Thermostat Time-of-Day Detection Using Natural Light Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often struggle to set the time-of-day on thermostats accurately, especially due to complexities introduced by different time zones and daylight savings, which hampers the efficient control of HVAC systems and leads to reduced energy savings and user satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A thermostat that can autonomously determine the time-of-day using sensors, such as light sensors to monitor natural light patterns, allowing it to estimate the time without external input, and override manual settings if necessary, while filtering out confusion from man-made lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the thermostat provides programming abilities with multiple switches and controls, then energy-saving opportunities increase, but user satisfaction decreases due to intimidation from complex controls
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat automatically determines time-of-day using light sensors and algorithms without requiring user configuration. The system serves itself by autonomously sensing environmental light patterns, calculating sunrise/sunset times, and setting the clock accordingly, eliminating the need for users to navigate complex time-setting controls while maintaining energy-saving programming capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The thermostat performs preliminary automatic time determination before the user needs to program energy-saving schedules. By pre-configuring the clock using light sensor data and algorithms during initial installation or when time is lost, the system ensures time-accurate energy management is ready immediately without requiring users to understand or configure multiple switches and controls
2Measurement precision
If the thermostat requires manual time setting by users, then time accuracy can be maintained, but user convenience decreases due to complexity of time zones and daylight savings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical/time-based configuration system with an optical sensing and computational algorithm system. Light sensors detect natural light patterns, and algorithms automatically calculate sunrise/sunset times and determine time-of-day, substituting user manual time-setting operations with automated optical and computational processes that maintain accuracy without requiring user knowledge of time zones or daylight savings
Solution Approach 2:
The light sensor and algorithm act as intermediaries between the environment (natural light cycles) and the thermostat clock. Instead of directly requiring users to input time information, the system uses light sensors to mediate and automatically derive accurate time-of-day from environmental cues, eliminating the need for users to manually configure complex time-related settings
3Ease of operation
If the thermostat uses sensors to automatically determine time-of-day, then user setup effort is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light sensor serves multiple functions: it detects ambient light levels for user interface illumination, determines time-of-day for clock synchronization, and potentially monitors occupancy patterns. By making the sensor multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining automatic time determination and reduced user setup effort
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
Enables efficient control of HVAC systems by accurately tracking time-of-day, optimizing energy usage, and enhancing user experience by simplifying the setup process and providing advanced energy-saving features without intimidating users with complex settings.
Implementation Method 1
a light sensor can monitor natural light to understand the cycle of sun with respect to the installation location
Data Source
AI summary
Provided according to some embodiments is a thermostat is capable of discerning the time-of-day without external input. Should the user fail to set the time, the thermostat uses one or more sensors to determine the time-of-day through a variety of techniques. In one example, a light sensor can monitor natural light to understand the cycle of sun with respect to the installation location. From the cycle of natural light a latitude, time-of-year, time-of-day, etc. can be estimated through processing sensor information over time. Should the thermostat have its time manually set or gathered from the network, it would override the estimated time-of-day. Techniques can be used to filter input from the one or more sensors to avoid confusion from other inputs, for example, man-made lighting.