System and method for zone heating and cooling using controllable supply and return vents

Abstract

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 and the opening of an ECRV provided to a supply vent and the opening of an ECRV provided to a return vent.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a system and method for directing heating and cooling air from an air handler to various zones in a home or commercial structure.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Most traditional home heating and cooling systems have one centrally-located thermostat that controls the temperature of the entire house. The thermostat turns the Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioner (HVAC) system on or off for the entire house. The only way the occupants can control the amount of HVAC air to each room is to manually open and close the register vents throughout the house.[0005]Zoned HVAC systems are common in commercial structures, and zoned systems have been making inroads into the home market. In a zoned system, sensors in each room or group of rooms, or zones, monitor the temperature. The sensors can detect where and when heated or cooled air is needed. The sensors send information to a cen...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

A non-zoned system cannot completely accommodate this seasonal variation.

Unfortunately, the equipment currently used in a zoned system is relatively expensive.

Moreover, installing a zoned HVAC system, or retrofitting an existing system, is far beyond the capabilities of most homeowners.

This makes zoned HVAC systems expensive to purchase and install.

The cost of installation is such that even though the zoned system is more efficient, the payback period on such systems is many years.

Such expense has severely limited the growth of zoned HVAC systems in the general home market.

Such single-return systems suffer from numerous disadvantages.

For example, if a bedroom door is closed, then the bedroom may not receive sufficient heating or cooling because the air return path is blocked by the closed door.

Moreover, having a single return vent makes it more difficult to control the temperature in each zone since air from any zone must travel to the zone containing the return vent.

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