SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR JUST-IN-TIME CONDITIONING USING A THERMOSTAT
First Claim
1. A method for reducing the cycling time of a climate control system, said method comprising:
- retrieving from a database a target time at which a structure is desired to reach a target temperature;
acquiring the actual temperature inside said structure at a time prior to said target time;
acquiring the temperature outside said structure at a time prior to said target time;
retrieving from a database at least a thermal characteristic of said structure;
retrieving from a database at least a performance characteristic of said climate control system;
determining the appropriate time prior to said target time at which said climate control system should turn on based at least in part on said thermal characteristic of said structure, said performance characteristic of said climate control system, said inside temperature and said outside temperature; and
setting the setpoint on the thermostatic controller used to control said climate control system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for reducing the cycling time of a climate control system. For example, one or more of the exemplary systems can receive from a database a target time at which a structure is desired to reach a target temperature. In addition, the system acquires the temperature inside the structure and the temperature outside the structure at a time prior to said target time. The systems use a thermal characteristic of the structure and a performance characteristic of the climate control system, to determine the appropriate time prior to the target time at which the climate control system should turn on based at least in part on the structure, the climate control system, the inside temperature and the outside temperature. The systems then set a setpoint on a thermostatic controller to control the climate control system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for reducing the cycling time of a climate control system, said method comprising:
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retrieving from a database a target time at which a structure is desired to reach a target temperature; acquiring the actual temperature inside said structure at a time prior to said target time; acquiring the temperature outside said structure at a time prior to said target time; retrieving from a database at least a thermal characteristic of said structure; retrieving from a database at least a performance characteristic of said climate control system; determining the appropriate time prior to said target time at which said climate control system should turn on based at least in part on said thermal characteristic of said structure, said performance characteristic of said climate control system, said inside temperature and said outside temperature; and setting the setpoint on the thermostatic controller used to control said climate control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for minimizing the cycling time of a space heating system, said method comprising:
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retrieving from a database a target time at which the temperature in a structure is desired to reach a target temperature; acquiring the actual temperature inside said structure at a time prior to said target time; acquiring the temperature outside said structure at a time prior to said target time; retrieving from a database at least a thermal characteristic of said structure; retrieving from a database at least a performance characteristic of said climate control system; calculating at least a first setpoint and a second setpoint based at least in part on said structure, said climate control system, said inside temperature and said outside temperature, where said second setpoint is lower than said target temperature, and said first setpoint is lower than said second setpoint; calculating at least a first setpoint target time and a second setpoint target time based at least in part on said structure, said climate control system, said inside temperature and said outside temperature, where said second setpoint target time is prior to said target time, and said first setpoint target time is prior to said second setpoint target time; and setting at least said first setpoint at said first setpoint target time and said second setpoint at said second setpoint target time on the thermostatic controller used to control said climate control system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for minimizing the cycling time of an air conditioning system, said method comprising:
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retrieving from a database a target time at which the temperature in said structure is desired to reach a target temperature; acquiring the actual temperature inside said structure at a time prior to said target time; acquiring the temperature outside said structure at a time prior to said target time; retrieving from a database at least a thermal characteristic of said structure; retrieving from a database at least a performance characteristic of said air conditioning system; calculating at least a first setpoint and a second setpoint based at least in part on said structure, said air conditioning system, said inside temperature and said outside temperature, where said second setpoint is higher than said target temperature, and said first setpoint is higher than said second setpoint; calculating at least a first setpoint target time and a second setpoint target time based at least in part on said structure, said air conditioning system, said inside temperature and said outside temperature, where said second setpoint target time is prior to said target time, and said first setpoint target time is prior to said second setpoint target time; and setting at least said first setpoint at said first setpoint target time and said second setpoint at said second setpoint target time on the thermostatic controller used to control said climate control system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification