THERMOSTAT WITH UTILITY MESSAGING

• US 20110199209A1
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Chandrashekar, Harsha N., Siddaramanna, Lokesh T., Hobart, Gary J., Peterson, Thomas G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,523,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains generally to thermostats that are adapted to assist utilities in communicating with its customers. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a thermostat having a display, a controller and a receiver that is coupled to the controller. The receiver is adapted to receive messages from a utility, and the controller is adapted to display one or more related display messages on the display.

Claims

1. A method for operating a thermostat that controls at least in part an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the method comprising:

controlling the HVAC system to achieve a desired set point;

receiving a message, either directly or indirectly, from a utility, another service provider, or a meter, wherein the message encodes a measure related to utility usage;

storing the received message in a memory of the thermostat; and

displaying on a display of the thermostat a display indicator that is related to the received message, wherein at least part of the display indicator is in a numerical format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display indicator provides a measure related to utility usage over a designated period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the display indicator provides an indication of a measure of utility usage during a first time period, and an indication of a measure of utility usage during a second time period, wherein the second time period is after the first time period.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first time period corresponds to a first month and the second time period corresponds to a second month that is after the first month.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first month immediately precedes the second month.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the first time period corresponds to a first day and the second time period corresponds to a second day that is after the first day.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first day immediately precedes the second day.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the indication of the measure of utility usage that is displayed for the first time period includes an indication of the cost of utility usage during the first time period of time, and the indication of the measure of utility usage that is displayed for the second time period includes an indication of the cost of utility usage during the second period of time.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the indication of the measure of utility usage that is displayed for the first time period includes an indication of the quantity of utility usage during the first period of time, and the indication of the measure of utility usage that is displayed for the second time period include an indication of the quantity of utility usage during the second period of time.

10. A method for operating a thermostat that controls at least in part an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the method comprising:

controlling the HVAC system to achieve a desired set point;

receiving a message either directly or indirectly from a utility or other service provider, wherein the message encodes a suggestion on how to save energy;

storing the received message in a memory of the thermostat; and

displaying on a display of the thermostat a display indicator that is related to the received message.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the display indicator suggests that the user change a temperature set point of the thermostat to save energy.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the display indicator suggests that the user refrain from running an energy intensive appliance until later.

13. A method for operating a thermostat that controls at least in part an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the method comprising:

controlling the HVAC system to achieve a desired set point;

receiving a message either directly or indirectly from a utility, another service provider, or a meter, wherein the message encodes one or more of;

a suggestion on how to save energy and a measure related to utility usage;

storing the received message in a memory of the thermostat;

displaying on a display of the thermostat a display indicator that is related to the received message.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the display indicator provides a suggestion on how to save energy.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the display indicator suggests that the user change a temperature set point of the thermostat to save energy.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the display indicator suggests that the user refrain from running an energy intensive appliance until later.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the display indicator provides a measure related to utility usage.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the display indicator provides an indication of a measure of utility usage during a first time period, and an indication of a measure of utility usage during a second time period, wherein the second time period is after the first time period.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the indication of the measure of utility usage that is displayed for the first time period includes an indication of the cost of utility usage during the first time period of time, and the indication of the measure of utility usage that is displayed for the second time period includes an indication of the cost of utility usage during the second period of time.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the indication of the measure of utility usage that is displayed for the first time period includes an indication of the quantity of utility usage during the first period of time, and the indication of the measure of utility usage that is displayed for the second time period include an indication of the quantity of utility usage during the second period of time.