HVAC control system

• US 7,216,015 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MMI Controls Ltd.
• Original Assignee: MMI Controls Ltd.
• Inventors: Poth, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick; Michael D.
• Application Number:
  US10/817,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/277, 236/91.D, 236/91.R, 236/3
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for a HVAC control system. An apparatus, includes: a microcontroller; a digital temperature sensor coupled to the microcontroller; a liquid crystal display coupled to the microcontroller; a set of cursor buttons coupled to the microcontroller; a first data structure of personal identification numbers coupled to the microcontroller; a second data structure of historical system usage data coupled to the microprocessor; an upload software thread coupled to the microprocessor and to the first data structure; a billing computer coupled to the second data structure; a real time clock coupled to the microcontroller; and a back up power supply coupled to the real time clock.

Claims

1. An apparatus monitoring HVAC control functions, comprising:

a microcontroller;

a digital temperature sensor coupled to the microcontroller;

a display coupled to the microcontroller;

a first data structure of personal identification numbers coupled to the microcontroller;

a second data structure of historical system usage data coupled to the microcontroller;

an upload capable connector coupled to the microcontroller and to the first data structure;

a billing computer coupled to the second data structure, wherein the billing computer uses historical system usage data associated with personal identification numbers to provide historical billing data;

a real time clock coupled to the microcontroller; and

a back up power supply coupled to the real time clock.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first data structure includes a member selected from the group consisting of singly linked lists, hashes, arrays, sorted arrays, binary trees, stacks, heaps, queues, dequeues, doubly linked lists, tables, and circular linked lists.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second data structure includes a list of time entries, each time entry associated with a personal identification number.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second data structure includes a member selected from the group consisting of singly linked lists, hashes, arrays, sorted arrays, binary trees, stacks, heaps, queues, dequeues, doubly linked lists, tables, and circular linked lists.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second data structure includes a calendar.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second data structure includes a member selected from the group consisting of singly linked lists, hashes, tables, arrays, sorted arrays, binary trees, stacks, heaps, queues, dequeues, doubly linked lists, and circular linked lists.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein second data structure includes a list of user types.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second data structure includes a member selected from the group consisting of singly linked lists, hashes, arrays, sorted arrays, binary trees, stacks, heaps, queues, dequeues, doubly linked lists, tables, and circular linked lists.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless interface coupled to the first data structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a transceiver coupled to the wireless interface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a repeater coupled to the transceiver.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a serial interface, coupled to the first data structure.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a hand held personal data assistant coupled to the serial interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary memory coupled to the microcontroller and the first data structure.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising heating ventilation and air conditioning equipment coupled to the microcontroller.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the billing computer is a central billing computer.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of relays coupled to the microcontroller.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bus coupled to the first data structure and the microcontroller.