Optimizing Communication Modes in Wireless-Enabled Climate Control System Controllers

• US 20150066216A1
• Filed: 08/29/2013
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Ramachandran, Anil
• Granted Patent: US 9,689,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of system controllers and methods for controlling a climate control system. In an exemplary embodiment, a wireless-enabled climate system controller receives power from one or more power sources. A processor and memory of the controller are configured to monitor power budget availability from the power source(s) for performance of wireless communication by the climate control system controller. The processor and memory are further configured to determine power budget requirements for combinations of communication modes in which the controller is capable of performing wireless communication, and based on the monitoring and determining, configure the controller to perform wireless communication using a selected one of the communication mode combinations. A thermostat can optimize levels of operation and battery life, by determining an appropriate operating mode that could offer the most functionality while not exceeding the power budget available.

Claims

1. A wireless-enabled climate control system controller configured to receive power from one or more power sources, the controller comprising a processor and memory configured to:

monitor power budget availability from the one or more power sources for performance of wireless communication by the climate control system controller;

determine power budget requirements for a plurality of combinations of communication modes in which the controller is capable of performing wireless communication; and

based on the monitoring and determining, configure the controller to perform wireless communication using a selected one of the communication mode combinations.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the processor and memory are further configured to:

anticipate change in the power budget availability; and

in response to the anticipating, (a) adjust one or more parameters relating to a mode included in the selected one of the communication mode combinations or (b) configure the controller to perform wireless communication using a different one of the communication mode combinations.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein the change in the power budget availability includes a decreasing power budget, and the processor and memory are configured to adjust a periodicity of communication by the controller.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the communication modes comprise a wireless mode and a network mode.

5. The controller of claim 4, wherein the wireless mode includes an 802.11 mode and the network mode includes a TCP/IP mode.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more power sources include one or more of the following:

a battery, an AC voltage supply, and a power stealing circuit.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more power sources include a power stealing circuit, and the processor and memory are configured to, based on the monitoring and determining, configure the controller to perform wireless communication using a communication mode combination of an 802.11 powersave mode and a TCP/IP persistent client mode, where the wireless communication is performable as to a remote server without a C wire being available to the controller.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more power sources consist of a battery and/or power stealing circuit, and the controller is configured in the selected communication mode combination to repetitively:

sleep for a time period, wake up, and enter a wireless communication window.

9. A wireless-enabled climate control system controller configured to receive power from one or more power sources, the controller comprising a processor and memory configured to:

monitor power budget availability from the one or more power sources to determine a change in power budget availability for performance of wireless communication by the climate control system controller;

determine power budget requirements for a plurality of combinations of wireless and network operating modes, where the controller is configurable to perform wireless communication using any one of the combinations; and

based on the change, configure the controller to perform wireless communication using a selected one of the communication mode combinations.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein at least one of the combinations comprises an 802.11 mode and a TCP/IP mode.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein the 802.11 mode comprises a powersave mode or a periodic mode.

12. The controller of claim 10, comprising a thermostat, and wherein:

the 802.11 mode comprises a powersave mode or a periodic mode; and

the TCP/IP mode comprises a persistent client mode or a non-persistent client mode.

13. The controller of claim 10, wherein the TCP/IP mode comprises a persistent client mode or a non-persistent client mode.

14. The controller of claim 9, comprising a thermostat.

15. The controller of claim 9, wherein the processor and memory are configured to select the highest power-using communication mode combination that does not exceed a power budget allowed by a power mode in which the controller currently operates.

16. A method of controlling a climate control system having one or more power sources, the method comprising:

a controller of the climate control system monitoring power budget availability from the one or more power sources;

the controller determining power budget requirements for a plurality of combinations of communication modes in which the controller is capable of performing wireless communication; and

based on the monitoring and determining, the controller dynamically using a selected one of the communication mode combinations to perform wireless communication.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the controller excluding a combination of modes from the plurality of combinations where the modes would produce incompatible results.

18. The method of claim 16, performed when power availability is changing or is about to change in the climate control system.

19. The method of claim 16, performed by a thermostat.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the controller anticipating change in the power budget availability;

and

in response to the anticipating, the controller;

(a) adjusting one or more parameters relating to a mode included in the selected one of the communication mode combinations or (b) performing wireless communication using a different one of the communication mode combinations.