SMART-HOME CONTROL SYSTEM PROVIDING HVAC SYSTEM DEPENDENT RESPONSES TO HAZARD DETECTION EVENTS

• US 20150100167A1
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sloo, David, Webb, Nicholas Unger, Matsuoka, Yoky, Rogers, Matthew, Fisher, Evan Jarman, Fadell, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 9,905,122 B2
• 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 11/33 to fire, excessive heat or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/34 by opening air passages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/02 by investigating impedance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/121 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity, of the fluid moisture content of the tested material G01N27/048
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array electrochemical electrode arrays G01N27/27
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 for CO, CO2
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/46 Extracting features or characteristics from the video content, e.g. video fingerprints, representative shots or key frames
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/117 by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 : responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 : Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 : Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 : Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 : Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 : Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/012 : using recorded signals, e.g. speech G08B25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 : using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 : Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 : Monitoring of the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/145 : of fire detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 : Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/22 : Provisions facilitating manual calibration, e.g. input or output provisions for testing; Holding of intermittent values to permit measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 : by updating and storing reference thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 : indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 : from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 : based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 : Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 : for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 : Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 : by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling a climate control system of a smart-home environment that includes a plurality of smart devices are provided. One method includes detecting, with a hazard detector of the smart devices, a level of carbon monoxide (CO) at the hazard detector that exceeds a threshold CO level at a location of the hazard detector, determining, by one of the smart devices, that the climate control system includes a combustion based heat source, and in response to the detecting and the determination, transmitting, by a system controller of the climate control system, a first signal to turn off at least one aspect of the climate control system.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a climate control system of a smart-home environment, the smart-home environment including a plurality of smart devices, the method comprising:

detecting, with a hazard detector of the smart devices, a level of carbon monoxide (CO) at the hazard detector that exceeds a threshold CO level at a location of the hazard detector;

determining, by one of the smart devices, that the climate control system includes a combustion based heat source; and

in response to the detecting and the determination, transmitting, by a system controller of the climate control system, a first signal to turn off at least one aspect of the climate control system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one of the smart devices that determines that the climate control system includes a combustion based heat source, is the system controller.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the system controller receives information that the climate control system includes a combustion based heat source at a time of installation.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the system controller determines that the climate control system includes a combustion based heat source by inference based on correlation of previous CO excursions with operation of the heat source.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the one of the smart devices, that the combustion based heat source of the climate control system is in operation at the time of the detecting.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal to turn off at least one aspect of the climate control system is a signal to turn off only the combustion based heat source of the climate control system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal to turn off at least one aspect of the climate control system is a signal to follow a predetermined shutdown sequence that sequentially turns off the combustion based heat source of the climate control system, and a system fan.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, at the time of detecting by the hazard detector of the smart devices and over a wireless connection, information of the CO level at the hazard detector to an information system outside the smart-home environment.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the threshold prior to the detecting, by:

periodically measuring a level of CO by the hazard detector to generate baseline CO measurements; and

statistically evaluating the baseline CO measurements to determine the threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

periodically transmitting the baseline CO measurements, by the hazard detector and over a wireless connection, to an information system outside the smart-home environment; and

wherein statistically evaluating is performed by the information system.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein statistically evaluating is performed by the system controller.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein statistically evaluating is performed by the hazard detector.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein statistically evaluating comprises:

associating each of the baseline CO measurements with a time of day that the measurement was taken;

grouping the baseline CO measurements into a first subset corresponding to a first time of day period and a second subset corresponding to a second time of day period; and

statistically evaluating the first subset to determine the threshold as a first threshold corresponding to the first time of day period, and to determine a second threshold corresponding to the second time of day period.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

associating each of the baseline CO measurements with a time that the respective baseline CO measurement was taken;

periodically measuring at least one aspect of the smart-home environment to generate one or more activity related measurements;

associating each of the activity related measurements with a time that the respective activity related measurement was taken;

evaluating the activity related measurements to generate a set of times that are associated with a particular activity;

grouping the baseline CO measurements into a first subset of CO measurements that are associated in time with the particular activity, and a second subset of CO measurements that are associated in time with lack of the particular activity; and

statistically evaluating the baseline CO measurements, with the information system, to determine the threshold as one of at least a first threshold associated in time with occurrences of the particular activity, and a second threshold associated in time with lack of the particular activity.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the hazard detector of the smart devices and over a wireless connection, information that the CO level at the hazard detector has exceeded the threshold, to the system controller.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the system controller comprises a thermostat.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, after transmitting the first signal:

detecting, with the hazard detector, a lower level of CO that does not exceed the threshold CO level;

not transmitting a second signal to turn on the aspect of the climate control system that was turned off with the first signal, based on the lower level of CO; and

upon receiving physical input at the thermostat to resume operation, transmitting the second signal to turn on the aspect of the climate control system that was turned off with the first signal.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising, after transmitting the first signal:

detecting, with the thermostat, a temperature of the thermostat that is below a low temperature safety threshold;

detecting, with the hazard detector, a level of CO that continues to exceed the threshold CO level; and

transmitting a second signal to turn on the aspect of the climate control system that was turned off with the first signal.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to detecting the level of carbon monoxide (CO) at the hazard detector that exceeds the threshold CO level, generating an audible alarm by one or more of the hazard detector and the system controller.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a gesture input at one or more of the hazard detector and the system controller; and

responsive to the gesture input, hushing the audible alarm, without transmitting a second signal to turn on the aspect of the climate control system that was turned off with the first signal.

21. A smart-home environment comprising:

a climate control system responsive to signals from a system controller, the climate control system including a combustion based heat source; and

a plurality of smart devices configured for wireless communication thereamong, the smart devices including at least

a hazard detector that is configured to measure a level of carbon monoxide (CO) at a location of the hazard detector, and

the system controller;

wherein the system controller is configured to transmit a signal to turn off at least one aspect of the climate control system responsive to the hazard detector detecting a level of CO at that exceeds a threshold CO level at a location of the hazard detector.

22. A method for controlling a climate control system of a smart-home environment that includes a plurality of smart devices, the method comprising:

detecting, by a hazard detector of the smart devices, a level of carbon monoxide (CO) at the hazard detector that exceeds a threshold CO level at a location of the hazard detector;

determining, by one of the smart devices, that the level of CO at the hazard detector may be associated with operation of the climate control system; and

in response to the detecting and the determination, transmitting, by a controller of the smart devices, a first signal to turn off at least one aspect of the climate control system.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the one of the smart devices that determines that the level of CO at the hazard detector may be associated with operation of the climate control system, is the controller.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein determining comprises determining, by the one of the smart devices, that a heat source of the climate control system is in operation at the time of the sensing.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein determining comprises determining, by the one of the smart devices, that the heat source of the climate control system is a combustion based heat source.