Thermostat Housing With Hidden PIR Sensing for Smooth Front Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thermostats lack a visually appealing design while incorporating occupancy sensors, and they often have visible vents or grilles, which detract from their aesthetic and functional appeal.

Innovation Solution

An occupancy sensing electronic thermostat with a sleek, rounded exterior design that integrates a passive infrared sensor and an infrared energy directing element, along with a microprocessor for detecting occupancy, and includes a second temperature sensor for accurate ambient temperature calculation, all while maintaining a clean front surface without visible vents or grilles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If occupancy sensors and infrared components are integrated into the thermostat, then occupancy detection capability is improved, but the visual appearance and exterior smoothness deteriorate due to visible vents or grilles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupancy detection capabilityVSAvoidexterior smoothness and visual appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

An infrared-transmissive material is introduced as an intermediary between the external environment and the passive infrared sensor. This material appears opaque to visible light (maintaining smooth exterior appearance) but transmits infrared energy (enabling occupancy detection). The material acts as a mediator that reconciles the conflicting requirements of aesthetic appearance and sensor functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The front surface material exhibits selective optical properties - it appears opaque in the visible spectrum (maintaining aesthetic appearance) but is transparent in the infrared spectrum (allowing sensor operation). This wavelength-dependent transparency resolves the contradiction by making the sensor opening invisible to human eyes while functional for infrared detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sensors are integrated into the thermostat body, then sensing functionality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing functionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple temperature sensors serve dual purposes: they monitor internal temperatures near heat-generating components and collectively contribute to calculating accurate ambient temperature through algorithmic processing. The passive infrared sensor provides occupancy detection while its data can also inform HVAC control decisions. This multi-functionality approach increases versatility while managing complexity through integrated processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple sensing functions (occupancy detection via passive infrared sensor, temperature monitoring via multiple temperature sensors) into a single integrated thermostat unit with unified processing. Rather than separate devices, all sensors are merged into one system with centralized control logic that processes data from all sensors to achieve accurate environmental monitoring and HVAC control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a visually pleasing and functional thermostat that effectively detects occupancy and adjusts energy consumption based on user presence, enhancing user interaction and energy efficiency while maintaining a smooth, sleek appearance.

Implementation Method 1

a passive infrared sensor for measuring infrared energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

an infrared energy directing element formed integrally with a front surface of the thermostat body... such that infrared energy is directed thereonto by the infrared energy directing element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared energy direction: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

a first temperature sensor in thermal communication with the front surface of the thermostat body for making temperature measurements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal communication: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9234669B2Integrating sensing systems into thermostat housing in manners facilitating compact and visually pleasing physical characteristics thereof

Publication Date: 2016.01.12 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

An occupancy sensing electronic thermostat is described that includes a thermostat body, an electronic display that is viewable by a user in front of the thermostat, a passive infrared sensor for measuring infrared energy and an infrared energy directing element formed integrally with a front surface of the thermostat body. The passive infrared sensor may be positioned behind the infrared energy directing element such that infrared energy is directed thereonto by the infrared energy directing element. The thermostat may also include a temperature sensor and a microprocessor programmed to detect occupancy based on measurements from the passive infrared sensor.