Intelligent environmental control system
First Claim
1. A system that regulates a temperature within an enclosure by controlling one or more Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) functions of an HVAC system, the system comprising:
- one or more processors;
a user interface that receives input selecting a setting from a plurality of settings, the plurality of settings comprising;
a first setting indicating a user preference for comfort as opposed to cost savings; and
a second setting indicating a user preference for cost savings as opposed to comfort;
one or more memory devices that store a history of rates at which the temperature can be changed in the enclosure when the HVAC system is operated in a plurality of configurations, the plurality of configurations comprising;
a first configuration where only a primary HVAC function is active; and
a second configuration where both the primary HVAC function and a secondary HVAC system are active;
instructions stored within the one or more memory devices that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;
detecting a difference between a setpoint temperature and the temperature within the enclosure;
in response to detecting the difference between the setpoint temperature and temperature within the enclosure, causing the HVAC system to operate in the first configuration where only the primary HVAC function is active;
after causing the HVAC system to operate in the first configuration for a time interval, determining whether operating the HVAC system in the first configuration will cause the temperature within the enclosure to become sufficiently close to the setpoint temperature within a maximum response time, wherein;
the determination is based at least in part on the history of rates at which the temperature can be changed in the enclosure when the HVAC system operates in the first configuration; and
the length of the time interval is based on the selected setting indicating a preference for comfort or a preference for cost savings; and
causing the HVAC system to operate in the second configuration where both the primary HVAC function and the secondary HVAC function are active if it is determined that operating HVAC system in the first configuration will not cause the temperature within the enclosure to become sufficiently close to the setpoint temperature within the maximum response time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that continuously, periodically, or intermittently monitor progress towards one or more control goals under one or more constraints in order to achieve control that satisfies potentially conflicting goals. An intelligent controller may alter aspects of control, dynamically, while the control is being carried out, in order to ensure that goals are obtained and a balance is achieved between potentially conflicting goals. The intelligent controller uses various types of information to determine an initial control strategy as well as to dynamically adjust the control strategy as the control is being carried out.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system that regulates a temperature within an enclosure by controlling one or more Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) functions of an HVAC system, the system comprising:
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one or more processors; a user interface that receives input selecting a setting from a plurality of settings, the plurality of settings comprising; a first setting indicating a user preference for comfort as opposed to cost savings; and a second setting indicating a user preference for cost savings as opposed to comfort; one or more memory devices that store a history of rates at which the temperature can be changed in the enclosure when the HVAC system is operated in a plurality of configurations, the plurality of configurations comprising; a first configuration where only a primary HVAC function is active; and a second configuration where both the primary HVAC function and a secondary HVAC system are active; instructions stored within the one or more memory devices that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising; detecting a difference between a setpoint temperature and the temperature within the enclosure; in response to detecting the difference between the setpoint temperature and temperature within the enclosure, causing the HVAC system to operate in the first configuration where only the primary HVAC function is active; after causing the HVAC system to operate in the first configuration for a time interval, determining whether operating the HVAC system in the first configuration will cause the temperature within the enclosure to become sufficiently close to the setpoint temperature within a maximum response time, wherein; the determination is based at least in part on the history of rates at which the temperature can be changed in the enclosure when the HVAC system operates in the first configuration; and the length of the time interval is based on the selected setting indicating a preference for comfort or a preference for cost savings; and causing the HVAC system to operate in the second configuration where both the primary HVAC function and the secondary HVAC function are active if it is determined that operating HVAC system in the first configuration will not cause the temperature within the enclosure to become sufficiently close to the setpoint temperature within the maximum response time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of regulating a temperature within an enclosure by controlling one or more Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) functions of an HVAC system, the method comprising:
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receiving in input through a user interface of a system, the input selecting a setting from a plurality of settings, the plurality of settings comprising; a first setting indicating a user preference for comfort as opposed to cost savings; and a second setting indicating a user preference for cost savings as opposed to comfort; storing, on one or more storage devices of the system, a history of rates at which the temperature can be changed in the enclosure when the system causes the HVAC system to operate in a plurality of configurations, the plurality of configurations comprising; a first configuration where only a primary HVAC function is active; and a second configuration where both the primary HVAC function and a secondary HVAC system are active; detecting, by one or more processors of the system, a difference between a setpoint temperature and the temperature within the enclosure; in response to detecting the difference between the setpoint temperature and temperature within the enclosure, causing, by the one or more processors, the HVAC system to operate in the first configuration where only the primary HVAC function is active; after operating the HVAC system in the first configuration for a time interval, determining, by the one or more processors, whether operating the HVAC system in the first configuration will cause the temperature within the enclosure to become sufficiently close to the setpoint temperature within a maximum response time, wherein; the determination is based at least in part on the history of rates at which the temperature can be changed in the enclosure when the HVAC system operates in the first configuration; and the length of the time interval is based on the selected setting indicating a preference for comfort or a preference for cost savings; and causing, by the one or more processors, the HVAC system to operate in the second configuration where both the primary HVAC function and the secondary HVAC function are active if it is determined that operating HVAC system in the first configuration will not cause the temperature within the enclosure to become sufficiently close to the setpoint temperature within the maximum response time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification