Plug-in sensory communication device
AssigneeJohnson Controls Technology Company
InventorsTIMOTHY C. GAMROTH, JOSEPH PICCOLO, III, AVICHAL CHUM
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensory communication device for a building space includes a housing, a plug structure attached to the housing, insertable into an electrical outlet to receive power from the electrical outlet, and capable of supporting the housing when inserted into the electrical outlet, sensors located partially within the housing and capable of measuring environmental variables within a building space, a wireless radio that transmits measurements of the environmental variables, and electrical outlets located on an external surface of the housing and electrically connected to the plug structure to provide power to external devices.
Claims20
A sensory communication device for a building space, the device comprising:
- a housing;
- a plug structure coupled to the housing and insertable into an electrical outlet to receive power from the electrical outlet, the plug structure configured to support the housing when inserted into the electrical outlet;
- one or more sensors located at least partially within the housing and configured to measure one or more environmental variables within the building space;
- a wireless radio configured to transmit measurements of the one or more environmental variables;
- and
- one or more electrical outlets located on an external surface of the housing and electrically coupled to the plug structure to provide power to one or more external devices.
A method for controlling a space environment, the method comprising:
- providing a sensory communication device configured to receive power from an external power source;
- electrically coupling the sensory communication device to an electrical outlet, the electrical outlet providing power from the external power source;
- and
- powering the sensory communication device with power provided by the external power source;
- and
- measuring at least one environmental variable by locating one or more sensors at least partially within a housing;
- and
- transmitting at least one measurement of the at least one environmental variable;
- and
- providing one or more electrical outlets located on an external surface of the housing to one or more external devices.
A plug-in controller device comprising:
- a housing;
- a plug structure coupled to the housing and insertable into an electrical outlet to receive power from the electrical outlet, the plug structure configured to support the housing when inserted into the electrical outlet;
- one or more sensors located at least partially within the housing and configured to measure one or more environmental variables within a building space;
- a processing circuit comprising a feedback controller located within the housing, the feedback controller configured to:
- receive a plurality of values of one or more environmental variables from the one or more sensors;
- determine a plurality of control commands based on the plurality of values of one or more environmental variables;
- and
- output the plurality of control commands.
- a wireless radio configured to:
- transmit the plurality of control commands determined by the feedback controller to at least one space environment control device;
- and
- one or more electrical outlets located on an external surface of the housing and configured to electrically couple to the plug structure and to provide power to one or more external devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.