Self-Learning Thermostat for Automatic Setpoint Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional programmable thermostats require users to manually set times and dates, which can be confusing and inconvenient, especially when preferences change or during events like daylight savings time, and they do not adapt to user habits automatically.
Innovation Solution
A self-programmable thermostat that learns user temperature setting habits and automatically adjusts settings without requiring knowledge of the time of day or day of the week, using a microprocessor to identify patterns and assign timestamps to manually entered setpoints, allowing it to switch between manual and programmed modes based on learned preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a programmable thermostat is used to automatically adjust setpoints at specified times, then convenience and energy savings are improved, but device complexity and programming difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat automatically learns user temperature preferences and scheduling patterns through repeated manual adjustments, then autonomously programs itself to execute those patterns without requiring user intervention for time synchronization or date entry. The system serves itself by converting manual operation data into automated programming.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermostat monitors and records each manual temperature adjustment along with the time and date, using this feedback data to identify recurring patterns. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically determine when and what to program, eliminating the need for explicit user programming while maintaining adaptive responsiveness to changing preferences.
2Measurement precision
If conventional programmable thermostats require time synchronization and date entry, then accurate scheduled adjustments are achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple programming steps
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat automatically captures and stores the actual time and date information associated with each manual adjustment, then uses this self-collected data to synchronize its internal scheduling without requiring user input. The system performs time synchronization and date entry as self-service functions rather than user responsibilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermostat performs preliminary data collection during the manual adjustment phase, recording time and date information alongside temperature settings. This preliminary capture of scheduling data eliminates the need for subsequent separate time synchronization and date entry steps, as all necessary temporal information is already gathered during normal operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a thermostat adapts to changing user habits and preferences, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to learning mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat autonomously monitors and analyzes patterns in manual temperature adjustments, automatically updating its programmed schedule when it detects changes in user preferences or routines. This self-learning capability allows the system to adapt to changing habits without requiring user re-programming or complex configuration interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermostat implements dynamic programming where the scheduled temperature profile is not fixed but continuously evolves based on observed manual adjustments. The system dynamically reprograms itself in response to detected pattern changes, allowing the temperature schedule to adapt flexibly to changing user needs while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid manual/programmable thermostat for a furnace or air conditioner offers the simplicity of a manual thermostat while providing the convenience and versatility of a programmable one. Initially, the hybrid thermostat appears to function as an ordinary manual thermostat; however, it privately observes and learns a user's manual temperature setting habits and eventually programs itself accordingly. If users begin changing their preferred temperature settings due to seasonal changes or other reasons, the thermostat continues learning and will adapt to those changes as well. For ease of use, the thermostat does not require an onscreen menu as a user interface. In some embodiments, the thermostat can effectively program itself for temperature settings that are set to occur at particular times daily or just on weekends, yet the user is not required to enter the time of day or the day of the week.