Occupancy-Attribute Thermostat Programming to Reduce Energy Loss
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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
1Loss of energy
If traditional programmable thermostats are used with fixed temperature set points mapped to programmed times, then energy consumption can be reduced during unoccupied periods, but the device becomes difficult for users to program and lacks customization flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter for thermostat control from fixed temperature set points to flexible occupancy-based attributes. Instead of programming specific temperatures at specific times, the system uses occupancy detection to automatically determine when heating or cooling is needed, making the system both easier to operate and adaptable to different user patterns without requiring complex programming
Solution Approach 2:
The thermostat system performs self-service by automatically detecting occupancy status and adjusting environmental controls without requiring user programming. The system serves itself by using occupancy detectors to trigger appropriate thermostatic settings, eliminating the need for users to program temperature schedules while still achieving energy savings during unoccupied periods
2Loss of energy
If programmable thermostats use fixed programming schedules, then energy savings can be achieved during predictable unoccupied periods, but the system lacks adaptability to actual occupancy patterns and user preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring occupancy status through detectors and using this information to dynamically adjust thermostatic settings. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to actual occupancy patterns rather than relying on fixed schedules, providing both energy savings during truly unoccupied periods and customization flexibility to accommodate varying user preferences and occupancy behaviors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by transitioning from static, pre-programmed temperature schedules to dynamic, occupancy-responsive control. The system continuously adapts its behavior based on real-time occupancy detection, allowing it to respond flexibly to changing conditions while maintaining energy efficiency. This dynamic approach enables the system to achieve both energy savings and adaptability simultaneously
3Temperature
If thermostats require complex programming to achieve energy savings, then precise temperature control can be maintained, but user compliance decreases and the system fails to deliver average energy savings
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat performs self-service by automatically determining appropriate temperature control settings based on occupancy detection without requiring user programming. The system serves itself by using occupancy status to trigger pre-configured thermostatic responses, maintaining precise temperature control during occupied periods while achieving energy savings during unoccupied periods, all without requiring user compliance with complex programming instructions
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.