Patent Description:
A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controller typically operates in a standalone manner by measuring the surrounding temperature close to the associated radiator and regulates the temperature by adjusting the valve opening. However, the temperature close to the radiator is usually hotter than the actual room temperature. With the current RF technology, the TRV controller can work with a remote thermostat to regulate the room temperature based on the temperature measured with a thermostat mounted on the wall.

However, for larger rooms, there is usually more than one radiator, requiring multiple TRV controllers to control the room. Even with current RF technology, each TRV controller often requires an associated thermostat to operate properly, thus increasing the cost and also complicating the setup of the system.

Consequently, there is a need for a single thermostat in a room to control multiple TRV controllers in the market. However, with the typical tolerance of the valve's pin length, rubber hardness, and mechanical structure, it is very difficult to adjust the correct opening point for the valve through a TRV controller to have synchronized control of the system when multiple TRV controllers are used in one room.

<CIT> discloses a valve for a heating system comprising a valve closing member movable between a closed position and an open position. A control unit is provided which comprises an electronic memory adapted to receive and store an opening limitation value, being a selected intermediate position between the fully open position and the fully closed position of the valve closing member. The control unit controls an actuation device controlling the position of the valve closing member.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controller is provided comprising: a TRV wireless module; a temperature sensor configured to measure a radiator temperature at a predetermined distance from the radiator; and a TRV controller computing device configured to: perform auto-detection, wherein auto-detection comprises determining a minimum opening position of a pin of a valve of the radiator, and determining a maximum opening position of the pin; receive position information for an operating position of the pin through the TRV wireless module via a wireless channel; and adjust the operating position of the pin between the minimum opening position and the maximum opening position from the position information; characterized in that the step of determining the maximum position of the pin comprises: sensing when the first radiator is transferring a maximum amount of heat; in response to the sensing, registering a first pin position when the maximum amount of heat is transferred; and equating the first maximum opening position to the first pin position.

A first thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controller according to the first aspect, and a second TRV controller according to the first aspect, may be provided with and a single thermostat for use in a heating system for a surrounding room, the thermostat comprising: a thermostat computing device; and a thermostat wireless module; the thermostat computing device configured to perform: sensing a room temperature of the surrounding room; determining a first operating position of a first pin of a first thermostatic valve from the room temperature and a set point temperature of the surrounding room; determining a second operating position of a second pin of a second thermostatic valve from the room temperature and the set point temperature of the surrounding room; and sending first and second position information to the first and second TRV controllers, respectively, through the thermostat wireless module via a wireless channel.

A heating system may be provided comprising: a first thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controller according to the first aspect, a second thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controller according to the first aspect and the single thermostat; a first radiator configured to transfer heat to a surrounding room and comprising a first valve; the first thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controller configured to control the first valve of the first radiator; and the first valve comprising a first pin, wherein a first operating position of the first pin determines a first amount of heat transferred to the first radiator; the first TRV controller configured to carry out auto-detection in order to automatically determine a first minimum opening position and a first maximum opening position of the first pin; the single thermostat configured to determine the first operating position of the first pin from a room temperature and a set point temperature of the surrounding room and to send first position information indicative of the first operating position to the first TRV controller via a wireless channel; and the first TRV controller configured to adjust the first operating position between the first minimum opening position and the first maximum opening position from the first position information, the heating system further comprising: a second radiator configured to transfer heat to the surrounding room and comprising a second valve; the second TRV controller configured to control the second valve of the second radiator; the second valve comprising a second pin, wherein a second operating position of the second pin determines a second amount of heat transferred to the second radiator; the second TRV controller configured to automatically determine a second minimum opening position and a second maximum opening position of the second pin; the single thermostat configured to determine the second operating position of the second pin from the room temperature and a set point temperature of the surrounding room and to send second position information indicative of the second operating position to the second TRV controller via a wireless channel; and the second TRV controller configured to adjust the second operating position between the second minimum opening position and the second maximum opening position from the second position information.

The heating system may include a single thermostat that controls multiple thermostatic radiator valve controllers that control heat transfer to radiators in a room. The thermostat may include a microcontroller, radio frequency (RF) module or integrated RF circuitry, temperature sensor to sense the room temperature. Each thermostatic radiator valve controller may include a microcontroller, RF module or integrated RF circuitry, and temperature sensor to sense the temperature around radiator and is controlled by the thermostat through a wireless channel.

The thermostat may sense the room temperature and send room temperature, set point temperature, and/or differential of set point temperature and room temperature to thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controllers.

The thermostat may sense the room temperature and send a determined valve pin position percentage to the TRV controllers.

The TRV controller may have the ability to automatically detect the open/closing point of the valve of a radiator by sensing the temperature turning point and register the position as the open/closing point. All further determined pin positions may refer to this open/closing point as the start point of calculation.

The automatic detection of open/closing point may be performed soon after installation or initiated by an RF command or by an entered command through a keypad in which a sequence of keys represents the entered command entered through a user interface.

If auto detection fails during summer operation, the TRV controller may automatically detect winter operation by checking a signature indicative of a call for heat in order to initiate the auto detection again.

The TRV controller detects the maximum power output point by checking the rate of temperature rising of the radiator. By acquiring the pin position for maximum heat transfer from the radiator, the TRV controller may register the point as the <NUM>% opening for all subsequent calculations rather than using the fully pin open position.

The foregoing summary of the invention, as well as the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included by way of example, and not by way of limitation with regard to the claimed invention.

When heating a larger room, there is usually more than one radiator requiring multiple controllers to control the heating of the room. With traditional systems, each controller often requires an associated thermostat thus increasing the cost and also complicating system setup.

<FIG> shows a heating system for heating room <NUM> with multiple thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controllers <NUM>-<NUM> and single thermostat <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Each TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> controls a corresponding valve <NUM>-<NUM>, which in turn controls the heat transfer through heat conduit <NUM> (e.g., heated water pipe from heat source <NUM>) to radiators <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively.

Different components (e.g., single thermostat <NUM>, TRV controllers <NUM>-<NUM>, and heat source <NUM>) may communicate with each other through wireless communication channels via antennas <NUM>-<NUM> or through wired connections. Wireless communications may utilize different frequency spectra, including radio frequency (RF), light, and infrared.

With traditional heating systems, it is typically difficult to adjust the correct opening point of the valve in order to have synchronized control of the system with multiple valve controllers in one room.

TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> uses an internal temperature sensor <NUM>-<NUM> to detect the opening point (minimum opening position where the valve begins to open from the closed position) so that all TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> of room <NUM> can be operated with the correct opening point when instructed by single thermostat <NUM>. Temperature sensor <NUM>-<NUM> is situated in close proximity of associated radiator <NUM>-<NUM> to properly measure the radiator's temperature. The temperature sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may be housed within the TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> which is close to the radiator <NUM>-<NUM> or connected via wires to the radiator itself <NUM>-<NUM>.

TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> also detects the maximum power output point by checking the rate of temperature rising of the radiator as measured through temperature sensors <NUM>-<NUM>. By acquiring the maximum power pin position, the TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> registers the pin position as <NUM>% opening for all subsequent calculations rather than using the fully pin open position.

Each TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> adjusts heat transfer to associated radiator <NUM>-<NUM> by controlling the pin position of valve <NUM>-<NUM>. The amount of the pin movement determines how much the corresponding valve <NUM>-<NUM> is open and consequently the amount of heat transfer from heat conduit <NUM> to radiator <NUM>-<NUM>. However, with the tolerance of the valve pin length and rubber hardness and mechanical structure of the valve, each TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> calibrates operation to the actual dimensions of valve <NUM>-<NUM>. As will be discussed, TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> detects the minimum opening position and maximum opening position of the valve pin.

During normal operation (as will be discussed with <FIG>), single thermostat <NUM> senses room temperature and sends a calculated pin position percentage to TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM>, where the percentage is in relation to the open/closed position (<NUM> percentage) to the maximum opening position (<NUM> percentage). Because of characteristic differences among valves <NUM>-<NUM>, the associated minimum opening and maximum opening position vary among valves <NUM>-<NUM>. However, by providing the calculated pin position percentage by thermostat <NUM>, operation is normalized among TRV controllers <NUM>-<NUM>. With an embodiment, the pin percentage sent by the single thermostat <NUM> does not vary as the TRV controllers <NUM>-<NUM> all receive the same pin percentage.

While <FIG> shows a system for heating room <NUM>, some embodiments may be directed to cooling room <NUM> by cold water rather than hot water being transported by conduit <NUM>.

<FIG> shows process <NUM> for controlling a heating system with single thermostat <NUM> and at least one thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controller <NUM>-<NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. With some embodiments, process <NUM> may be performed by each TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM>, where processing device <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, executes process <NUM>.

TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> starts process <NUM> (e.g., electrical power is applied after installation) at block <NUM> and initializes at block <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> determines if it is calibrated. For example, as will be discussed, calibration includes the determination of the minimum opening and maximum opening position for associated valve <NUM>-<NUM>. If not calibrated, TRV controller executes blocks <NUM>-<NUM> as will be discussed.

At block <NUM>, process <NUM> determines whether the winter flag is set denoting winter mode. While winter mode is typically activated during the winter season, winter mode may be activated during the summer so that TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> can be calibrated at a desired time. If the winter flag is not set, process <NUM> continues to block <NUM>. Otherwise, process <NUM> continues to block <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, process <NUM> determines whether there is a call for heat from the single thermostat <NUM>. If not, process <NUM> returns to block <NUM>. Otherwise, process <NUM> continues to block <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> determines whether the temperature has increased by comparing the room temperature as provided by single thermostat <NUM> from the temperature sensor <NUM> and the measured temperature from temperature sensor <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. If so, process <NUM> sets the winter flag at block <NUM> and continues to block <NUM>; otherwise, process <NUM> returns to block <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, process <NUM> determines whether there is a call for heat. If so, process <NUM> automatically detects the maximum power point (maximum opening position) at block <NUM> by associated valve <NUM>-<NUM>. With some embodiments, TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> detects the maximum power output point by checking the rate of temperature rising of the radiator as measured by temperature sensor <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. By acquiring the maximum power pin position, TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> registers the point as the <NUM> percentage opening for all future calculation rather than using the fully pin open position.

At block <NUM>, if process <NUM> determines that there is no call for heat, TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> determines if the sensor temperature is near room temperature, which is indicative that the pin position is approximately at the opening/closing point of valve <NUM>-<NUM>. All further expecting pin position will refer to this open/closing point as the start point of calculation.

If during summer operation automatic detection fails, the process <NUM> automatically detects winter operation by checking a signature indicative of a call for heat in order to initiate the auto detection again. For example, if there is no call for heat for x days, the winter flag is cleared at block <NUM> and blocks <NUM>-<NUM> are repeated.

The automatic detection of the open/closing point (minimum pin position) and the maximum power point (maximum opening position) is executed at blocks <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, soon after installation, or through a RF command, or through a keypad in which a sequence of keys representing a corresponding command is entered through user interface <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows process <NUM> performed during normal operation in accordance with an embodiment. Step <NUM> may be performed with or without step <NUM> and step <NUM> may be performed with or without step <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, single thermostat <NUM> senses the room temperature and sends room temperature, set point temperature and/or differential of set point temperature and room temperature to TRV controllers <NUM>-<NUM>. From this data the TRV controllers <NUM>-<NUM> can decide to open or close the valve <NUM>-<NUM>.

At block <NUM>, single thermostat <NUM> senses the room temperature and sends a calculated pin position percentage to TRV controller <NUM>, where <NUM> percentage corresponds to the open/closed position and <NUM> percentage corresponds to the maximum opening position. From this data the TRV controllers <NUM>-<NUM> can move the valve to the correct position.

<FIG> shows single thermostat <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Single thermostat <NUM> comprises processing device <NUM>, wireless module <NUM> or integrated circuitry, and temperature sensor <NUM>. Processing device <NUM> may assume different forms such as a microcontroller (or MCU, short for microcontroller unit) that may comprise a small computer (SoC) on a single integrated circuit containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals.

Single thermostat <NUM> may communicate with TRV controllers <NUM>-<NUM> via wireless module <NUM> via a wireless channel in order to convey information (e.g., a pin position percentage). However, with some embodiments, thermostat <NUM> and TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM> may communication via a wired configuration.

The heating system may comprise single thermostat <NUM> with a microcontroller, radio frequency (RF) module or integrated RF circuitry, and temperature sensor to sense the room temperature.

Thermostat <NUM> senses the room temperature utilizing temperature sensor <NUM> and sends the room temperature, the pin position percentage, set point temperature and/or differential of set point temperature and room temperature to TRV controllers <NUM>-<NUM>.

<FIG> shows thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controller <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. TRV controller comprises processing device <NUM>, wireless module <NUM> or integrated circuitry, temperature sensor <NUM>, radiator valve interface <NUM>, and user interface <NUM>.

TRV controller <NUM> may execute in a standalone-mode by measuring the surrounding temperature close to the radiator through temperature sensor <NUM> and may regulate the temperature by adjusting the valve opening through valve interface <NUM>.

With some embodiments, valve interface <NUM> comprises a servo motor that moves the valve pin to a desired position and circuitry to control the servo motor. The servo motor enables TRV controller <NUM> to control the linear position of the pin within a desired amount of preciseness.

Because temperature sensor <NUM> is typically close to associated radiator <NUM>-<NUM> (as shown in <FIG>), the measured temperature is typically hotter than the actual room temperature when the valve <NUM> - <NUM> is open. By communicating with thermostat <NUM> through wireless module <NUM>, TRV controller <NUM> can regulate the room temperature based on the temperature measured with thermostat <NUM> mounted, for example, on a wall or table within the room. The TRV controller <NUM> now has the room temperature reading from thermostat <NUM> and can therefore adjust the radiator valve <NUM> correctly.

The automatic detection of the open/closing point (minimum pin position) and the maximum power point (maximum opening position) as executed at blocks <NUM> and <NUM> shown in <FIG>, respectively, may be initiated soon after installation, through a command from wireless module <NUM>, or through a keypad in which a sequence of keys are pressed that is indicative of a command via user interface <NUM>. While the keypad may be directly associated with TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM>, some embodiments may support a keypad at thermostat <NUM>. In such a case, the entered command may be sent over wireless module <NUM> to TRV controller <NUM>-<NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the computing system environment may include a computing device wherein the processes (e.g., shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) discussed herein may be implemented. The computing device may have a processor for controlling overall operation of the computing device and its associated components, including RAM, ROM, communications module, and memory device. The computing device typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media may be any available media that may be accessed by computing device and include both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise a combination of computer storage media and communication media.

Computer storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media include, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and that can be accessed by the computing device.

Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. Modulated data signal is a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

Claim 1:
A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controller (<NUM>) comprising:
a TRV wireless module (<NUM>);
a temperature sensor (<NUM>) configured to measure a radiator temperature at a predetermined distance from the radiator (<NUM>); and
a TRV controller computing device configured to:
perform auto-detection, wherein auto-detection comprises determining a minimum opening position of a pin of a valve (<NUM>) of the radiator, and determining a maximum opening position of the pin;
receive position information for an operating position of the pin through the TRV wireless module via a wireless channel; and
adjust the operating position of the pin between the minimum opening position
and the maximum opening position from the position information; characterized in that the step of determining the maximum position of the pin comprises:
sensing when the first radiator (<NUM>) is transferring a maximum amount of heat;
in response to the sensing, registering a first pin position when the maximum amount of heat is transferred; and
equating the first maximum opening position to the first pin position.