US6574581B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Profile based method for deriving a temperature setpoint using a ‘delta’ based on cross-indexing a received price-point level signal
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1994-10-25
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Granted: 2003-06-03
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Expires: 2014-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A method for adjusting a plurality of controlled subsystems in a building or plant that facilitates cooperative energy usage with a utility provider. By referring to a single profile of adjustments that correspond to changes in the value of a utility signal and distributing this to each relevant controller for each subsystem, a single setback delta can be applied to each subsystem for each change in utility signal value (i.e., pricing information). Alternatively, multiple profiles can be used to provide for firmer control and thereby allow for different zones to respond differently to a single change signal sent by the utility provider.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip J. Bohrer
- 👤 Gregory J. Merten
- 👤 Robert J. Schnell
- 👤 Michael B. Atlass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:56
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/30; F24F11/46; F24F11/62; G; G01; G01K; G01K17/00; G01K17/06; G05; G05B; G05B15/00; G05B15/02; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1919; G05D23/1923; G06; G06Q; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/06; F24F11/47; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/26; G05B2219/2639
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for controlling the energy usage in a building having controllers responsible for maintaining one or more subsystems in the building at a setpoint comprising: responding to a rate change signal received by a utility by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of offsets, an appropriate offset stored for each possible rate change, by a) looking up the appropriate offset for each variable load, b) submitting the appropriate offset to the controller for each subsystem c) modifying the setpoint associated with each subsystem by the appropriate offset.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for controlling the energy usage in a building having controllers responsible for maintaining one or more subsystems in the building at a setpoint comprising: responding to a rate change signal received by a utility by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of offsets, an appropriate offset stored for each possible rate change, by a) looking up the appropriate offset for each variable load, b) submitting the appropriate offset to the controller for each subsystem c) modifying the setpoint associated with each subsystem by the appropriate offset.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for controlling the energy usage in a building having controllers responsible for maintaining one or more subsystems in the building at a desired setpoint comprising: responding to a rate change signal by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of offsets, an appropriate offset stored for each possible rate change, by looking up the value of the appropriate offset for each rate change signal received and submitting that offset to each controller for each subsystem, the setpoint associated with each subsystem being thereafter modified by the appropriate offset.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for controlling the energy usage in a building having controllers responsible for maintaining one or more subsystems in the building at a desired setpoint comprising: responding to a rate change signal by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of offsets, an appropriate offset stored for each possible rate change, by looking up the value of the appropriate offset for each rate change signal received and submitting that offset to each controller for each subsystem, the setpoint associated with each subsystem being thereafter modified by the appropriate offset.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein step a) is performed iteratively for each subsystem having a stored profile.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein steps a) and b) are performed iteratively for each subsystem having a stored profile.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein each subsystem receives said appropriate offset individually.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein each subsystem is sent said appropriate offset at substantially one time.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for cooperatively responding to rate changes initiated by a utility including a prearranged pricing schedule and real-time pricing, including a) adjusting a user-defined setpoint by an offset in accord with a user-defined schedule when i) a prearranged pricing change occurs, and ii) upon receipt of a real-time pricing notification signal, b) sending a signal indicative of the offset after every prearranged pricing change occurrence and upon receipt of a real-time pricing notification signal to each subsystem controller responsive to changes in the user-defined setpoint.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for cooperatively responding to rate changes initiated by a utility including a prearranged pricing schedule and real-time pricing, including a) adjusting a user-defined setpoint by an offset in accord with a user-defined schedule when i) a prearranged pricing change occurs, and ii) upon receipt of a real-time pricing notification signal, b) sending a signal indicative of the offset after every prearranged pricing change occurrence and upon receipt of a real-time pricing notification signal to each subsystem controller responsive to changes in the user-defined setpoint.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method set forth in claim 7 wherein step a) is accomplished by: responding to rate changes received from a utility by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of offsets stored for each possible rate change, by a) looking up the appropriate offset for each variable load, b) submitting the appropriate offset to the controller for each subsystem c) modifying the setpoint associated with each subsystem by the appropriate offset.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method set forth in claim 7 wherein step a) is accomplished by: responding to a rate changes by controlling variable loads with reference to a profile of offsets stored for each possible rate change, by looking up the appropriate offset for each rate change received and submitting that offset to each controller for each subsystem, the setpoint associated with each subsystem being thereafter modified by the appropriate offset.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one variable load relates to an individual zone in the building.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method set forth in claim 8 wherein at least one subsystem is controlled by a zone controller.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for controlling one or more energy consuming subsystems with a controller by maintaining each subsystem at a setpoint, comprising: storing in the controller a price profile for all subsystems, the price profile correlating a cost of energy with an offset from the setpoint; receiving from a utility which supplies energy one or more signals reflecting a current cost of the energy supplied; retrieving from the price profile stored in the controller the offset correlated to the cost of energy at the current time for each subsystem; adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem by the offset whereby the energy used by the subsystem is altered according to the offset.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for controlling one or more energy consuming subsystems with a controller by maintaining each subsystem at a setpoint, comprising: storing in the controller a price profile for all subsystems, the price profile correlating a cost of energy with an offset from the setpoint; receiving from a utility which supplies energy one or more signals reflecting a current cost of the energy supplied; retrieving from the price profile stored in the controller the offset correlated to the cost of energy at the current time for each subsystem; adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem by the offset whereby the energy used by the subsystem is altered according to the offset.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a specific energy rate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a signal reflecting energy demand at the utility.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a signal indicating a change in the cost of energy from the current cost.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a signal indicating a change in the cost of energy from a base cost.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy reflects a predetermined pricing schedule.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the step of adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem comprises sending a new setpoint signal to each subsystem.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the step of adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem comprises sending the offset directly to the subsystem.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the each subsystem receives the offset sequentially.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the subsystems receive the offset in parallel.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for controlling one or more energy consuming subsystems with a controller by maintaining each subsystem at a setpoint, comprising: storing in the controller a plurality of price profiles shared among the subsystems, the price profile for each subsystem correlating a particular cost of energy with an offset from the setpoint; receiving from a utility which supplies energy one or more signals reflecting a current cost of the energy supplied; retrieving from the price profile stored in the controller the offset associated with the current cost of energy for each subsystem; adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem by the offset whereby the energy used by the subsystem is altered based on the offset.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for controlling one or more energy consuming subsystems with a controller by maintaining each subsystem at a setpoint, comprising: storing in the controller a plurality of price profiles shared among the subsystems, the price profile for each subsystem correlating a particular cost of energy with an offset from the setpoint; receiving from a utility which supplies energy one or more signals reflecting a current cost of the energy supplied; retrieving from the price profile stored in the controller the offset associated with the current cost of energy for each subsystem; adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem by the offset whereby the energy used by the subsystem is altered based on the offset.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a specific energy rate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a signal reflecting energy demand at the utility.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a signal indicating a change in the cost of energy from the current cost.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy comprises a signal indicating a change in the cost of energy from a base cost.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the signal reflecting the current cost of energy reflects a predetermined pricing schedule.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem comprises sending a new setpoint signal to each subsystem.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of adjusting the setpoint for each subsystem comprises sending the offset directly to the subsystem.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the each subsystem receives the offset sequentially.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the subsystems receive the offset in parallel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-02 | 2006-12-02 | 2007-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | 2011-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-02 | 2014-12-02 | 2015-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |