Wireless HVAC Remote Control for Accurate Zoned Temperature Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC controllers often fail to accurately represent environmental conditions felt by occupants, as sensors are typically mounted near walls, and users must physically interact with each controller in zoned systems, making it inconvenient to adjust settings across multiple zones.
Innovation Solution
A wireless HVAC remote control unit that allows users to remotely communicate with HVAC controllers, featuring a portable design with sensors for ambient temperature sensing and a user-friendly interface for setting changes, enabling direct control of HVAC components and dynamic behavior adaptation based on zoned or non-zoned systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are mounted near walls in fixed locations, then the HVAC controller can sense environmental conditions at those locations, but the sensed conditions do not accurately represent the actual environmental conditions felt by occupants away from walls
Solution Approach 1:
A portable remote control unit with its own temperature sensor acts as an intermediary between the wall-mounted HVAC controller and the occupant. The remote unit is positioned in the occupied space away from walls to sense the actual environmental conditions, then wirelessly transmits this information to the HVAC controller, enabling accurate sensing without requiring wall-mounted sensors in fixed locations.
2Ease of operation
If users must physically walk over to each HVAC controller to interact with the user interface, then direct control is possible, but it is inconvenient especially in zoned systems with multiple controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical requirement of physically walking to each HVAC controller with a wireless communication system. The portable remote control unit uses wireless signals (such as radio frequency or infrared) to communicate with one or more HVAC controllers, allowing users to control HVAC settings from any location within wireless range, thereby eliminating the time and effort required to physically visit each controller.
3Ease of operation
If a portable remote control unit is provided that wirelessly communicates with HVAC controllers, then users can remotely adjust settings without physical interaction, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The portable remote control unit is designed to be universally compatible with multiple HVAC controllers and zones. It can communicate with one or more controllers, sense environmental conditions locally, display information on its interface, and control various HVAC functions including temperature setpoint adjustment and zone selection. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate devices or physical interactions with multiple controllers into a single portable unit.
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
Enhances user convenience by allowing remote adjustment of HVAC settings without physical interaction, improves accuracy by sensing ambient conditions, and simplifies control across multiple zones through a user-friendly interface.
Implementation Method 1
The sensors are used to sense one or more environmental conditions of the inside space, and provide a measure of the sensed environmental condition to the HVAC controller
Implementation Method 2
In operation, the display of the portable remote control unit may display information received from one or more HVAC controllers, and/or information sensed by the temperature sensor. A communication interface of the portable remote control unit may be configured to wirelessly transmit information displayed on the display to one or more HVAC controllers
Data Source
AI summary
An HVAC remote controller for use in an HVAC system is described. In some instances, the HVAC remote controller may include a wirelessly interface for communicating with one or more HVAC controllers and/or other HVAC devices. The HVAC remote controller may be configured to execute a user setup routine for entering user setup information, where the user setup routine may cause the HVAC remote controller to display a sequence of two or more user setup screens, sometimes at a common menu level rather than a sub-menu. Some or all of the two or more user setup screens may include, for example, a message center indicating a parameter or function to be set, one or more buttons for adjusting or selecting the parameter or function, and a next button to advance the user setup routine to a next screen in the sequence of user setup screens.