Smart HVAC

• US 9,951,965 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2014
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Call, Brian, Brown, Nicholas, Carter, Jason, Noble, Darren, Hatch, Brandon, Bunker, Brandon
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, TUAN A
• Application Number:
  US14/475,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20160062332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• 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 11/526 giving audible indications
• 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 11/57 using telephone networks
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/83 by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/20 Sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1934 each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means

Abstract

A method for heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is described. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a temperature of a first room of a building via a first thermometer placed in the first room and measuring a temperature of a second room of the building via a second thermometer placed in the second room and receiving the temperature of the first room via a first data communication device communicatively coupled to a first HVAC register in the first room and receiving the temperature of the second room via a second data communication device communicatively coupled to a second HVAC register in the second room. In some cases, the first data communication device is configured to communicate data between the first thermometer and a central automation controller and the second data communication device is configured to communicate data between the second thermometer and the central automation controller.

Claims

1. A method for heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, the method implemented with a central automation controller equipped with memory-stored instructions, which when executed by a processor integrated with the central controller, cause the controller to perform the method, comprising:

receiving, at the central automation controller, a temperature of a first room of a structure via a first data communication device communicatively coupled to a first HVAC register in the first room, the first data communication device being configured to communicate data between a first thermometer located in the first room and the central automation controller;

receiving, at the central automation controller, a temperature of a second room of the structure via a second data communication device communicatively coupled to a second HVAC register in the second room, the second data communication device being configured to communicate data between a second thermometer located in the second room and the central automation controller;

receiving, at the central automation controller, weather data associated with a geographical location of the structure from a remote weather data server;

analyzing, at the central automation controller, the temperature of the first room and the temperature of the second room in relation to the weather data based at least in part on a climate policy of the first room and the second room;

detecting, at the central automation controller, a level of natural light within the first room and the second room based at least in part on received sensor data; and

modifying, at the central automation controller, a rate of airflow associated with at least one of the first HVAC register and the second HVAC register based at least in part on an airflow threshold of the first HVAC register and the second HVAC register, the level of natural light within the first room and the second room, and the analyzing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a first command to the first data communication device, the first command comprising instructions to actuate a first motor on the first HVAC register, the first motor being configured to adjust louvers on the first HVAC register.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

configuring the climate policy for the first room; and

configuring the first command based at least in part on one or more of a monitored airflow, a monitored outside temperature, and the climate policy of the first room.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a second command to the second data communication device, the second command comprising instructions to actuate a second motor on the second HVAC register, the second motor being configured to adjust louvers on the second HVAC register.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

configuring the climate policy of the second room; and

configuring the second command based at least in part on one or more of a monitored airflow, a monitored outside temperature, and the climate policy of the second room.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the rate of airflow of an HVAC central heating and cooling unit based at least in part on one or more of an airflow threshold, a monitored rate of airflow of the HVAC central heating and cooling unit, a monitored outside temperature, the climate policy of the first room, and the climate policy of the second room.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring an environment in relation to the first room of the building, wherein the first room comprises at least one of a tintable window and an automated blind, monitoring the environment comprising determining at least one of a geographical direction the tintable window faces, a time of day, a current month, a current season, a location of the building in relation to the Earth'"'"'s northern and southern hemispheres, an output of a photo-sensor relative to the tintable window, a temperature relative to a surface of the tintable window, and a sun path for a region relative to the building.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether an aspect of the monitored environment triggers an action associated with at least one of the automated blinds and the tintable window according to the climate policy for the first room.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

upon determining the action is triggered and the action is associated with the tintable window, adjusting a tint level of the tintable window according to the climate policy for the first room.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

upon determining the action is triggered and the action is associated with a positioning of slats on the automated blinds, raising or lowering the slats on the automated blinds according to the climate policy for the first room, the slats being raised or lowered by a motor.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

upon determining the action is triggered and the action is associated with a tilting of slats on the automated blinds, tilting the slats on the automated blinds according to the climate policy for the first room, the slats being tilted by a motor.

12. A computing device configured for heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of;

receiving a temperature of a first room of a structure via a first data communication device communicatively coupled to a first HVAC register in the first room, the first data communication device being configured to communicate data between a first thermometer located in the first room and a central automation controller;

receiving a temperature of a second room via a second data communication device communicatively coupled to a second HVAC register in the second room, the second data communication device being configured to communicate data between a second thermometer located in the second room and the central automation controller;

receiving weather data associated with a geographical location of the structure from a remote weather data server;

analyzing the temperature of the first room and the temperature of the second room in relation to the weather data based at least in part on a climate policy of the first room and the second room;

detecting a level of natural light within the first room and the second room based at least in part on received sensor data; and

modifying a rate of airflow associated with at least one of the first HVAC register and the second HVAC register based at least in part on an airflow threshold of the first HVAC register and the second HVAC register, the level of natural light within the first room and the second room, and the analyzing.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

sending a first command to the first data communication device, the first command comprising instructions to actuate a first motor on the first HVAC register, the first motor being configured to adjust louvers on the first HVAC register.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

configuring the climate policy for the first room; and

configuring the first command based at least in part on one or more of a monitored airflow, a monitored outside temperature, and the climate policy of the first room.

15. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

sending a second command to the second data communication device, the second command comprising instructions to actuate a second motor on the second HVAC register, the second motor being configured to adjust louvers on the second HVAC register.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

configuring the climate policy of the second room; and

configuring the second command based at least in part on one or more of a monitored airflow, a monitored outside temperature, and the climate policy of the second room.

17. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

adjusting the rate of airflow of an HVAC central heating and cooling unit based at least in part on one or more of an airflow threshold, a monitored rate of airflow of the HVAC central heating and cooling unit, a monitored outside temperature, the climate policy of the first room, and the climate policy of the second room.

18. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

monitoring an environment in relation to the first room of the building, wherein the first room comprises at least one of a tintable window and an automated blind, monitoring the environment comprising determining at least one of a geographical direction the tintable window faces, a time of day, a current month, a current season, a location of the building in relation to the Earth'"'"'s northern and southern hemispheres, an output of a photo-sensor relative to the tintable window, a temperature relative to a surface of the tintable window, and a sun path for a region relative to the building.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving a temperature of a first room of a structure via a first data communication device communicatively coupled to a first HVAC register in the first room, the first data communication device being configured to communicate data between a first thermometer located in the first room and a central automation controller;

receiving a temperature of a second room of the structure via a second data communication device communicatively coupled to a second HVAC register in the second room, the second data communication device being configured to communicate data between a second thermometer located in the second room and the central automation controller;

receiving weather data associated with geographical location of the structure from a remote weather data server;

analyzing the temperature of the first room and the temperature of the second room in relation to the weather data based at least in part on a climate policy of the first room and the second room;

detecting a level of natural light within the first room and the second room based at least in part on received sensor data; and

modifying a rate of airflow associated with at least one of the first HVAC register and the second HVAC register based at least in part on an airflow threshold of the first HVAC register and the second HVAC register, the level of natural light within the first room and the second room, and the analyzing.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

sending a first command to the first data communication device, the first command comprising instructions to actuate a first motor on the first HVAC register, the first motor being configured to adjust louvers on the first HVAC register.