Systems and methods for air temperature control including r-32 sensors

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for detecting an amount of R-32 refrigerant in an air temperature controller using an R-32 refrigerant, and a method of installing a configuration of R-32 sensors in the air temperature controller using an R-32 refrigerant. The system includes an R-32 control board, a first R-32 sensor, and a second R-32 sensor. The first R-32 sensor and the second R-32 sensor are coupled in series and electrically coupled to the R-32 control board. Each of the first R-32 sensor and the second R-32 sensor include sensing components configured to detect the amount of R-32 refrigerant.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for controlling air temperature in a building, the system comprising:
 an outdoor unit disposed outside the building;   an indoor unit disposed inside the building, the indoor unit comprising:
 a heat exchanger that uses an R-32 refrigerant; 
 a blower disposed within the indoor unit; 
 an indoor control board electrically coupled to the blower and the outdoor unit; 
 one or more R-32 sensors configured to detect an amount of the R-32 refrigerant in the indoor unit; 
 a transformer; and 
 an R-32 control board electrically coupled to the transformer, the one or more R-32 sensors, the indoor control board and the blower, wherein the R-32 control board is configured to receive power from the transformer; 
   wherein the R-32 control board is configured to power on the blower and power off the indoor control board and the outdoor unit when the one or more R-32 sensors detect the amount of the R-32 refrigerant exceeds a leak threshold.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the R-32 control board includes a first relay disposed between the transformer and the indoor control board, wherein the blower and the outdoor unit receive power from the R-32 control board via the indoor control board when the first relay is closed;   the R-32 control board includes a second relay disposed between the transformer and the blower, wherein the blower receives power from the R-32 control board when the second relay is closed, and   each of the one or more R-32 sensors comprises a bus connector input, a bus connector output, a sensor relay electrically disposed between the bus connector input and the bus connector output, and a sensor feedback port electrically disposed between the sensor relay and the bus connector output.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the R-32 control board is configured to power off the indoor control board and the outdoor unit by opening the first relay; and   the R-32 control board is configured to power on the blower by closing the second relay.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the blower includes a blower motor;   the R-32 control board is directly coupled to an input lead on the blower motor;   the transformer produces 24 volts of alternating current;   when the second relay of the R-32 control board is closed, the lead on the blower motor is configured to receive 24 volts of alternating current; and   the blower motor is configured to power on when it receives 24 volts of alternating current on the lead on the blower motor.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 a first default orientation for the first relay of the R-32 control board is open;   a second default orientation for the second relay of the R-32 control board is closed; and   if the R-32 control board loses power, the first relay and the second relay are configured to revert to the first default orientation and the second default orientation, respectively.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the R-32 control board further includes a buzzer and an LED; and   the R-32 control board is configured to power on the buzzer and LED when the one or more R-32 sensors detect the amount of the R-32 refrigerant exceeds the leak threshold.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the one or more R-32 sensors are disposed within the indoor unit;   the indoor unit further includes an evaporator coil; and   the one or more R-32 sensors are coupled to the evaporator coil.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the one or more R-32 sensors include a first R-32 sensor and a second R-32 sensor;   the first R-32 sensor and the second R-32 sensor are electrically coupled to the R-32 control board; and   the first R-32 sensor and the second R-32 sensor are coupled in series to the R-32 control board.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a thermostat, wherein the thermostat is directly electrically connected to the indoor unit and is directly electrically connected to the outdoor unit. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the outdoor unit further includes an outdoor control board; and   the thermostat is directly electrically coupled to the indoor control board and the outdoor control board.   
     
     
         12 . A method of installing an air temperature controller in a building, the method comprising:
 disposing an outdoor unit outside the building;   disposing an indoor unit inside the building, the indoor unit having a heat exchanger that uses R-32 refrigerant;   disposing a blower within the indoor unit;   disposing an indoor control board within the indoor unit;   electrically coupling the indoor control board to the blower and the outdoor unit;   disposing one or more R-32 sensors within the indoor unit, the one or more R-32 sensors configured to detect an amount of the R- 32  refrigerant within the indoor unit; and   disposing a transformer within the indoor unit;   electrically coupling an R-32 control board to the transformer, the one or more R-32 sensors, the indoor control board and the blower, wherein the R-32 control board is configured to receive power from the transformer;   detecting the amount of the R-32 refrigerant exceeds a leak threshold using the one or more R-32 sensors; and   after detecting that the amount of the R-32 refrigerant exceeds the leak threshold:
 powering on the blower using the R-32 control board; and 
 powering off the indoor control board and the outdoor unit using the R-32 control board. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the R-32 control board includes a first relay disposed between the transformer and the indoor control board, wherein the blower and the outdoor unit receive power from the R-32 control board via the indoor control board when the first relay is closed;   the R-32 control board includes a second relay disposed between the transformer and the blower, wherein the blower receives power from the R-32 control board when the second relay is closed; and   each of the one or more R-32 sensors comprises a bus connector input, a bus connector output, a sensor relay electrically disposed between the bus connector input and the bus connector output, and a sensor feedback port electrically disposed between the sensor relay and the bus connector output.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 powering off the indoor control board and the outdoor unit by opening the first relay using the R-32 control board; and   powering on the blower by closing the second relay using the R-32 control board.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 coupling the R-32 control board to an input lead on a blower motor of the blower, wherein the blower includes the blower motor, wherein the blower motor is configured to power on when it receives 24 volts of alternating current on the input lead of the blower motor, and wherein the transformer produces 24 volts of alternating current.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 if the R-32 control board loses power:
 reverting the first relay to a first default orientation; and 
 reverting the second relay to a second default orientation, wherein:
 a first default orientation for the first relay of the R-32 control board is open; and 
 a second default orientation for the second relay of the R-32 control board is closed. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 powering on a buzzer and an LED when the one or more R-32 sensors detect the amount of the R-32 refrigerant exceeds the leak threshold, wherein the buzzer and the LED are disposed on the R-32 control board.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 disposing the one or more R-32 sensors within the indoor unit; and   coupling the one or more R-32 sensors to an evaporator coil, wherein the indoor unit includes the evaporator coil.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 electrically coupling a first R-32 sensor and a second R-32 sensor in series to the R-32 control board, wherein the one or more R-32 sensors include the first R-32 sensor and the second R-32 sensor.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 directly electrically connecting a thermostat to the indoor unit; and   directly electrically connecting the thermostat to the outdoor unit.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 electrically coupling the thermostat directly to the indoor control board of the indoor unit; and   electrically coupling the thermostat directly to an outside control board of the outdoor unit.