US7343226B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method of controlling an HVAC system
Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA Inc
•
Filing: 2006-10-26
•
Granted: 2008-03-11
•
Expires: 2026-10-26
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
2026-10-30 04:51
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: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for managing environmental comfort at a site of a customer, the site having a temperature and environment management system, the temperature and environment management system being supplied with energy from an energy provider through a distribution network, comprising: a temperature sensor for sensing air temperature at the site; and, a thermostatic device being coupled to the temperature sensor and operable to establish a thermal gain characteristic of the site for a plurality of temperature setpoints and a plurality of outdoor air temperatures and a related percentage of run time of the temperature and energy management system as a function of the thermal gain characteristic and for receiving input from a user, the input including a desired temperature setpoint, the thermostatic device controlling the temperature and environment management system to operate at a fixed demand and consumption rate by varying the temperature setpoint based upon the thermal gain characteristic of the site.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for managing environmental comfort at a site of a customer, the site having a temperature and environment management system, the temperature and environment management system being supplied with energy from an energy provider through a distribution network, comprising: a temperature sensor for sensing air temperature at the site; and, a thermostatic device being coupled to the temperature sensor and operable to establish a thermal gain characteristic of the site for a plurality of temperature setpoints and a plurality of outdoor air temperatures and a related percentage of run time of the temperature and energy management system as a function of the thermal gain characteristic and for receiving input from a user, the input including a desired temperature setpoint, the thermostatic device controlling the temperature and environment management system to operate at a fixed demand and consumption rate by varying the temperature setpoint based upon the thermal gain characteristic of the site.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the thermostatic device is selectively operable to either vary the demand and consumption rate when the thermostat control is based on the temperature setpoint or maintain the demand and consumption rate flat when the control is based on a fixed demand and consumption rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the demand and consumption rate is a reduced rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the thermostatic device uses a fixed demand and consumption rate control determined as a function of the temperature setpoint, the thermal gain characteristic and the operational characteristic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the thermal gain characteristic and the operational characteristic include thermal recovery of the site.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the fixed demand and consumption rate can be modified to reduce demand for energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the fixed demand and consumption rate can be modified to reduce demand for energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the thermostatic device includes a display operable to convey information regarding the operation of the temperature and environment management system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein a current cost of energy and energy use information related to the site and individual devices within the site can be displayed using the thermostatic device display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein during a cooling operation, the thermostatic device reduces the operational characteristic and raises the setpoint to reduce total demand and raises the operational characteristic and lowers the setpoint to increase the total demand.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein during a heating operation, the thermostatic device increases the operational characteristic and lowers the setpoint to reduce total demand and lower the operational characteristic and raises the setpoint to increase total demand.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for managing environmental comfort at a site of a customer, the site having a temperature and environment management system, the temperature and environment management system being supplied with energy from an energy provider through a distribution network, comprising: sensing air temperature at the site; establishing a thermal gain characteristic of the site for a plurality of temperature setpoints and a plurality of outdoor air temperatures and a base line of consumption; receiving input from a user, the input including a temperature setpoint; and, controlling the temperature and environment management system to operate at a desired demand and consumption rate by adjusting the temperature setpoint based upon the thermal gain characteristic of the site for the adjusted temperature setpoint to maintain the operation of the system at or below the base line of consumption.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for managing environmental comfort at a site of a customer, the site having a temperature and environment management system, the temperature and environment management system being supplied with energy from an energy provider through a distribution network, comprising: sensing air temperature at the site; establishing a thermal gain characteristic of the site for a plurality of temperature setpoints and a plurality of outdoor air temperatures and a base line of consumption; receiving input from a user, the input including a temperature setpoint; and, controlling the temperature and environment management system to operate at a desired demand and consumption rate by adjusting the temperature setpoint based upon the thermal gain characteristic of the site for the adjusted temperature setpoint to maintain the operation of the system at or below the base line of consumption.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method, as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the demand and consumption rate is flat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method, as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the demand and consumption rate is a reduced rate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method, as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the temperature and environment management system is controlled at a fixed demand and consumption rate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method, as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the fixed demand and consumption rate can be modified to reduce demand for energy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method, as set forth in claim 12 , further comprising the step of displaying the current cost of energy and energy use information related to the site and individual devices within the site using a thermostatic display device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method, as set forth in claim 12 , wherein during a cooling operation, the thermal gain characteristic of the site is reduced and the temperature setpoint is raised to reduce the total demand and the thermal gain characteristic is raised and the temperature setpoint lowered to increase the total demand.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method, as set forth in claim 12 , wherein during a heating operation, the thermal gain characteristic is increased and the temperature setpoint is decreased to reduce total demand and the thermal gain characteristic is lowered and the temperature setpoint raised to increase total demand.
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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) | 2011-03-11 | 2011-09-10 | 2012-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-03-11 | 2015-09-10 | 2016-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-03-11 | 2019-09-10 | 2020-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |