Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110223850 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF VENTILATION FOR A HEALTHY HOME CONFIGURED FOR EFFICIENT ENERGY USAGE AND CONSERVATION OF ENERGY RESOURCES - A method provides a ventilation control compliant with an adopted ventilation standard for efficient energy usage and conservation of energy resources. The method includes operating a home energy system to generate solar energy within a daily active period and draw fresh air from an ambient region, setting a daily ventilation period as a fractional period of a day, the ventilation period being coincident with the active period during a heating period for the home or a time period after the active period during a cooling period for the home, determining a target volume, determining a flow rate for delivering the fresh air during the ventilation period, performing ventilation in the ventilation period to deliver the fresh air into the home using the flow rate, and monitoring an accumulated total ventilation volume of the delivered fresh air until the accumulated total ventilation volume is within a vicinity of a target volume. | 09-15-2011 |
20110238223 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HEALTHY HOME ZONING CONTROL CONFIGURED FOR EFFICIENT ENERGY USE AND CONSERVATION OF ENERGY RESOURCES - A system provides space conditioning zone control in a building for efficient energy use and conservation of energy resources. The system includes an energy transfer module coupled to a solar thermal system to receive a first airflow and an auxiliary thermal module coupled to the energy transfer module for processing a return airflow to provide a conditioned airflow for one or more spatial zones. The system further includes a zone controller coupled directly to the auxiliary thermal module and a thermostat in each spatial zone for operating the auxiliary thermal module. Furthermore, the system includes a master control module wirelessly communicated with each thermostat and configured to operate the energy transfer module. The master control module initiates a transfer of the first airflow based upon a first setpoint before the zone controller initiates a generation and transfer of the conditioned airflow based upon a second setpoint. | 09-29-2011 |
20110257795 | THERMOSTAT METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING SOLAR ENERGY UTILIZATION FOR EFFICIENT ENERGY USAGE AND CONSERVATION OF ENERGY RESOURCES - A system for controlling solar energy utilization for efficient energy usage and conservation of energy resources for providing space conditioning and home ventilation. The system includes a control module configured to operate a solar energy system for collecting a flow of fresh air for utilizing thermal energy converted by the solar energy system. Additionally, the system includes a thermostat module directly coupled with an HVAC system to for controlling a delivery of a conditioned airflow. The thermostat device couples wirelessly to the control module. Further, the system includes a graphic user interface operably communicating with the control module remotely via a network hub. The graphic user interface device is configured to set modes of operation for the thermostat module and configured to communicate with the thermostat module for transmitting control information, modes of operation, and temperature information of the building structure to the control module via a wireless transmission. | 10-20-2011 |
20120295534 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF VENTILATION FOR A HEALTHY HOME CONFIGURED FOR EFFICIENT ENERGY USAGE AND CONSERVATION OF ENERGY RESOURCES - A method for providing a ventilation control compliant with an adopted ventilation standard for efficient energy usage and conservation of energy resources. The method includes operating a home energy system to generate solar energy within a daily active period and draw ambient fresh air, and setting a daily ventilation period as a fractional period of a day. The daily ventilation period is substantially coordinated with the daily active period during a heating/cooling period for the home. Additionally, the method includes determining a target volume in compliance with the adopted ventilation standard and determining a flow rate for delivering the fresh air during the daily ventilation period. Moreover, the method includes monitoring an accumulated total ventilation volume of the delivered fresh air until the accumulated total ventilation volume is within a vicinity of a target volume. | 11-22-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090038668 | TOPOLOGIES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL OF SOLAR ENERGY SUPPLY SYSTEMS - A control system or controller solar module array may be operated by (i) programmatically determining, for a given time period, a demand for an output of the solar module array by one or more energy consuming resources at the target location; and (ii) affecting an efficiency of the solar module array based at least in part on the determined demand. | 02-12-2009 |
20100147347 | METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR HYBRID THERMAL SOLAR MODULE - A solar module assembly and method. The assembly comprises a substantially transparent or semi-transparent surface provided on a first substrate member. The assembly includes an absorber material overlying a second substrate member. A spacing is provided between the semi-transparent surface of the first substrate and the second substrate, which has a first side and a second side. In a specific embodiment, the assembly has a fluid transport region disposed within a vicinity of either the first side or the second side of the second substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly has a photovoltaic device configured from at least the absorber material to generate electrical energy and a thermal energy device configured from at least the absorber material to generate thermal energy using the a fluid provided in the fluid transport region. | 06-17-2010 |
20100207951 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING OPERATION OF A SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEM - A novel method for monitoring the operation of a solar thermal system such as the healthy home system or the like. The present device includes a hardware housing with a processor device coupled to a bus and one or more memory devices. The processor device can be coupled to one or more input devices wherein the one or more input devices are coupled to at least the solar array. The input devices can be coupled to the electric panel, the space heater, the water heater, as well as other components of the healthy home. The method includes a variety of steps such as establishing connection to associated hardware in the healthy home system, running diagnostic checks to determine system health, validating acquired data, and displaying the data through text display and graphical illustrations. The method also includes updating the system information according to a schedule scheme such as a polling scheme, interrupt scheme, or others. These and possibly other steps can provide an easy and cost effective means of monitoring a healthy home's system operation. | 08-19-2010 |
20100245103 | HEALTHY HOME GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE METHOD AND DEVICE - A user display for a healthy home or like building structure. In a specific embodiment, the display includes a hardware housing and a display device coupled to the hardware housing. The display includes a plurality of graphical objects corresponding respectively to a plurality of different loads numbered from a through N, where N is an integer greater than 1. As an example, the loads can include, among others, air conditioning, water, heat, electricity, swimming pool, and others. In a specific embodiment, each of the graphical objects is displayed in a common unit of measurement. In a specific embodiment, each of the graphical objects comprises a total demand portion and a fraction of renewable energy portion. Of course, there can be other variations, modifications, and alternatives. | 09-30-2010 |
20110005152 | STRUT RUNNER MEMBER AND ASSEMBLY USING SAME FOR MOUNTING ARRAYS ON ROOFTOPS AND OTHER STRUCTURES - A strut runner includes a member extending lengthwise in a first direction, where the member includes an underlying panel and one or more walls that extend from the panel. The member may be configured to at least partially support the panel array while being integrated or directly connected to the underlying structure. Additionally, the strut runner may include one or more peripheral extensions that extend a distance outward from the body. | 01-13-2011 |
20110173900 | MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR ARRAYS AND OTHER SURFACE-MOUNTED EQUIPMENT - A mounting system is provided for supporting equipment such as solar module arrays on a rooftop or other underlying surface. The mounting system includes a pipe, and a grasp section. These couple to a base that is extended into or otherwise integrated with the underlying surface. The pipe may be coupled so as to extend a height from the underlying surface. The grasp section is coupled to a top section of the pipe and is structured to secure to a section of the solar module array when the solar module array is installed on the underlying surface. | 07-21-2011 |
20110174360 | RACK ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING SOLAR MODULES - A rack assembly is provided for mounting solar modules over an underlying body. The rack assembly may include a plurality of rail structures that are arrangeable over the underlying body to form an overall perimeter for the rack assembly. One or more retention structures may be provided with the plurality of rail structures, where each retention structure is configured to support one or more solar modules at a given height above the underlying body. At least some of the plurality of rail structures are adapted to enable individual rail structures to be sealed over the underlying body so as to constrain air flow underneath the solar modules. Additionally, at least one of (i) one or more of the rail structures, or (ii) the one or more retention structures are adjustable so as to adapt the rack assembly to accommodate solar modules of varying forms or dimensions. | 07-21-2011 |
20110210085 | INTERCONNECTED SOLAR MODULE DESIGN AND SYSTEM - A frame assembly is provided for a solar module. The frame assembly includes a plurality of frame members that are structured to collectively support and hold a first solar panel. At least one of the plurality of frame members is structured to adjoin a frame member of a second solar module in forming a joining with the frame member of the second solar module over a length where the frame member of the first and second solar module adjoin. | 09-01-2011 |
20120123596 | Topologies, Systems and Methods for Control of Solar Energy Supply Systems - A control system or controller solar module array may be operated by (i) programmatically determining, for a given time period, a demand for an output of the solar module array by one or more energy consuming resources at the target location; and (ii) affecting an efficiency of the solar module array based at least in part on the determined demand. | 05-17-2012 |
20130020267 | RACK ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING SOLAR MODULES - A rack assembly is provided for mounting solar modules over an underlying body. The rack assembly may include a plurality of rail structures that are arrangeable over the underlying body to form an overall perimeter for the rack assembly. One or more retention structures may be provided with the plurality of rail structures, where each retention structure is configured to support one or more solar modules at a given height above the underlying body. At least some of the plurality of rail structures are adapted to enable individual rail structures o be sealed over the underlying body so as to constrain air flow underneath the solar modules. Additionally, at least one of (i) one or more of the rail structures, or (ii) the one or more retention structures are adjustable so as to adapt the rack assembly to accommodate solar modules of varying forms or dimensions. | 01-24-2013 |