Apparatus and method for improved control of a mini split hvac system
OwnerHoward Roseninventor
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Abstract
A controller for a Heating Ventilation or Air Conditioning system (HVAC system) such as a mini split system is disclosed for adding control features that incorporate an observed operational status and occupancy/motion detection utilizing control commands already provided as part of the HVAC system as manufactured.
Claims17
An adjunct control apparatus for controlling a Heating Ventilation and/or Air Conditioning (HVAC) system that is used for conditioning air in a conditioned space, the adjunct control apparatus including apparatus for determining in a standard way control requirements for the HVAC system in order to provide desired conditioning of the air in the conditioned space, the adjunct further comprising:
- A) a control module that provides overall control of the adjunct control apparatus and;
- B) a wireless transmitter operatively coupled to the control module for sending wireless commands from the adjunct control apparatus to the HVAC system;
- and,
- C) a transducer for capturing activity based energy emanating from the HVAC system, the transducer being operatively coupled to the control module for providing a transducer signal that is analyzed by the control module to determine a current operating status of the HVAC system;
- and,
- the control module causing the wireless transmitter to send wireless command signals to the HVAC system, the wireless command signals sent being based upon both:
- a) the determined control requirements for the HVAC system, and b) the determined current operating status of the HVAC system.
An adjunct control apparatus for enhanced control of a Heating Ventilation and/or Air Conditioning system (HVAC system), the adjunct control apparatus comprising:
- A) a control module;
- B) a motion sensing apparatus operatively coupled to the control module;
- C) a wireless transmitter operatively coupled to the control module for sending wireless commands from the adjunct control apparatus to the HVAC system;
- and,
- D) a transducer for detecting sound, vibration or electromagnetic signals emanating from the HVAC system, the transducer operatively coupled to the control module and providing a signal that is analyzed by the control module to determine a currently detected operating status of the HVAC system;
- and,
- the control module in response to signals from the motion sensing apparatus being operative to send wireless command signals by the wireless transmitter to the HVAC system, the particular wireless command signals sent being determined based in part upon the currently detected operating status of the HVAC system.
A method for controlling a Heating Ventilation and/or Air Conditioning system (HVAC system) from an adjunct control apparatus, the method comprising the following steps:
- A) with standard apparatus that is included as part of the adjunct control apparatus determine in a standard way a desired change in operating state of the HVAC system;
- B) utilizing a transducer, optionally either included in the adjunct control apparatus or remote from the adjunct control apparatus, to produce or generate a transducer signal and then analyzing the transducer signal to determine a current operating state of the HVAC system;
- B) using processing apparatus further included in the adjunct control apparatus to determine a specific command signal to be sent to the HVAC system, the specific command signal based upon both:
- a) the current operating state of the HVAC system;
- and, b) the desired change in operating state of the HVAC system;
- and,
- C) transmitting that specific command signal to the HVAC system utilizing a wireless transmitter included as part of the adjunct control apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.