THERMOSTAT CONTROL DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED FEEDBACK AND NOTIFICATION CAPABILITY

• US 20130066474A1
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Coogan, James J., Pienta, William Thomas, Songkakul, Pornsak
• Granted Patent: US 8,870,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• 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 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• 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 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

An environmental control device is disclosed and includes a temperature sensor, an audio module, an input/out module operatively connected to an environmental system, a memory module, and a processor in communication with the temperature sensor, the audio module, and the memory. The memory stores a control routine comprising processor executable instructions and an audio file associated with a predefined event related to the environmental system. The processor executable instructions are configured to receive a current state signal corresponding to one of a temperature sensor signal from the temperature sensor and an environmental system output signal from the input/output module, determine whether the current state signal corresponds to the predefined event, and generate, via the audio module, an audible signal based on the audio file in response to determining that the current state signal corresponds to the predefined event.

Claims

1. An environmental control device comprising:

a temperature sensor;

an audio module;

an input/out module operatively connected to an environmental system

a memory module; and

a processor in communication with the temperature sensor, the audio module, the input/out module and the memory, wherein the memory stores a control routine comprising processor executable instructions and a user-selected audio file associated with a predefined event related to the environmental system, the processor executable instructions configured to;

receive a current state signal corresponding to one of a temperature sensor signal from the temperature sensor and an environmental system output signal from the input/output module;

determine whether the current state signal corresponds to the predefined event; and

generate, via the audio module, an audible signal based on the user-selected audio file in response to determining that the current state signal corresponds to the predefined event.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a touch screen in communication with the processor, the touch screen configured to;

display a graphical user interface associated with the control routine; and

receive a control input to alter a variable associated with the control routine.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the control input is configured to alter the user-selected audio file associated with the control routine or alter a stored temperature threshold.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless communication module in communication with the processor, wherein the wireless communication module is configured for communication with a remote device.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to communicate according to a protocol selected from the group selected from:

GSM, CDMA, IEEE 802.11 (WiFi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMax), IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee) and Bluetooth.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to communicate the audible signal to the remote device for broadcast to a user.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a Web server in communication with the processor, wherein the Web server is configured to present a variable associated with the control routine for access over a network.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the Web server is further configured to receive a control input to alter the variable associated with the control routine.

9. An environmental control device configured to regulate environmental conditions within a structure, the device comprising:

an audio module;

a processor in communication with the audio module and a memory in communication with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to store control routines comprising processor executable instructions, the processor executable instructions configured to;

implement a first control routine to control an environmental system, wherein the first control routine is operative to regulate a temperature within the structure with respect to a temperature threshold;

implement, in response to a detected activating event, a stored control routine that is different than the first control routine wherein the second control routine alters the operation of the environmental system with respect to the temperature threshold; and

generate, via the audio module, an audible indication associated with the detected activating event wherein the audible indication reflects the altered operation of the environmental system.

10. The device of claim 9 further comprising:

a temperature sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to communicate a temperature indication representative of a detected temperature substantially adjacent to the temperature sensor.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the temperature sensor is deployed in a remote device and configured to provide the temperature indication to the processor via a communication module communicatively coupled to the processor.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the audible indication is a sound file stored in the memory.

13. The device of claim 10 further comprising an audio input communicatively coupled to the audio module, wherein audible input is configured to convert a received audio input into an audio file.

14. The device of claim 10 further comprising:

a Web server configured to present a variable associated with the at least one control routine for access over a network.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the Web server is further configured receive a control input to alter the variable associated with the at least one control routine.

16. A method of controlling the environment within a structure and providing feedback regarding the same, the method comprising:

receiving a control indication at a thermostat control device;

analyzing the received control indication against a stored plurality of activating events;

determining if the control indication corresponds to one of the plurality of activating events;

identifying, if the control indication corresponds to one of the plurality of activating events, an audio file associated with the activating event; and

playing the audio file associated with the activating event, wherein the audio file reflects an operation status of an environmental system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the control indication includes receiving a temperature sensor signal generated by a temperature sensor associated with the thermostat control device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the temperature sensor signal includes receiving the temperature sensor signal from a remote device via a network.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

presenting a Web interface for access over a network, wherein the Web interface includes a variable associated with the operation status of the environmental system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein presenting a Web interface further includes receiving a control input to alter the variable associated with one or more control routines.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the audio file is selected from the group consisting of:

a mechanical audio file;

a musical audio file; and

a captured user audio file.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein identifying the audio file associated with the activating event includes identifying a user-selected audio file.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the user-selected audio file is a recorded audio file generated by the user.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the operation status reflects a manual change in a temperature threshold received via the control indication.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the control indication includes receiving a filter indication associated with the environmental system.