Controlling and monitoring indoor air quality (IAQ) devices

• US 9,593,861 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2014
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dust Free LP
• Original Assignee: Dust Free LP
• Inventors: Burnett, Gregg W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crenshaw, Henry
• Application Number:
  US14/180,157
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 236/91.C, 236/94, 210/746, 210/748.1, 340/607, 340/679, 700/108, 700/116
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/64 Airborne particle content
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/66 Volatile organic compounds [VOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/40 Noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling and monitoring Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) devices are described. In some embodiments, a system may include an IAQ component configured to alter the quality of the air entering, leaving, or circulating within a building, a sensor coupled to the IAQ component, the sensor configured to determine a status of the IAQ component, and a transmitter coupled to the sensor, the transmitter configured to transmit an indication of the status to a controller. In other embodiments, a method may include receiving, at a Heating, Ventilation, and/or Air Conditioning (HVAC) thermostat, data from a sensor coupled to an IAQ component configured to alter the quality of the air entering, leaving, or circulating within a building, and determining, by the HVAC thermostat, a status of the IAQ component based upon the data.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) component configured to alter the quality of air entering, leaving, or circulating within a building via an HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning) system, wherein the IAQ component comprises a consumable component;

a component sensor integrated into the IAQ component, wherein the component sensor is configured to determine an installation status of the consumable component, and wherein the component sensor is further configured to determine properties of the consumable component;

one or more airflow sensors configured to determine properties of airflow within the HVAC system;

one or more transmitters coupled to the component sensor and the one or more airflow sensors, wherein the one or more transmitters are configured to transmit the installation status of the consumable component and the properties of the consumable component and the airflow properties to a user device; and

an application executing on the user device, wherein the application indicates the consumable component installation status and one or more of the properties of the consumable component on a graphical user interface of the user device and wherein the application further infers lifespan information for the consumable component based on the airflow properties.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumable component includes a media air filter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the airflow properties comprise an indication of a level of airflow respective to the media air filter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumable component includes an ultraviolet (UV) light source.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the sensor includes a voltage or current detector coupled to a ballast configured to power the UV light source.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the IAQ component includes a humidifier, a dehumidifier, an electronic air cleaner, a ventilation fan, or an ionizer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the installation status indicates that the consumable component is detected and, is functioning properly.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter includes a wireless transmitter configured to implement a WiFi, BLUETOOTH, ZIGBEE, ECOBEE, RED LINK, or WEAVE protocol.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the inferred lifespan information of the consumable component comprises the expected remaining life of the consumable component.

10. A wireless user device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the wireless user device to;

receive an indication of an installation status of a consumable component of an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) component, the IAQ component configured to alter the quality of air entering, leaving, or circulating within a building via an HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning) system, wherein the installation status of the consumable component is determined by a component sensor coupled to the IAQ component and transmitted to the wireless user device, at least in part, via a wireless transmitter integrated in the IAQ component;

receive an indication of a plurality properties of the consumable component of the IAQ component, wherein the properties of the consumable component are determined by the component sensor and transmitted to the wireless user device, at least in part, via the wireless transmitter of the IAQ component;

receive an indication of one or more airflow properties within the HVAC system, wherein the airflow properties are determined by one or more airflow sensors;

display, on the wireless user device, the installation status of the consumable component and one or more of the plurality properties of the consumable component to a user; and

infer lifespan information of the consumable component based on the airflow properties.

11. The wireless user device of claim 10, wherein the wireless user device includes a mobile device or tablet.

12. The wireless user device of claim 10, wherein the IAQ component includes an ultraviolet (UV) light source and wherein the sensor includes a voltage or current detector coupled to a ballast configured to power the UV light source.

13. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the consumable component includes a media air filter.

14. The wireless user device of claim 13, wherein the airflow properties include an indication of a level of airflow downstream from the media air filter.

15. The wireless user device of claim 13, wherein the installation status airflow properties include includes an indication of a level of airflow upstream from the media air filter.

16. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the consumable component includes an ultraviolet (UV) light source.

17. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein a current draw is measured as an indication of a status of the UV light source.

18. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the inferred lifespan information of the consumable component comprises the expected remaining life of the consumable component.

19. A system comprising:

an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) device configured to regulate indoor air quality provided via an HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning) system, wherein the IAQ device comprises a consumable component;

a sensor attached to the IAQ device and configured to monitor an installation status of the consumable component, wherein the sensor is further configured to determine properties of the consumable component;

one or more electrical sensors configured to determine current draw properties within the HVAC system;

one or more transmitters coupled to the one or more electrical sensors, wherein the one or more transmitters are configured to transmit the installation status of the consumable component and the properties of the consumable component to a wireless user device; and

an application executing on the wireless user device, the application displaying the consumable component installation status and one or more properties of the consumable component to a user via the graphical user interface of the wireless user device, wherein the application further infers lifespan information for the consumable component based on the current draw.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the inferred lifespan information for the consumable component comprises the expected remaining life of the consumable component.