Power Stealing for a Wireless-Enabled Thermostat
First Claim
1. A wireless-enabled thermostat for use in a climate control system, the thermostat comprising:
- a control having a wireless network interface configured to intermittently connect the thermostat in a wireless network in accordance with a duty cycle, the duty cycle having a connect time in which the thermostat is connected in the wireless network and a sleep time in which the thermostat is not connected in the wireless network; and
a power stealing circuit configured to steal power through an “
on-mode”
load of the climate control system and to charge a capacitor to provide the power for the wireless network interface;
the control configured to adjust at least the sleep time in accordance with a time for charging the capacitor to a threshold voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of apparatus, systems and methods for power stealing for a wireless-enabled thermostat. In an exemplary embodiment, a wireless-enabled thermostat generally includes a control having a wireless network interface that intermittently connects the thermostat in a wireless network in accordance with a duty cycle, the duty cycle having a connect time in which the thermostat is connected in the wireless network and a sleep time in which the thermostat is not connected in the wireless network. A power stealing circuit of the thermostat steals power through an “on-mode” load of a climate control system to charge a capacitor or other energy storage device to provide the power for the wireless network interface. The control adjusts at least the sleep time in accordance with a time for charging the capacitor or other energy storage device to a threshold voltage.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wireless-enabled thermostat for use in a climate control system, the thermostat comprising:
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a control having a wireless network interface configured to intermittently connect the thermostat in a wireless network in accordance with a duty cycle, the duty cycle having a connect time in which the thermostat is connected in the wireless network and a sleep time in which the thermostat is not connected in the wireless network; and a power stealing circuit configured to steal power through an “
on-mode”
load of the climate control system and to charge a capacitor to provide the power for the wireless network interface;the control configured to adjust at least the sleep time in accordance with a time for charging the capacitor to a threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wireless-enabled thermostat for use in a climate control system, the thermostat comprising:
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a control having a wireless network interface configured to intermittently connect the thermostat in a wireless network in accordance with a duty cycle, the duty cycle having a connect time in which the thermostat is connected in the wireless network and a sleep time in which the thermostat is not connected in the wireless network; and a power stealing circuit configured to steal power through an “
on-mode”
load of the climate control system and to charge an energy storage device over a time period varying with current through the “
on-mode”
load, to provide the power for the wireless network interface;the control configured to adjust at least the sleep time in accordance with the varying time period. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of communicating in a wireless network, the method performed by a wireless thermostat of a climate control system, the method comprising:
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controlling a wireless network interface of the thermostat to intermittently connect the thermostat in a wireless network in accordance with a duty cycle, the duty cycle having a connect time in which the thermostat is connected in the wireless network and a sleep time in which the thermostat is not connected in the wireless network; stealing power through an “
on-mode”
load of the climate control system;using the stolen power for charging an energy storage device to provide the power for the wireless network interface; and adjusting at least the sleep time in accordance with a time for charging the energy storage device to a threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification