Automated adjustment of an HVAC schedule for resource conservation
First Claim
1. A method of optimizing energy consumption of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
- identifying a schedule of temperature setpoints, the schedule of temperature setpoints defining a number of temperature setpoints over a time period;
beginning with the schedule, for each of a succession of periodic time intervals that are each relatively short in comparison to an overall optimization time period, generating an incrementally adjusted version of the schedule as part of an automated schedule adjustment process executed by a thermostat, the incremental change being directed to a setpoint temperature of the number of temperature setpoints and causing less energy usage during one of the periodic time intervals as compared to a previous one of the periodic time intervals, wherein causing less energy usage comprises having a heating system of the HVAC system or an air conditioner of the HVAC system activated less than if the identified schedule was used for controlling the HVAC system; and
for each of the succession of periodic time intervals, controlling the HVAC system according to the incrementally adjusted version of the schedule generated for the periodic time interval.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for optimizing a schedule of setpoint temperatures used in the control of an HVAC system. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat includes a schedule of setpoint temperatures that is used to control an HVAC system associated with a structure in which the thermostat is located. The schedule of setpoint temperatures is continually adjusted by small, unnoticeable amounts so that the schedule migrates from the original schedule to an optimal schedule. The optimal schedule may be optimal in terms of energy consumption or some other terms.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of optimizing energy consumption of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
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identifying a schedule of temperature setpoints, the schedule of temperature setpoints defining a number of temperature setpoints over a time period; beginning with the schedule, for each of a succession of periodic time intervals that are each relatively short in comparison to an overall optimization time period, generating an incrementally adjusted version of the schedule as part of an automated schedule adjustment process executed by a thermostat, the incremental change being directed to a setpoint temperature of the number of temperature setpoints and causing less energy usage during one of the periodic time intervals as compared to a previous one of the periodic time intervals, wherein causing less energy usage comprises having a heating system of the HVAC system or an air conditioner of the HVAC system activated less than if the identified schedule was used for controlling the HVAC system; and for each of the succession of periodic time intervals, controlling the HVAC system according to the incrementally adjusted version of the schedule generated for the periodic time interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An intelligent network-connected thermostat for controlling an operation of an HVAC system in a smart home environment, the thermostat comprising:
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HVAC control circuitry operable to actuate one or more elements of the HVAC system; one or more sensors for measuring characteristics of the smart home environment; and a processor coupled to the HVAC control circuitry and the one or more sensors and operable to cause the thermostat to perform operations including; identifying an schedule of temperature setpoints; beginning with the schedule, for each of a succession of periodic time intervals that are each relatively short in comparison to an overall optimization time period, generating an incrementally adjusted version of the schedule as part of an automated schedule adjustment process, the incremental change being directed to a setpoint temperature of the number of temperature setpoints and causing less energy usage during one of the periodic time intervals as compared to a previous one of the periodic time intervals, wherein causing less energy usage comprises having a heating system of the HVAC system or an air conditioner of the HVAC system activated less than in accordance with the identified schedule; and for each of the succession of periodic time intervals, controlling the HVAC system according to the incrementally adjusted version of the schedule generated for the periodic time interval. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a computer processor, cause the computer processor to perform operations including:
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identifying an schedule of temperature setpoints, the original schedule of temperature setpoints defining a number of temperature setpoints over a time period; beginning with the schedule, for each of a succession of periodic time intervals that are each relatively short in comparison to an overall optimization time period, generating an incrementally adjusted version of the schedule as part of an automated schedule adjustment process, the incremental change being directed to a setpoint temperature of the number of temperature setpoints and causing less energy usage during one of the periodic time intervals as compared to a previous one of the periodic time intervals, wherein causing less energy usage comprises having a heating system of the HVAC system or an air conditioner of the HVAC system activated less than in accordance with the identified schedule; and for each of the succession of periodic time intervals, controlling the HVAC system according to the incrementally adjusted version of the schedule generated for the periodic time interval. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification