Multi-Room Air Conditioning Control for Occupied Zone Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems often fail to maintain consistent temperatures across multiple rooms in a dwelling, leading to occupant discomfort and increased energy consumption due to centralized thermostats that may not accurately represent remote room conditions.
Innovation Solution
A distributed air conditioning system with multiple temperature sensors in each room and a programmable controller that activates the air conditioning unit based on preprogrammed thresholds and occupancy patterns, allowing for zone-specific temperature control and energy-efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a centralized thermostat is used to control air conditioning, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature uniformity across different rooms deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the dwelling into multiple zones, each with its own temperature sensor and control logic. The centralized thermostat is segmented into multiple independent control channels, each monitoring a specific room's temperature and independently activating the AC unit when that zone requires cooling. This segmentation allows each room to be controlled individually while using a single thermostat device.
Solution Approach 2:
Each room is equipped with its own temperature sensor that locally measures the temperature conditions specific to that space. The control system applies local quality by allowing each zone to have its own temperature setpoint and control threshold, recognizing that different rooms may have different thermal characteristics and occupancy patterns. This enables temperature-uniform control across diverse local conditions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the air conditioning unit operates to maintain temperature in all rooms, then temperature uniformity improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by activating the air conditioning unit only when necessary for occupied or prioritized zones, rather than continuously operating to maintain temperature everywhere. Each zone's control logic independently determines when AC activation is needed, allowing the system to under-cool unoccupied areas while maintaining comfort in occupied spaces, thus reducing overall energy consumption while still providing temperature control where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system implements periodic monitoring of temperature conditions in each zone, with each zone independently triggering AC operation based on its own temperature thresholds and occupancy patterns. This periodic, event-driven control approach replaces continuous operation, activating the AC unit only during periods when actual cooling demand exists in specific zones, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
3Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors are deployed in different rooms, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple temperature sensors deployed in different rooms are merged into a single centralized thermostat device. The thermostat integrates multiple sensor inputs, occupancy detectors, and control logic into one unified unit, eliminating the need for separate control devices in each room. This merging maintains high measurement precision through multiple sensors while reducing overall system complexity by consolidating control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized thermostat is designed as a universal control device that performs multiple functions: it monitors temperature in multiple zones, detects occupancy status, stores occupancy patterns, and controls the air conditioning unit based on综合分析 of all inputs. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate specialized devices in each room, achieving high measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures more comfortable temperatures in occupied rooms while reducing energy consumption by focusing on temperature control within occupied spaces and eliminating the need for excessive cooling or heating of unoccupied areas.
Implementation Method 1
an air condition sensor assemblies each located in a respective region of the plurality of regions
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning system for an occupiable structure having a plurality of regions includes a plurality of air condition sensors, an air conditioning unit, and a programmable controller. The air condition sensor assemblies are each located in a respective region of the plurality of regions. The air conditioning unit is adapted to condition air in the occupiable structure. The controller is configured to receive a plurality of condition signals from each one of the plurality of air condition sensor assemblies and output an activate command that facilitates activating the air conditioning unit. The activate command is based on any one of the condition signals and a preprogrammed condition threshold. Each one of the condition signals is associated with a respective programmed time interval of a plurality of programmed time intervals.