Smart HVAC

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9951965-B2
Application number	US-201414475085-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2014
Priority date	Sep 2, 2014
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

A method for heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is described. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a temperature of a first room of a building via a first thermometer placed in the first room and measuring a temperature of a second room of the building via a second thermometer placed in the second room and receiving the temperature of the first room via a first data communication device communicatively coupled to a first HVAC register in the first room and receiving the temperature of the second room via a second data communication device communicatively coupled to a second HVAC register in the second room. In some cases, the first data communication device is configured to communicate data between the first thermometer and a central automation controller and the second data communication device is configured to communicate data between the second thermometer and the central automation controller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, the method implemented with a central automation controller equipped with memory-stored instructions, which when executed by a processor integrated with the central controller, cause the controller to perform the method, comprising:
receiving, at the central automation controller, a temperature of a first room of a structure via a first data communication device communicatively coupled to a first HVAC register in the first room, the first data communication device being configured to communicate data between a first thermometer located in the first room and the central automation controller;
receiving, at the central automation controller, a temperature of a second room of the structure via a second data communication device communicatively coupled to a second HVAC register in the second room, the second data communication device being configured to communicate data between a second thermometer located in the second room and the central automation controller;
receiving, at the central automation controller, weather data associated with a geographical location of the structure from a remote weather data server;
analyzing, at the central automation controller, the temperature of the first room and the temperature of the second room in relation to the weather data based at least in part on a climate policy of the first room and the second room;
detecting, at the central automation controller, a level of natural light within the first room and the second room based at least in part on received sensor data; and
modifying, at the central automation controller, a rate of airflow associated with at least one of the first HVAC register and the second HVAC register based at least in part on an airflow threshold of the first HVAC register and the second HVAC register, the level of natural light within the first room and the second room, and the analyzing.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending a first command to the first data communication device, the first command comprising instructions to actuate a first motor on the first HVAC register, the first motor being configured to adjust louvers on the first HVAC register.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
configuring the climate policy for the first room; and
configuring the first command based at least in part on one or more of a monitored airflow, a monitored outside temperature, and the climate policy of the first room.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending a second command to the second data communication device, the second command comprising instructions to actuate a second motor on the second HVAC register, the second motor being configured to adjust louvers on the second HVAC register.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
configuring the climate policy of the second room; and
configuring the second command based at least in part on one or more of a monitored airflow, a monitored outside temperature, and the climate policy of the second room.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adjusting the rate of airflow of an HVAC central heating and cooling unit based at least in part on one or more of an airflow threshold, a monitored rate of airflow of the HVAC central heating and cooling unit, a monitored outside temperature, the climate policy of the first room, and the climate policy of the second room.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring an environment in relation to the first room of the building, wherein the first room comprises at least one of a tintable window and an automated blind, monitoring the environment comprising determining at least one of a geographical direction the tintable window faces, a time of day, a current month, a current season, a location of the building in relation to the Earth's northern and southern hemispheres, an output of a photo-sensor relative to the tintable window, a temperature relative to a surface of the tintable window, and a sun path for a region relative to the building.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
determining whether an aspect of the monitored environment triggers an action associated with at least one of the automated blinds and the tintable window according to the climate policy for the first room.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
upon determining the action is triggered and the action is associated with the tintable window, adjusting a tint level of the tintable window according to the climate policy for the first room.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
upon determining the action is triggered and the action is associated with a positioning of slats on the automated blinds, raising or lowering the slats on the automated blinds according to the climate policy for the first room, the slats being raised or lowered by a motor.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
upon determining the action is triggered and the action is associated with a tilting of slats on the automated blinds, tilting the slats on the automated blinds according to the climate policy for the first room, the slats being tilted by a motor.

12. A computing device configured for heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, comprising:
a processor;
memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
receiving a temperature of a first room of a structure via a first data communication device communicatively coupled to a first HVAC register in the first room, the first data communication device being configured to communicate data between a first thermometer located in the first room and a central automation controller;
receiving a temperature of a second room via a second data communication device communicatively coupled to a second HVAC register in the second room, the second data communication device being configured to communicate data between a second thermometer located in the second room and the central automation controller;
receiving weather data associated with a geographical location of the structure from a remote weather data server;

analyzing the temperature of the first room and the temperature of the second room in relation to the weather data based at least in part on a climate policy of the first room and the second room;
detecting a level of natural light within the first room and the second room based at least in part on received sensor data; and
modifying a rate of airflow associated with at least one of the first HVAC register and the second HVAC register based at least in part on an airflow threshold of the first HVAC register and the second HVAC register, the level of natural light within the first room and the second room, and the analyzing.

13. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
sending a first command to the first data communication device, the first command comprising instructions to actuate a first motor on the first HVAC register, the first motor being configured to adjust louvers on the first HVAC register.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:
configuring the climate policy for the first room; and
configuring the first command based at least in part on one or more of a monitored airflow, a monitored outside temperature, and the climate policy of the fir

Assignees

• Vivint Inc

Inventors

• Call Brian
• Brown Nicholas
• Carter Jason
• Noble Darren
• Hatch Brandon
• Bunker Brandon

Classifications

• F24F11/30

  for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring · CPC title

• G05D23/1934

  each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• F24F2110/10

  Temperature · CPC title

• F24F11/56

  Remote control · CPC title