Preconditioning controls and methods for an environmental control system
First Claim
1. An HVAC control device comprising:
- a processing system that receives ambient temperature information for an enclosure and information from an HVAC schedule, the HVAC schedule including a first setpoint characterized by a first setpoint temperature and a first setpoint time, the HVAC schedule including a second setpoint characterized by a second setpoint temperature and a second setpoint time, the first setpoint time and second setpoint time defining a first time interval therebetween, said processing system being configured to control the HVAC system to precondition the enclosure during at least a part of said first time interval such that the ambient temperature reaches substantially said second setpoint temperature by said second setpoint time, wherein the processing system controls the HVAC system to precondition the enclosure by;
processing the second setpoint temperature in conjunction with first information derived from a historical record of previous heating and cooling cycles for said HVAC system as controlled by the HVAC control device to compute a set of preconditioning criteria information (PCI) representative of time and ambient temperature conditions for which the preconditioning should be performed;
during said time interval, comparing a current time and current ambient temperature against said PCI to determine whether to enter into a preconditioning state; and
when it is so determined, entering into said preconditioning state upon a determination that the PCI criteria are satisfied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of preconditioning an enclosure includes providing a thermostat and computing a set of preconditioning criteria information (PCI) with the thermostat. The computed PCI is typically representative of time and ambient temperature conditions for which preconditioning should be performed. The PCI may be stored in memory and used to compare against a current time and current ambient temperature condition of the enclosure to determine whether to enter the thermostat into a preconditioning state. If a determination is made that the PCI criteria are satisfied, the thermostat may be entered into the preconditioning state to heat or cool the enclosure. One or more of these processes may be performed while a processor of the thermostat is in a relatively high power mode or relatively low power mode.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An HVAC control device comprising:
a processing system that receives ambient temperature information for an enclosure and information from an HVAC schedule, the HVAC schedule including a first setpoint characterized by a first setpoint temperature and a first setpoint time, the HVAC schedule including a second setpoint characterized by a second setpoint temperature and a second setpoint time, the first setpoint time and second setpoint time defining a first time interval therebetween, said processing system being configured to control the HVAC system to precondition the enclosure during at least a part of said first time interval such that the ambient temperature reaches substantially said second setpoint temperature by said second setpoint time, wherein the processing system controls the HVAC system to precondition the enclosure by; processing the second setpoint temperature in conjunction with first information derived from a historical record of previous heating and cooling cycles for said HVAC system as controlled by the HVAC control device to compute a set of preconditioning criteria information (PCI) representative of time and ambient temperature conditions for which the preconditioning should be performed; during said time interval, comparing a current time and current ambient temperature against said PCI to determine whether to enter into a preconditioning state; and when it is so determined, entering into said preconditioning state upon a determination that the PCI criteria are satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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providing an HVAC control device comprising; a processing system that receives ambient temperature information for an enclosure and information from an HVAC schedule, the HVAC schedule including a first setpoint characterized by a first setpoint temperature and a first setpoint time, the HVAC schedule including a second setpoint characterized by a second setpoint temperature and a second setpoint time, the first setpoint time and second setpoint time defining a first time interval therebetween, said processing system being configured to control the HVAC system to precondition the enclosure during at least a part of said first time interval such that the ambient temperature reaches substantially said second setpoint temperature by said second setpoint time; processing the second setpoint temperature in conjunction with first information derived from a historical record stored of previous heating and cooling cycles for said HVAC system as controlled by said HVAC control device to compute a set of preconditioning criteria information (PCI) representative of time and ambient temperature conditions for which the preconditioning should be performed; during said time interval, comparing a current time and current ambient temperature against said PCI to determine whether to enter said HVAC control device into a preconditioning state; and entering said HVAC control device into said preconditioning state upon a determination that the PCI criteria are satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An HVAC control device comprising:
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a processing system that receives ambient temperature information of an enclosure and information from an HVAC schedule, the HVAC schedule including a first setpoint characterized by a first setpoint temperature and a first setpoint time, the HVAC schedule including a second setpoint characterized by a second setpoint temperature and a second setpoint time, the first setpoint time and second setpoint time defining a first time interval therebetween, the processing system being configured to control the HVAC system to precondition the enclosure during at least a part of the first time interval such that the ambient temperature reaches substantially the second setpoint temperature by the second setpoint time, the processing system including a first relatively high power processor and a second relatively low power processor, wherein the processing system controls the HVAC system to preconditioning the enclosure by; processing, via the first processor, the second setpoint temperature in conjunction with first information derived from a historical record of previous heating and cooling cycles for the HVAC system as controlled by the HVAC control device to compute a set of preconditioning criteria information (PCI) representative of time and ambient temperature conditions for which the preconditioning should be performed; communicating the set of PCI to the second processor; comparing, via the second processor, a current time and current ambient temperature against the set of PCI to determine whether to enter into a preconditioning state; and entering the HVAC control device into the preconditioning state upon a determination that the PCI criteria are satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method comprising:
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providing an HVAC control device comprising; a processing system that receives ambient temperature information for an enclosure and information from an HVAC schedule for the enclosure, the HVAC schedule including a first setpoint characterized by a first setpoint temperature and a first setpoint time, the HVAC schedule including a second setpoint characterized by a second setpoint temperature and a second setpoint time, the first setpoint time and second setpoint time defining a first time interval therebetween, the processing system being configured to control the HVAC system to precondition the enclosure during at least a part of said first time interval such that the ambient temperature reaches substantially the second setpoint temperature by the second setpoint time, the processing system including a first relatively high power processor and a second relatively low power processor; processing, via the first processor, the second setpoint temperature in conjunction with first information derived from a historical record of previous heating and cooling cycles for the HVAC system as controlled by the HVAC control device to compute a set of preconditioning criteria information (PCI) representative of time and ambient temperature conditions for which the preconditioning should be performed; communicating the set of PCI to the second processor; comparing, via the second processor, a current time and current ambient temperature against the set of PCI to determine whether to enter the HVAC control device into a preconditioning state; and entering the HVAC control device into the preconditioning state upon a determination that the PCI criteria are satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification