Automatically Balancing Register for HVAC Systems

Abstract

Distributed nodes, such as intelligent register controllers, of a heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system wirelessly communicate with each other on a peer-to-peer basis, forming a network, and collectively control the HVAC system, without a central controller. The intelligent register controllers collectively control the amount of conditioned air introduced into each region. Each node may base its operation at least in part on information about one or more (ideally all) of the other nodes. Each intelligent register controller automatically determines how much conditioned air to allow into its region, or how much return air to allow to be withdrawn from its region. Each register controller automatically determines when and to what extent to operate its respective controllable damper.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for controlling an HVAC system having a plurality of HVAC vents, each vent of the plurality of HVAC vents disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the system comprising:
 a plurality of intelligent controlled registers, wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers:
 is in airflow communication with a corresponding vent of the plurality of HVAC vents; 
 is in data communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and 
 includes a controller configured to execute an autonomous local control program, such that the controller processes data provided by each other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers so as to:
 collectively control the plurality of HVAC vents on a peer-to-peer basis, such that, if a location in the building corresponding to another register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers fails to reach a first desired temperature despite the another register being fully open, and a location in the building corresponding to the intelligent controlled register has reached a second temperature, the intelligent controlled register decreases airflow therethrough. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to decreases the airflow by an amount based at least in part on a difference between a temperature of the location in the building corresponding to the another register and the first desired temperature. 
     
     
         3 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to decreases the airflow by an amount based at least in part on an amount of time during which the location in the building corresponding to the another register has failed to reach the first desired temperature. 
     
     
         4 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 1  wherein, if the location in the building corresponding to the another register fails to reach the first desired temperature despite the another register being fully open, and the location in the building corresponding to the intelligent controlled register has reached a second temperature, the controller is configured to expand a range of desired temperature. 
     
     
         5 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is in wireless communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers. 
     
     
         6 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is in wired communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers. 
     
     
         7 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to:
 automatically determine presence of an intelligent controlled register that is not part of the system for controlling the HVAC system;   automatically ascertain if the determined intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC; and   if the determined intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system, automatically add the determined intelligent controlled register to the system for controlling the HVAC system.   
     
     
         8 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 7 , wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is further configured to automatically ascertain if the determined intelligent controlled register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system according to timing of air flow through the register and timing of air flow through the determined intelligent controlled register. 
     
     
         9 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to:
 automatically determine presence of at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers;   automatically ascertain if the at least one other register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC; and   if the at least one other register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system, automatically add the at least one other register to the system for controlling the HVAC system.   
     
     
         10 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 9 , wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is further configured to automatically ascertain if the at least one other register should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system according to timing of air flow through the register and timing of air flow through the at least one other register. 
     
     
         11 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to:
 wirelessly automatically determine presence of a thermostat that is not part of the system for controlling the HVAC system;   automatically ascertain if the determined thermostat should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC;   if the determined thermostat should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system, automatically add the determined thermostat to the system for controlling the HVAC system and wirelessly receive from the thermostat the second temperature.   
     
     
         12 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 11 , wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is further configured to automatically ascertain if the determined thermostat should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system according to timing of light detected by the thermostat and timing of light detected by the register. 
     
     
         13 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 11 , wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is further configured to automatically ascertain if the determined thermostat should be added to the system for controlling the HVAC system according to timing of temperature changes detected by the thermostat and timing of temperature changes detected by the register. 
     
     
         14 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers includes a controllable damper, and each register is configured such that, when air flows through the controllable damper, at least one of the dampers of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is fully open. 
     
     
         15 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled register is configured to:
 wirelessly receive data from at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and   forward at least some of the received data to another at least one register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers.   
     
     
         16 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured, absent an external input specifying a setpoint temperature for the corresponding location, so as to equalize temperatures of the locations in the building. 
     
     
         17 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured so as to maximize flow through at least one register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers. 
     
     
         18 . A system for controlling an HVAC system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the HVAC system comprises a blower and a heating or cooling unit;   at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents comprises a return vent; and   at least one of the plurality of HVAC vents comprises a supply vent;   the system further comprising a thermostat coupled to the HVAC system so as to control the blower and coupled to at least one of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and   wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers is configured to operate so as to permit air to be drawn in by an automatically selected at least one of the return vent, moved by the blower, and exhausted through an automatically selected at least one of the supply vent, without operating the heating or cooling unit, so as to transfer air from at least one automatically selected location in the building to another at least one automatically selected location in the building.   
     
     
         19 . A system for controlling an HVAC system having a plurality of HVAC vents, each vent of the plurality of HVAC vents disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the system comprising:
 a plurality of intelligent controlled registers, wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers:
 is in airflow communication with a corresponding vent of the plurality of HVAC vents; 
 is in data communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers; and 
 includes a controller configured to execute an autonomous local control program, such that the controller processes data provided by each other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers so as to:
 collectively control the plurality of HVAC vents on a peer-to-peer basis, so as to, absent an external input specifying a setpoint temperature for the register, equalize temperatures of the locations in the building. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . A method for controlling an HVAC system having a plurality of HVAC vents, each vent of the plurality of HVAC vents disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the HVAC system including a plurality of intelligent controlled registers, wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers: (a) is in airflow communication with a corresponding vent of the plurality of HVAC vents, (b) is in data communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers and (c) includes a controller, the method comprising:
 executing an autonomous local control program by the controller of one register of the plurality of intelligently controlled registers;   processing, by the controller, data provided by each other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers so as to:
 collectively control the plurality of HVAC vents on a peer-to-peer basis, such that, if a location in the building corresponding to another register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers fails to reach a first desired temperature despite the another register being fully open, and a location in the building corresponding to the intelligent controlled register has reached a second temperature, the intelligent controlled register decreases airflow therethrough. 
   
     
     
         21 . A method for controlling an HVAC system having a plurality of HVAC vents, each vent of the plurality of HVAC vents disposed in a corresponding location in a building, the HVAC system including a plurality of intelligent controlled registers, wherein each register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers: (a) is in airflow communication with a corresponding vent of the plurality of HVAC vents, (b) is in data communication with at least one other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers and (c) includes a controller, the method comprising:
 executing an autonomous local control program by the controller of one register of the plurality of intelligently controlled registers;   processing, by the controller, data provided by each other register of the plurality of intelligent controlled registers so as to:
 collectively control the plurality of HVAC vents on a peer-to-peer basis, so as to, absent an external input specifying a setpoint temperature for the register, equalize temperatures of the locations in the building.