Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to climate control and, more particularly, to a remote sensor for a dehumidifier.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Conventional dehumidifiers have a humidistat integrated in the dehumidifier to sense when a desired humidity level is achieved at the location of the dehumidifier. Because dehumidifiers are typically large, noisy devices, users often wish to place dehumidifiers in remote locations as far away from the living area of the home as possible. The distance between the dehumidifier and the living area in which the user is trying to control the humidity level results in the integrated humidistat providing a humidity level reading to the dehumidifier that is not accurate from the perspective of the user. Typically, in setting the desired humidity level on the dehumidifier, the user wishes to control the humidity level in the living area of the home, not in the space immediately surrounding the remotely placed dehumidifier. As a result, conventional dehumidifiers serve a limited purpose because of the discrepancy between the setting the user sets on the dehumidifier and the resulting humidity level achieved by the dehumidifier in the living area of the home.  
         [0003]     It would be desirable to have a dehumidifier that does not suffer from the requirement of having an integrated humidistat. It would also be desirable to have a dehumidifier that can be remotely placed and still achieve an accurate humidity level in the living area of the home as set by the user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention provides a system for remote sensing for a dehumidifier. In one aspect, a remote control is provided with integrated temperature and humidity sensors so that a desired humidity level is achieved at the location of the remote control.  
         [0005]     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a dehumidifier is provided comprising a dehumidifier main body portion, a receiver board, and a remote control. The dehumidifier main body portion includes a dehumidification system. The receiver board is mounted on the main body portion for controlling operation of the dehumidification system. The remote control includes a control circuit for generating a control signal and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the control signal to the receiver board. The remote control further includes a sensor electrically coupled to the control circuit. The sensor generates a sensor signal in response to a physical condition sensed at the location of the remote control. The control signal is based on the sensor signal and the receiver board controls the dehumidification system in response to the control signal.  
         [0006]     The sensor may comprise either a humidistat or a thermometer. The dehumidifier may further comprise one or more buttons located on the remote control and coupled to the control circuit and a display located on the remote control and coupled to the control circuit. A user of the dehumidifier may input a set point using the one or more buttons and the control circuit generates the control signal based on the sensor signal and the set point. The sensor may comprise a humidistat and the set point may comprise an ambient humidity setting. In one aspect, the remote control may be removably attachable to the receiver board.  
         [0007]     The dehumidifier may further comprise a second sensor for sensing physical conditions at the dehumidifier main body portion. The second sensor is electrically coupled to the receiver board and the receiver board controls operation of the dehumidification system in response to the control signal and the second sensor. The second sensor may comprise either a coil temperature sensor for triggering a defrost mode of operation, a level sensor for triggering a full bucket condition, or a humidistat supplying a second control signal to the receiver board. The dehumidification system may be set to operate in response to either the control signal or second control signal. The transmitter may wirelessly transmit the control signal to the receiver board using a wireless communication link. The wireless communication link may comprise a radio frequency (RF) signal, a networking communication link, or a wireless bus protocol communication link.  
         [0008]     The dehumidifier may further comprise one or more sensors electrically coupled to the receiver board, one or more switches electrically coupled to the receiver board, and/or one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) electrically coupled to the receiver board. The one or more sensors may generate additional sensor signals in response to physical conditions sensed at the location of the receiver board. The one or more switches control the operation of the dehumidification system in response to settings set by a user at the location of the dehumidifier main body portion. The one or more LEDs indicate various operating modes of the dehumidification system. The dehumidifier may also comprise a processor mounted on the receiver board for receiving the control signal and controlling the dehumidification system. The processor may be either an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a microcontroller. The dehumidifier may further comprise a housing for the receiver board having a front face with an elevated contour, and a recess complementary to the elevated contour located on the back of the remote control. The remote control may be removably attachable to the housing of the receiver board.  
         [0009]     The dehumidifier may form part of a dehumidification network. The dehumidification network may further comprise one or more additional dehumidifier main body portions each including dehumidification systems and one or more additional receiver boards mounted on the one or more additional dehumidifier main body portions, each for controlling operation of the respective dehumidification systems. The control signal further comprises an address code and a unique unit code. The receiver board and the one or more additional receiver boards further comprise a programmed unique unit code. The address code comprises two different codes representing either a one to one mode or a one to all mode. The receiver board and the one or more additional receiver boards all operate in response to the control signal when the address code indicates one to all mode. The receiver board and the one or more additional receiver boards individually operate in response to the control signal when the address code indicates one to one mode and the unique unit code equals the programmed unique unit code. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Various features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims and drawings in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a dehumidifier system of an example embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front plan view of a remote control and sensing device of an example embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a receiver board in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front plan view of the receiver board shown in  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a circuit topology of an example embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0016]     Similar reference numerals are used in different figures to denote similar components.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a front perspective view of a dehumidifier system  100  is shown in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention. The dehumidifier system  100  generally comprises a main body  102 , a remote control and sensing device  104 , and a receiver board  105 . In one example, the remote control and sensing device  104  may be removably attached to the main body  102 . In another example, the remote control and sensing device  104  may be an entirely separate device that cannot be attached to the main body  102 . The receiver board  105  is coupled to the main body  102  and is located behind the remote control and sensing device  104 .  
         [0018]     The main body  102  has a mechanical dehumidification system contained within the main body  102 , which may include a fan, a compressor, and other components, as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a front plan view of the remote control and sensing device  104  is shown. The remote control and sensing device  104  generally comprises a display  106  and a number of buttons  108 , individually indicated as  108   a ,  108   b , . . . ,  108   n . In one example, the buttons  108  comprise a power button  108   a , a mode button  108   b , an up button  108   c , and a down button  108   n . The display  106  may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) or any other suitable display known in the art. The display  106  shows the user information about an operating mode of the dehumidifier system  100  ( FIG. 1 ), a humidity level or temperature sensed at either the main body  102  ( FIG. 1 ) or the remote control and sensing device  104 , a fan speed of the dehumidifier system  100 , a relative humidity set-point as set by the user using the remote control and sensing device  104 , an ambient humidity level as sensed at either the remote control and sensing device  104  or the main body  102 , a bucket full indicator for the dehumidifier system  100 , and/or a buzzer indicator to alert a user of the dehumidifier system  100  to any number of important conditions. Additionally, the remote control and sensing device  104  may include a number of sensors or transducers (described later in connection with  FIG. 5 ) that provide information regarding ambient environmental conditions. In one embodiment, the remote control and sensing device  104  includes an ambient humidity sensor and an ambient temperature sensor.  
         [0020]     In one embodiment, the remote control and sensing device  104  allows the user to select an operating mode for the dehumidifier system  100 . Example operating modes may include:  
         [0000]     1. Power-Off Mode  
         [0021]     Using the remote control and sensing device  104 , the user may cause the dehumidifier system  100  to enter a power-off mode. In this mode of operation, power is not supplied to the mechanized dehumidification system, including the fan and compressor, the display  106  is off, and any displays and/or outputs on the receiving controller  105  ( FIG. 1 ) are also shut off.  
         [0000]     2. Power-On Mode (Operating Mode)  
         [0022]     In a power-on or operating mode, the display  106  is on and ambient temperature and ambient relative humidity information is displayed. The display  106  may include a relative humidity setting bar showing the user a user modifiable humidity set-point, initially set at, for example, 35%. The user may set the desired relative humidity set-point using the remote control and sensing device  104 . A fan speed display on the display  106  shows the previous fan speed and the initial power-on fan speed (e.g., the fan speed may initially be set to high). In the power-on mode, the compressor and the fan of the dehumidifier system  100  are on if the ambient relative humidity is, for example, 5% higher than the set-point set by the user. Once the ambient relative humidity reaches, for example, 3% below the user&#39;s set-point, the compressor and fan are turned off sequentially.  
         [0000]     3. Fail-Safe Mode  
         [0023]     If the receiver board  105  determines that either the ambient humidity sensor or the ambient temperature sensor in the remote control  104  has failed to work properly, then the receiver board  105  my cause the dehumidifier system  100  to enter a fail-safe mode. In the fail-safe mode, the fan runs with a user selected fan speed and the compressor may cycle with a predetermined duty cycle. In one example embodiment, the predetermined duty cycle may be a sequence of fifty-two minutes on and eight minutes off.  
         [0000]     4. Setup Mode  
         [0024]     The dehumidifier system  100  may operate in a setup mode while the user enters changes to various settings. The setup mode is activated by pressing the mode button  108   b  while the dehumidifier system  100  is in the operating mode. Any icons on the display  106  are turned off except for the selected fan speed icon, which will flash. In a setup mode, the remote control and sensing device  104  may automatically return the dehumidifier system  100  to the operating mode if the setup process is not completed within 2 minutes.  
         [0025]     A number of settings of the dehumidifier system  100  may be set from within the setup mode:  
         [0026]     a. Fan Speed Setup 
        When the dehumidifier system  100  initially enters the setup mode, the display  106  shows the selected fan speed icon. The up button  108   c  and the down button  108   n  may be used to change the fan speed.        
 
         [0028]     b. Relative Humidity Setup 
        If the user presses the mode button  108   b  again, the relative humidity setting bar with numbers is displayed. The up button  108   c  and the down button  108   n  may be used to change the relative humidity set-point. Relative humidity blocks in the setting bar are shown as solid and flash on the display  106  according to the selected relative humidity set-point chosen by the user. If the relative humidity set-point is being increased and the relative humidity bar attains the highest number of blocks possible, the dehumidifier  100  system switches to a fan-only mode and the compressor shuts down. If the relative humidity set-point is being decreased and the relative humidity bar attains the lowest number of blocks possible, the dehumidifier system  100  switches to a continuous mode and the compressor remains on at all times subject to any preprogrammed maximum duty cycle to avoid freezing.        
 
         [0030]     c. Temperature Unit 
        If the user presses the mode button  108   b  again, a temperature reading is displayed in either degrees Celsius or degrees Fahrenheit. The up button  108   c  and the down button  108   n  may be used to toggle the displayed unit between Celsius and Fahrenheit.        
 
         [0032]     d. Buzzer Setup 
        If the user presses the mode button  108   b  again, buzzer setup is activated. The up button  108   c  and the down button  108   n  may be used to set the buzzer on or off and to select which alarms, if any, are enabled.        
 
         [0034]     e. Exit from Setup-Mode 
        Pressing the mode button  108   b  again returns the dehumidifier system  100  to the operating mode.        
 
         [0036]     The remote control and sensing device  104  may also provide for operation of the dehumidifier system  100  in a yard mode and/or a self-testing mode.  
         [0037]     The remote control and sensing device  104  may have two additional operating modes. In one example, the remote control and sensing device  104  may be configured to control either a single dehumidifier system  100  or multiple dehumidifiers similar to the dehumidifier system  100 , simultaneously. These two modes of operation are referred to as “one to one” (e.g., a single remote control and sensing device  104  controlling a single dehumidifier system  100 ) and “one to all” (e.g., a single remote control and sensing device  104  controlling a multiple dehumidifier systems). The remote control and sensing device  104  may be toggled between one to one mode and one to all mode with an easy program change using a combination of the buttons  108  on the remote control and sensing device  104  and the switches  120  on the receiver board  105 .  
         [0000]     5. One to All Mode  
         [0038]     The one to all mode may be entered when the remote control and sensing device  104  and the receiver board  105  are off. If the user presses the up button  108   c  and the mode button  108   b  at the same time on the remote control and sensing device  104  followed by the power button  108   a , the remote control and sensing device  104  enters the one to all mode. In the one to all mode, all receiver boards  105  within range of the remote control and sensing device  104  will receive commands and be controlled by the remote control and sensing device  104 .  
         [0000]     6. One to One Mode  
         [0039]     The one to one mode may be entered when the remote control and sensing device  104  and the receiver board  105  are off. If the user presses the up button  108   c  and the mode button  108   b  at the same time on the remote control and sensing device  104  followed by the fan speed switch  120   n  on the receiver board  105 , the receiver board  105  emits a beep. The remote control and sensing device  104  and the receiver board  105  are now in one to one mode. In the one to one mode, the remote control and sensing device  104  will only control this specific receiver board  105 .  
         [0040]     To facilitate the one to all and one to one modes, the receiver board  105  may be designed so that the manufacturing process repeats a unique unit code every 500 units in the numbering process. As such, every remote control and sensing device  104  that is manufactured may have the ability to control any dehumidifier system  100  (e.g., the remote control and sensing device  104  is capable of addressing all 500 unique unit codes stored in different receiver boards  105 ).  
         [0041]     In one example, a 315 MHz carrier signal may be employed by the remote control and sensing device  104  in both of the one to one and the one to all modes. Instructions emitted from the remote control and sensing device  104  to the receiver board  105  comprises 2 parts: (i) an address code that indicates either the one to one mode or the one to all mode; and (ii) a string indicating a unique unit code.  
         [0042]     In the one to one mode, the remote control and sensing device  104  emits a set of instructions including the address code indicating the one to one mode and the unique unit code. Once the receiver board  105  receives the set of instructions, the receiver board  105  compares the unique unit code received with the unique unit code stored in the receiver board  105 . If the two unique unit codes are equal, control information in the set of instructions transmitted by remote control and sensing device  104  is processed by the receiver board  105 .  
         [0043]     In the one to all mode, the remote control and sensing device  104  emits instructions including the address code that indicates one to all mode. Once one of the receiver boards  105  (e.g., many receiver boards  105  may be receiving the instructions) receives the address code, the receiver board  105  automatically processes the control information and operates accordingly. The receiver board  105  does not operationally respond to the instructions emitted from the remote control and sensing device  104  unless the instructions include either the one to all address code indicating the one to all mode or the unique unit code equal to the unique unit code stored in the receiver board  105 .  
         [0044]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a front perspective view of the receiver board  105  is shown. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a front plan view of the receiver board  105  is shown. The receiver board  105  generally comprises a number of switches  120 , individually indicated as  120   a , . . .  120   n , and a number of lights or light emitting diodes (LEDs)  122 , individually indicated as  122   a ,  122   b , . . .  122   n . In one embodiment, the switches  120  may include a power switch  120   a  and a fan speed switch  120   n . The LEDs  122  may include a power on LED  122   a , a bucket-full and/or low temperature indicator LED  122   b , a high fan speed LED  122   c , and a low fan speed LED  122   n.    
         [0045]     In one embodiment, the receiver board  105  serves a multitude of functions. The receiver board  105  functions as a rudimentary control device that allows the user of the dehumidifier system  100  to control the dehumidifier system  100  by entering settings on the main body  102  if the remote control and sensing device  104  is not convenient, has been misplaced, or has failed to function. Additionally, the receiver board  105  may serve as a docking station for the remote control and sensing device  104  should the user wish to place the remote control and sensing device  104  directly on the main body  102 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the receiver board  105  has a contoured housing with an elliptically shaped plateau in the center. The back of the remote control and sensing device  104  has a complementary recess for receiving the elliptically shaped contour of the housing. The remote control and sensing device  104  may snap into place on top of the receiver board  105 . The receiver board  105  may also include a number of sensors or be connected to a number of sensors such as an ambient humidity sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, and/or a coil-temperature sensor. The receiver board  105  may also generate a full bucket alarm that asserts itself through the buzzer.  
         [0046]     In one embodiment, the receiver board  105  may control the operating mode of the dehumidifier system  100 . The mode of operation may be selected by the user or may be selected automatically by the receiver board  105  in response to the operating conditions of the dehumidifier system  100  and any settings set by the user. Example modes of operation may include the following:  
         [0000]     1. Normal Mode  
         [0047]     The dehumidifier system  100  may enter a normal mode of operation when first powered on. In this mode of operation, the receiver board  105  begins to function with the power LED  122   a  illuminated according to an instruction from the remote control and sensing device  104 . If the remote control and sensing device  104  communicates an error for thirty minutes or more, the power LED  122   a  flashes and an audible alarm (e.g., the buzzer) is generated. After such a communications error, the user may press the power switch  120   a  and the fan speed switch  120   n  at the receiver board  105 . The fan will then run at a speed according to the selection made with the fan speed switch  120   n . In one example, the compressor may default to a pre-programmed duty cycle (e.g., the compressor remains on for fifty-two minutes and switches off for eight minutes each hour). When the fan speed is set to high on the remote control and sensing device  104  and no communications error exists, the high fan speed light  122   c  is on and the fan runs at high speed. When the fan speed is set to low on the remote control and sensing device  104 , the low fan speed light  122   n  is on and the fan runs at low speed. In one example, the compressor is programmed to lag behind the fan by four minutes during the power-on sequence. Once the compressor quits running, a four minute interval may be needed before the compressor can be switched back on again. If a full bucket condition is detected for two seconds, the compressor and fan are turned off sequentially, the full bucket light  122   b  is illuminated, and the audible alarm (e.g., the buzzer) is generated once every hour. The user is able to toggle the buzzer on and off such that the buzzer is only able to sound if the buzzer is enabled from the remote control and sensing device  104 .  
         [0000]     2. Very Low Temperature Mode  
         [0048]     This mode of operation is triggered if the ambient temperature at the main body  102  is below four degrees Celsius for four minutes or more. In this mode of operation, the fan and compressor shut down and the four LEDs  122  flash until the ambient temperature is above five degrees Celsius for at least eight consecutive minutes.  
         [0000]     3. Low Temperature Mode  
         [0049]     When the ambient temperature is lower than fifteen degrees Celsius and lasts for more than ten continuous minutes at the dehumidifier body  102 , the receiver board  105  automatically enters low temperature mode and the low temperature light  122   b  begins to flash. In the low temperature mode, two conditions exist:  
         [0050]     Condition A: 
        If the ambient humidity level does not become low enough to reach the set-point set by the user, the compressor runs at a predetermined duty cycle. In one example, the predetermined duty cycle may include a sequence of fifty-two minutes on followed by eight minutes off. At the end of the predetermined duty cycle, the receiver board  105  checks the coil temperature. If the coil temperature is above five degrees Celsius, the compressor continues to operate at this duty cycle until the humidity level reaches the set-point set by the user. If the coil temperature is below five degrees Celsius, the compressor will remain stopped and the defrost fan runs to defrost the coil for another eight minutes. At the end of the cycle, coil temperature is checked again.        
 
         [0052]     Condition B: 
        If the ambient humidity level reaches the set-point set by the user within fifty-two minutes, the compressor stops, the defrost fan turns on, and the receiver board  105  runs the defrost cycle for four minutes. At the end of the four minutes, the coil temperature is checked. If the coil temperature is above five degrees Celsius, the compressor remains stopped and the defrost fan stops unless the ambient humidity level increases beyond the set-point set by the user. If the coil temperature is below five degrees Celsius, the receiver board  105  runs the defrost cycle for another four minutes and then checks the coil temperature again. Once the ambient temperature is above eighteen degrees Celsius for ten minutes, the receiver board  105  enters the normal mode. 
 
 4. Defrost Mode: 
       
 
         [0054]     When the coil temperature falls below two degrees Celsius for more than ten minutes, the receiver board  105  will automatically enter defrost mode. In defrost mode, the compressor will be turned off and the fan will continue running with the selected fan speed. The compressor remains off until the coil temperature rises to, for example, nine degrees Celsius or higher for more than ten minutes.  
         [0000]     5. Fail-Safe Mode  
         [0055]     If the coil temperature sensor and the ambient temperature sensor fail to work properly, the receiver board  105  will operate the dehumidifier system  100  in a fail-safe mode. The fan will run at the speed selected by the user and the compressor will cycle with a predetermined duty-cycle.  
         [0000]     6. Self-Test Mode  
         [0056]     A self-test mode may be entered while the dehumidifier system  100  power is off by pressing the fan-speed switch  120   n  and the power switch  120   a  at the same time for three seconds or more. All LEDs  122  will illuminate and the buzzer alarms for one second indicating that the receiver board  105  has entered the self-test mode. Various parts of the receiver board  105  may then be tested individually. For example, the user may use the fan-speed switch  120   n  to set the fan speed and then verify that the appropriate fan speed light  122   c  or  122   n  illuminates and the fan acquires the appropriate speed. The self-test mode is exited at any time by pressing the power switch  120   a.    
         [0057]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a block diagram is shown illustrating a circuit topology of a remote controlled dehumidifier system  200  in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention. The remote controlled dehumidifier system  200  generally comprises a dehumidifier  202 , a remote control  204 , and a receiver board  205 .  
         [0058]     The remote control  204  generally comprises a transmitting controller  206 , a transmitter  208 , a number of sensors or transducers  210 , individually indicated as  210   a , . . .  210   n , a number of buttons  212 , individually indicated as  212   a , . . .  212   n , and a display  214 . The sensors  210  and the buttons  212  provide inputs to the transmitting controller  206 . The transmitting controller  206  controls the transmitter  208  to transmit control signals to the dehumidifier  202 . The control signals include operating instructions for the dehumidifier  202  determined by the transmitting controller  206  so as to achieve a certain comfort level at the location of the remote control  204 , as set by a user of the remote control  204 .  
         [0059]     In one embodiment, the buttons  212  include a power button  212   a , a mode button  212   b , an up button  212   c , and a down button  212   n . The sensors or transducers  210  comprise an ambient temperature sensor  210   a  and an ambient relative humidity sensor  210   n . The display  214  is connected to one or more outputs of the transmitting controller  206 .  
         [0060]     The remote control  204  communicates with the receiver board  205  of the dehumidifier  202  wirelessly, using infrared communications, radio frequency (RF) communications, or any other method of wireless communication known in the art. In one aspect of the present invention, RF communications is used so that a line-of-sight does not have to be maintained between the remote control  204  and the receiver board  205 . A control signal transferred between the transmitter  208  and the receiver board  205  is indicated by a dashed line  218 . In another example, the control signal  218  may be a WiFi compatible signal (e.g., compliant with the 802.11b or 802.11g wireless networking standards) such that the dehumidifier  202  is controllable by any WiFi enabled device. Any WiFi enabled device may be able to control or retrieve operating information from the dehumidifier system  200 . Alternatively, the control signal  218  may be a wireless bus protocol signal such as a Bluetooth compatible signal enabling the dehumidifier  202  to be controllable by any Bluetooth enabled device (e.g., a PDA or cell phone). Any Bluetooth enabled device may be able to control or retrieve operating information from the dehumidifier system  200 .  
         [0061]     The dehumidifier  202  generally comprises a receiver  220 , a control circuit  222 , a processor  224 , a number of sensors or transducers  226 , individually indicated as  226   a , . . .  226   n , a number of switches  228 , individually indicated as  228   a , . . .  228   n , a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs)  230 , individually indicated as  230   a , . . .  230   n , a number of relays  232 , individually indicted as  232   a , . . .  232   n , a compressor  234 , and a fan  236 . The receiver  220  receives the control signal  218  from the transmitter  208 . The control circuit  222  includes the processor  224 , which may be, in one example, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a microcontroller, or any other suitable control circuit known in the art. The control circuit  222  is connected to the receiver  220 , the sensors or transducers  226 , the switches  228 , the LEDs  230 , and the relays  232 . In one example, the sensors or transducers  226  comprise an ambient temperature sensor  226   a  and an ambient relative humidity sensor  226   n  located on the receiver board  205 . However, the sensors  226  may also be positioned on the dehumidifier  202 . The switches  228  may comprise a power switch  228   a  and a fan speed switch  228   n . The LEDs  230  may comprise a power on LED  230   a , bucket-full and/or low temperature indicator LED  230   b , a high fan speed LED  230   c , and a low fan speed LED  230   n . In one embodiment of the present invention, the receiver  220 , the sensors  226 , the switches  228 , and the LEDs  230  are located on the receiver board  205 . However, any of the receiver  220 , the sensors  226 , the switches  228 , and the LEDs  230  may be moved off of the receiver board  205  and placed on the dehumidifier  202  according to the design criteria of a particular application. The relays  232  may comprise a compressor relay  232   a  and a fan relay  232   n . The compressor relay  232   a  controls the dehumidifier compressor  234  and the fan relay  232   n  controls the dehumidifier fan  236 . The dehumidifier  202  may have more than one compressor and/or fan. For example, the dehumidifier  202  may have one fan for normal operation and a second fan for defrosting the coil.  
         [0062]     In one embodiment, in operation the remote control  204  senses the ambient relative humidity in the area where the remote control  204  is positioned. The remote control  204  commands the dehumidifier  202  to operate until the relative humidity set-point set at the remote control  204  by the user is attained at the location of the remote control  204 . The remote control  204  remotely programs the dehumidifier fan settings, relative humidity set-point, and audible full bucket alarm buzzer. The remote control  204  displays ambient relative humidity and temperature readings in the vicinity of the remote control  204  and/or the vicinity of the dehumidifier  202 . The remote control  204  may have an option of displaying the temperature in either degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. In one example, the remote control  204  also provides a compressor start delay for every cycle when the compressor  234  is required to start. The dehumidifier  202  may sense the dehumidifier  202  coil temperature and respond with deicer cycles if needed. The remote control  204  has built in dehumidifier function diagnostics routines. The remote control  204  also has an integrated program to operate specifically with the particular receiver board  205 . Alternatively, the remote control  204  may be designed to operate with any receiver board, as described above. The remote control  204  also senses low temperatures (e.g., less than five degrees Celsius) and stops the dehumidifier  202  operation and flashes related information on the display  214  until the temperature increases. Once the temperature has increased, the remote control  204  commands the dehumidifier  202  operation to resume. The receiver board  205  is installed in the front grille of the dehumidifier  202 . During normal operation, the receiver board  205  receives the RF control signal  218  from the remote control  204  in periodic intervals (e.g., every fifteen minutes).  
         [0063]     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Technology Category: 2