Adaptive control systems for buildings

• US 10,401,806 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2017
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edison Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Edison Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Billings, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Karim, Ziaul
• Application Number:
  US15/649,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20180120776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 700 32
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0255 the criterion being a time-optimal performance criterion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/026 using a predictor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0265 the criterion being a learning criterion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/048 using a predictor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/048 Monitoring; Safety
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof

Abstract

A system controls at least two switch terminals or equivalents of a building occupied by one or more building occupants. The system includes a plurality of switch terminals or equivalents parameters relative to the building. A first computer system is coupled to a first switch terminal or equivalent of the building at a first location of the building. The first computer system runs on at least one platform. A second computer system is coupled to a second switch terminal or equivalent of the building at a second location of the building. The second computer system runs on at least one platform. The first and second computer systems are in communication with each other. A first plurality of sensors is coupled to the first switch terminal or equivalent and the first computer system and a second plurality of sensors coupled to the second switch terminal or equivalent and the second computer system. At least a portion of the sensors are configured to provide signal data to the first or second computer systems respectively. Each of the first and second computer systems produce a command or data output that relates to at least one of: a command output for a local control system, a command output for a different system, a data output for a different system, a command output for a non-local device or a data output that is a non-local device. Each of an output includes learned data from that is based on a machine intelligence from previous data collected about patterns of a building occupant.

Claims

1. A system for controlling at least two switch terminals of a building occupied by one or more building occupants, the control system comprises:

a plurality of switch terminal relative to the building,

a first computer system coupled to a first switch terminal of the building at a first location of the building, the first computer system running on at least one platform;

a second computer system coupled to a second switch terminal or equivalent of the building at a second location of the building, the second computer system running on at least one platform, the first and second computer systems being in communication with each other; and

a first plurality of sensors coupled to the first switch terminal and the first computer system and a second plurality of sensors coupled to the second switch terminal and the second computer system, at least a portion of the sensors are configured to provide signal data to the first or second computer systems respectively, each of the first and second computer systems producing an output that relates to;

a command output for a local control system, a command output for a different system, a data output for a different system, a command output for a non-local device or a data output that is a non-local device, each of an output including learned data from that is based on a machine intelligence from previous data collected patterns of a building occupant, the second switch terminal supplements building occupant behavior information obtained from the first switch terminal to allow the first and second switch terminals to interact with each other and execute additional capabilities to provide an outputs patterns of a building occupant;

wherein the outputs patterns of the first and second switch terminals are used to send signals to change an operate one or more of illumination levels, appliances and electronic devices in the building to control operation of appliance or electronic devices in the building based on results from the plurality of sensors and the first computer system and the second computer system;

wherein at least one interface coupled to the first switch terminal or equivalent and the first computer system configured to receive a command input; and

at least one interface coupled to the second switch terminal or equivalent and the second computer system configured to receive a command input; and

wherein the first switch terminal and second switch terminal or equivalent are configured to receive from each other a data output that is used to create a command output that relates to the first switch terminal or equivalent, the second switch terminal or equivalent or a non-local device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one interfaces is at least one of:

a touch interface, a voice interface and a wireless radio interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the building occupant enters a change in a switch terminal or equivalent parameter using the at least one interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal data is raw signal data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sensors receive raw sensor data.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the building occupant is a person who has access rights to the building.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the building occupant does not occupy the building at all times of a selected time period.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the building occupant enters and exits the building.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a command is an instruction for a specific device to take an action.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the specific device is the first or second switch terminal.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the command is provided from at least one of:

a mobile device, a cloud system, a third party system, or an input to the specific device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the command is provided by using a touch screen of a switch terminal interfaces.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the command is provided by the building occupant.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the data input is selected from at least one of:

a processed sensor input from another device that is relevant to the system.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the output command is to at least one of the first and switch terminal interfaces.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the output command is to a system device other than the first or second switch terminal.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the output command is provided to a second system.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the data input includes at least one of:

a building occupant'"'"'s presence in a room;

a light level;

system information relative to the switch terminal.

14. The system of 1, wherein a data input is provided to at least a portion of the sensors.