Uniform HVAC comfort across multiple systems

• US 9,175,869 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Castillo, Daniel, Khiani, Sunil
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US13/332,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20130166075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/277, 700/278, 709/230, 370/352, 370/465, 236/51
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/50 Load

Abstract

Various embodiments provide an HVAC system that includes first and second controllers. The first controller is configured to control a first demand unit to maintain a setpoint temperature of a first portion of a conditioned space. A second HVAC controller is configured to control a second demand unit to maintain a setpoint temperature of a second portion of the conditioned space. The control provided by the second controller is dependent on a load metric of the first demand unit.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a first HVAC controller configured to control a first demand unit to maintain a setpoint temperature of a first portion of a conditioned space; and

a second HVAC controller configured to control a second demand unit to maintain a setpoint temperature of a second portion of said conditioned space;

wherein said first HVAC controller is configured to;

determine a difference between a duty cycle of the first demand unit and a duty cycle of the second demand unit, the difference determined based on load metrics of said first and second demand units; and

adjust the setpoint temperature of the first portion of the conditioned space such that operating the first demand unit to maintain the adjusted setpoint temperature reduces the difference between the duty cycle of the first demand unit and the duty cycle of the second demand unit.

2. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein said first and second controllers are configured to directly communicate to exchange load metrics of said first and second demand units.

3. The HVAC system of claim 1, further comprising a server in communication with said first and second demand units, said server being configured to determine said load metrics.

4. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein said control provided by said first controller is dependent on a load metric of said second demand unit.

5. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein said first and second controllers operate peer-to-peer.

6. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein said first and second controllers communicate via a residential serial bus.

7. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein said first and/or second controllers are configured to display a temperature that is different from said setpoint temperature.

8. A heating, ventilation and air conditioning system controller, comprising:

a processor;

a memory containing operating instructions for said processor;

a control module of said instructions configured to control operation of a first demand unit; and

a coordination module of said instructions configured to;

modify said control operation based on a load metric of a second demand unit, the load metric of the second demand unit comprising an indication of a duty cycle of the second demand unit;

determine, using the load metric of the second demand unit, a difference between a duty cycle of the first demand unit and the duty cycle of the second demand unit; and

adjust a setpoint temperature such that operating the first demand unit to maintain the setpoint temperature reduces the difference between the duty cycle of the first demand unit and the duty cycle of the second demand unit.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein said processor is configured to communicate directly with a second processor to obtain said load metric.

10. The controller of claim 8, wherein said processor is configured to communicate with a server to obtain said load metric.

11. The controller of claim 8, wherein said processor is configured to provide a load metric of said first demand unit to a second processor.

12. The controller of claim 8, wherein said processor is configured to obtain said load metric via a residential serial bus.

13. The controller of claim 8, wherein said controller is configured to obtain said load metric wirelessly.

14. A method of manufacturing a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

providing a first HVAC controller configured to control a first demand unit to maintain a setpoint temperature of a first portion of a conditioned space; and

providing a second HVAC controller configured to control a second demand unit to maintain a setpoint temperature of a second portion of said conditioned space;

wherein said first HVAC controller is configured to;

determine a difference between a duty cycle of the first demand unit and a duty cycle of the second demand unit, the difference determined based on load metrics of said first and second demand units; and

adjust the setpoint temperature of the first portion of the conditioned space such that operating the first demand unit to maintain the adjusted setpoint temperature reduces the difference between the duty cycle of the first demand unit and the duty cycle of the second demand unit.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising configuring said second HVAC controller to receive said load metric from said first HVAC controller.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising configuring said first and second demand units to communicate with a server, said server being configured to determine said load metrics.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said first and second controllers are configured to directly communicate to exchange load metrics of said first and second demand units.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said control provided by said first controller is dependent on a load metric of said second demand unit.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said first and second controllers operate peer-to-peer.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said first and/or second controllers are configured to display a temperature that is different from said setpoint temperature.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said first and second controllers communicate wirelessly.