Proximity-Activated Thermostat Display With Adaptive Power Thresholds
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermostats face challenges in providing advanced functionalities like powerful microprocessors and wireless communications while maintaining a visually appealing display, being compatible with homes lacking a 'C' wire, and avoiding the need for a power brick, which complicates installation and power management.
Innovation Solution
A smart-home device with a user interface that operates in two power modes, using a processing system to adjust a closeness threshold based on historical data to activate the display only when a user is approaching, and employing a rechargeable battery to supplement power during active display mode, allowing for power stealing from HVAC wires when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If power stealing method is used to power the thermostat without a C wire, then ease of installation is improved, but the available power for advanced features is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power stealing with a rechargeable battery system to merge two power sources. The power stealing provides base power and charges the battery, while the battery supplements power during high-demand periods, resolving the contradiction between ease of installation and available power for advanced features.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes power parameters by switching between power stealing mode and battery supplementation mode based on power availability and demand. This allows the thermostat to adapt power consumption to match available power while maintaining functionality.
2Ease of operation
If electronic display operates in high-power first display mode continuously, then user interface quality is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic display dynamically switches between first display mode (high-power, high-quality) and second display mode (low-power, reduced quality) based on user proximity detection and interaction state. This resolves the contradiction by providing high user interface quality only when needed while conserving energy during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic proximity sensing to determine when to activate the high-power display mode, creating a rhythm of high and low power states that balances user interface quality with energy conservation.
3Ease of operation
If proximity threshold is set low for frequent display activation, then user convenience is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proximity threshold is dynamically adjusted based on battery charge level. When battery charge is high, a lower threshold provides greater user convenience. When battery charge is low, the threshold increases to reduce activation frequency and conserve power, resolving the contradiction adaptively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from battery charge level monitoring to adjust the proximity threshold setting, creating a closed-loop control that balances user convenience with power conservation based on real-time power availability.
4Use of energy by moving object
If rechargeable battery is added to supplement power, then available power is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system operates autonomously, automatically managing battery charging from power stealing, monitoring charge levels, and switching between power sources without user intervention. This self-service approach masks the underlying complexity while providing improved power availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A smart-home device includes a user interface including an electronic display having a first display mode and a second display mode, the first display mode generally requiring more power than said second display mode. The device also includes a processing system in operative communication with one or more environmental sensors for determining at least one environmental condition. The device additionally includes at least one sensor configured to detect a physical closeness of a user to the at least one sensor. The processing system may be configured to cause the electronic display to be in the first display mode when a closeness threshold has been exceeded, where the processing system is further configured to automatically adjust the closeness threshold based at least in part on a historical plurality of physical closeness events as detected by the at least one sensor.