# US 11,906,181 B2 · System and method for wireless environmental zone control with positioning feedback

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- Number: US 11,906,181 B2
- Document ID: US11906181B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/810,753
- Filed: 2022-07-05
- Published: 2022-10-27
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2022-07-05
- Assignees: Arzel Zoning Technology, Inc.
- Applicants: Arzel Zoning Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Al Zelczer; Leonard Roth; Richard Wilson; Kenneth Barton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906181B2

## CPC

- F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
- F24F 11/56: Remote control
- F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
- F24F 11/54: using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
- F24F 11/58: using Internet communication
- F24F 11/64: using pre-stored data
- F24F 11/72: for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure
- F24F 11/74: for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
- F24F 11/76: by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
- F24F 11/80: for controlling the temperature of the supplied air
- F24F 12/00: Use of energy recovery systems in air conditioning, ventilation or screening (with both heat and humidity transfer between supplied and exhausted air F24F3/147)
- F24F 13/1426: {characterised by actuating means}
- G05B 15/02: electric
- F24F 2110/10: Temperature
- F24F 2140/40: Damper positions, e.g. open or closed
- 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)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

A system and method to control environmental parameters of predefined zones within a structure. An embodiment of the system uses damper assemblies that are entirely wireless as a result of energy capturing devices which convert air flow within the HVAC system ductwork into electrical current and a wireless control module that remove the need for hard-wiring for power or control. Still further, an embodiment of the system uses wireless components to monitor the environmental parameters of a structure's zones, process and communicate necessary zone adjustments, and actuate system components.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A damper for an HVAC system, comprising:
a base for providing support to the damper and for securing and sealing the damper on an air duct;
a damper blade assembly configured to regulate a flow of air passing through the air duct;
a drive motor comprising a drive gear;
a crank gear and a crankshaft, wherein the crank gear and the crankshaft are connected to each other such that the crank gear and the crank shaft rotate together, the crank gear being operatively coupled to the drive gear of the drive motor;
a rod coupled to the damper blade at a first rod end and coupled to the crank gear at a second rod end, the rod and crank gear configured to rotate the damper blade upon rotation of the crank gear via the drive motor;
a feedback system that includes a crank gear magnet disposed on the crank shaft proximate to the crank gear, the feedback system configured to determine a current position of the damper blade, wherein the crank shaft comprises a recess formed in the crank shaft and the crank gear magnet is disposed in the recess; and
a microcontroller operably coupled to the damper actuator, the microcontroller configured to instruct the damper actuator to open or close the damper blade assembly based on a wireless control signal received by the microcontroller from a remote controller.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The damper according to claim 1, further comprising an actuating pin coupling the second rod end to the crank gear.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The damper of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein the feedback system comprises a Hall Effect Sensor extending from the printed circuit board.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The damper of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment knob operatively coupled to the crank shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The damper of claim 4, wherein the crank gear and the crank shaft are contained within a housing and the adjustment knob is accessible outside of the housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The damper of claim 1, wherein the damper blade is positionable between a fully open state, a fully closed state, and at least one partially opened position that is between the fully open state and the fully closed state, in order to allow apportion of air flow, less than the maximum amount of air flow, to pass through the damper.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The damper of claim 1, further comprising at least one O-ring in contact with the drive motor configured to isolate sound transfer from the drive motor to a housing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The damper of claim 1, further comprising:
a scavenger assembly configured to harvest energy from air passing by the damper inside the air duct; and
a scavenger module configured to store energy harvested by the scavenger module.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The damper of claim 8, wherein the scavenger module includes a scavenger housing configured to support at least one battery.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The damper of claim 8, wherein the scavenger assembly includes an impeller.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The damper of claim 1, further including a connector interface configured to electronically couple to a maintenance device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The damper according claim 1, wherein the damper actuator is operably coupled to a sensor configured to measure torque generated by air passing through the air duct, and wherein the damper actuator is configured to communicate measured torque to the microcontroller.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The damper according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to detect current spikes, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to prevent the damper actuator from operating based on a detected current spike.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The damper according to claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board, a housing, and a motor holder, wherein:
the printed circuit board, the drive motor, the crank gear, and the crank shaft are contained within housing, and
the motor holder is configured to engage the housing and thereby enclose the printed circuit board, the drive motor, the crank gear, and the crank shaft within housing, wherein the motor holder supports the drive motor and the crank shaft.

### Claim 15

A damper for an HVAC system, comprising:
a damper blade assembly operably coupled to a damper actuator, the damper blade assembly configured to regulate a flow of air passing through an air duct;
a drive motor comprising a drive gear;
a rod having a first rod end and a second rod end, the rod being rotatably coupled to the damper blade at the first rod end;
a crank shaft, wherein the crank gear and the crank shaft are connected to each other such that the crank gear and the crank shaft rotate together;
a crank gear fixed on the crankshaft such that the crank gear and the crank shaft rotate in unison, the crank gear operatively coupled to both the second rod end of the rod and the drive motor, wherein actuation of the drive motor rotates the crank gear in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein rotation of the crank gear positions the damper blade assembly into a fully open position, a fully closed position, or at least one partially opened position that is between the fully open position and the fully closed position relative to the air duct;
a feedback system that includes a crank gear magnet disposed on the crank shaft, the feedback system configured to determine a current position of the damper blade, wherein the crank shaft comprises a recess formed in the crank shaft and the crank gear magnet is disposed in the recess; and
a microcontroller operably coupled to the damper actuator, the microcontroller configured to instruct the damper actuator to open or close the damper blade assembly based on a wireless control signal received by the microcontroller from a remote controller.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The damper according to claim 15, wherein the crank gear, the crank shaft, and drive motor are contained within a housing, the rod extending partially into the housing at the second rod end.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The damper according to claim 15, further comprising a base for providing support to the damper and for securing and sealing the damper on the air duct.