Installation of thermostat powered by rechargeable battery

• US 9,268,344 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Daniel Adam, Fiennes, Hugo, Dutra, Jonathan Alan, Bell, David, Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Smith, Ian C., Satterthwaite, Edwin H. Jr., Palmer, Joseph E., Erickson, Grant M., Mucignat, Andrea, Sloo, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnes-Bullock, Crystal J
• Application Number:
  US13/831,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20130218351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 700276-278, 700/299, 700/300, 717/168, 717171-174, 717176-178
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2220/042 Temperature sensors
• 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 11/523 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 11/61 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 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• 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: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A thermostat is described that includes a rechargeable battery, a graphical user interface and a wireless network communication capabilities. During installation, in cases where the rechargeable battery is below a first threshold, the installation procedure is limited so as to avoid energy intensive installation steps which may not be supported by the low battery level. An example of an installation step that is avoided due to low battery level is set up of wireless communication. According to some embodiments, if the battery level is very low during initial installation, the installation process is halted while the battery is charged. An indication such as a flashing LED may be displayed so as to indicate to the user that the battery is being charged.

Claims

1. In a microprocessor-controlled thermostat, a method of facilitating installation thereof, the thermostat for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and being powered at least in part with a rechargeable battery, the method comprising:

measuring a charge level value for the rechargeable battery using a processing system, the rechargeable battery and processing system being housed within the thermostat;

when the measured charge level value is above a first predetermined threshold, using an interactive graphical user interface comprising an electronic display disposed within a housing of the thermostat to interact with a user so as to carry out a full installation procedure of the thermostat so as to control the HVAC system, the installation procedure including a first set of installation steps for setting up a plurality of thermostat features, the processing system being configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for determining an ambient air temperature, in operative communication with one or more input devices including said user interface, and in further operative communication with the HVAC system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a measured ambient temperature and a setpoint temperature value;

when the measured charge level value is below the first predetermined threshold, using the electronic display to display a graphical representation sufficient to communicate to the user that installation steps of a procedure for installing the thermostat will be a limited due to a low battery level, and using the interactive graphical user interface to carry out a limited installation procedure including a second set of installation steps for setting up one or more thermostat features, the second set of installation steps being a subset of the first set of installation steps;

using the processing system to modify configuration information of the thermostat based at least in part on the first or second installation procedures; and

using the modified configuration information of the thermostat when controlling one or more HVAC system components of the HVAC system by the processing system.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first set of installation steps include one or more steps relating to wireless network communications and the second set of installation steps do not include steps relating to wireless network communications.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said measured charge level value is a measured voltage level associated with the battery.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising when the measured charge level value is below a second predetermined threshold halting installation of the thermostat, and recharging the rechargeable battery using a power source, wherein the second charge level value is below the first charge level value.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein when the measured charge level is below the second charge level, presenting a visual indication sufficient to communicate to the user that installation halted due to a low battery level.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein after the rechargeable battery has been sufficiently recharged, resuming the installation of the thermostat.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

automatically detecting whether a common wire is connected to the thermostat using a wire insertion detection module disposed within the thermostat;

automatically extracting electrical power from a common wire when a connection to a common wire is detected by the wire insertion detection module;

automatically extracting electrical power from a a call relay wire when a connection to a common wire is not detected by the wire insertion detection module, wherein the extracting of electrical power is performed using a power extraction circuit disposed within the housing, and wherein the extracted electrical power is used to charge the rechargeable battery.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the rechargeable battery is a lithium ion battery.

9. A thermostat comprising:

a housing;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing;

battery monitoring circuitry disposed within the housing configured to measure a charge level for the rechargeable battery;

an interactive graphical user interface comprising an electronic display, the display disposed within the housing; and

a processing system disposed within the housing and coupled to the user interface, the processing system being configured to be powered at least in part by the rechargeable battery, in operative communication with the battery monitoring circuitry, in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for determining an ambient air temperature, in operative communication with one or more input devices including said user interface for receiving input from a user, and in still further operative communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a measured ambient temperature and a setpoint temperature value, wherein the processing system is further configured to;

when the measured charge level value is above a first predetermined threshold use the electronic display to interact with a user so as to carry out a full installation procedure of the thermostat so as to control the HVAC system, the installation procedure including a first set of installation steps for setting up a plurality of thermostat features;

when the measured charge level value is below the first predetermined threshold, use the electronic display to display a graphical representation sufficient to communicate to the user that installation steps of a procedure for installing the thermostat will be a limited due to a low battery level, and use the interactive graphical user interface to carry out a limited installation procedure including a second set of installation steps for setting up one or more thermostat features, the second set of installation steps being a subset of the first set of installation steps;

modify configuration information of the thermostat based at least in part on the first or second installation procedures; and

using the modified configuration information of the thermostat when controlling one or more HVAC system components of the HVAC system by the processing system.

10. A thermostat according to claim 9 wherein the first set of installation steps include one or more steps relating to wireless network communications and the second set of installation steps do not include steps relating to wireless network communications.

11. A thermostat according to claim 9 further comprising:

a wire insertion detection module disposed within the thermostat configured to automatically detect when a common wire is connected to the thermostat; and

a power extraction circuit disposed within the housing and configured to extract electrical power from either a call relay wire or a common wire, wherein the power extraction circuit automatically extracts electrical power from a common wire when a connection to a common wire is detected by the wire insertion detection module and automatically extracts electrical power from a call relay wire when a connection to a common wire is not detected by the wire insertion detection, and wherein the extracted electrical power is used to charge the rechargeable battery.

12. A thermostat according to claim 9 wherein said measured charge level value is a measured voltage level associated with the battery.

13. A thermostat according to claim 9 wherein the rechargeable battery is a lithium-ion battery.

14. In a microprocessor-controlled thermostat, a method of facilitating installation thereof, the thermostat for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and being powered at least in part with a rechargeable battery, the method comprising:

measuring a charge level value for the rechargeable battery using a processing system, the rechargeable battery and processing system being housed within the thermostat;

when the measured charge level value is above a first predetermined threshold using an interactive graphical user interface comprising an electronic display disposed within a housing of the thermostat to interact with a user so as to carry out an installation procedure of the thermostat so as to control the HVAC system, the processing system being configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for determining an ambient air temperature, in operative communication with one or more input devices including said user interface, and still in further operative communication with the HVAC system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a measured ambient temperature and a setpoint temperature value;

when the measured charge level value is below a first predetermined threshold and above a second predetermined threshold, using the electronic display to display a graphical representation sufficient to communicate to the user that installation steps of a procedure for installing the thermostat will be a limited due to a low battery level, and using the interactive graphical user interface to carry out a limited installation procedure including a second set of installation steps for setting up one or more thermostat features, the second set of installation steps being a subset of the first set of installation steps;

when the measured charge level value is below the second predetermined threshold, halting the installation procedure, recharging the rechargeable battery using a power source, if available, presenting a visual indication sufficient to communicate to the user the rechargeable battery is being recharged, and after the rechargeable battery has been sufficiently recharged, resuming the installation procedure;

using the processing system to modify configuration information of the thermostat based at least in part on the installation procedure; and

using the modified configuration information of the thermostat when controlling one or more HVAC system components of the HVAC system by the processing system.

15. A method according to claim 14 further comprising:

automatically detecting whether a common wire is connected to the thermostat using a wire insertion detection module disposed within the thermostat;

automatically extracting electrical power from a common wire when a connection to a common wire is detected by the wire insertion detection module;

automatically extracting electrical power from a a call relay wire when a connection to a common wire is not detected by the wire insertion detection module, wherein the extracting of electrical power is performed using a power extraction circuit disposed within the housing, and wherein the extracted electrical power is used to charge the rechargeable battery.

16. In a microprocessor-controlled thermostat, a method of facilitating installation thereof, the thermostat for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and being powered at least in part with a rechargeable battery, the method comprising:

measuring a charge level value for the rechargeable battery using a processing system, the rechargeable battery and processing system being housed within the thermostat;

when the measured charge level value is above a first predetermined threshold using an interactive graphical user interface comprising an electronic display disposed within a housing of the thermostat to interact with a user so as to carry out a full installation procedure of the thermostat so as to control the HVAC system, the full installation procedure comprising a first set of installation steps for setting up one or more thermostat features, and the processing system being configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for determining an ambient air temperature, in operative communication with one or more input devices including said user interface, and still in further operative communication with the HVAC system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a measured ambient temperature and a setpoint temperature value;

when the measured charge level value is below a first predetermined threshold, using the electronic display to display a graphical representation sufficient to communicate to the user that installation steps of a procedure for installing the thermostat will be a limited due to a low battery level, and using the interactive graphical user interface comprising the electronic display to carry out a partial installation procedure that comprises a second set of installation steps for setting up the one or more thermostat features, the second set of installation steps being a subset of the first set of installation steps.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said measured charge level value is a measured voltage level associated with the battery.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the rechargeable battery is a lithium-ion battery.