Home and building automation system

• US 6,263,260 B1
• Filed: 11/11/1998
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HTS High Technology Systems AG
• Inventors: Bodmer, James, Pfeiffer, Walter Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US09/180,639
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 700/22, 700/2, 700/10-14, 700/20, 700/28-31, 700/36, 700/42, 700/44, 700/45, 700/47, 700/48-50, 700/275-278, 700/295, 700/296, 236/46.R, 236/49.3, 340/522, 702/183, 702/181, 702/187
• US Class Current: 700/275
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Process and system for programmed control of a home and building automation system, for saving energy and improving comfort, with the process being performed by means of software and presence and activity monitoring sensors. The software includes first adaptive algorithms controlled by signals from the presence and activity monitoring sensors, for continuously detecting and storing systematic and stochastic behavior of at least one person in a room and over several rooms, and including second modifiable deterministic algorithms for adapting and triggering actuators of installations or groups of installations. The algorithms are combined with external parameters into a third algorithm to optimize the automation system as a whole and to adjust the first and second algorithms by means of feedback.

Claims

1. Process which comprises:

providing programmed control of a home and building automation system, for saving energy and improving comfort, said process performed by means of software and presence and activity monitoring sensors;

said software including first adaptive algorithms controlled by signals from the presence and activity monitoring sensors, for continuously detecting and storing systematic and stochastic behavior of at least one person in a room and over several rooms, and including second modifiable deterministic algorithms for adapting and triggering actuators of installations;

said algorithms being combined with external parameters into a third algorithm to optimize the automation system as a whole and to adjust the first and second algorithms by means of feedback;

wherein on installation of the automation system a first model of user behavior of at least one person is entered as starting software in at least one neural network computer.

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein said deterministic algorithms adapt and trigger actuators of groups of installations.

3. Process according to claim 1, wherein on deviation from said systematic user behavior alarms are triggered.

4. Process according to claim 3, wherein said alarms are triggered after an adjustable time interval.

5. Process according to claim 4, wherein said adjustable time interval is from 5 to 15 minutes.

6. Process according to claim 3, wherein the software control and alarm triggering takes place by means of fuzzy logic and neural networks.

7. Process according to claim 3, wherein the automation system automatically switches to an alarm mode in response to one of total absence of persons and lack of activity.

8. Process according to claim 1, wherein the automation system receives external control signals via a connecting network to databases or external information sources and the internet and analyzes these prior to triggering actuators.

9. Process according to claim 1, wherein said external parameters include at least one of external temperature, weather forecasts and safety modes.

10. Process according to claim 1, wherein sensitivity of said automation system including movement sensors is modified automatically by reducing the response threshold to suit a user.

11. Home and building automation system for performing a process according to claim 1, which comprises a system adapted to trigger actuators of installations and including at least one sensor per room for monitoring presence and activity of at least one person, said system further including a network of sensors covering several rooms with presence and activity controlled control loops, and computers for optimizing by means of software control of the automation system as a function of the presence of persons and said external parameters, said software including said first adaptive algorithms and said second modifiable deterministic algorithms.

12. Automation system according to claim 11, where system is adapted to trigger actuators of groups of installations.

13. Automation system according to claim 11, wherein at least one of smoke sensors, thermostats and light detectors are integrated as input signal generators.

14. Automation system according to claim 13, wherein the computers comprise at least one neural network computer including a standard databus.

15. Automation system according to claim 13, wherein a bus interface is connected to a PID regulator and, to transfer electrical signals as positive nominal values, to at least one summing point which is integrated with a PID regulator and an actuator in a presence and activity controlled control loop.