초록 ▼

A register assembly for augmenting the flow of conditioned air from a central air-conditioning unit to a room includes a fan, a temperature sensor, and a processing means. The fan is operably positioned for increasing air flow through the register assembly. The temperature sensor is for measuring a

A register assembly for augmenting the flow of conditioned air from a central air-conditioning unit to a room includes a fan, a temperature sensor, and a processing means. The fan is operably positioned for increasing air flow through the register assembly. The temperature sensor is for measuring a temperature of air in the register assembly and for outputting a measured temperature signal. The processing means is for: receiving the measured temperature signal; using the measured temperature signal in determining whether the central air-conditioning unit is providing conditioned air to the room; and activating the fan to augment the conditioned air flow if the central air-conditioning unit is providing conditioned air to the room. The processing means also provides drift compensation to prevent unwanted operation of the fan due to temperature drifts. The register assembly may include a rectangular housing positioned around the components for use in a floor vent, or a housing adapting a floor vent to a centrifugal, tower fan.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A register assembly for augmenting the flow of conditioned air from a central air-conditioning unit to a room comprising:at least one fan operably positioned for increasing air flow through said register assembly;a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of air in said

What is claimed is: 1. A register assembly for augmenting the flow of conditioned air from a central air-conditioning unit to a room comprising:at least one fan operably positioned for increasing air flow through said register assembly;a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of air in said register assembly and for outputting a measured temperature signal; anda processing means for:receiving said measured temperature signal;using said measured temperature signal in determining whether said central air-conditioning unit is providing conditioned air to said room;activating said fan to augment said conditioned air flow if said central air-conditioning unit is providing conditioned air to said room; andproviding drift compensation to prevent unwanted operation of said fan due to temperature drifts;wherein said processing means determines whether said central air-conditioning unit is providing conditioned air to said room by:monitoring said measured temperature signal for a maximum value, a minimum value, and transition values characteristic of a conditioned air cycle;determining whether the central air-conditioning unit is in a heating mode or a cooling mode;determining that said central air-conditioning unit is providing conditioned air to said room when the central air-conditioning unit is in a heating mode and the measured temperature signal transitions from a minimum value to a value that is a predetermined amount more than said minimum value, and when the central air-conditioning unit is in a cooling mode and the measured temperature signal transitions from a maximum value to a value that is a predetermined amount less than said maximum value;determining that said central air-conditioning unit is not providing conditioned air to said room when the central air-conditioning unit is in a heating mode and the measured temperature signal transitions from a maximum value to a value that is a predetermined amount less than said maximum value, and when the central air-conditioning unit is in a cooling mode and the measured temperature signal transitions from a minimum value to a value that is a predetermined amount more than said minimum value;wherein said processing means determines whether the central air-conditioning unit is in a heating or cooling mode by:determining that said central air-conditioning unit is in a heating mode when the difference between said maximum value and a fixed ambient temperature value is greater than the difference between said minimum value and said fixed ambient temperature value; anddetermining that said central air-conditioning unit is in a cooling mode when the difference between said minimum value and said fixed ambient temperature value is greater than the difference between said maximum value and said fixed ambient temperature value; andwherein said processing means provides drift compensation by:ascertaining that said measured temperature signal is a value that has changed from the previous measured temperature signal value and that said previous measured temperature signal value had remained constant for a predetermined amount of time, and then:setting the minimum temperature value to said measured temperature signal value when said previous measured temperature signal value was the minimum temperature value and the measured temperature signal value is higher than said previous minimum temperature value; andsetting the maximum temperature value to said measured temperature signal value when said previous measured temperature signal value was the maximum temperature value and the measured temperature signal value is lower than said previous maximum temperature value.