy of the workspace; monitoring a temperature in the workspace; while occupancy of the workspace is detected and the workspace temperature exceeds the cooling threshold temperature, automatically adjusting a direction mix of the conditioned airflow into the workspace toward a downward airflow direction so as to provide airflow cooling to an occupant of the workspace. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of controlling the environment in a substantially closed workspace within a building, the building including a primary supply of conditioned air available to the workspace, and the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a heating setpoint temperature for the workspace; defining a heating threshold temperature lower than the heating setpoint temperature for the workspace; monitoring the workspace so as to detect occupancy of the workspace; monitoring a temperature of the workspace; and while occupancy of the workspace is detected and the workspace temperature is below the heating threshold temperature, automatically providing at least one supplemental comfort service so as to improve user comfort without substantially affecting load on the building primary supply system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of improving comfort for a user occupying a substantially closed workspace within a building comprising the steps of:
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determining a heating setpoint temperature for the workspace; defining a heating threshold temperature for the workspace lower than the heating setpoint temperature for the workspace; monitoring the workspace so as to detect occupancy of the workspace; monitoring a temperature of the workspace; while occupancy of the workspace is detected and the workspace temperature is below the heating setpoint temperature, directing heated airflow into the workspace to warm the workspace; and while occupancy of the workspace is detected and the workspace temperature is below the heating threshold temperature, automatically adjusting an airflow direction mix of the heated airflow into the workspace so as to increase a percentage of indirect airflow, thereby directing the flow of heated air along a generally horizontal direction so as to minimize drafts in the workspace. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of delivering primary air into a space comprising the steps of:
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monitoring occupancy of the space; providing a diffuser mounted in the ceiling of the space, the diffuser comprising an inlet duct for receiving a supply of primary air, a first outlet port for directing air from the inlet duct into the space along a generally horizontal direction, a second outlet port for directing air from the inlet duct into the space along a generally downward direction, and adjustable relating means for providing a first portion of the primary air from the inlet duct into the first outlet port and a second portion of the primary air from the inlet duct into the second outlet port, so as to provide an adjustable airflow direction mix of horizontal and downward primary airflow into the space; providing a supply of primary air to the diffuser inlet duct; when occupancy of the space is detected, setting the diffuser regulating means to a first predetermined setting so as to provide a first mix of horizontal and downward flow of the primary air into the space; and when occupancy of the space is not detected, setting the diffuser regulating means to a second predetermined setting so as to provide a second mix of horizontal and downward flow of the primary air into the space, the second mix having a greater proportion of downward airflow than the first mix, thereby improving effectiveness of primary air delivery into the space while occupancy is not detected. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. An individual terminal unit for connection to a primary supply of conditioned air in a variable air volume heating and cooling system to serve a zone of a building in which the individual terminal unit is installed, comprising:
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inlet means for connection to the primary air supply to receive conditioned air flow; a temperature sensor for providing an indication of a space temperature; input means for receiving an indication of a zone temperature setpoint settable by a user; an adjustable relating vane for controlling an airflow direction mix of conditioned airflow out of the terminal unit and into the zone; an electronic controller coupled to the temperature sensor, the input means and to the regulating vane for controlling the regulating vane and thereby adjusting the airflow direction mix in dependence upon the indicated zone temperature and the zone temperature setpoint; means in the electronic controller for configuring the terminal unit as a group member terminal unit for use in an enclosed zone in the building together with at least one other group member terminal unit; and communication means for coordinating operation of the terminal unit with said at least one other group member terminal unit; and
a memory for storing addresses uniquely identifying said at least one other terminal unit as a member of the same group of terminal units.
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29. A variable air volume environmental conditioning system comprising:
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a primary supply of conditioned air; a plurality of individual terminal units each coupled to the primary air supply, and each of said terminal units designated as a member of a selected group of terminal units; means in at least one group member terminal unit for detecting occupancy in a corresponding workspace area adjacent the group member terminal unit; means for communicating to all of the group member terminal units an indication that occupancy is detected in the corresponding workspace area adjacent said at least one group member terminal unit; and means in each group member terminal unit for operating in an occupied mode of operation in response to the said indication that occupancy is detected in said at least one of the workspace areas. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. An individual terminal unit for connection to a primary supply of conditioned air in a variable air volume heating and cooling system to serve a zone of a building in which the individual terminal unit is installed, comprising:
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inlet means for connection to the primary air supply to receive conditioned air flow; a temperature sensor for providing an indication of a space temperature; input means for receiving an indication of a zone temperature setpoint settable by a user; an adjustable regulating vane for controlling an airflow direction mix of conditioned airflow out of the terminal unit and into the zone; an electronic controller coupled to the temperature sensor, the input means and to the regulating vane for controlling the regulating vane and thereby adjusting the airflow direction mix in dependence upon the indicated zone temperature and the zone temperature setpoint; means in the electronic controller for configuring the terminal unit as a neighborhood terminal unit for use in an open zone in the building together with at least one other neighborhood terminal unit; communication means for coordinating operation of the terminal unit with said at least one other neighborhood terminal unit; and a memory for storing addresses uniquely identifying said at least one other terminal unit as a member of the neighborhood.
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34. An individual terminal unit for connection to a primary supply of conditioned air in a variable air volume heating and cooling system to serve a zone of a building in which the individual terminal unit is installed, comprising:
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inlet means for connection to the primary air supply to receive conditioned air flow; a temperature sensor for providing an indication of a space temperature; input means for receiving an indication of a zone temperature setpoint settable by a user; an adjustable regulating vane for controlling an airflow direction mix of conditioned airflow out of the terminal unit and into the zone; an electronic controller coupled to the temperature sensor, the input means and to the regulating vane for controlling the regulating vane and thereby adjusting the airflow direction mix in dependence upon the indicated zone temperature and the zone temperature setpoint; wherein the electronic controller includes means for interfacing to a light source in the zone for adjusting light level in the zone in response to the zone temperature indicated by the temperature sensor and the indicated zone temperature setpoint. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A method of operation of a VAV system having a plurality of terminal units each installed within a common area, and each of the terminal units serving a corresponding workspace within the common area, the method comprising:
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defining one of the terminal units as a job unit; selecting a cooling setpoint temperature for the job unit workspace; in the job unit, selecting an initial cooling threshold temperature greater than the cooling setpoint temperature for controlling supplemental cooling services in the job unit; in the job unit, selecting a plurality of the other terminal units for operation as neighborhood terminal units; in the job unit, collecting operating data from the other neighborhood terminal units; determining a weighted average deviation responsive to the collected data; adjusting the cooling threshold temperature for the job unit in response to the weighted average deviation of the other neighborhood terminal units; and limiting the cooling threshold temperature to within a range bounded by the initial cooling threshold temperature and the cooling setpoint temperature.
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37. A method of controlling the environment in a substantially closed workspace within a building, the building including a primary supply of conditioned air available to the workspace, and the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a heating setpoint temperature for the workspace; defining a heating threshold temperature lower than the heating setpoint temperature for the workspace; providing a radiant heat source within the workspace; monitoring the workspace so as to detect occupancy of the workspace; monitoring a temperature of the workspace; and while occupancy of the workspace is detected and the workspace temperature is below the heating threshold temperature, automatically activating the radiant heating source for radiating heat into the workspace thereby improving user comfort without directly affecting load on the building primary supply.
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Specification