# US 11,306,940 B2 · Building occupant comfort network

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,306,940 B2
- Document ID: US11306940B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/175,356
- Filed: 2021-02-12
- Published: 2021-08-19
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2020-02-13
- Applicants: Thomas Hartman
- Inventors: Thomas Hartman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306940B2

## CPC

- F24F 11/56: Remote control
- F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
- F24F 11/47: Responding to energy costs
- F24F 11/54: using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
- F24F 11/65: for selecting an operating mode
- F24F 11/74: for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
- H04L 67/125: involving control of end-device applications over a network
- H05B 47/10: Controlling the light source
- F24F 2120/20: Feedback from users
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

In a commercial building, individual occupant thermal comfort is achieved with optimal cost and energy efficiency through the integration of a variety of local thermal comfort components into a communication network that employs emerging optimization principles to meet individual preferences for the thermal environment on a workstation basis while reducing building energy use and operating in accordance with any constraints on the energy grids that serve the buildings. These multiple objectives are met in part through a robust communication network that employs distributing processing to achieve preferred thermal conditions with optimal control of all components at subzone, zone, system, central plant, and energy grid levels.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An HVAC networking system comprising:
a VAV box serving a thermal comfort zone in a building, the zone comprising multiple subzones;
the VAV box incorporating a zone controller arranged to connect to a building automation system (BAS) to control flow of conditioned air into a zone of a building;
a zone controller and interface device (“ZID”) that interfaces the HVAC networking system to the BAS at the zone controller;
plural subzone controllers, each separate from the zone controller and associated with a corresponding subzone in the zone, thereby defining a one-to-one relationship between each subzone controller and the corresponding subzone, and each of the subzone controllers communicatively coupled to the ZID;
in each subzone, sensors to acquire sensor data for the conditions within the subzone;
each subzone having components that provide thermal comfort control separately for at least two human comfort factors for the subzone occupant(s), and each component arranged for communication with and direct control by the corresponding subzone controller;
wherein the subzone controller is arranged to collect operating data from each of the subzone components and collect the subzone sensor data;
wherein the subzone controller is further arranged to generate aggregated subzone operating data based at least in part on the collected data, and communicate the aggregated subzone operating data to the ZID;
wherein ZID is arranged to collect the aggregated subzone operating data from the zone's subzone controllers;
wherein the networking system at each zone ZID collects, aggregates and communicates data to each subzone controller within the zone; and
wherein the subzone controller includes logic to utilize the aggregated zone and subzone operating data and occupant-selected subzone thermal comfort level to determine and command adjustments in operation, separately for each of the local subzone components, to adjust or modify the thermal comfort condition within the subzone as may be required to maintain the occupant-selected thermal comfort level in the subzone without directly changing the comfort conditions beyond the subzone.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the local comfort control component operating data collected by the subzone controller is communicated directly to a remote server.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the local subzone comfort control components include a smart terminal unit that incorporates thermal control and at least one sensor, and the subzone controller is integrated into the smart terminal unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein all communications with the subzone controller are bidirectional.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein at least one subzone has one or more local non-thermal components includes lighting and a lighting controller arranged to control the lighting, and the lighting controller sends setting state data and receives setting instructions in communications with the corresponding subzone controller.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the local comfort control components includes an auxiliary heating unit and an auxiliary heating controller to control the auxiliary heating unit, and the auxiliary heating controller sends setting state data and receives setting instructions in communications with the corresponding subzone controller.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the local components include an occupancy sensor arranged to communicate occupancy state data to the corresponding subzone controller.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein local components include a temperature sensor arranged to communicate space temperature conditions state data to the corresponding subzone controller.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein local components include a general-purpose controller arranged to send setting state data and receive setting instructions in communications with the corresponding subzone controller.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein local component operating data includes setting and or state data of the corresponding local component.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the local comfort control components operating data is updated periodically according to a predetermined update interval.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 including a workstation appliance controller provisioned in at least one of the subzones and arranged for communications with the corresponding subzone controller.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the subzone controller is configured for wireless communication with a user mobile device to enable a user to request a change in comfort settings.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the subzone controller is arranged to adjust the local air discharge temperature by controlling a mix ratio of primary air and subzone space air.

### Claim 15

An HVAC networking system comprising:
a zone controller and interface device (“ZID”) arranged to connect to a building automation system (BAS) VAV controller box to control flow of conditioned air into a zone of a building;
plural subzone controllers, each associated with a corresponding subzone in the zone, and communicatively coupled to the zone controller;
each subzone having local components that provide thermal comfort control, lighting, power, or other amenities for the subzone occupant(s), and each local component arranged for communication with the corresponding subzone controller;
the local components in each subzone arranged to communicate operating data to the corresponding subzone controller;
wherein the subzone controller is arranged to collect the operating data from each of the local components, generate aggregated subzone operating data based at least in part on the collected data, and communicate the aggregated subzone operating data to the ZID;
wherein the ZID is arranged to collect the subzone operating data from the subzone controllers, generate aggregated zone operating data based at least in part on the collected subzone operating data;
wherein the remote server is programmed to—
interrogate the HVAC system to determine current system operating parameters;
process the current system operating parameters to determine a marginal cost for providing conditioning airflow to the zone and a marginal cost for providing the cooling or heating of the conditioning air; and
apply the Equal Marginal Performance Principle based on the determined marginal costs and the current zone operating data to determine optimal operating energy requirements for the entire zone;
calculate current settings for each of the subzone local components to achieve the optimal operating energy requirements for the entire zone;
communicate the calculated current settings to the subzone controllers; and
in each subzone controller, communicate updated control settings to each of the local components based on the calculated current settings.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15 wherein:
the subzone local components include at least one individual thermal adjustment component and a component controller for each individual thermal adjustment component;
each component controller is configured to store characteristic data of the corresponding individual thermal adjustment component, including a marginal cost for marginal thermal sensation change;
the subzone controller is configured to acquire from the component controllers the stored characteristic data for the individual thermal adjustment components in the corresponding subzone;
the ZID is further configured to collect the characteristic data for the individual thermal adjustment devices from the subzone controllers in the zone, and to combine the collected characteristic data to form characteristic data for the zone; and
utilize the combined characteristic data for the zone together with the HVAC system marginal costs to determine optimal operating energy requirements for the zone.

### Claim 17

An HVAC networking system comprising:
a zone controller and interface device (“ZID”) arranged to connect to a building automation system (BAS) VAV controller box to control flow of conditioned air into a zone of a building;
plural subzone controllers, each associated with a corresponding subzone in the zone, and communicatively coupled to the zone controller;
each subzone having local components that provide thermal comfort control of at least two comfort factors, including at least one non-space temperature comfort factor for the subzone occupant(s), and each local component arranged for communication with the corresponding subzone controller;
the local components in each subzone arranged to communicate operating data to the corresponding subzone controller;
wherein the subzone controller is arranged to collect the operating data from each of the local components, generate aggregated subzone operating data based at least in part on the collected data, and communicate the aggregated subzone operating data to the ZID;
wherein the ZID is arranged to collect the subzone operating data from the subzone controllers, generate aggregated zone operating data based at least in part on the collected subzone operating data, and communicate the aggregated zone operating data to a remote server that captures, stores, and processes the aggregated zone operating data;
wherein the remote server is programmed to—
interrogate the HVAC system to determine current system operating parameters;
process the current system operating parameters to determine a marginal cost for providing conditioning airflow to the zone and a marginal cost for providing the cooling or heating of the conditioning air;
determine optimal operating energy requirements for the entire zone;
calculate current settings for each of the subzone local components to achieve the optimal operating energy requirements for the entire zone to meet the occupants requested thermal comfort level without adversely affecting the comfort levels in other subzones;
communicate the calculated current settings to the subzone controllers; and
in each subzone controller, communicate updated control settings to each of the local components based on the calculated current settings.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17 wherein the subzone controller is arranged to interface with one or more auxiliary local components located in or associated with the local workspace so that the subzone controller can control the auxiliary local components and receive operating data from the auxiliary local components.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17 in which the calculated current settings are sent to the subzone controllers periodically and each subzone controller communicates more frequent adjustments of the local components based on the mix of current settings last received and also in accordance with changing local conditions and constraints.