Systems and methods for wirelessly-enabled HVAC control

• US 9,353,964 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• 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:
  US14/827,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20150354844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 291 Days
• Field of Search: 236/1.B, 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

Various forms of wirelessly-enabled thermostats for multi-area HVAC control are presented. Such a thermostat may include: a controller; a temperature sensor included in the wireless-enabled thermostat that is in communication with the controller; a user input device that permits a user to input a setpoint temperature and an area priority, and a wireless communication system included in the wireless-enabled thermostat that is in communication with the controller. The controller may be configured to communicate temperature readings to a remotely-located central system and receive, from the user input device, the setpoint temperature and the area priority. The controller may be configured to communicate the setpoint temperature and the area priority to the central system.

Claims

1. A wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control, comprising:

a controller;

a temperature sensor included in the wireless-enabled thermostat that is in communication with the controller, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of air in a first area within a structure;

a user input device that permits a user to input a setpoint temperature and an area priority, the setpoint temperature inputted by the user via the user input device being a temperature desired by the user; and

a wireless communication system included in the wireless-enabled thermostat that is in communication with the controller;

wherein;

the controller is configured to communicate temperature readings to a remotely-located central system,

the controller is configured to receive, from the user input device, the setpoint temperature and the area priority, and

the controller is configured to communicate the setpoint temperature and the area priority to the central system.

2. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 1, wherein the area priority is used to prioritize temperature control among a plurality of areas of the structure.

3. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause sensor data to be transmitted via the wireless communication system according to a threshold test.

4. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 3, wherein the threshold test comprises a high threshold level.

5. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 3, wherein the threshold test comprises a low threshold level.

6. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 1, wherein the received area priority is used with a time of day for controlling an HVAC system.

7. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 1, wherein the received area priority is used with occupancy data for controlling an HVAC system.

8. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 1, wherein the wirelessly-enabled thermostat is configured to display a current temperature at a remote wireless sensor node of a plurality of the remote wireless sensor nodes that are in communication with the wirelessly-enabled thermostat.

9. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive an instruction to change a sensor data reporting interval.

10. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 1, wherein the area thermostat is configured to monitor a status of one or more electronically-controlled register vents.

11. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 1, further comprising a display.

12. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 1, wherein the wireless-enabled thermostat is configured to receive a modification to the area priority via the Internet.

13. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 1, wherein the communication system comprises a frequency-hopping system.

14. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 1, wherein the communication system communicates using approximately a 900 megahertz band for wireless RF communication.

15. The wirelessly-enabled thermostat for multi-area HVAC control of claim 1, the wirelessly-enabled thermostat comprising a humidity sensor.

16. A thermostat, comprising:

a controller;

a temperature sensor present on the wireless-enabled thermostat that is in communication with the controller, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of air in a first area within a structure;

at least one user input device that permits a user to input an setpoint temperature and an area priority, the setpoint temperature inputted by the user via the user input device being a temperature desired by the user; and

a communication system in communication with the controller, wherein;

the communication system utilizes wireless communication to communicate with a control system;

the controller is configured to communicate, via the communication system, temperature readings made by the temperature sensor to the control system,

the at least one user input device configured to allow a user to specify the setpoint temperature and the area priority, and

the controller is configured to communicate the setpoint temperature and the area priority to the control system, the control system being remotely located from the area thermostat.

17. The thermostat of claim 16, the thermostat being further configured to measure humidity.

18. The thermostat of claim 16, further comprising an occupant sensor.

19. The thermostat of claim 16, wherein the controller of the thermostat is further configured to cause a wake-up signal to be transmitted to a plurality of the remote wireless sensor nodes via wireless RF communication.

20. The thermostat of claim 16, wherein the thermostat is further configured to receive a modification to the area priority via the Internet.