Patent Application
20120251963
Thermostats and other temperature control devices are often utilized in households to control and otherwise regulate the temperature and/or airflow provided by a residential or commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. An exemplary thermostat may include, a temperature-sensitive switch or sensor that controls a space conditioning unit or system that may be part of a typical HVAC system. For example, when the sensor or switch detects that the indoor temperature drops below or rises above a threshold; the switch or sensor toggles to an ON-position and communicates a temperature signal to the thermostat. The temperature signal causes the thermostat to activate a furnace or air conditioner to drive the indoor temperature to the threshold. Adjustments to the thermostat threshold may be implemented manually via controls provided on the device itself or may be implemented remotely via a communication interface.
Remote adjustment or control of a thermostat threshold may be accomplished utilizing a wired or wireless communication interface or module coupled to or in communication with the thermostat. For example, a control signal including a temperature threshold adjustment value may be received by the wired or wireless communication interface or module and provided to the thermostat. The thermostat may, in turn, utilize the temperature threshold adjustment value to change the thermostat threshold, which causes the furnace or air conditioner to operate and drive the indoor temperature to the adjusted threshold.
The disclosed embodiments generally relate to thermostats and more particularly to thermostats configured to provide environmental and emergency control of an environmental control device or other heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) component.
In one embodiment, a thermostat control device is disclosed. The thermostat control device includes a temperature sensor, a cartridge sensor and a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the cartridge sensor. The controller further includes a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing processor executable instructions configured to: generate a furnace control signal in response to a temperature sensor signal; analyze a cartridge sensor signal received from the cartridge sensor against a threshold; and generate, if the cartridge sensor signal exceeds the threshold, an emergency furnace shutdown signal.
In another embodiment, a thermostat control system is disclosed. The thermostat control system includes a thermostat device having a temperature sensor, a communication module and a controller. The controller configured to generate a furnace control signal in response to a temperature sensor signal, analyze a carbon monoxide sensor signal received, via the communication module, from the carbon monoxide sensor with respect to a threshold, and generate, if the carbon monoxide sensor signal exceeds the threshold, an emergency furnace shutdown signal. The thermostat control system further includes a safety device in communication with the thermostat device, the safety including a carbon monoxide sensor, and a communication module configured to communicate the carbon monoxide sensor signal to communication module portion of the thermostat device.
In yet another embodiment, a method of environmental control utilizing a thermostat in communication with an environmental control device and a sensing device is disclosed. The method includes analyzing a temperature control signal, wherein the temperature control signal represents a physical temperature substantially adjacent to the thermostat, generating an environmental control signal in response to the received temperature sensor signal, wherein the environmental control signal is provided to the environmental control device, receiving, at the thermostat, a sensor signal from the sensing device; analyzing the received sensor signal with respect to a threshold; and generating, if the received sensor signal exceeds the threshold, an emergency environmental control shutdown signal, wherein the environmental control signal is provided to the environmental control device.
Other embodiments are disclosed, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination. Additional features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures.
The present disclosure generally relates to residential and commercial environmental monitoring and control systems and more particularly to a residential or commercial thermostat control device configured to monitor air quality within a residence or commercial space and, in response to the monitored air quality, control a furnace or other environmental control device. In another configuration, the thermostat control device incorporates a cartridge sensor with may be configured to cooperate with, for example, a removable carbon dioxide sensor cartridge. In yet another configuration, the thermostat control device is configured to communicate with one or more remote sensors or safety devices.
The housing 102 may be configured or designed to support a display 104. The display 104 may be a resistive or capacitive touchscreen display capable of receiving one or more user inputs via interaction with a surface of the touchscreen. The display 104 may be, for example, a high-resolution color display, a low-power e-ink display provided by E Ink Corporation of Cambridge, Mass. and/or may operate in different display modes based on ambient lighting conditions, time of day, season of the year or other environmental factors. The display 104 may be configured to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) and provide a user with one or more pieces of relevant environmental information 106 received from a communicatively connected processor 304 and memory module 306.
The housing 102 may further include a plurality of controls 112 carried therein. The plurality of controls 112 may be any buttons, switches or other touch sensitive devices or sensors. In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of controls 112 includes temperature control buttons 112a and 112b. The temperature control button 112a is configured to increase the temperature corresponding to a temperature set point 806b (see
The top view further illustrates a sensor compartment 204 sized to support and protect the sensor 108. For example, the sensor compartment 204 may be configured to accept a removable sensor or sensor cartridge. Removable sensors or sensor cartridges may be configured to detect toxins, impurities, or dangerous levels of other gases within range of the sensor. For example, the thermostat control device 100 may be configured to carry and cooperate with a removable carbon monoxide sensor 108. In another embodiment or configuration, the thermostat control device 100 may be configured to carry and cooperate with an alternate removable sensor 108 configured to detect, for example, radon gas, carbon dioxide levels (CO2), toxic chemicals or other potential hazards. In this way, the thermostat control device 100 may be configured or tailored based on a given environment or user need.
The thermostat control device 100 may include a processor 304 in communication with the bus 302. The processor 304 in one embodiment may be a computer processor configured to execute a computer and/or control program stored in a memory module 306. The memory module 306 is shown in communication with the processor 304 via the bus 302. For example, the memory module 306 may be configured to store temperature control programs, routines or other information utilized or executable by the processor 304. The processor 304 may further be configured to provide or drive the display 104 via the bus 302. The processor 304 may, in turn, generate and/or update the plurality of information 106 shown on the display 104 and discussed in connection with exemplary
An audio module 308 may be in communications with the processor 304. The audio module 308 may include one or more speakers, buzzers and other vibratory indicators. The processor 304 may drive or otherwise control the audio module 308 to provide a user with an indication of an alert or other event.
A temperature sensor 310 may be configured to directly measure the air temperature around the thermostat control device 100. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 310 may be configured to process temperature data, humidity information or other data directly detected or received via a communication module 312.
The communication module 312 may be a wired or wireless communication module configured to communicate with automation components, environmental control systems or other elements in communication with the residential or commercial structure. For example, the communication module 312 may be configured to communicate via a powerline network, an Ethernet network, a two-wire network or other known networking configuration. In another embodiment, the communication module 312 may be configured to communicate according to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee or other known radio communications protocol such as the IEEE 802.xx protocols. In yet other embodiments, the communications module 312 may be configured for both wired and wireless communications for increased flexibility.
A communications port 314 may be directly and/or electrically connected to an I/O module 316. The I/O module 316 and the bus 302 serve to communicatively couple the communication module 312 to the communications port 314. The I/O module 316 includes a main or master connector 318 configured to receive power and communicate information with a furnace or other environmental control device (not shown). The I/O module 316 further includes an emergency connector 320 configured to communicate with the master shutoff circuit of the furnace or other environmental control device.
The emergency connector 320 may be utilized by the processor 304 in conjunction with a carbon monoxide sensor 322. The carbon monoxide sensor 322, in turn, may be coupled to a carbon monoxide cartridge 324. In this embodiment, the carbon monoxide sensor 322 represents any device or mechanism necessary to detect changes in the carbon monoxide levels within a room or other area monitored by the thermostat control device 100. Moreover, the carbon monoxide sensor 322 may further include any programming or circuitry necessary to gather, organize and/or queue the detected changes. The carbon monoxide cartridge 324 may be a removable cartridge corresponding to removable sensor 108, which could be accessed through, for example, the sensor compartment 204 shown in
In another exemplary embodiment, the carbon monoxide sensor 322 may include a light or an optical sensor configured to detect the color change in the opti-chemical pad and communicate an alarm signal to the processor 304 when the detected color change corresponds to a predetermined concentration level of carbon dioxide (e.g., 100 parts per million) in proximity to the carbon monoxide cartridge 324 (e.g., at the grate 110 of the housing 102).
In another exemplary embodiment, the opti-chemical pad may be a removable or replaceable pad protected by and encapsulated in a carbon dioxide gas permeable silicone coating. Alternatively, the carbon monoxide cartridge 324 may comprise a removable cartridge of synthetic hemoglobin that darkens in color when carbon monoxide is present and lightens in color when carbon monoxide concentrations are low (e.g., less than 100 parts per million).
In yet another embodiment, the carbon monoxide sensor 322 may be a biomimetic sensor, such as an opto-chemical or gel sensor configured to detect the color change in the synthetic hemoglobin of the carbon monoxide cartridge 324.
In another embodiment, the carbon monoxide cartridge 324 may be an electrochemical cell sized to removably couple or fit within the sensor compartment 204. The electrochemical cell includes a cell container configured to support or position a gas permeable membrane that forms a surface of the cell container nearest the grate 110 when the cell container is carried or supported within the sensor compartment 204. The exemplary electrochemical cell further includes a carbon monoxide and oxygen diffusion barrier disposed directly beneath and/or in fluid communication with the gas permeable membrane forming the surface of the cell container. In this exemplary embodiment, the electrochemical cell may also include a first electrode or anode (also referenced as the “sensing electrode”) and a second electrode or cathode. The sensing electrode is attached to the cell container and disposed substantially adjacent to the grate 110 beneath and in the diffusion barrier. The sensing electrode is configured to consume or react to the presence of carbon monoxide that diffused through the diffusion barrier from the air near the grate 110. The cathode is similarly disposed beneath and in the diffusion barrier relative to the sensing electrode (and, thus, may also face the grate 110). The cathode electrode is configured to consume or react to the presence of oxygen in the diffusion barrier. The diffusion barrier may comprise, include or otherwise support a sulfuric acid component. When carbon monoxide diffuses into the diffusion barrier to the sensing electrode, the carbon monoxide oxidizes to create a potential difference between the sensing electrode and the cathode. The potential difference results in a current flow between the two electrodes that is proportional to the amount of carbon monoxide present at the first or sensing electrode.
In this embodiment, the carbon monoxide sensor 322 is configured to measure or read the current flow between the cathode and the sensing electrode when the cartridge 324 is inserted in the compartment 204. The carbon monoxide sensor 322 may communicate: (1) the current value as a signal to the processor 304 for generating an alarm when the current value reaches a predetermined level or threshold corresponding to a pre-determined concentration of carbon monoxide; or (2) an alarm signal to the processor 304 when the current value reaches the predetermined level or threshold.
In another embodiment, the carbon monoxide sensor 322 and the carbon monoxide cartridge 324 may together comprise a semiconductor carbon monoxide detector. In this embodiment, the carbon monoxide cartridge 324 is a packaged semiconductor sensor element (not shown) that includes at least two layers of thin tin dioxide wires disposed on an insulating ceramic base. The carbon monoxide sensor 322, in this exemplary embodiment, is an integrated circuit that includes a heating source adapted to connect to and heat the tin dioxide wires when the carbon monoxide cartridge 324 is inserted into the sensor compartment 204.
The heating source of the carbon monoxide sensor 322 may, in turn, be configured to heat the tin dioxide wire layers to approximately 400 degrees Celcius (° C.) or higher to cause the sensing element of the carbon monoxide cartridge 324 to effectively sense carbon monoxide at or near the grate 110. When the sensing element of the carbon monoxide cartridge 324 is heated, oxygen at or near the grate 110 increases resistance of the tin dioxide wires, but carbon monoxide at or near the grate 110 reduces resistance of the sensing element. The integrated circuit of the carbon monoxide sensor 322 also includes a resistance sensitive input configured to connect to the tin dioxide wires of the sensing element of the carbon monoxide cartridge 324 when it is inserted in the sensor compartment 204. When the resistance sensitive input is connected to the tin oxide wires of the sensing element, the carbon monoxide sensor 322 measures the resistance of the sensing element and compares the measured resistance to a pre-determined resistance corresponding to a pre-determined threshold concentration of carbon monoxide near the grate 110. In this implementation, the carbon monoxide sensor 322 may communicate: (1) the measured resistance as a signal to the processor 304 for generating an alarm when the measured resistance reaches the pre-determined resistance corresponding to the predetermined threshold of concentration of carbon monoxide near the gate 110; or (2) an alarm signal to the processor 304 when the measured resistance reaches the predetermined threshold.
In operation, the carbon monoxide sensor 322 may communicate carbon monoxide levels or information to the processor 304 as described herein. The processor 304 may, in turn, evaluate the received sensor data against carbon monoxide thresholds, historical trends, or other set points. If the carbon monoxide levels are determined to exceed a given threshold and/or provide a danger, the processor 304 may institute an emergency shutdown of the furnace or environmental control device via the emergency connector 320. For example, when a dangerous carbon monoxide level is detected, the processor 304 may implement an emergency routine 336 stored in the memory module 306 (see
The thermostat control device 100 may further include a power supply module 326 which may receive power from the main connector 318 via the bus 302. The power supply module 326 may then be configured to convert, modulate, or otherwise condition the power supplied to the various modules and elements within the device. A battery module 328 may correspond to the battery 202 shown in
In an embodiment, one of the memory blocks or routines may be a data analysis routine 330. The data analysis routine 330 may be programmed to receive, organize and process data and information from, for example, the CO sensor 322, the temperature sensor 310 and/or the touchscreen portion of the display 104. The memory module 306 may further include a display routine 332 executable by the processor 304. A data storage/RAM 332 may be configured to store sensor and analysis data and provide a swap file for use by the processor 304. The memory module 306 may further include a dedicated ROM and/or operating system 334 which can provide the platform upon which the other blocks or modules execute or operate.
The memory module 306 may further include the emergency routine 336 configured to direct the display 104 to generate a visual warning and the audio module 308 to sound an auditory warning. The emergency routine 336 may further access the communication module 312 to send an alert or message to a remote installer or maintenance provider. The emergency routine 336 may, in response to instructions from the processor 304, cause a shutdown signal to be communicated to the furnace via the emergency connector 320.
In another embodiment, the memory module 306 may include and execute a power control routine 338. The power control routine 338 may be configured to interface with and control the power supply 326 and the battery module 328. For example, the power control routine 338 can control the charge and discharge of the battery module 328. Alternatively or in addition to, the power control routine 338 may include power usages routines configured to control the power levels of individual modules or routines in response to the power available from the battery module 328 and/or the power supply 326.
The display routine 340 may be programmed to convert the environmental information 106 and/or information from the data analysis routine 330 to instructions and commands necessary to create and display images and graphics on the display 104
A temperature set point 806b stored in the data storage 332 may further be displayed to provide a reference or point of comparison relative to the display temperature 806a. A status 806c of an HVAC or environmental fan may be provided to indicate whether the device is off or running in a manual or automatic mode. Moreover, an HVAC status 806d may be provided to indicate whether the overall HVAC system is off, running in a cooling mode, a heating mode, or is in standby. The HVAC status information 806c and 806d may be received from, for example, the data analysis routine 330 or the data storage 332 and provided to the processor 304.
The display 104 may further provide a graphical battery or power indicator 806e in response to information received from the power control routine 338 via the processor 304. The indicator 806e may be configured to alert a user if an internal battery (not shown) is losing charge, if the device has, or is currently, experiencing a power outage, or any combination thereof. Date, time, season, phase of the moon or other information may be displayed as indicated by the reference 806f. The display 104 may also display a carbon monoxide (CO) level 806g in, for example, parts per million.
The displayed carbon monoxide level 806g may be collected or otherwise detected by a sensor 108 mounted behind a grate 110 integrally formed by the housing 102. The grate 110 may be any mesh or slats configured to allow air, smoke or other fluid to flow substantially adjacent to the sensor 108. Data or information from the sensor 108 may be communicated to the data analysis routine 330 for processing and/or storage in the data storage 332.
While each of the programs or routines 329, 330, 336, 338 and 340 are described as being implemented as software, the present implementation may be implemented as a combination of hardware and software or hardware alone (such as in an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) device). Also, one of skill in the art will appreciate that the thermostat controller 329 when implemented as a program and routines 330, 336, 338 and 340 (as well as other programs that may be described herein) may comprise or may be included in one or more code sections containing instructions for performing respective operations.
In addition, although aspects of one embodiment shown in
Initially, the thermostat controller 329 of the thermostat control device 100 determines whether to initiate an alarm test (step 404) to test the audible and/or carbon monoxide alarm functions of the thermostat control device 100. In one implementation, the thermostat controller 329 initiates an alarm test upon receiving (i) a user alarm test input via a user selection of a pre-determined portion of the touch screen surface of the display 104, (ii) a test input icon (not shown in figures) displayed on the touch screen surface of the display 104 or (iii) a user actuation of the carbon monoxide test button 112c.
If an alarm test is to be initiated, the thermostat controller 329 next activates the test subroutine 402. As part of the test subroutine, the thermostat controller 329 determines whether to perform an audible alarm test, a carbon monoxide alarm test or both (step 406). In one embodiment, the user may be prompted by the thermostat controller 329 to select either an audible alarm test or a carbon monoxide alarm test via a graphically generated button provided on the display 104 or a separate actuation of a button on the housing 102 of the thermostat control device. For example, the user, as indicated by step 408, may signal the thermostat controller 329 to perform a carbon monoxide alarm test subroutine by selectively pressing the carbon monoxide test button 112c.
The user may further select or indicate that only the carbon monoxide sensor is to be tested by providing an input to the thermostat controller 329 (step 410). In response to the selection, test instructions may be provided or generated by the display routine 340 portion of the thermostat controller 329 and displayed via the display 104 as indicated at step 412. These test instructions may be intended to walk the user through the carbon monoxide sensor testing procedure. In another embodiment, the test instruction may include status information related to the current testing procedure, the logged results or a combination of past and current information and results. Upon completion of the testing procedure, the thermostat controller 329 logs or otherwise stores the current information and test results (step 414).
Alternatively, the thermostat controller 329 may implement an audible alarm test as indicated at step 406. The user, at step 416, may signal the thermostat controller 329 to perform an alarm test subroutine by selectively pressing, for example, an alarm test button generated by the display routine 330 and presented on the display 104. The thermostat controller 329 responds to the provided signal and selects or initiates an audible alarm test (step 418).
Subsequently, the thermostat controller 329 directs the display routine 330 to generate an alarm display screen that may be shown on the display 104 to warn the user that the test is in progress (step 420). After the aforementioned precautions have been taken, an audible alarm may be generated by the emergency routine 336 portion of the thermostat controller 329 and broadcast via the audio module 308 at shown in step 422. At step 424 the test results may be logged or otherwise stored by the thermostat controller 329 in a retrievable manner.
Upon completion of the test subroutine 402, the thermostat controller 329 may access the operational subroutine 426 as if it had been originally selected. Alternatively, the thermostat controller 329 may access and/or execute the operational subroutine 426 before or in place of the test subroutine 402.
The thermostat controller 329, via the data analysis routine 330, next evaluates the carbon monoxide levels measured by the carbon monoxide sensor 322 against a carbon monoxide threshold (which may be stored in, for example, the data storage 332) to determine whether a detected carbon monoxide level exceeds the threshold (step 428). If the detected levels exceed the threshold, then a carbon monoxide alarm may be generated by the thermostat controller 329, via the emergency routine 336, to cause a carbon monoxide alarm screen to be displayed on the display 104 (step 430). In addition to the carbon monoxide alarm screen, the thermostat controller 329 may, at step 432, direct the emergency routine 336 to generate an audible alarm signal for broadcast by the audio module 308. In response to a detected carbon monoxide event, the thermostat controller 329 via the emergency routine 336 may communicate a furnace shutdown signal to the furnace via the emergency connector 320 (step 434).
A carbon monoxide alarm notification, such as an e-mail alert or other communication, may be generated by the thermostat controller 329 via the emergency routine 336 as shown at step 536 of
Returning to step 428 of the operational process 400 implemented by the thermostat controller 329, the carbon monoxide levels measured by the car monoxide sensor 322 may be determined by the thermostat controller 329 to be below the assigned threshold. In this instance, the thermostat controller 329 may display the determined carbon monoxide (CO) level 106g via the display 104 as indicated at step 436.
The thermostat controller 329, as shown at step 638 of
If the temperature data is determined to be outside the predefined high limit or low limit thresholds, then the thermostat controller 329 and the emergency routine 336 may activate an alarm active delay timer (step 744). As previously discussed, the alarm active delay timer may be utilized by the thermostat controller 329 to filter out anomalous alarm signals or unwarranted activations by ensuring that the alarm conditions are measured to be continuous before activation. Once the alarm active delay timer is no longer in force, the thermostat controller 329 via the emergency routine 336 may, as indicated at step 746, contact or notify the alarm company support contact of the ongoing carbon monoxide alarm notification.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
