Thermostat with occupancy detection based on load of HVAC equipment

• US 10,559,045 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Bentz, Jedidiah O., Rigg, Brian D., Gillette, Theresa N., Tasker, Tom R., McCune, Tyler, Uerkvitz, John W., Atchison, Shaun B., Middleton, Daniel S., Noor, Aneek Muhammad, Alberth, Jr., William P., Ribbich, Joseph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US15/260,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20170074539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0003 characterised by a split arrangement, wherein parts of the air-conditioning system, e.g. evaporator and condenser, are in separately located units
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• 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 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/84 using valves
• 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 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 : for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 : for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 : by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 : Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 : Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 : Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 : Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 : Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 : Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 : Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 : for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/08 : Use of distortion metrics or a particular distance between probe pattern and reference templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 : for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 : Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 : for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A thermostat for a building space. The thermostat includes a communications interface and a processing circuit. The communications interface is configured to engage in bidirectional communications with heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and to receive an indication of a current heating or cooling load from the HVAC equipment. The processing circuit is configured to determine an occupancy of the building space based on the indication of the current heating or cooling load received from the HVAC equipment. The processing circuit is further configured to operate the HVAC equipment based on the determined occupancy of the building space.

Claims

1. A thermostat for a building space, the thermostat comprising:

a communications interface circuit configured to engage in bidirectional communications with heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment configured to heat or cool the building space to control a temperature of the building space by performing one or more temperature control operations and to record the one or more temperature control operations and to receive an indication of a current heating or cooling load from the HVAC equipment, the indication of the current heating or cooling load based on the HVAC equipment operating to heat or cool the building space, wherein the indication of the heating or cooling load comprises the recorded one or more temperature control operations performed by the HVAC equipment to control the temperature of the building space; and

a processing circuit configured to;

determine an occupancy of the building space based on the indication of the current heating or cooling load received from the HVAC equipment by analyzing the recorded one or more temperature control operations performed by the HVAC equipment to control the temperature of the building space; and

control the HVAC equipment to heat or cool the building space based on the determined occupancy of the building space.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine load metrics, wherein the load metrics comprise a time to setpoint calculated from at least one of:

known capabilities of the HVAC equipment;

the current heating and cooling load;

a time of day;

weather conditions; and

historical equipment data.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the communications interface circuit is further configured to communicate with a fitness tracker, wherein the indication of the current heating and cooling load is further based on data received from the fitness tracker.

4. The thermostat of claim 3, wherein the data received from the fitness tracker is based on physical activity of a user wearing the fitness tracker.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to display dealer information;

wherein the processing circuit is further configured to update the dealer information in response to a determination that at least one of;

a predetermined amount of time has passed since the dealer information was last updated;

the thermostat is in a commissioning mode;

a dealer contract has started; and

the dealer contract has ended.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to display dealer information;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to cause the user interface to display the dealer information in response to detecting one or more thermostat events comprising at least one of;

a determination that a predetermined amount of time has passed;

detecting a system fault; and

a determination that a user is adjusting settings in the thermostat for a time longer than another predetermined amount of time.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to display dealer information;

wherein the processing circuit is further configured to hide the dealer information in response to receiving a notification to hide the dealer information, wherein the notification is received by the communications interface circuit.

8. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein the notification received by the communications interface circuit comprises at least one of:

a first notification that a dealer is late on a payment; and

a second notification that the dealer has canceled a contract.

9. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to display dealer information;

wherein the processing circuit is further configured to cause the user interface to display the dealer information when a fault is detected, the dealer information comprising at least one of;

a button to contact a dealer;

a dealer phone number;

a dealer address; and

a dealer store hours.

10. A method for operating a thermostat, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processing circuit of the thermostat, a setpoint from a user via a user interface of the thermostat;

determining, by the processing circuit, a time to setpoint for a building space based on one or more weather conditions, one or more future weather conditions, and a value of the setpoint, wherein the time to setpoint is a predicted length of time that it will take the thermostat to control an environmental condition of the building space to the setpoint by controlling one or more pieces of building equipment;

causing, by the processing circuit, the time to setpoint to be displayed by the user interface; and

controlling, by the processing circuit, the environmental condition of the building space to the setpoint by controlling the one or more pieces of building equipment associated with the building space.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining, by the processing circuit, the time to setpoint for the building space is further based on:

known capabilities of the one or more pieces of building equipment;

a heating and cooling load;

time of day; and

historical equipment data.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising causing, by the processing circuit, the user interface to display a recommendation for achieving the setpoint, wherein the recommendation comprises waiting a predetermined amount of time before attempting the setpoint, closing shades in a zone of a building, and turning on a fan in the zone of the building.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining, by the processing circuit, if a requested setpoint is achievable based on comparing a first time to setpoint for a first zone of a building space and a second time to setpoint for a second zone of the building space.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining, by the processing circuit, the length of time required to reach the setpoint when the setpoint is determined to be achievable.

15. A thermostat for a building space, the thermostat comprising:

a communications interface circuit configured to engage in bidirectional communications with heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment configured to heat or cool the building space to control a temperature of the building space by performing one or more temperature control operations and to record the one or more temperature control operations and to receive an indication of a current heating or cooling load from the HVAC equipment, the indication of the current heating or cooling load based on the HVAC equipment operating to heat or cool the building space, wherein the indication of the heating or cooling load comprises the recorded one or more temperature control operations performed by the HVAC equipment to control the temperature of the building space; and

a processing circuit configured to;

determine if a requested setpoint is achievable based on the indication of the current heating or cooling load

determine an occupancy of the building space based on the indication of the current heating or cooling load received from the HVAC equipment by analyzing the recorded one or more temperature control operations performed by the HVAC equipment to control the temperature of the building space; and

control the HVAC equipment to heat or cool the building space based on the determined occupancy of the building space and based on the requested setpoint.

16. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine if the requested setpoint is achievable further based on factors comprising:

a status of an electrical grid;

weather conditions; and

a time of day.

17. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine an amount of time required to reach the requested setpoint when the requested setpoint is determined to be achievable.

18. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine an amount of time required to reach the requested setpoint based on factors comprising:

a status of an electrical grid;

weather conditions; and

historical data associated with the HVAC equipment.

19. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine if the requested setpoint is achievable further based on comparing a first time to setpoint for a first zone of the building space and a second time to setpoint for a second zone of the building space.

20. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to cause a user interface to display a recommendation for achieving the requested setpoint, wherein the recommendation comprises waiting a predetermined amount of time before attempting the requested setpoint, closing shades in a zone of the building space, and turning on a fan in the zone of the building space.