# US 12,222,120 B2 · Smart thermostat with model predictive control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,120 B2 - Document ID: US12222120B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/126,057 - Filed: 2023-03-24 - Published: 2023-07-20 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-28 - Assignees: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH - Applicants: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH - Inventors: Robert D. Turney; Matthew J. Ellis; Michael J. Wenzel; Mohammad N. Elbsat; Juan Esteban Tapiero Bernal; Brennan H. Fentzlaff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222120B2 ## CPC - F24F 11/47: Responding to energy costs - F24F 11/00: Control or safety arrangements - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/52: Indication arrangements, e.g. displays - F24F 11/58: using Internet communication - F24F 11/64: using pre-stored data - F24F 11/89: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices - G05B 13/048: {using a predictor} - G05B 15/02: electric - G05D 23/1904: {variable in time} - G05D 23/1917: {using digital means} - G05D 23/1923: {using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time} - F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving - F24F 11/62: characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values - F24F 11/65: for selecting an operating mode - F24F 2110/10: Temperature - F24F 2110/12: of the outside air - F24F 2130/10: Weather information or forecasts - F24F 2140/50: Load - F24F 2140/60: Energy consumption - G05B 2219/2614: HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES ## Abstract A thermostat for a building zone includes at least one of a model predictive controller and an equipment controller. The model predictive controller is configured to obtain a cost function that accounts for a cost of operating HVAC equipment during each of a plurality of time steps, use a predictive model to predict a temperature of the building zone during each of the plurality of time steps, and generate temperature setpoints for the building zone for each of the plurality of time steps by optimizing the cost function subject to a constraint on the predicted temperature. The equipment controller is configured to receive the temperature setpoints generated by the model predictive controller and drive the temperature of the building zone toward the temperature setpoints during each of the plurality of time steps by operating the HVAC equipment to provide heating or cooling to the building zone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermostat system for monitoring and controlling temperature of an environment, the thermostat system comprising: a controller configured to: predict a temperature of the environment for a plurality of time steps as a function of temperature setpoints for a thermostat; generate the temperature setpoints for the thermostat by performing an optimization subject to a constraint on the temperature using a utility rate; and provide at least a first temperature setpoint of the temperature setpoints to the thermostat via a communications network; wherein the thermostat is configured to drive the temperature of the environment toward the first temperature setpoint during a corresponding time step of the plurality of time steps by operating HVAC equipment to provide heating or cooling to the environment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermostat system of claim 1, wherein performing the optimization comprises optimizing a predicted resource usage of the HVAC equipment or performing the optimization comprises optimizing a cost of operating the HVAC equipment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermostat system of claim 1, wherein the utility rate includes a peak rate charge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermostat system of claim 1, wherein the thermostat is configured to: receive user-provided temperature setpoints via a local user interface of the thermostat or a mobile device in communication with the thermostat; and in response to receiving the user-provided temperature setpoints, override the temperature setpoints generated by the controller with the user-provided temperature setpoints and use the user-provided temperature setpoints to operate the HVAC equipment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermostat system of claim 1, wherein the temperature setpoints are chosen to precool or preheat the environment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermostat system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: predict the temperature of the environment using a predictive model; and generate the predictive model by: modulating the temperature setpoints during a plurality of time steps of a learning period; collecting a set of input-output data comprising values of the temperature setpoints and values of the temperature of the environment that result from modulating the temperature setpoints; and training the predictive model using the set of input-output data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermostat system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to predict the temperature of the environment using a thermal mass storage model that defines the temperature of the environment as a function of heat transfer between air within the environment and solid mass within the environment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The thermostat system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to predict the temperature of the environment as a function of at least one of a weather forecast or a heat load disturbance experienced by the environment. ### Claim 9 A thermostat system for monitoring and controlling temperature of a building zone, the thermostat system comprising: an equipment controller configured to drive the temperature of the building zone toward a temperature setpoint by operating HVAC equipment to provide heating or cooling to the building zone; and a first controller configured to determine the temperature setpoint by: using a model to predict a temperature of air within the building zone for a plurality of time steps during a time period; and determining temperature setpoints for the plurality of time steps subject to a constraint on the temperature of air within the building zone and utility rates. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The thermostat system of claim 9, wherein determining the temperature setpoints for the plurality of time steps comprises performing an optimization of resource consumption of the HVAC equipment subject to the constraint. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The thermostat system of claim 9, wherein determining the temperature setpoints for the plurality of time steps comprises performing an optimization using peak demand information. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The thermostat system of claim 9, wherein the equipment controller is configured to: receive user-provided temperature setpoints via a local user interface of a thermostat or a mobile device in communication with the thermostat; and in response to receiving the user-provided temperature setpoints, override the temperature setpoints generated by the first controller with the user-provided temperature setpoints and use the user-provided temperature setpoints to operate the HVAC equipment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The thermostat system of claim 9, wherein the first controller is separate from the equipment controller and is connected to the equipment controller through the internet, the equipment controller being a smart thermostat. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The thermostat system of claim 9, wherein the first controller is configured to generate a predictive model by modulating the temperature setpoints during a plurality of time steps of a learning period; collecting a set of input-output data comprising values of the temperature setpoints and values of the temperature of the building zone that result from modulating the temperature setpoints; and training the predictive model using the set of input-output data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The thermostat system of claim 14, wherein the predictive model is a grey-box model. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The thermostat system of claim 9, wherein the first controller is configured to receive a weather forecast and use the weather forecast as an input to a predictive model. ### Claim 17 A method for monitoring and controlling temperature of an environment, the method comprising: predicting, by a controller, a temperature of the environment for a plurality of time steps as a function of temperature setpoints for a thermostat; generating, by the controller, the temperature setpoints for the thermostat by performing an optimization subject to a constraint on the temperature using a utility rate; providing, by the controller, at least a first temperature setpoint of the temperature setpoints to the thermostat via a communications network; driving, by the thermostat, the temperature of the environment toward the first temperature setpoint during a corresponding time step of the plurality of time steps by operating HVAC equipment to provide heating or cooling to the environment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein performing the optimization comprises optimizing a predicted resource usage of the HVAC equipment or performing the optimization comprises optimizing a cost of operating the HVAC equipment. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the utility rate includes a peak rate charge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising by the thermostat: receiving user-provided temperature setpoints via a local user interface of the thermostat or a mobile device in communication with the thermostat; and in response to receiving the user-provided temperature setpoints, overriding the temperature setpoints generated by the controller with the user-provided temperature setpoints and using the user-provided temperature setpoints to operate the HVAC equipment.