Learning Thermostat Interface With Split-Power Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing HVAC thermostatic control systems fail to balance energy-saving sophistication with practical, everyday use in homes and buildings, often due to user intimidation or lack of advanced features in programmable systems, leading to suboptimal energy usage.

Innovation Solution

A programmable thermostat with a versatile sensing and control unit (VSCU) that learns user habits and environmental conditions, offering a user-friendly interface for energy-saving settings while automatically adjusting HVAC operations to optimize energy use without manual intervention, using multi-sensor technology and advanced algorithms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If programmable thermostats with multiple settings and controls are provided, then energy-saving sophistication is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveHVAC energy consumptionVSAvoidthermostat control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thermostat system performs self-learning of occupancy patterns and temperature preferences automatically without user intervention. The system observes when occupants are present or away and what temperatures they prefer, then autonomously creates and adjusts energy-saving schedules, eliminating the need for complex manual programming while achieving sophisticated energy management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors occupancy status via sensors and user manual adjustments to the thermostat, using this feedback to dynamically refine its learned patterns and optimize HVAC control. This closed-loop learning process enables the system to adapt to changing user behaviors and preferences over time, maintaining energy efficiency without requiring complex user input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of energy

If programmable thermostats with multiple settings and controls are provided, then energy-saving sophistication is improved, but ease of operation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveHVAC energy consumptionVSAvoidthermostat usability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The thermostat system performs self-learning of occupancy patterns and temperature preferences automatically without user intervention. The system observes when occupants are present or away and what temperatures they prefer, then autonomously creates and adjusts energy-saving schedules, eliminating the need for complex manual programming while achieving sophisticated energy management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors occupancy status via sensors and user manual adjustments to the thermostat, using this feedback to dynamically refine its learned patterns and optimize HVAC control. This closed-loop learning process enables the system to adapt to changing user behaviors and preferences over time, maintaining energy efficiency without requiring complex user input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the microprocessor performs high-power consuming activities such as wireless communication and learning calculations, then adaptability and energy-saving sophistication are improved, but use of energy by the thermostat worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelearning and wireless capabilityVSAvoidthermostat power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The microprocessor alternates between active high-power states for performing learning calculations and wireless communications, and low-power sleep states for basic thermostat functions. The system schedules intensive computational tasks periodically rather than continuously, allowing the rechargeable battery to recharge from power-stealing circuitry during low-power intervals and discharge during high-power activities, thereby enabling advanced features while managing overall power consumption within available energy limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9175868B2Thermostat user interface

Publication Date: 2015.11.03 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

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.