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US 10,459,416 B1Granted
Environmental control system and regulated power controller for same
OwnerJose M. Fernandezinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Power control for environmental control components (e.g. lighting, blinds, temperature) is controlled and distributed by a regulated power controller in accordance with user preferences and/or a schedule. The outputs of the regulated power controller include at least one regulator capable of a mixed mode output, operable in any of several output modes that can include DC regulation and pulse width modulation, as well as polarity inversion. The centralized control of electrical power facilitates the coordination of environmental control components for holistic control.
Claims17
An environmental control system, comprising:
- a regulated power controller having a power input for receiving electrical power input from a power source, a plurality of power regulators that each provide a respective regulated electrical output to a respective one of a plurality of environmental control components, wherein each of the plurality of environmental control components control a respective unique environmental condition, wherein among the plurality of power regulators there are at least two that regulate their respective regulated outputs according to a schedule of a profile indicating a preferred setting that varies based on a time of day;
- and
- a toggle sensor having a toggle output coupled to a toggle input of the regulated power controller and which provides a toggle signal to the regulated power controller in response to a user input received at the toggle sensor;
- wherein, in response to receiving the toggle signal, the regulated power controller is configured to change the regulated output of one of the at least two power regulators that regulate their respective outputs according to the schedule from the preferred setting according to the schedule to a preselected output, and wherein the regulated power controller is further configured to revert the regulated output of the at least one of the at least two power regulators from the preselected output to the preferred setting according to the schedule upon again receiving the toggle signal, and the regulated power controller is further configured to revert the regulated output of the at least one of the at least two power regulators from the preselected output to the preferred setting according to the schedule upon expiration of a time out period if the toggle signal is not again received before expiration of the timeout period.
1 more element
A regulated power controller for an environmental control system, comprising:
- a power input for receiving electrical power input from a power source;
- a control circuit;
- a plurality of power regulators that each provide a respective regulated electrical output from the power input and which are controlled by the control circuit, and wherein at least one of the plurality of power regulators is a mixed mode regulator that is configurable to regulate its regulated electrical output in at least two modes based on a control input from the control circuit provided to the mixed mode regulator;
- and
- a toggle input configured to receive a toggle signal from a toggle sensor that senses a user input, wherein the control circuit is configured to temporarily toggle the regulated electrical output of one of the plurality of power regulators from a preferred setting to a preselected output in response to the toggle signal, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to revert the regulated electrical output of one of the one of the plurality of power regulators from the preselected output to the preferred setting upon another toggle signal, and the control circuit is further configured to revert the regulated electrical output of one of the one of the plurality of power regulators from the preselected output to the preferred setting upon expiration of a time out period if the toggle signal is not again changed before expiration of the timeout period;
- wherein the preferred setting is based on a schedule of a profile indicating the preferred setting for a time of day, and wherein the preferred setting varies with the time of day.
3 more elements
A regulated power controller for an environmental control system, comprising:
- a power input for receiving electrical power input from a power source;
- a control circuit;
- a plurality of power regulators that each provide a respective regulated electrical output to a respective one of a plurality of environmental control components from the power input and which are controlled by the control circuit;
- wherein the control circuit is configured to control an output of at least one of the plurality of power regulators to provide a preferred setting according to a scheduled profile that varies over time;
- a toggle input coupled to the control circuit configured to receive a toggle signal from a user-operated toggle sensor, wherein the control circuit is configured to toggle the regulated electrical output of the at least one of the plurality of power regulators from a preferred setting according to the scheduled profile, and a preselected output in response to receiving the toggle signal, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to revert the regulated electrical output of the one of the plurality of power regulators from the preselected output to the preferred setting upon another toggle signal, and the control circuit is further configured to revert the regulated electrical output of the one of the plurality of power regulators from the preselected output to the preferred setting upon expiration of a time out period if the toggle signal is not again changed before expiration of the timeout period.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.