Thermostat Occupancy Proxy Detection for Preemptive HVAC Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional thermostats fail to optimally control HVAC systems during heightened occupancy due to delayed temperature sensing and inadequate indication of occupant numbers, leading to inefficient heating and cooling responses.
Innovation Solution
A multi-function thermostat that uses occupancy sensors, such as gas sensors, cameras, and microphones, to detect changes in occupant levels, adjusting temperature setpoints and ventilation levels preemptively based on real-time occupancy data, rather than relying solely on temperature sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional temperature sensors are used to control HVAC systems, then the system can maintain setpoint temperature, but the response is delayed and inefficient during occupancy changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting occupancy changes through proxy indicators (CO2 levels, camera detection, audio signals) before temperature actually changes. This allows the HVAC system to preemptively adjust heating or cooling in response to anticipated occupancy changes, eliminating the delay inherent in traditional temperature-based sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal sensing system with alternative detection methods including gas sensors for CO2 detection, camera systems for visual occupancy detection, and audio sensors for acoustic occupancy detection. These substitution methods provide faster response times compared to traditional temperature sensors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional one-way communication thermostats are used, then the system structure is simple, but the control capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat is designed as a multi-functional device that performs traditional temperature control plus occupancy detection through multiple proxy methods (gas sensing, camera imaging, audio detection). This universal device can adapt to different occupancy scenarios and provide enhanced HVAC control capabilities while maintaining a unified system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces intermediary devices including gas sensors that detect CO2 as an intermediary indicator of occupancy, camera systems that capture visual data as an intermediary for occupancy detection, and audio sensors that detect sound signals as an intermediary for occupancy determination. These intermediaries enable the thermostat to infer occupancy without directly counting occupants.
3Reliability
If temperature-based control is used during occupancy changes, then the system maintains energy efficiency, but comfort conditions deteriorate due to delayed response
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring proxy indicators of occupancy (CO2 concentration, camera detection results, audio signal analysis) and using this information to adjust HVAC operations. This feedback loop enables the system to respond to occupancy changes in real-time, maintaining comfort conditions while optimizing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary heating or cooling adjustments.
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
This approach allows for immediate and efficient adjustments to HVAC operations, maintaining comfortable conditions and reducing energy consumption by anticipating changes in occupancy levels.
Implementation Method 1
The occupancy sensor is at least one of a gas sensor configured to measure an occupant generated gas concentration level within the building space
Implementation Method 2
the occupancy sensor is a camera configured to capture a camera signal associated with the building space
Implementation Method 3
the occupancy sensor is a microphone configured to generate audio signals of the building space
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for controlling a temperature of a building space includes an occupancy sensor configured to measure an occupancy signal indicating whether one or more occupants are within the building space and a processing circuit configured to receive the occupancy signal from the occupancy sensor. The processing circuit is configured to determine whether the number of occupants within the building space has increased by a predefined amount based on the received occupancy signal, decrease a value of a temperature setpoint for the building space from a first value to a second value in response to a determination that the number of occupants within the building space has increased by the predefined amount based on the received occupancy signal, and reduce the temperature of the building space by controlling one or more pieces of building equipment associated with the building space.