HVAC control with a remote user interface and a remote temperature sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HVAC systems lack advanced control mechanisms that enable seamless integration of remote temperature sensing and control, limiting user convenience and system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An HVAC controller with a communication module for wireless communication with a network and remote server, allowing for thermostat control algorithms to generate control signals based on sensed temperatures from remote sensors and setpoints received via the network, enabling remote access and control through smartphones or other devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the HVAC controller is mounted within the building and provides control signals to HVAC components, then the system can control environmental conditions, but the user cannot access or control the system remotely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication module as an intermediary component that enables remote interaction with the HVAC controller. This module receives commands from remote devices via a network and translates them into control signals for the HVAC system, allowing users to control the system remotely without physically accessing the controller location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the control system into distinct functional components: the HVAC controller mounted within the building, the communication module for remote interaction, and the network interface. This segmentation allows the controller to remain in its optimal location for environmental control while adding remote capability through a separate communication component.
2Measurement precision
If a remote temperature sensor is used to sense temperature in the living space, then the temperature measurement is more accurate for control, but the wiring complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the communication module as an intermediary to transmit temperature data from the remote sensor to the controller. The sensor connects to the existing communication infrastructure (WiFi, Ethernet, or other network protocols) rather than requiring dedicated sensor wiring, simplifying installation while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical wiring connections for temperature sensing with wireless or network-based communication protocols. The remote temperature sensor communicates its measurements via digital network protocols instead of analog voltage signals over dedicated wires, reducing wiring complexity while preserving measurement accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If the thermostat control algorithm uses remote temperature sensor data and remote setpoints, then the control precision is improved, but the system requires network connectivity infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the communication module multi-functional, using it for multiple purposes: receiving remote temperature sensor data, receiving remote setpoint commands from user devices, and transmitting control status. This universal communication interface reduces the need for separate dedicated infrastructure for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control where the thermostat algorithm continuously receives updated temperature data and setpoint commands from remote sources via the network. The system adapts its control decisions based on real-time data exchange, improving control precision while utilizing the flexibility of network-based communication.
Data Source
AI summary
An illustrative HVAC controller may include a communication module for wirelessly communicating with a network and wiring terminals for receiving a wired connection to a remote temperature sensor that is situated remote from the HVAC controller and in a living space of the building. A controller may be operably coupled to the communication module and the wiring terminals and may be configured to implement a thermostat control algorithm to generate one or more control signals, wherein the one or more control signals are provided by a wired connection to the HVAC system to control one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system. The thermostat control algorithm may be configured to compare a sensed temperature received from the remote temperature sensor via the wiring terminals and a temperature setpoint received from the server via the network.