Abstract

In a multi-zone control system for central forced air HVAC systems where the minimum conditioned airflow produced by the HVAC equipment significantly exceeds the airflow capacity to many of the zones, the invention is an energy saving method for choosing non-calling zones to receive excess airflow in. When satisfying calls for conditioning from one or a few zones, excess conditioned airflow is directed to non-calling zones. The method chooses occupied non-calling zones using a priority that provides comfort, and chooses unoccupied non-calling zones using a different priority that provides energy savings. Limits are provided for each zone to prevent excessive over conditioning in non-calling zones.

IPC Classes  ?

• F24F 3/00 - Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatmentApparatus specially designed for such systems

Goods & Services

Climate control systems consisting of digital thermostats for cooling equipment, and a programmable logic controller (PLC) with input and output features for temperature and humidity, which works with a remote digital read out controller; Climate control systems consisting of digital thermostats, air conditioning, heating, ventilation and drying control devices; Electric control devices for heating and energy management; Electrical energy utilization metering devices complete with related software; Electronic devices, namely, energy meters for tracking and monitoring energy usage; Thermostats Energy auditing; Energy price comparison services; Energy usage management; Energy usage management information services; Home energy assessment services for the purpose of determining energy efficiency or usage management

Abstract

A method and mechanism for performing a prioritized determining of a climate conditioning to be provided to a zone in a multiple zone structure. In one embodiment of the invention, the determining of a climate conditioning to be provided to a zone is to be a prioritized determining, where a climate control condition is determined to satisfy a priority condition of the first zone. In another embodiment, the first priority condition associated with the first zone is based at least in part on an assigning of a first priority to the first zone.

IPC Classes  ?

• F24F 3/14 - Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatmentApparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidificationAir-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatmentApparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by dehumidification
• F24F 6/00 - Air-humidification
• F24F 11/053 - by means responsive to temperature
• G05D 23/185 - Control of temperature with auxiliary non-electric power
• G05D 23/12 - Control of temperature without auxiliary power with sensing element responsive to pressure or volume changes in a confined fluid
• G05D 23/275 - Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means with sensing element expanding, contracting, or fusing in response to changes of temperature
• G05D 22/02 - Control of humidity characterised by the use of electric means
• G05B 21/00 - Systems involving sampling of the variable controlled
• G05B 13/00 - Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion
• G05B 15/00 - Systems controlled by a computer
• G01M 1/38 - Combined machines or devices for both determining and correcting imbalance
• F24D 19/10 - Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a control interface for environment control systems. An embodiment of a controller for a climate control system includes a memory to store a plurality of constraints for the climate control system and a processor to choose a current climate control activity, the current climate control activity being based at least in part on the constraints. The controller includes a user control interface to provide information to a user, the information identifying the current climate control activity of the climate control system and a constraint that influenced the choice of the current activity.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 17/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions
• G06N 5/00 - Computing arrangements using knowledge-based models

Goods & Services

Temperature control systems comprised of display devices, control stations, dampers, sensors, and software and hardware for collecting, scheduling, controlling, and displaying data for retrofitting HVAC systems; energy management systems comprised of display devices, control stations, dampers, sensors, and software and hardware for collecting, scheduling, controlling, and displaying data for retrofitting HVAC systems