Environmental Control System Including Distributed Control Elements

• US 20150019024A1
• Filed: 09/26/2014
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shey Sabripour
• Original Assignee: Shey Sabripour
• Inventors: Sabripour, Shey
• Granted Patent: US 9,471,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1927 using a plurality of sensors G05D23/1902, G05D23/1917, and G05D23/1919 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/063 using electronic means

Abstract

An apparatus may include at least one sensor and a transmitter coupled to the at least one sensor and configured send data to a gateway through a wireless communication link. The apparatus may further include a solar cell configured to provide power to the at least one sensor and the transmitter. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include an adhesive backing configured to secure the apparatus to a structure.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one sensor;

a transmitter coupled to the at least one sensor and configured send data to a gateway through a wireless communication link; and

a solar cell configured to provide power to the at least one sensor and the transmitter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive backing configured to secure the apparatus to a structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a touch-screen interface to:

provide a graphical user interface; and

receive input corresponding to the graphical user interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

an ambient air temperature sensor;

a radiant temperature sensor;

a humidity sensor; and

a light sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the light sensor comprises at least one of an infrared sensor, a red green blue (RGB) sensor, and an ambient light sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a motion sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a timer; and

wherein the at least one sensor and the transmitter operate periodically in response to a signal from the timer.

8. An environmental control system comprising:

a plurality of control elements, at least some of the control elements including;

a sensor;

a transceiver coupled to the sensor and configured send data to a wireless communications link; and

a solar cell configured to provide power to the sensor and the transmitter; and

a gateway configured to receive data from the transceiver and to selectively control a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system according to the data.

9. The environmental control system of claim 8, wherein each control element includes an adhesive backing configurable to secure the control element to a structure.

10. The environmental control system of claim 8, wherein each control element further comprises a touch-screen interface to:

provide a graphical user interface; and

receive input corresponding to the graphical user interface.

11. The environmental control system of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

an ambient air temperature sensor;

a radiant temperature sensor;

a humidity sensor; and

a light sensor.

12. The environmental control system of claim 11, wherein the light sensor comprises at least one of an infrared sensor, a red green blue (RGB) sensor, and an ambient light sensor.

13. The environmental control system of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a motion sensor.

14. The environmental control system of claim 8, wherein each control element further comprises:

a timer; and

wherein the at least one sensor and the transmitter operate periodically in response to a signal from the timer.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a touch screen;

a transmitter coupled to the touch screen and configured send data from the touch screen to a gateway through a wireless communication link; and

a solar cell configured to provide power to the touch screen and the transmitter.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising an adhesive backing configured to secure the apparatus to a structure.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the touch screen is configured to:

provide a graphical user interface; and

receive input corresponding to the graphical user interface.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to the transmitter and configured to receive power from the solar cell.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

an ambient air temperature sensor;

a radiant temperature sensor;

a humidity sensor; and

a light sensor.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the data sent by the transmitter includes at least one of ambient temperature data, radiant temperature data, humidity data, and light data.