(12) United States Patent
`Ols
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,374,725 B1
`Feb. 12, 2013
`
`US008374725B1
`
`(54)
`(76)
`(*)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`CLIMATE CONTROL
`
`Inventor: Joseph David Ols, Los Gatos, CA (US)
`Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 886 days.
`Appl. No.: 12/315,152
`
`Filed:
`
`Nov. 26, 2008
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 61/004,475, filed on Nov.
`27, 2007.
`
`Int. C.
`(2011.01)
`G06F 9/00
`U.S. Cl. ........................................ 700/277; 261/118
`Field of Classification Search .................. 700/277,
`700/276, 275; 261/118; 715/777,863
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4.406,397 A
`9, 1983 Kamata
`4,646,964 A
`3, 1987 Parker
`
`5, 1990
`1, 1993
`1, 1993
`2, 1993
`9, 1993
`5, 1994
`6, 1994
`9, 1994
`11, 1994
`2, 1995
`3, 1995
`5, 2004
`9, 2004
`8, 2005
`2, 2006
`9, 2007
`6, 2009
`
`Viessmann
`Gilbert
`Forester
`Adasek
`Cohen
`Adams
`Shah
`Dushane
`Lieb1
`Clearwater
`236,46R
`Riley et al. .
`... 62/127
`Bhatnagar .....
`361.306.1
`Hopper et al.
`713,300
`Sharood et al. ...
`Takekoshi et al. ................ 347/2
`Amundson et al. ..
`700,276
`Leen ............................ 236,493
`
`4,921,163
`5, 180,102
`5,181,653
`5, 186237
`5,245,835
`5,307,990
`5,318, 104
`5,348,078
`5,361,982
`5,394,324
`5,395,042
`6,739,145 B2*
`6,798,641 B1*
`6,934,862 B2*
`7,004,554 B2*
`7,274,972 B2*
`2009/O140057 A1*
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner — Kidest Bahta
`
`ck
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A system is provided in which the dampers may be individu
`ally controlled. The climate control system may be retrofit to
`an existing climate control system by connecting the control
`ler to the existing climate control equipment through the
`thermostat interface. The climate control system may be
`monitored and set via a remote server.
`
`25 Claims, 35 Drawing Sheets
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`Sheet 1 of 35
`Sheet 1 of 35
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`US 8,374,725 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`Sheet 2 of 35
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`US 8,374,725 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`Sheet 3 of 35
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`US 8,374,725 B1
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`Motor 21
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`Worm Gear 210
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`Duct wall 20
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`stop 206a
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`FIG. 2
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`Sheet 4 of 35
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`US 8,374,725 B1
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`Motor 31
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`Worm Gear 310
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`Gear 308
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`Knob 306a
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`Pivot 314a
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`FIG. 3
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`Knob 306b
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`Pivot 314b
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`Sheet 5 of 35
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`ection 402b
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`Sheet 6 of 35
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`Sensor Casing 50
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`Processor 506
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`
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`Humidity Sensor 504
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`emperature Sensor 502
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`FIG. 5A
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 12, 2013
`Feb. 12, 2013
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`Sheet 7 Of 35
`Sheet 7 of 35
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`FIG. 5B
`FIG. 5B
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 12, 2013
`Feb. 12, 2013
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`Sheet 8 of 35
`Sheet8 of 35
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`FIG. 5C
`FIG. 5C
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`Sheet 10 of 35
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`Greeting 602
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`FIG. 7
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`format Options 636
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`Sheet 11 of 35
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`Output System
`802
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`Input System 804
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`Memory System
`806
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`Processor System
`808
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`Input/Output
`System 814
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`FIG. 8A
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`Sheet 12 Of 35
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`Memory System 83
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`Environment 83
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`Code 83
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`Parameters 840
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`Settings 83
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`User Data 836
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`FIG. 8B
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`Sheet 13 of 35
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`Feb. 12, 2013
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`Sheet 15 of 35
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`Sheet 16 of 35
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`US 8,374,725 B1
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`1 100
`Prepare Ducts for Installation
`102
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`Install Graphical User Interface
`Software l l 16
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`Insert Damper Components Into
`Ducts 1104
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`Assemble Network 1117
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`Configure Remote Server 1 1
`8
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`Couple Components of
`Retrofitted Control System 1 120
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`Configure software to recognize
`rooms, Zones and users 1122
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`Join Damper Components 1106
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`Install Retrofit Controllers l l 08
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`Redirect Control of Heating/AC
`System to Retrofit Controllers
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`Install Retrofit Sensors l112
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`Install Retrofit Thermostats
`1114
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`FIG 11
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`Sheet 17 Of 35
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`Set Default Settings and Roles
`120
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`Establish Accounts 1202
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`Log On to Climate Control
`Panel 1204
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`Set Climate Preferences 1206
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`Measure Climate 1208
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`Compare Measurements and
`Settings 1210
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`Humidity
`Adjustment?
`1212
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`Apply Climate Control
`Instructions without Humidity
`Corrections 1215
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`Apply Humidity Corrections
`1214
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`Determine Desired Airflow for Each Room
`and/or Zone 126
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`Step 1218
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`FIG. 12A
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`Sheet 18 Of 35
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`Determine Path of
`Airflow 1218
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`
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`erminate?
`1226
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`FIG. 12B
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`FIG.14
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`FIG.15B
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`U.S. Patent
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`1.
`CLIMATE CONTROL
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional
`Patent Application No. 61/004.475 filed, Nov. 27, 2007,
`which is incorporated herein by reference.
`
`FIELD
`
`The specification generally relates to regulating climates.
`
`NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT
`
`A portion or portions of the disclosure of this document
`contains content that is Subject to protection by copyright.
`There is no objection by the copyright owner to the facsimile
`reproduction of the patent document and/or the patent disclo
`sure as it is displayed in the records and files of the Patent and
`Trademark Office, however, the copyright owner reserves all
`protections otherwise afforded.
`
`BACKGROUND
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`The Subject matter discussed in the background section
`should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its
`mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem
`mentioned in the background section or associated with the
`subject matter of the background section should not be
`assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art.
`The subject matter in the background section merely repre
`sents different approaches, which in and of themselves may
`also be inventions. Heating and cooling equipment is old and
`well known. However, heating and cooling equipment often
`does not provide the flexibility to control the climate in each
`of a number of different areas as desired. For example, it may
`not be possible to keep the temperature of two different rooms
`within the desired temperature ranges for each room. Addi
`tionally, retrofitting new climate control equipment to already
`40
`existing equipment may be difficult because of the large num
`ber of different interfaces.
`
`35
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`
`In the following drawings like reference numbers are used
`to refer to like elements. Although the following figures
`depict various examples of the invention, the invention is not
`limited to the examples depicted in the figures.
`FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a
`climate control system.
`FIG. 1B shows a block diagram of a view of the locations
`and components within the Zones of climate control system.
`FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a cross section of an
`embodiment of an air register.
`FIG.3 shows a block diagram of another cross section of an
`embodiment of an air register.
`FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of an air
`register from a top view.
`FIG. 5A shows a block diagram of a sensor unit.
`FIG. 5B shows a block diagram of an indoor sensor unit
`associated with a light Switch.
`FIG.5C shows a block diagram of an outdoor sensor unit.
`FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a Graphical User Interface
`associated with current settings.
`FIG.7 shows a block diagram of a Graphical User Interface
`associated with set points.
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`FIG. 8A shows a block diagram of a computing system.
`FIG. 8B shows a block diagram of the memory of FIG. 8A.
`FIG. 9A shows a block diagram of the hardware compo
`nents of a sensor.
`FIG. 9B shows a block diagram of the content of the
`memory of a remote server.
`FIG. 10A shows a block diagram of a portion of a compu
`tation table associated with a retrofit control system.
`FIG. 10B shows another block diagram of a portion of a
`computation table associated with a retrofit control system
`FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of an example of a method of
`assembling system 100.
`FIG. 12A shows a first half of a flowchart of an example of
`a method of using system 100.
`FIG.12B shows a second half of a flowchart of an example
`of a method of using system 100.
`FIG.13A shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphi
`cal User Interface for the system of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 13B shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a
`MyLocations list of the GUI of FIG. 13A.
`FIG.14 shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical
`User Interface for the system of FIG. 1.
`FIGS. 15A and B show screenshot of an embodiment of a
`Graphical User Interface for the system of FIG. 1.
`FIG.16 shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical
`User Interface for the system of FIG. 1.
`FIG.17 shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical
`User Interface for the system of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 18 shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical
`User Interface for the system of FIG. 1.
`FIGS. 19A and B show screenshots of an embodiment of a
`Graphical User Interface which may be referred to as a Dash
`board.
`FIG.20 shows an enlarged screenshot of an embodiment of
`one of the graphs in FIGS. 19A and B.
`FIG.21 shows an enlarged screenshot of an embodiment of
`one of the graphs in FIGS. 19A and B.
`FIG.22 shows an enlarged screenshot of an embodiment of
`graphing the parameters graphed in the GUI of FIG. 21 and
`other parameters (desired ranges VS. actual states) not shown
`in FIG. 21.
`FIG. 23 shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphi
`cal User Interface for setting the status of an HVAC System.
`FIG. 24 shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphi
`cal User Interface possibly for a Chief Administrator of the
`system of FIG. 1 to monitor users.
`FIG. 25 shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphi
`cal User Interface possibly for a Chief Administrator of the
`system of FIG. 1 to set allowable ranges climate parameters.
`FIG. 26 shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphi
`cal User Interface of FIG. 1 to set or to change (e.g., override)
`setpoints for rooms and/or users.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Although various embodiments of the invention may have
`been motivated by various deficiencies with the prior art,
`which may be discussed or alluded to in one or more places in
`the specification, the embodiments of the invention do not
`necessarily address any of these deficiencies. In other words,
`different embodiments of the invention may address different
`deficiencies that may be discussed in the specification. Some
`embodiments may only partially address some deficiencies or
`just one deficiency that may be discussed in the specification,
`and some embodiments may not address any of these defi
`ciencies.
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`3
`In general, at the beginning of the discussion of each of
`FIGS. 1A-10 is a brief description of each element, which
`may have no more than the name of each of the elements in the
`particular figure that is being discussed. After the brief
`description of each element, each element of FIGS. 1A-10 is
`further discussed in numerical order. In general, each of
`FIGS. 1A-12B is discussed in numerical order, and the ele
`ments within FIGS. 1A-12B are also usually discussed in
`numerical order to facilitate easily locating the discussion of
`a particular element. Nonetheless, there is not necessarily any
`one location where all of the information of any element of
`FIGS. 1A-12B is located. Unique information about any par
`ticular element or any other aspect of any of FIGS. 1A-12B
`may be found in, or implied by, any part of the specification.
`FIG. 1A shows a diagram of an embodiment of a climate
`control system 100. Climate control system 100 includes
`legacy control system 101, having legacy controller 103, and
`heating/AC system 104, which includes fan 106, air condi
`tioner 108 and heater 110. In this specification, the term
`“heating/AC’ and “HVAC may be substituted for one
`another in any place in the specification to obtain new
`embodiments. Climate control system 100 further includes
`air ducts 111 and retrofit control system 102, having Zones
`112a-112n, which include legacy thermostats 122a-122n,
`controllers 124a-124m, and rooms 113aa-113mm. Rooms
`113aa-113mm include air registers 114aa-114mm, sensors
`116aa-116mm, optional thermostats 118aa-118mm and com
`puters 120aa-120mm. Climate control system 100 also
`includes network 130 and remote server 132. In other
`30
`embodiments, climate control system 100 may not have all of
`the components listed above or may have other components
`instead of and/or in addition to those listed above (e.g.,
`humidity control and fresh air control).
`Climate control system 100 may regulate temperatures and
`climate settings for any of a plurality of rooms and/or Zones,
`thereby providing more precise management of tempera
`tures, climates, and/or energy consumption.
`Legacy control system 101 is a pre-existing control system
`for a heating, cooling, and/or ventilation.
`Retrofit control system 102 is a control system that
`replaces all or at least a part of legacy control system 101, and
`regulates temperatures and climate settings for any one or
`more of rooms 113aa-113mm and/or Zones 112a-112m. In an
`embodiment, retrofit control system 102 allows more precise
`climate control over locations and may control the climate by
`heating, cooling, ventilation, and other climate systems such
`as humidification, dehumidification, return air source (e.g.,
`fresh/outside air control and/or multiple inside sources),
`steam/hot-waterheat, under floorheating/cooling, steam gen
`eration (incl for steam baths), resistive (e.g. baseboard) heat
`ers, sauna control, etc.
`Legacy controller 103 may be an existing controller for
`controlling a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and/or
`other climate control system. In an embodiment, legacy con
`troller 102 may control temperature settings by switching
`components (e.g. a heat pump, heater, air cooling unit, or fan)
`on and off and/or changing their settings (e.g., motor speeds
`and/or the amount of heated or cooled air generated). Legacy
`controller 103 may be coupled with a thermostat that directs
`the switching function of legacy controller 103, an automated
`controller directed by programmable settings, or any of the
`plurality of controllers that are used for controlling heating,
`ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Legacy controller
`103 may be disconnected, partially disabled, and/or fully
`disabled in the process of retrofitting (e.g., installing) retrofit
`control system 102 within climate control system 100.
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`Heating/AC system 104 may circulate air to any of a plu
`rality of locations associated with climate control system 100.
`Heating/AC system 104 may heat and/or cool the location.
`The air circulated may be heated, cooled, or unaltered. In
`other embodiments, heating/AC system 104 may include
`other components, such as one or more heat pumps, humidi
`fiers, and/or Sump pumps in addition to, or instead of, fan 106.
`air conditioner 108, and/or heater 110.
`Fan 106 may cause air to flow and/or circulate within
`climate control system 100. In an embodiment, fan 106 may
`direct air into a ventilation system, which causes it to enter
`and/or circulate through ducts and/or within an environment.
`Fan 106 may be a single fan. In another embodiment, fan 106
`is replaced by a system of fans. Fan 106 or any of the fans of
`climate control system 100 may be included within a heater,
`an air conditioner, or may be a separate unit.
`Air conditioner 108 may be any type of unit or device for
`cooling air. In an embodiment, air conditioner 108 cools air,
`which is sent into an environment in which it is desirable to
`reduce the temperature. Heater 110 may be any type of unit or
`device for heating air (e.g., a gas or electric heater). In an
`embodiment, heater 110 may direct heated air into an envi
`ronment in which it is desirable to increase the temperature.
`Air conditioner 108 and/or heater 110 may have a fan for
`distributing the heated or cooled air. In an embodiment, fan
`106 may be part of heater 110 and/or air conditioner 108. In
`another embodiment, fan 106 may be a separate unit and
`optionally air conditioner 108 and/or heater 110 may have
`their own fan.
`Air ducts 111 may be a system of one or more ducts, which
`may be suitable for delivering heated, cooled, otherwise
`altered, and/or unaltered air. In an embodiment, air duct 111
`may be a segmented network of interconnected ventilation
`ducts. Air ducts 111 may include one or more valves for
`directing the flow and volume of air that flows through any
`given duct. Air ducts 111 are the conduit through which air is
`delivered from heating A/C system 104 to the individual
`rooms and Zones of climate control system 100 (which will be
`discussed below). Air ducts 111 may be used for ventilation,
`dumping air outside, and bringing air inside. Fan 106 may be
`located within air ducts 111 and/or at an entrance to one or
`more air ducts 111.
`Each of Zones 112a-112n is a collection of one or more
`locations. Each of the locations within a Zone has at least one
`climate parameter that is controlled to have related values
`throughout the Zone. In a simple case, the particular Zone has
`one sensor and one air register or another piece of equipment
`that allows conditioned air to enter the room (or to otherwise
`control the climate parameter which is measured). In another
`example, instead of having just one sensor, the Zone has
`multiple sensors, and the average value of the measurements
`or some other function of the measurements of the sensors is
`used in place of a single sensor measurement to determine the
`settings for controlling the climate. As another example, there
`is one sensor and multiple air registers or multiple pieces of
`another type of equipment that affects the climate of the Zone,
`and each air register or other piece of equipment is controlled
`to maintain a particular reading of at least one climate param
`eter. As a more specific example, one portion of a Zone having
`one temperature sensor may be sent more cool air or less hot
`air than another portion of the Zone, because one portion tends
`to receive more Sunlight. As another more specific example,
`one portion of a Zone having one temperature sensor may be
`sent more cool air or less hot air than another portion of the
`Zone, because one portion may need to be kept cooler than
`another portion of the same Zone, so as to keep certain equip
`ment at a cooler temperature. In another example, there are
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`multiple sensors and multiple air registers or other multiple
`pieces of equipment are used instead of a single measurement
`from a single sensor to determine one or more settings of a
`climate control parameter. In another example, one or more
`functions of a combination of the measurements from the
`sensors are used instead the values of the various sensor
`readings to determine one or more settings of a climate con
`trol parameter. For example, all of the air registers may be
`opened by related amounts. The related amounts may be
`amounts that are expected to produce a particular value of the
`function (the function of the combination of the individual
`sensor measurements). Alternatively or additionally, the
`related amounts may be amounts (that the registers are
`opened) that are expected to produce related values of the
`measurements at different locations in the Zone at which there
`may or may not be one or more sensors. For example, by
`opening different registers by different pre-calculated
`amounts different parts of a room may be maintained at
`different temperature according to different people's prefer
`ences listed in those locations even though there is only one
`temperature sensor, and instead of maintaining the sensor at a
`given temperature a function may be minimized, where the
`function may be the sum of the absolute differences between
`the expected and desired temperatures at each locations in the
`OO.
`For a Multi Input, Multi Output (MIMO) system each
`sensory location monitors one or more climate parameters
`(e.g., temperature, humidity, CO, CO, VOCs, radioactivity,
`and/or biological contaminants). The state of the air flowing
`through ducts may be controlled by individually controlling
`individual dampers, registers, and/or other actuators within
`the ducts and/or Zones, and/or by controlling groups of damp
`ers, registers, and/or other actuators within the ducts and/or
`Zones together. The control may be for affecting one output
`variable (e.g., heating air) or for multiple output variables
`(e.g., heating air, cooling air, humidifying air, dehumidifying
`air, airflow rate, airflow duty cycle, and/or percent fresh out
`side air). The relationship between Sensor Inputs and Actu
`ated Outputs may be Single Input and Single Output (SISO),
`MIMO, (e.g., multi inputs from one sensor location OR from
`many sensor locations and/or one or more estimated State(s)
`of the Climate System, multi output), SIMO or MISO.
`Each of Zones 112a-112n may include one or more rooms
`113aa-113mm (mentioned below). Optionally, there may be
`one or more Zones within the same room (especially if the
`room is large, includes dividers, includes partitions, and/or
`includes multiple cubicles).
`Each of rooms 113aa-113mm is a walled-in location within
`one or more of Zones 112a-112m within which climate regu
`lation is implemented via retrofit control system 102 (men
`tioned above). Rooms 113aa-113mm may contain, air regis
`ters 114aa-114mm, sensors 116aa-116mm, optional
`thermostats 118aa-118mm, and/or computers 120aa-120mm
`(which will be discussed below). Rooms 113aa-113mm are
`examples of user locations. In the specification a user location
`is a location for which it is convenient to setto one uniform set
`of climate settings. In an embodiment, user locations are
`chosen according to which locations tend to be used by the
`same user or group of users. For example, a user location may
`be a work area of a particular user or group of users. As an
`example of the definition of the term user location, if the
`climate control is only regulating the temperature, any given
`individual user location has only one temperature setting. In
`an embodiment, other user locations may be included within
`control system 100 instead of, and/or in addition to, rooms
`113aa-113mm. Although in FIG. 1A each of rooms 113aa
`133mm is depicted as being with a Zone, and no rooms contain
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`multiple Zones, in an embodiment a room may contain mul
`tiple Zones or a Zone may contain multiple rooms. For
`example, a large room having many cubicles may be divided
`into multiple Zones, one Zone for each air register. It may be
`advantageous to divide a large room into multiple Zones in
`situations where the environment tends to heat or cool one
`part of a room more so than another. For example, in a large
`room which gets Sunlight on only one side, it may be desirable
`to either heat less or cool more of the portion of the room
`which receives the extra sunlight.
`Air registers 114aa-114mm allow, limit, or prevent the flow
`of air from air ducts 111 into and/or from rooms 113aa
`113mm, where (for example) one of air registers 114aa
`114mm is located. Air registers 114aa-114mm may be any
`airflow modifying devices, such as dampers (which restrict
`airflow) and/or duct fans (which increase airflow). In an
`embodiment, air registers 114aa-114mm may connect air
`ducts 111 to a room. In another embodiment, air registers
`114aa-114mm may be located within air ducts 111 at a seg
`ment other than the segment conjoining air ducts 111 with a
`room. Air registers 114aa-114mm may be retrofit into a legacy
`climate control system 101 and may be controlled by a cli
`mate control system retrofit onto the legacy control system
`(e.g., retrofit control system 102). Although in FIG. 1A there
`is a one-to-one relationship between rooms 113aa-113mm
`and air registers 114aa-114mm, in an embodiment, there may
`be multiple air registers in any of rooms 113aa-113mm and/or
`there may be some of rooms 113aa-113mm that do not have an
`air register.
`Sensors 116aa-116nm may monitor the state of a room
`(e.g. the temperature, humidity, presence of individuals, con
`centrations of CO, CO., radioactivity, organic compounds,
`etc.) and/or devices that indicate the location of individuals or
`equipment that requires a certain climate (e.g., an RFID
`device) in a location associated with one or more sensors
`116aa-nnn. A discussion of an embodiment of a sensor that
`may be used for any combination of sensors 116aa-116nm is
`discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 5A-5C. In an embodi
`ment there is at least one sensor in each room and/or user
`location. Although in FIG. 1A there is a one-to-one relation
`ship between rooms