TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE WITH AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE BACKLIGHTING

• US 20160349823A1
• Filed: 05/26/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Killo, Jason C., Mosebrook, Donald R., Steiner, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,133,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• 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 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2003 Display of colours specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607

Abstract

A temperature control device (e.g., a thermostat) may be configured to control an internal heat-generating electrical load so as to accurately measure a present temperature in a space around the temperature control device. The temperature control device may comprise a temperature sensing circuit configured to generate a temperature control signal indicating the present temperature in the space, and a control circuit configured to receive the temperature control signal and to control the internal electrical load. The control circuit may be configured to energize the internal electrical load in an awake state and to cause the internal electrical load to consume less power in an idle state. The control circuit may be configured to control the internal electrical load to a first energy level (e.g., a first intensity) during the awake state and to a second energy level (e.g., second intensity) that is less than the first during the idle state.

Claims

1. A temperature control device comprising:

a temperature sensing circuit configured to generate a temperature control signal indicating a present temperature in a space around the temperature control device;

at least one internal electrical load configured to generate heat when energized; and

a control circuit configured to receive the temperature control signal, to control the internal electrical load, and to be in an idle state or an awake state;

wherein, when the control circuit is in the idle state, the control circuit is configured to cause the electrical load to consume less power, periodically sample the temperature control signal, determine a sampled temperature based on the temperature control signal, and store the sampled temperature in memory; and

wherein, when the control circuit is in the awake state, the control circuit is configured to energize the internal electrical load and cease sampling the temperature control signal.

2. The temperature control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a button for receiving a user input; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to operate in the awake state in response to an actuation of the button.

3. The temperature control device of claim 2, wherein the internal electrical load comprises a button backlight circuit configured to illuminate the button, the control circuit configured to control the button backlight circuit to a first intensity during the awake state and to a second intensity during the idle state, the second intensity being less than the first intensity.

4. The temperature control device of claim 3, further comprising:

a light detector circuit configured to measure an ambient light level around the control device; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to control the button backlight circuit in response to the measured ambient light level.

5. The temperature control device of claim 4, wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust the second intensity of the button backlight circuit during the idle state in response to the measured ambient light level.

6. The temperature control device of claim 4, wherein the control circuit is configured to turn the button backlight circuit off when the measured ambient light level exceeds an ambient light threshold during the idle state.

7. The temperature control device of claim 3, wherein the control circuit is configured to wait for a period of time after an actuation of the button before returning to the idle state.

8. The temperature control device of claim 7, wherein the period of time is a predetermined value stored in memory.

9. The temperature control device of claim 7, wherein the period of time is a function of the first intensity during the awake state.

10. The temperature control device of claim 2, wherein the button has an indicia indicating a function of the button.

11. The temperature control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a visual display for displaying the present temperature in the space;

wherein, during the awake state, the control circuit is configured to set the present temperature equal to the most recent sampled temperature stored in memory.

12. The temperature control device of claim 1, wherein the internal electrical load comprises a visual display for displaying information for a user, the control circuit configured to turn the visual display on during the awake state and to turn the visual display off during the idle state.

13. The temperature control device of claim 1, wherein the internal electrical load comprises a display backlight circuit for a visual display, the control circuit configured to turn the display backlight circuit on during the awake state and to turn the display backlight circuit off during the idle state.

14. The temperature control device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to control an HVAC system to adjust the present temperature towards a setpoint temperature.

15. A temperature control device comprising:

a temperature sensing circuit configured to generate a temperature control signal indicating a present temperature in a space around the temperature control device;

a button for receiving a user input indicating a setpoint temperature;

a button backlight circuit configured to illuminate the button; and

a control circuit configured to receive the temperature control signal and to control an HVAC system to adjust the present temperature towards a setpoint temperature;

wherein the control circuit is configured to alternately operate in an awake state and an idle state, the control circuit configured to operate in the awake state in response to an actuation of the button, the control circuit configured to control the button backlight circuit to a first intensity during the awake state and to control the button backlight circuit to a second intensity during the idle state, the second intensity being less than the first intensity;

wherein, when the control circuit is in the idle state, the control circuit is configured to periodically sample the temperature control signal to determine a sampled temperature and store the sampled temperature in memory; and

wherein, when the control circuit is in the awake state, the control circuit is configured to cease sampling the temperature control signal.

16. The temperature control device of claim 15, wherein the control circuit is configured to transition from the idle state to the awake state in response to an actuation of the button;

and

wherein the control circuit is configured to wait for a period of time after the actuation of the button before returning to the idle state, the period of time being a predetermined value stored in memory or a function of the first intensity during the awake state.

17. The temperature control device of claim 15, further comprising:

a light detector circuit configured to measure an ambient light level around the control device; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to control the button backlight circuit in response to the measured ambient light level.

18. The temperature control device of claim 17, wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust the second intensity of the button backlight circuit during the idle state in response to the measured ambient light level.

19. A temperature control device comprising:

a temperature sensing circuit configured to generate a temperature control signal indicating a present temperature in a space around the temperature control device;

a button for receiving a user input;

a button backlight circuit configured to illuminate the button;

a visual display for displaying the present temperature in the space;

a light detector circuit configured to measure an ambient light level around the temperature control device; and

a control circuit configured to receive the temperature control signal and to alternately operate in an awake state and an idle state, the control circuit configured to operate in the awake state in response to an actuation of the button, the control circuit configured to control the button backlight circuit to a first intensity during the awake state and to a second intensity that is less than the first intensity during the idle state, the control circuit configured to turn the button backlight circuit off when the measured ambient light level exceeds an ambient light threshold during the idle state.

20. The temperature control device of claim 19, wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust the second intensity of the button backlight circuit during the idle state in response to the measured ambient light level.

21. The temperature control device of claim 19, wherein, when the control circuit is in the idle state, the control circuit is configured to periodically sample the temperature control signal to determine a sampled temperature and store the sampled temperature in memory;

and

wherein, when the control circuit is in the awake state, the control circuit is configured to cease sampling the temperature control signal.

22. The temperature control device of claim 19, wherein, during the awake state, the control circuit is configured to set the present temperature equal to the most recent sampled temperature stored in memory.