Retrofit damper system with power management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12007131-B2
Application number	US-202117551831-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2021
Priority date	Jun 12, 2018
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

A damper system is configured for installation in ductwork including a duct supplying conditioned air through a register boot to a register vent. A damper is movable between a closed position and an open position. A control module includes a control module housing, a controller, a power supply and a transceiver. The controller monitors a remaining energy level of the power supply and transmits a first low battery message via the transceiver when the remaining energy level drops to a first energy threshold. The controller instructs the damper assembly to move to a predetermined position and to transmit a second low battery message via the transceiver when the remaining energy level drops to a second energy threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A zoning system configured for use in zoning an HVAC system of a building, the zoning system comprising:
a plurality of damper systems, each damper system of the plurality of damper systems including:
a damper assembly configured to be disposed within a respective duct of the HVAC system at a location within the respective duct of the HVAC system that is upstream of a register boot of the HVAC system, the damper assembly including a damper that is movable between a closed end position, an open end position, and a plurality of intermediate positions between the closed end position and the open end position;
a control module comprising circuitry configured to regulate operation of the damper assembly;
a transceiver; and
a power supply configured to supply power to the control module,
wherein the control module is configured to monitor a remaining energy level of the power supply;
wherein the control module is configured to transmit a low battery message via the transceiver in response to the remaining energy level dropping to a first energy threshold;
wherein the low battery message is a first low battery message,

wherein the control module is configured to transmit a second low battery message via the transceiver and to instruct the damper assembly to move to a designated intermediate position of the plurality of intermediate positions in response to the remaining energy level dropping to a second energy threshold lower than the first energy threshold,
wherein the designated intermediate position is based on a history of damper positions over a period of time ending in response to the remaining energy level dropping to or below the second energy threshold.

2. The zoning system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to stop transmitting any low battery messages via the transceiver in response to the remaining energy level dropping to a third energy threshold lower than the second energy threshold.

3. The zoning system of claim 2 , wherein the power supply is an alkaline battery; and wherein the third energy threshold is a value above a value at which the alkaline battery begins to outgas.

4. The zoning system of claim 1 , further comprising an HVAC controller configured to control one or more damper systems of the plurality of damper systems,
wherein a first damper system of the plurality of damper systems is assigned to a first HVAC zone,
wherein in response to receiving the low battery message from the control module of the first damper system, the HVAC controller is configured to control the first HVAC zone by at least regulating the operation of one or more other damper systems also assigned to the first HVAC zone and that have a remaining energy level that is above the first energy threshold.

5. The zoning system of claim 1 , wherein in response to the control module detecting a remaining energy level that has dropped to or below the first energy threshold, the control module is configured to change the position of the damper of a corresponding damper assembly less frequently than in response to the remaining energy level being detected to be above the first energy threshold in order to reduce power consumption by the damper assembly.

6. A zoning system configured for use in zoning an HVAC system of a building, the zoning system comprising:
an HVAC controller,
a first damper system including:
a first damper assembly configured to be disposed within a first duct of the HVAC system at a location within the first duct of the HVAC system that is upstream of a first register boot of the HVAC system, the first damper assembly including a first damper that is movable between a closed end position, an open end position, and a plurality of intermediate positions between the closed end position and the open end position;
a first control module comprising circuitry configured to regulate operation of the first damper assembly;
a first power supply configured to supply power to the first control module, where the first control module is configured to monitor a remaining energy level within the first power supply; and

a second damper system including:
a second damper assembly configured to be disposed within a second duct of the HVAC system at a location within the second duct of the HVAC system that is upstream of a second register boot of the HVAC system, the second damper assembly including a second damper that is movable between a closed end position, an open end position, and a plurality of intermediate positions between the closed end position and the open end position;
a second control module comprising circuitry configured to regulate operation of the second damper assembly; and
a second power supply configured to supply power to the second control module, wherein the first control module is configured to detect that the remaining energy level of the first power supply has dropped to or below a first energy threshold, and, in response, transmit a first low battery message, and

wherein, in response to receiving the first low battery message from the first control module, the HVAC controller is configured to make positional changes to the second damper assembly that reduce the need for some or all positional changes to the first damper assembly in order to help preserve the remaining power in the first power supply;
wherein the first control module is configured to transmit a second low battery message and to instruct the first damper assembly to move to a designated intermediate position of the plurality of intermediate positions in response to the remaining energy level of the first power supply dropping to a second energy threshold lower than the first energy threshold,
wherein the designated intermediate position is based on a history of damper positions for the first damper over a period of time ending in response to the remaining energy level dropping to or below the second energy threshold.

7. The zoning system of claim 6 , wherein the second power supply comprises a battery or a transformer.

8. The zoning system of claim 6 , wherein the second control module is further configured to transmit a second low battery message in response to the remaining energy level of the second power supply dropping to the first energy threshold.

9. The zoning system of claim 6 , wherein the first control module is further configured to stop transmitting any low battery messages via a transceiver in response to the remaining energy level dropping to a third energy threshold lower than the second energy threshold.

10. The zoning system of claim 9 , wherein the first power supply is an alkaline battery; and wherein the third energy threshold is a value above a value at which the alkaline battery begins to outgas.

11. The zoning system of claim 6 ,
wherein the HVAC controller is configured to control one or more dampers systems of a plurality of damper systems, wherein the plurality of damper systems comprise the first damper system and the second damper system;
wherein the first damper system of the plurality of damper systems is assigned to a first HVAC zone,
wherein in response to receiving the low battery message from the first control module of the first damper system, the HVAC controller is configured to control the first HVAC zone by at least regulating the operation of one or more other damper systems also assigned to the first HVAC zone and that have a remaining energy level that is above the first energy threshold.

12. The zoning system of claim 6 ,
wherein in response to the first control module detecting a remaining energy level that has dropped to or below the first energy threshold, the control module is

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

• Gonia Patrick
• Emmons David J
• Carlson Nathan
• Chandrashekar Madhu T

Classifications

• F24F11/56

  Remote control · CPC title

• F24F2013/1433

  with electric motors · CPC title

• F24F11/88

  Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits · CPC title

• F24F2140/60

  Energy consumption · CPC title

• F24F11/46

  Improving electric energy efficiency or saving · CPC title