Air conditioning and heating environmental control sensing system
First Claim
1. A device for controlling an air conditioner having an evaporator fan and a compressor for a room having a door and at least one window, comprising:
- a door/window sensor operatively connected to each of said door and windows to sense whether any of said door and window is open;
a fan relay operatively connected to said evaporator fan to activate said fan when said fan relay is activated, and to deactivate said fan when said fan relay is deactivated;
a compressor relay operatively connected to said compressor to activate said compressor when said compressor relay is activated, and to deactivate said compressor when said compressor relay is deactivated;
a system timer operatively connected to said door/window sensor, to said fan relay, and to said compressor relay, to deactivate said fan relay and said compressor relay a shutoff delay after said door/window sensor senses that any of said door and windows has been opened, and to maintain said fan and said compressor activated if said open door or window is closed within less than said shutoff delay after being opened, wherein said shutoff delay can be preselected by setting said system timer;
a compressor timer operatively connected to said system timer and to said compressor relay to delay any reactivation of said compressor relay for a startup delay after said compressor relay has been deactivated, wherein said startup delay can be preselected by setting said compressor timer;
whereby if said open door or window is closed less than said shutoff delay after being opened, said system timer prevents deactivation of said fan relay and of said compressor relay;
whereby if said open door or window is closed a time between said shutoff delay and said startup delay after being opened, said compressor timer delays reactivation of said compressor relay until shutoff delay and said startup delay have both expired; and
whereby if said door and windows are closed a time exceeding said shutoff delays and said startup delay after being opened, said fan relay and said compressor relay are reactivated immediately after said open door or window is closed.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for controlling an HVAC system in which opening a door or window for more than a shutdown delay period causes the fan and compressor to be deactivated, but opening and closing the door or window for less than the shutdown delay period does not affect the fan and compressor. Reactivation of the compressor is delayed for a startup delay, in order to avoid overcycling of the compressor and the additional wear and tear and maintenance that would be caused thereby. Preferably, the door/window sensors are wireless for ease of installation and maintenance. Optionally, an occupancy sensor and occupancy timer are provided to turn off the system if the room is unoccupied for an unoccupied delay time. Optionally, a secondary thermostat with energy saving settings is provided so that if the room is unoccupied for the occupancy delay, then instead of being shut off, the HVAC system will be operated at energy saving settings.
73 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A device for controlling an air conditioner having an evaporator fan and a compressor for a room having a door and at least one window, comprising:
-
a door/window sensor operatively connected to each of said door and windows to sense whether any of said door and window is open;
a fan relay operatively connected to said evaporator fan to activate said fan when said fan relay is activated, and to deactivate said fan when said fan relay is deactivated;
a compressor relay operatively connected to said compressor to activate said compressor when said compressor relay is activated, and to deactivate said compressor when said compressor relay is deactivated;
a system timer operatively connected to said door/window sensor, to said fan relay, and to said compressor relay, to deactivate said fan relay and said compressor relay a shutoff delay after said door/window sensor senses that any of said door and windows has been opened, and to maintain said fan and said compressor activated if said open door or window is closed within less than said shutoff delay after being opened, wherein said shutoff delay can be preselected by setting said system timer;
a compressor timer operatively connected to said system timer and to said compressor relay to delay any reactivation of said compressor relay for a startup delay after said compressor relay has been deactivated, wherein said startup delay can be preselected by setting said compressor timer;
whereby if said open door or window is closed less than said shutoff delay after being opened, said system timer prevents deactivation of said fan relay and of said compressor relay;
whereby if said open door or window is closed a time between said shutoff delay and said startup delay after being opened, said compressor timer delays reactivation of said compressor relay until shutoff delay and said startup delay have both expired; and
whereby if said door and windows are closed a time exceeding said shutoff delays and said startup delay after being opened, said fan relay and said compressor relay are reactivated immediately after said open door or window is closed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
an occupancy sensor to sense the presence of occupants in said room;
an occupancy timer operatively connected to said occupancy sensor, said fan relay and said compressor relay, to deactivate said compressor relay and said fan relay when said room has been unoccupied for an occupancy delay, wherein said occupancy delay can be preselected by setting said occupancy timer, and whereby said fan relay and said compressor relay are reactivated immediately after said occupancy sensor senses the presence of occupants in said room.
-
-
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said door/window sensor comprises at least one wireless door/window sensor.
-
4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said occupancy sensor comprises a motion detector.
-
5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said shutoff delay is approximately 5 seconds to approximately 60 seconds, said startup delay is approximately 2 minutes to approximately 15 minutes, and said occupancy delay is approximately 15 minutes to approximately 90 minutes.
-
6. A process for controlling an air conditioner having an evaporator fan and a compressor for a room having a door and at least one window, comprising:
-
deactivating said fan and said compressor if any of said door and window are open for a period exceeding a shutoff delay;
preventing deactivation of said fan and compressor if any of said door and window are open for a period less than said shutoff delay;
reactivating said fan if said door and window are all closed after expiration of said shutoff delay;
preventing reactivation of said compressor if said door and window are all closed before expiration of said shutoff delay and of a startup delay after being opened;
reactivating said compressor if said door and window are all closed after expiration of said shutoff delay and of said startup delay.
-
-
7. A device for controlling a heating system having a blower and a heating element for a room having a door and at least one window, comprising:
-
a door/window sensor operatively connected to each of said door and windows to sense whether any of said door and window is open;
a blower relay operatively connected to said blower to activate said blower when said blower relay is activated, and to deactivate said blower when said blower relay is deactivated;
a heating element relay operatively connected to said heating element to activate said heating element when said heating element relay is activated, and to deactivate said heating element when said heating element relay is deactivated;
a system timer operatively connected to said door/window sensor, to said blower relay, and to said heating element relay, to deactivate said blower relay and said heating element relay a shutoff delay after said door/window sensor senses that any of said door and windows has been opened, and to maintain said blower and said heating element activated if said open door or window is closed within less than said shutoff delay after being opened, wherein said shutoff delay can be preselected by setting said system timer;
a heating element timer operatively connected to said system timer and to said heating element relay to delay any reactivation of said heating element relay for a startup delay after said heating element relay has been deactivated, wherein said startup delay can be preselected by setting said heating element timer;
whereby if said open door or window is closed less than said shutoff delay after being opened, said system timer prevents deactivation of said blower relay and of said heating element relay;
whereby if said open door or window is closed a time between said shutoff delay and said startup delay after being opened, said heating element timer delays reactivation of said heating element relay until said shutoff delay and said startup delay have both expired; and
whereby if said door and windows are closed a time exceeding said shutoff delay and said startup delay after being opened, said blower relay and said heating element relay are reactivated immediately after said open door or window is closed.
-
Specification