# US 2010/0163633 A1 · Automatically Balancing Register for HVAC Systems

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- Number: US 2010/0163633 A1
- Document ID: US20100163633A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/650,320
- Filed: 2009-12-30
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2008-12-30
- Assignees: Aquante LLC
- Inventors: Jon Barrett; Ronald Lingemann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100163633A1

## CPC

- G05D 23/1934: {each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means}
- F24F 3/044: Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
- F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
- F24F 11/52: Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
- F24F 11/62: characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
- F24F 11/76: by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
- F24F 13/082: {Grilles, registers or guards}
- G05D 23/1932: {to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces}
- F24F 11/56: Remote control
- F24F 11/755: for cyclical variation of air flow rate or air velocity
- G05D 23/1928: {sensing the temperature of one space}
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- 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)

## Abstract

Distributed nodes, such as intelligent register controllers, of a heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system wirelessly communicate with each other on a peer-to-peer basis, forming a network, and collectively control the HVAC system, without a central controller. The intelligent register controllers collectively control the amount of conditioned air introduced into each region. Each node may base its operation at least in part on information about one or more (ideally all) of the other nodes. Each intelligent register controller automatically determines how much conditioned air to allow into its region, or how much return air to allow to be withdrawn from its region, based on information collected by the register controller, such as: current temperature of the region; desired temperature of the region; calculated amount of conditioned air required to change the region's temperature to the desired temperature; temperature of conditioned air begin supplied by a duct to the register; current time, day of week, vacation or other schedule data; temperatures of other regions and their respective desired temperatures; calculated amounts of air required to be supplied or withdrawn by the other controlled registers to change their respective regions' temperatures to their desired temperatures; or combinations thereof. Each register controller automatically determines when and to what extent to operate its respective controllable damper.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for controlling an HVAC system of a type having a plurality of HVAC vents, each HVAC vent disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the system comprising a corresponding plurality of intelligent controlled registers, each intelligent controlled register associated with a distinct one of the HVAC vents, each one of the intelligent controlled registers being in communication with at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers and executing an autonomous local control program, such program processing data provided by each of the other intelligent controlled registers, so as to collectively control the plurality of HVAC vents on a peer-to-peer basis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is in wireless communication with at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is in wired communication with at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to:
automatically determine presence of an intelligent controlled register that is not part of the system for controlling the HVAC system;
automatically ascertain if the determined intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC; and
if the determined intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system, automatically add the determined intelligent controlled register to the system for controlling the HVAC system.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to:
automatically determine presence of at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;
automatically ascertain if the intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC; and
if the intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system, automatically add the intelligent controlled register to the system for controlling the HVAC system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 4, wherein each intelligent controlled register is further configured to automatically ascertain if the determined intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system according to timing of air flow through the intelligent controlled register and timing of air flow through the determined intelligent controlled register.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 4, wherein each intelligent controlled register is further configured to automatically ascertain if the determined intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system according to timing of light detected by the intelligent controlled register and timing of light detected by the determined intelligent controlled register.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each intelligent controlled register is configured to:
wirelessly automatically determine presence of a thermostat that is not part of the system for controlling the HVAC system;
automatically ascertain if the determined thermostat should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC; and
if the determined thermostat should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system, automatically add the determined thermostat to the system for controlling the HVAC system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 8, wherein each intelligent controlled register is further configured to automatically ascertain if the determined thermostat should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system according to timing of light detected by the thermostat and timing of light detected by the intelligent controlled register.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 8, wherein each intelligent controlled register is further configured to automatically ascertain if the determined thermostat should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system according to timing of temperature changes detected by the thermostat and timing of temperature changes detected by the intelligent controlled register.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each intelligent controlled register includes a controllable damper, and each intelligent controlled register is configured such that, when air flows through the controllable damper, at least one of the dampers of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is fully open.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each intelligent controlled register is configured to:
wirelessly receive data from at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and
forward at least some of the received data to a different at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein the HVAC system comprises a ducted air handling system.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein the HVAC system comprises a hydronic system.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein the HVAC system comprises an electric resistance heating system.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to control a valve.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to control an electrical switch of a proportional control device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each intelligent controlled register comprises:
a motor coupled to a controllable damper;
a temperature sensor;
a wireless transceiver for communicating with at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;
a controller coupled to the motor, the temperature sensor and the transceiver;
a power source coupled to the motor, the transceiver and the controller;
wherein the controller is configured to carry out processes including:
obtaining data from the temperature sensor and, via the wireless transceiver, data from at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;
using the obtained data to automatically determine a desired operation of the damper; and
driving the motor to cause the desired operation of the damper.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 18, wherein the power source comprises an array of photovoltaic cells.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 18, wherein the power source comprises a fan-powered generator.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 18, wherein the controllable damper of at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers comprises a valve.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 18, wherein each of at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is mounted in an air register.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 18, wherein the motor comprises a coil and each intelligent controlled register further comprises a circuit board comprising electronic circuits implementing at least a portion of the controller and wherein the coil of the motor is mounted directly to the printed circuit board.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 23, wherein the circuit board further comprises a plurality of electrically conductive elements and the motor further comprises a conductive element spaced apart from the plurality of electrically conductive elements to form a capacitor therebetween, such that capacitance of the capacitor depends on a rotational position of the motor, wherein the controller is configured to ascertain the rotational position of the motor based on the capacitance of the capacitor.

### Claim 25 (depends on 18)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 18, wherein the motor comprises two sets of rotors and two sets of stators, one of the rotors and one of the stators forming a first submotor and the other one of the rotors and the other one of the stators forming a second submotor, the two submotors being disposed beside each other and geared together.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a portable remote control unit comprising a wireless transmitter and at least one user-actuateable control; wherein:
the intelligent controlled register is configured to receive a wireless signal from the portable remote control unit; and
the controller is configured to automatically determine the desired operation of the damper based, at least in part, on the received wireless signal from the portable remote control unit.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 26, wherein the wireless transmitter of the portable remote control comprises a line-of-sight wireless transmitter.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 26, wherein the portable remote control comprises a wireless line-of-sight detector.

### Claim 29 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, each of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers comprising:
a volume control damper configured to adjustably control an amount of heat delivered through the intelligent controlled register;
a motor under control of the autonomous control program and mechanically coupled to operate the volume control damper; and
a printed circuit board including electronic circuits and windings of the motor.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 29, wherein the motor comprises a stepper motor.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 29, further comprising a volume control damper position indicator that includes at least two electrically conductive elements spaced apart by a dielectric thereby forming a capacitor, wherein at least one of the at least two electrically conductive elements is configured to move, with respect to the other of the at least two electrically conductive elements, in relation to the operation of the volume control damper so as to vary capacitance of the capacitor in relation to the operation of the volume control damper.

### Claim 32 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured, absent an external input specifying a setpoint temperature for the corresponding location, so as to equalize temperatures of the locations in the building.

### Claim 33 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured so as to maximize flow through at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers.

### Claim 34 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein:
the HVAC system comprises a blower and a heating or cooling unit;
at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents comprises a return vent; and
at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents comprises a supply vent;
the system further comprising a thermostat coupled to the HVAC system so as to control the blower and coupled to at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and
wherein each of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to operate so as to permit air to be drawn in by an automatically selected at least one of the return vent, moved by the blower, and exhausted through an automatically selected at least one of the supply vent, without operating the heating or cooling unit, so as to transfer air from at least one automatically selected location in the building to another at least one automatically selected location in the building.

### Claim 35 (depends on 1)

A system for controlling an HVAC system according to claim 1, wherein:
the HVAC system comprises a blower controlled by blower control leads and a heating or cooling unit controlled by heating or cooling unit control leads;
the system further comprising a thermostat coupled to the HVAC system so as to control the blower and the heating or cooling unit and further coupled to at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers, the thermostat being configured to automatically identify: power leads connected to the thermostat, the blower control leads connected to the thermostat and the heating or cooling unit control leads connected to the thermostat.

### Claim 36

A system for controlling an HVAC system of a type having a plurality of HVAC vents, each HVAC vent disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the system comprising a corresponding plurality of intelligent controlled registers, each intelligent controlled register associated with a distinct one of the HVAC vents, each intelligent controlled register including:
a motor coupled to a controllable damper;
a temperature sensor;
a wireless transceiver for communicating with at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;
a controller coupled to the motor, the temperature sensor and the transceiver;
a power source coupled to the motor, the transceiver and the controller;
wherein the controller is configured to carry out processes including:
obtaining data from the temperature sensor and, via the wireless transceiver, data from at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;
using the obtained data to automatically determine a desired operation of the damper; and
driving the motor to cause the desired operation of the damper.

### Claim 37

A method for controlling an HVAC system of a type having a plurality of HVAC vents, each HVAC vent disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the system comprising a corresponding plurality of intelligent controlled registers, each intelligent controlled register associated with a distinct one of the HVAC vents, the method comprising:
obtaining data from a temperature sensor and wirelessly obtaining data from at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;
using the obtained data to automatically determine a desired operation of a damper; and
driving a motor to cause the desired operation of the damper.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

A method according to claim 37, further comprising:
wirelessly automatically determining presence of an intelligent controlled register that is not part of the system for controlling the HVAC system; and
automatically adding the determined intelligent controlled register to the system for controlling the HVAC system.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

A method according to claim 37, further comprising:
wirelessly receiving data from at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and
forwarding at least some of the received data to a different at least one other of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers.

### Claim 40 (depends on 37)

A method according to claim 37, further comprising:
at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents, generating electrical power with an array of photovoltaic cells; and
wherein driving the motor at the at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents comprises powering the motor at least partially by the generated electrical power.

### Claim 41 (depends on 37)

A method according to claim 37, further comprising:
at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents, generating electrical power with a fan-powered generator; and
wherein driving the motor at the at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents comprises powering the motor at least partially by the generated electrical power.

### Claim 42 (depends on 37)

A method according to claim 37, wherein driving the motor comprises adjusting vanes of an air volume control damper.

### Claim 43 (depends on 37)

A method according to claim 37, wherein driving the motor comprises adjusting a valve.

### Claim 44 (depends on 37)

A method according to claim 37, wherein driving the motor comprises adjusting an electrically controlled switch.

### Claim 45 (depends on 37)

A method according to claim 37, wherein driving the motor comprises adjusting an electrically controlled proportional control device.

### Claim 46 (depends on 37)

A method according to claim 37, further comprising:
receiving a wireless signal from a portable remote control unit;
wherein using the obtained data to automatically determine a desired operation of a damper comprises using the received wireless signal from the portable remote control unit.

### Claim 47

An intelligent controlled register for use in an HVAC system of a type having a plurality of HVAC vents, each HVAC vent disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the intelligent controlled register comprising:
a motor coupled to a controllable damper;
a temperature sensor;
a wireless transceiver for communicating with at least one other intelligent controlled register;
a controller coupled to the motor, the temperature sensor and the transceiver;
a power source coupled to the motor, the transceiver and the controller;
wherein the controller is configured to carry out processes including:
obtaining data from the temperature sensor and, via the wireless transceiver, data from at least one of the at least one other intelligent controlled register;
using the obtained data to automatically determine a desired operation of the damper; and
driving the motor to cause the desired operation of the damper.