System for determining ambient temperature
First Claim
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1. A thermostat that functions to provide control signals to temperature control equipment to maintain a desired temperature in a space, comprising:
- a housing;
one or more heat generating elements in the housing, wherein during operation of the thermostat, the one or more heat generating elements cause a first region within the housing to be warmer than a second region within the housing;
a first temperature sensor for reporting a measure that is related to the temperature in the first region;
a second temperature sensor for reporting a measure that is related to the temperature in the second region;
a controller in communication with the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, the controller determining a measure related to an ambient temperature outside of the housing based, at least in part, on the measure that is related to the temperature in the first region reported by the first temperature sensor and the measure that is related to the temperature in the second region reported by the second temperature sensor; and
wherein;
the thermostat uses the measure related to the ambient temperature outside of the housing to determine one or more control signals for controlling temperature control equipment;
the thermostat is powered, at least in part, by electrical energy;
the one or more heat generating elements generate heat by consuming the electrical energy;
a level of electrical energy needed to power the thermostat changes over time;
the first temperature sensor and/or the second temperature sensor report a measure that is related to the temperature in the first region or the second region, respectively, which changes over time in a rapid or slow manner, correspondingly, at least in part, to the changes of energy over time needed to power the thermostat incorporating the heat generating elements; and
the changes over time in a rapid manner are compensated so as to avoid affecting determination of ambient temperature changes over time in a slow manner of the first temperature sensor and/or the second temperature sensor which reports a measure that is related to the temperature in the first region or the second region, respectively.
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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 heat generating components such as electronics. The enclosure may also incorporate one or more dynamic components that emanate sudden amounts of heat. The present mechanism compensates for such heat sources with a compensating scheme.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A thermostat that functions to provide control signals to temperature control equipment to maintain a desired temperature in a space, comprising:
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a housing; one or more heat generating elements in the housing, wherein during operation of the thermostat, the one or more heat generating elements cause a first region within the housing to be warmer than a second region within the housing; a first temperature sensor for reporting a measure that is related to the temperature in the first region; a second temperature sensor for reporting a measure that is related to the temperature in the second region; a controller in communication with the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, the controller determining a measure related to an ambient temperature outside of the housing based, at least in part, on the measure that is related to the temperature in the first region reported by the first temperature sensor and the measure that is related to the temperature in the second region reported by the second temperature sensor; and wherein; the thermostat uses the measure related to the ambient temperature outside of the housing to determine one or more control signals for controlling temperature control equipment; the thermostat is powered, at least in part, by electrical energy; the one or more heat generating elements generate heat by consuming the electrical energy; a level of electrical energy needed to power the thermostat changes over time; the first temperature sensor and/or the second temperature sensor report a measure that is related to the temperature in the first region or the second region, respectively, which changes over time in a rapid or slow manner, correspondingly, at least in part, to the changes of energy over time needed to power the thermostat incorporating the heat generating elements; and the changes over time in a rapid manner are compensated so as to avoid affecting determination of ambient temperature changes over time in a slow manner of the first temperature sensor and/or the second temperature sensor which reports a measure that is related to the temperature in the first region or the second region, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for determining an ambient temperature outside an enclosure, comprising:
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detecting a first temperature over a period of time at a first location in an enclosure; detecting a second temperature over the period of time at a second location in the enclosure; determining a first change of the first temperature over the period of time, from the first temperature over the period of time; detecting a second change of the second temperature over the period of time, from the second temperature over the period of time; selecting from the first change of the first temperature and the second change of the second temperature, a greatest change of temperature, over the period of time; determining whether the greatest change of temperature is dynamic; a change of temperature is dynamic when the rate of change exceeds a predetermined rate of X degrees Fahrenheit per second; generating a relationship between an ambient temperature outside of the enclosure and the first temperature, the second temperature, the first change of temperature and the second change of temperature; and determining the ambient temperature from the relationship; and wherein the relationship incorporates compensation for the dynamic change of temperature. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for determining ambient temperature comprising:
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an enclosure; a first temperature sensor situated at a first location in the enclosure; a second temperature sensor situated at a second location in the enclosure which is spaced from the first location; a controller receiving a first temperature from the first temperature sensor and a second temperature from the second temperature sensor; and a dynamic heat generating element situated in the enclosure; and wherein the dynamic heat generating element, when turned on, causes at least in part, the first temperature and/or the second temperature to change greater than a predetermined rate of X degrees Fahrenheit per second; and wherein the controller determines a measure related to an ambient temperature outside of the enclosure based, at least in part, on the first temperature and the second temperature, and on greater than the predetermined rate of X degrees Fahrenheit per second of temperature change of the first temperature and/or the second temperature. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification