Thermostat with downcast light

• US 10,140,821 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moulton, Michael Scott, DeVries, Craig, Boynton, Stephen Edward, Nosack, Kris, Cooper, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Aziz, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US15/424,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20180225934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• 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 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A device having indirect visual indicators to communicate information about states of operation is disclosed herein. The visual indicators may output a visual indication based on operational states of the device or other systems associated with the device. In some examples, a thermostat may include a downcast light that outputs a visual indication based on a mode of operation of the thermostat or a mode of operation of an associated heating, cooling, and ventilation (HVAC) system. Various characteristics of the visual indication may be altered to output different information. In some examples, a color of the visual indication may change based on the modes of operation or the visual indication may be pulsed based on the modes of operation.

Claims

1. A method for indicating an operating mode of a device, comprising:

identifying a mode of operation of the device configured to automatically control a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system;

outputting a visual indication having a color based at least in part on the identified mode of operation, wherein the visual indication is projected onto a portion of a wall below a floor-facing side of a housing of a wall-mounted thermostat;

determining that a climate control system associated with the mode of operation is currently heating or cooling a space;

determining a duration since the climate control system began currently heating or cooling the space; and

pulsing the visual indication to oscillate between a first output state and a second output state based at least in part on the climate control system associated with the mode of operation currently heating or cooling the space and the duration satisfying a time threshold, the first output state being brighter than the second output state.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the mode of operation as a heating mode, wherein the color of the visual indication is orange based at least in part on the device being in the heating mode.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the mode of operation as a cooling mode, wherein the color of the visual indication is blue based at least in part on the device being in the cooling mode.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the mode of operation based at least in part on a difference between a current temperature of the space associated with the device and a temperature set point.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

activating, by the device, a heating mode based at least in part on the current temperature being less than the temperature set point; and

modifying the color of the visual indication to be orange.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

activating, by the device, a cooling mode based at least in part on the current temperature being more than the temperature set point; and

modifying the color of the visual indication to be blue.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a first brightness associated with the first output state and a second brightness associated with the second output state; and

determining a flash rate associated with the pulsing of the visual indication, wherein the first brightness, the second brightness, and the flash rate are based at least in part on a parameter of the device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an occupancy parameter of the space associated with the device, wherein outputting the visual indication is based at least in part on the occupancy parameter.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second duration since the visual indication began to be output; and

ceasing to output the visual indication based at least in part on the second duration satisfying a second time threshold.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the climate control system is an air conditioning system or an evaporative cooling system or a heating system.

11. An apparatus for indicating an operating mode of a device, in a system comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to;

identify a mode of operation of the device configured to automatically control a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system;

output a visual indication having a color based at least in part on the identified mode of operation, wherein the visual indication is projected onto a portion of a wall below a floor-facing side of a housing of a wall-mounted thermostat;

determine that a climate control system associated with the mode of operation is currently heating or cooling a space;

determining a duration since the climate control system began currently heating or cooling the space; and

pulse the visual indication to oscillate between a first output state and a second output state based at least in part on the climate control system associated with the mode of operation currently heating or cooling the space and the duration satisfying a time threshold, the first output state being brighter than the second output state.