Automated air flow system and method

• US 7,014,124 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kirk Andrew Gottlieb
• Original Assignee: Kirk Andrew Gottlieb
• Inventors: Gottlieb, Kirk Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US10/733,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49.3, 236/51, 236/1.B, 621/79, 621/86, 621/78, 165/205, 165/208, 165/209, 165/212, 165/218, 454/256, 454/333
• US Class Current: 236/49.3
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/40 Damper positions, e.g. open or closed
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0676 by action on flow sources G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide and automated air flow system and method. An automated register is coupled to at least one sensor for providing data associated with a structure. The automated register is configured to automatically provide air flow into the structure in response to the sensor data. A base station in communication with the automated register is adapted to be coupled to an air flow source. The base station receives status data from the automated register and is configured to control the air flow source based on the status data.

Claims

1. An automated air flow system for controlling the flow of conditioned air into multiple zones of a structure, comprising:

an automated register configured to receive temperature data from at least one temperature sensor in at least one zone and to control the flow of conditioned air into the at least one zone in response to the temperature data; and

a base station in communication with the automated register and adapted to be coupled to an air flow source for providing the conditioned air, the base station configured to receive status data from the automated register and to control the air flow source based on the status data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the automated register and the base station are communication via a wireless link.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the status data indicates whether the automated register is in an opened or closed state.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the status data indicates whether the automated register is in active or inactive state.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the status data is determined in part by motion detection data received from a motion detector.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature data includes an actual temperature to be compared against a target temperature specified by a user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the automated register includes a power manager for commanding the automated register from a first power state to a second power state in response to the status data, wherein the first power state consumes more power than the second power state.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the automated register and the base station communicate via a physical link.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the automated register receives status data from a network.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the status data is specified by a user operating a remote computing device on a network.

11. A method of automatically controlling the flow of conditioned air into multiple zones of a structure, comprising:

specifying target temperatures for a plurality of zones, wherein at least two zones have a different target temperature;

enabling an air flow source to provide conditioned air to each zone using an automated register until each zone reaches its respective target temperature;

responsive to a zone reaching its target temperature, automatically redirecting the conditioned air from that zone to zones that have not reached their respective target temperatures by closing the automated register; and

responsive to the closure of the automated register,

preventing the air source from providing conditioned air to the zones.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

automatically redirecting the conditioned air from inactive zones to active zones.

13. An automated air flow system for controlling the flow of conditioned air into multiple zones of a structure, comprising:

a plurality of automated registers, wherein selected ones of the plurality of automated registers that are located in zones that have reached target temperatures are configured to automatically redirect conditioned air to zones which have not reached target temperatures, wherein at least two zones have different target temperatures; and

a base station adapted to be coupled to an air source for providing conditioned air to the zones, the base station configured to turn-off the air source in response to status data from the automated registers indicating that at least some zones have reached their respective target temperatures.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the automated register and the base station are in communication via a wireless link.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the status data indicates whether the automated registers are in opened or closed states.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the status data indicates whether the automated registers are in active or inactive states.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the status data is determined in part by motion detection data received from a motion detector.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the automated registers include power managers for commanding the automated register from a first power state to a second power state in response to the status data, wherein the first power state consumes more power than the second power state.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the automated registers include power managers for commanding the automated register from a first power state to a second power state in response to the status data, wherein the first power state consumes more power than the second power state.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the automated registers and the base station communicate via a physical link.