Electronically-controlled register vent for zone heating and cooling

• US 8,695,888 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US13/269,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20120024969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49.3, 621/86, 622/96, 624/04, 454/256, 454/284
• US Class Current: 236/49.3
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/022 comprising a compressor cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/72 for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/83 by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/40 Pressure, e.g. wind pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 : Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 : Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/40 : Damper positions, e.g. open or closed
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 : Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/10 : with air supply, or exhaust, through perforated wall, floor or ceiling outlet members for directing or distributing air into rooms or spaces, e.g. ceiling air-diffusers F24F13/06
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1934 : each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means

Abstract

An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones.

Claims

1. A system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones, wherein the system comprises:

a plurality of zone controllers, wherein each of the plurality of zone controllers;

monitors a plurality of conditions associated with a zone using an associated plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors includes a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an occupancy sensor, and an acoustic sensor; and

controls a local device specific to the zone, wherein the local device includes at least one motor-driven element facilitating or inhibiting an introduction of thermal energy into the zone by differing amounts according to a position thereof; and

a central controller, wherein the central controller;

communicates, wirelessly, with the plurality of zone controllers, the central controller receiving information related to the monitored conditions for each zone as sensed by the temperature sensor, the humidity sensor, the occupancy sensor, and the acoustic sensor; and

controls the plurality of zone controllers based at least in part on the received information related to the monitored conditions for each zone.

2. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein the central controller:

prioritizes operation of at least two of the plurality of zone controllers.

3. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 2, wherein operation is prioritized based at least in part on a selection from a group consisting of:

whether a zone is occupied;

the time of day; and

the time of year.

4. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 2, wherein operation is prioritized based at least in part on:

weighted priority between zones set by a user.

5. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein the central controller:

controls the plurality of zone controllers to maintain proper airflow across multiple environmental zones.

6. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein the central controller:

controls a fan of an HVAC system and at least one of the plurality of zone controllers to move air between zones without calling for heating and cooling from the HVAC system.

7. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein the local device for each zone comprises an Electronically Controlled Register Vent (ECRV).

8. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 7, wherein the local device for each zone includes the acoustic sensor, and wherein the local device is configured to communicate data to at least one zone controller based at least in part on information from the acoustic sensor.

9. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of zone controllers comprises:

a thermostat, wherein the at least one of the plurality of zone controllers is configured to control an associated local device based at least in part on data from the thermostat.

10. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of zone controllers:

controls a central device associated with a plurality of zones.

11. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 10, wherein the central device associated with the plurality of zones comprises:

an HVAC system which provides at least one of cooling or heating to the plurality of zones.

12. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein the central controller comprises:

a thermostat, wherein the central controller is configured to control at least one of the zone controllers based at least in part on data from the thermostat.

13. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein the central controller:

controls an HVAC system, wherein the HVAC system provides at least one of cooling or heating to a plurality of zones.

14. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of zone controllers is configured to communicate at least one of the following to an associated local device:

a control command;

a zone temperature;

or

a set point temperature.

15. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein communicating with the plurality of zone controllers comprises:

communicating bi-directionally between at least one zone controller and the central controller.

16. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of zone controllers:

receives instructions from the central controller.

17. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein the central controller:

controls an HVAC system based at least in part on environmental condition data, occupancy data, and acoustic data received from at least one zone controller, wherein the HVAC system provides at least one of cooling or heating to a plurality of zones.

18. The system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones of claim 1, wherein the central controller:

sends instructions to a first zone controller based at least in part on environmental condition data received from a second zone controller.

19. A method for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones, wherein the method comprises:

monitoring, with a plurality of zone controllers, a plurality of conditions associated with a plurality of zones using an associated plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an occupancy sensor, and an acoustic sensor; and

controlling, with the plurality of zone controllers, a plurality of local devices specific to each of the plurality of zones, wherein the local devices include at least one motor-driven element facilitating or inhibiting an introduction of thermal energy into the zone by differing amounts according to a position thereof;

communicating, wirelessly, between a central controller and the plurality of zone controllers, information related to the monitored conditions for each zone as sensed by the temperature sensor, the humidity sensor, the occupancy sensor, and the acoustic sensor; and

controlling, with the central controller, the plurality of zone controllers based at least in part on the information related to the monitored conditions for each zone.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors to at least:

monitor, with a plurality of zone controllers, a plurality of conditions associated with a plurality of zones using an associated plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an occupancy sensor, and an acoustic sensor;

control, with the plurality of zone controllers, a plurality of local devices specific to each of the plurality of zones, wherein the local devices include at least one motor-driven element facilitating or inhibiting an introduction of thermal energy into the zone by differing amounts according to a position thereof;

communicate, wirelessly, between a central controller and the plurality of zone controllers, information related to the monitored conditions for each zone as sensed by the temperature sensor, the humidity sensor, the occupancy sensor, and the acoustic sensor; and

control, with the central controller, the plurality of zone controllers based at least in part on the information related to the monitored conditions for each zone.