Wireless HVAC Remote Display for Accurate Zone 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 controllers for programming, which is inconvenient in zoned systems.
Innovation Solution
A wireless HVAC remote control unit that allows users to remotely monitor and control HVAC systems, featuring a portable design with a user interface for selecting options, displaying visual cues for selected settings, and communicating with multiple HVAC controllers or devices, enabling remote temperature sensing and parameter adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are mounted near walls in fixed HVAC controllers, then the controllers can sense environmental conditions at wall locations, but the sensed conditions do not accurately represent the actual environmental conditions felt by occupants away from walls
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the HVAC control functionality into multiple portable remote control units that can be distributed throughout the building. Each remote unit contains its own sensors and control interface, allowing users to access and adjust HVAC settings from any location without being constrained to a single wall-mounted controller location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary between the HVAC controller and the user. The controller communicates with portable remote control units via wireless signals, enabling users to remotely monitor and adjust HVAC settings from any location in the building without physically interacting with the main controller.
2Ease of operation
If users must physically walk to each HVAC controller to make changes, then each controller can be directly operated, but users experience inconvenience especially in zoned systems with multiple controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary between the HVAC controller and the user. The controller communicates with portable remote control units via wireless signals, enabling users to remotely monitor and adjust HVAC settings from any location in the building without physically interacting with the main controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable remote control unit is designed to be universally compatible with multiple HVAC controllers and zones. A single remote unit can access and control different zones by selecting from displayed options, eliminating the need for users to physically visit each zone's dedicated controller location.
3Ease of operation
If visual cues are added to distinguish selected options on the display, then user interface clarity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display uses color changes and visual cues such as highlighted borders around selected options to indicate the current selection to the user. When a user navigates through options using the arrow keys, the selected option is visually distinguished by a highlighted border, making it easy to identify the current selection without adding complex interface elements.
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 wireless interface for communicating with one or more HVAC controllers and/or other HVAC devices. The HVAC remote control unit may be configured to display two or more option on a display, wherein the user may be allowed to select one of the two or more options resulting in a selected option. The HVAC remote control unit may display a visual cue for the selected option that visually distinguishes the selected option from the remaining options. The visual cue may include a different border for the selected option than the remaining options and/or a marker within or adjacent to the border. It is also contemplated that a similar visual cue may be used in conjunction with an HVAC controller display, if desired.