Thermostat

About: Thermostat is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 7405 publications have been published within this topic receiving 91734 citations.

User-friendly, network connected learning thermostat and related systems and methods

Abstract: A user-friendly, network-connected learning thermostat is described. The thermostat is made up of (1) a wall-mountable backplate that includes a low-power consuming microcontroller used for activities such as polling sensors and switching on and off the HVAC functions, and (2) separable head unit that includes a higher-power consuming microprocessor, color LCD backlit display, user input devices, and wireless communications modules. The thermostat also includes a rechargeable battery and power-stealing circuitry adapted to harvest power from HVAC triggering circuits. By maintaining the microprocessor in a sleep state often compared to the lower-power microcontroller, high-power consuming activities, such as learning computations, wireless network communications and interfacing with a user, can be temporarily performed by the microprocessor even though the activities use energy at a greater rate than is available from the power stealing circuitry.

Management of a thermostat's power consumption

Abstract: An HVAC system comprises a programmable wireless thermostat and a remote receiver unit. The thermostat includes a user interface having one or more displays, user input devices, such as buttons, sliders, or a touch screen, and a backlight. The thermostat may include a proximity sensor, wherein the user interface is controlled based on a user's presence near the thermostat. A thermostat controller enters into a reduced energy consumption mode and switches the user interface to an idle state when the proximity sensor indicates a lack of user proximity for a predetermined duration. When the proximity sensor indicates user proximity, the controller exits the reduced energy consumption mode and switches the user interface to an active state. During the reduced energy consumption mode, the user interface may be concealed when the user interface is in a housing which is transparent when backlit but is opaque otherwise.

Heating and cooling control methods and systems

Abstract: A single controller interface (Smart-Stat) integrates the control of heating or cooling in buildings by simultaneously controlling Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems in concert with separate fresh air ventilation (FAV) systems. The Smart-Stat reduces costs and the carbon footprint of typical HVAC systems by optimizing the use of FAV. User-programmable set-points are incorporated with time-of-day and day-of-week as well as data from multiple sensors, thermostats and weather information. Mathematical algorithms are used to determine control signals to the HVAC or FAV systems. The Smart-Stat integrates the two separate systems into a single system that is able to direct the call for cooling or heating to the HVAC or FAV systems, depending on appropriate outside weather conditions. Any building can replace its existing HVAC system controller with the Smart-Stat controller and incorporate a FAV system to create a single integrated HVAC and FAV system.

Dwelling heating and air conditioning system

Abstract: A retrofittable heating and air conditioning system for a single family dwelling including a heater and air conditioning furnace system connected to individual zones of a building by a series of output ducts. Each opening of a duct to an individual zone may have a unique, fully sealing, controllable output register assembly. Also, in each zone is a thermostat for sensing the zone temperature and for providing a means for the user to control the temperature of that zone. The system further includes a master controller with such temperature controlling features as a universal zone controller, individual zone controllers, and a timer. Finally, the system includes a central controller for controlling the register assemblies and the air conditioning, heating, and fan with respect to instructions set by the individual zone registers and the master controller.

Thermostat system with remote data averaging

Abstract: A thermostat system according to the invention includes: a central control device (typically a programmable thermostat with a processor having: a CPU, real time clock and a memory for storing a control program and data information), multiple rooms comprising a conditioned space, environmental control equipment, and multiple environmental sensors capable of sensing an environmental condition (such as temperature, humidity, or other condition). The sensors are associated with transmission means, which control transmission of sensor signals, and occupancy sensors. Each sensor measures a local environmental condition. Occupancy sensors comprise infrared or other motion sensors, light detection sensors, door opening sensors, and other such sensors that detect the presence of humans in a room of the conditioned space where its associated sensor is located. Space conditioning equipment is activated by comparison of a setpoint to a control value averaged from values of environmental conditions in occupied rooms.