Energy conservation system

• US 8,160,749 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brad Comyns, David Donaldson
• Original Assignee: Brad Comyns, David Donaldson
• Inventors: Donaldson, David, Comyns, Brad
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman, Sean
• Application Number:
  US12/341,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20090171506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 700/22, 700275-278, 700/295, 700/297, 236/51, 340/3.1, 340/3.8
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

An energy conservation system is provided to lower energy consumption in an unoccupied room. A master controller provides control of power consumption to an occupant of a room through an occupant action to create an occupied mode and otherwise be in an unoccupied mode. A thermostat is controlled by the master controller. A master radio frequency transceiver is located within the master controller and a second radio frequency transceiver remote from the master radio frequency transceiver is provided. The second radio frequency transceiver is coupled to an electrical switching circuit responsive to a radio frequency signal received from the master radio frequency transceiver. A controlled power device is coupled to the electrical switching circuit such that an energy input to the device is controlled by the master controller in the unoccupied mode.

Claims

1. An energy conservation system comprising:

a master controller providing control of power consumption to an occupant of a room through occupant action to create an occupied mode and otherwise be in an unoccupied mode;

a thermostat controlled by said master controller;

a master radio frequency transceiver located within said master controller and having a broadcast range;

a second radio frequency transceiver remote from the master radio frequency transceiver and coupled to an electrical switching circuit responsive to a radio frequency signal received from said master radio frequency transceiver;

a controlled power device coupled to the electrical switching circuit such that an energy input to said device is controlled by said master controller in the unoccupied mode wherein the room occupant action that activates said master controller is insertion of a card into said master controller or the activation of a slide switch;

wherein said thermostat is in two-way radio frequency communication with said master controller; and

wherein said second radio frequency transceiver following a successful receipt of the radio frequency signal with a command from the master controller provides a verification of the received command that is rebroadcast via a separate radio frequency to the master controller.

2. The energy conservation system of claim 1 wherein said controlled power device is a HVAC system having an unoccupied mode preselected temperature, said thermostat operating said HVAC system towards the unoccupied mode preselected temperature in the unoccupied mode.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said HVAC system is a packaged terminal air conditioner.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said controlled power device is less than all of a plurality of receptacles of a wall plug.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said controlled power device is a HVAC system and further comprising a door or window monitor in communication with said master controller to de-energize said HVAC system when a door or window is open.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said master controller is positioned by an entry door to and within a patron lodging room.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said master controller has an aperture defining an entry to a pocket adapted to receive a keycard or mini-keycard.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the master radio frequency transceiver further comprises a frequency modulation switch that allows for the transmitted frequency to be varied.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said master controller is battery powered.

10. A process of room energy conservation comprising:

removing a keycard or mini-keycard or moving a slide switch to place power consumption under control of a master controller within a room in an unoccupied mode;

sending a radio frequency signal from a transmitter within said master controller to a radio frequency transceiver coupled to an electrical switching circuit within a controlled power device;

de-activating said controlled power device in response to the radio frequency signal being received by the radio frequency transceiver, said signal indicating the unoccupied mode to provide room energy conservation;

monitoring the room for an open door or window to communicate an open signal to said master controller and de-energizing a HVAC system in response to the open signal;

wherein the open signal is communicated by a battery-powered transceiver capable of two-way communication

wherein said radio frequency transceiver following a successful receipt of the radio frequency signal with a command from the master controller provides a verification of the received command that is rebroadcast via a separate radio frequency to the master controller.

11. The process of claim 10 further comprising:

modulating a thermostat control unit with the radio frequency signal to operate the HVAC system towards an unoccupied preselected temperature.

12. The process of claim 10 wherein the radio frequency transceiver is associated with a balcony sliding door.

13. The process of claim 10 wherein the electrical switching circuit is a relay.

14. The process of claim 10 further comprising overriding said master controller in the unoccupied state.