Thermostat facilitating user-friendly installation thereof

• US 9,684,317 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony Michael, Matsuoka, Yoky, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Sloo, David, Ruff, Joseph Adam, Sharan, Rangoli, Plitkins, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US14/292,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20140346239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 236 1 C, 236 94, 62125, 62127, 62129, 700276, 700278
• 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 for controlling an HVAC system and related systems, methods, and computer program products for facilitating user-friendly installation of the thermostat are described. For one embodiment, automated installation verification is performed by the thermostat by automatically sensing which wires have been inserted, selecting a candidate HVAC operating function (e.g., heating or cooling) that is consistent with a subset of HVAC signal types indicated by the inserted wires, applying control signals to the HVAC system to invoke that HVAC operating function, and processing a time sequence of acquired temperature readings to determine whether that HVAC operating function was successfully carried out. For one embodiment, the initial automated testing of the heating and cooling functions are only carried out at times for which such heating or cooling function would normally be invoked during normal operation of the thermostat. Automated determination of a heat pump call convention is also described.

Claims

1. A thermostat for controlling an operation of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a plurality of wires for connection to the thermostat, each of the plurality of wires being associated with a distinct HVAC signal type, the thermostat comprising:

a control unit including at least one processor and at least one environmental sensor;

a plurality of connection ports, each of the plurality of connection ports being associated with a predetermined HVAC signal type, each of the plurality of connection ports being configured to receive one of the plurality of wires, and each of the plurality of connection ports having an associated wire insertion sensing circuit that identifies to the control unit the presence or absence of an inserted wire therein; and

a user interface operatively coupled to the control unit, the user interface including at least one output device for providing information and at least one input device for receiving one or more inputs;

wherein the control unit is configured and programmed to;

operate the wire insertion sensing circuits to identify that a cooling call signal wire and a heat pump signal wire have been inserted;

receive a user request through the user interface to activate a cooling function of the HVAC system;

apply a first set of control signals to the HVAC system corresponding to a heat pump cooling call according to a first heat pump control signal convention;

acquire, after the application of the first set of control signals, a first time sequence of environmental readings using the at least one environmental sensor;

process the first time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring user input, that the HVAC system has not successfully operated according to the requested cooling function; and

automatically apply, without requiring user input, a second set of control signals to the HVAC system corresponding to a heat pump cooling call according to a second heat pump control signal convention.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured and programmed to:

acquire, after the application of the second set of control signals, a second time sequence of environmental readings using the at least one environmental sensor;

process the second time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring user input, that the HVAC system has not successfully operated according to the requested cooling function; and

provide an indication of an error condition on at least on output device.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured and programmed to:

acquire, after the application of the second set of control signals, a second time sequence of environmental readings using the at least one environmental sensor;

process the second time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring user input, that the HVAC system has successfully operated according to the requested cooling function; and

continue operation of the thermostat according to the second heat pump control signal convention.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein:

the first heat pump control signal convention comprises energizing the cooling call signal wire while not energizing the heat pump signal wire; and

the second heat pump control signal convention comprises energizing the cooling call signal wire while energizing the heat pump signal wire.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein processing the first time sequence of environmental readings comprises determining that the first time sequence of environmental readings is not indicative of a corresponding temperature decrease.

6. A thermostat for controlling an operation of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a plurality of wires for connection to the thermostat, each of the plurality of wires being associated with a distinct HVAC signal type, the thermostat comprising:

a control unit including at least one processor and at least one environmental sensor;

a plurality of connection ports, each of the plurality of connection ports being associated with a predetermined HVAC signal type, each of the plurality of connection ports being configured to receive one of the plurality of wires, and each of the plurality of connection ports having an associated wire insertion sensing circuit that identifies to the control unit the presence or absence of an inserted wire therein; and

a user interface operatively coupled to the control unit, the user interface including at least one output device for providing information and at least one input device for receiving one or more inputs;

wherein the control unit is configured and programmed to;

operate the wire insertion sensing circuits to identify that a heating call signal wire and a heat pump signal wire have been inserted;

receive a user request through the user interface to activate a heating function of the HVAC system;

apply a first set of control signals to the HVAC system corresponding to a heat pump heating call according to a first heat pump control signal convention;

acquire, after the application of the first set of control signals, a first time sequence of environmental readings using the at least one environmental sensor;

process the first time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring user input, that the HVAC system has not successfully operated according to the requested heating function; and

automatically apply, without requiring user input, a second set of control signals to the HVAC system corresponding to a heat pump heating call according to a second heat pump control signal convention.

7. The thermostat of claim 6, wherein the control unit is further configured and programmed to:

acquire, after the application of the second set of control signals, a second time sequence of environmental readings using the at least one environmental sensor;

process the second time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring user input, that the HVAC system has not successfully operated according to the requested heating function; and

provide an indication of an error condition on at least on output device.

8. The thermostat of claim 6, wherein the control unit is further configured and programmed to:

acquire, after the application of the second set of control signals, a second time sequence of environmental readings using the at least one environmental sensor;

process the second time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring user input, that the HVAC system has successfully operated according to the requested heating function; and

continue operation of the thermostat according to the second heat pump control signal convention.

9. The thermostat of claim 6, wherein:

the first heat pump control signal convention comprises energizing the heating call signal wire while not energizing the heat pump signal wire; and

the second heat pump control signal convention comprises energizing the heating call signal wire while energizing the heat pump signal wire.

10. The thermostat of claim 6, wherein processing the first time sequence of environmental readings comprises determining that the first time sequence of environmental readings is not indicative of a corresponding temperature increase.

11. A method of controlling an operation of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a plurality of wires for connection to a thermostat, each of the plurality of wires being associated with a distinct HVAC signal type, the method comprising:

identifying that a cooling call signal wire and a heat pump signal wire have been inserted into respective connection ports in a plurality of connection ports, each of the plurality of connection ports being associated with a predetermined HVAC signal type, each of the plurality of connection ports being configured to receive one of the plurality of wires, and each of the plurality of connection ports having an associated wire insertion sensing circuit that identifies the presence or absence of an inserted wire therein;

receiving a user request to activate a cooling function of the HVAC system, the request being received through a user interface, the user interface including at least one output device for providing information and at least one input device for receiving one or more inputs;

applying a first set of control signals to the HVAC system corresponding to a heat pump cooling call according to a first heat pump control signal convention;

acquiring, after the application of the first set of control signals, a first time sequence of environmental readings using at least one environmental sensor;

processing, by a control unit comprising at least one processor, the first time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring user input, that the HVAC system has not successfully operated according to the requested cooling function; and

automatically applying, without requiring user input, a second set of control signals to the HVAC system corresponding to a heat pump cooling call according to a second heat pump control signal convention.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

acquiring, after the application of the second set of control signals, a second time sequence of environmental readings using the at least one environmental sensor;

processing the second time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring user input, that the HVAC system has not successfully operated according to the requested cooling function; and

providing an indication of an error condition on at least on output device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

acquiring, after the application of the second set of control signals, a second time sequence of environmental readings using the at least one environmental sensor;

processing the second time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring user input, that the HVAC system has successfully operated according to the requested cooling function; and

continuing operation of the thermostat according to the second heat pump control signal convention.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the first heat pump control signal convention comprises energizing the cooling call signal wire while not energizing the heat pump signal wire; and

the second heat pump control signal convention comprises energizing the cooling call signal wire while energizing the heat pump signal wire.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein processing the first time sequence of environmental readings comprises determining that the first time sequence of environmental readings is not indicative of a corresponding temperature decrease.

16. A method of controlling an operation of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a plurality of wires for connection to a thermostat, each of the plurality of wires being associated with a distinct HVAC signal type, the method comprising:

identifying that a heating call signal wire and a heat pump signal wire have been inserted into respective connection ports in a plurality of connection ports, each of the plurality of connection ports being associated with a predetermined HVAC signal type, each of the plurality of connection ports being configured to receive one of the plurality of wires, and each of the plurality of connection ports having an associated wire insertion sensing circuit that identifies the presence or absence of an inserted wire therein;

receiving a user request to activate a heating function of the HVAC system, the request being received through a user interface, the user interface including at least one output device for providing information and at least one input device for receiving one or more inputs;

applying a first set of control signals to the HVAC system corresponding to a heat pump heating call according to a first heat pump control signal convention;

acquiring, after the application of the first set of control signals, a first time sequence of environmental readings using at least one environmental sensor;

processing, by a control unit comprising at least one processor, the first time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring user input, that the HVAC system has not successfully operated according to the requested heating function; and

automatically applying, without requiring user input, a second set of control signals to the HVAC system corresponding to a heat pump heating call according to a second heat pump control signal convention.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

acquiring, after the application of the second set of control signals, a second time sequence of environmental readings using the at least one environmental sensor;

processing the second time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring user input, that the HVAC system has not successfully operated according to the requested heating function; and

providing an indication of an error condition on at least on output device.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

acquiring, after the application of the second set of control signals, a second time sequence of environmental readings using the at least one environmental sensor;

processing the second time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring user input, that the HVAC system has successfully operated according to the requested heating function; and

continuing operation of the thermostat according to the second heat pump control signal convention.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the first heat pump control signal convention comprises energizing the heating call signal wire while not energizing the heat pump signal wire; and

the second heat pump control signal convention comprises energizing the heating call signal wire while energizing the heat pump signal wire.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein processing the first time sequence of environmental readings comprises determining that the first time sequence of environmental readings is not indicative of a corresponding temperature increase.