Installation of thermostat powered by rechargeable battery

• US 10,191,727 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2015
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Daniel Adam, Fiennes, Hugo, Dutra, Jonathan Alan, Bell, David, Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Smith, Ian C., Satterthwaite, Jr., Edwin H., Palmer, Joseph E., Erickson, Grant M., Mucignat, Andrea, Sloo, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnes-Bullock, Crystal J
• Application Number:
  US14/878,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20160054026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2220/042 Temperature sensors
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• 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 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• 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: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A thermostat is described that includes a rechargeable battery, a graphical user interface and a wireless network communication capabilities. During installation, in cases where the rechargeable battery is below a first threshold, the installation procedure is limited so as to avoid energy intensive installation steps which may not be supported by the low battery level. An example of an installation step that is avoided due to low battery level is set up of wireless communication. According to some embodiments, if the battery level is very low during initial installation, the installation process is halted while the battery is charged. An indication such as a flashing LED may be displayed so as to indicate to the user that the battery is being charged.

Claims

1. A versatile sensing and/or control unit (VSCU), comprising:

a user interface for outputting information;

a rechargeable battery;

battery charging circuitry that charges the rechargeable battery using power from an external, wired source;

a sensor that senses an environmental condition; and

at least one processor that is powered by the rechargeable battery and is in communication with the sensor and the user interface, the at least one processor being configured to;

determine a charge level of the rechargeable battery;

compare the determined charge level with one or more stored charge thresholds;

determine, based on the comparison of the determined charge level with the one or more stored charge thresholds, a type of installation to be performed by the at least one processor, wherein the type of installation is selected from a plurality of types of installations comprising a full installation and a limited installation, wherein the limited installation results in less functionality of the VSCU being made available;

perform the determined type of installation; and

output, via the user interface, an indication of the determined type of installation.

2. The VSCU of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a graphical electronic display.

3. The VSCU of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition sensed by the sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

temperature, acceleration, audio, video, brightness, and loudness.

4. The VSCU of claim 1, further comprising wireless communication circuitry in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the determined type of installation that is performed comprises the wireless communication circuitry being deactivated.

5. The VSCU of claim 4, wherein the plurality of types of installations comprises a full installation that involves configuring wireless communication and a limited installation that skips configuring wireless communication.

6. The VSCU of claim 1, wherein the VSCU is a thermostat that is electrically connected with control wires of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

7. The VSCU of claim 6, wherein the external, wired source comprises one or more of the control wires of the HVAC system.

8. The VSCU of claim 7, wherein the sensor senses the environmental condition regardless of the type of installation performed.

9. The VSCU of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor controls the HVAC system based on measurements made by the sensor based on the sensed environmental condition regardless of the type of installation performed.

10. The VSCU of claim 1, further comprising battery monitoring circuitry that is in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor determines the charge level of the rechargeable battery based on information received from the battery monitoring circuitry.

11. A method for performing installation of a versatile sensing and/or control unit (VSCU), the method comprising:

determining, by one or more processors of the VSCU, a charge level of a rechargeable battery of the VSCU;

comparing, by the one or more processors, the determined charge level with one or more stored charge thresholds;

determining, by the one or more processors, based on the comparison of the determined charge level with the one or more stored charge thresholds, a type of installation to be performed at the VSCU, wherein the type of installation is selected from a plurality of types of installations comprising a full installation and a limited installation, wherein the limited installation results in less functionality of the VSCU being made available;

performing, by the one or more processors, the determined type of installation at the VSCU;

outputting, via a user interface of the VSCU, an indication of the determined type of installation; and

sensing, by an environmental sensor of the VSCU, an environmental condition in a vicinity of the VSCU.

12. The method for performing the installation of the VSCU of claim 11, wherein the user interface is a graphical electronic display located on the VSCU and outputting the indication of the determined type of installation comprises the graphical electronic display presenting a message indicative of the determined type of installation.

13. The method for performing the installation of the VSCU of claim 11, wherein the environmental condition sensed by the sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

temperature, acceleration, audio, video, brightness, and loudness.

14. The method for performing the installation of the VSCU of claim 11, wherein the VSCU further comprises wireless communication circuitry in communication with the one or more processors, and the method further comprises deactivating the wireless communication circuitry based on the determined type of installation that is performed.

15. The method for performing the installation of the VSCU of claim 14, wherein the plurality of types of installations comprises at least two types of installation, the at least two types of installation comprising a full installation that involves configuring wireless communication and a limited installation that skips configuring wireless communication.

16. The method for performing the installation of the VSCU of claim 11, wherein the VSCU is a thermostat that is electrically connected with control wires of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

17. A versatile sensing system, comprising:

a user interface for outputting information;

a rechargeable battery;

battery charging circuitry that charges the rechargeable battery using power from an external, wired source;

a sensor that senses an environmental condition;

at least one processor that is powered by the rechargeable battery and is in communication with the sensor and the user interface, the processor being configured to;

determine a charge level of the rechargeable battery;

compare the determined charge level with one or more stored charge thresholds;

determine, based on the comparison of the determined charge level with the one or more stored charge thresholds, that a limited installation from a plurality of types of installations is to be performed by the at least one processor, wherein;

the limited installation excludes steps performed during a full installation of the plurality of types of installations that is alternatively performed when a greater charge level of the rechargeable battery is present;

perform the limited installation; and

output, via the user interface, an indication of the limited installation being performed.

18. The versatile sensing system of claim 17, wherein the user interface is a graphical electronic display in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor being configured to output the indication of the limited installation comprises the at least one processor causing the graphical electronic display to present a message indicative of the limited installation being performed.

19. The versatile sensing system of claim 17, wherein the environmental condition sensed by the sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

temperature, acceleration, audio, video, brightness, and loudness.

20. The versatile sensing system of claim 17, further comprising wireless communication circuitry in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the limited installation being performed comprises the at least one processor causing the wireless communication circuitry to be deactivated.