Thermostat-type setback controller having a recovery set point which depends on the time-based value of a sensor signal
First Claim
1. A controller with an energy saving setback feature for providing a control signal to manage operation of a control unit for changing an environmental condition within an enclosure so as, during at least one preselected setback interval defined by selected starting and ending times of day, to hold the environmental condition at a predetermined low energy consumption level set point value encoded in a setback set point signal, said starting and ending times encoded in a setback time signal, and to hold the environmental condition at a predetermined high energy consumption level set point encoded in a normal set point signal during the remainder of the day, said setback type controller having a condition sensor providing a condition signal encoding the current condition value within the enclosure, a clock providing a time of day signal indicative of the time of day, and condition control means receiving the condition signal and a current set point signal encoding a current set point value for providing the control signal responsive thereto, an improvement comprisinga) at least one recovery sensor measuring a recovery parameter affecting the time required for recovering from the low energy consumption level set point to the high energy consumption level set point, each recovery sensor providing a recovery sensor signal encoding the recovery parameter value;
- b) recovery time calculator means receiving each recovery sensor signal for computing a recovery time interval as a function of the recovery sensor signal and encoding the recovery time interval value in a recovery time signal; and
c) set point signal generator means receiving the time of day signal, the setback set point signal, the normal set point signal, the setback time signal, and the recovery time signal, for providing the current set point signal encoding a current set point whose value varies with time and is dependent on the values encoded in the time signal, the setback set point signal, the normal set point signal, the setback time signal, and the recovery time signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A setback controller, typically a thermostat, controls a control unit which holds a condition within an enclosure at either a low energy consumption set point or a high energy consumption set point depending on the present time. The controller uses a recovery sensor to measure the state of a condition which can affect the rate at which recovery from the low energy to the high energy set point is likely to occur, and then starts recovery at a time consistent with the state of the condition so as to complete recovery at or near the time selected for the return to the high energy set point. The condition sensor may be located adjacent to the outside of the enclosure to sense one or more conditions. In a temperature control application, the recovery sensor may include a temperature sensor located outdoors near the controlled space and a wind velocity sensor.
58 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A controller with an energy saving setback feature for providing a control signal to manage operation of a control unit for changing an environmental condition within an enclosure so as, during at least one preselected setback interval defined by selected starting and ending times of day, to hold the environmental condition at a predetermined low energy consumption level set point value encoded in a setback set point signal, said starting and ending times encoded in a setback time signal, and to hold the environmental condition at a predetermined high energy consumption level set point encoded in a normal set point signal during the remainder of the day, said setback type controller having a condition sensor providing a condition signal encoding the current condition value within the enclosure, a clock providing a time of day signal indicative of the time of day, and condition control means receiving the condition signal and a current set point signal encoding a current set point value for providing the control signal responsive thereto, an improvement comprising
a) at least one recovery sensor measuring a recovery parameter affecting the time required for recovering from the low energy consumption level set point to the high energy consumption level set point, each recovery sensor providing a recovery sensor signal encoding the recovery parameter value; -
b) recovery time calculator means receiving each recovery sensor signal for computing a recovery time interval as a function of the recovery sensor signal and encoding the recovery time interval value in a recovery time signal; and c) set point signal generator means receiving the time of day signal, the setback set point signal, the normal set point signal, the setback time signal, and the recovery time signal, for providing the current set point signal encoding a current set point whose value varies with time and is dependent on the values encoded in the time signal, the setback set point signal, the normal set point signal, the setback time signal, and the recovery time signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification