System and method for controlling target air temperature in a building
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HVAC systems face limitations in interoperability, making it costly and difficult for consumers to integrate communicating and non-communicating equipment, restricting flexibility and retrofitting options, while also underutilizing features due to limited user interaction.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that operates HVAC units based on a target time control plan, compatible with both communicating and non-communicating equipment, using a communication module for data exchange and sensor integration, allowing for device discovery, configuration, and continuous optimization of heating/cooling operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If communicating HVAC equipment and thermostat are used, then control flexibility and automation are improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A communicating bridge device is introduced as an intermediary between the legacy HVAC equipment and the communicating thermostat. The bridge receives simple on/off signals from the thermostat and translates them into appropriate control signals for the HVAC equipment, enabling automated control without requiring the HVAC equipment itself to be communicating-capable.
Solution Approach 2:
The communicating bridge is designed to work with multiple types of HVAC equipment and thermostat configurations. It can interface with single-stage and multi-stage equipment, and can be configured through various methods including manual setup, automated discovery, and learning modes, making it universally applicable across different system configurations.
2Extent of automation
If communicating HVAC equipment is used, then control capabilities are improved, but interoperability and consumer choice are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The communicating bridge serves as a universal intermediary that decouples the thermostat from the HVAC equipment. It translates standardized communicating protocols from the thermostat into legacy control signals that any HVAC equipment can understand, enabling interoperability between different manufacturers' equipment and thermostats.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into three independent components: the communicating thermostat, the communicating bridge, and the legacy HVAC equipment. This segmentation allows each component to be selected independently based on consumer needs and preferences, with the bridge acting as the flexible connection point between them.
3Device complexity
If legacy HVAC equipment is used, then system cost and simplicity are reduced, but control flexibility and automation are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The communicating bridge enables legacy HVAC equipment to access advanced controlling capabilities by translating simple on/off signals into sophisticated control sequences. The bridge can implement features like equipment pre-cooling, staged operation, and integration with smart home systems without modifying the legacy equipment itself.
4Ease of operation
If device discovery and configuration methods are simplified, then installation ease is improved, but control precision and optimization are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated device discovery and configuration during installation, gathering equipment characteristics and optimizing control parameters before the user begins normal operation. This preliminary action establishes a baseline configuration that can later be refined through user feedback and learning modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides multiple configuration modes that allow the installation process to adapt to different user needs: automated discovery for ease of installation, manual configuration for precision, and learning modes for optimization. The system can transition between these modes dynamically based on user input and system performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for controlling the air temperature of a building using a control plan based on a target time. The system includes a controller which may be connected to a number of indoor and outdoor heating ventilation and air-conditioning units. The system may include a thermostat. The system may also operate without a thermostat. The method includes determining a control plan to reach a desired temperature in a target time. The method also includes updating the plan by comparing the actual time to reach the desired temperature with the target time.