Temperature controller with model-based time to target calculation and display

• US 9,104,211 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2011
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• 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 Lee, Sharan, Rangoli, Matas, Michael James, Matsuoka, Yoky
• Primary Examiner(s): Elve, M. Alexandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): FURDGE, LARRY L
• Application Number:
  US12/984,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20120125559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 621/57, 236/1.C, 236/94, 700/291
• 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 method for controlling air temperature in a building using an HVAC system including a wall-mounted thermostat, the method comprising:

operating the HVAC system to bring the controlled air temperature to a target temperature;

using a processing system within the wall-mounted thermostat to estimate an amount of time associated with the controlled air temperature reaching the target temperature based on a mathematical model of the thermodynamic characteristics of the building which learns a dependence of time to reach a target temperature using at least a current indoor temperature, wherein

computation of the estimated amount of time is performed by the processing system using past observations of times to reach target temperatures; and

displaying information on the wall-mounted thermostat to a user representative of the estimated amount of time, the information comprising;

a numeric representation of the estimated amount of time to reach the target temperature; and

a graphical representation of the estimated amount of time to reach the target temperature, the graphical representation comprising an arc of a circle that partially encircles a numeric representation of the target temperature.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving input from a user indicating the target temperature.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the estimating and displaying are carried out in real time with respect to the user.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the estimating and displaying are carried out in less than about 0.5 seconds.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the estimating and displaying are carried out while the user views the displayed information.

6. A method according to claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a second input from a user indicating a second target temperature;

estimating a second amount of time associated with the controlled air temperature reaching the second target temperature; and

displaying second information to a user representative of the second amount of time.

7. A method according to claim 2 wherein the input is received from a user using the wall-mounted thermostat adapted to control the air temperature using the HVAC system.

8. A method according to claim 2 wherein the input is received from a user via wireless communication.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the HVAC system includes multi-stage heating and/or cooling functionality.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the displayed information includes estimated time using one stage and estimated time using more than one stage.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the HVAC system includes cooling functionality having a cooling capacity of less than about 5 tons.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the building is primarily a residential or light-industrial building.

13. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

estimating an amount of energy associated with causing the controlled air temperature to reach the target temperature; and

displaying energy information to a user representative of the estimated amount of energy.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the energy information includes a value expressed in one or more units selected from a group consisting of:

Therms, Calories, and joules.

15. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

estimating a cost associated with causing the controlled air temperature to reach the target temperature; and

displaying cost information to a user representative of the estimated cost.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the estimated time associated with the controlled air temperature reaching the target temperature is primarily under passive influences.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the passive influences include opening a window.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the target temperature is a natural rest temperature of the controlled air temperature in the building without the use of active control.

29. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

repeatedly updating, by the wall-mounted thermostat, the displayed information on the wall-mounted thermostat to reflect an updated estimate of the amount of time to reach the target temperature based on recomputation of the mathematical model.

19. A system for controlling air temperature in a building comprising:

a processing system that controls an HVAC system to bring the controlled air temperature to a target temperature and the processing system is adapted and programmed to estimate an amount of time associated with the controlled air temperature reaching the target temperature based on a mathematical model of the thermodynamic characteristics of the building which learns a dependence of time to reach a target temperature using at least a current indoor temperature, wherein computation of the estimated amount of time is performed by the processing system using past observations of times to reach target temperatures; and

a display adapted to display to a user information representative of the estimated amount of time, wherein;

the processing system and the display are part of a wall-mounted thermostat, and

the information representative of the estimated amount of time comprises;

a numeric representation of the estimated amount of time to reach the target temperature; and

a graphical representation of the estimated amount of time to reach the target temperature, the graphical representation comprising an arc of a circle that partially encircles a numeric representation of the target temperature.

20. A system according to claim 19 wherein the wall-mounted thermostat is circular.

21. A system according to claim 20 further comprising a rotating outer member adapted to receive input from a user indicating the target temperature.

22. A system according to claim 19 wherein the wall-mounted thermostat communicates with other portions of the HVAC system via conductive wires.

23. A system according to claim 19 wherein the system wirelessly communicates with one or more components of an HVAC system that controls the air temperature in the building.

30. A system for controlling air temperature in a building according to claim 19 wherein the processing system is further configured to repeatedly update the displayed information on the wall-mounted thermostat to reflect an updated estimate of the amount of time to reach the target temperature based on recomputation of the mathematical model.

24. A system for controlling temperature in a building, comprising:

a processor that controls an HVAC system to bring the controlled air temperature to a target temperature and the processor is adapted and programmed to estimate an amount of time for a temperature at a current temperature to reach the target temperature based on a mathematical model of the thermodynamic characteristics of the building which learns a dependence of time to reach the target temperature using a current indoor temperature, wherein computation of the estimated amount of time is performed by the processor using past observations of times to reach target temperatures; and

a display adapted to display the estimated amount of time to a user, wherein the processor and the display are part of a wall-mounted thermostat and the estimated time is displayed to the user in the form of;

a numeric representation of the estimated amount of time to reach the target temperature; and

a graphical representation of the estimated amount of time to reach the target temperature, the graphical representation comprising an arc of a circle that at least partially encircles a numeric representation of the target temperature.

25. A system according to claim 24 wherein the temperature is water temperature and the system forms part of a hot water heating system.

26. A system according to claim 24 wherein the estimate is continuously updated.

27. A system according to claim 24 wherein the mathematical model includes statistical methods and machine learning algorithms.

28. A system according to claim 24 wherein the processor is further adapted and programmed to calculate a statistical confidence value representing confidence in the estimate of the amount of time for the temperature at the current temperature to reach the target temperature.

31. A system for controlling temperature in a building according to claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to repeatedly update the displayed information on the wall-mounted thermostat to reflect an updated estimate of the amount of time to reach the target temperature based on recomputation of the mathematical model.