Portable thermostat systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10955162-B2
Application number	US-201815925535-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2018
Priority date	Mar 7, 2018
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a thermostat including a control base configured to couple with and support a portable thermostat, wherein the control base is configured to determine a measure of an environmental condition of a local environment of the control base and communication circuitry of the control base configured to communicate the measure to facilitate control of an HVAC system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A thermostat system, comprising:
a portable thermostat configured to measure a first environmental condition of a first local environment of the portable thermostat, wherein the portable thermostat includes a user interface configured to receive, via selection of a user-selectable indicator displayed on the user interface, an input identifying the portable thermostat as a primary device of the thermostat system, wherein the user-selectable indicator is configured to indicate whether the portable thermostat is the primary device;
a control base configured to couple with and support the portable thermostat and to measure a second environmental condition of a second local environment of the control base; and
communication circuitry of the control base configured to control operation of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system based on the first environmental condition of the first local environment when the portable thermostat is identified as the primary device and to control operation of the HVAC system based on the second environmental condition of the second local environment when the portable thermostat is not identified as the primary device.

2. The thermostat system of claim 1 , wherein the control base comprises a first temperature sensor and a first humidity sensor, and wherein the portable thermostat comprises a second temperature sensor and a second humidity sensor.

3. The thermostat system of claim 1 , wherein the first local environment of the portable thermostat is different than the second local environment of the control base.

4. The thermostat system of claim 1 , wherein the control base is configured to supply power to the portable thermostat when the portable thermostat is coupled to the control base.

5. The thermostat system of claim 1 , wherein the control base is configured to be communicatively coupled to a mobile device and to receive a signal from the mobile device, wherein the control base is configured to adjust a set-point temperature and/or change a mode of operation of the HVAC system based on the signal received from the mobile device.

6. The thermostat system of claim 1 , wherein the user-selectable indicator is a first user-selectable indicator, wherein the user interface includes a second indicator configured to indicate a measured value of the first environmental condition of the first local environment.

7. The thermostat system of claim 1 , wherein the user-selectable indicator is a first user-selectable indicator, wherein the user interface includes a second indicator configured to indicate a location of the portable thermostat, and wherein the location is associated with a set-point value for the first environmental condition.

8. The thermostat system of claim 7 , wherein the location is a first location and the set-point value is a first set-point value, wherein the second indicator is configured to indicate a second location of the portable thermostat, wherein the second location is associated with a second set-point value for the first environmental condition, wherein the second indicator is configured to indicate either the first location or the second location based on an additional input received via the user interface, and wherein, when the portable thermostat is identified as the primary device, the communication circuitry of the control base is configured to:
control operation of the HVAC system to condition the first local environment based on the first set-point value when the first location is selected via the user interface; and
control operation of the HVAC system to condition the first local environment based on the second set-point value when the second location is selected via the user interface.

9. The thermostat system of claim 1 , wherein the portable thermostat is configured to coordinate with the control base and/or additional control bases of the thermostat system to detect a location of the portable thermostat.

10. The thermostat system of claim 9 , wherein the portable thermostat is configured to transition from control of a first HVAC unit to control of a second HVAC unit based on detection of a transition of the portable thermostat from a first location to a second location.

11. The thermostat system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of control bases configured to communicate wirelessly with the portable thermostat, wherein the plurality of control bases includes the control base.

12. A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
a control system configured to control operation of the HVAC system;
a portable thermostat of the control system configured to measure a first environmental condition of a first local environment of the portable thermostat, wherein the portable thermostat includes a user interface configured to receive, via selection of a user-selectable indicator displayed on the user interface, an input identifying the portable thermostat as a primary device of the control system, wherein the user-selectable indicator is configured to indicate whether the portable thermostat is the primary device; and
a control base of the control system configured to detachably couple to the portable thermostat and determine a second environmental condition of a second local environment of the control base, wherein the control system is configured to control operation of the HVAC system based on the first environmental condition of the first local environment when the portable thermostat is identified as the primary device and to control operation of the HVAC system based on the second environmental condition of the second local environment when the portable thermostat is not identified as the primary device.

13. The HVAC system of claim 12 , wherein the portable thermostat comprises a first temperature sensor and a first humidity sensor configured to measure a first temperature and a first humidity level, respectively, of the first local environment, and wherein the control base comprises a second temperature sensor and a second humidity sensor configured to measure a second temperature and a second humidity level, respectively, of the second local environment.

14. The HVAC system of claim 12 , wherein the portable thermostat comprises a kickstand configured to support the portable thermostat on a surface in an upright position.

15. The HVAC system of claim 12 , wherein the control base is configured to charge a battery of the portable thermostat while the portable thermostat is mounted to the control base.

16. The HVAC system of claim 12 , wherein the portable thermostat comprises a charging port configured to receive power while the portable thermostat is detached from the control base.

17. The HVAC system of claim 12 , wherein the portable thermostat comprises a depression disposed within a rear surface of the portable thermostat, wherein the control base comprises an engagement feature configured to be disposed within the depression when the portable thermostat is mounted to the control base.

18. The HVAC system of claim 12 , wherein the portable thermostat comprises a first magnet and the control base comprises a second magnet, wherein the first magnet is configured to engage with the second magnet when the thermostat is mounted to the control base.

19. The thermostat system of claim 1 , wherein the portable thermostat, the control base, or both are configured to be communicatively coupled to a mobile device and to receive a signal from the mobile device identifying the portable thermostat as the primary

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Gillette Theresa N
• Burns Jonathan A

Classifications

• F24F11/56

  Remote control · CPC title

• F24D5/12 Primary

  using heat pumps · CPC title

• G05D23/1934

  each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means · CPC title

• F24F2110/20

  Humidity · CPC title

• G05D23/1905

  associated with tele control · CPC title