Multi-function thermostat with intelligent ventilator control for frost/mold protection and air quality control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10837665-B2
Application number	US-201815953308-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2018
Priority date	Apr 14, 2017
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

An HVAC system within a building including a ventilator, a number of sensors, and a control device. The control device has a processor that is configured to receive a request to operate the ventilator. The control device is further configured to determine a status of a minimum runtime mode of the ventilator. The minimum runtime mode operates the ventilator for a minimum amount of each time in a predefined time period. The control device is further configured to determine an air quality value. The air quality value is based on one or more measurements provided to the control device by the plurality of sensors. The control device is further configured to operate the ventilator based on the air quality value being determined to be below an acceptable value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An HVAC system within a building, the HVAC system comprising:
a ventilator;
a plurality of sensors; and
a control device, the control device comprising a processor configured to:
receive a request to operate the ventilator;
determine an air quality value, wherein the air quality value is based on one or more measurements provided to the control device by the plurality of sensors;
operate the ventilator based on the air quality value being determined to be below an acceptable value;
prohibit operation of the ventilator based on:
an automatic lockout mode of the ventilator being disabled, wherein the automatic lockout mode is configured to automatically operate the ventilator to maximize air quality and minimize energy usage; and
at least one of:
determining that an outdoor temperature is above a predetermined temperature value; or
determining that an outdoor humidity is above a predetermined humidity value.

2. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the control device is a thermostat.

3. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to operate the ventilator in parallel with a blower fan associated with an HVAC device.

4. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the air quality value is an indoor air quality value.

5. The HVAC system of claim 4 , wherein the indoor air quality value is determined based on at least one of a carbon dioxide level, a volatile organic compound (VOC) level, or a humidity level.

6. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes an indoor sensor and an outdoor sensor.

7. The HVAC system of claim 6 , wherein the indoor sensor is at least one of a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, or a humidity sensor.

8. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein:
the processor is further configured to determine a status of a minimum runtime mode of the ventilator; and
the minimum runtime mode operates the ventilator for a minimum amount of time in a predefined time period.

9. The HVAC system of claim 8 , wherein operating the ventilator is further based on determining that the ventilator has not run for the minimum amount of time during the predefined time period.

10. A method of operating a ventilator in an HVAC system, the method comprising:
receiving a request to operate the ventilator;
determining a status of an automatic lockout mode of the ventilator, wherein the automatic lockout mode is configured to automatically operate the ventilator to maximize air quality and minimize energy usage;
determining an air quality value, wherein the air quality value is based on one or more measurements provided by a plurality of sensors;
and operating the ventilator based at least in part on the air quality value being determined to be below an acceptable value.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the method is performed by a control device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the control device is a thermostat.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
prohibiting operation of the ventilator based on at least one of determining that an outdoor temperature is above a predetermined temperature value or determining that an outdoor humidity is above a predetermined humidity value,
wherein prohibiting operation of the ventilator is based on a determination that the automatic lockout mode of the ventilator is disabled.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the air quality value is an indoor air quality value.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining a status of a minimum runtime mode of the ventilator, wherein the minimum runtime mode operates the ventilator for a minimum amount of time in a predefined time period.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the air quality value is an indoor air quality value; and
the indoor air quality value is determined based on at least one of a carbon dioxide level, a volatile organic compound (VOC) level, or a humidity level.

17. A thermostat configured to control a ventilator in an HVAC system, the thermostat comprising:
a communications interface configured to receive one or more measurements from a plurality of sensors; and
a processing circuit comprising a processor and memory, the processor configured to:
receive a request to operate the ventilator;
determine a status of an automatic lockout mode of the ventilator, wherein the automatic lockout mode is configured to automatically operate the ventilator to maximize air quality and minimize energy usage and operate the ventilator based on the status.

18. The thermostat of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine an air quality value, wherein the air quality value is based on the one or more measurements from the plurality of sensors.

19. The thermostat of claim 18 , wherein operating the ventilator is further based on the air quality value being determined to be below an acceptable value.

20. The thermostat of claim 18 , wherein:
the air quality value is an indoor air quality value; and
the indoor air quality value is determined based on at least one of a carbon dioxide level, a volatile organic compound (VOC) level, or a humidity level.

21. The thermostat of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine a status of a minimum runtime mode of the ventilator, wherein the minimum runtime mode operates the ventilator for a minimum amount of time in a predefined time period; and
operate the ventilator based on the minimum runtime mode status.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Ajax Michael J
• Ribbich Joseph R
• Ruggiero Joseph Michael

Classifications

• F24F11/65

  for selecting an operating mode · CPC title

• Y02B30/70

  Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating · CPC title

• F24F11/0001 Primary

  for ventilation (F24F11/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24F2011/0002

  for admittance of outside air · CPC title

• F24F2110/70

  Carbon dioxide · CPC title