Adaptive control methods for buildings

• US 10,429,801 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2017
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• 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:
  US15/649,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20180120801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 700275-285
• 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 method is provided for controlling a first switch terminal or equivalent of a building occupied by one or more building occupants. A plurality of switch terminal or equivalent parameters are provided relative to the building. A first computer system is coupled to the 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 first plurality of sensors is coupled to the first switch terminal or equivalent and the first computer system. At least a portion of the sensors are used to provide signal data to the first computer system. From the first computer system a command or data output is produced 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 method for controlling a first switch terminal of a building occupied by one or more building occupant using a computer system comprising:

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

using 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 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, the second switch terminal supplementing 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 outputs about patterns of a building occupant, the first switch terminal configured to receive from the second switch terminal an output used to create a command output that relates to the first switch terminal or a non-local device;

wherein the outputs of the first and second switch terminals are used to send signals 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; and

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; and

wherein at least a portion of the sensors receive raw sensor data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using at least one interface coupled to the first switch terminal and the first computer system to receive a command input.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one interface is at least one of:

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

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the building occupant enters a change in a switch terminal using the at least one interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal data is raw signal data.

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

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

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

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

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific device is the switch terminal.

11. The method 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 method of claim 2, wherein the command is provided by using a touch screen of a switch terminal interface.

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

15. The method 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 method of claim 1, wherein the output command is to the switch terminal.

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

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