Building optimization system and lighting switch with adaptive blind, window and air quality controls

• US 8,190,301 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Genea Energy Partners
• Original Assignee: Genea Energy Partners
• Inventors: Voysey, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Robertson, Dave
• Application Number:
  US12/417,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20090271042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 700/275, 700/291, 315/159, 340/2.24, 340/567, 340/635, 362/249.02
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/401 characterised by control arrangements for measuring, e.g. calibration and initialisation, measuring workpiece for machining purposes G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36073 Display original and modified part in different colour, highlight, shading, filling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A building optimization system for optimizing an environment of a building is disclosed. The building optimization system includes a number of building optimization switches for controlling the environment of a corresponding space in a building according to a plurality of operation modes, as well as any number of modular, interchangeable binary controllers for controlling various environmental factors of a number of zones of a building. The building optimization includes switch an A/B lighting switch having lighting controls and a graphical display. The A/B lighting switch is further connected to one or more sensors for sensing and measuring environmental data of at least one zone of the building. The building optimization switch further includes a binary controller connected with the A/B lighting switch to control an environmental variable of the zone based on user input or the environmental data.

Claims

1. A building optimization system comprising:

a binary controller to receive user input for communicating control signals to a mechanical device in a zone of the building to control the operation of the mechanical device; and

an A/B lighting switch connected with the binary controller in a common wall unit in the zone of the building, the A/B lighting switch having first and second lighting controls for manually operating first and second lighting banks in the zone of the building, a motion sensor for detecting occupancy of the zone, logic responsive to input signals from the first and second lighting controls or the motion sensor for controlling the first and second lighting banks, and a graphical display screen adapted to display a graphical user interface by which an occupant of the building can enter the control signals for the binary controller and program the A/B lighting switch and binary controller according to a plurality of operation modes, the graphical user interface further configured to display a state of the plurality of operation modes of the A/B lighting switch and binary controller.

2. The building optimization system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the binary controller is a window control to control the opening or closing of one or more windows associated with the zone.

3. The building optimization system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the binary controller is a blinds control to control the opening or closing of one or more blinds associated with the zone.

4. The building optimization system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the binary controller is adapted for automatic operation under instruction of the building optimization switch.

5. The building optimization system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the A/B lighting switch is connected with a temperature sensor.

6. The building optimization system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the automatic operation of the binary controller is based at least in part on a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

7. A building optimization system comprising:

a building optimization switch comprising an A/B lighting switch having lighting controls and being connected to one or more sensors for sensing and measuring environmental data of at least one zone of the building, the building optimization switch further including a binary controller connected with the A/B lighting switch to control an environmental variable of the zone based on user input or the environmental data, and a graphical display for displaying status information about the environmental data and a plurality of operation modes of the building optimization switch; and

a master controller connected with the building optimization switch for tracking energy usage and activities of the building optimization switch, and generating reports based on the environmental data, the energy usage, and the activities of the building optimization switch according to the plurality of operation modes.