Real-time temperature management

• US 9,982,906 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2014
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vega, JonPaul
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnes-Bullock, Crystal J
• Application Number:
  US14/522,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20160116178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0425 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25387 Control sequences so as to optimize energy use by controlled machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 : Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 : Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A method for real-time temperature management is described. In one embodiment, the method includes configuring a setting to trigger a thermal sensor to capture a thermal image of an area inside a premises and capturing, via the thermal sensor, a first thermal image of the area of the premises. In some embodiments, upon detecting the trigger, the method includes capturing, via the thermal sensor, a second thermal image of the area of the premises and identifying a thermal exchange in the area of the premises by comparing the first thermal image with the second thermal image.

Claims

1. A method for real-time temperature management, comprising:

configuring, via a processor of an automation control panel, a setting to trigger a thermal sensor to capture a thermal image of an area inside a premises, the thermal sensor being communicatively coupled to the automation control panel;

capturing, via the thermal sensor, a first thermal image of the area inside the premises;

detecting, via the processor, the trigger after capturing the first thermal image, the trigger comprising detecting an occupant of the premises retiring for bed;

upon detecting the trigger, capturing, via the thermal sensor, a second thermal image of the area inside the premises;

comparing, via the processor, the first thermal image with the second thermal image to identify a thermal exchange in the area inside the premises, wherein comparing the first thermal image with the second thermal image comprises comparing the temperature of an object as captured in the first thermal image to the temperature of the object as captured in the second thermal image; and

improving an efficiency of a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at the premises by adjusting the HVAC system based at least in part on a result of the comparing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring one or more comfort variables in relation to the premises, the one or more comfort variables comprising a humidity ratio, relative humidity, absolute humidity, specific humidity, wet-bulb temperature, dry-bulb temperature, dew point temperature, operative temperature, mean radiant temperature, vapor pressure, specific enthalpy, specific volume, and air movement.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

analyzing a result of monitoring comfort variables of the premises in relation to a comfort chart, the comfort chart comprising a graphical chart of at least one comfort variable in relation to at least one other comfort variable.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

calculating a comfort zone based on the thermal exchange and the analysis of the result of monitoring comfort variables of the premises in relation to a comfort chart.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

generating a suggested temperature setting of the premises based on the calculated comfort zone;

receiving a user input; and

adjusting at least one of a temperature, humidity, and airflow setting of the premises based on the calculated comfort zone and the user input.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

adjusting at least one of a temperature, humidity, and airflow setting of the premises based on the calculated comfort zone.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing a plurality of thermal images of a bedroom of the premises in which an occupant retires to bed; and

correlating, at the time each thermal image is captured, the plurality of captured thermal images with one or more monitored environmental conditions relative to the premises.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

upon detecting the occupant retiring to bed, capturing a thermal image of the bedroom; and

detecting one or more current environmental conditions relative to the premises.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying a closest match between the one or more current environmental conditions and one or more monitored environmental conditions correlated with the plurality of captured thermal images; and

identifying a captured thermal image from the plurality of captured thermal images correlated with the one or more monitored environmental conditions that matches closest to the one or more current environmental conditions.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining a thermal exchange of the bedroom by comparing the captured thermal image of the bedroom with the identified captured thermal image from the plurality of captured thermal images; and

calculating a suggested target temperature based on an analysis of the determined thermal exchange in light of any detected adjustment to a target indoor temperature relative to the identified captured thermal image.

11. A computing device configured for real-time temperature management, comprising:

a processor of an automation control panel;

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of;

configuring a setting to trigger a thermal sensor to capture a thermal image of an area inside a premises, the thermal sensor being communicatively coupled to the automation control panel;

capturing, via the thermal sensor, a first thermal image of the area inside the premises;

detecting, via the processor, the trigger, the trigger comprising detecting an occupant of the premises retiring for bed;

upon detecting the trigger, capturing, via the thermal sensor, a second thermal image of the area inside the premises;

comparing, via the processor, the first thermal image with the second thermal image to identify a thermal exchange in the area inside the premises, wherein comparing the first thermal image with the second thermal image comprises comparing the temperature of an object as captured in the first thermal image to the temperature of the object as captured in the second thermal image; and

improving an efficiency of a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at the premises by adjusting the HVAC system based at least in part on a result of the comparing.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

monitoring one or more comfort variables in relation to the premises, the one or more comfort variables comprising a humidity ratio, relative humidity, absolute humidity, specific humidity, wet-bulb temperature, dry-bulb temperature, dew point temperature, operative temperature, mean radiant temperature, vapor pressure, specific enthalpy, specific volume, and air movement.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

analyzing a result of monitoring comfort variables of the premises in relation to a comfort chart, the comfort chart comprising a graphical chart of at least one comfort variable in relation to at least one other comfort variable.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

calculating a comfort zone based on the thermal exchange and the analysis of the result of monitoring comfort variables of the premises in relation to a comfort chart.

15. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

generating a suggested temperature setting of the premises based on a calculated comfort zone;

receiving a user input; and

adjusting at least one of a temperature, humidity, and airflow setting of the premises based on the calculated comfort zone and the user input.

16. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

capturing a plurality of thermal images of a bedroom of the premises in which an occupant retires to bed; and

correlating, at the time each thermal image is captured, the plurality of captured thermal images with one or more monitored environmental conditions relative to the premises.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

upon detecting the occupant retiring to bed, capturing a thermal image of the bedroom; and

detecting one or more current environmental conditions relative to the premises.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

identifying a closest match between the one or more current environmental conditions and one or more monitored environmental conditions correlated with the plurality of captured thermal images; and

identifying a captured thermal image from the plurality of captured thermal images correlated with the one or more monitored environmental conditions that matches closest to the one or more current environmental conditions.

19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a thermal exchange of the bedroom by comparing the captured thermal image of the bedroom with the identified captured thermal image from the plurality of captured thermal images; and

calculating a suggested target temperature based on an analysis of the determined thermal exchange in light of any detected adjustment to a target indoor temperature relative to the identified captured thermal image.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor of an automation control panel cause the processor to perform the steps of:

configuring a setting to trigger a thermal sensor to capture a thermal image of an area inside a premises, the thermal sensor being communicatively coupled to the automation control panel;

capturing, via the thermal sensor, a first thermal image of the area inside the premises;

detecting, via the processor, the trigger, the trigger comprising detecting an occupant of the premises retiring for bed;

upon detecting the trigger, capturing, via the thermal sensor, a second thermal image of the area inside the premises;

comparing, via the processor, the first thermal image with the second thermal image to identify a thermal exchange in the area inside the premises, wherein comparing the first thermal image with the second thermal image comprises comparing the temperature of an object as captured in the first thermal image to the temperature of the object as captured in the second thermal image; and

improving an efficiency of a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at the premises by adjusting the HVAC system based at least in part on a result of the comparing.