Controller Set Point Adjustment Based on Outdoor Temperature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290672-A1
Application number	US-201514678169-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 3, 2015
Priority date	Apr 1, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of apparatus and methods for adjusting controller set points based on outdoor temperature. In an exemplary embodiment, a climate control system controller for providing climate control in a structure includes a processor and memory configured to obtain adjusted heating and cooling set point values determined by combining adjustment amounts with heating and cooling set points set for the climate control system. The adjustment amounts are determined in accordance with deviations of sensed outdoor ambient temperature (OAT) values from an intermediate OAT value predefined in a range of OAT values. The controller, in response to sensed outdoor temperatures in the range of OAT values, controls heating and cooling in the structure in accordance with the adjusted heating and cooling set point values.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A climate control system controller for providing climate control in a structure, the controller comprising:
a processor and memory configured to: obtain adjusted heating and cooling set point values determined by combining adjustment amounts with heating and cooling set points set for the climate control system, the adjustment amounts determined in accordance with deviations of sensed outdoor ambient temperature (OAT) values from an intermediate OAT value predefined in a range of OAT values; the controller configured to, in response to sensed outdoor temperatures in the range of OAT values, control heating and cooling in the structure in accordance with the adjusted heating and cooling set point values.

2 . The controller of claim 1 , further configured to control the heating and cooling in accordance with an adjustment function predefining the adjustment amounts.

3 . The controller of claim 2 , wherein the adjustment function includes one or more of the following: a linear function, a power function, an exponential function, and an inverted function.

4 . The controller of claim 1 , comprised by a thermostat of the climate control system.

5 . The controller of claim 1 , further configured to receive the sensed outdoor temperatures from one or more of the following: an outdoor temperature sensor in communication with the controller, a sensor remote from the climate control system, and a computer remote from the climate control system.

6 . The controller of claim 1 , configured to make available a plurality of adjustment functions for selection therefrom by one or more of the following: a user, a utility, and a utility provider.

7 . An apparatus for providing climate control in a structure, the apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to control heating and cooling in the structure; and a processor and memory configured to:
receive a sensed outdoor ambient temperature (OAT) value;
determine an adjustment amount based on the sensed OAT value and in accordance with an adjustment function defining adjustment amounts for adjusting heating and cooling set points based on deviations of sensed OAT from an intermediate temperature value in a range of OAT values; and
combine the determined adjustment amount with the value of a heating or cooling set point set for the structure, to obtain an adjusted set point value;
the controller further configured to control the heating or cooling in accordance with the adjusted set point value.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the intermediate temperature value is between a plurality of OAT values associated with heating and a plurality of OAT values associated with cooling.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the processor and memory are comprised by one or more of the following: the controller, a thermostat, a computer remote from the structure, and a mobile user device.

10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the adjustment function includes one or more of the following: a linear function, a power function, an exponential function, and an inverted function.

11 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the adjustment function is one of a plurality of adjustment functions for selection therefrom by one or more of the following: a user, a utility, and a utility provider.

12 . The apparatus of claim 7 , configured to receive the sensed outdoor ambient temperature (OAT) value from one or more of the following: an outdoor temperature sensor in communication with the controller, a sensor remote from the controller, and a computer remote from the controller.

13 . A method performed by an apparatus for providing climate control in a structure, the method comprising:
adjusting a heating or cooling set point value for control of temperature inside a structure, the adjusting performed in accordance with an adjustment function defining adjustment amounts by which to adjust heating and cooling set point values in accordance with deviation of sensed outdoor ambient temperature (OAT) from an intermediate temperature value between a plurality of OAT values associated with heating and a plurality of OAT values associated with cooling; and in response to sensed outdoor ambient temperature (OAT), controlling heating or cooling inside the structure using the adjusted heating or cooling set point.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising sensing the OAT, the sensing performed by one or more of the following: an outdoor temperature sensor in communication with a controller of the apparatus local to the structure, a sensor remote from a controller of the apparatus local to the structure, and a computer remote from the structure.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising making the adjustment function available as one of a plurality of adjustment functions available for selection therefrom by one or more of the following: a user, a utility, and a utility provider.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving user input for configuring the adjustment function, the receiving performed via a user interface.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the controlling is performed by a controller local to the structure, and the adjusting is performed at least in part by one or more computers remote from the structure.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the controller is a thermostat.

19 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
determining, at the structure, that an adjusted heating or cooling set point is not available for use in performing the controlling; and in response to the determining, controlling the heating or cooling using a set point available locally at the structure.

20 . The method of claim 19 , performed by a thermostat of the apparatus.

Assignees

• Emerson Electric Co

Inventors

• Arensmeier Jeffrey N

Classifications

• F24F11/63

  Electronic processing · CPC title

• F24F11/52

  Indication arrangements, e.g. displays · CPC title

• F24F11/58

  using Internet communication · CPC title

• F24F11/46 Primary

  Improving electric energy efficiency or saving · CPC title

• F24F11/30 Primary

  for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring · CPC title