Retrofit register control system

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure include a damper control system having a casing configured to detachably couple from a conventional air register having a damper assembly movably controllable by a manual lever, a motor assembly mounted to the casing, an actuating linkage assembly movably attached to the motor assembly and configured to detachably couple with the manual lever that controls the damper assembly, wherein one or more dampers of the damper assembly are in a closed position when the actuating linkage assembly is in a first position and in an open position when the actuating linkage assembly is in a second position, a memory mounted within the casing, and one or more processors communicatively coupled with the memory and mounted within the casing, the one or more processors being configured to cause the motor assembly to drive the actuating linkage assembly between the first position and the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A register control system, comprising:
 a casing configured to detachably couple from a conventional air register having a damper assembly movably controllable by a manual lever;   a motor assembly mounted to the casing;   an actuating linkage assembly movably attached to the motor assembly and configured to detachably couple with the manual lever that controls the damper assembly, wherein a damper of the damper assembly is in a closed position when the actuating linkage assembly is in a first position and in an open position when the actuating linkage assembly is in a second position;   a memory mounted within the casing; and   a processor communicatively coupled with the memory and mounted within the casing, the processor being configured to cause the motor assembly to drive the actuating linkage assembly between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The register control system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a temperature sensor, a motion sensor, an air pressure sensor, or humidity sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The register control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a communications circuit, wherein the processor is configured to transmit, via the communications circuit, a feedback signal including at least one of temperature information, humidity information, pressure information, or motion detection information. 
     
     
         4 . The register control system of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive, via the communications circuit and in response to transmitting the feedback signal, a control signal indicating a position for the actuating linkage assembly between the first position and the second position; and   cause the motor assembly to drive the actuating linkage assembly to the position.   
     
     
         5 . The register control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery compartment for storing a battery used to provide electrical energy to the register control system. 
     
     
         6 . The register control system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor assembly includes a rotary link and at least one limit switch to limit a movement of the actuating linkage assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The register control system of  claim 1 , wherein the damper assembly defines an airflow cross-sectional area of the conventional air register, and wherein the casing is configured to detachably couple with the conventional air register such that a corresponding cross-sectional area of the casing overlaps less than 10% of the airflow cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         8 . An air register, comprising:
 a body including a bracket;   a damper assembly mounted to the bracket and having a damper movably controllable by a manual lever; and   a register control system removably attachable to the body, the register control system including:
 a casing configured to detachably couple from the body; 
 a motor assembly mounted to the casing; 
 an actuating linkage assembly movably attached to the motor assembly and configured to detachably couple with the manual lever of that controls the damper assembly, wherein the damper of the damper assembly are in a closed position when the actuating linkage assembly is in a first position and in an open position when the actuating linkage assembly is in a second position; 
 a memory mounted within the casing; and 
 processor communicatively coupled with the memory and mounted within the casing, the processor being configured to cause the motor assembly to drive the actuating linkage assembly between the first position and the second position. 
   
     
     
         9 . The air register of  claim 8 , wherein the register control system includes at least one of a temperature sensor, a motion sensor, an air pressure sensor, or humidity sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The air register of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the register control system includes a communications circuit; and   the processor is configured to transmit, via the communications circuit, a feedback signal including at least one of temperature information, humidity information, pressure information, or motion detection information.   
     
     
         11 . The air register of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive, via the communications circuit and in response to transmitting the feedback signal, a control signal indicating a position for the actuating linkage assembly between the first position and the second position; and   cause the motor assembly to drive the actuating linkage assembly to the position.   
     
     
         12 . The air register of  claim 8 , wherein the register control system includes a battery compartment for storing a battery used to provide electrical energy to the register control system. 
     
     
         13 . The air register of  claim 8 , wherein the motor assembly includes a rotary link and at least one limit switch to limit a movement of the actuating linkage assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The air register of  claim 8 , wherein the damper assembly defines an airflow cross-sectional area of the air register, and wherein the casing is configured to detachably couple with the air register such that a corresponding cross-sectional area of the casing overlaps less than 10% of the airflow cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling air flow, comprising:
 receiving a feedback signal from a register control system, wherein the register control system comprises:
 a casing configured to detachably couple from a conventional air register having a damper assembly controlled by a manual lever; 
 a motor assembly mounted to the casing; 
 an actuating linkage assembly movably connected to the motor assembly and configured to detachably couple with the manual lever that controls the damper assembly, wherein a damper of the damper assembly are in a closed position when the actuating linkage assembly is in a first position and in an open position when the actuating linkage assembly is in a second position; 
 a memory mounted within the casing; and 
 a processor communicatively coupled with the memory and mounted within the casing, the processor being configured to cause the motor assembly to drive the actuating linkage assembly between the first position and the second position; and 
   transmitting a control signal to the register control system to cause the a damper to move into a position between the closed position and the open position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the feedback signal comprises at least one of temperature information, humidity information, pressure information, or motion detection information. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the control signal is transmitted in response to the at least one of temperature information, humidity information, pressure information, or motion detection information. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprises transmitting a second control signal to an air handling unit to change an air flow provided to the conventional air register by the air handling unit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the air flow includes dry air, humidified air, warm air, or cool air.