US 5,909,378 AGranted

Control apparatus and method for maximizing energy saving in operation of HVAC equipment and the like

OwnerHugues De Millevilleinventor

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Abstract

The multi-function energy management system has a plurality of predetermined operating programs stored in memory in or around a micro controller. The micro controller may be pre-set to operate a plurality of heating ventilation, air conditioning and other operating devices according to selected ones of such operating programs for maintaining the temperature in a room of a building at a desired ambient temperature condition and other loads at various operating conditions. The system has a continuously operating internal clock with a back up battery having a life span of ten years. Adjustment allowance is provided in the clock for leap years and daylight savings time. The system is capable of selectively operating the heating, ventilation, air conditioning devices and other energy consuming devices such as lighting, thermal storage heaters according to the occupancy of the room to provide a maximum saving of energy consumption.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An energy saving control apparatus for a heating, venting and air conditioning equipment in a building having a plurality of rooms in which each room has at least one entrance door, comprising:

a micro controller means having a plurality of mechanical memory means with stored algorithms adapted to provide a plurality of predetermined programs for operating said heating, venting and air conditioning equipment,
a plurality of mechanically operated dip switches coupled to said micro controller means and adapted for selecting said plurality of predetermined programs for providing desired ambient temperature conditions for said room, including time of day when said selected ambient temperature conditions are to be provided,
interface circuit means connected to said micro controller means and operative to generate a plurality of output signals to said micro controller means according to said plurality of predetermined programs selected,
a door contact mounted at said at least one entrance door and connected to said interface circuit means,
a motion sensor located in said room and connected also to said interface circuit means,
said door contact and said motion sensor, in combination, adapted to actuate said interface circuit means to control said micro controller means for operating said heating, venting and air conditioning equipment in response to occupancy conditions of said room.

3 more elements

A method of maximizing energy saving in providing heating, venting and air conditioning operations in a room within a building having a plurality of rooms, by heating, venting and air conditioning equipment, comprising:

storing a plurality of predetermined operating programs in a micro controller means, said micro controller means being addressable by a plurality of mechanically operated switch means to operate selected ones of said predetermined operating programs,
actuating selected ones of said plurality of mechanically operated switch means to execute selected ones of said predetermined operating programs including selecting a desired ambient temperature condition in a selected time period for said room,
monitoring real time temperature condition of said room with a temperature sensing means and inputting said real time temperature condition to said micro controller means,
detecting accurate occupancy conditions of said room by mounting a door contact at a door of said room, and also mounting a motion sensor in said room, said door contact and said motion sensor cooperatively addressing said micro controller means to determine accurately said occupancy conditions for operating said equipment to obtain said desired ambient temperature condition for said room according to said predetermined operating programs and said occupancy conditions.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.