HVAC Comfort Feedback Control Without Numeric Temperature Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC systems lack effective mechanisms to utilize user feedback for adaptive comfort control and energy efficiency, leading to suboptimal energy usage due to complex interfaces and lack of short-term incentives for energy-saving interactions.
Innovation Solution
An interior comfort HVAC user-feedback control system that transforms qualitative user comfort feedback into a multivariable comfort map, allowing for adaptive temperature control without requiring numeric temperature inputs, enabling dynamic and real-time adjustments to promote both comfort and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional HVAC systems use complex interfaces for temperature control, then they can provide precise temperature adjustment capabilities, but user interaction becomes difficult and users tend to leave the thermostat unchanged or override it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the numeric temperature input requirement from the user interaction process. Users only need to provide qualitative feedback (comfortable/uncomfortable) without dealing with numeric temperature values. The system handles all temperature calculations and adjustments automatically, removing the complexity of temperature parameter management from the user interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment based on user comfort feedback. The HVAC controller automatically modifies temperature setpoints, schedules, and operational parameters without requiring users to understand or configure complex temperature parameters. The system serves itself by learning from user responses and autonomously optimizing comfort and energy efficiency.
2Productivity
If smart thermostats provide advanced capabilities for energy efficiency and comfort control, then they can optimize HVAC operation, but the interface becomes too complex for users to voluntarily interact with
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback loop where users provide simple comfort feedback (comfortable/uncomfortable responses) and the system uses this feedback to automatically adjust HVAC operation. This feedback mechanism enables the system to learn user preferences and optimize energy efficiency without requiring users to understand complex energy management parameters or interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (temperature setpoints, schedules, fan operation) automatically based on user comfort feedback. Users interact with simple comfort indicators rather than numeric parameters, and the system translates these qualitative inputs into optimized operational parameter changes that improve energy efficiency.
3Loss of information
If the system displays numeric temperatures to users, then users can make informed temperature adjustments, but it increases the complexity of user interaction and requires numeric understanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces permanent, complex numeric temperature displays with simple, transient comfort indicators. Instead of showing numeric temperatures that require user interpretation, the system uses simple comfortable/uncomfortable indicators that are immediately understood. These simple indicators serve their purpose and are replaced by system-generated adjustments, eliminating the need for users to process numeric temperature information.
4Adaptability or versatility
If HVAC systems require user interaction for comfort adjustment, then they can adapt to user preferences, but users lack short-term incentives to interact with the system for energy-saving purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively adjusting temperature setpoints and operational schedules based on learned user preferences and patterns. Instead of waiting for users to interact for energy savings, the system automatically implements energy-saving adjustments while maintaining comfort, eliminating the need for users to understand or motivate themselves for energy-saving interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The HVAC system serves itself by automatically adapting to user comfort preferences through simple feedback mechanisms. The system autonomously learns user patterns and makes comfort adaptations without requiring continuous user interaction or motivation. This self-adaptation removes the burden from users while maintaining high comfort levels and energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The INTERIOR COMFORT HVAC USER-FEEDBACK CONTROL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS transforms qualitative feedback received from a user/occupant into a “comfort map,” or modifications thereto, a comfort map being defined at least in part by one or more comfort event windows. The comfort map data is used to determine a temperature setpoint sequence that avoids regions of the map corresponding to known and/or predicted regions of user discomfort.