Cloud based building automation systems

• US 9,557,750 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AAF-McQuay Incorporated (Daikin Industries Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Daikin Applied Americas Inc (Daikin Industries Ltd)
• Inventors: Gust, Michael J., Suzukida, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnes-Bullock, Crystal J
• Application Number:
  US13/828,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20130310986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 700/2, 700/19, 700/20, 700/22, 700275-278, 700/286, 700/291, 700/299, 165/200, 165/201, 165/205, 165/209, 236/46.R, 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• 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 11/62 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 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• 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: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A control system for operating the HVAC systems within a building to control the environmental conditions within a building having an onsite component networked to a remote offsite component. The onsite component monitors the conditions within the building and operates the HVAC systems, while the offsite component can be used by the system provider to communicate updates to the onsite component and monitor the effectiveness of the control algorithms used to operate the HVAC systems. The invention includes the method of providing tailored HVAC related controls, reports, notices and diagnostic services to a client under various subscription plans.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling the environmental conditions within a building comprising:

at least one onsite component located at the building and further comprising;

a central controller that stores a control algorithm,

at least one sensor unit for collecting at least one environmental measurement corresponding to a measured temperature condition from within the building and transmitting the environmental measurement to the central controller, wherein the central controller automatically aggregates the environmental measurements and generates an environmental control instruction based on the environmental measurement,

at least one secondary control unit operably linked to an HVAC system,

an offsite component located remotely from the building and networked to the at least one onsite component, wherein the offsite component evaluates characteristics of the environmental control instruction to determine an effectiveness of the control algorithm, and wherein the offsite component remotely modifies at least one operating instruction of the control algorithm to generate a new temperature setpoint; and

wherein regular updates and monitoring of the at least one onsite component are offered through a subscription service to monitor the efficacy of the control algorithm and wherein the central controller transmits the at least one operating instruction to the secondary control unit governing operation of the HVAC system to achieve a desired environmental condition within the building.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control algorithm for calculating the operating instruction based on the environmental measurement is stored on the central controller.

3. A method of controlling the environmental conditions within a building, comprising:

providing an onsite component at the building and comprising a central controller that stores a control algorithm, a sensor unit and a secondary control unit operably linked to an HVAC system;

networking an offsite component to the onsite component, wherein the offsite component is remote from onsite component;

collecting an environmental measurement within the building with the sensor unit, wherein the environmental measurement corresponds to a measured temperature condition;

wirelessly transmitting the environmental measurement to the central controller;

aggregating the environmental measurements;

generating an environmental temperature control instruction based on the environmental measurement;

wirelessly transmitting a control instruction to the secondary control unit, wherein the control instruction corresponds to the environmental measurement;

operating the HVAC system according to the control instruction;

remotely modifying the control instruction via the offsite component to generate a new temperature setpoint based on an analysis of the building temperature data to maintain a desired efficiency level; and

providing regular updates and monitoring of the onsite component through a subscription service to monitor the efficacy of the control algorithm.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing a control algorithm on the central controller; and

calculating the control instruction based on an analysis of the aggregation of the environmental measurements from within the building.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting a modifying instruction from the offsite component to alter the control algorithm stored on the central controller to create a modified control algorithm.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing a control algorithm on the offsite component;

transmitting the environmental measurement from the offsite component;

calculating the control instruction based on the environmental measurement; and

transmitting the control instruction from the offsite component to the onsite component.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

modifying the instruction on the offsite component to alter the control algorithm stored on the offsite component to create a modified control algorithm.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing a second onsite component at a second building and comprising a central controller, a sensor unit and a secondary control unit operably linked to an HVAC system; and

networking the offsite component to the onsite component, wherein the offsite component is remote from the second onsite component.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

remotely modifying a control instruction transmitted by the second central controller via the offsite component.