Patent Application
20150267936
One or more exemplary embodiments described herein comprise a thermostat apparatus in communication with one or more remote environmental sensors.
Using the remote sensors, which may detect presence of room occupants, the apparatus may raise or lower temperature in a particular room (or zone), for example, based on whether that room is currently occupied. The apparatus further may allow multiple zones to work in conjunction, instead of treating each zone separately.
An exemplary aspect comprises a temperature control apparatus comprising: (a) a microprocessor in communication with an HVAC control system; (b) a wireless transceiver in communication with the microprocessor and with a controller operable to communicate over a wireless network with an application on a mobile device; (c) a temperature sensor in communication with the microprocessor; and (d) a front panel that allows a user to interface with the controller.
In one or more exemplary embodiments: (1) the wireless transceiver is in communication with the controller is a ZigBee transceiver; (2) the microprocessor is programmed by a user to perform one or more actions; (3) the temperature control apparatus further comprises an accelerometer; (4) the accelerometer is operable to allow the microprocessor detect tapping by a user on the front panel; and (5) the microprocessor is programmed so that a set number of taps by a user on the front panel results in a predetermined change in temperature settings.
The above and other features of exemplary aspects and embodiments will be apparent from the drawings and detailed description provided herein.
A configuration of an exemplary embodiment is depicted in
AC to DC Converter
This power converter may step down the 24V AC provided from the heating/cooling power lines to the correct DC voltage needed to run the apparatus and keep the backup battery charged and on standby.
Temperature and Humidity Sensor
The temperature and humidity sensor allows the apparatus to serve as an additional sensing zone. This data can not only be used in heating and cooling the home but also can be used to drive other aspects of the smart home.
HVAC 24V Control Signal Emulation or Switching
This is the control center of the apparatus. This solution may route 24 v via relays or emulation to the appropriate relays on the HVAC system. Those skilled in the art may appreciate that cost and efficiency may be the driver on selecting specific Relays or Emulation for signaling the 24V HVAC Control relays. 24V applied to Y1, for example, may turn on the Cooling system.
Wire Terminals
Wire terminals allow the installation process to be quick and easy. Wires from the HVAC system are connected to the corresponding terminals by inserting wires in to the corresponding holes. This type of connector allows for easy insertion and removal of wires should the need arise.
Backup Battery (Example: Rechargable Lithium Ion CR2450 3.6 v, or Lithium Ion Flat Pack)
This battery may be charged by the converted 24V AC coming in off of the HVAC system and may stand in should voltage not be adequate enough to run apparatus. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any suitable batteries or other power source may be used instead of Lithium ion batteries.
Zigbee Module (Example: Silicon Labs: EM357 Ember)
Using a Zigbee module for communication between The apparatus and external control devices, such as a controller, hub, or an app interface, allows for easy exchange of data and control. The module also acts as a passive extender for other Zigbee modules allowing the overall Zigbee network to increase in coverage area.
Exemplary Design
The apparatus is designed to replace an existing thermostat, or in the case of new homes, be wired directly to an HVAC system, thus eliminating the need for expensive copper wiring.
The apparatus may comprise 2 parts: (1) a wiring plate, which gets mounted to the wall and has terminals to accept the wires which control the HVAC system, as well as the front face; and (2) a face plate, which houses the electronic components and is the consumer side of the product. See
An exemplary embodiment is currently sold as the “Wink Norm”, by Wink Inc., and is described at http://www.wink.com/products/quirkyge-norm-thermostat/.
The faceplate of the apparatus, once wired up, attaches directly to the wiring plate, concealing the wires behind.
Exemplary Installation:
Physical Installation:
Setting up from a Controller
A multi-device controller such as that described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/667,127, entitled “CONTROL APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS”, may be used with one or embodiments. More details on such a controller are provided below in the Exemplary Controller section.
From any control screen on the Controller, tap on settings.
In-App User Interface
Controlling the apparatus (designated “Project 2” in
The interface may allow for easy control of multiple zones by allowing the user to select which room they want to base temperature on, as well as which zone they are controlling in manual mode. The remote sensor for the thermostat may be the temperature and humidity sensor in the light switch (Controller) described above, and/or sensors in other products.
If a user has light switches in the dining room and bedroom, these would know the temperature in each room, and the thermostat may cool or heat more based on which room has priority. This priority also may be based on a user's location in the home (as determined by cell phone, motion detection, etc.). The thermostat itself also has a temperature and humidity sensor and thus may correspond to its own heating/cooling zone.
Scheduling may be a quick and painless activity for the user. The user may use a slider to select the room, temperature range, and time for this range to be active.
Historical usage data may also be available to the user from within the Interface.
In an embodiment, the device comprises an accelerometer, and the interface may be set up so that, for example, 1 tap=4 degrees cooler (blue light) and 2 taps=4 degrees warmer (red light). An RBG LED may be used to reflect the different colors.
Screen Descriptions (see
Main Screen
The Main Screen may show basic information about the apparatus's current status. This may include the current temperature setting, ambient temperature in the heating/cooling zone the apparatus is installed in, and the current operation mode. If there are multiple apparatuses installed, the current temperatures of those may be included also. The home screen may also allow the user to toggle basic settings. These may include the mode that the apparatus is in—either heating, cooling, or fan only—and adjusting current temperature setting either hotter or colder.
Schedule
The Schedule screen offers a glimpse into how the HVAC system is going to be operated over the span of a specified time frame and allows a user to make adjustments based on preference or upcoming schedule.
Since the apparatus may be on the Wink ecosystem, and tied together with sensors throughout the home, a schedule may be automatically created and adjusted in real time based on user habits and desired temperatures.
Add a new scheduled event:
Edit a Scheduled Event:
History
The History screen offers a glimpse into the user's heating and cooling usage. This information is easy to drill down by month/week/day and offers the user insight into how their schedules are being automatically created and the times at which their system is being most utilized.
Further exemplary details are provided in TABLE 2 below.
Exemplary Controller
Settings Screen (see
User Settings
User Browser
The user browser allows a user to add, remove and edit users.
Adding a user:
Adding a user will display a modal view which searches for BLE compatible devices in the area.
Once the desired device is located, and selected, a user name is requested.
User Preferences
User Preferences allows a user to set up a Controller the way a user likes it, with the user's own Wink account, the user's own devices and the user's own Dashboard layouts.
User Preferences may contain three sections (Dashboard, Devices, and Change Wink Account).
Setting Dashboard Preferences
1. Choose which “widgets” a user would like to use, in addition to the defaults, by checking the box next to each item the user would like displayed.
2. Choose Celsius/Fahrenheit for temperature displays.
Device Settings
Light Load Settings
Device List
A list of devices may be assigned to a user's account and made available for the user to control.
Any device controllable with On/Off triggers can be grouped together to be controlled together with a single action.
Each device and group can be assigned to a physical button and displayed or hidden in an “Alternate Device Callout” with a check box.
Change Account
This button allows a user to disassociate a user profile with a wink account and sign into another.
Local Control Screen
When operating locally, the 1 or 2 connected loads may be the main focus of the screen. There may be an interface for switching these two off and on with extreme ease (single tap on/off).
Below this main interaction point may be listed additional devices that have been assigned by the user. They may only load items in the list that are pertinent to the present room, but the experience may be freeform (see “Alternate Device Callout” below).
Remote Control Screen (access a different room)
Alternate Device Callout
Additional devices may be selected by the user to appear in the bottom of the control screen. A scrollable marquee may be located toward the bottom of the screen. A user may slide these until locating the device a user would like to control and selecting it with a tap. When the device is selected it loads the interaction screen for that device. (WAC, Pivot Power, Etc. . . . )
The last icon in this list may be a “+” to add more devices. This may load a user's existing Wink account device list and provide the ability to add more devices via discovered Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4) devices as well as Wifi devices, depending on how each is configured.
Room Switching Modal
Simple modal view showing all of the connected Controllers and listing them by name. These connections may be established registered devices as well as unregistered devices seen on BLE and displayed as “New Controller” or “Unregistered Controller” and listed in a sub category below as “Newly Discovered”.
Controlling Different Rooms
Discovering New Products
Whenever a new Controller is installed it will automatically show up under Device settings/Devices
Permissions allow a user to specify who can access what and when.
Controlling Other Connected Products
Scroll through the list of available products at the bottom of the load control screen.
Tap on the product a user would like to control.
Interact with the product via its own custom page view.
Controlling Different Rooms
Whenever a new Controller is installed it will automatically show up under Device settings/Devices
Permissions allow a user to specify who can access what and when.
Central Processor—Host (Freescale i.MX6)
This board allows the system to run Android as the underlying OS and launch a custom build of the wink app. This app may be catered to this application but allow for the addition of all products compatible with the wink ecosystem.
System Memory—Host
4.3″ Capacitive Multi-Touch Screen [MRD-DISP-001]
The central interaction point of the product, the touch screen is where most of the interaction happens. With a personalized dashboard as a user default, a quick touch switches to the switch screen, allowing control of the local loads the switch replaced, as well as any other components.
Bluetooth/WIFI Combo Chip (Semco SWB-B53 Based on Broadcom BCM4334)
[MRD-SW-002]
Not only providing the connectivity of the unit, this chip allows for Bluetooth and BLE connectivity which opens up an entire new spectrum of products the Wink platform can take advantage of.
Bluetooth, while as stated, allows control of other products, it may also allow other Bluetooth devices to control the light switch.
BLE allows the system to serve custom experiences based on who is standing at the panel, as their phone will be recognized.
The WIFI capability provides for connectivity to the Internet via a local router.
Zigbee Module (Silicon Images EM357 Ember)
[MRD-SW-003]
The use of Zigbee enables support for existing products such as wireless light bulbs (Philips Hue, etc.) as well as development of future products. The use of Zigbee also acts as a passive extender for other Zigbee products the user may already own, thus increasing the range in which their existing products work with each other.
2×Momentary Switches
These switches can control the local loads on them (the lights a user switches were tied to) and also can be configured to control virtually any smart product that reacts to on/off etc. (Garage Door, Smart light bulbs located anywhere [and not just one], Pivot Power Genius). The satisfying click lets a user know the button was pressed and is a quick way to interact with a user's home without having to interact with the screen if a user is on the go.
Motion/Prox Sensor
[MRD-INP-001]
The IR Sensor is how the switch knows a user is coming up to interact. This gives the switch time to wake up and provide a user with the info or control a user needs immediately without a user having to waste time waking the unit up. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any suitable motion or position sensor may be used instead of an IR sensor.
2×Solid State AC Relays
The A/C Relays are switches. The switch is wired to replace 1 or 2 switches with the same SKU. The Relay, when given the signal, switches the local loads on and off. This signal can come from the local buttons, the touch screen, or any other device running the wink app.
AC/DC Converter
The converter may be how the apparatus is powered. The AC power from the gang box is converted to DC.
Temperature & Humidity Sensor
With the inclusion of temp and humidity sensors, a user has more data about their home at their fingertips.
Microphone
[MRD-INP-003]
The microphone gives control opportunity as well as the ability to incorporate an internal intercom system. Voice commands may be used, and other sounds may be recognized (doors opening/closing, dogs barking, etc.).
Speaker
[MRD-OUT-001]
As with the microphone, the speaker may allow for intercom operability as well as give the device a personality and voice, as well as reminders and audible alerts.
Further technical details of one or more exemplary embodiments are provided below.
Exemplary Structure
An exemplary embodiment may comprise:
The device may attempt to fit into a North American single gang and double gang wall receptacle
Exemplary Installation Method
The device may provide three positions for the power box to be placed—to right, center, or to left.
A. Exemplary Hardware Functional Block Diagram
The block diagram depicted in
The device may use a Freescale i.MX6 family processor supporting Android OS framework. [PR-001] (PR citations refer to TABLE 2 below).
Exemplary System Memory—Host
The device may support the following system memory [PR-002]:
Exemplary WiFi/Bluetooth [MRD-COM-001] [MRD-COM-002]
Exemplary Zigbee Functionality [MRD-COM-003] [MRD-SW-003]
Exemplary TFT-LCD Module with Touch [MRD-DISP-001]
Exemplary Motion/Proximity Sensor [MRD-INP-001]
Exemplary Temperature and Humidity Sensors
Exemplary Microphone and Speaker [MRD-INP-003] [MRD-OUT-001]
The analog microphone and speaker may be interfaced with the Audio codec to the i.MX6 processor to provide intercom and voice notification feature. [PR-016]
Exemplary AC-Relay Switch
Exemplary AC-DC Power Supply Unit
Exemplary Mechanical Design
User I/O Interfaces
Single/Double Gangbox Real Estate
Mechanical Buttons
The single gang box design may have two mechanical switches supporting following requirements [PR-021]:
The device itself may have the two buttons to the right and programmable to control either the local load or other functions within the home.
The device may have terminals for 2 loads; in a single-gang configuration, one may be empty.
The single gangbox design with two switches is the nominal case. The nominal design may provide expandability support for the 3- and 4-gang plates.
The mechanical button may, for example, have a feel similar to Omron's B3F-4005 tactile switch.
The operating force may be, for example, 260 g.
The size of the switch may be, for example, 12.5 mm×12.5 mm.
The dome of the switch may be, for example, 8.4 mm in diameter.
Those skilled in the art will understand that the listed components and materials, and the specific configuration depicted, are intended to be exemplary only, and that other configurations, components, and materials may be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure. More generally, while certain exemplary aspects and embodiments have been described herein, many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, exemplary aspects and embodiments set forth herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 61/969,725, filed Mar. 24, 2014, entitled “Control Apparatus and Related Methods.” The entire contents of that application, including the appendices, are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61969725 | Mar 2014 | US |
