Granted Patent B1

US 8,903,553 · App. 12/433,938 · Granted Dec 2, 2014

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. A unitary air conditioner system comprising:

a central controller coupled to a plurality of unitary air conditioners via a communications network, the central controller issuing commands that coordinate powering of each unitary air conditioner;

the plurality of unitary air conditioners coupled to a communications network, each unitary air conditioner coupled to the communications network by a communications device, each communications device relaying the commands from the central controller for controlling power to a respective compressor of a respective unitary air conditioner, the commands from the central controller of a respective unitary air conditioner being coordinated with the plurality of unitary air conditioners by the central controller in order to reduce energy consumption during peak loads or reduce demand during a time period;

each unitary air conditioner comprising:

a housing comprising an interior wall that separates the housing into a first side facing an exterior of climate controlled space and second side facing an interior of the climate controlled space;

a communications device disposed within the housing and on the first side of the interior wall, the communications device comprising a programmable module that supports a communications protocol for sending and receiving messages over the communications network;

control logic disposed within the housing and coupled to the communications device, a first switching device, and a second switching device, the control logic processing the commands received from the central controller via the communications device;

a memory coupled to the control logic and on the first side of the interior wall;

a compressor disposed within the housing and on the second side of the interior wall;

an evaporator disposed within the housing and on the first side of the interior wall and coupled to the compressor;

the first switching device coupled between the compressor and a power supply, for interrupting power to the compressor in response to commands received from the control logic;

a first fan disposed within the housing and on the first side of the interior wall and for circulating air across the evaporator; the fan being coupled to the power supply and circulating air across the evaporator even when the first switching device is interrupting power to the compressor;

a condenser disposed within the housing and on the second side of the interior wall and coupled to the compressor;

a second fan disposed within the housing and on the second side of the interior wall and for circulating air across the condenser;

a second switching device coupled between the second fan and a power supply, for interrupting power to the second fan in response to commands received from the control logic.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communications device comprises a wireless communication device.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the wireless communication device comprises a radio frequency transceiver.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communications device comprises a power line communications (PLC) module.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switching devices comprise an electromechanical element.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a thermostat.

7. A method for cooling or circulating air within a living space while conserving power, comprising:

coupling a plurality of unitary air conditioners and a central controller to a communications network, each unitary air conditioner coupled to the communications network by a communications device;

relaying switching device signals from the central controller for controlling power to a respective compressor of a respective unitary air conditioner using a respective first switching device coupled to the compressor and a second switching device coupled to a condenser fan;

coordinating the switching device signals of a respective unitary air conditioner with the plurality of unitary air conditioners by using the central controller in order to reduce energy consumption during peak loads or reduce demand during a time period;

the method at each unitary air conditioner of the plurality of unitary air conditioners comprising:

supplying power to an interior blower motor of a unitary air conditioner;

circulating air across an evaporator to promote air flow within a living space;

circulating air across a condenser with the condenser fan to remove heat from the living space;

controlling power to a condenser fan and a compressor with switching devices, control logic, and a communication device, the communications device coupled to the control logic and comprising a programmable module that supports a communications protocol for sending and receiving messages over the communications network, messages received from the communications device comprising switching device signals from the central controller;

relaying the switching device signals from the communications device and control logic to the switching devices for causing the switching devices to interrupt power to the condenser fan and compressor; and

supplying power to an interior blower for moving air across evaporator coils irrespective of a state of the switching devices, each unitary conditioner comprising a housing having an interior wall that separates the housing into a first side facing an exterior of climate controlled space and second side facing an interior of the climate controlled space; the communications device disposed within the housing and on the first side of the interior wall, the communications device comprising a programmable module that supports a communications protocol for sending and receiving messages over the communications network that include the switching device signals.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the communications network comprises the Internet.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the communications device of each air conditioner comprises a wireless communications device.

Assignments (7)