| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 165237000 | Means responsive to occupancy of space | 27 |
| 20100243231 | Energy management improvement for a heating system with reduced setpoint temperature during no occupancy based upon historical sampling of room thermal response with highest power heat applied - A thermostat apparatus for controlling a heat pump with supplemental resistive heating as typically contained in a Packaged Terminal Air Conditioning (PTAC) unit is disclosed which provides improvements in energy management by reducing energy usage as much as possible within user guidelines when the conditioned space served by the PTAC is not occupied. A reduced setpoint temperature determination is based upon measurements of thermal response within the conditioned space to application of supplemental or resistive heat, and utilizes supplemental or resistive heat in achieving a quick recovery when people enter the conditioned space, thus enabling a more reduced setpoint temperature when the space is not occupied. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110120694 | Air conditioner and communication method thereof - An air conditioner in which a Carrier Sensing Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) algorithm is provided on a bidirectional RS-485 communication line, and a communication method thereof. The air conditioner includes an RS-485 communication module to transmit and receive data in an RS-485 communication mode, and a microcomputer to determine presence or absence of data on a communication line when data to be transmitted is generated, occupy the communication line if no data is present on the communication line, and then transmit the generated data to the communication line. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110277982 | AIR CONDITIONER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - Provided are an air conditioner and a method for controlling the air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an input unit receiving an input air-conditioning temperature for an indoor space, an air-conditioning unit generating a cool or hot wind having the input air-conditioning temperature, and a location detecting unit for detecting a user s location in the indoor space. A direction and temperature of the cool or hot wind generated by the air-conditioning unit are adjusted in accordance with whether a user is detected in the indoor space by the location detecting unit. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20120247748 | AIR CONTROL SYSTEM - In an air-conditioning control system, a ventilating device performs ventilation between an indoor space and an outdoor space, and an absence detecting unit for detecting absence of a human within the indoor space. An air conditioning controller adapted to operated, when the absence of the human is detected by the absence detecting unit, the ventilating device during at least a part of an absence period to control a thermal environment within the indoor space. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120318490 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF A ROOM BASED ON OCCUPANCY - An environment control system for controlling the temperature in a room, the system comprises a heating and cooling system; a thermostat for monitoring the temperature within a room and controlling the heating and cooling system; a motion sensor for detecting whether a door or window to the room has been opened; a presence detector for detecting whether the room is currently occupied; and a control system in communication with the thermostat, the motion sensor, and the presence detector, the control system being configured to control the room's temperature via the thermostat based at least in part on signals received from the thermostat, the motion detector and the presence detector. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20130025840 | AUXILIARY CONTROLLER FOR AN HVAC SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION - An auxiliary controller for an HVAC system includes a thermostat interface for receiving control signals by wire from a thermostat; an HVAC system interface for providing control signals by wire to an HVAC system; a security system interface for receiving armed status signals by wire from a security system; and processing structure configured to, while the security system is disarmed, permit routing of all control signals received from a thermostat to an HVAC system and, upon arming of the security system, invoke a setback mode including controlling the routing to reduce energy consumption. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130092364 | AIRFLOW CONTROL IN FLOOR MODE FOR VEHICLE WITH MULTIPLE SEATING ROWS - A comfort system is provided for a motor vehicle. A seat occupancy sensor determines whether a third row zone is occupied. At least one flow controller is provided in the floor duct for controllably supplying the conditioned airflow to at least the third row outlet. If the third row zone is occupied, then a second row outlet and the third row outlet are turned on to supply a conditioned airflow to a front seat zone, a second row zone, and the third row zone. If the third row zone is not occupied, then the third row outlet is closed off. If the second row zone is not occupied, then the second and third row outlets are closed off. If occupied, then the second row outlet is turned on until a desired comfort level is achieved in the second row zone. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130098596 | Smart-Home Device That Self-Qualifies For Away-State Functionality - A thermostat, includes a housing and an occupancy sensor that is disposed within the housing and configured to detect physical presences of users within a responsive area of the occupancy sensor. The thermostat may also include a processing system that is disposed within the housing and in operative communication with the occupancy sensor. The processing system may be configured to determine, after a trial period, whether to activate an away-state feature by storing indications of how often the occupancy sensor detected physical presences during the trial period, computing an occupancy level for the trial period, comparing the occupancy level to a threshold criterion, determining whether sufficiently true indications of occupancy conditions were sensed by the occupancy sensor during the trial period, and enabling the away-state feature of the thermostat if it is determined that the sufficiently true indications of occupancy conditions were sensed during the trial period. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130284417 | CONTROLLER CIRCUIT FOR AIR CONDITIONER AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM CONTAINING PROGRAM INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONTROLLING AIR CONDITIONER - A first fan controlling section of a controller circuit is configured to control a first blower fan so as to induce the discharge of the airflow of a cool air through a first air outlet defined in a first enclosure of an indoor unit of the air conditioner. A second fan controlling section is configured to control second blower fans so as to induce the discharge of the airflows of a room air through second air outlets, respectively, defined in a pair of second enclosures disposed on the opposite sides of the first enclosure. An enclosure attitude controlling section is configured to change the respective attitude of the second enclosures relative to the first enclosure. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20140158337 | OCCUPANCY-BASED WIRELESS CONTROL OF MULTIPLE ENVIRONMENTAL ZONES VIA A CENTRAL CONTROLLER - An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140158338 | OCCUPANCY-BASED WIRELESS CONTROL OF MULTIPLE ENVIRONMENTAL ZONES WITH ZONE CONTROLLER IDENTIFICATION - An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140190679 | CONTROL ASSEMBLY - A control component for insertion in a standard size connection box of a conventional component such as a switch or other electrical mechanism. The control component may have new capabilities plus maintain the capabilities of the conventional component. The connection box need not be removed, or if the box is removed then the structure or space encompassing the box need not be enlarged. Further, no new wiring for is necessarily needed for connecting the control component. This placement or substitution may be particularly applicable to many rooms of hotels, motels, and other facilities. Neither time nor expense of modifications to the connection box, wiring and/or the room is necessarily needed. In many cases, a room or space cannot necessarily be modified to add a larger or an additional component having additional capabilities, such as a component having an air quality controlled device for operating a ventilation fan in a room. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140345845 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE - An occupancy sensing electronic thermostat is described that includes a thermostat body, an electronic display that is viewable by a user in front of the thermostat, a passive infrared sensor for measuring infrared energy and an infrared energy directing element formed integrally with a front surface of the thermostat body. The passive infrared sensor may be positioned behind the infrared energy directing element such that infrared energy is directed thereonto by the infrared energy directing element. The thermostat may also include a temperature sensor and a microprocessor programmed to detect occupancy based on measurements from the passive infrared sensor. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140367079 | EXTERNAL BODY TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR USE WITH A HVAC SYSTEM - A HVAC system is provided. In one embodiment, the HVAC system includes (1) a sensor being configured to measure a body condition of a user and having a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit body condition information, and (2) a HVAC controller having a receiver configured to receive the body condition information and being configured to adjust a current conditioning set point of the HVAC system to a temporary conditioning set point based on the body condition information. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140374083 | AIR CONDITIONER HAVING HUMAN BODY SENSING ANTENNA UNIT - Disclosed is an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit. The air conditioner further includes an indoor unit located in a building and configured to distribute cool air to a space within the building. The air conditioner further includes an antenna unit configured to sense (i) movement of human bodies within the space or (ii) presence of human bodies located in the space and determine a number of human bodies based on the sensed presence, where the antenna unit includes a housing and a plurality of antenna arrays located on an outer surface of the housing. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150013958 | AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM - A controller sets a target setting temperature for an air-conditioning space, compares a value obtained by subtracting an outdoor temperature detected by an outdoor temperature sensor from the target setting temperature, with a first threshold related to the value, compares a value obtained by subtracting the outdoor temperature from an indoor temperature detected by an indoor temperature sensor, with a second threshold related to the value, compares a value obtained by subtracting a heat load in the air-conditioning space from a cooling capacity, with a third threshold related to the value, and controls operation of a heat pump type air-conditioning device and a ventilating device on the basis of these comparison results. The first threshold, the second threshold, and the third threshold are set in accordance with the number of people detected by a human detection sensor. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150068721 | OCCUPANCY BASED ENERGY OPTIMIZATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method for occupancy based energy optimization can include determining a size and speed of a number of objects within an area, determining a number of human occupants within the area based on the size and speed of the number of objects within the area, and altering a number of environmental settings for the area based on the determined number of human occupants. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150136378 | AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM - A remote controller and an air-conditioning apparatus are provided. The remote controller includes an operation unit, a human detection sensor, a transmission/reception unit, and a processor. The human detection sensor detects the presence or absence of a person, and generates a presence/absence detection signal representing a result of detection of the presence or absence of a person. The processor transmits a schedule operation signal and the presence/absence detection signal to the air-conditioning apparatus. The air-conditioning apparatus includes a heat-source-side control section that controls the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus based on the schedule operation signal and the presence/absence detection signal. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150136379 | AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM - In an air-conditioning system, during precooling or preheating control, a setting temperature is controlled such that a first temperature difference between the setting temperature and an indoor temperature is not less than a temperature difference at which a compressor performs operation, and the setting temperature is controlled to be changed to a target temperature when a second temperature difference between the indoor temperature and the target temperature is less than the first temperature difference. Since the compressor can be operated in the range from a low capacity to a medium capacity, operation efficiency of the air-conditioning apparatus can be increased, and the energy-saving operation with less power consumption can be realized. Since the operation capacity of the compressor can be readily suppressed with adjustment of the setting temperature, control is facilitated and the precooling control can be incorporated in various types of air-conditioning apparatuses. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150300670 | AIR-CONDITIONING CONTROL SYSTEM - An air-conditioning control system includes a ventilation fan; a human sensor for human presence detection; a gas sensor for measuring concentration of carbon dioxide; and a control panel as a control device. The control panel controls the ventilation fan based on an output signal of the human sensor and an output signal of the gas sensor. The control panel controls the ventilation fan to change an amount of ventilation by the ventilation fan based on the output signal of the human sensor when the concentration of carbon dioxide measured with the gas sensor is below a first threshold. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150354845 | OPTIMIZED AIRFLOW DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - An airflow distribution system comprising an occupancy detector, a motorized damper, a ventilation sensor, and a controller; wherein said occupancy detector signals said motorized damper to open when a room is occupied and to close when a room is unoccupied; wherein said ventilation sensor signals said controller to reduce the speed of a fan when less volumetric airflow is needed; wherein said ventilation sensor signals said controller to increase the speed of a fan when more volumetric airflow is needed. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150369508 | Method and Apparatus Providing Safety Improvement for Thermostat Devices That Provide Remote Control Features - An improvement in operation of a thermostat with regard to overall safety, efficiency, comfort, cost of operation or other such items is disclosed in which limits or restrictions are placed on remote control features of the thermostat based upon detection of occupancy, or locality of people or devices owned by people identified as potential occupants or the locality of a device utilized in attempting to send commands to the thermostat. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20160018119 | INTEGRATED THERMAL COMFORT CONTROL SYSTEM UTILIZING CIRCULATING FANS - A system for providing thermal comfort for a person within a space comprising a plurality of interconnected zones, such as a single room in a residence, commercial establishment, or industrial location. At least one fan is positioned in each zone, which may be an overhead fan mounted to a ceiling common to two or more of the zones, and a sensor is provided for sensing a condition in at least one of the zones. A controller is adapted for controlling the fan in the at least one zone independent of another fan based on the sensed condition in the at least one zone including the controlled fan. Related aspects of a thermal comfort control system and methods are also disclosed. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160033162 | INDOOR UNIT FOR AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS - An indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes: a casing having an air inlet formed in an upper part of the casing and an air outlet formed below a front part of the casing, the casing accommodating therein a heat exchanger and a fan; at least one horizontal airflow-direction louver mounted pivotally inside the air outlet to guide airflow through the air outlet in a horizontally changeable manner; at least one vertical airflow-direction louver mounted to cover the air outlet in a closed position and to guide airflow through the air outlet in a vertically changeable manner; an infrared sensor projecting downward from the casing at a position in a horizontal end portion of the casing and in front of the air outlet; and at least one airflow blocking portion located behind the infrared sensor, the at least one airflow blocking portion having a side wall on or beside one edge of the air outlet, the side wall located closer to a center of the air outlet in the horizontal direction than the infrared sensor. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160061478 | AIR-CONDITIONING CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160069582 | HVAC System with Motion Sensor - A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a motion sensor located in a system controller, a zone thermostat, and/or a zone sensor. The zone sensor is configured to detect motion within a space conditioned by the HVAC system. In response to either detecting motion and/or not detecting motion, the HVAC system may alter a display setting, such as intensity and/or brightness of backlighting, on the system controller and communicate information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor to at least one of another system controller of another HVAC system and/or a remote system. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160069583 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE - An occupancy sensing electronic thermostat is described that includes a thermostat body, an electronic display that is viewable by a user in front of the thermostat, a passive infrared sensor for measuring infrared energy and an infrared energy directing element formed integrally with a front surface of the thermostat body. The passive infrared sensor may be positioned behind the infrared energy directing element such that infrared energy is directed thereonto by the infrared energy directing element. The thermostat may also include a temperature sensor and a microprocessor programmed to detect occupancy based on measurements from the passive infrared sensor. | 03-10-2016 |
