Multiple environmental zone control via a central controller

• US 9,303,889 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• 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:
  US14/183,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20140158782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 236/1.B, 236/49.3, 165/205, 165/208
• 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 controlling multiple environmental zones, comprising:

a central controller;

a plurality of zone controllers, each zone controller being associated with one of the environmental zones and being configured to;

communicate environmental condition data, occupancy data, and acoustic data for the associated environmental zone to the central controller; and

a local device associated with each zone controller, each local device being configured to receive instructions from the associated zone controller, wherein the central controller is configured to control the zone controllers, the HVAC system, or both at least in part based on the acoustic data communicated from multiple zone controllers of the plurality of zone controllers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is configured to control the zone controllers based at least in part on the environmental condition data and the occupancy data communicated from the zone controllers.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the central controller is further configured to prioritize operation of at least two of the plurality of zone controllers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is configured to control an HVAC system based at least in part on the environmental condition data and occupancy data communicated from the zone controllers, and the HVAC system provides at least one of cooling or heating to the environmental zones.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is configured to control a first one of the zone controllers based at least in part on environmental condition data received from a second one of the zone controllers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each local device includes a motor-driven element facilitating or inhibiting an introduction of thermal energy into the environmental zone associated with the local device by differing amounts according to a position of the motor-driven element.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each zone controller is configured to communicate at least one of the following to the local device associated with the zone controller:

a control command;

a zone temperature;

or

a set point temperature.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the zone controllers comprises a humidity sensor, and the at least one zone controller is configured to control the local device associated with the at least one zone controller based at least in part on data from the humidity sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the zone controllers comprises a temperature sensor, and the at least one zone controller is configured to control the local device associated with the at least one zone controller based at least in part on data from the temperature sensor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is configured to control a fan of an HVAC system;

and at least one of the plurality of zone controllers is configured to move air to at least one of the environmental zones without calling for heating or cooling from the HVAC system.

11. The local device of claim 1, wherein the local device associated with each zone controller is incorporated as part of the associated zone controller.

12. A method for controlling multiple environmental zones with a plurality of zone controllers, the method comprising:

monitoring, by each zone controller, an environmental condition, an occupancy condition, and an acoustic condition for an environmental zone associated with the zone controller;

controlling, by each zone controller, a local device associated with each zone controller; and

communicating, by each zone controller, information indicative of the environmental condition, occupancy condition, and acoustic condition for the environmental zone associated with the zone controller to a central controller;

receiving, by a zone controller of the plurality of zone controllers, data to control the zone controller based on the acoustic data communicated from multiple zone controllers of the plurality of zone controllers to the central controller; and

controlling the zone controller in accordance with the received data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein monitoring the environmental condition of an environmental zone associated with the zone controller comprises monitoring the temperature or humidity of the environmental zone associated with the zone controller.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

controlling, by the central controller, operation of the zone controllers based at least in part on the communicated information indicative of the environmental condition and the occupancy condition of each environmental zone.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

prioritizing, by the central controller, operation of at least two of the plurality of zone controllers.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

controlling, by the central controller, an HVAC system based at least in part on the communicated information indicative of the environmental condition, occupancy condition, and acoustic condition of each environmental zone, wherein the HVAC system provides at least one of cooling or heating to the environmental zones.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

controlling, by the central controller, a first one of the zone controllers based at least in part on environmental condition data received from a second one of the zone controllers.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

modifying, by each local device, an introduction of thermal energy into the environmental zone associated with the local device by differing amounts according to a position of a motor-driven element included in the local device.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

communicating, by each zone controller, at least one of the following to the local device associated with the zone controller;

a control command;

a zone temperature;

or

a set point temperature.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

controlling, by the central controller, a fan of an HVAC system and at least one of the plurality of zone controllers to move air to at least one of the environmental zones without calling for heating or cooling from the HVAC system.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the fan of the HVAC system and/or at least one of the plurality of zone controllers is controlled based on at least one of the environmental condition, occupancy condition, or acoustic condition of at least one of the environmental zones.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the local device associated with each zone controller is incorporated as part of the associated zone controller.