Programmable IR Control for Multi-Zone Air Conditioner Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-room or multi-zone buildings, discrete air conditioner units are often manually controlled, leading to energy inefficiency due to lack of centralized management, especially when units are not adjusted to energy-efficient settings when zones are unoccupied.
Innovation Solution
A building management system with a central coordinator and discrete air conditioner controllers that use different wireless interfaces for communication, allowing for centralized control and scheduling of air conditioner units, including infrared code management and energy-efficient operation based on occupancy and temperature sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If discrete air conditioner units are manually controlled by users, then individual control flexibility is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to lack of centralized management and failure to adjust units to energy-efficient settings when zones are unoccupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central coordinator as an intermediary device that receives control inputs from users and translates them into appropriate infrared commands for discrete air conditioner units. This mediator enables centralized energy management while preserving user control flexibility, as users can still adjust settings through the central coordinator interface which then communicates with individual units via infrared codes.
Solution Approach 2:
The central coordinator serves multiple functions: it acts as a universal remote control for various air conditioner brands and models, provides centralized monitoring of multiple zones, enables scheduling and automation, and maintains individual unit control capabilities. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace multiple individual remotes while adding energy management capabilities.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a central coordination system is implemented to manage multiple air conditioner units, then energy efficiency is improved through centralized control, but device complexity increases due to multiple wireless interfaces and communication protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The central coordinator acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of multiple communication protocols internally. It receives simple control inputs through one interface (e.g., WiFi or Ethernet) and translates them into appropriate infrared commands for air conditioner units, shielding users from the underlying complexity while enabling energy-efficient centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses infrared code copying and storage to simplify control. The central coordinator stores libraries of infrared codes for various air conditioner models and reproduces the appropriate codes as needed, eliminating the need for users to manually program each unit with brand-specific protocols while maintaining compatibility with diverse equipment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If infrared codes are stored in raw waveform format rather than decoded, then adaptability to control various third-party devices is improved, but memory requirements and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores raw infrared waveform copies instead of decoded interpretations, enabling direct reproduction of manufacturer-specific control codes. This copying approach maximizes compatibility with third-party devices by preserving the exact original signals, though it requires sufficient memory capacity to store multiple waveform variations for different devices and functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A discrete air conditioner controller for controlling a discrete air conditioner unit servicing a building may receive an IR code, in some cases in a raw waveform format, from a handheld remote control that is associated with the discrete air conditioner unit during a programming process. The discrete air conditioner controller may associate the IR code with the discrete air conditioner unit and store the IR code and its association in memory. In some cases, the discrete air conditioner controller may transmit the IR code and its association to a central coordinator, where the IR code may be stored in the memory of the central coordinator. The IR code may be subsequently retrieved from the memory of the central coordinator and transmitted to selected discrete air conditioner controller units for use in controlling appropriate discrete air conditioner units.