HVAC control system encouraging energy efficient user behaviors in plural interactive contexts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9732979-B2
Application number	US-201615258422-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2016
Priority date	Dec 31, 2010
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

Methods and devices for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by a thermostat are provided. Input can be received from a user via a thermostat, the input being indicative of an adjustment of an HVAC-related setting. On a real-time basis, the HVAC-related setting that is being adjusted can be compared against a feedback criterion designed to indicate a circumstance under which feedback is to be presented to the user. The circumstance can be indicative of an achievement of a HVAC-related setting of a predetermined responsibility level with respect to an energy usage of the HVAC system. Upon a real-time determination that the feedback criterion is satisfied, visual feedback can be caused to be presented to the user in real-time. The real-time feedback can include a visual icon having a visual appeal corresponding to a desirability of the satisfaction of the feedback criterion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for efficient HVAC control comprising:
an HVAC control device that is configured to control an HVAC system to condition an enclosure, the HVAC control device having a walk-up display that displays information to a user, the display including a first energy efficiency icon that is displayed in response to an on-device temperature change corresponding to an increased degree of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system in conditioning the enclosure, the first energy efficiency icon being displayed to present immediate feedback to the user about the responsible energy usage of the HVAC system;
said HVAC control device being remotely controllable by a mobile device having software that is configured to:
document an energy usage of the HVAC system for the enclosure during one or more historical periods; and
display a second energy efficiency icon for a period of the one or more historical periods when the energy usage of the HVAC system for the period is representative of an environmentally responsible behavior in conditioning the enclosure;

wherein said first and second energy efficiency icons are substantially visually identical in order to positively reinforce to the user the environmentally responsible behavior in conditioning the enclosure.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the software of the mobile device is further configured to display a real time control device that is operable to control the HVAC system to effect a temperature adjustment of the enclosure.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the software of the mobile device is further configured to display a third energy efficiency icon in response to a temperature change effected via the real time control device when said temperature change is representative of an environmentally responsible behavior in conditioning the enclosure.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the third energy efficiency icon is substantially visually identical to the first and second energy efficiency icons in order to positively reinforce the environmentally responsible behavior.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the real time control device and the third energy efficiency icon that are displayed on the mobile device are substantially visually identical to the HVAC control device and the first energy efficiency icon.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a visual representation of the first and second energy efficiency icons is adjustable to indicate a degree of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system in conditioning the enclosure.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the visual representation of the first and second energy efficiency icons are brightened or faded to indicate the degree of responsible energy usage.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second energy efficiency icon is displayed on a schedule or calendar that is representative of the one or more historical periods.

9. A HVAC system comprising:
a control device that is configured to control the HVAC system in order to condition an enclosure, the control device having a display that displays a first energy efficiency icon in response to a temperature change initiated via the control device when the temperature change corresponds to an increased degree of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system in conditioning the enclosure, wherein the first energy efficiency icon is displayed to present immediate feedback about the responsible energy usage of the HVAC system;
said control device being remotely controllable by a mobile device having software that is configured to:
document an energy usage of the HVAC system for the enclosure during one or more historical periods; and
display a second energy efficiency icon when the energy usage of the HVAC system for a period of the one or more historical periods is representative of an environmentally responsible behavior in conditioning the enclosure;

wherein said first and second energy efficiency icons are substantially visually identical in order to visually reinforce the environmentally responsible behavior in conditioning the enclosure.

10. The HVAC system of claim 9 , wherein the software of the mobile device is further configured to display a real time control device that is operable to control the HVAC system to effect a temperature adjustment of the enclosure.

11. The HVAC system of claim 10 , wherein the software of the mobile device is further configured to display a third energy efficiency icon in response to a temperature change effected via the real time control device when said temperature change is representative of an environmentally responsible behavior in conditioning the enclosure.

12. The HVAC system of claim 11 , wherein the third energy efficiency icon is substantially visually identical to the first and second energy efficiency icons in order to positively reinforce the environmentally responsible behavior.

13. The HVAC system of claim 11 , wherein the real time control device and the third energy efficiency icon that are displayed on the mobile device are substantially visually identical to the control device and the first energy efficiency icon.

14. The HVAC system of claim 9 , wherein a visual representation of the first and second energy efficiency icons is adjustable to indicate a degree of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system in conditioning the enclosure.

15. The HVAC system of claim 14 , wherein the visual representation of the first and second energy efficiency icons are brightened or faded to indicate the degree of responsible energy usage.

16. The HVAC system of claim 9 , wherein the second energy efficiency icon is displayed on a schedule or calendar that is representative of the one or more historical periods.

17. A method of encouraging responsible energy usage of an HVAC system, the HVAC system being configured to condition an enclosure and the HVAC system including a control device having an input component and a display, the method comprising:
receiving a first input via the input component of the control device, the first input corresponding to a temperature adjustment of the HVAC system;
determining that said temperature adjustment of the HVAC system corresponds to an increased degree of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system in conditioning the enclosure;
displaying a first energy efficiency icon on the control device in response to said determination in order to present immediate feedback about the responsible energy usage of the HVAC system;
recording an energy usage of the HVAC system for the enclosure during one or more historical periods;
determining that the energy usage of the HVAC system for a period of the one or more historical periods is representative of an environmentally responsible behavior in conditioning the enclosure; and
in response to said determination, displaying a second energy efficiency icon on a mobile device for the period to present feedback about the environmentally responsible behavior of the HVAC system for the period;
wherein said first and second energy efficiency icons are substantially visually identical in order to visually reinforce the environmentally responsible behavior in conditioning the enclosure.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising displaying a real time control device on the mobile device, the real time control device being operable to control the HVAC system to effect a temperature adjustment of the enclosure.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising displaying a third energy efficiency icon on the mobile device in response to a temperature c

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Fadell Anthony Michael
• Matsuoka Yoky
• Sloo David
• Plitkins Michael
• Matas Michael James
• Rogers Matthew Lee
• Fisher Evan J

Classifications

• G06F3/048

  Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title

• G09G2320/0613

  The adjustment depending on the type of the information to be displayed · CPC title

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• F24F11/89

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• F24F11/56

  Remote control · CPC title