ES1078671U - Comfort equipment control device (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Comfort equipment control device characterized in that it comprises: a. A master device comprising: a.i. A hardware device, a.ii. An electric power supply, a.iii. One or more measuring sensors for temperature, lighting or sound level. a.iv. A radiofrequency communication device suitable for communication with slave devices, a.v. A radiofrequency communication device suitable for communication with comfort equipment, a.vi. An infrared communication device suitable for communication with comfort equipment, a.vii. An on/off switch, a.viii. A communication function sector device, a.ix. A usb conector; b. One or more slave devices comprising a radiofrequency communication device suitable for communication with the master device.

Description

Comfort equipment control device.

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is a comfort equipment control device that allows to control said comfort equipment in the most efficient way possible and which takes into account all users, their number and location, and provides a variable of setpoint according to the parameters obtained.

The aforementioned comfort equipment are, among others, air conditioning equipment, lighting equipment, sound reproduction equipment and the like. What is sought with the use of a control device is that said comfort equipment work in the most efficient way possible, from an energy consumption point of view, and also take into account the presence and location of people within a room .

The control of comfort equipment object of this report is responsible for providing comfort equipment, to which it is associated, the orders or setpoint variables taking into account the number of people and their distribution within a room or room.

Therefore, the present invention is framed within the equipment control devices such as air conditioning, sound diffusion, lighting and the like.

Background of the invention

In the room or room air conditioning equipment that is carried out by means of split units, said air conditioning equipment has a control that drives the Split unit, where said control provides both a setpoint temperature and the ambient temperature of the moment. Similar is the operation of the air conditioning equipment through outdoor air conditioning units and with diffusion grilles, in which a setpoint temperature is set through a thermostat and the room temperature is provided to the control equipment.

The air conditioning unit will determine its operation based on the setpoint temperature and the ambient temperature of the moment provided by the drive control.

While these air conditioning control devices are simple, they are not free from inconvenience. One of the most common inconveniences is that the setpoint temperature is set by a person based on the thermal sensation they have, without taking into account the status and location of the rest of the people inside the room, so it usually happens that the person He has set the setpoint temperature to be a temperature that he considers pleasant, while the rest is not. In addition, the operation of the air conditioning equipment is not the most energy efficient.

In the case of lighting equipment, it happens that one of the parts of the room could be illuminated correctly, when it is not necessary, that is, it does not take into account values such as the luminosity coming from the outside, nor the presence of people inside From the living room.

In the case of existing sound reproduction equipment, the command of action on the level of sound reproduction is unique and acted by a single person based on what he considers most convenient, but does not take into account the level of sound loss produced by the number of people inside a room, nor the location of those people.

Likewise, it is possible to extend the inconveniences pointed to other equipment responsible for providing comfort variables or similar.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks pointed out in the control of air conditioning, lighting, sound reproduction and similar equipment, developing a control device such as the one described below and which is reflected in its essentiality in the first of the claims, and in which it is sought that the performance of the teams take into account the number and location of the people within a room.

Description of the invention

The comfort equipment control device object of the invention is responsible for providing the comfort equipment to which it is associated, the orders or setpoint variables, all this taking into account the number of people distributed within a room .

Thus, for a climate control unit, the control device will provide you with a series of orders that will vary from compressor stop start, power modification, blades addressing, as well as a setpoint temperature, all this taking into account the number of people and their location inside the room.

In the case of a lighting control device, the control device will provide you with a series of orders that will vary from switching off or on, or the luminous intensity of each luminaire, all this taking into account the quantity and location of people Inside a room.

In the case of sound reproduction equipment, the control device object of the invention will provide a series of orders that may be from the on or off of certain speakers or speaker areas, to the regulation of the volume of one or more speakers , all this taking into account the quantity and location of people within a room.

To achieve the purposes just set forth, the comfort equipment control device object of the invention has a master device that detects the slave devices if any. Slave devices can be fixed or mobile.

In the case of fixed slave devices, which can be hardware devices with a “USB” connector connected to a workstation. In the case of mobile devices are devices such as mobile phones or smart mobile phones.

The master devices can be configured to detect as required only fixed slave devices, or only mobile slave devices, or both.

The physical characteristics and functionalities of the master and slave devices are as follows:

Master device

The master device has the following functions:

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It communicates with the comfort system (air conditioning, lighting, sound reproduction, etc.) being located in an area with direct visual communication with the comfort control equipment,

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Detects slave devices, which can either be fixed, mobile or both,

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Request parameters to the connected systems,

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Make a polar map of the variable that you want to control, such as temperature, noise level, lighting, etc.,

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Send the instructions to the corresponding comfort team,

In the event that the master device was a hardware device with a “USB” connector and connected to a computer, it would use the computer's resources for modeling and information management, loading web updates, and TCP / IP communications for collection of data for analysis, personnel presence management.

The master device is a device that has the following characteristics:

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Precise power supply

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It is equipped with a sensor or several sensors of the variables to be controlled, such as temperature, lighting, sound level, etc.,

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A radio frequency communication device for communication with slave devices,

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An infrared and / or radiofrequency communication device for communication with comfort equipment

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A power switch

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The possibility of having a configuration function selector depending on the slave devices, whether fixed or mobile, or mixed. The communication protocol can be:

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Off (the system works independently),

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Fixed slave devices,

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Mobile slave devices

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 Mixed system,

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A USB connector for registering hardware devices with a “USB” slave connector, updates, parameter loading, PC connection.

Fixed slave devices

All fixed slave devices, such as hardware devices with “USB” connector, have:

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a measurement sensor, which in the case of being used for the control of air conditioning equipment, will have a temperature probe, in the case of being used in the control of lighting, it will have a lighting probe, or in the If used for the sound level, it will be a sound level probe.

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A wifi communication device

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Specific software Slave devices will provide the master device with at least:

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The value measured by the probe with which the hardware device has a “USB” connector

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The distance and location of each of them in relation to the master device.

These two values are necessary to configure a polar map of the variable to be controlled and send a setpoint value to the comfort, air conditioning, lighting, sound reproduction equipment.

Additionally, fixed slave devices can provide the master device with an indication of activity in the position, and other parameters according to specific needs.

Mobile slave devices

In the event that slave devices are mobile, such as mobile phones or smart mobile phones, they will have:

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Wi-Fi communication capability

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A software application that identifies the mobile slave device in the control device Mobile slave devices will provide the master device, distance and location with respect to the master device. With this value provided, although the value of the variable to be controlled is not provided (temperature, lighting, level

sound, etc.) of each slave device, a polar map of the variable to be controlled and send a setpoint value to the comfort team (air conditioning, lighting, sound reproduction, etc.) is prepared. Additionally said mobile slave devices can provide presence information, or number of users in

area. The operating procedure of the control device would have the following steps: 1) Device initialization

a) in the case of a hardware device system with a “USB” connector a.i) connect the master device to the power supply a.ii) connect the master device, which in a possible embodiment consists of connecting it to the PC. a.iii) wait for the end of the registration process a.iv) recognition of the slave devices of the room

b) in the case of a system with mobile slave devices b.i) to register the mobile device on the master device, by means of an application resident on your mobile device.

2) Operation a) Start of the master device b) Detection of comfort equipment (air conditioning, lighting, sound reproduction) c) Communication protocol d) Reading of configuration protocol

d.i) Off

d.ii) USB or fixed d.iii) Mobile d.iv) Mixed

e) Boot of the slave device (s) e.i) Master device detection e.ii) Data demand waiting

f) Data demand f.i) Reading the own probe f.ii) Detection of slave devices discharged

g) Demand for data from slave devices g.i) Temperature or lighting or sound level, etc. g.ii) Location g.iii) Activity

h) Calculation process

i) Sending parameters i.i) Communication with the air conditioning equipment i.ii) Sending instructions according to

(i.ii.1) Posts released

(i.ii.2) Location and the variable to be controlled (temperature, lighting, sound level)

(i.ii.3) Status thereof.

j) Return to demand of the data of the master device The control device can have different operating status by activity according to the activity of the slave device, it will have an individual category determined as

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GET The position is active. Configuration of the air conditioning or lighting parameters or sound level or equivalent, for “comfort temperature” or “setpoint” (by regulations) when the user is present at the position.

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ECHO. Setting the air conditioning parameters for “Saving temperature” while the user is not in the position.

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WAIT. Determined by time setting or extended time in ECO phase. Configuration of the air conditioning parameters for minimum savings or off.

The control device, active in the master device, based on the temperature values sent by the slave devices, and the distance and direction to which the slave devices are located, and the comfort temperature calculates a polar map of the variable control, in this case of temperatures, fruit of which the variables of action on the air conditioning equipment are calculated, action that has to be carried out in the most efficient way possible, sending the setpoint temperature to the air conditioning equipment.

The actions that can be carried out on an air conditioning equipment could be: stop and start of the compressor, modification of the power, addressing of the blades.

It is intended that with the proposed control device, the actions performed on the compressor, the fan or the blades represent over the total possible actions, in the case of the compressor of the order of 10%, in the case of the fans of the order of 50% and in the case of the blades of the order of between 80% and 90%.

The actions on lighting equipment could be on / off and / or light regulation. While in a sound reproduction equipment the actions that could be carried out could vary from the on or off of speakers, to the regulation of the volume of one or several speakers.

Description of the figures

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a series of figures are attached as an integral part of said description. In an illustrative and non-limiting manner, it has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a representation of a control device for air conditioning equipment by means of splits, as one of the options of the object of the invention, where it is possible to appreciate the elements that are part of the control device.

In figure 2, a representation similar to the previous one is shown, but in which the air conditioning is carried out by means of a central air conditioning unit.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In view of the aforementioned figures, a preferred embodiment of the invention is set forth, but in no case limiting.

As can be seen in figure 1, there are a number of work stations (1), (2) and (3), where a hardware device with a “USB” connector is connected to each workstation, as well as the workstation work (1) a master device (4) is connected, while in the rest of the workplaces (2) and (3), there are connected some hardware devices with “USB” connector that perform the functions of slave devices (5) .

Said devices (4) and (5) remain active each time the workstation's computer is turned on, and deactivated if the workstation is turned off.

The master device (4) will be the one that is closest or with a more direct transmission with the Split unit (6) or control equipment.

All hardware devices with a “USB” connector, whether they are masters or slaves, have a measuring sensor. If they are used to control air conditioning equipment, they will have a temperature probe.

Slave devices (5) send the measured temperature (Te) to the master device (4), and the master device (4) extrapolates the distance and direction of each of the slave devices, depending on the type of “Wi-Fi "

All hardware devices with “USB” connector, be they slaves (5) or masters (4), have a resident software, which will be activated if it works as a master device and that allows setting the setpoint temperature (Tc).

A control software, resident in any of the hardware devices, but active in the master device, depending on the temperature values sent (Te, Te ') by the slave devices, and the distance and direction at which the Slave devices, and the comfort temperature calculates a polar map of the control variable, in this case of temperatures, the result of which the variables of performance on the air conditioning equipment are calculated, action that has to be performed in the most efficient way possible, sending the setpoint temperature (Tc) to the air conditioning equipment.

In figure 2, a complementary embodiment of the previous one is observed, but based on the same principles, but in this case the control is carried out in a control equipment (7) that receives from the master device (4) the temperatures (Ti ) and distances (Di) to which each slave device (5) is in relation to the master device (4), of each and every one of the slave devices (5).

Said control device (7) being in charge of sending the instructions to the air conditioning unit or units (8).

In figure 3, the other possible embodiment object of the invention is shown, where there is a master device (9), which detects the slave devices, in this case mobile slave devices (10).

It can be seen how the master device (9) establishes an RF radio frequency communication (12) (wifi, various protocols, etc.) with the slave devices (10). Additionally, the master device (9) establishes infrared communication with the comfort control equipment (6), in this case a Split unit of an air conditioning unit. It is important to note that infrared communication between the master device and that comfort equipment can be carried out in addition to infrared, by radiofrequency.

The operation of a control device of control equipment with mobile slave devices is such that mobile devices require a Wi-Fi communication with the master device, and it is also necessary that they are registered in the control device by means of a “ad hoc” application, on the other hand, the master device, communicates with the comfort equipment, detects slave devices, in this case mobile phones, mobile phones

5 intelligent or similar, demands the distance and orientation in relation to the master device, prepares a polar map of the room for the comfort variable to be controlled, and obtains a variable (temperature, lighting, sound level, etc.) of setpoint for the equipment of comfort

Thanks to the communication device control device described, in addition to achieving a saving in energy consumption, it is possible to provide the comfort equipment for which it is associated, orders or variables of

10 records, all this taking into account the number of people and their distribution within a room.

It does not alter the essentiality of this invention variations in materials, shape, size and arrangement of the component elements, described in a non-limiting manner, this being sufficient for reproduction by an expert.

Claims (6)

1. Comfort equipment control device characterized in that it comprises:

to.

a master device comprising:

ai. a hardware device, a.ii. an electric power supply, a.iii. one or more temperature, lighting or sound level measurement sensors a.iv. a radio frequency communication device suitable for communication with slave devices, av. a radio frequency communication device suitable for communication with comfort equipment, a.vi. an infrared communication device suitable for communication with comfort equipment, a.vii. an on / off switch, a.viii. a communication function sector device, a.ix. a USB connector;

b.

one or more slave devices comprising a radio frequency communication device suitable for communication with the master device.

2.

Comfort equipment control device according to claim 1 characterized in that the slave devices are fixed.

3.

Comfort equipment control device according to claim 1 characterized in that the slave devices are mobile.

Four.

Comfort equipment control device according to claim 1 characterized in that the slave devices are mobile and fixed.

5.

Comfort equipment control device according to claim 2 and 4, characterized in that the fixed slave devices comprise a temperature, lighting or sound level measurement sensor, a hardware device and a USB connector.

6.

Comfort equipment control device according to claims 2 and 3 characterized in that the mobile slave devices are mobile phones comprising a Wi-Fi communication device.