System and method for integrating sensors in thermostats

• US 9,810,590 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2015
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Huppi, Brian, Filson, John B., Bould, Fred, Sloo, David, Rogers, Matthew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Jamel
• Application Number:
  US14/596,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20150124853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 374121, 236 51
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/08 Protective devices, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/16 Special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 17/00 Measuring quantity of heat measuring temperature by calorimetry G01K3/00 - G01K11/00; specially adapted for measuring thermal properties of materials, e.g. specific heat, heat of combustion G01N
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/00 Prospecting or detecting by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

Provided according to one or more embodiments is a thermostat having a housing, the housing including a forward-facing surface, the thermostat comprising a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor disposed inside the housing for sensing occupancy in the vicinity of the thermostat. The PIR motion sensor has a radiation receiving surface and is able to detect the lateral movement of an occupant in front of the forward-facing surface of the housing. The thermostat further comprises a grille member having one or more openings and included along the forward-facing surface of the housing, the grille member being placed over the radiation receiving surface of the PIR motion sensor. The grille member is configured and dimensioned to visually conceal and protect the PIR motion sensor disposed inside the housing, the visual concealment promoting a visually pleasing quality of the thermostat, while at the same time permitting the PIR motion sensor to effectively detect the lateral movement of the occupant. In one embodiment, the grille member openings are slit-like openings oriented along a substantially horizontal direction.

Claims

1. A thermostat, comprising:

a thermostat body configured for fixable mounting on a surface, the thermostat body including a forward-facing surface;

said thermostat body further including;

a processor;

a first temperature sensor in conductive thermal communication with said forward facing surface of said thermostat body; and

a second temperature sensor disposed within said thermostat body and positioned offset from said first temperature sensor;

wherein said processor is configured to compute an ambient temperature based on temperature readings from said first and second temperature sensors; and

wherein said processor computes said ambient temperature using an algorithm configured to compensate for internal heating of the thermostat based on temperature readings from said first and second temperature sensors.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the first temperature sensor is disposed in direct conductive thermal communication with a rearward-facing surface of a cover member of said thermostat body.

3. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the second temperature sensor is positioned rearward of said first temperature sensor.

4. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the cover member covers a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, the cover member being configured to pass infrared radiation to a receiving surface of the PIR sensor.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein said thermostat body further includes a third temperature sensor, wherein said processor is configured to compute an ambient temperature based on temperature readings from at least two of said three temperature sensors.

6. The thermostat of claim 5, wherein said thermostat body includes:

a backplate unit; and

a head unit that is removably attachable to said backplate unit;

wherein said head unit includes said processor and said first and second temperature sensors, and wherein said backplate includes said third temperature sensor.

7. A thermostat comprising:

a thermostat body configured for fixable mounting on a surface, the thermostat body including a forward-facing surface comprising a first region and a second region, the second region occupying a substantially smaller area of said forward-facing surface than said first region, the second region having a substantially higher thermal conductivity than said first region;

said thermostat body further including;

a processor;

a first temperature sensor in direct conductive thermal communication with said second region of said forward-facing surface of said thermostat body; and

a second temperature sensor disposed within said thermostat body and positioned offset from said first temperature sensor, said second temperature sensor not being in direct conductive thermal communication with said second region of said forward-facing surface of said thermostat body;

wherein said processor is configured to compute an ambient temperature based on temperature readings from said first and second temperature sensors; and

wherein said processor computes said ambient temperature using an algorithm configured to compensate for internal heating of the thermostat based on temperature readings from said first and second temperature sensors.

8. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein said first region of said forward-facing surface of said thermostat body comprises a glass or polycarbonate plastic material, and wherein said second region of said forward-facing surface of said thermostat body comprises a metal material.

9. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein the second temperature sensor is positioned rearward of said first temperature sensor.

10. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein said second region of said forward-facing surface of said thermostat body covers a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, said second region being configured to pass infrared radiation to a receiving surface of the PIR sensor.

11. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein said thermostat body further includes a third temperature sensor, wherein said processor is configured to compute an ambient temperature based on temperature readings from at least two of said three temperature sensors.

12. The thermostat of claim 11, wherein said thermostat body includes:

a backplate unit; and

a head unit that is removably attachable to said backplate unit;

wherein said head unit includes said processor and said first and second temperature sensors, and wherein said backplate includes said third temperature sensor.

13. A method of integrating temperature sensors in a thermostat, comprising:

providing a thermostat configured for fixable mounting on a surface, the thermostat including a forward-facing surface;

positioning a processor within said thermostat;

positioning a first temperature sensor within said thermostat so as to be in conductive thermal communication with said forward facing surface of said thermostat; and

positioning a second temperature sensor within said thermostat and offset from said first temperature sensor;

wherein said processor is configured to compute an ambient temperature based on temperature readings from said first and second temperature sensors; and

wherein said processor computes said ambient temperature using an algorithm configured to compensate for internal heating of the thermostat based on temperature readings from said first and second temperature sensors.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising positioning the first temperature sensor in direct conductive thermal communication with a rearward-facing surface of a cover member of said thermostat.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising positioning the second temperature sensor rearward of said first temperature sensor.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the cover member covers a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, the cover member being configured to pass infrared radiation to a receiving surface of the PIR sensor.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising positioning a third temperature sensor within said thermostat, wherein said processor is configured to compute an ambient temperature based on temperature readings from at least two of said three temperature sensors.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said thermostat includes a backplate unit and a head unit, wherein said head unit includes said processor and said first and second temperature sensors and said backplate includes said third temperature sensor, and wherein said method further comprises:

removably attaching said head unit to said backplate unit.