AU2013100953A4 - Automated Residential Room Environment Control - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract Primary environmental concerns in residential rooms are Lighting, Temperature and Air Quality (including humidity) and the Automated Residential Room Environment Control has been designed to address all 3 of these areas. This is achieved by the use of a combination of sensors and automation controls units that control room lighting plus passive and active venting. By making use of ambient light sensors, movement detectors and time of day the Automated Residential Room Environment Control will switch lights on when lighting is required and off when it is not. By combining multiple internal and external temperature sensors with motorised vents it is possible for the Automated Residential Room Environment Control to optimise the flow of air through a room to optimise passive heating and cooling. This works by sensing the outside temperature, internal room temperature and optionally adjoining living area temperature and calculating the optimal combination of vents to open/close therefore providing the desired ventilation flow. By incorporating humidity and air quality sensors the Automated Residential Room Environment Control will be able to control the level of humidity using passive and active venting systems. Irigwrc 1 Oprtiont1 Elt-ractor fan -ent 2 Ven 3 Sensor 1 M~oveormnt -b y n r 3.1 - I --r 2 - Lighnt uInterna- eem -e i S-enos h umidify Air Qnumtityy ReomOv erside control w-ith joig'm s Outside Vent 1 Vn When onoveonent is detected by noor 1 and ambot light is low froms ebor 2 lights are switched on. Mrovenent thresh old .djis-Imble bsnmd on: time of day When no novenent is detected by nml- 1 after. coafigurle t1.Ie period tighLts re switched off. If roew novemont is detected by ensor 1 within. short period of tights 1:eeg switched ofl tights wilt 1:t switched- on ad on timser delay wilt be isareaed M~nml control of all vents anad etettr fan through the override contint urait or fronsa sty networks or inaterslet corotnecto:d device vria 'l1~i'I netw ork Otihont=1 REtiactor fana Vent 2 -. .- n--- O--t- - .. ---- -- n1-- ------- - Secsan - " ,,f-CA_ -" Move-ser-:E- t.e-a-el-f1t. 6. Moeiat -e-.er - a esero -2 e: Eemal Itoseatm1 N de hnosy~ humidirty se - Sens-.rS5 , Air Qium tity Ona- /ctm wT-itAdongtos Venat 1 V=enat 4 Blaed ona noae suressmets froms -essors 3 4 and 5. V-ent 1 a nd 2 mre activate d a1.lowing coer air flower ina through V-ent 1 white hot air escaptes out V-ent 2 Bhatd on smam urernts froms -essoe 3 4 5 anad optiosn=11 enters froms adjoining tons. Vesnt 1 anad 3 ame activated allowing cole- air flows int through V~ent 1 wit1e hot air flow s out Vent 3 eating a cos airfLow through due smonsa When ntetworkE weitha ruate ina adjoining reoos air cana flow through the eatire hount tea ntd ona mmen mret nts frona I-ens 0rs 3 4 5 arnd o ptiona1.y etiasers froo sa dj oisning toosa. A1.1 1.oo Vents =ad extractor fan are activatedh di. w-ing inm center air fron ontstte =ad expel1.ing hot air arnd any otonisture through dee extractor vuer Mesnat coto1. of alt.venats and extractor fanm through te overrete control urit or fsotoay rnetworkc or isnteoont cornected dev ice v-ia W~YI i rework

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Automated Residential Room Environment Control The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me. IP Australia RE AUG 2013 F-GENFV1) FFP FAX Automated Residential Room Environment Control Environmental control accounts for a significant cost in both the construction and ongoing running of modern residential buildings and whilst good design can contribute significantly to energy savings there is often a compromise between efficiency, convenience, flexibility and comfort. The Automated Residential Room Environment Control has been designed to address these issues by assisting in the control of lighting, airflow, humidity, heating and cooling of a room while at the same time simplifying and automating the overall environmental control, Primary environmental concerns in residential rooms are Lighting, Temperature and Air Quality (including humidity) and the Automated Residential Room Environment Control has been designed to address all 3 of these areas, This is achieved by the use of a combination of sensors and automation controls units that control room lighting plus passive and active venting. Lighting Control By making use of ambient light sensors, movement detectors and time of day the Automated Residential Room Environment Control will switch lights on when lighting is required and off when it is not. This feature is useful in all types of rooms and will ensure that lights are not left on in vacant rooms. This process is more than simple movement detection and has the following capabilities " Movement sensors will allow the light to be automatically switched on when a room becomes occupied " Movement sensors will allow the light to be automatically switched off when a room is no longer occupied e By automatically adjusting movement detector sensitivity by time of day the unit will be able to operate in high sensitivity mode during normal waking hours while at the same time avoiding false triggering while people are sleeping at night " By incorporating an ambient light sensor the lights will not switch on automatically when there is already enough light " Touch switch override to provide timed or manual operation from up to 3 remote switch locations " Security mode to allow motion sensor output to be connected to a central alarm system " Holiday mode to allow for lights to be switch on and off at random or on program to give the building the appearance of being occupied " External trigger outputs. This allows for secondary devices to be switched on of off based on room occupancy " WIFI connectivity to allow for centralised control via a central base station, WIFI connected PC, mobile device or via an internet based cloud service Example of lighting control operation is contained in Figure 2 Temperature control 2 Cross ventilation is one of the most efficient forms of passive cooling and heating. By combining multiple internal and external temperature sensors with motorised vents it is possible for the Automated Residential Room Environment Control to optimise the flow of air through a room to optimise passive heating and cooling. This works by sensing the outside temperature, internal room temperature and optionally adjoining living area temperature and calculating the optimal combination of vents to open/close therefore providing the desired ventilation flow. Optimal use will consist of placing up to 4 vents on opposite walls and in low and high positions. This feature is suitable for use in all types of rooms. This can also be used in a roof to improve airflow in ceiling spaces. Example of operation modes are " Where internal temperature is above a threshold and either external or adjoining living area temperature is lower than the internal temperature open a low vent to the outside and a high vent on the opposite side of the room. This will create a cross flow of air from the cooler outside area and expel warmer air from the room and bringing in cooler air. " Where internal temperature is below a threshold and either external or adjoining living area temperature is higher than the internal temperature open a low vent to the outside and a high vent on the opposite side of the room. This will create a cross flow of air from the warmer outside area and expel cooler air from the room e When combined with room occupancy sensor features the temperature thresholds can be automatically adjusted when a room is or is not occupied " Data and time tracking will allow for different threshold levels based on the time of day or season " External trigger outputs can be set based on room temperature. This allows for the activation of secondary cooling or heating units such as air conditioners or heaters in situations where passive airflow is not able to keep a room within an acceptable level " Touch switch override to provide timed or manual operation from up to 3 remote switch locations. * WIFI connectivity to allow for centralised control via a central base station, WIFI connected PC, mobile device or via an internet based cloud service Example of Temperature control operation is contained in Figure 1 Air quality control Humidity in wet areas such as bathrooms and laundry's can be inconvenient and cause significant problems due to damp such as mould or peeling paint. By incorporating humidity and air quality sensors the Automated Residential Room Environment Control will be able to control the level of humidity using passive and active venting systems. In addition by incorporating an air quality sensor the same techniques can be used to maintain general air quality in rooms or areas that have high build-up of other gases such as kitchens. The system will operate in the following manner 3 * When internal humidity levels exceed external levels by more than the low threshold passive vents situated at low and high positions will open to facilitate cross ventilation e When internal humidity exceeds a high threshold low passive vents situated in low positions will open and an extractor fan in a high position will activate. This extractor fan can be speed controlled based on the level of humidity e Ability to automatically alter humidity trigger levels based on temperature. This allows for increased extraction where surface temperatures are lower and likely to increase condensation " External trigger relay that can be used to activate devices such as a mirror demister e When room air quality drops below a low threshold passive vents will automatically open " When room air quality drops below a second threshold the extractor fan will activate e Touch switch override to provide timed or manual operation from up to 3 remote switch locations. e WIFI connectivity to allow for centralised control via a central base station, WIFI connected PC, mobile device or via an internet based cloud service Example of Air quality control operation is contained in Figure 1 4