Patent US20040194484A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US20040194484A1
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US
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Affordable and easy to install multi-zone HVAC system
Assignee: WUXI LINGYI ZHINENGKEJI Inc
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Filing: 2003-11-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2023-11-06
Abstract
Abstract An affordable and easy to install multiple zone HVAC system comprising powered wireless adjustable registers controlled by their respective zone controllers, and a central controller that controls the HVAC unit and coordinates zone controller for concerted action.
Inventors
- 👤 Shazhou Zou
- 👤 Victor Wang
- 👤 Jian Mao
- 👤 Tianxin Wang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:27
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F3/00; F24F3/044; F24F3/0442; F24F11/00; F24F11/30; F24F11/70; F24F11/50; F24F11/54; F24F11/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
1 . A multiple zone climate control system comprising a. a HVAC unit that supplies conditioned air to more than one zones; b. a central controller; c. a zone controller in each zone; d. one or more air flow rate regulating devices in each zone, wherein a said air flow rate regulating device is powered and is built into a register, therefore a powered adjustable register; e. said air flow rate regulating devices comprise dampers or boosters or combination of dampers and boosters; f. said air flow rate regulating devices have a air flow rate regulating device controller that can communicate with zone controller and adjust the degree of openness of the said damper accordingly or adjust the performance of the fan in the said booster accordingly; g. a digital wireless network that connects the said central control unit, the said zone control units and the said powered air flow rate regulating devices, the said HVAC unit can also be incorporated within; h. said central controller controls the HVAC unit based on information received from the zone controllers;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
1 . A multiple zone climate control system comprising a. a HVAC unit that supplies conditioned air to more than one zones; b. a central controller; c. a zone controller in each zone; d. one or more air flow rate regulating devices in each zone, wherein a said air flow rate regulating device is powered and is built into a register, therefore a powered adjustable register; e. said air flow rate regulating devices comprise dampers or boosters or combination of dampers and boosters; f. said air flow rate regulating devices have a air flow rate regulating device controller that can communicate with zone controller and adjust the degree of openness of the said damper accordingly or adjust the performance of the fan in the said booster accordingly; g. a digital wireless network that connects the said central control unit, the said zone control units and the said powered air flow rate regulating devices, the said HVAC unit can also be incorporated within; h. said central controller controls the HVAC unit based on information received from the zone controllers;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
2 . Said central controller and/or zone controller in claim 1 are able to control the zone air flow rate regulating devices in a concerted fashion to reach optimal system performance according to simple or sophisticated algorithms preset or later installed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
3 . Said central controller in claim 1 also has a zone controller component and can function as a zone controller as well.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
4 . Said damper in claim 1 is powered by battery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
5 . Said zone controller in claim 1 can obtain information of battery level of its zone dampers and display alert message when the power level is below a predefined level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
6 . Said zone dampers have an indicate light that flashes when the power level is low.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
6 . Said zone dampers have an indicate light that flashes when the power level is low.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
7 . Said zone controller in claim 1 has a manual override mode. When said mode is activated, it stops sending instructions to its zone air flow rate regulating devices so they will remain in the status until the manual override is revoked.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
8 . Said system in claim 1 where temperature is used as the climate control criterion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
9 . Said system in claim 1 that uses a control algorithm/method comprising one or more of the following elements: a. keep certain percentage of said dampers open at all time b. use register boosters in certain zones to boost airflow rate c. allow certain amount of airflow into a zone even after its set conditions are met d. do not allow the HVAC unit work for long period of time when only a small percent of dampers are open e. adjust the dead band width of the more demanding zones to reduce the frequency of the on/off of the HVAC unit
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
10 . A method to convert a single zone HVAC system to a multiple zone HVAC system using the system described in claim 1 comprising the following steps, not necessary in the given order: a. replace some or all registers in a zone with the said powered wireless adjustable registers; b. replace the thermostat that is connected to the existing HVAC unit with the said central zone controller; c. install a said zone controller in each zone; d. connect the said central controller, the said zone controller and the said powered wireless adjustable registers with a digital wireless network; e. have the said central controller control the HVAC based on information received from the zone controllers; f. have the said zone controllers control the status of the air flow rate regulating device to achieve desire independent zone climate control.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
11 . Have the said central controller and/or zone controller in claim 10 control the zone air flow rate regulating devices in a concerted fashion to reach optimal system performance according to simple or sophisticated logics preset or later installed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
12 . Have the said central controller function in claim 10 as a zone controller if so desired
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
13 . Have the said damper in claim 10 being powered by battery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
14 . Make the said zone controller in claim 10 obtain battery level information of its zone damper and display alert message when the power level is below a predefined level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
15 . Add an indicate light to the said zone damper in claim 10 that flashes when the power level is low.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
16 . Provide the said zone controller in claim 10 with a manual override mode. When said mode is activated, it stops sending instructions to its zone dampers so they will remain in its current status until the manual override is revoked.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
17 . Use temperature in the said converted HVAC system in claim 10 as the climate control criterion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
107 words
18 . Use a control algorithm/method in the said converted multiple zone HVAC in claim 10 , comprising one or more of the following elements: a. keep certain percentage of said dampers open at all time b. use register boosters in certain zones to boost airflow rate c. allow certain amount of airflow into a zone even after its set conditions are met d. do not allow the HVAC unit work for long period of time when only a small percent of dampers are open e. adjust the dead band width of the more demanding zones to reduce the frequency of the on/off of the HVAC unit
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