THERMOSTAT

• US 20140262196A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Inventors: Frank, Andrew, Rauch, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,520,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/251
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 to control the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Discussed generally herein are systems and methods for comfort level regulation in a building. A comfort level regulation system for a building can include a plurality of air intakes configured to draw air into the building, and a processor configured to open the one or more air intakes of the plurality of air intakes as a function of an orientation of the building, the location of the air intake relative to the orientation of the building, air temperatures inside and outside the building, and humidity inside and outside the building.

Claims

1. A temperature regulation system for a building comprising:

a first fresh air intake configured to move outside air into the building through a first side of the building;

a second fresh air intake configured to move outside air into the building through a second side of the building different from the first side of the building;

a first temperature sensor configured to detect a first air temperature of air outside the first side of the building;

a second temperature sensor configured to detect a second air temperature of air outside the second side of the building;

a third temperature sensor configured to detect a third air temperature, the third temperature is a temperature of air inside the building; and

a thermostat communicatively coupled to the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, the third temperature sensor, the first fresh air intake, and the second fresh air intake, the thermostat includes a temperature set point, and is configured to (1) open the first fresh air intake as a function of the first air temperature, the third air temperature, and the temperature set point, and (2) open the second fresh air intake as a function of the second air temperature, the third air temperature, and the temperature set point.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermostat is communicatively coupled to a database including current weather data and weather forecasts and wherein the thermostat is further configured to (1) open the first fresh air intake as a function of the current weather and weather forecasts, and (2) open the second fresh air intake as a function of the current weather and weather forecasts.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first humidity sensor configured to detect a first air humidity of air outside the first side of the building;

a second humidity sensor configured to detect a second air humidity of air outside the second side of the building;

a third humidity sensor configured to detect a third air humidity, the third air humidity is a humidity of air inside the building.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the thermostat is configured to (1) open the first fresh air intake when the first air humidity sensor indicates that the humidity of air outside the first side of the building is less than the humidity of air inside the building, and (2) open the second fresh air intake when the second air humidity sensor indicates that the humidity of air outside the second side of the building is less than the humidity of air inside the building

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermostat is configured to pre-cool the air inside the building by opening one or more of the first and second fresh air intakes when one or more of the weather forecasts indicates that the temperatures outside the first and second sides of the building will be higher than the temperature set point later in the day and the first or second air temperature sensor indicates that the temperature of the air outside the first or second side of the building is currently less than the temperature set point.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermostat is configured to pre-heat the air inside the building by opening one or more of the first and second fresh air intakes when one or more of the weather forecasts indicates that the temperatures outside the first and second sides of the building will be lower than the temperature set point later in the day and the first or second air temperature sensor indicates that the temperature of the air outside the first or second side of the building is currently greater than the temperature set point.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the thermostat is configured to open one or more of the first and second fresh air intakes when the difference in air temperature outside the first side of the building is within two degrees of the temperature set point.

8. A comfort regulation system for a building comprising:

a plurality of air intakes configured to draw air into the building;

a processor configured to open one or more air intakes of the plurality of air intakes as a function of an orientation of the building, the location of each air intake relative to the orientation of the building, air temperatures inside and outside the building, and humidity inside and outside the building.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to open the one or more air intakes as a function of a weather forecast.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to open an air intake of the plurality air intakes when the weather forecast indicates that the temperature outside the building is going to be greater than a temperature set point of a thermostat and an air temperature of the air temperatures outside the building is less than the temperature set point.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to open an air intake of the plurality air intakes when the weather forecast indicates that the temperature outside the building is going to be less than a temperature set point of a thermostat and an air temperature of the air temperatures outside the building is greater than the temperature set point.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to open an air intake of the plurality of air intakes when the temperature outside the building is within two degrees of the temperature set point.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to open an air intake of the plurality of air intakes when the temperature outside the building is within two degrees of the temperature inside the building.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to open one or more air intake of the plurality of air intakes when the humidity outside the building is less than the humidity inside the building.

15. A method of regulating a comfort level inside a building comprising:

receiving, at a thermostat, data representative of a temperature of air outside the building, a temperature of air inside the building, and a weather forecast; and

opening an air intake, using the thermostat, to pre-heat the air inside the building when data representative of the weather forecast indicates that the temperature of air outside the building will be less than a temperature set point of the thermostat later in the day and the data representative of the temperature of air outside the building is currently greater than the temperature set point.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising freshening the air inside the building by opening the air intake when the data representative of the temperature of air outside the building indicates the temperature of air outside the building is currently within two degrees of the temperature set point.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

opening an air intake, using the thermostat, to pre-cool the air inside the building when the data representative of the weather forecast indicates that that the temperature of air outside the building will be greater than the temperature set point later in the day and the data representative of the temperature of air outside the building indicates the temperature of air outside the building is currently less than the temperature set point.

18. The method of claim 15, freshening the air inside the building by opening the air intake when the data representative of the temperature of air outside the building indicates the temperature of air outside the building is currently within two degrees of the temperature inside the building.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, at the thermostat, data representative of a humidity of the air outside the building and a humidity of the air inside the building; and

opening the air intake when the data representative of the humidity of the air outside the building indicates the humidity of the air outside the building is less than the humidity of the air inside the building.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving data representative of a temperature of air outside the building includes receiving, from a first temperature sensor, data representative of a first temperature of air outside a first side of the building and receiving, from a second temperature sensor, data representative of a second temperature of air outside a second side of the building different than the first side of the building;

and

wherein opening an air intake to pre-heat the air inside the building includes (1) opening a first air intake on the first side of the building when data representative of the weather forecast indicates that the temperature of air outside the building will be less than a temperature set point of the thermostat later in the day and the data representative of the temperature of air outside the first side of the building indicates that the temperature outside the first side of the building is currently greater than the temperature set point and (2) opening a second air intake on the second side of the building when data representative of the weather forecast indicates that the temperature of air outside the building will be less than a temperature set point of the thermostat later in the day and the data representative of the temperature of air outside the second side of the building indicates that the temperature outside the second side of the building is currently greater than the temperature set point.