Thermostat user interface

• US 9,175,868 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Rogers, Matthew L., Sloo, David, Plitkins, Michael, Honjo, Shigefumi, Filson, John B., Matas, Michael J., Bould, Fred, Huppi, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Karim, Ziaul
• Application Number:
  US14/457,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20140358297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 700/15, 700/276, 700/277, 165/237, 165/238
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• 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 2120/12 Position of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/041 : Mountings in enclosures or in a particular environment
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/02 : Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/26 : Testing of individual semiconductor devices testing or measuring during manufacture or treatment H01L22/00; testing of photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• 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 23/1919 : characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 : to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 : the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/2454 : using photoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/27 : with sensing element responsive to radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/275 : with sensing element expanding, contracting, or fusing in response to changes of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 : Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 : Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 : by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 : Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 : Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 : Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 : with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 : by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 : Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 : using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 : Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 : Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 : Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems

Abstract

A user-friendly, network-connected learning thermostat is described. The thermostat is made up of (1) a wall-mountable backplate that includes a low-power consuming microcontroller used for activities such as polling sensors and switching on and off the HVAC functions, and (2) separable head unit that includes a higher-power consuming microprocessor, color LCD backlit display, user input devices, and wireless communications modules. The thermostat also includes a rechargeable battery and power-stealing circuitry adapted to harvest power from HVAC triggering circuits. By maintaining the microprocessor in a “sleep” state often compared to the lower-power microcontroller, high-power consuming activities, such as learning computations, wireless network communications and interfacing with a user, can be temporarily performed by the microprocessor even though the activities use energy at a greater rate than is available from the power stealing circuitry.

Claims

1. A thermostat, comprising:

a frustum-shaped shell body having a circular cross-section and a central axis generally perpendicular to a wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the frustum-shaped shell body comprising a sidewall that extends along a length of the central axis between first and second ends of the frustum-shaped shell body, the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body being wall-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body being user-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the sidewall comprising inside and outside surfaces, the inside surface defining an interior for housing components of the thermostat;

a circular rotatable ring mounted proximate the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body, the circular rotatable ring having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the circular rotatable ring being user rotatable about the axis of rotation, wherein the circular rotatable ring rotatable slides about a frame of the thermostat, the circular rotatable ring having an inwardly extending lip or edge surface that is parallel to the wall when the thermostat is wall mounted, said inwardly extending lip or edge being positioned within a groove of the frame, and wherein a corresponding bearing surface of the frame is greased or otherwise lubricated to smooth and dampen rotational movement of the circular rotatable ring;

a circular cover mounted proximate the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body, the circular cover having a central axis generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the circular cover comprising a clear circular center portion surrounded by a colored outer portion;

at least one temperature sensor for use in sensing an ambient air temperature;

a plurality of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) wire terminals configured to receive a plurality of HVAC wires;

a dot-matrix color display element mounted at a location between the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body and the circular cover, the dot-matrix color display element and the circular cover not rotating when the circular rotatable ring is rotated and the thermostat is wall-mounted; and

a processing system provided in operative communication with the plurality of HVAC wire terminals, the circular rotatable ring, the dot-matrix color display element, and the at least one temperature sensor, the processing system configured to;

cause the dot-matrix color display element to display a numerical value representative of a temperature value;

determine a user-selected temperature value based on user rotation of the circular rotatable ring; and

send a control signal to the HVAC system via at least one of the HVAC wire terminals based at least in part on a comparison of a user-selected temperature value and the sensed ambient temperature;

wherein said outside surface of said frustum-shaped shell body sidewall has a metallic appearing finish and wherein said sidewall increases in diameter along the central axis from the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body to the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body such that an acute angle is formed exterior to the thermostat between the outside surface of the sidewall and the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, whereby a naturally blending visual appearance of the thermostat with the wall is promoted by virtue of the frustum-shaped shell body, the metallic-appearing finish, and the acute angle when the thermostat is mounted to the wall; and

wherein the dot-matrix color display element is non-circular and the clear circular center portion of the circular cover permits a circular portion of the non-circular dot-matrix color display element to be visible through the circular cover, the colored outer portion of the circular cover masking a remaining portion of the non-circular dot-matrix color display element so as to create a circular graphical user interface.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, the thermostat further comprising:

a wall-mountable back plate configured to detachably couple to the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body so as to provide electrical power to the processing system and the dot-matrix color display element, the back plate comprising;

the plurality of HVAC wire terminals configured to receive the plurality of HVAC wires;

labels associated with the wire connectors to aid thermostat installation; and

a bubble level to aid level wall mounting of the thermostat.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, the thermostat further comprising:

a passive infrared (PIR) sensor that senses infrared radiation to detect a proximal user presence, wherein the processing system is configured to activate the dot-matrix color display element upon receiving a signal indicating the proximal user presence from the PIR sensor.

4. The thermostat of claim 3, wherein the PIR sensor is located within the thermostat on a vertical axis that perpendicularly intersects the central axis and extends vertically in a direction parallel to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, the thermostat further comprising:

an audio output device to output sound.

6. The thermostat of claim 5, wherein the processing system is configured to cause the audio-output device to output synthesized audible ticks in correspondence with user rotation of the circular rotatable ring.

7. The thermostat of claim 6, wherein the non-circular dot-matrix color display presents the numerical value representative of the temperature value substantially centered on the central axis.

8. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises:

a first temperature sensor that senses a first temperature; and

a second temperature sensor located in a different location within the thermostat than the first temperature sensor relative to one or more heat generating internal components of the thermostat, the second temperature sensor sensing a second temperature, wherein the processing system is configured to calculate the ambient temperature using said first and second sensed temperatures.

9. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of the thermostat formed by said frustum-shaped shell body and said circular cover is free of vents and grilles.

10. A thermostat, comprising:

a frustum-shaped shell body having a circular cross-section and a central axis generally perpendicular to a wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the frustum- shaped shell body comprising a sidewall that extends along a length of the central axis between first and second ends of the frustum-shaped shell body, the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body being wall-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body being user-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the sidewall comprising inside and outside surfaces, the inside surface defining an interior for housing components of the thermostat, the outside surface of the sidewall having a metallic appearing finish, the sidewall increasing in diameter along the central axis from the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body to the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body such that an acute angle is formed exterior to the thermostat between the outside surface of the sidewall and the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, whereby a naturally blending visual appearance of the thermostat with the wall is promoted by virtue of the frustum-shaped shell body, the metallic-appearing finish, and the acute angle when the thermostat is mounted to the wall;

a circular rotatable ring mounted proximate the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body, the circular rotatable ring comprising an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the circular rotatable ring being user rotatable about the axis of rotation, wherein the circular rotatable ring rotatable slides about a frame of the thermostat, the circular rotatable ring having an inwardly extending lip or edge surface that is parallel to the wall when the thermostat is wall mounted, said inwardly extending lip or edge being positioned within a groove of the frame, and wherein a corresponding bearing surface of the frame is greased or otherwise lubricated to smooth and dampen rotational movement of the circular rotatable ring;

a circular cover mounted proximate the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body, the circular cover comprising a central axis generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the circular cover comprising a clear circular center portion surrounded by a colored outer portion;

at least one temperature sensor for use in sensing an ambient air temperature;

a plurality of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) wire terminals configured to receive a plurality of HVAC wires;

a passive infrared (PIR) sensor that senses infrared radiation to detect a proximal user presence;

a dot-matrix color display element mounted at a location between the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body and the circular cover, the dot-matrix color display element and the circular cover do not rotate when the circular rotatable ring is rotated and the thermostat is wall-mounted;

a processing system provided in operative communication with the plurality of HVAC wire terminals, the PIR sensor, the circular rotatable ring, the dot-matrix color display element, and the at least one temperature sensor, the processing system configured to;

activate the dot-matrix color display element upon receiving a signal indicating the proximal user presence from the PIR sensor;

cause the dot-matrix color display element to display a numerical value representative of a temperature value;

determine a user-selected temperature value based on user rotation of the circular rotatable ring; and

send a control signal to the HVAC system via at least one of the HVAC wire terminals based at least in part on a comparison of a user-selected temperature value and the sensed ambient temperature.

11. The thermostat of claim 10, the thermostat further comprising:

a wall-mountable back plate configured to detachably couple to the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body so as to provide electrical power to the processing system and the dot-matrix color display element, the back plate comprising;

the plurality of HVAC wire terminals configured to receive the plurality of HVAC wires;

labels associated with the wire connectors to aid thermostat installation; and

a bubble level to aid level wall mounting of the thermostat.

12. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the PIR sensor is located within the thermostat on a vertical axis that perpendicularly intersects the central axis and the vertical axis extends vertically when the thermostat is wall-mounted.

13. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein:

the dot-matrix color display element is non-circular and the clear circular center portion of the circular cover permits a circular portion of the non-circular dot-matrix color display element to be visible through the circular cover; and

the colored outer portion of the circular cover masks a remaining portion of the non-circular dot-matrix color display element so as to create a circular graphical user interface.

14. The thermostat of claim 10, the thermostat further comprising:

an audio output device to output sound.

15. The thermostat of claim 14, wherein the processing system is configured to cause the audio-output device to output synthesized audible ticks in correspondence with user rotation of the circular rotatable ring.

16. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the non-circular dot-matrix color display presents the numerical value representative of the temperature value centered on the central axis.

17. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises:

a first temperature sensor that senses a first temperature; and

a second temperature sensor located in a different location within the thermostat than the first temperature sensor relative to one or more heat generating internal components of the thermostat, the second temperature sensor sensing a second temperature, wherein the processing system is configured to calculate the ambient temperature using the first and second sensed temperatures.

18. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein an exterior surface of the thermostat formed by the frustum-shaped shell body and the circular cover is free of vents and grilles.