Smart thermostat having a transceiver interface

• US 5,926,776 A
• Filed: 06/04/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
• Original Assignee: Gas Research Institute (GTI Energy)
• Inventors: Bassett, William Wade, Glorioso, Charles A., Russ, Robert M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, KAMINI S
• Application Number:
  US08/868,851
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 364/557, 364/492, 364/511, 364/464.04, 364/464.01, 364/493, 364/505, 364/140, 236/46 R, 236/91 D, 165/12-14, 702/130, 705/404, 705/409, 705/411, 340/825.06, 340/825.47
• US Class Current: 702/130
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time

Abstract

A smart thermostat having a transceiver for two-way communication with an energy provider. The smart thermostat includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature, a user interface for displaying and receiving information to and from a user, a port connecting to a cooling or heating device, a processor, and the transceiver. The transceiver receives a current energy price from an energy provider. The user interface receives temperature setpoints and associated acceptable energy costs. The processor issues a control signal to the cooling or heating device to operate when the temperature is different than the temperature setpoint and the acceptable energy cost is not greater than the current price of energy. The transceiver transmits information for the control signal, temperature setpoints and associated costs to the energy provider. The energy provider may then predict the effect a change to the current energy price will have on energy demand, influence the demand in real time by adjusting the energy price, and verify from the smart thermostat that the demand was effected. The user interface displays a bill for an accumulated use of energy either calculated by the processor or downloaded from the energy provider. The user may authorize payment of the bill through the user interface and the transceiver to the energy provider. Both the user and the energy provider can transmit and receive information concerning an energy outage.

Claims

1. A method using a smart thermostat for controlling energy usage, comprising steps of:

measuring a temperature with a temperature sensor;

receiving user input information from a user for at least one user temperature setpoint;

issuing a control signal based upon a comparison of said temperature and said user temperature setpoint for controlling operation of an apparatus for at least one of (i) using energy for cooling a space including said temperature sensor and (ii) using energy for heating a space including said temperature sensor; and

transmitting an output signal to a provider of said energy, said output signal including at least one of (i) said user temperature setpoint and (ii) said temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said output signal is a wireless signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further including steps of:

receiving user input information from said user for an acceptable energy cost associated with said temperature setpoint;

receiving an input signal including a current energy price issued by said energy provider; and

wherein;

said control signal is further based upon a comparison of said acceptable cost and said current energy price.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the step of issuing said control signal further includes at least one of (i) issuing said control signal for controlling said apparatus for cooling said space when said temperature is greater than said temperature setpoint and said acceptable energy cost is not greater than said current energy price and (ii) issuing said control signal for controlling said apparatus for heating said space when said temperature is less than said temperature setpoint and said acceptable energy cost is not greater than said current energy price.

5. The method of claim 1, further including steps of:

receiving an input signal including a request from said provider of said energy for using a provider temperature setpoint; and

substituting said provider temperature setpoint for said user temperature setpoint in the step of issuing said control signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further including a step of:

receiving an input signal including a request to inhibit said operation for using energy; and

wherein;

the step of issuing said control signal includes a step of issuing said control signal for inhibiting said operation.

7. A method for paying an energy bill for use of energy, including a steps of:

displaying said energy bill to a user of said energy;

receiving user input information from said user for an authorization of payment of said bill; and

transmitting an output signal to a provider of said energy, said output signal including said authorization.

8. The method of claim 7, further including a step of:

receiving an input signal including said bill issued by said energy provider.

9. The method of claim 7, further including steps of:

receiving an input signal including a current energy price issued by said energy provider;

calculating an accumulated use of said energy; and

calculating said energy bill based upon said current energy price and said accumulated use of said energy.

10. A smart thermostat, comprising:

a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature;

a user interface including a user entry device for receiving user input information including at least one user temperature setpoint;

a port for issuing a control signal for controlling an apparatus for using energy for operating at least one of (i) a cooling apparatus for cooling a space including said temperature sensor (ii) a heating apparatus for heating a space including said temperature sensor;

a processor coupled to the temperature sensor, the user interface, and the port, the processor including an executable code for directing the processor for determining said control signal based upon a comparison of said temperature and said temperature setpoint, and issuing user status information including at least one of said temperature and said temperature setpoint; and

a transceiver including a transmitter coupled to the processor for transmitting an output signal including said user status information to a provider of said energy.

11. The smart thermostat of claim 10, wherein:

the transceiver is a wireless transceiver.

12. The smart thermostat of claim 10, wherein:

said user entry device is further for receiving user input information for an acceptable energy cost associated with said temperature setpoint;

the transceiver further includes a receiver for receiving an input signal including a current energy price issued from said energy provider; and

said executable code is further used for directing the processor for determining said control signal further based upon said acceptable cost of energy and said current energy price.

13. The smart thermostat of claim 12, wherein:

said executable code is further for directing the processor for at least one of (i) determining said control signal for controlling said apparatus for cooling said space when said temperature is greater than said temperature setpoint and said acceptable energy cost is not greater than said current energy price and (ii) determining said control signal for controlling said apparatus for heating said space when said temperature is less than said temperature setpoint and said acceptable energy cost is not greater than said current energy price.

14. The smart thermostat of claim 10, wherein:

the transceiver further includes a receiver for receiving an input signal including a request from said energy provider for substituting a provider temperature setpoint for said user temperature setpoint; and

said executable code is further used for directing the processor for substituting said provider temperature setpoint for said user temperature setpoint for said comparison to said temperature for determining said control signal when said request is received.

15. The smart thermostat of claim 10, wherein:

the transceiver further includes a receiver for receiving an input signal including a shutdown request from said energy provider; and

said executable code is further used for directing the processor for inhibiting said operation when said shutdown request is received.

16. A smart thermostat, comprising:

a display for displaying an energy bill for use of energy to a user;

a user entry device for receiving an authorization for payment of said bill from a user; and

a transmitter for transmitting an output signal including said authorization to a provider of said energy.

17. The smart thermostat of claim 16, further including:

a receiver for receiving an input signal including information for said bill from said energy provider.

18. The smart thermostat of claim 16, further including:

a receiver for receiving an input signal including information for a current energy price issued by said energy provider; and

a processor coupled to the receiver and including an executable code for calculating an accumulated use of said energy and calculating said energy bill based upon said current energy price and said accumulated use of said energy.

19. A method by an energy provider for managing energy, comprising:

at said energy provider, receiving at least one user temperature setpoint and an associated acceptable cost from a user of said energy for maintaining a temperature at least one of (i) lower than said user temperature setpoint and (ii) higher than said user temperature setpoint from at least one energy user; and

predicting a change in demand for said energy that will result from a change in a current price of said energy.

20. The method of claim 19, further including steps of:

calculating said current price based upon said user temperature setpoint and said acceptable energy cost for adjusting said demand; and

issuing information for said current price to said user.

21. A method for authorization of payment of an energy bill, comprising:

issuing information for said energy bill from an energy provider through a communication network for reception by a user of said energy; and

at said energy provider, receiving through said communication network an authorization for payment from said user.

22. A smart thermostat for use at an establishment of a user of power, comprising:

a port coupled for receiving an automatic indication when said power is not available at said establishment; and

a transmitter coupled to the port for transmitting an output signal including information for a power outage to a provider of said power when said indication indicates that said power is not available.

23. The thermostat of claim 22, wherein:

said power is electrical power.

24. The thermostat of claim 22, wherein:

said power is gas power.

25. The thermostat of claim 22, further including:

a receiver for receiving an input signal having a confirmation that said power outage is known by said power provider; and

a display for displaying said confirmation in a form that is visually or audibly perceptible to a human user.

26. The thermostat of claim 25, wherein:

said confirmation includes information for a time when said power is expected to return.

27. A method for communicating information from an establishment using power to a provider of said power, comprising steps of:

receiving an automatic indication when said power is not available at said establishment; and

transmitting an output signal including information for a power outage to a provider of said power when said power is not available.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

said power is electrical power.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein:

said power is gas power.

30. The method of claim 27, further including steps of:

receiving an input signal having a confirmation that said power outage is known by said power provider; and

displaying said confirmation in a form that is visually or audibly perceptible to a human user.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein:

said confirmation includes information for a time when said power is expected to return.

32. A smart thermostat for use at an establishment of a user of power, comprising:

a signal receiver for receiving an input signal having information of a power outage from a provider of said power; and

a display for displaying said information for said power outage in a form that is visually or audibly perceptible to a human user.

33. The thermostat of claim 32, wherein:

said power is electrical power.

34. The thermostat of claim 32, wherein:

said power is gas power.

35. The thermostat of claim 32, wherein:

said information for said power outage includes at least one of (i) a time that said power will be out at said establishment, (ii) information that said power is currently out at said establishment, and (iii) a time when said power is expected to return to said establishment.

36. A method for receiving information at an establishment using power from a provider of said power, comprising steps of:

receiving an input signal having information for a power outage from said provider of said power; and

displaying said information for said power outage in a form that is visually or audibly perceptible to a human user.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein:

said power is electrical power.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein:

said power is gas power.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein:

said information for said power outage includes at least one of (i) a time that said power will be out at said establishment, (ii) information that said power is currently out at said establishment, and (iii) a time when said power is expected to return.