Patent ID: 8020777
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: F24D,F24F

Abstract:
1. A system for zoned temperature control comprising: a first zone thermostat to measure a temperature of a first zone; a second zone thermostat to measure a temperature of a second zone; a first electronically-controlled register vent configured to vent air from a duct into said first zone; a second electronically-controlled register vent configured to vent air from said duct into said second zone; and a central system, said central system configured to obtain a first setpoint temperature and a first current zone temperature from said first zone thermostat, to obtain a second setpoint temperature and a second current zone temperature from said second zone thermostat, and to compute a first vent opening amount for said first electronically-controlled register vent and a second vent opening amount for said second electronically-controlled register vent according to said first and second current zone temperatures, said first and second setpoint temperatures, and a priority of said first zone relative to said second zone, said central system further configured to control operation of an HVAC system according to an allowed budget; wherein said central system is configured to ration use of said HVAC system by maintaining different temperature ranges in zones according to a priority of each zone such that during heating periods, the temperature of relatively lower priority zones is allowed to fall below a desired setpoint relatively more than the temperature of relatively higher priority zones.