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US 5,390,206 AGranted
Wireless communication system for air distribution system
AssigneeAmerican Standard Inc.
InventorsAlan D. Rein, David M. Foye
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hierarchical control system including a central receiver; a first communications medium operably connecting the central receiver to at least one controller; and a controller operably connected to the central receiver by the first communications medium. The system also includes a sensor for sensing conditions; a second communication medium; and a transmitter for transmitting the sensed conditions from the sensor to the central receiver via the second communications medium. The central receiver also includes receiver for receiving transmissions on the second communications medium and a transmitter for retransmitting the transmissions on the first communications medium.
Claims43
A hierarchical control system comprising:
- a first central receiver;
- a first communications medium operably connecting the first central receiver to at least one controller;
- a controller operably connected to the first central receiver by the first communications medium;
- a first sensor sensing conditions;
- a second communication medium;
- a first transmitter transmitting the sensed conditions from the first sensor to the first central receiver via the second communications medium, the first central receiver including a first receiver receiving transmissions on the second communications medium and a second transmitter retransmitting the transmissions on the first communications medium;
- the system including a second sensor sensing conditions, the second sensor including a third transmitter transmitting the sensed conditions to the first central receiver via the second communications medium;
- and
- the controller including means for determining a failure of the first sensor, and means for substituting the sensed conditions from the second sensor for the sensed conditions of the first sensor.
6 more elements
A hierarchical control system comprising:
- a first central receiver;
- a first communications medium operably connecting the first central receiver to at least one controller;
- a controller operably connected to the first central receiver by the first communications medium;
- a first sensor sensing conditions;
- a second communications medium;
- a first transmitter transmitting the sensed conditions from the first sensor to the first central receiver via the second communications medium, the first central receiver including a receiver receiving transmissions on the second communications medium and a second transmitter retransmitting the transmissions on the first communications medium;
- a third communications medium;
- and
- a third sensor sensing conditions, the third sensor including a third transmitter transmitting the sensed conditions on the third communications medium;
- wherein the first sensor includes a receiver receiving sensed conditions transmitted on the third communications medium, and means for retransmitting transmissions from the third communications medium on the second transmissions medium.
7 more elements
A hierarchical control system comprising:
- a first central receiver;
- a first communications medium operably connecting the first central receiver to at least one controller;
- a controller operably connected to the first central receiver by the first communications medium;
- a first sensor sensing conditions;
- a second communications medium;
- and
- a first transmitter transmitting the sensed conditions from the first sensor to the first central receiver via the second communications medium, the first central receiver including a first receiver receiving transmissions on the second communications medium and retransmitting the transmissions on the first communications medium wherein the controller includes means for operating independently of a particular sensor.
4 more elements
A system for transferring information from a sensor to a controller comprising:
- a first communications medium;
- a second wireless communications medium;
- a controller operably connected to the first communications medium;
- a receiver operably connected to the first communications medium, receiving communications on the second communications medium and retransmitting communications from the second communications medium on the first communications medium;
- a first sensor sensing conditions, and transmitting the sensed conditions on the second communications medium to the controller by means of the first and second communications medium;
- a third communications medium;
- and
- a second sensor sensing a condition and transmitting the sensed condition on the third communications medium;
- wherein the first sensor includes a receiver receiving communications on the third communications medium, and retransmitting communications from the third communications media on the second communications medium.
6 more elements
A building HVAC and automation system comprising:
- means for conditioning air;
- means, operably connected to the conditioning means, for distributing the conditioned air;
- a first communications medium,
- an automation system, operably connected to the conditioning means and the distributing means, controlling the distribution of conditioned air, the automation system including a plurality of controllers operably connected to the first communications medium;
- a second wireless communications medium;
- at least one central receiver operably connected to the first communications medium and including a first receiver receiving transmissions on the second communications medium and retransmitting the communications from the second communications medium onto the first communications medium;
- a plurality of zone sensors, each zone sensor including a sensor sensing environmental conditions and a first transmitter transmitting data indicative of the sensed environmental conditions on the second communications medium;
- wherein at least some of the plurality of controllers control the distribution of air in accordance with the transmitted data;
- wherein at least a first controller of said plurality of controllers distributes air in accordance with the transmitted data received and combined from more than one of the plurality of zone sensors.
6 more elements
A method of controlling an environment comprising the steps of:
- determining, with at least a first sensor, the environmental conditions in each of a plurality of zones;
- transmitting signals indicative of the environmental conditions from each of said plurality of zones to a central receiver by means of a second communications medium;
- receiving the environmental conditions at the central receiver from the second communications medium;
- retransmitting the environmental conditions from the central receiver onto a first communications medium;
- receiving in each of a plurality of controllers the retransmitted environmental conditions on the first communications medium;
- and
- controlling the environment of a particular zone in accordance with a predetermined portion of the environmental conditions from several sensors.
4 more elements
A hierarchical control system comprising:
- a first central receiver;
- a first communications medium operably connecting the first central receiver to at least one controller;
- a controller operably connected to the first central receiver by the first communications medium;
- a first sensor sensing conditions;
- a second communication medium;
- a first transmitter transmitting the sensed conditions from the first sensor to the first central receiver via the second communications medium;
- the first central receiver including a first receiver receiving transmissions on the second communications medium and retransmitting the transmissions on the first communications medium;
- a third communications medium;
- a second sensor sensing conditions, the second sensor including a second transmitter transmitting the sensed conditions on the third communications medium;
- the first sensor including a second receiver receiving sensed conditions transmitted on the third communications medium, and retransmitting transmissions from the third communications medium on the second transmissions medium;
- an input connector and means for identifying and processing data received from the input connector;
- and
- a setup tool providing programming instructions to the controller, and including a third transmitter transmitting the programming instructions on the second or third communications medium.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.