Ir translator providing demand-control for ductless split hvac systems

Abstract

An infrared translator device for controlling a control unit of a ductless split heating, ventilating, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system. The IRT device includes a long-distance communications module and includes at least one local communications module. The IRT device also includes a processor in electrical communication with the long-distance communications module and the local communications module.

1 . An infrared translator device for controlling an infrared-responsive control unit of a ductless, split air-conditioning system, the infrared translator device comprising:
 a long-distance communications module including a long-distance transceiver, the long-distance communications module providing a network connection to a master controller via a long-distance communications network transmitting a load-control message for controlling an electrical load of a ductless, split air-conditioning system at a premise;   a processor in electrical communication with the long-distance communications module;   an infrared transmitter module in electrical communication with the processor, the infrared transmitter module transmitting an infrared signal to an infrared-responsive control unit of the ductless, split air-conditioning system to control operation of the electrical load, the infrared signal being a command associated with the received load-control message received by the long distance communications module.   
     
     
         2 . The infrared translator device of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing enclosing the long-distance communications module, the processor and the infrared transmitter module, the housing configured to be mounted over an infrared receiving eye of the infrared-responsive control unit. 
     
     
         3 . The infrared translator device of  claim 2 , further comprising a display in electrical communication with the processor and visible external to the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The infrared translator device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first local communications module in electrical communication with the processor, the first local-communications module including an infrared receiver that receives infrared signals from a remote control unit and a transceiver that transmits a command associated with the received infrared signals to the processor. 
     
     
         5 . The infrared translator device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second local communications module in electrical communication with the processor, the second local-communications module facilitating short-range, local two-way communications, the second local-communications module including a receiver and a transceiver that receives and transmits wireless signals. 
     
     
         6 . The infrared translator device of  claim 5 , the second local communications module communicating with devices other than the control unit of the ductless, split air-conditioning system. 
     
     
         7 . The infrared translator device of  claim 5 , further comprising a power sensor adapted to sense power at the electrical load, and to communicate data associated with the power at the electrical load to the second local communications module. 
     
     
         8 . The infrared translator device of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply and monitor device in communication with the processor and providing data associated with a power quality of an electrical power supply to the infrared translator device. 
     
     
         9 . The infrared translator device of  claim 1 , further comprising an infrared disk in electrical communication with the infrared transmitter, the infrared disk configured to be mounted over the infrared receiving eye of the infrared-responsive control unit. 
     
     
         10 . The infrared translator device of  claim 2 , further comprising an occupancy sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The infrared translator device of  claim 2 , further comprising a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The infrared translator device of  claim 2 , further comprising a humidity sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The infrared translator device of  claim 1 , wherein the load control messages are formatted according to an Expresscom protocol. 
     
     
         14 . A system for controlling a plurality of ductless, split air-conditioning units, the system comprising:
 a master controller;   a regional controller wherein the master controller is in communication with the regional controller via a long-distance communications network, the long-distance communications network transmitting a load-control message for controlling an electrical load of the plurality of ductless, split air-conditioning systems at a premise;   a plurality of infrared translator devices in communication with the plurality of ductless, split air-conditioning system wherein each infrared translator device is in communication with one of the plurality of ductless, split air-conditioning systems;   wherein each of the plurality of infrared translator device comprises:
 a long-distance communications module including a long-distance transceiver, the long-distance communications module providing a network connection to the regional controller via a long-distance communications network transmitting a load-control message for controlling an electrical load of a ductless, split air-conditioning system at a premise; 
 a processor in electrical communication with the long-distance communications module; 
 an infrared transmitter module in electrical communication with the processor, the infrared transmitter module transmitting an infrared signal to an infrared-responsive control unit of the ductless, split air-conditioning system to control operation of the electrical load, the infrared signal being a command associated with the load-control message received by the long-distance communications module. 
   
     
     
         15 . The infrared translator device of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of infrared translator devices further comprise a first local communications module in electrical communication with the processor, the first local-communications module including an infrared receiver that receives infrared signals from a remote control unit and a transceiver that transmits a command associated with the received infrared signals to the processor. 
     
     
         16 . The infrared translator device of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of infrared translator devices further comprise a second local communications module in electrical communication with the processor, the second local-communications module facilitating short-range, local two-way communications, the second local-communications module including a receiver and a transceiver that receive and transmit wireless signals. 
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling an electrical load of a ductless, split air-conditioning system outside a premise and controlled by an infrared translator device located inside the premise, the method comprising:
 causing an infrared translator device having a long-distance communications module and a local communications module to be mounted over an infrared receiving eye of an infrared-responsive control unit inside the premise, the long-distance communications module configured to interface with a long-distance communications network and the local communications module configured to communicate with a remote control unit of a ductless, split air-conditioning system at the premise having an outside unit with an electrical load;   transmitting a load-control message over the long-distance communications network to the long-distance communications module of the infrared translator device located inside the premise, the load-control message causing the infrared translator device to transmit a load-control command to an inside control unit of an indoor portion of the ductless, split air-conditioning unit, thereby controlling power to the outside unit with the electrical load.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein transmitting a load-control message over the long-distance communications network comprises transmitting a load-control message over a radio-frequency (RF) long-distance communications network. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the infrared translator device is configured to transmit the load-control command to the inside control unit of the indoor portion of the ductless, split air-conditioning unit using an infrared (IR) signal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising receiving data over the long-distance communication network, the data associated with energy usage of the electrical load as transmitted from the remote-control device.