Distributed zone control system
OwnerHazem Elshorbagyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A distributed zone control system having one or more vents with sensors and effectors is provided. The effectors operate in response to the sensors. In various embodiments, the effectors of one vent may operate in response to the sensors of another vent. In various instances, the distributed zone control system connects to an HVAC system and controls operation of the HVAC system. In this manner, temperatures may be detected by a vent and conditioned air from the HVAC system is directed to appropriate zones to maintain desired conditions.
Claims19
A distributed control system for managing environmental conditions in a building, comprising:
- a plurality of distributed control nodes, each distributed control node configured for installation at an air outlet of an HVAC system and comprising:
- a housing;
- a sensor configured to detect local environmental data;
- an effector configured to modulate airflow through the housing;
- and a local controller operatively coupled to the sensor and the effector;
- wherein the local controller of each distributed control node is configured to execute control logic based on the local environmental data independently of a centralized master controller;
- and
- wherein the plurality of distributed control nodes is configured to coordinate environmental conditions within the building through mesh network communication of control state information among the distributed control nodes, and
- wherein the sensor of at least one distributed control node comprises a gas sensor, and the local controller is configured to actuate the effector to open in response to detection of a hazardous gas by the gas sensor to purge the hazardous gas from a zone without a command from the centralized master controller.
A smart vent for use in a distributed HVAC control system, comprising:
- a housing configured to couple to an HVAC duct;
- at least one sensor configured to detect a local environmental variable;
- an effector configured to modulate airflow through the housing;
- and
- an onboard controller configured to:
- process data from the at least one sensor;
- autonomously determine an actuation state for the effector based on the processed data independently of a centralized controller;
- and
- exchange control state information with other smart vents via a mesh network connection, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a gas sensor, and the onboard controller is configured to autonomously actuate the effector to open in response to detection of a hazardous gas by the gas sensor to direct airflow to purge the hazardous gas without a command from the centralized controller.
A method for distributed environmental control in a building, comprising:
- detecting local environmental conditions using sensors at a plurality of independent smart vent nodes installed at air outlets of an HVAC system, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a gas sensor;
- processing the local environmental conditions at each smart vent node using an onboard controller to determine a local airflow adjustment;
- communicating control state information associated with the local airflow adjustment among the plurality of smart vent nodes via a mesh network;
- modulating an airflow effector at each smart vent node based on the local airflow adjustment and the control state information received from other smart vent nodes, without utilizing a centralized control hub;
- and
- autonomously actuating, using the onboard controller, the airflow effector to open in response to detection of a hazardous gas using the gas sensor to direct airflow to purge the hazardous gas without a command from the centralized controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.