US 10,852,026 B2Granted

Controller, method and computer program product for controlling an environmental condition in a building

AssigneeDistech Controls Inc.

InventorDominic Gagnon

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Abstract

The present environmental condition controller and method provide for controlling an environmental condition in an area of a building. For doing so, a communication interface receives an environmental condition target value (xref), and an environmental condition measured value (x). A processing unit calculates an environmental condition adjustment value (yn) with a recursive function based on the environmental condition measured value (x), the environmental condition target value (xref) and an adaptive proportionality value (k). The processing unit also generates and transmits a command based on the environmental condition adjustment value (yn). The processing unit further stores in a memory the environmental condition adjustment value (yn) as a previously calculated environmental condition adjustment value (yn−1). Specific steps of the method are executed recursively. The present method may further be performed by a computer program product.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An environmental condition controller for controlling an environmental condition in an area of a building, the environmental condition controller comprising:

a communication interface for:
receiving an environmental condition target value (xref);
and
receiving an environmental condition measured value (x);
a processing unit for:
calculating an environmental condition adjustment value (yn) using a recursive function comprising at least:
the environmental condition target value (xref), an adaptive proportionality value (k), the environmental condition measured value (x) and a previously calculated environmental condition adjustment value (ym) where m is lower than n;
generating a command for controlling operations of a controlled equipment, the controlled equipment controlling the environmental condition in the area of the building, the command being based on the environmental condition adjustment value (yn);
and
transmitting the command to the controlled equipment via the communication interface;
and
a memory for:
storing the calculated environmental condition adjustment value (yn) as a previously calculated environmental condition adjustment value;
wherein the recursive function is defined by:
yn=yn−1+k(yn−1+x−2xref),
or
yn=k(yn−1+x−B·xref)
where B is a real constant, or
yn=k(f(n)+x−A·xref)
where A is a real constant and f(n) is a function comprising the previously calculated environmental condition adjustment value (ym);
and
wherein the command is one of the following:
a command for heating the area of the building by the controlled equipment, a command for ventilating the area of the building by the controlled equipment, a command for cooling the area of the building by the controlled equipment, a command for humidifying the area of the building by the controlled equipment, a command for dehumidifying the area of the building by the controlled equipment or a command for changing lighting of the area of the building by the controlled equipment.

20 more elements

A method for controlling an environmental condition in an area of a building, the method comprising:

receiving an environmental condition target value (xref) via a communication interface of an environmental condition controller;
receiving an environmental condition measured value (x) via the communication interface;
calculating by a processing unit an environmental condition adjustment value (yn) with a recursive function based on:
the environmental condition measured value (x), the environmental condition target value (xref), an adaptive proportionality value (k) and a previously calculated environmental condition adjustment value (ym) where m is lower than n;
generating by the processing unit a command for controlling operations of a controlled equipment, the controlled equipment controlling the environmental condition in the area of the building, the command being based on the environmental condition adjustment value (yn);
transmitting by the processing unit the command to the controlled equipment via the communication interface;
and
storing in a memory of the environmental condition controller the environmental condition adjustment value (yn) as a previously calculated environmental condition adjustment value;
wherein the recursive function is defined by:
yn=yn−1+k(yn−1+x−2xref),
or
yn=k(yn−1+x−B·xref)
where B is a real constant, or
yn=k(f(n)+x−A ·xref)
where A is a real constant and f(n) is a function comprising the previously calculated environmental condition adjustment value (ym);
and
wherein the command is one of the following:
a command for heating the area of the building by the controlled equipment, a command for ventilating the area of the building by the controlled equipment, a command for cooling the area of the building by the controlled equipment, a command for humidifying the area of the building by the controlled equipment, a command for dehumidifying the area of the building by the controlled equipment or a command for changing lighting of the area of the building by the controlled equipment.

15 more elements

A computer program product comprising instructions deliverable via an electronically-readable media, such as storage media and communication links, which when executed by a processing unit of an environmental condition controller provide for controlling an environmental condition in an area of a building by:

receiving an environmental condition target value (xref) via a communication interface of an environmental condition controller;
receiving an environmental condition measured value (x) via the communication interface;
calculating by the processing unit an environmental condition adjustment value (yn) with a recursive function based on:
the environmental condition measured value (x), the environmental condition target value (xref), an adaptive proportionality value (k) and a previously calculated environmental condition adjustment value (ym) where m is lower than n;
generating by the processing unit a command for controlling operations of a controlled equipment, the controlled equipment controlling the environmental condition in the area of the building, the command being based on the environmental condition adjustment value (yn);
transmitting by the processing unit the command to the controlled equipment via the communication interface;
and
storing in a memory of the environmental condition controller the environmental condition adjustment value (yn) as a previously calculated environmental condition adjustment value;
wherein the recursive function is defined by:
yn=yn−1+k(yn−1+x−2xref),
or
yn=k(yn−1+x−B·xref)
where B is a real constant, or
yn=k(f(n)+x−A·xref)
where A is a real constant and f(n) is a function comprising the previously calculated environmental condition adjustment value (ym);
and
wherein the command is one of the following:
a command for heating the area of the building by the controlled equipment, a command for ventilating the area of the building by the controlled equipment, a command for cooling the area of the building by the controlled equipment, a command for humidifying the area of the building by the controlled equipment, a command for dehumidifying the area of the building by the controlled equipment or a command for changing lighting of the area of the building by the controlled equipment.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.