THERMOSTAT WITH MULTIPLE SENSING SYSTEMS INTEGRATED THEREIN

• US 20170060150A1
• Filed: 08/26/2015
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Stefanski, John, Albonico, Marcus, Buenaventura, Orville, Goyal, Vivek, Schoenen, Alexander, Giustina, Giancarlo, Gupta, Anurag
• Granted Patent: US 9,606,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/028 arrangements for numerical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/02 using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/27 with sensing element responsive to radiation

Abstract

A thermostat may include a proximity sensor and a temperature sensor. The thermostat may also include a sensor mount assembly containing the proximity sensor, the temperature sensor, and a first alignment feature. The thermostat may additionally include a lens assembly having a first area, a second area, and a second alignment feature, where the second area includes a Fresnel lens, and the first area is thinner than the second area. The thermostat may further include a front cover where the outward-facing surface of the lens assembly is shaped to continuously conform to a curvature of the front cover. The thermostat may also include a frame member with third and fourth alignment features configured for respective matable alignment with the first and second alignment features and configured such that the proximity sensor and the temperature sensor are maintained in generally close, non-touching proximity to the lens assembly, the first area of the lens assembly being aligned with the proximity sensor, and the second area of the lens assembly being aligned with the temperature sensor.

Claims

1. A thermostat comprising:

a proximity sensor for detecting user presence;

a temperature sensor that provides temperature measurements for calculating an ambient temperature in an area surrounding the thermostat;

a sensor mount assembly containing the proximity sensor and the temperature sensor, the sensor mount assembly including a first alignment feature;

a lens assembly comprising a first area, a second area, and a second alignment feature, wherein the second area comprises a Fresnel lens, and the first area is thinner than the second area;

a front cover, wherein an outward-facing surface of the lens assembly is shaped to continuously conform to a curvature of the front cover; and

a frame member comprising third and fourth alignment features configured for respective matable alignment with the first and second alignment features and further configured such that the proximity sensor and the temperature sensor are maintained in generally close, non-touching proximity to the lens assembly, the first area of the lens assembly being aligned with the proximity sensor, and the second area of the lens assembly being aligned with the temperature sensor.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the sensor mount assembly comprises a flexible circuit board to which the proximity sensor and the temperature sensor are mounted.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the sensor mount assembly further comprises a bracket comprising at least two different elevations such that the proximity sensor and the temperature sensor sit at the at least two different elevations relative to the lens.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor comprises an IC body and a metal pin through which the temperature measurements for calculating the ambient temperature in the area surrounding the thermostat are received, and wherein a portion of the sensor mount assembly is rotated at an angle such that the metal pin is closer to the lens assembly than the IC body.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the sensor mount assembly further comprises a second proximity sensor.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, and the distance between the second area of the lens assembly and the PIR sensor is between 6 mm and 8 mm.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the lens assembly is fabricated from a continuous piece of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) using an injection molding process.

8. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a multi-channel thermopile comprising at least a left channel and a right channel.

9. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the distance between the temperature sensor and the first area of the lens is less than 3 mm.

10. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising electromagnetic shielding that wraps around the proximity sensor and around at least a portion of the sensor mount assembly.

11. A method of aligning sensor and lens elements in a smart thermostat, the method comprising:

providing a sensor mount assembly comprising;

a proximity sensor for detecting user presence;

a temperature sensor that provides temperature measurements for calculating an ambient temperature in an area surrounding the thermostat; and

a first alignment feature;

providing a lens assembly comprising;

a first area;

a second area comprising a Fresnel lens, wherein the first area is thinner than the second area; and

a second alignment feature;

providing a frame member comprising third and fourth alignment features configured for respective matable alignment with the first and second alignment features and further configured such that the proximity sensor and the temperature sensor are maintained in generally close, non-touching proximity to the lens assembly, the first area of the lens assembly being aligned with the proximity sensor, and the second area of the lens assembly being aligned with the temperature sensor;

connecting the sensor mount assembly to the frame member by mating the first alignment feature with the third alignment feature; and

connecting the lens assembly to the frame member by mating the second alignment feature with the fourth alignment feature.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor mount assembly comprises a flexible circuit board to which the proximity sensor and the temperature sensor are mounted.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor mount assembly further comprises a bracket comprising at least two different elevations such that the proximity sensor and the temperature sensor sit at the at least two different elevations relative to the lens.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor comprises an IC body and a metal pin through which the temperature measurements for calculating the ambient temperature in the area surrounding the thermostat are received, and wherein a portion of the sensor mount assembly is rotated at an angle such that the metal pin is closer to the lens assembly than the IC body.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor mount assembly further comprises a second proximity sensor.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, and the distance between the second area of the lens assembly and the PIR sensor is between 6 mm and 8 mm.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the lens assembly is fabricated from a continuous piece of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) using an injection molding process.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a multi-channel thermopile comprising at least a left channel and a right channel.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the distance between the temperature sensor and the first area of the lens is less than 3 mm.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor mount assembly further comprises electromagnetic shielding that wraps around the proximity sensor and around at least a portion of the sensor mount assembly.