SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING SENSORS IN THERMOSTATS
First Claim
1. A thermostat, comprising:
- a thermostat body configured for fixable mounting on a surface, the thermostat body including a forward-facing surface;
said thermostat body further including;
a processor;
a first temperature sensor in conductive thermal communication with said forward facing surface of said thermostat body; and
a second temperature sensor disposed within said thermostat body and positioned offset from said first temperature sensor;
wherein said processor is configured to compute an ambient temperature based on temperature readings from said first and second temperature sensors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided according to one or more embodiments is a thermostat having a housing, the housing including a forward-facing surface, the thermostat comprising a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor disposed inside the housing for sensing occupancy in the vicinity of the thermostat. The PIR motion sensor has a radiation receiving surface and is able to detect the lateral movement of an occupant in front of the forward-facing surface of the housing. The thermostat further comprises a grille member having one or more openings and included along the forward-facing surface of the housing, the grille member being placed over the radiation receiving surface of the PIR motion sensor. The grille member is configured and dimensioned to visually conceal and protect the PIR motion sensor disposed inside the housing, the visual concealment promoting a visually pleasing quality of the thermostat, while at the same time permitting the PIR motion sensor to effectively detect the lateral movement of the occupant. In one embodiment, the grille member openings are slit-like openings oriented along a substantially horizontal direction.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A thermostat, comprising:
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a thermostat body configured for fixable mounting on a surface, the thermostat body including a forward-facing surface; said thermostat body further including; a processor; a first temperature sensor in conductive thermal communication with said forward facing surface of said thermostat body; and a second temperature sensor disposed within said thermostat body and positioned offset from said first temperature sensor; wherein said processor is configured to compute an ambient temperature based on temperature readings from said first and second temperature sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A thermostat comprising:
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a thermostat body configured for fixable mounting on a surface, the thermostat body including a forward-facing surface comprising a first region and a second region, the second region occupying a substantially smaller area of said forward-facing surface than said first region, the second region having a substantially higher thermal conductivity than said first region; said thermostat body further including; a processor; a first temperature sensor in direct conductive thermal communication with said second region of said forward-facing surface of said thermostat body; and a second temperature sensor disposed within said thermostat body and positioned offset from said first temperature sensor, said second temperature sensor not being in direct conductive thermal communication with said second region of said forward-facing surface of said thermostat body; wherein said processor is configured to compute an ambient temperature based on temperature readings from said first and second temperature sensors. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of integrating temperature sensors in a thermostat, comprising:
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providing a thermostat configured for fixable mounting on a surface, the thermostat including a forward-facing surface; positioning a processor within said thermostat; positioning a first temperature sensor within said thermostat so as to be in conductive thermal communication with said forward facing surface of said thermostat; and positioning a second temperature sensor within said thermostat and offset from said first temperature sensor; wherein said processor is configured to compute an ambient temperature based on temperature readings from said first and second temperature sensors. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification