US5951394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controller to maintain a certain set of environmental parameters in an environment
Assignee: Lighthouse Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1998-04-29
•
Granted: 1999-09-14
•
Expires: 2018-04-29
Abstract
Abstract This invention continuously monitors the differential pressure between two environments, and dynamically adjusts the air handling system of the controlled environment to maintain a desired differential pressure setpoint by using a closed loop control methodology. Local and remote users can initialize, configure, monitor, and readjust the differential pressure setpoint as necessary. A differential pressure sensor transmits data to the system controller for processing and analysis. The system controller interfaces to a wide variety of air handling systems by using interchangeable air handling subsystems that plug into the invention. Each subsystem has the necessary hardware interface and software control methodology to easily and transparently enable the system controller to interface with a wide variety of air handling configurations. This flexibility allows the invention to control air handling systems using voltage or current outputs to control solenoid driven valves, dampers, and DC motors; and control air handler subsystems using phase, cycle, and frequency control of AC motors.
Inventors
- 👤 David Pariseau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:01
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/62; F24F11/63; F24F11/64; F24F11/70; G; G05; G05D; G05D16/00; G05D16/20; G05D16/2006; G05D16/208; F24F11/0001; F24F2011/0002; F24F2011/0004; F24F2011/0005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
An environmental controller for controlling an airflow device, comprising: an environmental sensor; a first processor that couples to said environmental sensor; and an air handling subsystem that couples to said first processor that further comprises: a second processor; circuitry that couples to said air handling subsystem that receives power for the air flow device; and circuitry that couples to said air handling subsystem that modifies the received power and provides the modified power to the airflow device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
An environmental controller for controlling an airflow device, comprising: an environmental sensor; a first processor that couples to said environmental sensor; and an air handling subsystem that couples to said first processor that further comprises: a second processor; circuitry that couples to said air handling subsystem that receives power for the air flow device; and circuitry that couples to said air handling subsystem that modifies the received power and provides the modified power to the airflow device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The environmental controller of claim 1 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a controlled voltage output interface for air flow devices that require controlled voltage inputs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The environmental controller of claim 1 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a controlled current output interface for air flow devices that require controlled current inputs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The environmental controller of claim 1 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a pulse width modulation control interface for DC motor air flow devices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The environmental controller of claim 1 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a phase control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The environmental controller of claim 1 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a cycle control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The environmental controller of claim 6 wherein said cycle control interface further comprises a cycle index table.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The environmental controller of claim 1 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a frequency control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The environmental controller of claim 1 that further comprises an external communications interface suitable for remote, multidrop, or network communications.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
An environmental control system for controlling an airflow device, comprising: an environmental sensor; a first processor means for processing information from said environmental sensor; and an air handler subsystem means for interfacing to the air flow device that couples to said first processor means that further comprises: a second processor means for controlling the power delivered to the air flow device; receiving means for receiving power for the air flow device, said receiving means couples to said air handling subsystem means; and modifying means for modifying the received power and providing the modified power to the airflow device, said modifying means couples to said air handling subsystem means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
An environmental control system for controlling an airflow device, comprising: an environmental sensor; a first processor means for processing information from said environmental sensor; and an air handler subsystem means for interfacing to the air flow device that couples to said first processor means that further comprises: a second processor means for controlling the power delivered to the air flow device; receiving means for receiving power for the air flow device, said receiving means couples to said air handling subsystem means; and modifying means for modifying the received power and providing the modified power to the airflow device, said modifying means couples to said air handling subsystem means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The environmental control system of claim 10 wherein said air handler subsystem means further comprises a controlled voltage output interface for air flow devices that require controlled voltage inputs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The environmental control system of claim 10 wherein said air handler subsystem means further comprises a controlled current output interface for air flow devices that require controlled current inputs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The environmental control system of claim 10 wherein said air handler subsystem means further comprises a pulse width modulation control interface for DC motor air flow devices.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The environmental control system of claim 10 wherein said air handler subsystem means further comprises a phase control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The environmental control system of claim 10 wherein said air handler subsystem means further comprises a cycle control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The environmental control system of claim 15 wherein said air handler subsystem means further comprises a cycle index table.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The environmental control system of claim 10 wherein said air handler subsystem means further comprises a frequency control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The environmental control system of claim 10 that further comprises an external communications interface suitable for remote, multidrop, or network communications.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for controlling an airflow device, comprising: gathering environmental information with an environmental sensor; processing the environmental information using a first processor that couples to said environmental sensor; and interfacing to the airflow device using an air handling subsystem that couples to said first processor, said air handling subsystem further comprises a second processor; receiving power for the air flow device; and modifying the received power and providing the modified power to the airflow device.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for controlling an airflow device, comprising: gathering environmental information with an environmental sensor; processing the environmental information using a first processor that couples to said environmental sensor; and interfacing to the airflow device using an air handling subsystem that couples to said first processor, said air handling subsystem further comprises a second processor; receiving power for the air flow device; and modifying the received power and providing the modified power to the airflow device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a controlled voltage output interface for air flow devices that require controlled voltage inputs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a controlled current output interface for air flow devices that require controlled current inputs.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a pulse width modulation control interface for DC motor air flow devices.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a phase control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a cycle control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said cycle control interface further comprises a cycle index table.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a frequency control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising interfacing through an external communications interface suitable for remote, multidrop, or network communications.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of providing an environmental controller to control an airflow device, comprising: providing an environmental sensor; coupling a first processor to said environmental sensor; coupling an air handling subsystem to said first processor, said air handling subsystem further comprises a second processor; coupling circuitry to said air handling subsystem that receives power for the air flow device; and coupling circuitry to said air handling subsystem that modifies the received power and provides the modified power to the airflow device.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of providing an environmental controller to control an airflow device, comprising: providing an environmental sensor; coupling a first processor to said environmental sensor; coupling an air handling subsystem to said first processor, said air handling subsystem further comprises a second processor; coupling circuitry to said air handling subsystem that receives power for the air flow device; and coupling circuitry to said air handling subsystem that modifies the received power and provides the modified power to the airflow device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a controlled voltage output interface for air flow devices that require controlled voltage inputs.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a controlled current output interface for air flow devices that require controlled current inputs.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a pulse width modulation control interface for DC motor air flow devices.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a phase control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a cycle control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said cycle control interface further comprises a cycle index table.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a frequency control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising providing an external communications interface suitable for remote, multidrop, or network communications.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
96 words
A program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for controlling an airflow device, comprising: gathering environmental information with an environmental sensor; processing the environmental information using a first processor that couples to said environmental sensor; and interfacing to the airflow device using an air handling subsystem that couples to said first processor, said air handling subsystem further comprises a second processor; receiving power for the air flow device; and modifying the received power and providing the modified power to the airflow device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
96 words
A program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for controlling an airflow device, comprising: gathering environmental information with an environmental sensor; processing the environmental information using a first processor that couples to said environmental sensor; and interfacing to the airflow device using an air handling subsystem that couples to said first processor, said air handling subsystem further comprises a second processor; receiving power for the air flow device; and modifying the received power and providing the modified power to the airflow device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program storage device of claim 37 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a controlled voltage output interface for air flow devices that require controlled voltage inputs.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program storage device of claim 37 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a controlled current output interface for air flow devices that require controlled current inputs.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
The program storage device of claim 37 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a pulse width modulation control interface for DC motor air flow devices.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The program storage device of claim 37 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a phase control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
The program storage device of claim 37 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a cycle control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The program storage device of claim 42 wherein said cycle control interface further comprises a cycle index table.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
24 words
The program storage device of claim 37 wherein said air handler subsystem further comprises a frequency control interface for AC motor air flow devices.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The program storage device of claim 37 further comprising interfacing through an external communications interface suitable for remote, multidrop, or network communications.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4497242A
Cited
US5404291A
Cited
US5187417A
Cited
US5090303A
Cited
US5115728A
Cited
US5215497A
Cited
US5257958A
Cited
US5385505A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-13 | 2003-03-15 | 2003-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-13 | 2007-03-15 | 2007-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-13 | 2011-03-15 | 2011-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |