Patent Publication Number: US-11022337-B2

Title: Air conditioning system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/588,587 filed Nov. 20, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning system, and more particularly, to a control system of the air conditioning system. 
     Air conditioning systems used, for example, to heat and/or cool a plurality of rooms within a dwelling typically operate off of a singular, wall-mounted, thermostat. Such thermostats are typically located in a central location within the dwelling. When the air temperature proximate to the thermostat falls sufficiently outside of a preprogrammed setpoint, the thermostat is configured to output a command to an air conditioning unit of the system to re-establish the desired air temperature proximate to the thermostat. Ideally, remote regions and/or rooms from the thermostat receive sufficient air conditioning to come close to the temperature setup. Unfortunately, depending on a wide range of factors, air temperatures between rooms, and remote from the thermostat shall deviate to a point where the occupant may experience discomfort, and/or additional energy is consumed to alleviate any discomfort and/or excessive air condition disparities between rooms and/or regions. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     An air conditioning system according to one, non-limiting, embodiment of the present disclosure is applied to an occupiable structure having a plurality of regions. The air conditioning system includes a plurality of air condition sensor assemblies each located in a respective region of the plurality of regions; an air conditioning unit constructed and arranged to condition air in the occupiable structure; and a programmable controller configured to receive a plurality of condition signals from each one of the plurality of air condition sensor assemblies and output an activate command that facilitates activating the air conditioning unit, wherein the activate command is based on any one of the plurality of condition signals and a preprogrammed condition threshold, and wherein each one of the plurality of condition signals is associated with a respective programmed time interval of a plurality of programmed time intervals. 
     Additionally to the foregoing embodiment, each one of the plurality of air condition sensor assemblies include a temperature sensor. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the air conditioning unit includes a furnace. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the air conditioning unit includes a hydronic heating system. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the air conditioning unit includes an air cooling system. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the programmable controller is a thermostat remotely located from the air conditioning unit, the thermostat including a processor, an electronic storage medium, and a temperature sensor configured to measure air temperature in the occupiable structure and output a temperature signal indicative of the measured air temperature to the processor, wherein the processor compares the temperature signal to the condition threshold and outputs a thermostat activate command to the air conditioning unit that facilitates activation when the measured air temperature does not occur during any one of the plurality of programmed time intervals. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the air conditioning unit includes a unit controller configured to receive the thermostat activate command. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the preprogrammed condition threshold is applied to all of the plurality of condition signals. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the air conditioning system includes at least one occupant sensor configured to send an occupant signal to the processor of the thermostat indicative of the occupiable structure being occupied, wherein the thermostat is configured to control the air condition unit via the temperature sensor of the thermostat when the occupiable structure is not occupied. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the thermostat is configured to control the air condition unit via one of the plurality of condition sensor assemblies when the occupant structure is occupied and an associated condition signal of the plurality of condition signals occurs during one of the plurality of programmed time intervals. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the air conditioning system is a single zone system. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the air condition system includes a thermostat remotely located from the air conditioning unit, the thermostat including a processor, an electronic storage medium, and a temperature sensor configured to measure air temperature in the occupiable structure and output a temperature signal indicative of the measured air temperature to the processor, wherein the programmable controller is part of and local to the air conditioning unit and is configured to receive an activate command from the thermostat and thereby activates an air treatment device of the air conditioning unit based on the activate command if the measured air temperature does not occur during any one of the plurality of programmed time intervals. 
     A control system according to another, non-limiting, embodiment is used for an air conditioning unit adapted to condition air in an occupiable structure having a plurality of regions. The control system includes a plurality of regional air temperature sensor assemblies each located in a respective region of the plurality of regions, and configured to respectively output a plurality of regional temperature signals; and a thermostat configured to be preprogrammed with a temperature threshold and a plurality of time intervals with each time interval associated with a respective one of the plurality of regions, wherein the programmable thermostat is configured to receive the plurality of regional temperature signals and output an activate command to the air conditioning unit based on the temperature threshold and a selected one of a temperature signal outputted from a temperature sensor of the programmable thermostat, and a regional temperature signal of the plurality of regional temperature signals. 
     Additionally to the foregoing embodiment, the thermostat is configured to associate a current time to a time interval of the plurality of time intervals and compare a regional temperature signal of the plurality of regional temperature signals associated with the associated time interval to the temperature threshold to determine outputting the activate command. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the thermostat is configured to utilize the temperature signal to determine outputting the activate command when the current time does not fall within one of the plurality of time intervals. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the plurality of regional temperature signals are sent wirelessly. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the control system includes an occupancy sensor configured to output an occupancy signal, wherein the thermostat is configured to process the occupancy signal and utilize the temperature signal and not the plurality of regional temperature signals to determine outputting the activate command when the thermostat determines that the occupiable structure is not occupied. 
     In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the occupancy sensor is part of the thermostat. 
     The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiments. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic of an occupiable structure utilizing an air condition system of the present disclosure, and in accordance with one, non-limiting, exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a method of operating the air conditioning system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an air conditioning system  20  may be located, and constructed to condition air (see arrows  22 ), in an occupiable structure  24  (e.g., dwelling, home, and others) having a plurality of regions or rooms (i.e., four examples illustrated as living room  26 , bedroom  28 , kitchen  30 , family room  32 ). The conditioning of the air  22  may be a process that heats, cools, and/or controls humidity levels of the air  22 . In one embodiment, the air conditioning system  20  may be a forced air conditioning system that includes air return and air supply ducts, or plenums,  34 ,  36  generally routed to each room  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 . In another embodiment, the air conditioning system  20  may be a hydronic system that may include heat registers in each room  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  for heating of the air therein. Yet further, the air conditioning system  20  may be a simplified single zone system, thus may not include automated valves or dampers typically used to direct, for example, heated water or air to specific rooms. 
     The air conditioning system  20  may include an air condition unit  38  and a control system  40  configured to activate the air condition unit  38  in a manner based on occupancy and a series of time intervals each associated with a respective region  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 . The control system  40  may include a plurality of condition sensor assemblies (i.e., four illustrated as  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ), a central controller  50  (e.g., thermostat), and an occupant sensor assembly  52 . Each condition sensor assembly  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  may be located in a respective region  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  of the occupiable structure  24 . The sensor assemblies  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  are configured to measure the condition of the air in the respective regions  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  and output a condition signal  54  indicative of the measured air condition. The remote controller  50  may be configured to receive and process the condition signal  54 . 
     In one embodiment, the control system  40  may generally be a wireless system. As a wireless system, each condition sensor assembly  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  may include an air condition sensor  56  and a transmitter, or transceiver,  58 . Similarly, the occupant sensor assembly  52  may be wireless, and thus includes an occupancy sensor  60  and a transmitter, or transceiver,  62  for sending a wireless occupancy signal  64  to the central controller  50 . It is contemplated and understood that any one, or more, of the sensor assemblies  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  52  may not be wireless, and instead may be hardwired to the central controller  50  and/or the air condition unit  38 . 
     In yet another embodiment, the control system  40  may be configured to operate with any conventional and/or pre-existing air conditioning unit  38 . For example and where the air condition is temperature, a pre-existing (i.e., traditional) thermostat may be replaced with the control system  40 . More specifically, the novel thermostat  50  of the present disclosure may be wall mounted in a location proximate to the thermostat to be replaced. The temperature sensor assemblies  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  may be positioned and/or mounted to walls or ceilings with respective regions  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 . The occupancy sensor assembly  52  may, for example, be place proximate to an entry point, or high traffic area, of the occupiable structure  24 . Once the various components are appropriately located, the central controller  50  may be programmed in accordance with the particular structure and in accordance with the occupying habits of a particular occupant. To establish a fully operational air conditioning system  20 , no changes or alterations need to be made to the air conditioning unit  38 , which may be pre-existing. 
     The central controller  50  may include a receiver, or transceiver,  66  for receiving the wireless signals  54 ,  64 , an air condition sensor  68 , a processor  70  (e.g., microprocessor), and an electronic storage medium  72  that may be computer writeable and readable. In one embodiment, the central controller  50  may be remotely located from the air conditioning unit  38 . The air conditioning unit  38  may include a controller  74  configured to generally communicate with the central controller  50  (i.e., wirelessly or hardwired), and generally control and monitor operation of the air conditioning unit  38 . 
     In one embodiment, the air conditioning unit  38  may be a forced air conditioning unit having an air treatment device  76  and a blower  78  adapted to move air through the plenums  34 ,  36 . In a, non-limiting, example where the air condition is temperature, the air treatment device  76  may be a heater (e.g., gas or electric heater) and the air condition sensors  56  may be temperature sensors. In another embodiment, the central controller  50  may not be remotely located from the air conditioning unit  38 , and may be, or may be part of, the unit controller  74 . Yet further and in another embodiment, the occupant sensor  60  may not be remotely located from the central controller  50 , and instead, may be an integral part of the central controller  50  wherein the sensors  60 ,  68 , transceiver  66 , processor  70  and storage medium  72  are located within a common housing (not shown) of the central controller  50 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , programming and/or setup, of the air conditioning system  20  may be accomplished by a user of the system and/or occupant of the occupiable structure  24 . Through a user interface  80  of the central controller  50 , the occupant may enter an air condition threshold  82  that is stored in the storage medium  72  of the central controller  50 . In one embodiment, the air condition threshold  82  may be an air temperature threshold indicative of a temperature within an occupant comfort zone (e.g., about 72 degrees Fahrenheit). The occupant may then enter a series of time intervals  84  and associate each time interval with a respective region  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 . The specific region and associated time interval is indicative of a prediction of where the occupant will be within the time interval  84 . The series of time intervals  84  may be successive and lie within a 24 hour period (i.e., one day), and generally repeat for each day thereafter. 
     For example, for living room  26 , a time interval of “5 pm to 6 pm” may be chosen indicative of the occupant most likely being in the living room  26  at that time interval. For bedroom  28 , the time interval may be “11 pm to 1 am” that is indicative of a time interval that the occupant expects to be sleeping and/or is in the bedroom  28 . For kitchen  30 , there may be two time intervals, such as “7 am to 8 am” and “6 pm to 7 pm” indicative of periods that the occupant typically cooks and/or consumes meals. 
     Once the occupant or user has associated particular time intervals  84  with respective regions  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and has chosen an air condition threshold  82  (i.e., all programmed and stored in the storage medium  72  of the central controller  50 ), the air conditioning system  20  may be operational. 
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a method of operating the air conditioning system. In operation, and at block  100 , the processor  70  of the central controller  50  may generally track real time. At block  102 , the central controller  50  may receive an occupancy signal  64  from the occupancy sensor assembly  52 , and the processor  70  may evaluate signal  64  to determine if the occupiable structure  24  is occupied. If “no” and at block  104 , the central controller  50  may not acknowledge and/or receive the regional air condition signals  54 , and instead, may process the central air condition signal  86  from the air condition sensor  68  of the controller  50 . If the air condition threshold  82  is met (i.e., and/or is sufficiently deviated therefrom), the processor  70  via the transceiver  66  of the central controller  50  may send an activate command  88  to the controller  38  of the air condition unit  38 . Thus, the air condition unit  38  operates based on air condition measurements from the air condition sensor  68  of the central controller  50  and not the regional air condition signals  54  of the remotely located (i.e., regional) air condition sensors  56 . 
     If the occupiable structure  24  is determine to be occupied, and at block  106 , the processor  70  of the central controller  50  may determine if the real time is within a time interval  84  pre-associated with region  26 . If “yes” and at block  108 , and during the prescribed time interval, the central controller  50  utilizes the air condition signal  54  from the regional sensor assembly  42  to determine if an activate command  88  should be sent to the air condition unit  38  based, at least in-part, on the preprogrammed air condition threshold  82 . 
     At block  110 , with the structure  24  occupied, and if the current time does not fall within the first time interval  84 , the processor  70  of the central controller  50  determines if the real time falls within a second time interval  84  that may be associated with the second region  28 . If “yes” and at block  112 , and during the prescribed second time interval, the central controller  50  utilizes the air condition signal  54  from the regional sensor assembly  44  to determine if an activate command  88  should be sent to the air condition unit  38  based, at least in-part, on the preprogrammed air condition threshold  82 . 
     At block  114 , with the structure  24  occupied, and if the current time does not fall within the second time interval  84 , the processor  70  of the central controller  50  determines if the real time falls within a third time interval  84  that may be associated with the third region  30 . If “yes” and at block  116 , and during the prescribed third time interval, the central controller  50  utilizes the air condition signal  54  from the regional sensor assembly  46  to determine if an activate command  88  should be sent to the air condition unit  38  based, at least in-part, on the preprogrammed air condition threshold  82 . 
     At block  118 , with the structure  24  occupied, and if the current time does not fall within the third time interval  84 , the processor  70  of the central controller  50  determines if the real time falls within a fourth time interval  84  that may be associated with the fourth region  30 . If “yes” and at block  120 , and during the prescribed fourth time interval, the central controller  50  utilizes the air condition signal  54  from the regional sensor assembly  48  to determine if an activate command  88  should be sent to the air condition unit  38  based, at least in-part, on the preprogrammed air condition threshold  82 . 
     This process generally repeats itself until all prescribed time intervals  84  have been reviewed by the processor  70  of the central controller  50 . At block  122  and if the current or real time does not fall within a prescribed time interval  84 , the processor  70  of the central controller  50  may utilize the air condition signal  86  from the central air condition sensor  68  to determine if an activate command  88  should be sent to the air condition unit  38  based, at least in-part, on the preprogrammed air condition threshold  82 . 
     Advantages and benefits of the present disclosure include a system configured to control the temperature within a dwelling based on temperature measurement taken in an occupied room within the dwelling. Other benefits may include a savings in energy consumption since the system focuses on temperature within occupied rooms instead of unoccupied rooms or regions. 
     While the present disclosure is described with reference to illustrated embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In addition, various modifications may be applied to adapt the teachings of the present disclosure to particular situations, applications, and/or materials, without departing from the essential scope thereof. The present disclosure is thus not limited to the particular examples disclosed herein, but includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.