Patent Publication Number: US-2015083812-A1

Title: Temperature adjustment system and method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter relates generally to systems and methods for adjusting thermostat temperature settings, and more particularly to systems and methods which facilitate such adjustments based on oven appliance operations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Oven appliances are frequently utilized to in a variety of settings to cook food items. During operation of an oven appliance, and due to the relatively high temperatures generated in the chamber of the oven appliance, the temperature of the area and environment surrounding the oven appliance can experience an increase in temperature. In particular, in residential homes, this increase in temperature can affect for example an entire level of a home, such as an upper level, or the entire home itself. Such temperature increases can be detrimental particularly in the summer, when the air conditioning is typically running to keep home temperatures relatively low. Such temperature increases can also be detrimental in the winter, when the heat is typically running to keep home temperatures relatively higher, due to the possibility of overheating. 
     In typical homes and other indoor settings, thermostats are utilized to regulate the environmental temperature. Such thermostats typically have a sensor within the thermostat that detects the temperature near the thermostat, and the thermostat may react to this temperature by activating either air conditioning or heat to respectively cool or heat the environment, thus lowering or raising the temperature as required. However, due to these sensors being located in the thermostats, the thermostats do not activate cooling or heating until a certain temperature is detected at sensors, while other locations within an indoor setting may meanwhile be experiencing this temperature. This can be uncomfortable to, for example, residents located in areas away from the thermostats. 
     Accordingly, improved systems and methods for adjusting temperature settings in thermostats are desired in the art. In particular, systems and methods that adjust such temperature settings based on operation of oven appliances would be advantageous. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a temperature adjustment system. The system includes an oven appliance sensor in communication with an oven appliance, the oven appliance sensor operable to sense an operation of the oven appliance. The system further includes a thermostat in communication with the oven appliance sensor, the thermostat operable to adjust a temperature setting based on the sensed operation of the oven appliance. 
     In another embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a method for adjusting a thermostat temperature setting. The method includes sensing an operation of an oven appliance, communicating the operation of the oven appliance to the thermostat, and adjusting the thermostat temperature setting based on the sensed operation of the oven appliance. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic of a temperature adjustment system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front, elevation view of an oven appliance in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a method in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of various components of a temperature adjustment system  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, a system  10  may include one or more thermostats  16  and an oven appliance  14 . In general, the present system  10  facilitates operation of the thermostat  12  based on sensed operations of the oven appliance  14 . Thus, when a required operation of the oven appliance  14  is performed, the thermostat  12  may be operated to adjust the thermostat&#39;s temperature setting. Such interaction between the oven appliance  14  and thermostat  12  advantageously prevents an indoor setting, such as a home, from becoming overheated due to rising temperatures proximate the oven appliance  14  but distal from the thermostat  12 . 
     Referring briefly to  FIG. 2 , a front, elevation view of an oven appliance  14  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is provided. Oven appliance  14  includes a door  104  with a handle  106  that provides for opening and closing access to a cooking chamber  105 . A user of the oven appliance  14  can place a variety of different items to be cooked in chamber  105 . A broil or top heating elements and a bake or bottom heating element are positioned at or adjacent the top of chamber  105  and the bottom of chamber  105 , respectively, and provide heat for cooking. Top and bottom heating elements and can be gas burners, electric resistance heating elements, microwave elements, or a combination thereof. Racks (not shown) in chamber  105  can be used to place food items at various levels for cooking. A window  110  on door  104  allows the user to view chamber  105  during the cooking process. 
     Oven appliance  14  includes a user interface  102  having a display  103  and a variety of controls  112 . User interface  102  may be positioned on a top panel  114  of oven appliance  14 . User interface  102  allows the user to select various options for the operation of oven appliance  14  including e.g., temperature, time, and/or various cooking and cleaning cycles. 
     Operation of oven appliance  14  can be regulated by a controller  120  that is operatively coupled or in communication with user interface panel  102 , top and bottom heating elements and other components of oven appliance  14 . As an example, in response to user manipulation of the user interface panel  102 , the controller  120  can operate top and bottom heating elements. The controller  120  can also receive measurements from a temperature sensor  122  within chamber  105  and provide a temperature indication to the user with display  103 . Input/output (“I/O”) signals are routed between the controller and various operational components of appliance  14 , such as top and bottom heating elements, controls  112 , display  103 , sensor(s), alarms, and/or other components as may be provided. In one embodiment, the user interface panel  102  may represent a general purpose I/O (“GPIO”) device or functional block. 
     As will be understood by those skilled in the art, oven appliance  14  is provided by way of example only. Thus, although shown as a single wall oven appliance in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the present subject matter can also be used with other oven appliances. For example, the present subject matter may be used with double wall oven appliances, oven range appliances, etc. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 2 , oven appliance  14  may include an oven appliance sensor  124 . Oven appliance sensor  124  may be in communication with the oven appliance  14  and the thermostat  16 , and may be operable to sense one or more operations of the oven appliance  14 . Various operations may be detected by the sensor  124 . For example, in some embodiments, an operation may be activation of the oven appliance  14 . Thus, when the oven appliance  14  is turned on or off by, for example, user manipulation of the user interface panel  102 , etc., such operation may be sensed by the sensor  124 . Alternatively, an operation may be a temperature setting increase. Thus, when the temperature setting of the oven appliance  14  is increased or decreased, such as for example above or below a predetermined temperature setpoint, by, for example, user manipulation of the user interface panel  102 , etc., such operation may be sensed by the sensor  124 . In further alternative embodiments, an operation may be a cooking mode change, such as from or to bake, broil, or self-clean modes. Thus, when the cooking mode of the oven appliance  14  is changed by, for example, user manipulation of the user interface panel  102 , etc., such operation may be sensed by the sensor  124 . 
     It should be understood that while the various operations discussed above are in the context of operation of the chamber  105  of the oven appliance  14 , the present disclosure is not limited to such operation. Rather, an oven appliance sensor  124  may be operable to sense an operation of one or more chambers  105 , one or more cook-top burners, and/or any other suitable heating component of the oven appliance  14 . 
     It should further be understood that sensor  124  may be in communication with user interface panel  102 , temperature sensor  122 , and/or controller  120 . Further, in some embodiments, sensor  124  may be a component of controller  120 . Alternatively, sensor  124  may be separate from controller  120 . Such communication may be through a suitable wired or wireless connection, as desired or required. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , one or more thermostats  16  may be in communication with the oven appliance sensor  124 , through for example a suitable wired or wireless connection. Oven appliance sensor  124  may thus communicate signals associated with sensed operations of the oven appliance  14  to the thermostat  16 . 
     Thermostat  16  may generally be in communication with heating and/or air conditioning unit(s), and may control operation of these units. For example, the units may be activated by the thermostat  16  as required to adjust, for example, a room temperature to a desired temperature setting of the thermostat. Typically, the thermostat can be set in an air conditioning mode, such that an air conditioning unit operates are required, and a heat mode, such that a heating unit operates as required. 
     Thermostat  16  includes a user interface  202  having a display  203  and a variety of controls  212 . User interface  202  may be positioned on a front face  214  of thermostat  16 . User interface  102  allows the user to select various options for the operation of thermostat  16 , including e.g., temperature, time, and/or various modes, such as heating mode and air conditioning mode. 
     Operation of thermostat  16  can be regulated by a controller  220  that is operatively coupled or in communication with user interface panel  202 , a thermometer or other suitable temperature sensor  222 , and other components of thermostat  16 . As an example, in response to user manipulation of the user interface panel  202 , the controller  220  can operate a heating and/or air conditioning unit as required. The controller  220  can also receive measurements from a temperature sensor  222 , and provide a temperature indication to the user with display  203 . Input/output (“I/O”) signals are routed between the controller and various operational components of thermostat  16 , such as controls  212 , display  203 , sensor(s), alarms, and/or other components as may be provided. In one embodiment, the user interface panel  202  may represent a general purpose I/O (“GPIO”) device or functional block. 
     In exemplary embodiments, controller  220  may receive signals from the oven appliance sensor  124  which correspond to sensed operations of the oven appliance  14 . Thermostat  16  may further be operable to adjust one or more temperature settings, such as for one or more air conditioning and/or heating units, based on the sensed operations of the oven appliance  14 . For example, in some exemplary embodiments, the thermostat  16  may be operable to adjust the temperature setting by a predetermined interval. In these embodiments, when an oven appliance  14  operation is sensed and communicated to the thermostat  16 , the controller  220  may lower the current temperature setting by a predetermined amount, such as for example 2 degrees Fahrenheit. In other exemplary embodiments, the thermostat  16  may be operable to adjust the temperature setting to a predetermined setpoint. In these embodiments, when an oven appliance  14  operation is sensed and communicated to the thermostat  16 , the controller  220  may lower the current temperature setting to a predetermined temperature, such as for example to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     It should be understood that any suitable adjustment operation by the thermostat  16  may be performed in the air conditioning mode and/or the heating mode, as desired or required. Various setpoints and set intervals may be utilized for various thermostat  16  modes, such that for example a setpoint and/or set interval for an air conditioning mode is independent from a setpoint and/or set interval for a heating mode. It should further be understood that such setpoint and set intervals may be determined during manufacture of the thermostat  16  and/or input by a user of the thermostat  16 . 
     A change in thermostat  16  temperature setting due to adjustment of the thermostat  16  based on a sensed operation of the oven appliance  14  may remain for either a predetermined period of time or until the sensed operation has ceased. For example, in some embodiments, when an adjustment occurs, the new temperature setting may remain for a predetermined number of minutes, hours, etc. In other embodiments, when an adjustment occurs, the new temperature setting may remain until the sensed operation of the oven appliance  14  has ceased. 
     As discussed, the thermostat  16  may be in communication with the oven appliance  14  and sensor  124  thereof, such as through a suitable wired or wireless connection. In some exemplary embodiments, the sensor  124  and thermostat  16  may be in direct communication, as indicated in  FIG. 1  by reference arrow  20 , such that signals are transmitted directly from the sensor  124  to the thermostat  16  through a suitable wired or wireless connection. In other embodiments, the sensor  124  and thermostat  16  may be in direct communication, as indicated in  FIG. 1  by reference arrow  22 , such that signals are transmitted from the sensor  124  to other system  10  components, and then from those components to the thermostat  16 . For example,  FIG. 1  further illustrates optional additional components of the system  10 , such as a gateway device  30 , a cloud storage  32 , and various personal electronic devices such as cellular telephone  34  and a computer  36 . Each of these components may be in communication with the sensor  124  and thermostat  16 , and may provide indirect communication between the sensor  124  and thermostat  16 . In some exemplary embodiments, as shown, each component  14 ,  16 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  may be in communication with the gateway device  30 . A gateway device  30  is generally a central controller for various other components, allowing the components to communicate with each other through the gateway device  30 . For example, in some embodiments, a gateway device  30  may be or include a router. Gateway device  30  may communicate with other components through any suitable communication means, including for example, a suitable wireless protocol such as Wi-Fi, Zigbee, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor  124  and thermostat  16  communication may be through another suitable component of the system  10 , bypassing the gateway device  30 . Such indirect communication through other system  10  components allows communication and control of the system  10  both on location and from remote locations, as desired or required. 
     It should be understood that a direct or indirect communication between any suitable devices or components as discussed herein may be facilitated through any suitable wired or wireless connection, including suitable wireless protocols such as Wi-Fi, Zigbee, etc. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the present disclosure is further directed to methods for adjusting thermostat  16  temperature settings. A method may include, for example, the step  300  of sensing an operation  302  of an oven appliance  14 , as discussed above. A method may further include, for example, the step  310  of communicating the operation  302  of the oven appliance  14  to the thermostat  16 , as discussed above. A method may further include, for example, the step  320  of adjusting the thermostat  16  temperature setting  322  based on the sensed operation of  302  of the oven appliance  14 , as discussed above. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.