Automated adjustment of an HVAC schedule for resource conservation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10317104-B2
Application number	US-201615049899-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2016
Priority date	Apr 19, 2013
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for optimizing a schedule of setpoint temperatures used in the control of an HVAC system. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat includes a schedule of setpoint temperatures that is used to control an HVAC system associated with a structure in which the thermostat is located. The schedule of setpoint temperatures is continually adjusted by small, unnoticeable amounts so that the schedule migrates from the original schedule to an optimal schedule. The optimal schedule may be optimal in terms of energy consumption or some other terms.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of decreasing energy consumption, comprising:
accessing, by a computer processing system, a temperature setpoint schedule for a thermostat that controls an HVAC system that environmentally conditions an enclosure, the temperature setpoint schedule defining a plurality of temperature setpoints over a time period;
for each periodic time interval of a succession of periodic time intervals, generating, by the computer processing system, an adjusted version of the accessed temperature setpoint schedule, wherein:
the adjusted version of the temperature setpoint schedule comprises one or more incremental changes being made to at least a subset of the plurality of temperature setpoints; and
the one or more incremental changes each correspond to less energy usage by the HVAC system during one of the periodic time intervals of the succession of periodic time intervals as compared to a previous one of the periodic time intervals;

for each time interval of the succession of time intervals, determining that a user change to the incrementally adjusted version of the temperature setpoint schedule has not been received via a user input component of the thermostat nor via a computerized access device that communicates with the thermostat via a remote energy management system, wherein:
the thermostat comprises a wireless communication interface that communicates with the remote energy management system; and
the thermostat comprises a wired communication interface in wired communication with the HVAC system; and

for each time interval of the succession of time intervals, controlling, by the thermostat, the HVAC system according to the incrementally adjusted version of the temperature setpoint schedule generated for the corresponding periodic time interval at least partially in response to the user change not being received via the user input component of the thermostat nor via the computerized access device that communicates with the thermostat via the remote energy management system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more incremental changes each causing less energy usage comprises:
activing a heating system of the HVAC system or activating an air conditioner of the HVAC system for a shorter amount of time than if the accessed temperature setpoint schedule was used for controlling the HVAC system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the adjusted version of the temperature setpoint schedule is performed by the thermostat.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the adjusted version of the temperature setpoint schedule is performed by a remote server that communicates with the thermostat via a network.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more incremental changes being made to at least the subset of the plurality of temperature setpoints comprises incrementing each temperature setpoint of the subset of the plurality of temperature setpoints by half of a degree or less.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, during one of the periodic time intervals, a user selection of a current temperature setpoint that is different than a corresponding temperature setpoint of the incrementally adjusted version of the temperature setpoint schedule generated for the periodic time interval; and
causing the HVAC system to be controlled by the thermostat, for at least a certain time period within the one of the periodic time intervals, according to the user selection of the current temperature setpoint rather than the corresponding temperature setpoint of the incrementally adjusted version of the temperature setpoint schedule.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, for one of the periodic time intervals, a user modification to a temperature setpoint of the incrementally adjusted version of the temperature setpoint schedule generated for the one of the periodic time intervals;
incorporating the user modification into incrementally adjusted versions of the temperature setpoint schedule generated for subsequent periodic time intervals; and
for the subsequent periodic time intervals, causing the HVAC system to be controlled by the thermostat based on the incrementally adjusted versions of the temperature setpoint schedule that incorporate the user modification.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein: for each periodic time interval following the one of the periodic time intervals, the incrementally adjusted version of the temperature setpoint schedule is generated by incrementally adjusting the temperature setpoint as defined by the user modification rather than the temperature setpoint as defined by the accessed temperature setpoint schedule.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more incremental changes comprise:
increasing at least the subset of the plurality of temperature setpoints when an air conditioner of the HVAC system is to be used for cooling; and
decreasing at least the subset of the plurality of temperature setpoints when a heating system of the HVAC system is to be used for heating.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer processing system is incorporated as part of the thermostat.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer processing system is incorporated as part of a cloud-based energy management server system.

12. A network-connected system for optimizing operation of an HVAC system, the network-connected system comprising:
a remote energy management system that communicates with a computerized access device;
a thermostat, comprising:
a wireless communication interface that communicates with the remote energy management system; and
a wired communication interface is in wired communication with the HVAC system;

one or more processors; and
a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
access a temperature setpoint schedule for the thermostat that controls the HVAC system that environmentally conditions an enclosure, the temperature setpoint schedule defining a plurality of temperature setpoints over a time period;
for each periodic time interval of a succession of periodic time intervals, generate an adjusted version of the temperature setpoint schedule, wherein:
the adjusted version of the accessed temperature setpoint schedule comprises one or more incremental changes being made to at least a subset of the plurality of temperature setpoints; and
the one or more incremental changes each correspond to less energy usage by the HVAC system during one of the periodic time intervals of the succession of periodic time intervals as compared to a previous one of the periodic time intervals;

for each time interval of the succession of time intervals, determine that a user change to the incrementally adjusted version of the temperature setpoint schedule has not been received via a user input component of the thermostat nor via the computerized access device that communicates with the thermostat via the remote energy management system; and
for each time interval of the succession of time intervals, cause the thermostat to control the HVAC system according to the incrementally adjusted version of the temperature setpoint schedule generated for the corresponding periodic time interval at least partially in response to the user change not being received via the user input component of the thermostat nor via the computerized access device that communicates with the thermostat via the remote energy management system.

13. The network-connected system of cl

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Matsuoka Yoky
• Malhotra Mark
• Fisher Evan

Classifications

• F24F11/65

  for selecting an operating mode · CPC title

• F24F11/52

  Indication arrangements, e.g. displays · CPC title

• G05D23/1917

  using digital means · CPC title

• F24F2120/20

  Feedback from users · CPC title

• F24F2140/60

  Energy consumption · CPC title