TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER WITH MODEL-BASED TIME TO TARGET CALCULATION AND DISPLAY

• US 20150300672A1
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony Michael, Sloo, David, Rogers, Matthew, Sharan, Rangoli, Matas, Michael, Matsuoka, Yoky
• Granted Patent: US 10,082,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0086 Filter condition indicators
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/39 Monitoring filter performance
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/40 Noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 Control inputs relating to system states
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 : Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0265 : the criterion being a learning criterion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 : characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 : characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2416 : Means for guiding or retaining wires or cables connected to terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 : Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 : Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A thermostat is described for controlling air temperature in a building. The time associated with causing the controlled air temperature to reach a target temperature is estimated and displayed to a user. Input from a user indicating the target temperature can be received and the estimating and displaying can be carried out in real time. The thermostat can be wall-mounted or the user input can be received and estimated time can be displayed using a remote device, for example that communicates wirelessly with other components of the HVAC system.

Claims

1. A thermostat, comprising:

an electronic display;

a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system control interface;

a user input component that receives user input;

a processing system comprising one or more processors, the processing system being in communication with the electronic display, the HVAC system control interface, and the user input component and the processing system being configured to;

calculate a first cost to reach a target temperature using a first configuration of the HVAC system;

calculate a second cost to reach the target temperature using a second configuration of the HVAC system, wherein;

the first configuration of the HVAC system represents a more energy efficient configuration than the second configuration of the HVAC system; and

the second cost is greater than the first cost; and

output the first cost and the second cost to the electronic display for simultaneous presentation.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

output, to the electronic display, the target temperature to the electronic display for simultaneous presentation with the first cost and the second cost.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein:

the first configuration of the HVAC system involves only a first stage of the HVAC system being activated; and

the second configuration of the HVAC system comprises the first stage of the HVAC system being activated in combination with a second stage of the HVAC system being activated.

4. The thermostat of claim 3, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

receive selection of the first stage of the HVAC system or the combination of the first stage and the second stage of the HVAC system via user input received via the user input component; and

control the HVAC system via the HVAC system control interface in accordance with the selection.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the user input component comprises a circular rotatable ring that rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, the circular rotatable ring encircling the electronic display of the thermostat.

6. The thermostat of claim 5, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

increase the target temperature in response to user input that rotates the outer circular rotatable ring clockwise; and

decrease the target temperature in response to user input that rotates the outer circular rotatable ring counterclockwise.

7. The thermostat of claim 6, wherein the processing system is further configured to, in response to the user input that rotates the outer circular rotatable ring:

recalculate the first cost to reach an increased or decreased target temperature using the first configuration of the HVAC system;

recalculate the second cost to reach the increased or decreased target temperature using the second configuration of the HVAC system; and

output the recalculated first cost and the recalculated second cost to the electronic display for simultaneous presentation.

8. A method for using a thermostat to control a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:

calculating, by the thermostat, a first cost to reach a target temperature using a first configuration of the HVAC system;

calculating, by the thermostat, a second cost to reach the target temperature using a second configuration of the HVAC system, wherein;

the first configuration of the HVAC system represents a more energy efficient configuration than the second configuration of the HVAC system; and

the second cost is greater than the first cost; and

simultaneously presenting, by the thermostat, the first cost and the second cost on an electronic display of the thermostat.

9. The method for using the thermostat to control the HVAC system of claim 8, the method further comprising:

presenting by the thermostat, the target temperature on the electronic display of the thermostat, wherein the target temperature is presented simultaneously with the first cost and the second cost.

10. The method for using the thermostat to control the HVAC system of claim 8, wherein:

the first configuration of the HVAC system comprises only a first stage of the HVAC system being activated; and

the second configuration of the HVAC system comprises the first stage of the HVAC system being activated in combination with a second stage of the HVAC system being activated.

11. The method for using the thermostat to control the HVAC system of claim 10, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the thermostat, selection of the first stage of the HVAC system or the combination of the first stage and the second stage of the HVAC system via user input received via the user input component; and

controlling, by the thermostat, the HVAC system in accordance with the selection.

12. The method for using the thermostat to control the HVAC system of claim 8, the method further comprising:

increasing, by the thermostat, the target temperature in response to user input that rotates a circular rotatable ring of the thermostat clockwise, wherein the outer circular rotatable ring encircles the electronic display; and

decreasing, by the thermostat, the target temperature in response to user input that rotates the outer circular rotatable ring counterclockwise.

13. The method for using the thermostat to control the HVAC system of claim 12, the method further comprising:

in response to the user input that rotates the outer circular rotatable ring, recalculating, by the thermostat, the first cost to reach an increased or decreased target temperature using the first configuration of the HVAC system;

in response to the user input that rotates the outer circular rotatable ring, recalculating, by the thermostat, the second cost to reach the increased or decreased target temperature using the second configuration of the HVAC system; and

presenting, by the thermostat, the recalculated first cost and the recalculated second cost for simultaneous presentation on the electronic display of the thermostat.

14. A non-transitory processor-readable medium for a thermostat comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors of the thermostat to:

calculate a first cost to reach a target temperature using a first configuration of a heating system;

calculate a second cost to reach the target temperature using a second configuration of the heating system, wherein;

the first configuration of the heating system represents a more energy efficient configuration than the second configuration of the heating system; and

the second cost is greater than the first cost; and

output for presentation the first cost and the second cost to an electronic display of the thermostat for simultaneous presentation.

15. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

output, to the electronic display, the target temperature to the electronic display for simultaneous presentation with the first cost and the second cost.

16. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 14, wherein:

the first configuration of the HVAC system involves only a first stage of the HVAC system being activated; and

the second configuration of the HVAC system comprises the first stage of the HVAC system being activated in combination with a second stage of the HVAC system being activated.

17. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

receive selection of the first stage of the HVAC system or the combination of the first stage and the second stage of the HVAC system via user input received via the user input component; and

control the HVAC system via the HVAC system control interface in accordance with the selection.

18. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

increase the target temperature in response to user input that rotates an outer circular rotatable ring clockwise, wherein the circular rotatable ring rotates clockwise and counterclockwise; and

decrease the target temperature in response to user input that rotates the outer circular rotatable ring counterclockwise.

19. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the processing system is further configured to, in response to the user input that rotates the outer circular rotatable ring:

recalculate the first cost to reach an increased or decreased target temperature using the first configuration of the HVAC system;

recalculate the second cost to reach the increased or decreased target temperature using the second configuration of the HVAC system; and

output the recalculated first cost and the recalculated second cost to the electronic display for simultaneous presentation.