Temperature controller with model-based time to target calculation and display

• US 10,082,306 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony Michael, Sloo, David, Rogers, Matthew, Sharan, Rangoli, Matas, Michael, Matsuoka, Yoky
• Primary Examiner(s): FURDGE, LARRY L
• Application Number:
  US14/789,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20150300672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0086 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/39 Monitoring filter performance
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/40 Noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 Control inputs relating to system states
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 : Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0265 : the criterion being a learning criterion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 : characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 : characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2416 : Means for guiding or retaining wires or cables connected to terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 : Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 : Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A thermostat is described for controlling air temperature in a building. The time associated with causing the controlled air temperature to reach a target temperature is estimated and displayed to a user. Input from a user indicating the target temperature can be received and the estimating and displaying can be carried out in real time. The thermostat can be wall-mounted or the user input can be received and estimated time can be displayed using a remote device, for example that communicates wirelessly with other components of the HVAC system.

Claims

1. A thermostat, comprising:

an electronic display;

a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system control interface;

a user input component that receives user input;

a processing system comprising one or more processors, the processing system being in communication with the electronic display, the HVAC system control interface, and the user input component and the processing system being configured to;

calculate a first time to reach a target temperature using a first configuration of the HVAC system;

calculate a second time to reach the target temperature using a second configuration of the HVAC system, wherein;

the second configuration of the HVAC system represents a more energy intensive configuration than the first configuration of the HVAC system; and

the second time is shorter than the first time; and

output the first time and the second time to the electronic display for simultaneous presentation.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

output, to the electronic display, the target temperature to the electronic display for simultaneous presentation with the first time and the second time.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein:

the first configuration of the HVAC system involves only a first stage of the HVAC system being activated; and

the second configuration of the HVAC system comprises the first stage of the HVAC system being activated in combination with a second stage of the HVAC system being activated.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the user input component comprises a circular rotatable ring that rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, the circular rotatable ring encircling the electronic display of the thermostat.

5. The thermostat of claim 4, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

increase the target temperature in response to user input that rotates the circular rotatable ring clockwise; and

decrease the target temperature in response to user input that rotates the circular rotatable ring counterclockwise.

6. The thermostat of claim 5, wherein the processing system is further configured to, in response to the user input that rotates the circular rotatable ring:

recalculate the first time to reach an increased or decreased target temperature using the first configuration of the HVAC system;

recalculate the second time to reach the increased or decreased target temperature using the second configuration of the HVAC system; and

output the recalculated first time and the recalculated second time to the electronic display for simultaneous presentation.

7. A method for using a thermostat to control a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:

calculating, by the thermostat, a first time to reach a target temperature using a first configuration of the HVAC system;

calculating, by the thermostat, a second time to reach the target temperature using a second configuration of the HVAC system, wherein;

the second time is shorter than the first time; and

simultaneously presenting, by the thermostat, the first time and the second time on an electronic display of the thermostat.

8. The method for using the thermostat to control the HVAC system of claim 7, the method further comprising:

presenting by the thermostat, the target temperature on the electronic display of the thermostat, wherein the target temperature is presented simultaneously with the first time and the second time.

9. The method for using the thermostat to control the HVAC system of claim 7, wherein:

the first configuration of the HVAC system comprises only a first stage of the HVAC system being activated; and

the second configuration of the HVAC system comprises the first stage of the HVAC system being activated in combination with a second stage of the HVAC system being activated.

10. The method for using the thermostat to control the HVAC system of claim 7, the method further comprising:

increasing, by the thermostat, the target temperature in response to user input that rotates a circular rotatable ring of the thermostat clockwise, wherein the circular rotatable ring encircles the electronic display; and

decreasing, by the thermostat, the target temperature in response to user input that rotates the circular rotatable ring counterclockwise.

11. The method for using the thermostat to control the HVAC system of claim 10, the method further comprising:

in response to the user input that rotates the circular rotatable ring, recalculating, by the thermostat, the first time to reach an increased or decreased target temperature using the first configuration of the HVAC system;

in response to the user input that rotates the circular rotatable ring, recalculating, by the thermostat, the second time to reach the increased or decreased target temperature using the second configuration of the HVAC system; and

presenting, by the thermostat, the recalculated first time and the recalculated second time for simultaneous presentation on the electronic display of the thermostat.

12. A non-transitory processor-readable medium for a thermostat comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors of the thermostat to:

calculate a first time to reach a target temperature using a first configuration of a heating system;

calculate a second time to reach the target temperature using a second configuration of the heating system, wherein;

the second time is shorter than the first time; and

output for presentation the first time and the second time to an electronic display of the thermostat for simultaneous presentation.

13. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

output, to the electronic display, the target temperature to the electronic display for simultaneous presentation with the first time and the second time.

14. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 12, wherein:

the first configuration of the heating system involves only a first stage of the heating system being activated; and

the second configuration of the heating system comprises the first stage of the heating system being activated in combination with a second stage of the heating system being activated.

15. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

increase the target temperature in response to user input that rotates a circular rotatable ring clockwise, wherein the circular rotatable ring rotates clockwise and counterclockwise; and

decrease the target temperature in response to user input that rotates the circular rotatable ring counterclockwise.

16. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

in response to the user input that rotates the circular rotatable ring;

recalculate the first time to reach an increased or decreased target temperature using the first configuration of an HVAC system;

recalculate the second time to reach the increased or decreased target temperature using the second configuration of the HVAC system; and

output the recalculated first time and the recalculated second time to the electronic display for simultaneous presentation.