Thermostat Temperature Estimation Using CPU Usage and Empirical Model
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermostats face challenges in accurately measuring ambient temperature due to internal heat generation and varying airflow, leading to temperature sensing errors, especially during startup and steady-state operations.
Innovation Solution
The thermostat employs a processing circuit with temperature sensors and an empirical model that incorporates CPU usage values, using Kalman filters and Nonlinear Least Squares techniques to estimate building temperature, accounting for heat dynamics and airflow, thereby compensating for temperature errors and ensuring accurate readings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thermostat uses temperature sensors to measure ambient temperature, then it can control building equipment, but internal heat generation from the processing circuit causes temperature sensing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an empirical model as an intermediary between the temperature sensors and the control system. This model processes the raw temperature readings and compensates for the heat interference from the processing circuit, allowing accurate temperature measurement despite the thermal interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring CPU usage values and adjusting the temperature estimation accordingly. The empirical model incorporates real-time CPU usage data to dynamically compensate for heat generation, creating a closed-loop system that maintains measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the processing circuit computes temperature based on multiple signals including CPU usage, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used for temperature determination from simple raw temperature readings to a composite model incorporating multiple signals including CPU usage values. This parameter transformation enables accurate temperature estimation while managing complexity through a structured empirical approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A thermostat is disclosed. The thermostat can include one or more temperature sensors configured to measure one or more temperature values. The thermostat can include a processing circuit. The processing circuit can receive the one or more temperature values from the one or more temperature sensors. The processing circuit can receive one or more central processing unit (CPU) usage values, wherein the one or more CPU usage values indicate computing usage of the processing circuit. The processing circuit can determine, based on an empirical model comprising one or more gain values and one or more filters and based on one or more signals, a temperature of the building. The one or more signals comprise the one or more temperature values and the one or more CPU usage values. The empirical model accounts for dynamics of heat generated by the processing circuit and airflow acting on the thermostat.