Patent US7130719B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7130719B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method of controlling an HVAC system
Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA Inc
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Filing: 2003-07-28
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Granted: 2006-10-31
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Expires: 2023-07-28
Abstract
Abstract A system and method manage delivery of energy from a distribution network to one or more sites. Each site has at least one device coupled to the distribution network. The at least one device controllably consumes energy. The system includes a node and a control system. The node is coupled to the at least one device for sensing and controlling energy delivered to the device. A control system is coupled to the node and distribution network for delivery to the node at least one characteristic of the distribution network. The node controls the supply of energy to the device as a function of the at least one characteristic.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory A. Ehlers
- 👤 Joseph Beaudet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/30; F24F11/46; F24F11/47; F24F11/50; F24F11/52; F24F11/523; F24F11/56; F24F11/58; F24F11/62; F24F11/63; F24F11/64; F24F11/70; F24F11/80; F24F11/86; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/06; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/06; H; H02; H02J; H02J3/00; H02J3/12; H02J3/14; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/12; H04L67/125; F24F2110/00; F24F2110/10; F24F2120/00; G05; G05B; G05B23/00; G05B23/02; G05B23/0205; G05B23/0218; G05B23/0224; G05B23/0227; G05B23/0235; H02J2105/00; H02J2105/40; H02J2105/42; H02J2105/50; H02J2105/54; H02J2105/55; H02J2105/59; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/30; Y02B70/3225; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/20; Y04S20/222; Y04S20/242; Y04S40/00; Y04S40/18; Y04S50/00; Y04S50/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A system for managing environmental comfort at a site, the site having a temperature and environment management system, the temperature and environment management system being supplied with energy from an energy provider, comprising: a humidity sensor for sensing humidity at the site; a temperature sensor for sensing air temperature at the site; a thermostatic device in communication with the energy provider to receive a current cost of energy, the thermostatic device being coupled to the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor and configured for receiving an input from a user, the input including a temperature setpoint and of one of a plurality of comfort level scenarios, wherein each of the comfort level scenarios relate to a willingness to pay for energy at the expense of comfort, wherein the thermostatic device is operable to determine an effective setpoint as a function of the temperature setpoint and the sensed humidity and determine a deadband defined by the effective setpoint and an offset from the effective setpoint, wherein the offset is based on the selected comfort level scenario and the current level of energy cost.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
A system for managing environmental comfort at a site, the site having a temperature and environment management system, the temperature and environment management system being supplied with energy from an energy provider, comprising: a humidity sensor for sensing humidity at the site; a temperature sensor for sensing air temperature at the site; a thermostatic device in communication with the energy provider to receive a current cost of energy, the thermostatic device being coupled to the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor and configured for receiving an input from a user, the input including a temperature setpoint and of one of a plurality of comfort level scenarios, wherein each of the comfort level scenarios relate to a willingness to pay for energy at the expense of comfort, wherein the thermostatic device is operable to determine an effective setpoint as a function of the temperature setpoint and the sensed humidity and determine a deadband defined by the effective setpoint and an offset from the effective setpoint, wherein the offset is based on the selected comfort level scenario and the current level of energy cost.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the thermostatic device includes a processor, a communications channel coupled to the temperature and environment management system, a display coupled to the processor, and a control panel coupled to the processor for receiving the input from the user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system, as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the thermostatic device receives the current cost of the energy and displays the current cost on the display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system, as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the display and control panel are implemented in a graphic user interface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the effective setpoint is equal to the temperature setpoint plus a predetermined number of degrees per a predetermined percentage decrease in relative humidity for cooling applications and the effective setpoint is equal to the temperature setpoint minus a predetermined number of degrees per a predetermined percentage increase in relative humidity for heating applications.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system, as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the thermostatic device tracks user adjustments to the temperature setpoint and responsively modifies at least one of the predetermined number of degrees and the predetermined percentage increase or decrease in relative humidity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the temperature and environment management system includes at least one of a humidifier and a de-humidifier, wherein the thermostatic device controls the at least one of a humidifier and a de-humidifier as function of the effective setpoint, the offset, and the sensed temperature and humidity.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for managing air quality at a site, the site having a temperature and environment management system, the temperature and environment management system being supplied with energy, comprising: sensing humidity at the site sensing air temperature at the site; receiving a characteristic of energy from the energy provider; receiving input from a user, the input including a temperature setpoint and a selection of one of a plurality of comfort level scenarios, wherein each of the comfort level scenarios relate a willingness to pay for energy at the expense of comfort; determining an effective setpoint as a function of the temperature setpoint and the sensed humidity; and, determining an offset from the effective setpoint based on the selected comfort level scenario and the current characteristic of energy, wherein the offset varies from the effective setpoint as a function of the selected comfort level scenario and the current characteristic of energy; controlling the temperature and environment management system to maintain air temperature at the site within a deadband defined by the effective setpoint and the offset.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for managing air quality at a site, the site having a temperature and environment management system, the temperature and environment management system being supplied with energy, comprising: sensing humidity at the site sensing air temperature at the site; receiving a characteristic of energy from the energy provider; receiving input from a user, the input including a temperature setpoint and a selection of one of a plurality of comfort level scenarios, wherein each of the comfort level scenarios relate a willingness to pay for energy at the expense of comfort; determining an effective setpoint as a function of the temperature setpoint and the sensed humidity; and, determining an offset from the effective setpoint based on the selected comfort level scenario and the current characteristic of energy, wherein the offset varies from the effective setpoint as a function of the selected comfort level scenario and the current characteristic of energy; controlling the temperature and environment management system to maintain air temperature at the site within a deadband defined by the effective setpoint and the offset.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method, as set forth in claim 8 , including the step of displaying the characteristic of energy on a display.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the effective setpoint is equal to the temperature setpoint plus a predetermined number of degrees per a predetermined percentage decrease in relative humidity for cooling applications and the effective setpoint is equal to the temperature setpoint minus a predetermined number of degrees per a predetermined percentage increase in relative humidity for heating applications.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method, as set forth in claim 10 , further including the step of tracking user adjustments to the temperature setpoint and responsively modifying at least one of the predetermined number of degrees and the predetermined percentage increase or decrease in relative humidity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method, as set forth in claim 8 , including the step of controlling at least one of a humidifier and a de-humidifier as function of the effective setpoint, the offset, and the sensed temperature and humidity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method, as set forth in claim 8 , including the step of allowing the user to define a plurality of occupancy modes, each occupancy mode having a user defined temperature setpoint.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method, as set forth in claim 13 , wherein each occupancy mode includes a default comfort level scenario.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method, as set forth in claim 13 , wherein at least one occupancy mode has an associated recovery time, the recovery time being a desired time period in which the temperature and environment management system transitions between a previous occupancy mode and the at least one occupancy mode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method, as set forth in claim 15 , including the step of allowing the user to set at least one start time for the at least one occupancy mode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method, as set forth in claim 16 , including the step of transitioning from the previous occupancy mode to the at least one occupancy mode at a time equal to the at least one start time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of levels of energy cost include low, medium, high and critical, wherein the offset from the effective setpoint is determined for each of the cost levels of energy within each scenario.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the thermostatic device allows the user to define a plurality of occupancy modes, each occupancy mode having a separate user defined temperature setpoint and selected comfort level scenario.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system, as set forth in claim 19 , wherein each occupancy mode includes a default scenario.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system, as set forth in claim 19 , wherein at least one occupancy mode has an associated recovery time, the recovery time being a desired time period of the transition between a previous occupancy mode and the at least one occupancy mode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system, as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the thermostatic device allows the user to set at least one start time for at least one occupancy mode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system, as set forth in claim 22 , wherein the system is adapted to transition from the previous occupancy mode to the at least one occupancy mode at a time equal to the at least one start time minus the recovery time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of comfort level scenarios includes at least maximum savings, balanced savings and comfort, and maximum comfort.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system, as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the current characteristic of energy is displayed graphically using a symbol.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the current characteristic of energy is displayed using at least one of a size and a number of symbols displayed to provide an indication of the relative cost of energy.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the characteristic of energy includes a plurality of levels including at least low, medium, high and critical, wherein the offset is determined for each of the characteristic levels of energy with each scenario.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method, as set forth in claim 13 , including the step of allowing the user to select one of the comfort level scenarios for each of the plurality of occupancy modes, wherein the offset is determined for each occupancy mode based on the selected comfort level scenario and the characteristic of energy when the temperature and environment management system is operating within the occupancy mode.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the plurality of comfort level scenarios include maximum savings, balanced savings and comfort, and maximum comfort.
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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) | 2009-10-30 | 2010-05-01 | 2010-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-10-30 | 2014-05-01 | 2014-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-10-30 | 2018-05-01 | 2018-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |