Wall-Mountable Temperature Control Device for a Load Control System Having an Energy Savings Mode

• US 20120091213A1
• Filed: 09/16/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Altonen, Gregory, Bhate, Nikhil Vithal, Jacoby, Elliot G., Pessina, Michael W., Zaharchuk, Walter S., Spira, Joel S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,124,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/51
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• 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 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/59 for presetting
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/20 Sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/12 for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

A wall-mountable temperature control device having a vertically-arranged temperature adjustment actuator for adjusting a setpoint temperature of a temperature control system to thus control a present temperature in a building, a room temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the present temperature of the building, and a setpoint temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the setpoint temperature. The room and setpoint temperature visual displays each comprising a linear array of light-emitting diodes arranged parallel to the temperature adjustment actuator and controlled such that one of the light-emitting diodes of the setpoint temperature visual display is illuminated to display the setpoint temperature in response to the actuations of the temperature adjustment actuator and one of the light-emitting diodes of the room temperature visual display is illuminated to display the present temperature.

Claims

1. A temperature control system for controlling a present temperature of a building having a heating and cooling system, the temperature control system comprising:

a wall-mountable temperature control device having a vertically-arranged temperature adjustment actuator for adjusting a setpoint temperature of the temperature control system to thus control the present temperature in the building, a room temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the present temperature of the building, and a setpoint temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the setpoint temperature, the room temperature visual display and the setpoint temperature visual display each comprising a linear array of light-emitting diodes arranged parallel to the temperature adjustment actuator and controlled such that one of the light-emitting diodes of the setpoint temperature visual display is illuminated to display the setpoint temperature in response to the actuations of the temperature adjustment actuator and one of the light-emitting diodes of the room temperature visual display is illuminated to display the present temperature of the building; and

a controller operable to adjust the setpoint temperature and to determine the present temperature of the building, the controller operable to receive a preset digital message including an energy-savings preset and to determine a setback temperature in response to the energy-savings preset, the controller operable to increase the setpoint temperature by the setback temperature when cooling the building and to decrease the setpoint temperature by the setback temperature when heating the building so as to decrease the power consumption of the heating and cooling system;

wherein the one of the light-emitting diodes of the room temperature visual display that is illuminated to display the present temperature is adjusted in response to the present temperature of the building determined by the controller, and the one of the light-emitting diodes of the setpoint temperature visual display that is illuminated to display the setpoint temperature is adjusted in response to the setback temperature of the energy-savings preset.

2. The temperature control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless temperature sensor adapted to be mounted remotely from the temperature control device, the wireless temperature sensor operable to measure the present temperature of the building and to wirelessly transmit the digital message including the value representative of the present temperature of the building;

wherein the controller is operable to determine the present temperature of the building in response to the digital message received from the wireless temperature sensor, the controller operable to adjust the one of the light-emitting diodes of the room temperature visual display that is illuminated to display the present temperature of the building in response to the digital message received from the wireless temperature sensor.

3. The temperature control system of claim 2, further comprising:

a wall-mountable dimmer switch adapted to be mounted in a multiple-gang electrical wallbox immediately adjacent to the temperature control device, the dimmer switch adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and a lighting load for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load and thus the intensity of the lighting load.

4. The temperature control system of claim 3, wherein the dimmer switch further comprises a front surface adapted to be received in an opening of a designer-style faceplate, a control actuator provided on the front surface for turning the lighting load on and off, and an intensity adjustment actuator arranged vertically on the front surface for adjusting the intensity of the lighting load.

5. The temperature control system of claim 4, wherein the temperature control device further comprises a front surface adapted to be received in an opening of a designer-style faceplate, the temperature adjustment actuator, the room temperature visual display, and the setpoint temperature visual display arranged vertically on the front surface of the temperature control device.

6. The temperature control system of claim 5, further comprising:

a multi-gang designer-style faceplate having multiple openings;

wherein the front surface of the temperature control device is received through one of the multiple openings of the faceplate, and the front surface of the dimmer switch is received through another one of the multiple openings of the faceplate.

7. The temperature control system of claim 4, wherein the dimmer switch also includes an intensity visual display comprising a linear array of light-emitting diodes arranged vertically on the front surface for providing a visual representation of the intensity of the lighting load.

8. The temperature control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a designer-style faceplate having an opening;

wherein the temperature control device further comprises a front surface adapted to be received in the opening of the designer-style faceplate, the temperature adjustment actuator, the room temperature visual display, and the setpoint temperature visual display arranged vertically on the front surface of the temperature control device.

9. The temperature control system of claim 8, wherein the temperature adjustment actuator comprises a vertically-arranged linear rocker switch, the controller operable to increase the setpoint temperature in response to actuations of an upper portion of the rocker switch and to decrease the setpoint temperature in response to actuations of a lower portion of the rocker switch.

10. The temperature control system of claim 8, wherein the temperature control device further comprises an eco-saver actuator provided on the front surface, the controller operable to increase or decrease the setpoint temperature by the setback temperature to reduce the total power consumption of the heating and cooling system in response to an actuation of the eco-saver actuator.

11. The temperature control system of claim 8, wherein the temperature control device further comprises an eco-saver actuator provided on the front surface, the controller operable to transmit a digital message including an energy-savings preset.

12. The temperature control system of claim 1, further comprising:

an enclosure located remotely from the temperature control device, the enclosure further comprising a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit, the controller housed in the enclosure and operatively coupled to the first and second communication circuits, the first communication circuit adapted to be coupled in communication with the heating and cooling system, the second communication circuit operable to transmit and receive the digital messages with the temperature control device, the second communication circuit further operable to receive the digital message including a value representative of the present temperature of the building.

13. The temperature control system of claim 12, wherein the temperature control device comprises a battery-powered device.

14. The temperature control system of claim 13, wherein the temperature control device comprises an enclosure adapted to be received in an opening of a designer-style faceplate, such that the temperature adjustment actuator, the room temperature visual display, and the setpoint temperature visual display are provided in the opening of the design-style faceplate.

15. The temperature control system of claim 12, wherein the temperature control device comprises a power supply that receives line voltage and generates a supply voltage for powering the circuitry of the temperature control device.

16. The temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the temperature control device comprises the controller, a first communication circuit, and a second communication circuit, the controller operatively coupled to the first and second communication circuits, the first communication circuit adapted to be coupled in communication with the heating and cooling system, the second communication circuit operable to receive the digital message including a value representative of the present temperature of the building.

17. The temperature control system of claim 16, wherein the temperature control device comprises a power supply that receives line voltage and generates a supply voltage for powering the controller, the first communication circuit, and the second communication circuit.

18. The temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to adjust the setpoint temperature in response to a timeclock schedule, the controller operable to increase the setpoint temperature determined by the timeclock schedule by the setback temperature when cooling the building and to decrease the setpoint temperature determined by the timeclock schedule by the setback temperature when heating the building so as to decrease the power consumption of the heating and cooling system during the timeclock schedule.

19. The temperature control system of claim 18, wherein the controller is operable to adjust the setpoint temperature in response to an actuation of the temperature adjustment actuator and to cease increasing and decreasing the setpoint temperature by the setback temperature after the actuation of the temperature adjustment actuator.

20. The temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the heating and cooling system comprises a building management system, and the controller is adapted to be coupled to the building management system via a digital communication link.

21. A temperature control system for controlling a present temperature of a building having a heating and cooling system, the temperature control system comprising:

a wall-mountable temperature control device having a temperature adjustment actuator for adjusting a setpoint temperature of the temperature control system to thus control the present temperature in the building, a room temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the present temperature of the building, and a setpoint temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the setpoint temperature, the room temperature visual display and the setpoint temperature visual display each comprising a linear array of light-emitting diodes arranged parallel to the temperature adjustment actuator, the temperature control device operable to transmit digital messages in response to actuations of the intensity adjustment actuator and to receive digital messages regarding the present temperature of the building and the setpoint temperature;

a wireless temperature sensor adapted to be mounted remotely from the temperature control device and operable to transmit wireless digital messages regarding the present temperature of the building; and

a heating and cooling controller operable to receive the wireless digital messages from the wireless temperature sensor and to determine the present temperature of the building in response to the received wireless digital message from the wireless temperature sensor, the controller operable to adjust the one of the light-emitting diodes of the room temperature visual display that is illuminated to display the present temperature of the building in response to the received wireless digital message from the wireless temperature sensor, the controller adapted to be coupled in communication with the heating and cooling system for controlling the present temperature of the building in response to the present temperature and the setpoint temperature, the heating and cooling controller operable to adjust the setpoint temperature in response to the actuations of temperature adjustment actuator, the heating and cooling controller operable to adjust the one of the light-emitting diodes of the setpoint temperature visual display that is illuminated to display the setpoint temperature in response to the actuations of temperature adjustment actuator;

wherein the heating and cooling controller is operable to receive a digital message including an energy-savings preset and to determine a setback temperature in response to the energy-savings preset, the heating and cooling controller operable to increase the setpoint temperature by the setback temperature when cooling the building and to decrease the setpoint temperature by the setback temperature when heating the building so as to decrease the power consumption of the heating and cooling system, the heating and cooling controller operable to adjust the one of the light-emitting diodes of the setpoint temperature visual display that is illuminated to display the setpoint temperature in response to the setback temperature.

22. A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load and a present temperature of a building having a heating and cooling system, the load control system comprising:

a wall-mountable temperature control device adapted to be mounted in a multiple-gang electrical wallbox, the temperature control device having a vertically-arranged temperature adjustment actuator for adjusting a setpoint temperature of the temperature control system to thus control the present temperature in the building, the temperature control device operable to illuminate one of the light-emitting diodes of the setpoint temperature visual display to display the setpoint temperature in response to the actuations of temperature adjustment actuator, the temperature control device also including a room temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the present temperature of the building, and a setpoint temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the setpoint temperature, the room temperature visual display and the setpoint temperature visual display each comprising a linear array of light-emitting diodes arranged parallel to the temperature adjustment actuator, the temperature control device operable to receive wireless digital messages regarding the present temperature of the building and to illuminate one of the light-emitting diodes of the room temperature visual display to display the present temperature of the building in response to the received wireless digital message;

a wall-mountable dimmer switch adapted to be mounted in the multiple-gang electrical wallbox immediately adjacent to the temperature control device, the dimmer switch adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load and thus the intensity of the lighting load, the dimmer switch having a vertically-arranged intensity adjustment actuator for adjusting the intensity of the lighting load, the dimmer switch further operable to receive wireless digital messages and to adjust the intensity of the lighting load in response to the received wireless digital message; and

a wireless temperature sensor adapted to be mounted remotely from the temperature control device and operable to transmit the wireless digital messages regarding the present temperature of the building;

wherein the dimmer switch is operable to decrease the intensity of the lighting load so as to decrease the power consumption of the lighting load in response receiving an energy-savings preset, the temperature control device operable to determine a setback temperature in response to receiving the energy-savings preset, the temperature control device operable to increase the setpoint temperature by the setback temperature when cooling the building and to decrease the setpoint temperature by the setback temperature when heating the building so as to decrease the power consumption of the heating and cooling system.

23. The load control system of claim 22, further comprising:

a multi-gang designer-style faceplate having multiple openings;

wherein the temperature adjustment actuator, the room temperature visual display, and the setpoint temperature visual display of the temperature control device are received through one of the multiple openings of the faceplate, and the intensity adjustment actuator of the dimmer switch is received through another one of the multiple openings of the faceplate.

24. The load control system of claim 22, wherein the temperature control device further comprises an eco-saver actuator, the temperature control device operable to transmit the energy-savings preset in response to an actuation of the eco-saver actuator.

25. The load control system of claim 22, wherein the dimmer switch also comprises an intensity visual display comprising a linear array of light-emitting diodes arranged vertically on the front surface for providing a visual representation of the intensity of the lighting load.