Universal Control Board for Line and Low Voltage HVAC Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-rise buildings typically use only line voltage equipment due to separate control boards required for line and low voltage loads, resulting in suboptimal output for thermostat applications that benefit from low voltage loading, lacking WIFI humidity and UV control.
Innovation Solution
A universal control board that enables a low voltage WIFI thermostat to operate with both line and low voltage equipment, including humidification, dehumidification, and lighting applications, by transforming voltage and facilitating communication between voltage sides, allowing for energy-efficient and air-quality-improving solutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate control boards are used for line voltage and low voltage loads, then each voltage type can be controlled independently, but the system complexity increases and low voltage thermostat features (WIFI, humidity control) cannot be used with line voltage equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines line voltage and low voltage control functions into a single universal control board. The board includes both line voltage terminals (L1, L2, W, Y, G) and low voltage terminals (R, C, Y, G, W) integrated on one PCB, allowing one control board to replace two separate control boards and enable both voltage types to work with a single thermostat interface
Solution Approach 2:
The control board is designed with universal functionality to handle both line voltage and low voltage loads simultaneously. It can control line voltage equipment (humidifiers, dehumidifiers, UV lamps) and low voltage equipment (AC, heat pump) through the same thermostat, providing multi-voltage compatibility and enabling features like WIFI control, humidity sensing, and UV activation regardless of equipment voltage type
2Productivity
If line voltage equipment is used in high rise buildings, then installation is simplified, but the output performance for thermostat applications is suboptimal and lacks WIFI humidity and UV control
Solution Approach 1:
The universal control board acts as an intermediary between the thermostat and line voltage equipment. It receives control signals from the low voltage thermostat (including WIFI communications, humidity setpoints, UV activation signals) and translates them into appropriate line voltage control outputs, enabling advanced features to control line voltage humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and UV lamps that would otherwise be incompatible
3Adaptability or versatility
If a universal control board is used for both line and low voltage loads, then adaptability and control features are improved, but the board complexity and design difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The universal control board is segmented into distinct functional zones: line voltage input/output sections, low voltage input/output sections, rectifier bridges for AC-to-DC conversion, voltage transformation circuits, and microcontroller interfaces. This segmentation allows independent design and testing of each voltage domain while maintaining overall integration on a single PCB
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
Enables the use of low voltage WIFI thermostats with line voltage equipment, improving energy efficiency and air quality by allowing optimized dehumidification, humidification, and lighting control, reducing issues like asthma, allergies, and mold growth while supporting both voltage types.
Implementation Method 1
a systemic control board configured to couple to a 120-volt or a 240-volt system and transform a voltage of the 120-volt or the 240-volt system for a plurality of low-volt equipment
Implementation Method 2
a fan operatively associated with the systemic control board and each humidification and dehumidification device
Data Source
AI summary
A universal control board for high-rise buildings is provided. The universal control board provides a communication system that operatively associates low voltage loading, including a WIFI thermostat application, with line voltage equipment for providing energy savings, humidification, dehumidification, UV lighting and multiple fan applications in high-rise buildings.