Enhancement for thermostat programmability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Programmable thermostats often fail to provide significant energy savings due to user difficulty in programming and lack of customization, leading to inefficient temperature control in heating and cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A programmable thermostat that uses occupancy and scenario attributes to adjust thermostatic settings dynamically, incorporating a ventilator controller for pre-occupancy purge times and interacting with occupancy detectors to optimize energy usage across heating, cooling, ventilation, humidification, and dehumidification systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional temperature set points mapped to programmed times are used, then the thermostat can control temperature at different times, but it is difficult for users to program and lacks customization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of thermostat programming from traditional time-based temperature set points to attribute-based thermostatic settings. Instead of programming specific temperatures at specific times, users define attributes (occupancy, scenario, weather conditions) and associate multiple sets of thermostatic settings with each attribute value, allowing the system to automatically select appropriate settings based on current attribute values.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the thermostat universal by supporting multiple types of attributes (occupancy, scenario, weather) and multiple sets of thermostatic settings for each attribute value. This multi-functionality allows a single thermostat to handle various customization needs without requiring separate programming approaches for different scenarios.
2Loss of energy
If programmable thermostats are used to reduce heating and cooling losses, then energy consumption can be reduced, but little or no average energy savings occur if the thermostat is used incorrectly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the thermostat to serve itself by automatically monitoring attribute values (occupancy status, scenario conditions, weather) and autonomously selecting and applying the appropriate thermostatic settings from the predefined sets. This eliminates the need for users to manually program or adjust settings, ensuring the system consistently operates to reduce energy losses without requiring correct manual programming.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the thermostat continuously monitors current attribute values and compares them against the defined attribute values for different thermostatic settings. This feedback loop ensures the system dynamically adjusts to current conditions, maintaining optimal energy savings performance regardless of user intervention or changing environmental conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional thermostat programming is used, then temperature control can be adjusted at different times, but it lacks flexibility to adapt to different occupancy patterns and scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the thermostat programming system into independent attribute components (occupancy attribute, scenario attribute, weather attribute) rather than requiring a single complex time-based program. Each attribute can be independently defined and configured, allowing users to build up complex adaptive behavior through simple, modular attribute definitions without overwhelming programming complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A programmable thermostat supports at least one attribute where each different attribute values may support different sets of thermostatic settings. The programmable thermostat may be programmed based on the different attribute values rather than on temperature set points that are traditionally mapped to programmed times. Each set may include settings for a plurality of controlled equipment including a heating/cooling system, fan, ventilator, humidifier, and/or de-humidifier. Each embodiment may support attribute values associated with an occupancy attribute (which is indicative whether or not people are occupying an environmental entity) and/or a scenario attribute (which flexibly maps different thermostatic settings to different scenario attribute values). Stored configuration data about the thermostatic settings may be organized as a tree structure, where the leaves correspond to the thermostatic settings. A programmable thermostat/ventilator controller may also instruct a ventilator system to run during an adjustable pre-occupancy purge time duration before an environmental entity is occupied.