Zone-based hvac system

Abstract

A zone-based heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system uses occupant sensors and controllable vents to favor environmental conditions in occupied areas. A plurality of comfort delivery devices are provided, each being associated with at least one of the zones, each comfort delivery device being responsible for delivering a change in climate to its respective zone through the HVAC unit. A sending unit is disposed in each zone, the sending unit including a first sensor for determining whether the zone is occupied by one or more persons, a second sensor for determining an environmental condition in the zone, and a communications device for outputting a signal relating to the occupancy and environmental condition. A control unit includes an input for receiving the signal from each sending unit and selectively activating and deactivating the comfort delivery devices to prioritize the climate control provided by the HVAC unit to zones that are occupied. The control unit further may incorporate information from other sources, both internal and external, and learned behavior from previous measurements. Unoccupied areas may be utilized as sources of pre-conditioned air, previously stored for efficiency or economy reasons.

1 . A system for controlling an HVAC unit servicing a plurality of comfort zones, comprising:
 a plurality of comfort delivery devices, each associated with at least one of the zones, each comfort delivery device being responsible for delivering a change in climate to its respective zone through the HVAC unit;   a sending unit disposed in each zone, the sending unit including a first sensor for determining whether the zone is occupied by one or more persons, a second sensor for determining an environmental condition in the zone, and a communications device for outputting a signal relating to the occupancy and environmental condition; and   a control unit including an input for receiving the signal from each sending unit and selectively activating and deactivating the comfort delivery devices to prioritize the climate control provided by the HVAC unit to zones that are occupied.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the HVAC unit is a furnace and the change in climate is temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the HVAC unit is an air conditioner and the change in climate is temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the HVAC unit causes a change in humidity. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the comfort delivery devices are controllable louvers or vents. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensors are infrared sensors. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second sensors are temperature sensors. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communications devices are wireless transmitters. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each sending unit is coded, enabling the control unit to determine the zone or zones within which the sending units are disposed.