Method and apparatus for intelligent temperature control
AssigneeUniversal Electronics Inc.
InventorThomas Thibault
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various ways to control the ambient temperature of a room in a structure are described. In one embodiment, a method for intelligently controlling an ambient room temperature in a structure is described, comprising receiving a future outdoor temperature forecast related to a geographic area where the structure is located, and altering a temperature profile for controlling the ambient room temperature based on the future outdoor temperature forecast.
Claims10
1-12. (canceled)
A system for intelligently controlling an ambient room temperature in a structure, comprising:
- an HVAC system;
- and
- a thermostat comprising:
- a network interface;
- a memory for storing processor-executable instructions and a user-defined setpoint, the user-defined setpoint comprising a desired temperature, a desired time when the desired temperature should be achieved, and a default ramp start time;
- and
- a processor coupled to the network interface and the memory, for executing the processor-executable instructions that cause the processor to:
- receive, via the network interface, a future outdoor forecast related to a geographic area where the structure is located;
- alter the default ramp start time based on the future outdoor forecast;
- and
- cause the HVAC system to begin heating or cooling the structure at the altered default ramp start time.
A system for intelligently controlling an ambient room temperature in a structure, comprising:
- an HVAC system;
- one or more temperature sensors located within the structure;
- and
- a controller comprising:
- a network interface;
- a memory for storing processor-executable instructions and a user-defined setpoint, the user-defined setpoint comprising a desired temperature, a desired time when the desired temperature should be achieved, and a default ramp start time;
- and
- a processor coupled to the one or more temperature sensors, the network interface, and the memory, for executing the processor-executable instructions that cause the processor to:
- receive, via the network interface, current weather conditions including local outdoor temperatures;
- receive, from the one or more temperature sensors, one or more indoor temperatures within the structure;
- compare the local outdoor temperatures to the one or more indoor temperatures over a predetermined time period or on a rolling basis;
- determine, based on the comparison, an insulation metric for predicting how an indoor temperature within the structure will be affected by outdoor temperatures;
- receive, via the network interface, a future outdoor temperature forecast related to a geographic area where the structure is located;
- alter the default ramp start time based on the future outdoor temperature forecast and the insulation metric;
- and
- cause the HVAC system to begin heating or cooling the structure at the altered default ramp start time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.