Wireless controller with gateway
First Claim
1. A thermostat for use in controlling a furnace of a building or other structure, the thermostat comprising:
- a thermostat housing;
a user interface housed by the thermostat housing for allowing a user to interact with the thermostat;
a wireless transceiver housed by the thermostat housing, wherein the wireless transceiver is not part of any gateway if present in the thermostat housing, the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly receive user-based control commands and/or utility-based control commands from a remote gateway located remotely from the thermostat, the user-based control commands entered by a user via a user access device;
a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature inside the building or other structure;
a thermostat controller housed by the thermostat housing and operatively coupled to the user interface, the wireless transceiver and the temperature sensor, the thermostat controller having a control algorithm that generates control signals for controlling the operation of the furnace based, at least in part, on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and a current temperature setpoint, the thermostat controller further configured to change the current temperature setpoint based, at least in part, on;
(1) the user-based control commands that are received via the wireless transceiver; and
/or (2) the utility-based control commands that are received via the wireless transceiver;
wherein the user-based control commands can be used to change the current temperature setpoint in addition to or separate from the utility based control commands; and
the thermostat controller further configured to wirelessly transmit via the wireless transceiver and the remote gateway a characteristic of the thermostat including a temperature set point to the user access device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Remote control of energy consumption is realized using a readily installable, flexible approach. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a remote source communicates with a wireless controller for executing energy usage control. The remote source sends signals to the wireless controller via a gateway located near or, in one implementation, forming part of the wireless controller. In response to the signals, the wireless controller sets control settings for operating one or more of a variety of equipment types, such as a furnace, air conditioner, water heater or heat pump. With this approach, wired connections from the gateway to energy-consuming equipment do not necessarily need to be made in order to affect remote energy-consumption control. For instance, when used in connection with a controller wired to the energy-consuming equipment, the gateway need only communicate wirelessly with the controller and does not necessarily need to be coupled to the energy-consuming equipment. In addition, access to the energy-consuming equipment for establishing remote energy control is not necessary; rather, the remote energy control can be effected by accessing user-friendly locations, such as those where thermostats and other controllers are typically located.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A thermostat for use in controlling a furnace of a building or other structure, the thermostat comprising:
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a thermostat housing; a user interface housed by the thermostat housing for allowing a user to interact with the thermostat; a wireless transceiver housed by the thermostat housing, wherein the wireless transceiver is not part of any gateway if present in the thermostat housing, the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly receive user-based control commands and/or utility-based control commands from a remote gateway located remotely from the thermostat, the user-based control commands entered by a user via a user access device; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature inside the building or other structure; a thermostat controller housed by the thermostat housing and operatively coupled to the user interface, the wireless transceiver and the temperature sensor, the thermostat controller having a control algorithm that generates control signals for controlling the operation of the furnace based, at least in part, on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and a current temperature setpoint, the thermostat controller further configured to change the current temperature setpoint based, at least in part, on;
(1) the user-based control commands that are received via the wireless transceiver; and
/or (2) the utility-based control commands that are received via the wireless transceiver;wherein the user-based control commands can be used to change the current temperature setpoint in addition to or separate from the utility based control commands; and the thermostat controller further configured to wirelessly transmit via the wireless transceiver and the remote gateway a characteristic of the thermostat including a temperature set point to the user access device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification