Temperature control system with multiple networked sensors

Abstract

A temperature control system is disclosed where a single smart thermostat controls a single HVAC source according to information received through a network from multiple temperature sensors placed at different locations served by the HVAC source. This system addresses the common problem most often found in multi-cubicle and/or multi-office environments where a single thermostat controls the space and temperatures vary substantially across the space, and with the time-of-day. The system may be programmed to produce a specific average temperature across the space, or alternately target different temperatures for different locations within the space according to the time-of-day, in order to compensate for changing characteristics like the position of the sun. The system is also applicable to HVAC systems for the home.

1 . A temperature control system comprising: 
 a thermostat assembly for controlling a heating or cooling system, said thermostat assembly having an integral temperature sensor and an interface to a communications network, and    at least one remote temperature sensor having an interface to said communications network, and    wherein said thermostat assembly controls the heating or cooling system according to temperature information received from said integral temperature sensor and temperature information received via said communications network from at least one remote temperature sensor.    
     
     
         2 . The temperature control system of  claim 1  wherein the operation of the thermostat assembly reverts to that of a conventional thermostat, observing only the temperature at the location of said integral temperature sensor, if communication with remote temperature sensors is compromised.  
     
     
         3 . The temperature control system of  claim 1  wherein the thermostat assembly controls the heating or cooling system to produce measured temperatures at integral and remote temperature sensor locations such that the average of the measured temperatures of all sensor locations, both integral and remote, is a specific temperature.  
     
     
         4 . The temperature control system of  claim 1  wherein the thermostat assembly controls the heating or cooling system to produce measured temperatures at integral and remote temperature sensor locations such that a predetermined profile of measured temperatures over all sensor locations is achieved.  
     
     
         5 . The temperature control system of  claim 1  wherein the thermostat assembly controls the heating or cooling system to produce measured temperatures at integral and remote temperature sensor locations such that the profile of measured temperatures over all sensor locations changes with the time of day.  
     
     
         6 . The temperature control system of  claim 1  wherein said communications network is a wireless communications network.  
     
     
         7 . The temperature control system of  claim 1  wherein said communications network is a wired Ethernet communications network.  
     
     
         8 . The temperature control system of  claim 1  wherein said communications network transfers information by way of power lines.  
     
     
         9 . A method for operating a temperature control system wherein said temperature control system comprises: 
 a thermostat assembly for controlling a heating or cooling system, said thermostat assembly having an integral temperature sensor and an interface to a communications network; and    at least one remote temperature sensor having an interface to said communications network; and    where said method comprises the steps of:    collecting measured temperatures from integral and remote temperature sensors, where measured temperatures transferred from remote temperature sensors to said thermostat assembly are transferred by way of said communications network; and    controlling the heating or cooling system to produce measured temperatures at integral and remote temperature sensor locations such that the average of the measured temperatures of all sensor locations, both integral and remote, is a specific temperature.    
     
     
         10 . The temperature control system of  claim 9  wherein said communications network is a wireless communications network.  
     
     
         11 . The temperature control system of  claim 9  wherein said communications network is a wired Ethernet communications network.  
     
     
         12 . The temperature control system of  claim 9  wherein said communications network transfers information by way of power lines.  
     
     
         13 . A method for operating a temperature control system wherein said temperature control system comprises: 
 a thermostat assembly for controlling a heating or cooling system, said thermostat assembly having an integral temperature sensor and an interface to a communications network; and    at least one remote temperature sensor having an interface to said communications network; and    where said method comprises the steps of:    collecting measured temperatures from integral and remote temperature sensors, where measured temperatures transferred from remote temperature sensors to said thermostat assembly are transferred by way of said communications network; and    controlling the heating or cooling system to produce measured temperatures at integral and remote temperature sensor locations such that a predetermined profile of measured temperatures is produced across the locations of integral and remote temperature sensors.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of: 
 altering said profile of measured temperatures according to the time of day.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of: 
 altering said temperature profile such that one sensor location achieves a first measured temperature at one time of day, and another temperature sensor achieves a second measured temperature at a different time of day.    
     
     
         16 . The temperature control system of  claim 13  wherein said communications network is a wireless communications network.  
     
     
         17 . The temperature control system of  claim 13  wherein said communications network is a wired Ethernet communications network.  
     
     
         18 . The temperature control system of  claim 13  wherein said communications network transfers information by way of power lines.