Air conditioning system performance monitor

Abstract

An air-conditioning system performance monitor measures the temperature of air on either side of the evaporator. Then a microcontroller means calculates the temperature drop in the air flowing across the evaporator. If the temperature drop is less than a predetermined threshold temperature, the microcontroller means alerts the house owner via display units, alarm, internet enabled devices and cell phones to call for service. This unit can be used on central air-conditioning systems, window air-conditioning systems and automobile air-conditioning systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A performance monitoring system for monitoring performance of air-conditioning systems comprising a notifier means and a plurality of evaluator means in an evaluator cluster; each said evaluator means comprising:
 a) a first microcontroller means;   b) a plurality of temperature sensor means in electrical communication with said first microcontroller means;   c) a plurality of pressure sensor means in electrical communication with said first microcontroller means;   d) a first display means configured to receive display data from said first microcontroller means and display received data;   e) a first transceiver means in electrical communication with said first microcontroller means to exchange a plurality of performance data between said first microcontroller means and said notifier means;   
       said notifier means comprising:
 a) a second microcontroller means; 
 b) a light sensing means in electrical communication with said second microcontroller means; 
 c) a second transceiver means in electrical communication with said second microcontroller means; 
 d) an alarm means in electrical communication with said second microcontroller means; 
 e) a second display means configured to receive display data from said second microcontroller means and display received data; 
 f) a first user input means in communication with said second microcontroller means to provide user communicated information to said second microcontroller means. 
 
     
     
         2 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of temperature sensor means are thermistors. 
     
     
         3 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of temperature sensor means are infrared detectors. 
     
     
         4 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of temperature sensor means comprise a plurality of input air temperature sensor means and a plurality of output air temperature sensor means. 
     
     
         5 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of input air temperature sensor means measure air temperature before air passes through evaporator in said air-conditioning system. 
     
     
         6 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of output air temperature sensor means measure air temperature after air passes through said evaporator in said air-conditioning system. 
     
     
         7 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of pressure sensor means are pressure transducers. 
     
     
         8 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of pressure sensor means consist of a first pressure sensor means to measure air pressure immediately before air passes through an air filter in said air-conditioning system and a second pressure sensor means to measure air pressure immediately after air passes through said air filter. 
     
     
         9 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said first microcontroller means is configured to:
 a) accept temperature readings from said plurality of input air temperature sensor means and said plurality of output air temperature sensor means after each predetermined time interval and compute average temperature difference; 
 b) accept pressure readings from said plurality of pressure sensor means after each predetermined time interval and compute pressure difference; 
 c) determine operational state of said air-conditioning system to be operating when said computed temperature difference is substantially greater than zero; 
 d) determine operational state of said air-conditioning system to be turned off when said computed temperature difference is substantially equal to zero; 
 e) update previously stored status value to good when operational state is operating and said computed temperature difference is not less than predetermined threshold temperature difference; 
 f) update previously stored status value to air filter change when operational state is operating and said computed temperature difference is less than predetermined threshold temperature difference and calculated pressure difference is not substantially close to zero; 
 g) update previously stored status value to call service when operational state is operating and said computed temperature difference is less than predetermined threshold temperature difference and calculated pressure difference is substantially close to zero; 
 h) communicate said updated previosly stored value to said notifier means using said first transceiver means when requested by said notifier means; 
 i) communicate said updated previosly stored value to said first display means. 
 
     
     
         10 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said first display means is a LCD display. 
     
     
         11 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said first display means is a LED display. 
     
     
         12 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said first transceiver means is configured to communicate wirelessly with said second transceiver means. 
     
     
         13 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said light sensing means communicates ambient light level information to said second microcontroller means. 
     
     
         14 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 13  wherein said light sensing means is a photo diode. 
     
     
         15 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 13  wherein said light sensing means is a charge coupled device. 
     
     
         16 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 13  wherein said light sensing means is a light dependent resistor. 
     
     
         17 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said alarm means produces audible sound. 
     
     
         18 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said second transceiver means is configured to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of said first transceiver means of said plurality of evaluator means and a plurality of user specified cellular phones and internet enabled devices. 
     
     
         19 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said second microcontroller means is configured to:
 a) communicate with each said evaluator means in said evaluator cluster using said second transceiver means; 
 b) retry predetermined number of times over a predetermined time interval to communicate with each said evaluator means before alerting user of problem with said evaluator means; 
 c) update previously stored status value with received status value when received status value different from previously stored status value; 
 d) communicate said received status value to said second display means when said received value different from said previously stored status value; 
 e) communicate said received status value to said plurality of user specified cellular phones and internet enabled devices when said received value different from said previously stored status value; 
 f) activate said alarm means at any time when said received status value is other than good; 
 g) activate said alarm means when said light sensing means indicates daytime and said received status value other than good and said second microcontroller means configured to activate alarm means only during daytime; 
 h) deactivate said alarm means when so directed; 
 i) update previously stored status value to check said evaluator means when no response received from said evaluator means over multiple tries over multiple predetermined time intervals. 
 
     
     
         20 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said second display means is a LCD display. 
     
     
         21 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said first user input means is a keyboard. 
     
     
         22 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said first user input means is a switch. 
     
     
         23 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein said first user input means is a touch screen. 
     
     
         24 . A method for monitoring performance of air-conditioning systems comprising a notifier means communicating with a plurality of evaluator means in an evaluator cluster; each said evaluator means computing temperature drop across evaporator of air-conditioning system comprising the steps:
 a) providing a plurality of input air temperature sensor means capable of measuring air temperature before air passes through said evaporator in said air-conditioning system;   b) providing a plurality of output air temperature sensor means capable of measuring air temperature after air passes through said evaporator in said air-conditioning system;   c) providing a first pressure sensor means capable of measuring air pressure just before air reaches air filter in said air-conditioning system;   d) providing a second pressure sensor means capable of measuring air pressure just after air passes said air filter in said air-conditioning system;   e) providing a first microcontroller means capable of determining the performance of said air-conditioning system;   f) providing a first display means capable of receiving performance status data from said first microcontroller means and displaying to users;   g) providing a first transceiver means capable of communicating a plurality of performance data between said first microcontroller means and said notifier means.   
       Said notifier means performing the steps of:
 h) collecting a plurality of performance data from a plurality of evaluator means in said evaluator cluster; 
 i) notifying performance status of each air-conditioning system to user. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein in step e) the first microcontroller means determines the performance of said air-conditioning system by:
 a. accepting temperature reading from said plurality of input air temperature sensor means and said plurality of output air temperature sensor means after each predetermined time interval; 
 b. computing average temperature difference between said plurality of input air temperature sensor means and said plurality of output air temperature sensor means; 
 c. accepting pressure readings from said first pressure sensor means and said second pressure sensor means after each predetermined time interval; 
 d. computing pressure difference between said first pressure sensor means and said second pressure sensor means 
 e. determining operational state of said air-conditioning system to be operating when said computed temperature difference is substantially greater than zero; 
 f. determining operational state of said air-conditioning system to be turned off when said computed temperature difference is substantially equal to zero; 
 g. updating previously stored status value to good when operational state is operating and computed temperature difference is not less than predetermined threshold temperature difference; 
 h. updating previously stored status value to air filter change when operational state is operating and computed temperature difference is less than predetermined threshold temperature difference and calculated pressure difference is not substantially close to zero; 
 i. updating previously stored status value to call service when operational state is operating and computed temperature difference is less than predetermined threshold temperature difference and calculated pressure difference is substantially close to zero; 
 j. communicating said updated previosly stored value to said notifier means using said first transceiver means when requested by said notifier means; 
 k. communicating said updated previosly stored value to said first display means. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein in step h) the notifier means collects a plurality of performance data from a plurality of evaluator means in said evaluator cluster by:
 a) communicating after every predetermined time interval, with each said evaluator means in said evaluator cluster using said second transceiver means; 
 b) retrying predetermined number of times over a predetermined time interval to communicate with each said evaluator means before alerting user of problem with said evaluator means; 
 c) updating previously stored status value with received status value when received status value different from previously stored status value; 
 d) communicating said received status value to said second display means when said received value different from said previously stored status value; 
 e) communicating said received status value to plurality of user specified cellular phones and internet enabled devices; 
 f) activating said alarm means any time when said received status other than good; 
 g) activating said alarm means when said light sensing means indicates daytime and said received status other than good and said second microcontroller means configured to activate alarm means only during daytime; 
 h) deactivating said alarm means when so directed by user. 
 i) updating previously stored status value to check said evaluator means when no response received from said evaluator means over multiple tries over multiple predetermined time intervals. 
 
     
     
         27 . A performance monitoring system for monitoring performance of air-conditioning systems comprising:
 a) a first microcontroller means;   b) a plurality of temperature sensor means in electrical communication with said first microcontroller means;   c) a first display means configured to receive display data from said first microcontroller means and display received data.   d) an alarm means in electrical communication with said first microcontroller means;   e) a user input means in communication with said first microcontroller means to provide user communicated information to said first microcontroller means.   
     
     
         28 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 27  wherein said plurality of temperature sensor means are thermistors. 
     
     
         29 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 27  wherein said plurality of temperature sensor means are infrared detectors. 
     
     
         30 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 27  wherein said plurality of temperature sensor means comprise a plurality of input air temperature sensor means and a plurality of output air temperature sensor means. 
     
     
         31 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 30  wherein said plurality of input air temperature sensor means measure air temperature in automobile cabin. 
     
     
         32 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 30  wherein said plurality of output air temperature sensor means measure air temperature substantially close to automobile cabin vent. 
     
     
         33 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 27  wherein said first microcontroller means is configured to:
 a) accept temperature readings from said plurality of input air temperature sensor means and said plurality of output air temperature sensor means after each predetermined time interval and compute average temperature difference; 
 b) determine operational state of said air-conditioning system to be operating when said computed temperature difference is substantially greater than zero; 
 c) determine operational state of said air-conditioning system to be turned off when said computed temperature difference is substantially equal to zero; 
 d) update previously stored status value to good when operational state is operating and said computed temperature difference is not less than predetermined threshold temperature difference; 
 e) update previously stored status value to call service when operational state is operating and said computed temperature difference is less than predetermined threshold temperature difference; 
 f) communicate said updated previosly stored value to said first display means; 
 g) activate said alarm means when said updated previously stored status value is other than good; 
 h) deactivate said alarm means when so directed using user input means. 
 
     
     
         34 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 27  wherein said first display means is a LCD display. 
     
     
         35 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 27  wherein said first display means is a LED display. 
     
     
         36 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 27  wherein said alarm means produces audible sound. 
     
     
         37 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 27  wherein said user input means is a keyboard. 
     
     
         38 . A performance monitoring system of  claim 27  wherein said first user input means is a switch.