WO2013126967A1

WO2013126967A1 - Building services control system

Info

Publication number: WO2013126967A1
Application number: PCT/AU2013/000195
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Whitfield
Original assignee: Enlighten Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-02
Filing date: 2013-03-01
Publication date: 2013-09-06

Abstract

A building services control system including a building RF receiver and a user RF transmitter configured to be carried or worn by a user. The user RF transmitter is configured to transmit an RF signal for receipt by the building RF receiver. The system also includes, additional to or in place of the user RF transmitter, a fixed sensor disposed at a predetermined location within the building and having a sensor controller and a sensor RF transmitter associated therewith. The sensor RF transmitter is configured to transmit an RF signal to the building RF receiver in response to a predetermined sensed condition. The system also includes either a system controller in communication with the building RF receiver or a building RF receiver controller configured to control the operation of one or more building services associated with said building RF receiver.

Description

BUILDING SERVICES CONTROL SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to building services control and, in particular, to a building services control system.

Background Art

The invention has been developed primarily for use in commercial buildings such as offi ces and factory spaces and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use and is applicable to other commercial buildings or noncommercial buildings and workplaces. Residential and commercial buildings are known to have various environmental control systems. These include, for example, lighting, air conditioning, heating, speaker systems, security and alarm systems. It will be appreciated that lighting and air conditioning and heating systems are typically an essential part of a building. It is known to automate the provision of building environmental control systems. For example, many office buildings or factories have lighting turned on prior to the start of the first shift in the morning and turned off after the end of the last shift in the evening.

In larger office buildings air conditioning, for example, is supplied only between set conventional working hours, for example, 7.00am to 6.00pm. This saves provision of such energy intensive services for those times people are likely to be working in the offices. Larger work places are typically divided into zones for the provision of lighting and air conditioning, for example. These may be individual work spaces or groups of offices. Building environmental services can be supplied to these zones only if desired on a timer or by proximal switches. Remote sensor lighting also has long been used around many buildings to provide light when sensing the presence of a person. Such systems are typically passive infrared sensing systems. An example of such systems are security lights which detect the infrared signature of a person and activate a light for a predetennined period of time. This allows users to either not need to find the light switch in case of inconvenience such as at front doors when needing to unlock them or when constant intermittent access is required to an area, or simply provides lighting for building security. More sophisticated systems for the automated delivery of building environmental services have been developed. For example, services to individual hotel rooms in some hotel buildings are only provided once the room key tag or the like is placed in a holder which activates a switch indicating the presence of an occupant in the room. When the switch is actuated, Lighting and air conditioning services can be provided and these arc deactivated when the room key tag is removed from the switch. This is relatively efficient in single occupancy spaces.

Unfortunately, none of the known systems for the control of building environmental services are particularly efficient and are typically used in very specific circumstances such as hotels. In the case of passive infrared lighting, for example, these are known to time out and are unaware of inactive users nearby. These systems do not work in the presence of adjacent sources of heat, moving machinery, high wind, animals, etc, which can accidentally trigger these systems. The Genesis of the Invention

The genesis of the invention is a desire to provide a building services control system that can allow the efficient delivery of those services to building users, or to provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a building services control system comprising:

(A) a building radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to be disposed at a predetermined location in said building;

(B) (i) a user RF transmitter configured to be carried or worn by a user, said user RF transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal for receipt by said building RF receiver when said user RF transmitter is within a predetermined range of said building RF receiver; or (ii) a fixed sensor disposed at a predetermined location within said building and having a sensor controller and a sensor RF transmitter associated therewith, said sensor RF transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal said building RF receiver in response to a predetermined sensed condition; and (C) (i) a system controller in communication with said building RF receiver and configured to control the operation of one or more building services associated with said building RF receiver; or(ii) a building RF receiver controller configured to control the operation of one or more building services associated with said building RF receiver.

It can therefore be seen that there is advantageously provided a system for controlling the provision of building services to those areas where building users require them in an active and responsive manner. The use of user RF transmitter devices removes any accidental system triggering providing a more reliable system. This should most advantageously result in a reduction in the cost of provision of the building services for building owners. Furthermore, in the case of lighting services the significant modern use of solid state LED lighting makes the actuation or dimming of those elements inexpensive as there is no penalty or extra power consumption for start up or shut down.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a building services control system according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a building services control system according to another preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagrams showing connection of components in the system of Figs 1 or 2; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a building services control system according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description Referring to the drawings generally, it will be appreciated that in the preferred embodiments like reference numerals have been used to denote like components unless expressly stated otherwise,

In the preferred embodiment of Fig. 1, a building environmental services control system 1 according for first preferred embodiment is shown. A building user 3 is shown in a partly illustrated room 5 of a building. This room may be an office, warehouse, factory or other environment that does not require permanent lighting. A ceiling 6 is shown having a plurality of spaced apart lighting units, for example, LED tube lighting battens in the ceiling to provide light to adjacent areas below. This light is required to be of a particular brightness typically under work place safety standards. Each lighting unit 7 includes a building radio frequency transceiver 9 associated with it. Although not shown, the building RF transceivers 9 are disposed within each LED tube lighting housing. The building RF transceivers 9 send RF signals, interrogation signals, to an adjacent area below and are configured to receive radio frequency signals from user radio frequency identification devices 11 issued to individual authorised users of the building. The user RFID devices 11 send an RF signal to adjacent RF transceivers 9 indicating the presence to the transceivers of the user RFID device 11 and therefore the presence of the user adjacent. In the preferred embodiment of Fig. 1, the building RF transceivers 9 send the interrogation signal that is received by the user RFID device 11 causing that device to generate and RF signal for receipt by the building radio frequency transceivers in response. It will be appreciated, however, that the user RFID device 11 may constantly transmit RF signals for receipt by building RF transceivers 9 if desired.

A system controller 13 shown in Fig. 3 is in communication with each building radio frequency transceiver 9. In the preferred embodiment of Fig, 1 , the system controller communicates with each building radio frequency transceiver 9 via radio frequency signals directly. However, it will be appreciated that the system controller may communicate with the building radio frequency transceivers 9 indirectly via radio frequency hubs in wireless or cable communication with each building radio frequency transceiver 9. Yet further, it will be appreciated that the system controller may be cable connected to each building radio frequency transceiver 9, replacing the wireless links between transceivers 9 and controller 13 schematically illustrated in Fig. 3. The system controller operates to control the lights of each lighting unit 7 in response to the sensing of a user RFID device 11 adjacent by one or more building radio frequency transceivers 9. The lighting is maintained whilst the user RFID device 11 is proximal,

In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the presence of the user 3 causes lighting units 7 shown with ticks to be driven to provide full illumination. This is intended to illuminate a sufficient area around the user to allow them to conduct their desired activity. The light units 7 shown with a circle are not powered at all since the user is not in those areas and does not require lighting there.

It will be understood that the area and number of lighting units 7 providing power for the user 3 can be one or many as desired and depending on the type of lighting and the area to be lit. Further, the lighting units 7 providing lighting will vary as the location of the user RFID device 1 i moves.

Although Fig. 1 illustrates the use of lighting associated with the building radio frequency transceivers 7, it will be understood that these may also be connected to air conditioning control systems to provide air conditioning to predetermined areas about the user 3 sufficient to provide an acceptable environment. Yet further, it will be understood that although also not illustrated, building speaker systems or other services may be provided and security/alarm systems can be operated or disabled by the sensing of the user 3 RFID device 11 by the building RF transceiver 9. The system controller is also configured to detennine the location of each user 3 having a user RFID device 11 if desired. This can allow monitoring for users entering areas for which they are not authorised and also for simply recording the log of the movements of users. For example, when a user enters a work place area for which they are not authorised, full lighting may be provided and a signal sent to security staff indicating the presence of the unauthorised person.

Whilst the building RF transceivers 9 are shown disposed in the light housings 7, this need not be the case. It will be appreciated that the building RF transceivers 7 can be disposed anywhere in ceilings, floors or walls in either indoor or outdoor areas of a building as desired. Similarly, the building RF identification transceivers 7 may be disposed in or about air conditioning vents or other services they may be intended to control, in or on furniture, building fittings or about doorways. The building RF transceivers 7 can be disposed in any one or more types of locations as desired to control the delivery of building environmental services.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 each user 3 has a unique user RFID device 11 and the building RF transceivers 9 only allow the control systems to operate the lighting unit 7 when a signal is received or a signal of a predetermined strength is received from the user RFID device 11.

Although not illustrated in the preferred embodiment of Fig. 1 , it will be appreciated that ambient light sensors may be provided so that light units 7 only need to provide a level of illumination sufficient to augment the ambient lighting so that the lighting level adjacent the user 3 is of a sufficient working level and additional lighting intensity that is not required is therefore not provided by lighting units 7. As touched on above, the location of the user 3 can be determined by measuring the strength of the signal received by the user RFID device 7 by a plurality of building RF

transceivers 9.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 it can be therefore seen as the user 3 moves about the building, lighting 7 is turned on and off to provide a predetermined lighting intensity about the user 3 and lighting units 7 are switched on and off accordingly as the user moves about. In this way, lighting units 7 can be turned off (shown with circles) when not required by the user thereby saving significant levels of energy. Further, the building RF transceivers 9 will not accidentally detect or sense a user RFID device 1 1 , nor will the lighting services time out if the user is inactive. Furthermore, in the embodiment of Fig. 3 , if an unauthorised user 3 or a visitor having an assigned user RFID device is detected in an area where they are not supposed to be, the lighting can be provided to full power and alarm services activated, The user RFID device 11 is preferably a dedicated device that is worn or carried by a user authorised to be in one or more locations of the building. However, it will be appreciated that the user RFID device can be integrated or associated with a mobile telephone or a mobile computing device, and may advantageously use a Bluetooth or conventional WIFI connection to provide the RF signal. Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown another preferred embodiment of the building environment control system 1. In this embodiment, light units 7 are actuated for power level according to the location of the user 3 and their user RFID device 11. Lighting units 7 shown with a tick are providing full illumination about the user and those with a circle provide illumination at 50% of a maximum level about an edge of the area of maximum illumination. Those lighting units 7 with an X are switched off and provide no lighting as the user is not adjacent. The user RFID device 11 sends signals that a sensed by building RF transceivers 9 and when a signal of a predetermined strength is received the lighting is provided full operational levels corresponding to a user being relatively closely adjacent. For a predetermined area about those lighting units provided on full power, lighting units are provided on half power (or any predetermined lower power) to gradually diminish the light provided rather than simply light a relatively small area with a bright intensity. This way, the user 3 can see to some degree although not an operational level at a predetermined range. Referring to Fig. 4 there is shown a further preferred embodiment of the invention. In this preferred embodiment, the system controller 13 is not incLuded. Instead, each building RF receiver 9 includes a local controller 10 to control the operation thereof. Although not shown in Fig. 4 the building RF receivers 9 can be in communication with each other. The preferred system 1 includes a plurality of spaced apart building RF receivers 9 in the form of transceivers allowing RF communication therefrom. As noted each building RF receiver includes an associated controller to control the operation thereof. As in the embodiment above, the building RF receivers 9 are disposed at a

predetermined location in the building. A user RF transmitter 11 is configured to be carried or worn by an authorised user (not shown in Fig. 4) of the building. As in the embodiments above, the user RF transmitter 11 is configured to transmit an RF signal for receipt by the building RF receiver 9 when the user RF transmitter (and hence user) is within a predetermined range of the building RF receiver 9.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4, a fixed sensor 17 is disposed at a predetermined location within the building, for example in a car park. It will be appreciated that any preferred number of fixed sensors 17 or user RF transmitters 11 as desired. The fixed sensor 17 has a sensor controller 19 and a sensor RF transmitter associated therewith. The sensor RF controller is configured to transmit an RF signal to an adjacent or nearby building RF receiver 9 in response to a predetermined sensed condition.

In this preferred embodiment, the fixed sensor 17 can be a light intensity sensor configured such that the fixed sensor 19 sends an RF signal to the buildin g RF receiver 9 when adjacent light levels are sensed at a level less than or greater than a predetermined minimum. In this case, the building RF receiver controller 10 is configured to respectively increase or decrease lighting intensity of lighting services 7 associated with the building RF receiver 9 which the fixed sensor 17 transmits an RF signal to. A plurality of lighting services 7 are grouped in a zone about which lighting is required in the presence of a user sensed by a building RF receiver 9. It will be understood that the lighting services 7 can be wirelessly connected to respective building RF receivers or connected by cable. This way, associating lighting services with particular building RF receivers can be relatively easily achieved without cable wiring or re-wiring.

In the alternative, the fixed sensor 17 can be any preferred sensor type disposed at a fixed location. For example, fixed sensor 17 in the form of a Doppler radar. The Doppler RAD AR fixed sensor 17 is configured to send an RF signal to the adjacent or near-by building RF receiver 9 when movement of any object is sensed in a direction toward or away from the radar 17 at or greater than a predetermined speed. At this time, the building RF receiver controller 10 is configured to send a signal to actuate or control the operation of the group of lighting services 7 associated with the building RF receiver 9.

As noted, the building RF receiver 9 is a transceiver. This is also configured to transmit RF signals or interrogation signals to any near by user RF transmitter 11 or said fixed sensor transmitter 17 when either of these are in the form of transceivers to be able to receive signals from the building RF transceiver 9. In this way, the fixed sensors or the user RF transmitter 11 can be configured or re-configured upon receipt of pre-determined RF signals if desired. Furthermore, the system 1 can provide for the user RF transmitter 11 to be active in sending sending RF signals at predetermined intervals for receipt by the building RF receivers 9. Alternatively, the user RF transmitter 11 in the form of a transceiver allows it to be "passive-active" and switching off the transmitter function when not receiving an RF signal from the building RF transceiver 9 or being interrogated by it.

As with the other described preferred embodiments, the building services associated with each building RF receiver 9 can include any one or more of the following, for example: one or more spaced apart lights or lighting elements, preferably LED lighting elements; one or more door locks or door access mechanisms; the flow or air or temperature thereof from more or more spaced apart air conditioning outlets or ducts; one or more spaced apart speakers; and the deactivation of one or more security sensors or alarms or monitors. It will be understood that control of operation of building services associated with each said building RF receiver 9 includes actuating those services or varying the level of delivery of those services.

Similarly to the other described preferred embodiments, each building RF receiver controller 10 is configured to report any user RF transmitter 11 sensed when a user associated with the user RF transmitter 11 is not authorised to access areas proximal each the building RF receiver 9 sensing the user RF transmitter 11. Further, the building RF receivers 9 can be disposed at any preferred location to allow the deliver of services to a proximal user. These can be on or in walls, floors &/or ceilings, in indoor or outdoor areas of a building, in or on furniture or doorways; or in or adjacent ceiling light fittings &/or air-conditioning ducts; or in outdoor or covered areas associated with the building. The outdoor or covered areas preferably include wharves; carparks; and covered areas between buildings.

As with other preferred embodiments, the system 1 of Fig. 4 is configured to allow RF signal input to each building RF receiver controller 10. this signal input is indicative of a level of ambient light adjacent each light services 7 or at one or more

predetermined locations thereabout. Each building RF receiver controller 10 is configured to adjust the output of the light services 7 to compensate for low or high levels of ambient light so as to maintain lighting intensity corresponding to operational requirements. Likewise, the system 1 is configured such that the lighting intensity provided by lighting services 7 is a predetermined standby level until a user RF transmitter 1 1 is sensed or said fixed sensor 17 actuated and operational service levels of lighting are provided.

It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the system 1 can also control building services 7 associated with a building RF receiver 9 in response to a sensed field strength of said user RF transmitter varying over time to indicate movement of said user and to actuate or operate or control lighting services 7 in anticipation of user RF transmitter 11 movement.

In the preferred embodiment of Fig. 4, each building RF receiver controller 10 is configurable in response to near-field communication RF signals received thereby. This preferably includes configuring the building services 7 or operational characteristics of them associated the building RF receiver controller 10. That is, each building RF receiver 9 operation can be configured by receipt of predetermined RF signals. This includes associating or dis-associating services 7 with particular building RF receivers or configuring the operation of those services 7 as controlled by a building RF receiver. It will be appreciated that the temperature &/or flow rate of air conditioning services can be provided in a similar manner, as can area access services such as unlocking doors or switching off adjacent alarm systems. The foregoing describes only certain preferred embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It will be understood the system 1 may be employed with advantageous results in an outdoor areas associated with a building or workplace. These areas include covered open spaces between buildings; car parks, recreational and sporting facilities & stadia and at workplaces such as wharves. The building RF transceivers can be disposed in or on light poles. Fences or rails, for example. The system 1 is also suitable for other workplaces like rail yards or train terminus, military or high security establishment and airport area, for example. The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of "including" or "having" and not in the exclusive sense of

"consisting only of .

Claims

We Claim:

1. A building services control system comprising:

(B) (i) a user RF transmitter configured to be carried or wom by a user, said user RF transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal for receipt by said building RF receiver when said user RF transmitter is within a predetermined range of said building RF receiver; or

(ii) a fixed sensor disposed at a predetermined location within said building and having a sensor controller and a sensor RF transmitter associated therewith, said sensor RF transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal said building RF receiver in response to a predetermined sensed condition; and

(C) (i) a system controller in communication with said building RF receiver and configured to control the operation of one or more building sen dees associated with said building RF receiver; of(ii) a building RF receiver controller configured to control the operation of one or more building services associated with said building RF receiver.

2. A system according to claim 1 including:

a plurality of spaced apart building receivers each associated with

predetermined one or more building services proximal thereto and each having a respective building RF receiver controller or being in communication with said system controller; and/or

a plurality of user RF transmitters and/or fixed sensors.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein:

(i) each said building RF receiver is in the form of a transceiver configured to transmit RF signals or interrogation signals to said user RF transmitter or said fixed sensor transmitter; and/or

(ii) each said fixed sensor RF transmitter and/or each said user RF transmitter are in the form of RF transceivers each configured to receive RF signals.

4. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said building services associated with each said building RF receiver/transceiver include one or more of the following selected from the group consisting of:

(i) one or more spaced apart lights or lighting elements, preferably LED lighting elements; (ii) one or more door locks or door access mechanisms;

(iii) the flow or air or temperature thereof from more or more spaced apart air conditioning outlets or ducts;

(iv) one or more spaced apart speakers; and

(v) the deactivation of one or more security sensors or alarms or monitors,

5. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said fixed sen sors include:

(i) light intensity sensors configured such that said fixed sensor sends an RF signal to said building RF receiver when adjacent light levels are sensed at a level less than or greater than a predetermined minimum whereby building RF receiver controller or said system controller are configured to respectively increase or decrease lighting intensity of lightin g services associated with said building RF receiver which said fixed sensor transmits an RF signal to; and/or

(ii) a Doppler radar configured such that said fixed sensor sends an RF signal to said building RF receiver when movement is sensed in a direction toward or away from said radar at or greater than a predetermined speed whereby said said building RF receiver controller or said system controller is configured to send a signal to actuate lighting services associated with said building RF receiver.

6. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said control of

operation of said building services associated with each said building RF receiver includes actuating those services or varying the level of delivery of those services.

7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said building RF

receiver controller or said system controller is configured to store or provide information indicative of the location of each sensed user RF transmitter.

8. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said building RF

receiver controller or said system controller is configured to report any user RF transmitter sensed by each said building RF receiver when a user associated with said user RF transmitter use not authorised to access areas proximal each said building RF receiver sensing said user RF transmitter.

9. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said building RF

receivers are disposed: at a location selected from the group consisting of walls, floors &/or ceilings in indoor or outdoor areas of said building; & or in or on furniture or doorways; or in or adjacent ceiling light fittings &/or air- conditioning ducts; or in outdoor or covered areas associated with said building wherein said outdoor or covered areas include wharves; car parks; and covered areas between buildings.

10. A system according to claim 3 wherein said user RF transmitter is active sending pulses at predetermined intervals for receipt by said building RF receivers, or is in the form of a transceiver being passive-active and switching off a transmitter function when not receiving a signal from said building RF transceiver or when interrogated by said building transceiver.

11. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 predetermined zones in and about said building are defined in said system and said building. services are configured to operate in said zones.

12. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said system is

configured to allow input to each said building RF receiver controller or said system controller indicative of a level of ambient light adjacent each light services or at one or more predetermined locations and configuring each said building RF receiver controller or system controller to adjust output of said light fitting to compensate for said ambient light so as to maintain lighting intensity corresponding to operational requirements.

13 A system according to any one of claims 1 to 12 including the step of

providing said building system services associated with each said building RF receiver in respective standby levels until a user RF transmitter is sensed or said fixed sensor actuated and operational service levels are provided.

14. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 13 including the step of

providiag building services associated with a building RF receiver in response to a sensed field strength of said user RF transmitter varyin g over time to indicate movement of said user.

15. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said building

services associated with each building RF receiver are maintained in respective standby levels until a user RF transmitter is sensed and providing full levels of building services whilst the user RF transmitter is sensed.

16. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein: each said building RF receiver controller is configurable in response to RF signals received thereby preferably including configuring building services or operational characteristics thereof associated therewith; or said system controller is configurable in response to configuration signals received thereby such that said system controller operation of said services associated with each said building RF receiver is configurable.