Wireless zone control via mechanically adjustable airflow elements

• US 9,222,692 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2014
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US14/183,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20140158781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 236/1.B, 236/49.3, 165/205, 165/208, 621/85
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 facilitating control of a zone temperature in a building, comprising:

a remote control unit, comprising;

a user input element configured to receive a set point temperature from a user;

a processing system to evaluate received power status information from a plurality of electronically-controllable register vents (ECRVs) comprising an ECRV; and

a wireless communication interface configured to send wireless signals including;

information indicative of the set point temperature to the ECRV; and

an instruction based on the evaluated power status information from the plurality of ECRVs; and

the ECRV, comprising;

one or more airflow elements configured to restrict or ease airflow through the ECRV;

a mechanical actuator coupled to the one or more airflow elements to adjust the restriction or easement of the airflow through the ECRV;

a wireless communication interface configured to receive the information indicative of the set point temperature from the remote control unit and transmit a power status of the ECRV to the remote control unit; and

a processor configured to instruct the mechanical actuator to adjust the one or more airflow elements based on;

a comparison of the set point temperature to a sensed temperature; and

the instruction received from the remote control unit based on the evaluated power status information from the plurality of ECRVs.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the ECRV is powered by a first electrical power source, the wireless communication interface of the remote control unit is configured to receive the power status of the first electrical power source from the ECRV, and the remote control unit includes a first visual indicator configured to indicate the power status of the first electrical power source.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first visual indicator is configured to indicate to the user when available power of the first electrical power source drops below a threshold value.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first visual indicator is a flashing light emitting diode or a flashing liquid crystal display.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote control unit further comprises a second visual indicator configured to indicate a power status of a second electrical power source used to power the remote control unit.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the ECRV is configured to communicate the power status of the first electrical power source to the remote control unit when available power of the first electrical power source drops below the threshold value.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ECRV or the remote control unit include a temperature sensor for sensing the zone temperature.

8. The system for facilitating control of the zone temperature in the building of claim 1, wherein the ECRV further comprises a pressure sensor to measure air pressure within a ventilation duct coupled with the ECRV.

9. The system for facilitating control of the zone temperature in the building of claim 8, wherein the mechanical actuator of the ECRV is actuated to ease airflow through the ECRV based on a pressure within the ventilation duct measured by the pressure sensor.

10. The system for facilitating control of the zone temperature in the building of claim 9, wherein the ECRV further comprises a humidity sensor.

11. The system for facilitating control of the zone temperature in the building of claim 10, wherein the remote control unit is configured to adjust a temperature by actuating the ECRV based on a humidity measurement made by the humidity sensor.

12. The system for facilitating control of the zone temperature in the building of claim 9, wherein the remote control unit is configured to receive the set point temperature via the Internet from a cellular telephone.

13. The system for facilitating control of the zone temperature in the building of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication interface configured to receive the information indicative of the set point temperature receives the information via a 900 MHz frequency band.

14. The system for facilitating control of the zone temperature in the building of claim 1, wherein the ECRV further comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the sensed temperature.

15. The system for facilitating control of the zone temperature in the building of claim 1, wherein the sensed temperature is measured at a location distinct from the ECRV.

16. A method for controlling zone temperature in a building, comprising:

receiving, via a remote control unit, a set point temperature from a user;

comparing the set point temperature to a sensed temperature;

determining a power status of an electronically-controllable register vent (ECRV);

wirelessly controlling, by the remote control unit, the ECRV to restrict or ease airflow through the ECRV based on the comparison of the set point temperature to the sensed temperature and the determined power status, wherein wirelessly controlling the ECRV includes instructing a mechanical actuator coupled to one or more airflow elements of the ECRV to adjust the one or more airflow elements based on the comparison of the set point temperature to the sensed temperature.

17. The method claim 16, further comprising:

receiving, by the remote control unit from the ECRV, the power status of an electrical power source used to power the ECRV; and

displaying, by the remote control unit, a visual indicator indicative of the power status of the electrical power source.

18. The method claim 17, wherein displaying a visual indicator includes:

comparing available power of the electrical power source to a threshold value;

determining whether the available power of the electrical power source is below the threshold value; and

displaying the visual indicator upon determining that the available power of the electrical power source is below the threshold value.

19. The method claim 16, further comprising:

monitoring available power of an electrical power source used to power the ECRV;

determining whether the available power of the electrical power source is below a threshold value; and

controlling, when it is determined that the available power of the electrical power source is below the threshold value, at least one of the one or more airflow elements to ease airflow through the ECRV.

20. The method claim 16, further comprising:

displaying, by the remote control unit, a sensed temperature.

21. The method claim 20, wherein displaying a sensed temperature includes:

receiving, by the remote control unit, information indicative of a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor included in the ECRV; and

displaying the received information.

22. The method claim 20, wherein displaying a sensed temperature includes:

monitoring, by the remote control unit, a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor included in the remote control unit; and

displaying the monitored temperature.

23. The method claim 16, further comprising:

receiving, by the remote control unit and from the ECRV, diagnostic information indicative of a status of the ECRV; and

displaying, via the remote control unit, the diagnostic information.

24. The method for controlling zone temperature in the building of claim 16, further comprising:

measuring, by a pressure sensor of the ECRV, a pressure in a ventilation duct coupled with the ECRV.

25. The method for controlling zone temperature in the building of claim 24, further comprising:

easing, by the ECRV, airflow within the ventilation duct by actuating the mechanical actuator to an open position based on the measured pressure.

26. The method for controlling zone temperature in the building of claim 16, further comprising:

measuring, by a humidity sensor of the ECRV, a humidity measurement.

27. The method for controlling zone temperature in the building of claim 26, further comprising:

adjusting a temperature by actuating the ECRV based on the humidity measurement measured by the humidity sensor.

28. The method for controlling zone temperature in the building of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving the set point temperature via the Internet from a cellular telephone.