Wireless remote indoor sensor for home automation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11821645-B2
Application number	US-201916661529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2019
Priority date	Oct 24, 2018
Publication date	Nov 21, 2023
Grant date	Nov 21, 2023

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a network of wireless remote climate sensors to develop a complete heat map of an enclosed space. The remote climate sensor is configured to collect temperature and humidity data on a zone of the enclosed space. The HVAC system uses a network of these sensors to obtain data points across the enclosed space. The resulting heat map is used by the HVAC system to determine where to direct air in the enclosed space. By comparing the temperature and humidity at a specific remote climate sensor with the user's desired temperature and humidity, the HVAC system can decide whether to increase or decrease the air flow through a variable damper that is located near the remote climate sensor. By conducting this analysis throughout the enclosed space and making incremental adjustments to the air flow in hot and cold spots in the enclosed space, the disclosed HVAC system provides even comfort to the user along with reduced energy consumption.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A system for managing indoor climates, comprising:
a first zone in a room comprising:
a first variable damper having a temperature sensor, wherein the first variable damper controls a flow of air through a first air duct outlet, and wherein the temperature sensor of the first variable damper measures temperature of the flow of air through the first air duct outlet to the first zone in the room,
a first remote sensor that measures temperature in the first zone of the room, wherein the first remote sensor is disposed within a first electrical outlet box and coupled to a first power junction operable to provide power to the first remote sensor, and
a second remote sensor that measures temperature in the first zone of the room, wherein the second remote sensor is disposed within a second electrical outlet box and coupled to a second power junction operable to provide power to the second remote sensor;

a second zone in the room comprising:
a second variable damper having a temperature sensor, wherein the second variable damper controls the flow of air through a second air duct outlet, and wherein the temperature sensor of the second variable damper measures temperature of a flow of air through the second air duct outlet to the second zone,
a third remote sensor that measures temperature in the second zone of the room, and
a fourth remote sensor that measures temperature in the second zone of the room;

a control unit wirelessly coupled to the remote sensors and the variable dampers, the control unit comprising:
a memory configured to store:
current climate settings, wherein the current climate settings include a desired temperature for the first zone for at least a first user and a second user, a desired temperature for the second zone for at least the first user and the second user, and a HVAC mode;
an arbitration logic comprising a set of rules for application when there is detection of at least the first user and the second user in the first zone or the second zone, wherein the control unit is operable to apply the arbitration logic to determine an average temperature for each of the first zone and the second zone based on the current climate settings of at least the first user and the second user; and

a screen configured to display the current climate settings and further configured to receive inputs from a user for changing the current climate settings;
a processor configured to:
receive temperature measurements from—the first remote sensor, the second remote sensor, and the temperature sensor of the first variable damper of the first zone and the third remote sensor, the fourth remote sensor, and the temperature sensor of the second variable damper of the second zone;
retrieve, from the memory, the current climate settings;
determine the current climate settings to apply to the first zone and the second zone;
compare the temperature measurements from the first remote sensor, the second remote sensor, and the temperature sensor of the first variable damper from the first zone with the average temperature of the first zone;
compare the temperature measurements from the third remote sensor, the fourth remote sensor, and the temperature sensor of the second variable damper from the second zone with the average temperature of the second zone;
instruct the first variable damper to alter the flow of air into the first zone if the temperature measurements from the first zone differ from the average temperature of the first zone; and
instruct the second variable damper to alter the flow of air into the second zone if the temperature measurements from the second zone differ from the average temperature of the second zone.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the HVAC mode is heating.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein
the temperature measurements of the first zone exceed the average temperature of the first zone; and
the temperature measurements of the second zone fall below the average temperature of the second zone.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the processor instructs the first variable damper to alter the flow of air into the first zone by closing and the processor instructs the second variable damper to alter the flow of air into the second zone by opening.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the HVAC mode is cooling.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein
the temperature measurements of the first zone exceed the average temperature of the first zone; and
the temperature measurements of the second zone fall below the average temperature of the second zone.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor instructs the first variable damper to alter the flow of air into the first zone by opening and the processor instructs the second variable damper to alter the flow of air into the second zone by closing.

8. A method of managing indoor climates, the method comprising:
measuring a temperature in a first zone in a room with a first remote sensor, a second remote sensor and a temperature sensor positioned in a first variable damper, wherein the first variable damper controls a flow of air through a first air duct outlet, wherein the temperature sensor of the first variable damper measures temperature of the flow of air through the first air duct outlet to the first zone, wherein the first remote sensor is disposed within a first electrical outlet box and coupled to a first power junction operable to provide power to the first remote sensor, wherein the second remote sensor is disposed within a second electrical outlet box and coupled to a second power junction operable to provide power to the second remote sensor;
measuring a temperature in a second zone with a third remote sensor, a fourth remote sensor and a temperature sensor positioned in a second variable damper, wherein the second variable damper controls a flow of air through a second air duct outlet, wherein the temperature sensor of the second variable damper measures temperature of the flow of air through the second air duct outlet to the second zone;
retrieving desired climate settings, wherein the desired climate settings include a desired temperature for at least a first user and a second user;
determining the desired climate settings to apply to the first zone and the second zone using an arbitration logic, wherein the arbitration logic comprises a set of rules for application when there is detection of at least the first user and the second user, and wherein the arbitration logic determines an average temperature for each of the first zone and the second zone based on the desired climate settings of at least the first user and the second user;
comparing the temperature measurements from the first zone with the average temperature of the first zone;
comparing the temperature measurements from the second zone with the average temperature of the second zone;
instructing the first variable damper associated with the first zone to alter the flow of air into the first zone if the temperature measurements in the first zone differ from the average temperature of the first zone; and
instructing the second variable damper associated with the second zone to alter the flow of air into the second zone if the temperature measurements in the second zone differ from the average temperature of the second zone.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the desired climate settings further include an HVAC mode, and wherein the HVAC mode is set to heating.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein comparing the temperature measurements from the first zone with the average temperature of the first zone reveals that the temperature measurements of the first zone exceed the average temperature of the first zone; and
wherein comparing th

Assignees

• Lennox Ind Inc

Inventors

• Mowery Keith R
• Ho Nguyen T

Classifications

• F24F11/80 Primary

  for controlling the temperature of the supplied air · CPC title

• F24F1/54

  Inlet and outlet arranged on opposite sides · CPC title

• F24F11/46 Primary

  Improving electric energy efficiency or saving · CPC title

• F24F11/49

  ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks · CPC title

• F24F11/523

  for displaying temperature data · CPC title