APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LOGGING DATA FROM A HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

• US 20080083234A1
• Filed: 10/04/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telkonet Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Telkonet Incorporated
• Inventors: Krebs, Steve, Zirpoli, Robert, Pitt, Ronald L.
• Application Number:
  US11/538,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20080083234A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/129
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/20 Sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces

Abstract

A method for logging data from an HVAC system comprises the steps of: collecting, within a thermostat, a plurality of data elements corresponding to a current time, at least one user setting, at least one HVAC system state, and at least one environmental measurement; correlating, within the thermostat, the collected data elements according to the current time; and storing, within the thermostat, the collected data elements. The method may further comprise the steps of: transmitting the stored data elements from the thermostat to an external device; and analyzing, within the external device, the transmitted data to determine energy savings. The data may be transmitted from the thermostat when the thermostat receives a request from the external device. The data may be transmitted from the thermostat to the external device over a communication link comprising one of a hard-wired communication link or a radio frequency communication link.

Claims

1. A method for logging data from a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:

collecting, within a thermostat, a plurality of data elements corresponding to a current time, at least one user setting, at least one HVAC system state, and at least one environmental measurement;

correlating, within the thermostat, the collected data elements according to the current time; and

storing, within the thermostat, the collected data elements.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the stored data elements from the thermostat to an external device; and

analyzing, within the external device, the transmitted data to determine energy savings.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data is transmitted from the thermostat when the thermostat receives a request from the external device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the data is transmitted from the thermostat to the external device over a communication link comprising one of a hard-wired communication link or a radio frequency communication link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one user setting comprises at least one of an HVAC system setting, a fan setting, or a setpoint temperature.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one HVAC system state comprises at least one of an operating level, a fan state, an emergency heat state, a ventilation source state, or a humidity control state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one environmental measurement comprises at least one of an occupancy status or a light level.

8. An apparatus for governing a temperature of a room by controlling an operation of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the apparatus comprising:

an interface coupled to the HVAC system to control the operation thereof by control signals;

a controller including a processor coupled to a memory, the memory storing an environmental control program including program instructions for controlling the operation of the HVAC system by generating the control signals and further storing data; and

a temperature sensor coupled to the controller for providing, at any given time, a signal representing the temperature within the room;

wherein the controller is configured to collect a plurality of data elements corresponding to a current time, at least one user setting, at least one HVAC system state, and at least one environmental measurement;

wherein the controller is further configured to correlate the collected data elements according to the current time; and

wherein the controller is further configured to store the collected data elements.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the stored data elements from the thermostat to an external device capable of analyzing the transmitted data to determine energy savings.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller transmits the data when the controller receives a request from the external device.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller transmits the data to the external device over a communication link comprising one of a hard-wired communication link or a radio frequency communication link.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one user setting comprises at least one of an HVAC system setting, a fan setting, or a setpoint temperature.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one HVAC system state comprises at least one of an operating level, a fan state, an emergency heat state, a ventilation source state, or a humidity control state.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one environmental measurement comprises at least one of an occupancy status or a light level.