Abstract:
An energy-saving air conditioner and illumination controller is applied to an interior space to regulate the air conditioner fan and the illumination device in the space according to the detected interior temperature, brightness, and status of users in the space. Therefore, a manual operation for regulate temperature and brightness is avoided. Automatically powering off the air conditioner fan and the illumination device is also achieved while no one is in the interior space so that a prevention of energy waste is ensured. A simple installation of the energy-saving air conditioner and illumination controller can be applied to existing air conditioner and illumination equipment without complicated assembly and configuration.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to design for energy-saving equipment, and particular to an energy-saving air conditioner and illumination controller for regulating operations of air conditioner and illumination device in an interior by detecting the temperature, brightness, and status of users in the space so as to save energy. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    For a better quality of life and work efficiency, a comfort for the interior is well concerned nowadays. However, it is mostly related to the temperature and the brightness of the interior. 
         [0003]    The prior air conditioner and illumination have their own operation unit for being operated by users. Such devices are equipped overhead and it is inconvenient and time-consuming to access. 
         [0004]    For solving the access problem, sensors for detecting interior temperature and brightness are arranged to the devices to regulate the operation of the air conditioner and illumination. While changes of parameters are needed, users still need to access the devices for the purpose. 
         [0005]    Each air conditioner and illumination has its own sensor so that too many sensors will be installed as well as their remote controller. 
         [0006]    Moreover, prior air conditioner and illumination need to be turned on or off manually. A waste of energy always happened while the user forgot to turn off the devices. 
         [0007]    Therefore, a lot of usage problems need to be solved for the prior air conditioner and illumination. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an energy-saving air conditioner and illumination controller for automatically regulating air conditioner fan and illumination device according to the detected interior temperature, brightness, and status of users. 
         [0009]    A secondary object of the present invention is to provide a multi-function sensor combining sensors of air conditioner and illumination device for reducing number of sensor. 
         [0010]    A yet object of the present invention is to provide a two-way communication between the multi-function sensor and a controller of the energy-saving air conditioner and illumination controller so that parameters of a fan regulator and light regulator thereof can be either modified or checked by the controller. 
         [0011]    To achieve above object, the present invention provides a fan regulator, light regulator, multi-function sensor, and a controller. The fan regulator is electrically connected to an air conditioner fan for regulating the operation of the air conditioner fan. The light regulator is electrically connected to an illumination device for regulating the operation of the illumination device. The multi-function sensor is electrically connected to the fan regulator and the light regulator for detecting an interior temperature, brightness, and status of users so as to regulate the fan regulator and the light regulator. The controller serves to communicate to the multi-function sensor by optically transmitting parameters for the fan regulator and the light regulator under the user&#39;s operation so as to regulate the interior temperature and brightness. 
         [0012]    The fan regulator and the multi-function sensor can be combined as a fan control device, or the light regulator and the multi-function sensor can be combined as a light control device. Moreover, the fan regulator, light regulator, and the multi-function sensor can be combined as an equipment control device. 
         [0013]    According to the present invention, the sensors of the air conditioner and illumination device are combined as a multi-function sensor so as to reduce the numbers of sensor needed. The present invention is also easy to be applied to existing air conditioner and illumination device. 
         [0014]    Also, inconvenience of manual operation for air conditioner and illumination device can be avoided due to the automatically regulation by active detection of interior temperature and brightness of the present invention. Time and work for accessing the equipment can be also saved. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, the present invention will automatically turn on or off the air conditioner and illumination by detecting absence of human in the interior space so that a waste of energy can be prevented. 
         [0016]    Moreover, the communication between the multi-function sensor and the controller is through optical transmission. A changing of the interior temperature or brightness can be done by transmitting parameters from the controller to the fan regulator or the light regulator via the multi-function sensor. The present parameters set to the fan regulator and the light regulator can be also checked by the controller through the opposite transmission path described above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an electric diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an electric diagram showing a fan regulator of the present invention 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an electric diagram showing a light regulator of the present invention 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an electric diagram showing a multi-function sensor of the present invention 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is an electric diagram showing a controller of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an electric diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is an electric diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is an electric diagram of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    In order that those skilled in the art can further understand the present invention, a description will be provided in the following in details. However, these descriptions and the appended drawings are only used to cause those skilled in the art to understand the objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, but not to be used to confine the scope and spirit of the present invention defined in the appended claims. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electric diagram of the first embodiment according to the present invention is illustrated. An energy-saving air conditioner and illumination controller  100  includes a fan regulator  1 , light regulator  2 , multi-function sensor  3 , and a controller  4 . 
         [0027]    The fan regulator  1  powered by an AC power source P is electrically connected to an air conditioner fan  5  so as to regulate the operation of the air conditioner fan  5 . The light regulator  2  is electrically connected to an illumination device  6  so as to regulate the operation of the illumination device  6 . The multi-function sensor  3  serving to detect an interior temperature, brightness, and user status will communicate with the fan regulator  1  and the light regulator  2 . The multi-function sensor  3  will produce and transmit a fan control signal S 1  to the fan regulator  1  through a communication bus B so as to regulate the operation of the air conditioner fan  5  based on the control signal S 1 . The multi-function sensor  3  will also produce and transmit a light control signal S 2  to the light regulator  2  through the communication bus B so as to regulate the operation of the illumination device  6  based on the control signal S 2 . 
         [0028]    The controller  4  communicated with the multi-function sensor  3  will send a control signal S 3  to the multi-function sensor  3  through optical transmission under user&#39;s operation. The multi-function sensor  3  will produce the fan control signal S 1  and the light control signal S 2  based on the control signal S 3 . 
         [0029]    The controller  4  can be defined as an administrative controller which is capable of configuring the parameters of the fan regulator  1  and the light regulator  2  by transmitting parameters set to the controller. The parameters will be optically transmitted to the fan regulator  1  and the light regulator  2  via the multi-function sensor  3 . 
         [0030]    On the other hand, the controller  4  is capable of reading the parameters being set to the fan regulator  1  and the light regulator  2  by the administrator. The parameters of the fan regulator  1  and the light regulator  2  will be transmitted to the controller  4  via the multi-function sensor  3  by optical transmission. 
         [0031]    The controller  4  can be also defined as a user controller which is capable of changing the parameters of the fan regulator  1  and the light regulator  2  within the ranges configured by the administrative controller through optical transmission. The user controller can only adjust the parameters of the fan regulator  1  and the light regulator  2  within the ranges configured by the administrative controller, the fan regulator  1  and the light regulator  2  will regulate the temperature or luminance of the air conditioner fan  5  and illumination device  6  within the range even the user setting is out of the range. 
         [0032]    The fan regulator  1 , air conditioner fan  5 , and light regulator  2  are electrically connected to and powered by the AC power source P. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the fan regulator  1  includes an AC to DC converter  2 G circuit  11 , voltage regulator  12 , microprocessor  13 , signal transmitting and receiving circuit  14 , relay control circuit  15 , and a LED indicator  16 . 
         [0034]    The AC to DC inverter circuit  11  is electrically connected to the AC power source P so that the AC power provided by the power source P will be converted to DC power. The voltage regulator  12  is electrically connected between the AC to DC inverter circuit  11  and the microprocessor  13  so as to provide proper voltage to the microprocessor  13 . The signal transmitting and receiving circuit  14  is electrically connected to the microprocessor  13  so as to transmit the received fan control signal S 1  from the multi-function sensor  3  via communication bus B to the microprocessor  13 . 
         [0035]    The microprocessor  13  will drive the relay control circuit  15  based on the received fan control signal S 1  to operate the air conditioner fan  5  so as to control the interior temperature. The LED indicator  16  showing the status of the fan regulator  1  is also electrically connected to the microprocessor  13 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the light regulator  2  includes a voltage regulator  21 , microprocessor  22 , signal transmitting and receiving circuit  23 , relay control circuit  24 , and a LED indicator  25 . The voltage regulator  21  is electrically connected between the communication bus B and the microprocessor  22  so as to regulate DC voltage from the communication bus B for the microprocessor  22 . The signal transmitting and receiving circuit  23  is electrically connected between the communication bus B and the microprocessor  22  so as to transmit the received light control signal S 2  from the multi-function sensor  3  via communication bus B to the microprocessor  22 . 
         [0037]    The microprocessor  22  will drive the relay control circuit  24  based on the received light control signal S 2  to control the power supplied from an AC power source P so as to control the operation of the illumination device  6 . The LED indicator  25  showing the status of the light regulator  2  is also electrically connected to the microprocessor  22 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the multi-function sensor  3  includes a voltage regulator  31 , microprocessor  32 , thermal detection circuit  33 , light detection circuit  34 , human body detection circuit  35 , amplify circuit  36 , optical signal transmitting and receiving circuit  37 , signal transmitting and receiving circuit  38 , and a LED indicator  39 . 
         [0039]    The voltage regulator  31  is electrically connected between the communication bus B and the microprocessor  32  so as to regulate DC voltage from the communication bus B for the microprocessor  32 . 
         [0040]    The thermal detection circuit  33  detecting interior temperature is electrically connected to the microprocessor  32  so as to produce a temperature signal S 41  to the microprocessor  32 . The light detection circuit  34  serving to detect interior brightness is electrically connected the microprocessor  32  so as to produce a temperature signal S 42  to the microprocessor  32 . The human body detection circuit  35  communicating to the microprocessor  32  through the amplify circuit  36  serves to detect status of user so as to produce a user signal S 43  to the microprocessor  32  through the amplify circuit  36 . The optical signal transmitting and receiving circuit  37  is electrically connected to the microprocessor  32  to receive and to transmit the control signal S 3  from the controller  4  to the microprocessor  32 . 
         [0041]    The microprocessor  32  will process the temperature signal S 41 , brightness signal S 42 , user signal S 43 , and the control signal S 3  so as to generate the fan control signal S 1  and the light control signal S 2  to the fan regulator  1  and the light regulator  2  through the communication bus B respectively. 
         [0042]    The LED indicator  39  is electrically connected to the microprocessor  32  to show the status of the multi-function sensor  3 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the controller includes a key pad  41 , microprocessor  42 , optical signal transmit and receive circuit  43 , low power detection circuit  44 , and a display unit  45 . 
         [0044]    The key pad  41  is electrically connected to the microprocessor  42  to produce a control signal S 3  to the microprocessor  42 . The control signal S 3  will be transmitted to the multi-function sensor  3  by the optical signal transmitting and receiving circuit  43 . The low power detection circuit  44  is electrically connected to the microprocessor  42  to detect the power of the controller  4 . 
         [0045]    The parameters set by administrator can be transmitted from the fan regulator  1  and the light regulator  2  via the multi-function sensor  3  to the controller  4  in optical transmission. The microprocessor  42  of the controller  4  will receive the parameters and show the parameters on the display unit  45 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , an electric diagram of the second embodiment according to the present invention is illustrated. An energy-saving air conditioner and illumination controller  200  includes a controller  4  and a fan control device  7 . The fan control device  7  includes a fan regulator  1  and a multi-function sensor  3 . The principles of the fan regulator  1 , multi-function sensor  3 , and the controller  4  are the same as those in the embodiment  1 . 
         [0047]    The fan control device  7  is electrically connected to an air conditioner fan  5  for detecting the interior temperature and status of users so as to regulate the operation of the air conditioner fan  5 . 
         [0048]    The controller  4  serves to communicate to the fan control device  7  by transmitting an optical control signal S 3  to the fan control device  7  under user&#39;s operation. 
         [0049]    The control signal S 3  of the controller  4  issued by the users will be optically transmitted to the corresponding fan control device  7  so that the air conditioner fan  5  connected to the fan control device  7  will be operated based on the control signal S 3 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , an electric diagram of the third embodiment according to the present invention is illustrated. An energy-saving air conditioner and illumination controller  300  includes a controller  4  and a light control device  8 . The light control device  8  includes a light regulator  2  and a multi-function sensor  3 . The principles of the light regulator  2 , multi-function sensor  3 , and the controller  4  are the same of those in the embodiment  1 . 
         [0051]    The light control device  8  is electrically connected to an illumination device  6  for detecting luminance of the illumination device  6  so as to regulate the operation of the illumination device  6 . 
         [0052]    The controller  4  serves to communicate to the light control device  8  by transmitting an optical control signal S 3  to the light control device  8  under user&#39;s operation. 
         [0053]    The control signal S 3  of the controller  4  issued by the users will be optically transmitted to the corresponding light control device  8  so that the illumination device  6  connected to the light control device  8  will be operated based on the control signal S 3 . 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , an electrical diagram of the fourth embodiment according to the present invention is illustrated. An energy-saving air conditioner and illumination controller  400  includes an electric equipment control device  9  and a controller  4 . The equipment control device  9  is connected to an air conditioner fan  5  and an illumination device  6  for detecting the interior temperature, brightness and status of users so as to regulate the air conditioner fan  5  and the illumination device  6 . The equipment control device  9  includes a fan regulator  1 , light regulator  2 , and a multi-function sensor. The principles of the fan regulator  1 , light regulator  2 , multi-function sensor  3 , and the controller  4  are the same of those in the embodiment  1  of the present invention. 
         [0055]    A control signal S 3  of the controller  4  issued by the users will be optically transmitted to the equipment control device  9  so that the air conditioner fan  5  or the illumination device  6  connected to the equipment control device  9  will be operated based on the control signal S 3 . 
         [0056]    The present invention is thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.