STRATEGIC REDUCTION OF POWER USAGE IN MULTI-SENSING, WIRELESSLY COMMUNICATING LEARNING THERMOSTAT
First Claim
1. A method for strategically reducing power usage in a thermostat having a rechargeable battery comprising:
- supplying power for a plurality of thermostat activities using a rechargeable battery located within the thermostat;
making at least one measurement associated with the rechargeable battery; and
automatically altering one or more of the thermostat activities based at least in part on the measurement so as to reduce power usage from the rechargeable battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a multi-sensing, wirelessly communicating learning thermostat that uses power-harvesting to charge an internal battery, methods are disclosed for ensuring that the battery does not become depleted or damaged while at the same time ensuring selected levels of thermostat functionality. Battery charge status is monitored to determine whether the present rate of power usage needs to be stemmed. If the present rate of power usage needs to be stemmed, then a progression of performance levels and/or functionalities are scaled back according to a predetermined progressive power conservation algorithm. In a less preferred embodiment, there is a simple progressive shutdown of functionalities turned off in sequence until the desired amount of discharge stemming is reached. Battery charge preservation measures are also described for cases when an interruption of external supply power used to recharge the battery is detected.
133 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for strategically reducing power usage in a thermostat having a rechargeable battery comprising:
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supplying power for a plurality of thermostat activities using a rechargeable battery located within the thermostat; making at least one measurement associated with the rechargeable battery; and automatically altering one or more of the thermostat activities based at least in part on the measurement so as to reduce power usage from the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21)
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- 19. A method according to claim 19 wherein the attempt to notify includes wirelessly transmitting a message to a computing device.
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22. A thermostat comprising:
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a plurality of components that consume electrical power; a rechargeable battery for providing power to at least some of the plurality of components; and a processing system adapted and programmed to automatically alter thermostat functionality so as to reduce power usage based at least in part on a measurement associated with the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method for reducing power usage in a thermostat having rechargeable battery comprising:
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supplying power for a plurality of thermostat activities using a rechargeable battery located within the thermostat, the rechargeable battery being ordinarily recharged using power from an external power source; detecting an lack of power from the external power source; and automatically altering one or more of the thermostat activities based at least in part on the detecting of the lack of power from the external source, so as to reduce power usage from the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification