Heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controller having a multifunctional indoor air quality sensor and method of controlling the system based on input from the sensor

• US 8,755,942 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bonilla, Absalon, Chamorro, Carlos O., Mauk, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman, Sean
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARLAND, STEVEN R
• Application Number:
  US12/694,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/277, 624/98, 454/239, 454/900
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/127 by using pulse modulation G01R21/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1335 Tariff switching circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/00 Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion G05B19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 : The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 : The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/04 : Single phase motors, e.g. capacitor motors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 : the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 : General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 : Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 : Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 : Heat exchanger or boiler making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49359 : Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

An HVAC controller and a method of controlling an HVAC system. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) a processor couplable to at least one indoor air quality sensor to receive values therefrom representing at least three levels of indoor air quality and (2) memory coupled to the processor and configured to store a software program capable of causing the processor to control an HVAC system based on magnitudes of the values.

Claims

1. An HVAC controller of an HVAC system for an enclosure, comprising:

a processor coupled to a plurality of indoor air quality sensors of multiple types to receive values therefrom, wherein values received from one of said indoor air quality sensors indicate a type of said one of said indoor air quality sensors, a magnitude of said received values, and a part of said enclosure said received values affect; and

memory coupled to said processor and storing a software program causing said processor to control said HVAC system based on said received values.

2. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said software program has program instructions causing said processor to select a ventilation rate based on said magnitude.

3. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said software program has program instructions causing said processor to select a position of at least one damper based on said magnitude.

4. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said software program has program instructions causing said processor to issue an alarm based on said magnitude.

5. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said software program has program instructions causing said processor to perform at least two actions selected from the group consisting of:

selecting a ventilation rate based on said magnitude,

selecting a position of at least one damper based on said magnitude,

turning on at least one exhaust fan based on said magnitude, and

issuing an alarm based on said magnitude.

6. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of indoor air quality sensors is selected from the group consisting of:

a carbon dioxide sensor,

a volatile organic compound sensor,

a radon sensor,

a molds sensor,

an allergen sensor,

a legionella sensor,

a bacteria sensor,

an asbestos fiber sensor,

a carbon monoxide sensor, and

an ozone sensor.

7. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of indoor air quality sensors is configured to provide analog output signals, said system further comprising at least one corresponding analog-to-digital converter configured to receive said analog output signals and generate said values as a function thereof.

8. A method of controlling an HVAC system for an enclosure, comprising:

receiving values from a plurality of indoor air quality sensors of multiple types, wherein values received from one of said indoor air quality sensors indicate a type of said one of said indoor air quality sensors, a magnitude of said received values, and a part of said enclosure said received values affect; and

controlling said HVAC system based on said received values.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said controlling comprises selecting a ventilation rate based on said magnitude.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said controlling comprises selecting a position of at least one damper based on said magnitude.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said controlling comprises issuing an alarm based on said magnitude.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said controlling comprises performing at least two actions selected from the group consisting of:

selecting a ventilation rate based on said magnitude,

selecting a position of at least one damper based on said magnitude,

turning on at least one exhaust fan based on said magnitude, and

issuing an alarm based on said magnitude.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein at least one of said plurality of indoor air quality sensors is selected from the group consisting of:

a carbon dioxide sensor,

a volatile organic compound sensor,

a radon sensor,

a molds sensor,

an allergen sensor,

a legionella sensor,

a bacteria sensor,

an asbestos fiber sensor,

a carbon monoxide sensor, and

an ozone sensor.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein at least one of said plurality of indoor air quality sensors is configured to provide analog output signals, said method further comprising:

receiving said analog output signals; and

generating said values as a function thereof.

15. An HVAC system, comprising:

an outdoor unit, including;

at least one compressor stage,

at least one corresponding condenser fan,

at least one corresponding refrigerant pressure sensor, and

at least one condenser coil;

at least one outside temperature sensor;

an indoor unit, including;

at least one evaporator coil,

at least one indoor blower, and

at least one expansion valve;

at least one damper; and

an HVAC controller, including;

a processor coupled to a plurality of indoor air quality sensors of multiple types, said at least one corresponding refrigerant pressure sensor, and said at least one outside temperature sensor to receive values therefrom, wherein values received from one of said indoor air quality sensors indicate a type of said one of said indoor air quality sensors, a magnitude of said received values, and a part of said enclosure said received values affect; and

memory coupled to said processor and storing a software program causing said processor to control said HVAC system based on said received values.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said software program has program instructions causing said processor to select a speed of said at least one blower based on said magnitude.

17. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said software program has program instructions causing said processor to select a position of said at least one damper based on said magnitude.

18. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said software program has program instructions causing said processor to issue an alarm based on said magnitude.

19. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said software program has program instructions causing said processor to perform at least two actions selected from the group consisting of:

selecting a speed of said at least one blower based on said magnitude,

selecting a position of said at least one damper based on said magnitude,

turning on at least one exhaust fan based on said magnitude, and

issuing an alarm based on said magnitude.

20. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein at least one of said plurality of indoor air quality sensors is selected from the group consisting of:

a carbon dioxide sensor,

a volatile organic compound sensor,

a radon sensor,

a molds sensor,

an allergen sensor,

a legionella sensor,

a bacteria sensor,

an asbestos fiber sensor,

a carbon monoxide sensor, and

an ozone sensor.

21. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein at least one of said plurality of indoor air quality sensors is configured to provide analog output signals, said system further comprising at least one corresponding analog-to-digital converter configured to receive said analog output signals and generate said values as a function thereof.