Patent Publication Number: US-2007114295-A1

Title: Wireless thermostat

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention generally relates to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and, more particularly, to thermostats employed in those systems.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Occupants of dwellings and commercial structures have long benefited from the inclusion of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that regulates the temperature and humidity within the dwelling or structure. Traditionally, the thermostat that controlled this temperature regulating equipment was a fairly simple electromechanical device that was simply wired to a heating device and/or to a cooling device. Once installed, the user need only move a selector switch between heating and cooling to designate which equipment was desired to be operated, move a selector switch between run and auto for a fan control, and rotate a dial to a desired set point temperature. No other user interface to the thermostat was needed or available.  
      Advances in control electronics have allowed the development of new, digital thermostats that may be programmed by a user to control the heating and cooling equipment in a much more energy efficient manner than the older electromechanical devices. These modem digital thermostats allow programming that can automatically set back the heat, for example, during periods when the dwelling or structure is not occupied, and can turn up the heat just prior to and during periods of occupation of the dwelling or structure. Indeed, many such digital thermostats allow for different programming options during different days of the week. For example, such a digital thermostat may provide for one programmed operation during the week and a different programmed operation on the weekend, to accommodate the different usage patterns of the occupants of that particular dwelling or structure.  
      Unfortunately, setting or programming these new digital thermostats often requires that a user be physically located in close proximity (e.g., within arm&#39;s reach) to the thermostat. As such, the user can only adjust the thermostat settings and programming instructions if the user is inside the dwelling or structure housing the thermostat. To overcome this user proximity requirement, digital thermostats that are “hard wired” to a personal computer or a local area network (LAN) using conventional cabling such as, for example, an unshielded type twisted pair cable (e.g., a Cat 5 cable, a Cat 5e cable, a Cat 6 cable, and the like) have been made available.  
      In such a system, the personal computer or the LAN are operatively coupled to a web server in a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. The web server is accessible via a “thin client” computing device that is also coupled to the WAN yet remotely located with respect to the thermostat. When the web server is accessed using the thin client computing device, the web server generates a user interface such as, for example, a graphic user interface for display on the thin client computing device. The graphic user interface displays or makes available the possible settings, programming options, and features of the digital thermostat. Ideally, if the web server is maintained and operated by the manufacturer of the thermostat, the graphic user interface is precisely tailored to resemble the look and functionality of the remotely located thermostat.  
      With the thermostat represented on the thin client by the graphic user interface, the thermostat user is permitted to input, update, and/or modify the possible settings, programming options, and features that are normally only accessible through direct physical contact. After the desired inputs, updates, and modifications have been made, the information is relayed back to the thermostat and the HVAC system. Resultantly, the thermostat user is able to remotely control a temperature of an environment within the dwelling or structure.  
      While the above-noted solution permits the thermostat to be controlled from a remote location via the thin client, the solution has at least one significant drawback. Since the personal computer or the LAN is hard wired to the thermostat by the cable (i.e., Cat 5), the solution is only convenient where the structure or dwelling already includes that type of cabling or will include the appropriate cabling when built. In the more frequently encountered situation where the building fails to include the requisite cable or cable type, installing the needed cabling may not be economically feasible, structurally possible, and/or practical.  
      Therefore, an improved system permitting remote access to a thermostat and control of an HVAC system, without the need for installation of cable within the dwelling, would be desirable. The invention provides such a system. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In view of the above, the present invention provides a new and improved digital thermostat that overcomes one or more of the problems currently existing in the art. More particularly, the present invention provides a new and improved digital thermostat that may be remotely accessed without the need for hard wiring to be installed or included within the dwelling. Even more particularly, the present invention provides a new and improved digital thermostat that may be wirelessly accessed to allow remote programming and operation of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system within a dwelling.  
      In one aspect, the invention provides a system for remotely controlling an ambient temperature in a structure. The system comprises a thermostat, a computing device, and a thin client. The thermostat has one or more settings and is equipped for wireless communication. The computing device is equipped for wireless communication with the thermostat. The thin client device is remotely located from the thermostat and operatively coupled to the computing device through a wide area network (WAN). The thin client device permits manipulation of the one or more settings, which are wirelessly communicated from the computing device to the thermostat, such that the ambient temperature of the building is remotely controlled.  
      In another aspect, the invention provides a system for remotely controlling an ambient temperature in a residential dwelling. The system comprises a computing device and a thermostat. The computing device establishes a wireless local area network (LAN) within the residential dwelling. The thermostat has one or more settings for controlling a temperature adjustment device and is equipped for wireless communication via the wireless LAN with at least the computing device. The computing device displays a user interface to allow manipulation of the one or more settings. The computing device communicates the one or more settings to the thermostat via the wireless LAN.  
      In yet another aspect, the invention provides a system for remotely controlling an ambient temperature in a structure. The system comprises a digital thermostat and a wireless local area network (LAN). The digital thermostat has one or more settings for controlling a temperature adjustment device and is equipped for wireless communication. The wireless LAN includes a computing device accessible thereon. The digital thermostat wirelessly communicates with the computing device via the wireless LAN to allow configuration of the one or more settings from the computing device.  
      Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a system for remotely controlling an ambient temperature in a building constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
      While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a system  10  for remotely controlling an ambient temperature in a structure or dwelling is illustrated. As will be explained more fully below, the system  10  advantageously permits remote access to a thermostat that controls a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system without the need for cables or wires in a structure or dwelling. The system  10  includes an HVAC system  12 , a thermostat  14 , and a device  16  to connect to a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet  42 . The device  16  may be a computing device such as a home or portable personal computer (PC), a wireless router, an Internet appliance, etc. Advantageously, the system  10  of the present invention may allow access to and operation of the thermostat programming and information via a thin client device  18 .  
      The HVAC system  12 , the thermostat  14 , and the computing device  16  are typically found within a structure  20  such as, for example, a commercial building or a residential dwelling. The HVAC system  12  operates to regulate the temperature and possibly the humidity within the structure  20 . As illustrated by communication arrow  22 , the HVAC system  12  is able to transmit information and control signals back and forth with the thermostat  14 . The communication that is represented by the communication arrow  22  (as well as communication arrows  30 ,  34 ,  40 ,  44 ,  48  as will be discussed more fully below) may be wired or wireless, including communication via satellite, and the like.  
      The thermostat  14  is preferably a digital thermostat that includes a display  24 , one or more actuating members  26 , and wireless communication equipment  28 . The thermostat  14  is used to receive and store one or more settings that relate to the control of the HVAC system  12 . For example, the thermostat  14  is able to receive and store a heat setting (e.g., 68° F.) and a cool setting (e.g., 76° F.). While the ambient temperature in the structure  20  near the thermostat  14  remains between the heat setting and the cool setting, the HVAC sits idle. If the temperature in the structure  20  falls below the heat setting, the heating device in the HVAC system  12  is activated until the ambient temperature in the structure is adequately increased. In contrast, if the temperature in the structure  20  increases above the cool setting, the cooling device in the HVAC system  12  is activated until the ambient temperature in the structure is adequately decreased.  
      In addition to the basic heating and cooling settings noted above, the new digital thermostats include more advanced settings relating to, for example, a time of the day, a day of the week, a season of the year, and the like. In fact, the thermostat  14  can include a host of other settings that pertain to the operation of the HVAC system, features and functions of the thermostat, and/or operation of the entire system  10 . Using these settings, the user of the thermostat  14  is able to “program” the thermostat to operate or remain idle as desired, to conserve energy, to provide a comfortable environment within the structure  20  no matter the time of day and outside temperature, and the like. Other programmatic operation of the thermostat  14  may be provided as is conventional, and does not serve to limit the present invention in any way.  
      The display  24  on the thermostat  14  displays the one or more settings and features of the thermostat  14  as detailed above. The display  24  is also commonly used to exhibit a variety of other information such as, for example, the present ambient temperature in the structure  20 , whether a component in the HVAC system is on or off, whether the fan is on or off, and the like. The amount and type of information that can be illustrated on the display  24  is virtually unlimited. Also, the display  24  is commonly a back lit, liquid crystal display (LCD). However, other well known types of displays are acceptable and can be employed.  
      The one or more actuating members  26  used on the thermostat  14  can be a button, a knob, a wheel, a scroll bar, a touch pad, soft key, and the like. Such actuating members  26  are conventionally located on the face of the thermostat  14  for easy access and manipulation by the thermostat user. Using one or more of the actuating members  26 , the thermostat user is able to set, input, update, change, and/or modify one or more of the settings as noted above. If a desired setting is not presently shown on the display  24 , the thermostat user is also able to change the information shown on the display using the actuating members  26 . For example, the thermostat user is able to scroll through a list of available settings, features, and functions of the thermostat  14  using the actuating members  26  until the needed or desired setting is shown.  
      The wireless communication equipment  28  employed by the thermostat  14  can be internal, external, or some combination of the two. As is well known in the art, the wireless communication equipment  28  includes one or more of a receiver, a transmitter, and/or a transceiver, and is employable to permit wireless communication. In other words, the wireless communication equipment permits the thermostat  14  to send and receive (i.e. transmit) data and information through the air without the need for cables, wires, and the like.  
      In one embodiment, the thermostat  14  is operatively coupled, as depicted by communication arrow  30 , to at least one temperature sensor  32  positioned within the structure  20 . The thermostat  14  may also be operatively coupled, as shown by communication arrow  34 , to at least one sensor  36  that is positioned outside of the structure  20 . The sensors  32 ,  36  can communicate with the thermostat  14  via a wired interface or wirelessly as indicated above and are, in one embodiment, battery-powered. Each of the sensors  32 ,  36  is adapted to sense and/or read a temperature or other information and relay that information back to the thermostat  14 . Based on the received information, the thermostat  14  can take a host of different actions to control the HVAC equipment  12 , display information, enter different modes of operation, provide notifications, etc.  
      In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the computing device  16  is a personal computer that operates a wireless local area network (LAN). A LAN, which is sometimes referred to as a personal area network (PAN), is generally a wireless computer network that covers a local area such as, for example, a home, an office, etc. The LAN can include one or more computers, one or more web servers, and other computing equipment facilitating communication between the computers and servers and making available system resources, e.g. a printer, etc. Typically, one of the computers  16  in the wireless network provides the communications  40  to the Internet for all of the connected devices.  
      To facilitate the wireless communication and connectivity within the home network, the computing device  16  also includes wireless communication equipment  38  to permit wireless communication with at least the thermostat  14 . Again, the wireless communication equipment  38  includes one or more of a receiver, a transmitter, and/or a transceiver, as well known in that art, and is employable to permit wireless communication. In one embodiment, the wireless communication equipment  38  may be an embedded wireless fidelity (WiFi) card.  
      The computing device  16  is operatively coupled, as illustrated by communication arrow  40 , to a wide area network (WAN)  42 , such as the Internet. Through the wireless communication with the computing device  16 , the thermostat  14  may also be coupled to the WAN  42 . As such, the thermostat  14  may access data from the Internet  42  for display on the display  24 , for use in operation of the HVAC equipment  12 , for variation in program settings, etc. The thermostat  14  may also receive alerts from web servers  46  coupled  48  to the Internet, such as weather alerts, etc. for display and or use in operation of the HVAC equipment  12 .  
      Also connectable to the Internet  42  via a wired or wireless communication  44  is the thin client device  18 . The thin client device  18  is a computing device, such as a personal computer, internet appliance, portable computing device, a pager, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. As such, the thin client device  18  is coupled, via the WAN  42 , to the computing device  16 , the thermostat  14 , and/or to a web server  46 . Such a web server  46  may be maintained by, for example, the manufacturer or retailer of the thermostat  14 . The thin client device  18  may be a hardware device or software that relies on one or more of the data processing, applications, and software of the thermostat  14 , the computing device  16 , and/or the web server  46  to operate. Even so, the thin client device  18  can provide some data processing, applications, software, and information storage capabilities if desired. However, in the system of the present invention, the computing power of the thin client device  18  is not limiting on the invention. Advantageously, because the thin client  18  may communicate with the thermostat  14  via the WAN and LAN, the thin client device  18  may be remotely located with respect to the thermostat  14  and, in most cases, located entirely outside the structure  20 .  
      The thin client device  18  is adapted to provide an interface that links the thermostat user (who is using or operating the thin client device  18 ) to the remotely located thermostat  14 . The user interface is preferably a graphic or graphical user interface (GUI), as well known in the art. Such a GUI can include one or more menus, drop down boxes, scrollable lists, input windows and graphics, and the like. The GUI can be designed and tailored to mimic or closely resemble the look and functionality of the particular brand, model, and type of thermostat  14  within the system  10 . Therefore, the GUI can display and/or make available all of the settings, programming features, and functions (collectively referred to as “settings”) of the thermostat  14 .  
      In one embodiment, the computing device  16 , which is located within the structure  20 , is also adapted to display the graphic user interface for a thermostat user in addition to the thin client device  18  displaying such information. Therefore, no matter where the thermostat user is located, the user has access to the settings of the thermostat  14 . In one embodiment, the user interface or GUI can be, depending on the configuration of the system  10 , generated by the personal computing device  16 , the thin client device  18  and/or by the web server  46 . In the embodiment wherein the thin client device  18  generates the GUI, it may be more accurately characterized as a remote computing device, although for simplicity of description, the term thin client device  18  will be used herein.  
      In operation in one embodiment of the present invention, the thermostat user directs the web browser of the thin client device  18  to a particular website or other portal to access the settings of the thermostat  14 . In an embodiment in which a secure connection is used, the user enters identifying information to “log on” or “log in” to the computing device  16  and/or the web server  46  associated with the system  10 . Once authenticated, the thermostat user is provided with the graphical user display that shows and/or makes available all of the settings of the thermostat  14 . The thermostat user can simply view the settings or can manipulate them as desired.  
      If the thermostat user decides to change the one or more of settings, features, and functions, the user simply employs the menus, drop boxes, lists, and input windows on the graphic user interface to input new or updated information. Regardless of the setting that is input or updated, the new or updated information is transmitted from the thin client device  18  to the server  46  and/or to the computing device  16  via the WAN  42 . Thereafter, the computing device  16  wirelessly relays the newly acquired information to the thermostat  14 . The thermostat  14  thereafter appropriately controls the HVAC system  12  based on the received information.  
      For example, if a heat setting is to be increased before the thermostat user arrives at the structure  20 , the thermostat user selects the heat setting input on the GUI from the thin client  18  and increases the heat setting. Thereafter, the information is relayed though the system  10  and wirelessly transmitted from the computing device  16  to the thermostat  14 . The thermostat  14 , in turn, instructs the heating device in the HVAC system to heat the structure  20  until the desired temperature is reached. As such, the thermostat user is able to remotely adjust and control the ambient temperature within the structure  20  just as if the thermostat user were standing in front of the thermostat and physically manipulating the actuating members  26 .  
      Additionally, the thermostat  14  can report information back to the thermostat user such that the user can view and respond to that information through the thin client device  18 . For example, via the sensors  32 ,  36 , the thermostat  14  can report the local temperature within and without the structure  20  to the thermostat user by transmitting this information wirelessly over the wireless LAN to the computing device  16 . The computing device then transmits this information via the WAN to the server  46  and/or to the thin client  18 . Additionally, if the HVAC system  12  has suffered a malfunction, the thermostat  14  can relay that information to the thermostat user at the thin client device  18  in the same manner. That information can be packaged, and then sent and received, in the form of an electronic mail (e-mail) message, an audible and visual warning, an alarm signal, visual warnings on the GUI of the thin client device  18 , and the like.  
      As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the thermostat user can remotely control the operation of the thermostat  14  and the HVAC system  12  from the thin client device  18 , without the thermostat  14  and computing device  16  having to be physically connected, no matter how far away from the thermostat and the structure  20  the thermostat user may be at the time. Moreover, since the thermostat  14  is effectively coupled to a WAN  42  such as the Internet, the thermostat is able to access, send and retrieve, and display any of the information that is available on the Internet. As an example, the thermostat  14  can retrieve and display weather related information, the current weather conditions, the weather forecast, precipitation types and amounts, traffic conditions, and the like on display  24 . The thennostat  14  may also utilize this information to alter or supplement its programming and/or settings.  
      Additionally, since the thermostat  14  and the computing device  16  operate via wireless communication, cabling does not need to be installed in the structure  20  for communication to exist between the thermostat  14  and the computing device  16 . This lack of any “hard wiring” allows for easy of installation when coupling the computing device  16  and the thermostat  14  within the structure  20 . Also, since the settings (which includes features and functions) can be remotely accessed, the thermostat  14  is easy to configure, permits remote monitoring of an ambient temperature within the structure  20  (as well as other conditions), and permits remote energy management. For example, if the user were to go on vacation, but had forgotten to set the thermostat  14  to an energy savings mode, the user could simply log on to the system  10  while on vacation from any Internet ready device and set the thermostat  14  to a vacation mode to conserve energy.  
      All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.  
      The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.  
      Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.