Occupancy-based wireless control of multiple environmental zones with zone controller identification

摘要

An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones.

主权项

1. A system for wirelessly controlling multiple environmental zones, comprising:
a plurality of zone controllers, each zone controller being associated with one of the environmental zones and being configured to send wireless communications to one or more other devices of the system, each wireless communication including a zone controller identifier that uniquely identifies the zone controller with respect to the other zone controllers, wherein: each zone controller comprises an occupancy sensor for detecting an occupancy state of the environmental zone associated with the zone controller, and is configured to include an indication of the occupancy state in the wireless communications to the one or more other devices: and the other devices of the system comprise one or more other zone controllers of the plurality of zone controllers and a temperature control device; and the temperature control device configured to: receive the wireless communications communication from the plurality of zone controllers; determine whether an environmental zone at which the temperature controller is located is occupied or unoccupied based at least in part on the wireless communications from one or more zone controllers associated with other environmental zones; and control an HVAC system to adjust a temperature of the environmental zone at which the temperature control device is located based on whether the environmental zone was determined to be occupied or unoccupied.