Adaptive power-stealing thermostat

• US 10,082,307 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2016
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Daniel Adam, Smith, Ian C., Satterthwaite, Jr., Edwin H., Palmer, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ortiz, Elim
• Application Number:
  US15/006,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20160138823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 236 1 C, 165200
• 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 method of harvesting power from a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system using an HVAC controller may include harvesting power from the HVAC system and measuring an electrical characteristic of the HVAC controller. The electrical characteristic may indicate whether the power harvested from the HVAC system is high enough to risk interfering with a normal operation of the HVAC system. The method may also include increasing the power harvested from the HVAC system until the electrical characteristic indicates that the HVAC controller is at risk of interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system.

Claims

1. A method of harvesting power from a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system using an HVAC controller, the method comprising:

harvesting, by the HVAC controller, power from the HVAC system;

measuring, by the HVAC controller, an electrical characteristic of the HVAC controller, wherein the electrical characteristic indicates whether the power harvested from the HVAC system is high enough to risk interfering with a normal operation of the HVAC system; and

increasing, by the HVAC controller, the power harvested from the HVAC system until the electrical characteristic indicates that the HVAC controller is at risk of interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to the electrical characteristic indicating that the HVAC controller is at risk of interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system, decreasing the power harvested from the HVAC system until the electrical characteristic indicates that the HVAC controller is no longer at risk of interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the power harvested from the HVAC system is increased periodically by predetermined increments.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, following each increase in the power harvested from the HVAC system, a measurement of the electrical characteristic is made to determine whether the electrical characteristic indicates that the HVAC controller is at risk of interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system comprises inadvertently causing an HVAC triggering circuit to activate an HVAC function.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system comprises inadvertently causing an HVAC triggering circuit to deactivate an HVAC function.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical characteristic comprises a voltage across a capacitor that stores charge from the power harvested from the HVAC system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein increasing the power harvested from the HVAC system comprises causing a programmable current controller to draw more current from the HVAC system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the capacitor is in series between a voltage rectifier circuit and the programmable current controller.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the power harvested from the HVAC system is harvested from an HVAC triggering circuit of the HVAC system.

11. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controller comprising:

a power-harvesting circuit that harvests power from the HVAC system; and

a measurement circuit that measures an electrical characteristic of the HVAC controller, wherein the electrical characteristic indicates whether the power harvested from the HVAC system is high enough to risk interfering with a normal operation of the HVAC system;

wherein the power-harvesting circuit increases the power harvested from the HVAC system until the electrical characteristic indicates that the HVAC controller is at risk of interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system.

12. The HVAC controller of claim 11, wherein, in response to the electrical characteristic indicating that the HVAC controller is at risk of interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system, the power harvesting circuit decreases the power harvested from the HVAC system until the electrical characteristic indicates that the HVAC controller is no longer at risk of interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system.

13. The HVAC controller of claim 11, wherein the power harvested from the HVAC system is increased periodically by predetermined increments.

14. The HVAC controller of claim 13, wherein, following each increase in the power harvested from the HVAC system, a measurement of the electrical characteristic is made to determine whether the electrical characteristic indicates that the HVAC controller is at risk of interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system.

15. The HVAC controller of claim 11, wherein interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system comprises inadvertently causing an HVAC triggering circuit to activate an HVAC function.

16. The HVAC controller of claim 11, wherein interfering with the normal operation of the HVAC system comprises inadvertently causing an HVAC triggering circuit to deactivate an HVAC function.

17. The HVAC controller of claim 11, wherein the electrical characteristic comprises a voltage across a capacitor that stores charge from the power harvested from the HVAC system.

18. The HVAC controller of claim 17, wherein increasing the power harvested from the HVAC system comprises causing a programmable current controller to draw more current from the HVAC system.

19. The HVAC controller of claim 18, wherein the capacitor is in series between a voltage rectifier circuit and the programmable current controller.

20. The HVAC controller of claim 11, wherein the power harvested from the HVAC system is harvested from an HVAC triggering circuit of the HVAC system.