Multi-function thermostat with air quality display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10712038-B2
Application number	US-201815951761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2018
Priority date	Apr 14, 2017
Publication date	Jul 14, 2020
Grant date	Jul 14, 2020

Abstract

An HVAC system within a building includes one or more sensors and a thermostat. The thermostat has a processor that is configured to receive air quality information relating to one or more air quality components. The thermostat is further configured to determine a performance level corresponding to each air quality component. The thermostat is further configured to determine one or more parameter values for each air quality component. The thermostat is further configured to generate an icon that visually represents each air quality component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An HVAC system within a building comprising:
one or more sensors configured to measure air quality within the building; and
a thermostat comprising a processor and a memory, the processor configured to:
receive, from the one or more sensors, air quality information relating to one or more air quality components, the one or more air quality components including at least one of a volatile organic compound level or a carbon dioxide level;
determine a performance level corresponding to each air quality component;
determine one or more icon parameter values for each air quality component based on the corresponding performance level;
generate one or more icons that visually represent each air quality component based on the corresponding icon parameter values; and
present the one or more icons on a display of the thermostat.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more air quality components further include at least one of a carbon monoxide level or a relative humidity level.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more icon parameter values include a color parameter with parameter values corresponding to a set of colors, whereby each color in the set indicates a performance level.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more icon parameter values include a size parameter with parameter values corresponding to a set of icon sizes, whereby each icon size in the set indicates a performance level.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more icon parameter values include a placement parameter with parameter values corresponding to a set of icon placement locations, whereby each icon placement location in the set indicates a performance level.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine a corrective action associated with a performance level of an air quality component, wherein the corrective action represents an action for improving the performance level of the air quality component; and
generate a mitigation icon based on the determined corrective action.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the corrective action includes one or more of the following: opening a window, closing a window, controlling a fan, controlling a humidifier, controlling an electronic air cleanser, and performing maintenance of an HVAC device or appliance.

8. The system of claim 3 , wherein green indicates high performance level of the air quality component, yellow indicates moderate performance of the air quality component, and red indicates poor or unhealthy performance of the air quality component.

9. The system of claim 4 , wherein increasing icon size indicates decreasing performance level.

10. A method of providing visual indications of air quality via a thermostat of an HVAC system within a building comprising:
measuring, by one or more sensors of the HVAC system, air quality within the building;
receiving, by the thermostat, air quality information relating to air quality components from the one or more sensors, the air quality components including a volatile organic compound level and a carbon dioxide level;
determining, by the thermostat, a performance level corresponding to each air quality component;
determining, by the thermostat, one or more icon parameter values for each air quality component based on the corresponding performance level;
generating, by the thermostat, one or more icons that visually represent each air quality component based on the corresponding icon parameter values; and
presenting, by the thermostat, the one or more icons on a display of the thermostat.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more air quality components further include at least one of a carbon monoxide level or a relative humidity level.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more icon parameter values include a color parameter with parameter values corresponding to a set of colors, whereby each color in the set indicates a performance level.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more icon parameter values include a size parameter with parameter values corresponding to a set of icon sizes, whereby each icon size in the set indicates a performance level.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the icon parameters include a placement parameter with parameter values corresponding to a set of icon placement locations, whereby each icon placement location in the set indicates a performance level.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining, by the thermostat, a corrective action associated with a performance level of an air quality component, wherein the corrective action represents an action for improving the performance level of the air quality component; and
generating, by the thermostat, a mitigation icon based on the determined corrective action.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the corrective action includes one or more of the following: opening a window, closing a window, controlling a fan, controlling a humidifier, controlling an electronic air cleanser, and performing maintenance of an HVAC device or appliance.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein green indicates high performance level of the air quality component, yellow indicates moderate performance of the air quality component, and red indicates poor or unhealthy performance of the air quality component.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein increasing icon size indicates decreasing performance level.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more air quality components include an outdoor allergen level.

20. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more air quality components include an outdoor allergen level.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Ribbich Joseph R
• Ploegert Justin J

Classifications

• Y02B30/70

  Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating · CPC title

• F24F11/0001

  for ventilation (F24F11/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24F2110/66

  Volatile organic compounds [VOC] · CPC title

• F24F11/523 Primary

  for displaying temperature data · CPC title

• F24F2110/10

  Temperature · CPC title