System and process for control of energy use by direct observation of occupancy

• US 5,814,902 A
• Filed: 08/22/1996
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Light Minder
• Original Assignee: Light Minder
• Inventors: Creasy, Dennis R., Kropfeld, Paul, Schmidt, Dana, Mauk, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/701,751
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 307/116, 307/117, 307/30, 340/565, 340/541, 340/825.06, 165/205, 367/93, 236/49.3
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system and process for control of energy use in a rented room based on direct occupancy observation. The system is designed to control up to 100% of the power usage. The system includes: a power supply; occupancy sensors; a thermostat responsive to a predetermined signal; electrical outlet receptacles and/or switches that are responsive to a predetermined signal transmitted over the powerline; and a central interface unit for receiving signals from the occupancy sensors and, based on the signals received from the occupancy sensors, controlling power consumption by the thermostat and electrical outlet receptacle and/or switches. The system can be used in a process for improving energy efficiency by direct observation of occupancy of an area in multitennant facilities, such as hotels, that has a plurality of discrete living quarters. The process includes the steps of: directly sensing whether each living quarters is occupied; generating a signal indicative of the state of occupancy; transmitting the signal to a control panel; and using the control panel to control the thermostat and electrical outlet receptacle and/or switches.

Claims

1. A system for improving energy efficiency by direct sensing of occupancy of discrete suites within multisuite facilities, such as hotels, that have a plurality of discrete occupancy suites, the system comprising:

a discrete energy control system within each suite, each discrete energy control system comprising;

a power supply;

a plurality of occupancy sensors for providing at least two different types of occupancy sensing;

a first thermostat with setback control means responsive to a predetermined signal;

a plurality of electrical outlet receptacles and/or switches having an on off means responsive to a second predetermined signal; and

a central interface unit for receiving signals from the occupancy sensors and, based on the signals received from the occupancy sensors determining whether the suite is occupied and based on this determination, generating said first and second predetermined signals to control the setback control means of the thermostat and on-off means of the plurality of electrical outlet receptacles respectively throughout the entire suite.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are connected to the central interface unit by a wire and the sensors include a quick disconnect on both ends of the wire.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermostat that has a room occupied mode of operation and a different room unoccupied mode of operation and wherein the set back control means includes means for switching between the two modes of operation in response to the predetermined signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes a powerline carrier interface module.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is a dual technology sensor that use both infrared and ultrasonic technologies.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical outlet receptacles include at least one combination duplex receptacle and at least one duplex receptacle.

7. A system for control of energy use in building that has a plurality of discrete suites, comprising:

a plurality of sensors located in each discrete suite for sensing occupancy throughout the suite and emitting a signal indicative of the state of occupancy;

a thermostat located in each discrete suite, the thermostat in each discrete suite including a setback control means responsive to a predetermined signal;

a plurality of electrical outlet receptacles or switches located in each discrete suite, the plurality of electrical outlet receptacles in each discrete suite including an on off means responsive to a signal having a unique address; and

a central interface unit located in each discrete suite for receiving signals from the occupancy sensors located in that suite and, based on the signals received from the occupancy sensors, emitting a predetermined signal for controlling the setback control means and emitting a signal having a unique address for controlling on-off means of the plurality of electrical outlet receptacles of that suite without affecting the on-off means of the plurality of electrical outlet receptacles of any other suite.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensors are connected to the central interface unit by a wire and the sensors include a quick disconnect on both ends of the wire.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the thermostat that has a room occupied mode of operation and a different room unoccupied mode of operation and wherein the set back control means includes means for switching between the two modes of operation in response to the predetermined signal.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the system includes a powerline carrier interface module.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the sensors is a dual technology sensor that uses both infrared and ultrasonic technologies.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of electrical outlet receptacles and switch include at least one addressable combination duplex receptacle and at least one duplex receptacle and/or receptacle.

13. A process for improving energy efficiency by direct observation of occupancy of an area in multitennant facilities, such as hotels, that has a plurality of discrete living quarters, the process comprising the steps of:

providing each living quarters with a power supply, a plurality of occupancy sensors, a thermostat with setback control means responsive to a predetermined signal, a plurality of electrical outlet receptacles or switches having an on off means responsive to a predetermined signal transmitted over the powerline, and a central control panel;

directly sensing whether each living quarters is occupied;

generating a signal indicative of the state of occupancy;

transmitting the signal to a control panel; and

using the control panel to control the setback control means of the thermostat and on-off means of the plurality of electrical outlet receptacles.