Programming Simulator for an HVAC Controller

• US 20120253527A1
• Filed: 07/05/2011
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ecobee Inc (Generac Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ecobee Inc (Generac Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: HIETALA, Alan, YANG, Liu
• Application Number:
  US13/176,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253527A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

A programming simulator is provided, being adapted to run on one of a controller for HVAC equipment operable to communicate across a network, and a remote device operable to communicate with the controller through the network. The programming simulator is operable to display the current value of energy usage by the HVAC equipment on the premise over the period of time and also display at least one changeable parameter, the at least one changeable parameter relating to energy usage. Upon selection of the at least one changeable parameter, displaying a simulator value, the simulator value proving an estimate of energy usage over the same period of time as the current value using the selected at least one changeable parameter in the energy model.

Claims

1. An integrated climate control system, comprising:

a controller operable to control HVAC equipment on a premise, the controller further being operable to transmit runtime data and receive operation instructions across a network;

an environmental web service, the environmental web service being operable to communicate across the network with the controller, the environmental web service being able to receive the runtime data from the controller and further transmit operation instructions to the controller related to the control of the HVAC equipment on the premise across the network; and

wherein the environmental web service is adapted to store the runtime data received from the controller, and is further operable to run an energy model that is operable to calculate a current value of energy usage by the HVAC equipment on the premise over a period of time.

2. The integrated climate control system of claim 1, wherein the environmental web service is operable to transmit the current value across the network to be displayed on one of the controller and a remote device.

3. The integrated climate control system of claim 1, the environmental web service being operable to transmit the current value across the network to be displayed on one of the controller and a remote device;

and the integrated climate control system further comprising a programming simulator being adapted to run on the controller or on a remote device in communication with the environmental web service across the network, the programming simulator being able to;

display the current value of energy usage by the HVAC equipment on the premise over the period of time;

display at least one changeable parameter, the at least one changeable parameter relating to energy usage; and

upon selection of the at least one changeable parameter, displaying a simulator value, the simulator value proving an estimate of energy usage over the same period of time as the current value using the selected at least one changeable parameter in the energy model.

4. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable usage parameter, the changeable usage parameter indicating a change in the usage of the HVAC equipment on the premise.

5. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable usage parameter, the changeable usage parameter indicating a change in the usage of the HVAC equipment on the premise, including at least one of:

a change in a temperature set point, a change in a humidification set point, a change in the staging of HVAC equipment and a change in fan usage.

6. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable usage parameter, the changeable usage parameter including changes in a temperature set point for the HVAC equipment in both heating and cooling modes.

7. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable usage parameter, the changeable usage parameter indicating a change in the usage of the HVAC equipment across a plurality of different time periods.

8. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable usage parameter, the changeable usage parameter indicating a change in a temperature set point of the HVAC equipment across a plurality of different time periods, and where the changeable usage parameter is defined as a value relating to user comfort.

9. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable usage parameter, the changeable usage parameter indicating a change in the usage of the HVAC equipment on the premise and the programming simulator is operable to provide instructions to the controller to modify operation of the HVAC equipment.

10. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable physical parameter, the changeable physical parameter indicating a change in at least one of the physical properties of the premise and the HVAC equipment.

11. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable physical parameter, the changeable physical parameter indicating a change in at least one of the physical properties of the premise and the HVAC equipment, including at least one of:

wall materials, window materials, insulation values, furnace efficiency, premise leakiness,

12. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable physical parameter, the changeable physical parameter indicating a change in at least one of the physical properties of the premise and the HVAC equipment, and

the programming simulator is operable to update customer data records stored by the energy modelling server.

13. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein the current value of energy usage displayed by the programming simulator is calculated by the one of the controller and the remote device running the programming simulator.

14. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein the simulator value of energy usage displayed by the programming simulator is calculated by the energy modelling server.

15. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein

the energy modelling server is operable to calculate a plurality of different simulator values of energy usage and transmit the plurality of different simulator values to the one of the controller and the remote device running the programming simulator;

and

the programming simulator is operable to display one of the plurality of different simulator values based upon selection of the at least one changeable parameter.

16. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein the simulator value of energy usage displayed by the programming simulator is calculated by the one of the controller and the remote device running the programming simulator.

17. The integrated climate control system of claim 3, wherein

the energy modelling server is operable to transmit the current value of energy usage from at least one other user at another premise to the one of the controller and the remote device running the programming simulator;

and

the programming simulator is operable to display the current value of at least one other user at another premise so that the user can compare their energy usage relative to the of the other user.

18. The integrated climate control system of claim 1, wherein the runtime data transmitted from the controller to environmental server includes smart meter data.

19. The integrated climate control system of claim 1, wherein the runtime data transmitted from the controller to environmental server includes at least one of the following:

time and date stamps, programmed mode, measured temperature, measured humidity, temperature set points, outdoor temperature, furnace usage, furnace stage, and fan usage.

20. A programming simulator, adapted to run on one of a controller for HVAC equipment operable to communicate across a network, and a remote device operable to communicate with the controller through the network, the programming simulator being operable to:

display the current value of energy usage by the HVAC equipment on the premise over the period of time;

display at least one changeable parameter, the at least one changeable parameter relating to energy usage; and

upon selection of the at least one changeable parameter, displaying a simulator value, the simulator value proving an estimate of energy usage over the same period of time as the current value using the selected at least one changeable parameter in the energy model.

21. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the programming simulator is operable to receive the current value from an energy modelling server via the network.

22. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the programming simulator is operable to receive the simulator value from the energy modelling server via the network.

23. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the programming simulator is operable to transmit the at least one changeable parameter selected by the user to the energy modelling server via the network.

24. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable usage parameter, the changeable usage parameter indicating a change in the usage of the HVAC equipment on the premise.

25. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable usage parameter, the changeable usage parameter indicating a change in the usage of the HVAC equipment on the premise, including at least one of:

a change in a temperature set point, a change in a humidification set point, a change in staging for the HVAC equipment and a change in fan usage.

26. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable usage parameter, the changeable usage parameter including changes in a temperature set point for the HVAC equipment in both heating and cooling modes.

27. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable usage parameter, the changeable usage parameter indicating a change in the usage of the HVAC equipment across a plurality of different time periods.

28. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable usage parameter, the changeable usage parameter indicating a change in a temperature set point of the HVAC equipment across a plurality of different time periods, and where the changeable usage parameter is defined as a value relating to user comfort.

29. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable usage parameter, the changeable usage parameter indicating a change in the usage of the HVAC equipment on the premise and the programming simulator is operable to provide instructions to the controller to modify operation of the HVAC equipment.

30. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable physical parameter, the changeable physical parameter indicating a change in at least one of the physical properties of the premise and the HVAC equipment.

31. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable physical parameter, the changeable physical parameter indicating a change in at least one of the physical properties of the premise and the HVAC equipment, including at least one of:

wall materials, window materials, insulation values, furnace efficiency, premise leakiness,

32. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the at least one changeable parameter includes a changeable physical parameter, the changeable physical parameter indicating a change in at least one of the physical properties of the premise and the HVAC equipment, and the programming simulator is operable to update customer data records stored by the energy modelling server.

33. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the current value of energy usage displayed by the programming simulator is calculated by the energy modelling server.

34. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the current value of energy usage displayed by the programming simulator is calculated by the one of the controller and the remote device running the programming simulator.

35. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the simulator value of energy usage displayed by the programming simulator is calculated by the energy modelling server.

36. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein

the energy modelling server is operable to calculate a plurality of different simulator values of energy usage and transmit the plurality of different simulator values to the one of the controller and the remote device running the programming simulator;

and

the programming simulator is operable to display one of the plurality of different simulator values based upon selection of the at least one changeable parameter.

37. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the simulator value of energy usage displayed by the programming simulator is calculated by the one of the controller and the remote device running the programming simulator.

38. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein

the energy modelling server is operable to transmit the current value of energy usage from at least one other user at another premise to the one of the controller and the remote device running the programming simulator;

and

the programming simulator is operable to display the current value of at least one other user at another premise so that the user can compare their energy usage relative to the of the other user.

39. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the runtime data transmitted from the controller to environmental server includes smart meter data.

40. The programming simulator of claim 20, wherein the runtime data transmitted from the controller to environmental server includes at least one of the following:

time and date stamps, programmed mode, measured temperature, measured humidity, temperature set points, outdoor temperature, furnace usage, furnace stage, and fan usage.