System for determining ambient temperature
First Claim
1. A device for providing control signals to one or more pieces of equipment, comprising:
- a housing;
one or more active electronic components within the housing, wherein during operation of the device, the one or more active electronic components receive power and release heat within the housing, which causes a first region within the housing to be at a different temperature than a second region within the housing;
a first temperature sensor for reporting a measure that is indicative of the temperature in the first region;
a second temperature sensor for reporting a measure that is indicative of the temperature in the second region, wherein the second temperature sensor is not vertically aligned with the first temperature sensor during operation of the device;
a controller in communication with the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, the controller configured to determine a measure related to an ambient temperature outside of the housing based, at least in part, on the measure that is indicative of the temperature in the first region reported by the first temperature sensor and the measure that is indicative of the temperature in the second region reported by the second temperature sensor;
the controller using the measure related to the ambient temperature to determine the one or more control signals; and
wherein the device outputs the one or more control signals to control the one or more pieces of equipment.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanism for indicating ambient temperature of an enclosure from temperatures determined within the enclosure. The temperatures may be obtained from two or more sensors at each of two or more locations within the enclosure. The enclosure may include an apparatus inside such as electronics of which power consumption may be determined. Data including temperatures of two locations within the enclosure at various electronics power consumption levels may be entered into a 2-D plot. An approximation of the 2-D plot may be effected with an appropriate equation to be solved for ambient temperature. The data of the 2-D plot plus temperatures of a third location and air flow levels in the enclosure may be entered into a 3-D plot. An approximation of the 3-D plot may be effected with an appropriate equation to be solved for ambient temperature.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for providing control signals to one or more pieces of equipment, comprising:
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a housing; one or more active electronic components within the housing, wherein during operation of the device, the one or more active electronic components receive power and release heat within the housing, which causes a first region within the housing to be at a different temperature than a second region within the housing; a first temperature sensor for reporting a measure that is indicative of the temperature in the first region; a second temperature sensor for reporting a measure that is indicative of the temperature in the second region, wherein the second temperature sensor is not vertically aligned with the first temperature sensor during operation of the device; a controller in communication with the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, the controller configured to determine a measure related to an ambient temperature outside of the housing based, at least in part, on the measure that is indicative of the temperature in the first region reported by the first temperature sensor and the measure that is indicative of the temperature in the second region reported by the second temperature sensor; the controller using the measure related to the ambient temperature to determine the one or more control signals; and wherein the device outputs the one or more control signals to control the one or more pieces of equipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for use in a thermostat application, comprising:
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a first temperature sensor situated at a first location in a housing for measuring a first temperature at the first location; a second temperature sensor situated at a second location in the housing for measuring a second temperature at the second location; a third temperature sensor situated at a third location in the housing for measuring a third temperature at the third location; wherein the first temperature, the second temperature and the third temperature are at different temperatures during operation of the device; a controller receiving the first temperature from the first temperature sensor, the second temperature from the second temperature sensor, and the third temperature from the third temperature sensor; wherein the controller determines an ambient temperature outside of the housing using a predetermined relationship that identifies the ambient temperature based, at least in part, on the first temperature, the second temperature and the third temperature; and wherein the controller provides one or more control signals for controlling temperature control equipment, which control signals are based at least in part on the determined ambient temperature outside of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for providing one or more control signals to one or more pieces of equipment, comprising:
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a housing; one or more heat generating elements within the housing, wherein during operation of the device, the one or more heat generating elements cause a first region within the housing to be at a different temperature than a second region within the housing; a first temperature sensor for reporting a measure that is indicative of the temperature in the first region; a second temperature sensor for reporting a measure that indicative of the temperature in the second region; a controller in communication with the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, wherein the controller is configured to determine a measure related to an ambient temperature outside of the housing based, at least in part, on the measure that is indicative of the temperature in the first region reported by the first temperature sensor, the measure that is indicative of the temperature in the second region reported by the second temperature sensor and a measure indicative of an energy consumption level of one or more of the heat generating elements; and the controller using the measure related to the ambient temperature to determine the one or more control signals, and the device outputs the one or more control signals to control the one or more pieces of equipment. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification