Thermostat operation method and apparatus

• US 20060186214A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tim Simon, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tim Simon, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Blaine M., Fisher, Matthew T., Simon, Timothy M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,802,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/1.C
• 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 11/39 Monitoring filter performance
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1934 each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means

Abstract

A thermostat may be placed in a heating mode when the sensed temperature is less than the lowest of the heating and cooling target temperatures by a first amount and may be placed in a cooling mode when the sensed temperature is greater than the highest of the heating and cooling target temperatures by a second amount. The presence or absence of a user may be monitored. If the thermostat is in a user absent mode, a cool setback amount may be added to the cooling target temperature and a heat setback amount may be subtracted from the heating target temperature to arrive at setback cooling and setback heating target temperatures, respectively. The thermostat may comprise a touch-sensitive screen having various display areas.

Claims

1. A method for automatically switching between heating and cooling modes of a thermostat, comprising:

setting a heating target temperature;

setting a cooling target temperature;

sensing the temperature within a conditioned region;

placing the thermostat in a heating mode when the sensed temperature is less than the lowest of the heating and cooling target temperatures by a first amount; and

placing the thermostat in a cooling mode when the sensed temperature is greater than the highest of the heating and cooling target temperatures by a second amount.

2. A method for automatically switching between heating and cooling modes of a thermostat, comprising:

setting a heating target temperature;

setting a cooling target temperature;

sensing the temperature within a conditioned region;

determining the apparent presence or absence of a user;

placing the thermostat in a user present mode or a user absent mode based upon the result of the determining step;

if the thermostat is in a user present mode, then;

place the thermostat in a heating mode when the sensed temperature is less than the lowest of the heating and cooling target temperatures by a first amount; and

place the thermostat in a cooling mode when the sensed temperature is greater than the highest of the heating and cooling target temperatures by a second amount; and

if the thermostat is in a user absent mode, then;

add the cool setback amount to the cooling target temperature and subtract the heat setback amount from the heating target temperature to arrive at setback cooling and setback heating target temperatures, respectively;

place the thermostat in a heating mode when the sensed temperature is less than the setback heating target temperature; and

place the thermostat in a cooling mode when the sensed temperature is greater than the setback cooling target temperature.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the determining step comprises at least one of:

detecting use of an infrared remote control device;

determining a sound energy level by integrating sound level over time;

detecting an air pressure change greater than a minimum air pressure change; and

monitoring a user-actuated switch.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the determining step is carried out by:

sensing motion within a monitored region and providing an occupant present signal to a thermostat controller when motion above a threshold minimum level has been sensed;

detecting air pressure changes and providing a change in occupancy signal to the controller when an air pressure change above a threshold minimum level has been sensed; and

monitoring sound level and integrating the monitored sound level over time and providing an occupant present signal to the controller when sound above a threshold minimum integrated sound level has been sensed.

5. A method for automatically switching between heating and cooling modes of a thermostat, the thermostat comprising a thermostat controller, the method comprising:

setting a heating target temperature;

setting a cooling target temperature;

sensing the temperature within a conditioned region;

determining the apparent presence or absence of a user, the determining step being carried out using each of the following;

sensing motion within a monitored region and providing an occupant present signal to the thermostat controller when motion above a threshold minimum level has been sensed;

detecting air pressure changes and providing a change in occupancy signal to the controller when an air pressure change above a threshold minimum level has been sensed; and

monitoring sound level and integrating the monitored sound level over time and providing an occupant present signal to the controller when sound above a threshold minimum integrated sound level has been sensed; and

placing the thermostat in a user present mode or a user absent mode based upon any one of the motion sensing, air pressure detecting or sound level monitoring steps.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the air pressure change detecting step is carried out using a sound sensor constructed to detect sounds having a frequency of less than 1 Hz.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the sound level monitoring step is carried out to integrate sounds within the 500-5000 Hz frequency range.

8. A thermostat comprising:

a user interface;

a controller coupled to the user interface and configured to provide a target temperature signal to a heater/cooler;

a temperature sensor operably coupled to the controller; and

an occupant presence detector operably coupled to the controller to provide the controller with an occupant present/absent signal according to the perceived presence/absence of an occupant, the occupant presence detector comprising;

a motion sensor constructed to provide an occupant present signal to the controller when motion above a threshold minimum level has been sensed;

an air pressure change detector constructed to provide a change in occupancy signal to the controller when an air pressure change above a threshold minimum level has been sensed; and

an integrating sound level sensor constructed to integrate sensed sound level over time and provide an occupant present signal to the controller when sound above a threshold minimum integrated sound level has been sensed.

9. The thermostat according to claim 8 wherein the air pressure change detector comprises a sound sensor constructed to detect sounds having a frequency of less than 1 Hz.

10. The thermostat according to claim 8 wherein the integrating sound level sensor is constructed to integrate sounds within the 500-5000 Hz frequency range.

11. A touch-sensitive screen for a user interface for a thermostat comprising:

first display areas for time of day set points;

second display areas, corresponding to each of the first display areas, for occupant-present target temperatures; and

third display areas, corresponding to each of the first display areas, for occupant-absent target temperatures.

12. A touch-sensitive screen according to claim 11 comprising at least four of the first display areas.

13. A touch-sensitive screen according to claim 11 further comprising fourth display areas, corresponding to each of the first display areas, for fan settings.

14. A touch-sensitive screen according to claim 11 wherein the time of day set points are user-settable.

15. A touch-sensitive screen according to claim 14 wherein the time of day set points are user-settable in at most 15-minute increments.

16. A touch-sensitive screen according to claim 11 wherein both of the occupant-present and occupant-absent target temperatures are user-settable.

17. A touch-sensitive screen according to claim 11 further comprising:

first touch-sensitive input areas on the screen for user input of the time of day set points;

second touch-sensitive input areas on the screen for user input of the occupant-present target temperatures; and

third touch-sensitive input areas on the screen for user input of the occupant-absent target temperatures.

18. A touch-sensitive screen according to claim 11 further comprising a filter life display area, for displaying information corresponding to the projected life of a filter, and elapsed filter life display, for displaying information corresponding to the remaining projected life of the filter.

19. A touch-sensitive screen according to claim 11 further comprising a current target temperature display area and a current temperature display area.

20. A thermostat comprising:

a user interface;

a controller coupled to the user interface and configured to provide a target temperature signal to a heater/cooler;

a temperature sensor operably coupled to the controller;

the controller comprising;

time of day set points;

occupant-present target temperatures for at least some of the time of day set points; and

occupant-absent target temperatures for at least some of the time of day set points;

the user interface comprising a display for displaying each of the time of day set points and the occupant-present and occupant-absent target temperatures associated therewith; and

an occupant presence detector operably coupled to the controller to provide the controller with an occupant present/absent signal according to the perceived presence/absence of an occupant, whereby the target temperature signal depends on the target temperature corresponding to;

(1) the time of day and (2) the present/absent signal.

21. A thermostat according to claim 20 wherein at least one of (1) the time of day set points, (2) the occupant-present target temperatures, and (3) the occupant-absent target temperatures, are user selected.

22. A thermostat according to claim 20 wherein the temperature sensor is spaced-apart from the display and is coupled to the controller through a wireless connection.

23. A thermostat according to claim 20 wherein the user interface comprises a wireless remote control module positionable spaced apart from the display.

24. A thermostat according to claim 23 wherein the wireless remote control module comprises said temperature sensor.

25. A thermostat according to claim 20 wherein the occupant presence detector comprises an active infrared detector to sense use of an infrared remote control device.

26. A thermostat according to claim 20 wherein the occupant presence detector comprises an integrated sound detector to detect and process sound according to the amount, level and duration of the sound.

27. A thermostat according to claim 20 wherein the occupant presence detector comprises an air pressure change detector to detect an air pressure change greater than a minimum air pressure change so to detect opening and/or closing of a door.

28. A thermostat according to claim 20 wherein the occupant presence detector comprises a user-actuated switch, the switch being actuated by hand.

29. A thermostat according to claim 28 wherein the switch is sensitive to the opening and/or closing of a door.

30. A thermostat according to claim 28 wherein the switch comprises a light beam switch actuated when a light beam is interrupted.

31. A thermostat according to claim 20 further comprising an outdoor temperature sensor operably coupled to the controller.

32. A user interface for a thermostat comprising:

a touch-sensitive screen comprising a screen display with a plurality of screen areas, the screen areas comprising;

a plurality of display areas for display of thermostat status information; and

a plurality of touch-sensitive input areas for user input of thermostat inputs; and

all of the screen areas for thermostat status information and for thermostat inputs being single-function screen areas and being accessible on a single screen display.

33. A user interface according to claim 32 wherein the display areas comprise:

a first display area for each of a plurality of time of day set points;

a second display area, for each of a plurality of first target temperatures, corresponding to at least some of the first display areas;

a current target temperature display area; and

a current temperature display area.

34. A user interface according to claim 33 wherein:

the first target temperatures are occupant-present target temperatures; and

the display areas comprise third display areas, for each of a plurality of second, occupant-absent target temperatures, corresponding to at least some of the first display areas.

35. A thermostat comprising:

a user interface;

a controller coupled to the user interface and configured to provide a target temperature signal to a heater/cooler;

a temperature sensor operably coupled to the controller;

the controller comprising;

time of day set points;

occupant-present target temperatures for at least some of the time of day set points; and

occupant-absent target temperatures for at least some of the time of day set points;

the user interface comprising a touch-sensitive screen, the touch-sensitive screen comprising;

first display areas for displaying each of the time of day set points;

second display areas, corresponding to each of the first display areas, for displaying each of the occupant-present target temperatures; and

third display areas, corresponding to each of the first display areas, for displaying each of the occupant-absent target temperatures;

all of the display areas being single-function display areas and being accessible on a single screen display; and

an occupant presence detector operably coupled to the controller to provide the controller with an occupant present/absent signal according to the perceived presence/absence of an occupant, whereby the target temperature signal depends on the target temperature corresponding to;

(1) the time of day and (2) the present/absent signal.