U.S. patent application number 15/896612 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-28 for thermostat with wiring terminals configured for spatial compactness and ease of wire installation.
This patent application is currently assigned to Google LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Google LLC. Invention is credited to Eric B. Daniels, John Benjamin Filson, Brian Huppi, David Sloo.
Application Number | 20180181291 15/896612 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48044212 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180181291 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Filson; John Benjamin ; et
al. |
June 28, 2018 |
THERMOSTAT WITH WIRING TERMINALS CONFIGURED FOR SPATIAL COMPACTNESS
AND EASE OF WIRE INSTALLATION
Abstract
A wall-mountable programmable electronic thermostat for
controlling an HVAC system is described. The thermostat includes a
circular wall-mountable backplate with a central opening to allow
for the passage of HVAC wires for electrical connection to the
thermostat. The head unit body is also circular and is removeably
mountable to the back plate. A plurality of wedge-shaped wiring
terminals are mounted on the backplate for making a tool-free
connection to HVAC wires. Each wiring terminal has button that a
user can depress while a wire is inserted in a wire hole. The
terminals are arranged along one or more circular arcs about the
central opening of the backplate such that the wire holes face the
central opening and the buttons are located close to the outer
periphery of the backplate.
Inventors: |
Filson; John Benjamin;
(Mountain View, CA) ; Daniels; Eric B.; (East Palo
Alto, CA) ; Huppi; Brian; (San Francisco, CA)
; Sloo; David; (Menlo Park, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Google LLC |
Mountain View |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Google LLC
Mountain View
CA
|
Family ID: |
48044212 |
Appl. No.: |
15/896612 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14812915 |
Jul 29, 2015 |
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15896612 |
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13624878 |
Sep 21, 2012 |
9121623 |
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14812915 |
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61627996 |
Oct 21, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 11/89 20180101;
G01R 31/26 20130101; G06F 3/0482 20130101; F24F 11/70 20180101;
G01J 5/041 20130101; F24F 11/00 20130101; G06F 3/042 20130101; F24F
2120/14 20180101; G05D 23/1902 20130101; F24F 2140/60 20180101;
Y04S 20/20 20130101; F24F 11/52 20180101; G06F 3/02 20130101; G06N
20/00 20190101; G06F 3/04847 20130101; F24F 2110/00 20180101; Y02D
30/70 20200801; G06F 3/0362 20130101; G06F 3/0487 20130101; G05D
23/19 20130101; G06F 3/011 20130101; F24F 2110/10 20180101; F24F
2120/10 20180101; G06F 3/04842 20130101; F24F 11/50 20180101; F24F
2120/12 20180101; F24F 11/58 20180101; G05D 23/2454 20130101; F24F
11/47 20180101; F24F 11/56 20180101; G05D 23/24 20130101; G06F
3/0304 20130101; G06F 1/3231 20130101; G06F 3/167 20130101; H04L
67/10 20130101; G05B 15/02 20130101; H01H 25/06 20130101; G05D
23/1932 20130101; F24F 11/30 20180101; Y02T 10/88 20130101; F24F
11/62 20180101; F24F 11/63 20180101; G01J 5/0025 20130101; G05D
23/27 20130101; G06F 1/3265 20130101; F24F 11/46 20180101; G01K
1/02 20130101; G05D 23/275 20130101; G05D 23/1919 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0484 20060101
G06F003/0484; G01R 31/26 20060101 G01R031/26; F24F 11/30 20060101
F24F011/30; G06F 3/02 20060101 G06F003/02; G06F 1/32 20060101
G06F001/32; G06F 3/16 20060101 G06F003/16; G06F 3/0482 20060101
G06F003/0482; G06F 3/0362 20060101 G06F003/0362; G06F 3/03 20060101
G06F003/03; G06F 3/01 20060101 G06F003/01 |
Claims
1. A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system comprising: a wiring
terminal configured to make an electrical connection with an HVAC
wire, the wiring terminal comprising: a main body fixedly mounted
on a backplate of the thermostat, the main body including: a
channel opening that is positioned on a first side of the main
body, the channel opening being configured and arranged relative to
the backplate to enable insertion of the HVAC wire into an interior
of the main body to make an electrical connection between the
thermostat and the HVAC wire; and a spring component that is
disposed within the main body and operably coupled therewith so
that an electrical contact that is positioned within the main body
along an insertion path of the HVAC wire is displaceable within the
main body to accommodate insertion of the HVAC wire within the
channel opening, the spring component biasing the electrical
contact toward the insertion path such that after insertion of the
HVAC wire, the electrical contact maintains the HVAC wire securely
within the channel opening and in electrical connection with the
thermostat; and a button member that is positioned on a second side
of the main body opposite the first side, the button member being
moveably coupled with the main body and operably coupled with the
spring component so that actuation of the button member displaces
the electrical contact from the insertion path to enable insertion
or removal of the HVAC wire from the channel opening, wherein the
spring component biases the button member toward an unactuated
position.
2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the thermostat includes a
plurality of wiring terminals that are each configured to make an
electrical connection with an HVAC wire, and wherein each wiring
terminal includes a main body, a spring component, and a button
member.
3. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the plurality of wiring
terminals are arranged about the backplate so that a channel
opening of each wiring terminal faces an aperture in the backplate
through which a plurality of HVAC wires are inserted.
4. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the thermostat further
comprises a head unit that is attached to the backplate.
5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the wiring terminal is
further configured so that actuation of the button member opens a
loop of an electrical circuit that does not include the HVAC wire,
wherein opening of the loop enables automatic detection of the HVAC
wire within the wiring terminal.
6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the electrical contact is a
distal end of the spring component.
7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the button member is
pivotably coupled with the main body.
8. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the spring component and
button member are configured so that insertion of the HVAC wire
within the channel opening is sufficient to displace the electrical
contact from the insertion path without requiring actuation of the
button member.
9. The thermostat of claim 8, wherein the spring component and
button member are further configured so that insertion of the HVAC
wire within the channel opening without actuating the button member
causes the button member to move from the unactuated position to an
actuated position relative to the main body.
10. The thermostat of claim 8, wherein the spring component and
button member are further configured so that actuation of the
button member is required to remove the HVAC wire from the channel
opening.
11. A hazard detector comprising: a plurality of wiring terminals
each configured to make an electrical connection with one of a
plurality of wires, wherein each wiring terminal includes: a main
body that includes: a channel opening that is configured to enable
insertion of a respective wire of the plurality of wires into an
interior of the main body to make an electrical connection between
the hazard detector and the respective wire; and a spring component
that is disposed within the main body and operably coupled
therewith so that an electrical contact that is positioned within
the main body along an insertion path of the respective wire is
displaceable within the main body to accommodate insertion of the
respective wire within the channel opening, the spring component
biasing the electrical contact toward the insertion path such that
after insertion of the respective wire, the electrical contact
maintains the respective wire securely within the channel opening
and in electrical connection with the hazard detector; and a
release mechanism that is moveably coupled with the main body and
operably coupled with the spring component so that actuation of the
release mechanism displaces the electrical contact from the
insertion path to enable insertion or removal of the respective
wire from the channel opening, wherein the spring component biases
the release mechanism toward an unactuated position.
12. The hazard detector of claim 11, wherein the plurality of
wiring terminals are arranged so that the channel opening of each
wiring terminal faces an aperture in a base component of the hazard
detector through which the plurality of wires are inserted.
13. The hazard detector of claim 11, wherein each wiring terminal
is further configured so that actuation of the release mechanism
opens a loop of an electrical circuit that does not include the
respective wire, wherein opening of the loop enables automatic
detection of the respective wire within the wiring terminal.
14. The hazard detector of claim 11, wherein the electrical contact
is a distal end of the spring component.
15. The hazard detector of claim 11, wherein the release mechanism
is pivotably coupled with the main body.
16. The hazard detector of claim 11, wherein the spring component
and release mechanism are configured so that insertion of the
respective wire within the channel opening is sufficient to
displace the electrical contact from the insertion path without
requiring actuation of the release mechanism.
17. The hazard detector of claim 16, wherein the spring component
and release mechanism are further configured so that insertion of
the respective wire within the channel opening without actuating
the release mechanism causes the release mechanism to move from the
unactuated position to an actuated position relative to the main
body.
18. The hazard detector of claim 16, wherein the spring component
and release mechanism are further configured so that actuation of
the release mechanism is required to remove the respective wire
from the channel opening.
19. The hazard detector of claim 11, wherein the spring component
is V-shaped, and wherein the spring component includes a tab that
is inserted within a slot of the release mechanism to couple the
spring component and the release mechanism.
20. The hazard detector of claim 11, wherein the hazard detector is
a thermostat that is configured to control an HVAC system to
condition an enclosure.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
14/812,915 filed Jul. 29, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S.
Ser. No. 13/624,878 filed Sep. 21, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.
9,121,623, which claims the benefit of the commonly assigned U.S.
Prov. Ser. No. 61/627,996 filed Oct. 21, 2011, which are
incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD
[0002] This patent specification relates to systems, methods, and
related computer program products for the monitoring and control of
energy-consuming systems or other resource-consuming systems. More
particularly, this patent specification relates a thermostat with
wiring terminals configured for spatial compactness and ease of
wire installation.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In designing a wall-mounted thermostat that is relatively
sleek and small it is nevertheless desirable to allow for terminals
that have ease of access and ease of installation. In particular it
is desirable to allow for ease of wall mounting and for ease of
connection of the control wires to the terminals. Thermostat wires
are often solid wires of relatively heavy gauge. As a result the
wires protruding from a small hole in the wall are rather stiff and
may be difficult to bend and otherwise manipulate and to attach
properly to thermostat connection terminals. Also it is desirable
to have a tool free method of wire connection (i.e. without the use
screws and/or the use of screw driver).
[0004] It is to be appreciated that although exemplary embodiments
are presented herein for the particular context of HVAC system
control, there are a wide variety of other resource usage contexts
for which the embodiments are readily applicable including, but not
limited to, water usage, air usage, the usage of other natural
resources, and the usage of other (i.e., non-HVAC-related) forms of
energy, as would be apparent to the skilled artisan in view of the
present disclosure. Therefore, such application of the embodiments
in such other resource usage contexts is not outside the scope of
the present teachings.
SUMMARY
[0005] According to one or more embodiments, a wall-mountable
programmable electronic thermostat for controlling an HVAC system
is described. The thermostat includes: a generally rounded
backplate adapted to be mounted on a wall having a central opening
to allow for the passage of a plurality of HVAC wires for
electrical connection to the thermostat; a generally rounded head
unit body including a display for displaying information to a user,
the head unit removeably mountable to the back plate; and a
plurality of wiring terminals each adapted and configured to make
an electrical connection with an HVAC wire; wherein the plurality
of wiring terminals are mounted on the backplate and arranged along
one or more arcs about the central opening of the backplate.
[0006] According to some embodiments, the backplate is
circular-shaped and the plurality of wiring terminals are arranged
along one or more circular arcs about the central opening of the
backplate. The wiring terminals are arranged along two circular
arcs each including at least four or five wiring terminals. Each of
the wiring terminals is generally wedge-shaped having a wire hole
facing the central opening and the button member being positioned
near an outer periphery of the backplate. According to some
embodiments, each of generally wedge-shaped terminals occupies
between 10 and 20 degrees, and more preferably between 14 and 16
degrees of angular space as measured by an angle having a vertex at
a center of the backplate.
[0007] Each of the wiring terminals includes a wire hole configured
to accept insertion of an HVAC wire, wherein a distance from a
center of the central opening to each wire hole is at least 15 mm.
Each wiring terminal is preferably configured to allow a user to
make an electrical connection with an HVAC wire without the use of
tools by pressing a button member on the wiring terminal and
inserting the HVAC wire into a wire hole. The wiring terminals can
be arranged such that the button members are positioned close to an
outer periphery of the backplate and the wire holes are closer to
the central opening than the button members.
[0008] According to some embodiments, each of the wiring terminals
is configured such that the physical presence of a wire inserted
into the wiring terminal can be mechanically detected by switching
of a loop of an electrical circuit that does not include the
inserted HVAC wire.
[0009] According to some embodiments, a wall-mountable programmable
electronic thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described
that includes: a backplate adapted to be mounted on a wall having a
central opening to allow for the passage of a plurality of HVAC
wires for electrical connection to the thermostat; a head unit body
including a display for displaying information to a user, the head
unit removeably mountable to the back plate; and a plurality of
tool-free wiring terminals each adapted and configured to make an
electrical connection with an HVAC wire, each of the wiring
terminals are adapted and configured to allow a user to make an
electrical connection with an HVAC wire without the use of tools by
pressing a button member and inserting an HVAC wire into a wire
hole, wherein a distance between the button member and the wire
hole is at least 8 millimeters. According to some embodiments, the
distance between the button member and the wire hole is at least 10
millimeters, and the button member when pressed actuates a lever
that is at least 10 millimeters in length.
[0010] It will be appreciated that these systems and methods are
novel, as are applications thereof and many of the components,
systems, methods and algorithms employed and included therein. It
should be appreciated that embodiments of the presently described
inventive body of work can be implemented in numerous ways,
including as processes, apparata, systems, devices, methods,
computer readable media, computational algorithms, embedded or
distributed software and/or as a combination thereof. Several
illustrative embodiments are described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The inventive body of work will be readily understood by
referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a smart home environment
within which one or more of the devices, methods, systems,
services, and/or computer program products described further herein
can be applicable;
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a network-level view of an extensible
devices and services platform with which the smart home of FIG. 1
can be integrated, according to some embodiments;
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates an abstracted functional view of the
extensible devices and services platform of FIG. 2, according to
some embodiments;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an HVAC system, according
to some embodiments;
[0016] FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate a thermostat having a visually
pleasing, smooth, sleek and rounded exterior appearance while at
the same time including one or more sensors for detecting occupancy
and/or users, according to some embodiments;
[0017] FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate exploded front and rear perspective
views, respectively, of a thermostat with respect to its two main
components, according to some embodiments;
[0018] FIGS. 6C-6D illustrate exploded front and rear perspective
views, respectively, of a head unit with respect to its primary
components, according to some embodiments;
[0019] FIGS. 6E-6F illustrate exploded front and rear perspective
views, respectively, of a head unit frontal assembly with respect
to its primary components, according to some embodiments;
[0020] FIGS. 6G-6H illustrate exploded front and rear perspective
views, respectively, of a backplate unit with respect to its
primary components, according to some embodiments;
[0021] FIGS. 7A-7B are diagrams showing a thermostat backplate
having a plurality of user-friendly tool-free wiring terminals,
according to some embodiments;
[0022] FIGS. 8A-8E are perspective views showing further details of
a tool-free thermostat wiring connector, according to some
embodiments;
[0023] FIGS. 9A-9B are cross sections of a connector showing the
interactions of various components, according to some
embodiments;
[0024] FIGS. 10A-10B show perspective and cross section views
showing a tool-free thermostat wiring connector, according to some
alternative embodiments; and
[0025] FIG. 11 is a diagram shown aspects of a thermostat backplate
having an oval-shape, according to some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] The subject matter of this patent specification relates to
the subject matter of the following commonly assigned applications,
each of which is incorporated by reference herein: U.S. Ser. No.
13/033,573 filed Feb. 23, 2011; U.S. Ser. No. 13/034,666 filed Feb.
24, 2011; and International Application Ser. No. PCT/US12/00007
filed Jan. 3, 2012. The subject matter of this patent specification
further relates to the subject matter of the commonly assigned U.S.
Ser. No. 13/624,811 filed Sep. 21, 2012 (Atty Dkt. 94021-853004),
entitled "Thermostat With Ring-Shaped Control Member," which is
incorporated by reference herein. The subject matter of this patent
specification further relates to the subject matter of the commonly
assigned U.S. Ser. No. 13/624,881 filed September 21, 2012 (Atty
Dkt. 94021-853010), entitled "Integrating Sensing Systems Into
Thermostat Housing In Manners Facilitating Compact And Visually
Pleasing Physical Characteristics Thereof," which is incorporated
by reference herein. The above-referenced patent applications are
collectively referenced herein as "the commonly assigned
incorporated applications."
[0027] A detailed description of the inventive body of work is
provided herein. While several embodiments are described, it should
be understood that the inventive body of work is not limited to any
one embodiment, but instead encompasses numerous alternatives,
modifications, and equivalents. In addition, while numerous
specific details are set forth in the following description in
order to provide a thorough understanding of the inventive body of
work, some embodiments can be practiced without some or all of
these details. Moreover, for the purpose of clarity, certain
technical material that is known in the related art has not been
described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the
inventive body of work.
[0028] As used herein the term "HVAC" includes systems providing
both heating and cooling, heating only, cooling only, as well as
systems that provide other occupant comfort and/or conditioning
functionality such as humidification, dehumidification and
ventilation.
[0029] As used herein the terms power "harvesting," "sharing" and
"stealing" when referring to HVAC thermostats all refer to
thermostats that are designed to derive power from the power
transformer through the equipment load without using a direct or
common wire source directly from the transformer.
[0030] As used herein the term "residential" when referring to an
HVAC system means a type of HVAC system that is suitable to heat,
cool and/or otherwise condition the interior of a building that is
primarily used as a single family dwelling. An example of a cooling
system that would be considered residential would have a cooling
capacity of less than about 5 tons of refrigeration (1 ton of
refrigeration=12,000 Btu/h).
[0031] As used herein the term "light commercial" when referring to
an HVAC system means a type of HVAC system that is suitable to
heat, cool and/or otherwise condition the interior of a building
that is primarily used for commercial purposes, but is of a size
and construction that a residential HVAC system is considered
suitable. An example of a cooling system that would be considered
residential would have a cooling capacity of less than about 5 tons
of refrigeration.
[0032] As used herein the term "thermostat" means a device or
system for regulating parameters such as temperature and/or
humidity within at least a part of an enclosure. The term
"thermostat" may include a control unit for a heating and/or
cooling system or a component part of a heater or air conditioner.
As used herein the term "thermostat" can also refer generally to a
versatile sensing and control unit (VSCU unit) that is configured
and adapted to provide sophisticated, customized, energy-saving
HVAC control functionality while at the same time being visually
appealing, non-intimidating, elegant to behold, and delightfully
easy to use.
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a smart home environment
within which one or more of the devices, methods, systems,
services, and/or computer program products described further herein
can be applicable. The depicted smart home environment includes a
structure 150, which can include, e.g., a house, office building,
garage, or mobile home. It will be appreciated that devices can
also be integrated into a smart home environment that does not
include an entire structure 150, such as an apartment, condominium,
or office space. Further, the smart home environment can control
and/or be coupled to devices outside of the actual structure 150.
Indeed, several devices in the smart home environment need not
physically be within the structure 150 at all. For example, a
device controlling a pool heater or irrigation system can be
located outside of the structure 150.
[0034] The depicted structure 150 includes a plurality of rooms
152, separated at least partly from each other via walls 154. The
walls 154 can include interior walls or exterior walls. Each room
can further include a floor 156 and a ceiling 158. Devices can be
mounted on, integrated with and/or supported by a wall 154, floor
or ceiling.
[0035] The smart home depicted in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of
devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected
devices that can integrate seamlessly with each other and/or with
cloud-based server systems to provide any of a variety of useful
smart home objectives. One, more or each of the devices illustrated
in the smart home environment and/or in the figure can include one
or more sensors, a user interface, a power supply, a communications
component, a modularity unit and intelligent software as described
herein. Examples of devices are shown in FIG. 1.
[0036] An intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected thermostat
102 can detect ambient climate characteristics (e.g., temperature
and/or humidity) and control a heating, ventilation and
air-conditioning (HVAC) system 103. One or more intelligent,
network-connected, multi-sensing hazard detection units 104 can
detect the presence of a hazardous substance and/or a hazardous
condition in the home environment (e.g., smoke, fire, or carbon
monoxide). One or more intelligent, multi-sensing,
network-connected entryway interface devices 106, which can be
termed a "smart doorbell", can detect a person's approach to or
departure from a location, control audible functionality, announce
a person's approach or departure via audio or visual means, or
control settings on a security system (e.g., to activate or
deactivate the security system).
[0037] Each of a plurality of intelligent, multi-sensing,
network-connected wall light switches 108 can detect ambient
lighting conditions, detect room-occupancy states and control a
power and/or dim state of one or more lights. In some instances,
light switches 108 can further or alternatively control a power
state or speed of a fan, such as a ceiling fan. Each of a plurality
of intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected wall plug
interfaces 110 can detect occupancy of a room or enclosure and
control supply of power to one or more wall plugs (e.g., such that
power is not supplied to the plug if nobody is at home). The smart
home may further include a plurality of intelligent, multi-sensing,
network-connected appliances 112, such as refrigerators, stoves
and/or ovens, televisions, washers, dryers, lights (inside and/or
outside the structure 150), stereos, intercom systems, garage-door
openers, floor fans, ceiling fans, whole-house fans, wall air
conditioners, pool heaters 114, irrigation systems 116, security
systems (including security system components such as cameras,
motion detectors and window/door sensors), and so forth. While
descriptions of FIG. 1 can identify specific sensors and
functionalities associated with specific devices, it will be
appreciated that any of a variety of sensors and functionalities
(such as those described throughout the specification) can be
integrated into the device.
[0038] In addition to containing processing and sensing
capabilities, each of the devices 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114
and 116 can be capable of data communications and information
sharing with any other of the devices 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112,
114 and 116, as well as to any cloud server or any other device
that is network-connected anywhere in the world. The devices can
send and receive communications via any of a variety of custom or
standard wireless protocols (Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, etc.) and/or
any of a variety of custom or standard wired protocols (CAT6
Ethernet, HomePlug, etc.). The wall plug interfaces 110 can serve
as wireless or wired repeaters, and/or can function as bridges
between (i) devices plugged into AC outlets and communicating using
Homeplug or other power line protocol, and (ii) devices that not
plugged into AC outlets.
[0039] For example, a first device can communicate with a second
device via a wireless router 160. A device can further communicate
with remote devices via a connection to a network, such as the
Internet 162. Through the Internet 162, the device can communicate
with a central server or a cloud-computing system 164. The central
server or cloud-computing system 164 can be associated with a
manufacturer, support entity or service provider associated with
the device. For one embodiment, a user may be able to contact
customer support using a device itself rather than needing to use
other communication means such as a telephone or Internet-connected
computer. Further, software updates can be automatically sent from
the central server or cloud-computing system 164 to devices (e.g.,
when available, when purchased, or at routine intervals).
[0040] By virtue of network connectivity, one or more of the
smart-home devices of FIG. 1 can further allow a user to interact
with the device even if the user is not proximate to the device.
For example, a user can communicate with a device using a computer
(e.g., a desktop computer, laptop computer, or tablet) or other
portable electronic device (e.g., a smartphone). A webpage or app
can be configured to receive communications from the user and
control the device based on the communications and/or to present
information about the device's operation to the user. For example,
the user can view a current setpoint temperature for a device and
adjust it using a computer. The user can be in the structure during
this remote communication or outside the structure.
[0041] The smart home also can include a variety of
non-communicating legacy appliances 140, such as old conventional
washer/dryers, refrigerators, and the like which can be controlled,
albeit coarsely (ON/OFF), by virtue of the wall plug interfaces
110. The smart home can further include a variety of partially
communicating legacy appliances 142, such as IR-controlled wall air
conditioners or other IR-controlled devices, which can be
controlled by IR signals provided by the hazard detection units 104
or the light switches 108.
[0042] FIG. 2 illustrates a network-level view of an extensible
devices and services platform with which the smart home of FIG. 1
can be integrated, according to some embodiments. Each of the
intelligent, network-connected devices from FIG. 1 can communicate
with one or more remote central servers or cloud computing systems
164. The communication can be enabled by establishing connection to
the Internet 162 either directly (for example, using 3G/4G
connectivity to a wireless carrier), though a hubbed network (which
can be scheme ranging from a simple wireless router, for example,
up to and including an intelligent, dedicated whole-home control
node), or through any combination thereof.
[0043] The central server or cloud-computing system 164 can collect
operation data 202 from the smart home devices. For example, the
devices can routinely transmit operation data or can transmit
operation data in specific instances (e.g., when requesting
customer support). The central server or cloud-computing
architecture 164 can further provide one or more services 204. The
services 204 can include, e.g., software update, customer support,
sensor data collection/logging, remote access, remote or
distributed control, or use suggestions (e.g., based on collected
operation data 204 to improve performance, reduce utility cost,
etc.). Data associated with the services 204 can be stored at the
central server or cloud-computing system 164 and the central server
or cloud-computing system 164 can retrieve and transmit the data at
an appropriate time (e.g., at regular intervals, upon receiving
request from a user, etc.).
[0044] One salient feature of the described extensible devices and
services platform, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is a processing
engines 206, which can be concentrated at a single server or
distributed among several different computing entities without
limitation. Processing engines 206 can include engines configured
to receive data from a set of devices (e.g., via the Internet or a
hubbed network), to index the data, to analyze the data and/or to
generate statistics based on the analysis or as part of the
analysis. The analyzed data can be stored as derived data 208.
Results of the analysis or statistics can thereafter be transmitted
back to a device providing ops data used to derive the results, to
other devices, to a server providing a webpage to a user of the
device, or to other non-device entities. For example, use
statistics, use statistics relative to use of other devices, use
patterns, and/or statistics summarizing sensor readings can be
transmitted. The results or statistics can be provided via the
Internet 162. In this manner, processing engines 206 can be
configured and programmed to derive a variety of useful information
from the operational data obtained from the smart home. A single
server can include one or more engines.
[0045] The derived data can be highly beneficial at a variety of
different granularities for a variety of useful purposes, ranging
from explicit programmed control of the devices on a per-home,
per-neighborhood, or per-region basis (for example, demand-response
programs for electrical utilities), to the generation of
inferential abstractions that can assist on a per-home basis (for
example, an inference can be drawn that the homeowner has left for
vacation and so security detection equipment can be put on
heightened sensitivity), to the generation of statistics and
associated inferential abstractions that can be used for government
or charitable purposes. For example, processing engines 206 can
generate statistics about device usage across a population of
devices and send the statistics to device users, service providers
or other entities (e.g., that have requested or may have provided
monetary compensation for the statistics). As specific
illustrations, statistics can be transmitted to charities 222,
governmental entities 224 (e.g., the Food and Drug Administration
or the Environmental Protection Agency), academic institutions 226
(e.g., university researchers), businesses 228 (e.g., providing
device warranties or service to related equipment), or utility
companies 230. These entities can use the data to form programs to
reduce energy usage, to preemptively service faulty equipment, to
prepare for high service demands, to track past service
performance, etc., or to perform any of a variety of beneficial
functions or tasks now known or hereinafter developed.
[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates an abstracted functional view of the
extensible devices and services platform of FIG. 2, with particular
reference to the processing engine 206 as well as the devices of
the smart home. Even though the devices situated in the smart home
will have an endless variety of different individual capabilities
and limitations, they can all be thought of as sharing common
characteristics in that each of them is a data consumer 302 (DC), a
data source 304 (DS), a services consumer 306 (SC), and a services
source 308 (SS). Advantageously, in addition to providing the
essential control information needed for the devices to achieve
their local and immediate objectives, the extensible devices and
services platform can also be configured to harness the large
amount of data that is flowing out of these devices. In addition to
enhancing or optimizing the actual operation of the devices
themselves with respect to their immediate functions, the
extensible devices and services platform can also be directed to
"repurposing" that data in a variety of automated, extensible,
flexible, and/or scalable ways to achieve a variety of useful
objectives. These objectives may be predefined or adaptively
identified based on, e.g., usage patterns, device efficiency,
and/or user input (e.g., requesting specific functionality).
[0047] For example, FIG. 3 shows processing engine 206 as including
a number of paradigms 310. Processing engine 206 can include a
managed services paradigm 310a that monitors and manages primary or
secondary device functions. The device functions can include
ensuring proper operation of a device given user inputs, estimating
that (e.g., and responding to) an intruder is or is attempting to
be in a dwelling, detecting a failure of equipment coupled to the
device (e.g., a light bulb having burned out), implementing or
otherwise responding to energy demand response events, or alerting
a user of a current or predicted future event or characteristic.
Processing engine 206 can further include an
advertising/communication paradigm 310b that estimates
characteristics (e.g., demographic information), desires and/or
products of interest of a user based on device usage. Services,
promotions, products or upgrades can then be offered or
automatically provided to the user. Processing engine 206 can
further include a social paradigm 310c that uses information from a
social network, provides information to a social network (for
example, based on device usage), processes data associated with
user and/or device interactions with the social network platform.
For example, a user's status as reported to their trusted contacts
on the social network could be updated to indicate when they are
home based on light detection, security system inactivation or
device usage detectors. As another example, a user may be able to
share device-usage statistics with other users. Processing engine
206 can include a challenges/rules/compliance/rewards paradigm 310d
that informs a user of challenges, rules, compliance regulations
and/or rewards and/or that uses operation data to determine whether
a challenge has been met, a rule or regulation has been complied
with and/or a reward has been earned. The challenges, rules or
regulations can relate to efforts to conserve energy, to live
safely (e.g., reducing exposure to toxins or carcinogens), to
conserve money and/or equipment life, to improve health, etc.
[0048] Processing engine can integrate or otherwise utilize
extrinsic information 316 from extrinsic sources to improve the
functioning of one or more processing paradigms. Extrinsic
information 316 can be used to interpret operational data received
from a device, to determine a characteristic of the environment
near the device (e.g., outside a structure that the device is
enclosed in), to determine services or products available to the
user, to identify a social network or social-network information,
to determine contact information of entities (e.g., public-service
entities such as an emergency-response team, the police or a
hospital) near the device, etc., to identify statistical or
environmental conditions, trends or other information associated
with a home or neighborhood, and so forth.
[0049] An extraordinary range and variety of benefits can be
brought about by, and fit within the scope of, the described
extensible devices and services platform, ranging from the ordinary
to the profound. Thus, in one "ordinary" example, each bedroom of
the smart home can be provided with a smoke/fire/CO alarm that
includes an occupancy sensor, wherein the occupancy sensor is also
capable of inferring (e.g., by virtue of motion detection, facial
recognition, audible sound patterns, etc.) whether the occupant is
asleep or awake. If a serious fire event is sensed, the remote
security/monitoring service or fire department is advised of how
many occupants there are in each bedroom, and whether those
occupants are still asleep (or immobile) or whether they have
properly evacuated the bedroom. While this is, of course, a very
advantageous capability accommodated by the described extensible
devices and services platform, there can be substantially more
"profound" examples that can truly illustrate the potential of a
larger "intelligence" that can be made available. By way of perhaps
a more "profound" example, the same data bedroom occupancy data
that is being used for fire safety can also be "repurposed" by the
processing engine 206 in the context of a social paradigm of
neighborhood child development and education. Thus, for example,
the same bedroom occupancy and motion data discussed in the
"ordinary" example can be collected and made available for
processing (properly anonymized) in which the sleep patterns of
schoolchildren in a particular ZIP code can be identified and
tracked. Localized variations in the sleeping patterns of the
schoolchildren may be identified and correlated, for example, to
different nutrition programs in local schools.
[0050] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an HVAC system, according
to some embodiments. HVAC system 103 provides heating, cooling,
ventilation, and/or air handling for an enclosure, such as
structure 150 depicted in FIG. 1. System 103 depicts a forced air
type heating and cooling system, although according to other
embodiments, other types of HVAC systems could be used such as
radiant heat based systems, heat-pump based systems, and
others.
[0051] For carrying out the heating function, heating coils or
elements 442 within air handler 440 provide a source of heat using
electricity or gas via line 436. Cool air is drawn from the
enclosure via return air duct 446 through filter 470, using fan 438
and is heated through heating coils or elements 442. The heated air
flows back into the enclosure at one or more locations via supply
air duct system 452 and supply air registers such as register 450.
In cooling, an outside compressor 430 passes a gas such as Freon
through a set of heat exchanger coils and then through an expansion
valve. The gas then goes through line 432 to the cooling coils or
evaporator coils 434 in the air handler 440 where it expands, cools
and cools the air being circulated via fan 438. A humidifier 454
may optionally be included in various embodiments that returns
moisture to the air before it passes through duct system 452.
Although not shown in FIG. 4, alternate embodiments of HVAC system
103 may have other functionality such as venting air to and from
the outside, one or more dampers to control airflow within the duct
system 452 and an emergency heating unit. Overall operation of HVAC
system 103 is selectively actuated by control electronics 412
communicating with thermostat 102 over control wires 448.
[0052] FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate a thermostat having a visually
pleasing, smooth, sleek and rounded exterior appearance while at
the same time including one or more sensors for detecting occupancy
and/or users, according to some embodiments. FIG. 5A is front view,
FIG. 5B is a bottom elevation, FIG. 5C is a right side elevation,
and FIG. 5D is prospective view of thermostat 102. Unlike many
prior art thermostats, thermostat 102 has a sleek, simple,
uncluttered and elegant design that does not detract from home
decoration, and indeed can serve as a visually pleasing centerpiece
for the immediate location in which it is installed. Moreover, user
interaction with thermostat 102 is facilitated and greatly enhanced
over known conventional thermostats by the design of thermostat
102. The thermostat 102 includes control circuitry and is
electrically connected to an HVAC system 103, such as is shown in
FIGS. 1-4. Thermostat 102 is wall mountable, is circular in shape,
and has an outer rotatable ring 512 for receiving user input.
Thermostat 102 is circular in shape in that it appears as a
generally disk-like circular object when mounted on the wall.
Thermostat 102 has a large convex rounded front face lying inside
the outer ring 512. According to some embodiments, thermostat 102
is approximately 80 mm in diameter and protrudes from the wall,
when wall mounted, by 32 mm. The outer rotatable ring 512 allows
the user to make adjustments, such as selecting a new setpoint
temperature. For example, by rotating the outer ring 512 clockwise,
the realtime (i.e. currently active) setpoint temperature can be
increased, and by rotating the outer ring 512 counter-clockwise,
the realtime setpoint temperature can be decreased. The front face
of the thermostat 102 comprises a clear cover 514 that according to
some embodiments is polycarbonate, and a Fresnel lens 510 having an
outer shape that matches the contours of the curved outer front
face of the thermostat 102. According to some embodiments, the
Fresnel lens elements are formed on the interior surface of the
Fresnel lens piece 510 such that they are not obviously visible by
viewing the exterior of the thermostat 102. Behind the Fresnel lens
is a passive infrared sensor 550 for detecting occupancy, and the
Fresnel lens piece 510 is made from a high-density polyethylene
(HDPE) that has an infrared transmission range appropriate for
sensitivity to human bodies. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the front
edge of rotating ring 512, front face 514 and Fresnel lens 510 are
shaped such that they together form a, integrated convex rounded
front face that has a common outward arc or spherical shape gently
arcing outward.
[0053] Although being formed from a single lens-like piece of
material such as polycarbonate, the cover 514 has two different
regions or portions including an outer portion 514o and a central
portion 514i. According to some embodiments, the cover 514 is
painted or smoked around the outer portion 514o, but leaves the
central portion 514i visibly clear so as to facilitate viewing of
an electronic display 516 disposed thereunderneath. According to
some embodiments, the curved cover 514 acts as a lens that tends to
magnify the information being displayed in electronic display 516
to users. According to some embodiments the central electronic
display 516 is a dot-matrix layout (i.e. individually addressable)
such that arbitrary shapes can be generated, rather than being a
segmented layout. According to some embodiments, a combination of
dot-matrix layout and segmented layout is employed. According to
some embodiments, central display 516 is a backlit color liquid
crystal display (LCD). An example of information displayed on the
electronic display 516 is illustrated in FIG. 5A, and includes
central numerals 520 that are representative of a current setpoint
temperature. The thermostat 102 is preferably constructed such that
the electronic display 516 is at a fixed orientation and does not
rotate with the outer ring 512, so that the electronic display 516
remains easily read by the user. For some embodiments, the cover
514 and Fresnel lens 510 also remain at a fixed orientation and do
not rotate with the outer ring 512. According to one embodiment in
which the diameter of the thermostat 102 is about 80 mm, the
diameter of the electronic display 516 is about 45 mm. According to
some embodiments the gently outwardly curved shape of the front
surface of thermostat 102, which is made up of cover 514, Fresnel
lens 510 and the front facing portion of ring 512, is spherical,
and matches a sphere having a radius of between 100 mm and 150 mm.
According to some embodiments, the radius of the spherical shape of
the thermostat front is about 136 mm.
[0054] Motion sensing with PIR sensor 550 as well as other
techniques can be used in the detection and/or predict of
occupancy, as is described further in the commonly assigned U.S.
Ser. No. 12/881,430, which is incorporated herein by reference.
According to some embodiments, occupancy information is used in
generating an effective and efficient scheduled program. A second
downwardly-tilted PIR sensor 552 is provided to detect an
approaching user. The proximity sensor 552 can be used to detect
proximity in the range of about one meter so that the thermostat
102 can initiate "waking up" when the user is approaching the
thermostat and prior to the user touching the thermostat. Such use
of proximity sensing is useful for enhancing the user experience by
being "ready" for interaction as soon as, or very soon after the
user is ready to interact with the thermostat. Further, the
wake-up-on-proximity functionality also allows for energy savings
within the thermostat by "sleeping" when no user interaction is
taking place our about to take place.
[0055] According to some embodiments, for the combined purposes of
inspiring user confidence and further promoting visual and
functional elegance, the thermostat 102 is controlled by only two
types of user input, the first being a rotation of the outer ring
512 as shown in FIG. 5A (referenced hereafter as a "rotate ring" or
"ring rotation" input), and the second being an inward push on head
unit 540 until an audible and/or tactile "click" occurs (referenced
hereafter as an "inward click" or simply "click" input). For such
embodiments, the head unit 540 is an assembly that includes all of
the outer ring 512, cover 514, electronic display 516, and the
Fresnel lens 510. When pressed inwardly by the user, the head unit
540 travels inwardly by a small amount, such as 0.5 mm, against an
interior metallic dome switch (not shown), and then springably
travels back outwardly by that same amount when the inward pressure
is released, providing a satisfying tactile "click" sensation to
the user's hand, along with a corresponding gentle audible clicking
sound. Thus, for the embodiment of FIGS. 5A-5D, an inward click can
be achieved by direct pressing on the outer ring 512 itself, or by
indirect pressing of the outer ring by virtue of providing inward
pressure on the cover 514, lens 510, or by various combinations
thereof. For other embodiments, the thermostat 102 can be
mechanically configured such that only the outer ring 512 travels
inwardly for the inward click input, while the cover 514 and lens
510 remain motionless. It is to be appreciated that a variety of
different selections and combinations of the particular mechanical
elements that will travel inwardly to achieve the "inward click"
input are within the scope of the present teachings, whether it be
the outer ring 512 itself, some part of the cover 514, or some
combination thereof. However, it has been found particularly
advantageous to provide the user with an ability to quickly go back
and forth between registering "ring rotations" and "inward clicks"
with a single hand and with minimal amount of time and effort
involved, and so the ability to provide an inward click directly by
pressing the outer ring 512 has been found particularly
advantageous, since the user's fingers do not need to be lifted out
of contact with the device, or slid along its surface, in order to
go between ring rotations and inward clicks. Moreover, by virtue of
the strategic placement of the electronic display 516 centrally
inside the rotatable ring 512, a further advantage is provided in
that the user can naturally focus their attention on the electronic
display throughout the input process, right in the middle of where
their hand is performing its functions. The combination of
intuitive outer ring rotation, especially as applied to (but not
limited to) the changing of a thermostat's setpoint temperature,
conveniently folded together with the satisfying physical sensation
of inward clicking, together with accommodating natural focus on
the electronic display in the central midst of their fingers'
activity, adds significantly to an intuitive, seamless, and
downright fun user experience. Further descriptions of advantageous
mechanical user-interfaces and related designs, which are employed
according to some embodiments, can be found in U.S. Ser. No.
13/033,573, U.S. Ser. No. 29/386,021, and U.S. Ser. No. 13/199,108,
all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0056] FIGS. 5B and 5C are bottom and right side elevation views of
the thermostat 102, which has been found to provide a particularly
pleasing and adaptable visual appearance when viewed against a
variety of different wall colors and wall textures in a variety of
different home environments and home settings. While the thermostat
itself will functionally adapt to the user's schedule as described
herein and in one or more of the commonly assigned incorporated
applications, the outer shape is specially configured to convey a
"chameleon" quality or characteristic such that the overall device
appears to naturally blend in, in a visual and decorative sense,
with many of the most common wall colors and wall textures found in
home and business environments, at least in part because it will
appear to assume the surrounding colors and even textures when
viewed from many different angles.
[0057] According to some embodiments, the thermostat 102 includes a
processing system 560, display driver 564 and a wireless
communications system 566. The processing system 560 is adapted to
cause the display driver 564 and display 516 to display information
to the user, and to receiver user input via the rotatable ring 512.
The processing system 560, according to some embodiments, is
capable of carrying out the governance of the operation of
thermostat 102 including various user interface features. The
processing system 560 is further programmed and configured to carry
out other operations as described further hereinbelow and/or in
other ones of the commonly assigned incorporated applications. For
example, processing system 560 is further programmed and configured
to maintain and update a thermodynamic model for the enclosure in
which the HVAC system is installed, such as described in U.S. Ser.
No. 12/881,463, and in International Patent App. No.
PCT/US11/51579, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
According to some embodiments, the wireless communications system
566 is used to communicate with devices such as personal computers
and/or other thermostats or HVAC system components, which can be
peer-to-peer communications, communications through one or more
servers located on a private network, or and/or communications
through a cloud-based service.
[0058] According to some embodiments, for ease of installation,
configuration and/or upgrading, especially by a non-expert
installer such as a user, the thermostat 102 includes a head unit
540 and a backplate (or wall dock) 542. As is described
hereinabove, thermostat 102 is wall mounted and has circular in
shape and has an outer rotatable ring 512 for receiving user input.
Head unit 540 of thermostat 102 is slidably mountable onto back
plate 542 and slidably detachable therefrom. According to some
embodiments the connection of the head unit 540 to backplate 542
can be accomplished using magnets, bayonet, latches and catches,
tabs or ribs with matching indentations, or simply friction on
mating portions of the head unit 540 and backplate 542. Also shown
in FIG. 5A is a rechargeable battery 522 that is recharged using
recharging circuitry 524 that uses power from backplate that is
either obtained via power harvesting (also referred to as power
stealing and/or power sharing) from the HVAC system control
circuit(s) or from a common wire, if available, as described in
further detail in co-pending patent application U.S. Serial Nos.
13/034,674, and 13/034,678, which are incorporated by reference
herein. According to some embodiments, rechargeable battery 522 is
a single cell lithium-ion, or a lithium-polymer battery.
[0059] FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate exploded front and rear perspective
views, respectively, of the thermostat 102 with respect to its two
main components, which are the head unit 540 and the backplate 542.
Further technical and/or functional descriptions of various ones of
the electrical and mechanical components illustrated hereinbelow
can be found in one or more of the commonly assigned applications,
such as U.S. Ser. No. 13/199,108, incorporated herein by reference.
In the drawings shown herein, the "z" direction is outward from the
wall, the "y" direction is the toe-to-head direction relative to a
walk-up user, and the "x" direction is the user's left-to-right
direction.
[0060] FIGS. 6C-6D illustrate exploded front and rear perspective
views, respectively, of the head unit 540 with respect to its
primary components. Head unit 540 includes, back cover 636, bottom
frame 634, battery assembly 632, the outer ring 512 (which is
manipulated for ring rotations), head unit frontal assembly 630,
front lens 514, and Fresnel lens 510. Electrical components on the
head unit frontal assembly 630 can connect to electrical components
on the back plate 542 by virtue of ribbon cables and/or other plug
type electrical connectors on back cover 636. Head unit frontal
assembly 630 is secured to head unit back cover 636 and bottom
frame 634 via four bosses. The outer ring 512 is thereby held
between a bearing surface on the head unit top frame 652 (shown in
FIGS. 6E and 6F, infra) and bearing surfaces on the bottom frame
634. In particular motion of the ring 512 in z direction is
constrained by flat bearing surfaces on the top frame 652 and
bottom frame 634, while motion of the ring in x and y directions
are constrained by circular rounded surfaces on the bottom frame
634. According to some embodiments, the bearing surfaces of the
bottom frame 634 and/or the top frame 652 are greased and/or
otherwise lubricated to both smooth and dampen rotational movement
for ring 512. Attached to top frame 652 is the head unit printed
circuit board (PCB) 654 on which much of the head unit circuitry is
mounted including some or all of processing system 560, display
driver 564, wireless communication system 566 and battery
recharging circuitry 524 as shown and described with respect to
FIG. 5A, as well as one or more additional memory storage
components. According to some embodiments, circuitry and components
are mounted on both sides of PCB 654. A shielding can 656 (visible
in FIG. 6D) surrounds most or all of the head unit circuitry and
components on PCB 654 and serves to shield the circuitry and
components from electromagnetic interference. Although not visible,
according to some embodiments, shielding can 656 surrounds
circuitry and components on both sides of PCB 654.
[0061] Battery assembly 632 includes a rechargeable Lithium-Ion
battery 522, which for one preferred embodiment has a nominal
voltage of 3.7 volts and a nominal capacity of 560 mAh. To extend
battery life, however, the battery 522 is normally not charged
beyond 450 mAh by the thermostat battery charging circuitry.
Moreover, although the battery 522 is rated to be capable of being
charged to 4.2 volts, the thermostat battery charging circuitry
normally does not charge it beyond 3.95 volts. Battery assembly 632
also includes connecting wires 666, and a battery mounting film 664
that is attached to battery 522 using a strong adhesive and to the
rear shielding can 656 of head unit PCB 654 using a relatively
weaker adhesive. By using a weaker adhesive to mount the film 664
of battery assembly 632 to shielding can 656 of the PCB 654,
subsequent replacement of battery assembly 632 (including battery
522) is facilitated. According to some embodiments, the battery
assembly 632 is user-replaceable.
[0062] FIGS. 6E-6F illustrate exploded front and rear perspective
views, respectively, of the head unit frontal assembly 630 with
respect to its primary components. Head unit frontal assembly 630
comprises a head unit top frame 652, head unit PCB 654, and LCD
module 662. Daughter board 660 connects to the head unit PCB 654
and includes an optical finger navigation (OFN) module that is
configured and positioned to sense rotation of the outer ring 512.
The OFN module is directed radially outwardly (that is,
perpendicular to the z-axis and away from the center of the
thermostat). The OFN module uses methods analogous to the operation
of optical computer mice to sense the movement of a textured
surface on an inner face of the outer ring 512. Notably, the OFN
module is one of the very few sensors that is controlled by the
relatively power-intensive head unit microprocessor rather than the
relatively low-power back plate microprocessor. This is achievable
without excessive power drain implications because the head unit
microprocessor will invariably be awake already when the user is
manually turning the dial, so there is no excessive wake-up power
drain anyway. Advantageously, very fast response can also be
provided by the head unit microprocessor. Also visible in FIGS. 6E
and 6F is Fresnel lens 510 that operates in conjunction with two
PIR motion sensors mounted on PIR board 650. Two or more
temperature sensors are also located in the head unit 540 and
cooperate to acquire reliable and accurate room temperature data.
One of the temperature sensors is located on daughter board 660 and
the other is mounted on the head unit PCB 654.
[0063] FIGS. 6G-6H illustrate exploded front and rear perspective
views, respectively, of the back plate unit 542 with respect to its
primary components, according to some embodiments. Back plate unit
542 comprises a back plate rear plate 682, a back plate circuit
board 680, and a back plate cover 670. Visible in FIG. 6G are the
HVAC wire connectors 684 that include integrated mechanical wire
insertion sensing circuitry, and relatively large capacitors 686
that are used by part of the power stealing circuitry that is
mounted on the back plate circuit board 680. According to some
embodiments, backplate 542 includes electronics and a
temperature/humidity sensor in housing. Wire connectors 684 are
provided to allow for connection to HVAC system wires, which pass
though the large central circular opening 690, which is visible in
each of the backplate primary components. Also visible in each of
the backplate primary components are two mounting holes 692 and 694
for use in fixing the backplate to the wall. The single top
wall-mounting hole 692 on backplate has been found to allow for
self-leveling during installation, thereby further enhancing the
ease of a non-expert installation of the thermostat 102. Also
visible in FIGS. 6G and 6H are bubble level 672 and holder 674 for
further facilitating user-installability of the thermostat 102.
[0064] In some embodiments, the backplate 542 is configured and
designed in conjunction with the thermostat, including both
hardware aspects and programming aspects, to provide a DIY
installation process that is simple, non-intimidating, and perhaps
even fun for many DIY installers, and that further provides an
appreciable degree of fool proofing capability for protecting the
HVAC system from damage and for ensuring that the correct signals
are going to the correct equipment. For one embodiment, the
backplate 542 is equipped with a small mechanical detection switch
(not shown) for each distinct wire connector 684, such that the
insertion of a wire (and, of course, the non-insertion of a wire)
is automatically detected and a corresponding indication signal is
provided to the thermostat upon initial docking. In this way, the
thermostat has knowledge for each individual wire connector 684
whether a wire has, or has not been, inserted into that wire
connector 684. Preferably, the thermostat is also provided with
electrical sensors (e.g., voltmeter, ammeter, and ohnimeter)
corresponding to each of the wire connectors 684. The thermostat is
thereby enabled, by suitable programming, to perform some
fundamental "sanity checks" at initial installation. By way of
example, if there is no input wire at a call relay power wire input
terminal (e.g., either the Rc or Rh terminal), or if there is no AC
voltage sensed at the call relay power wire input terminal, further
initialization activity can be immediately halted, and the user
notified on the electronic display 516, because there is either no
power at all or the user has inserted the Rc and/or Rh wires into
the wrong terminal. By way of further example, if there is a live
voltage on the order of 24 VAC detected at any of the W, Y, and G
terminals, then it can be concluded that the user has placed the Rc
and/or Rh wire in the wrong place, and appropriate installation
halting and user notification can be made.
[0065] FIGS. 7A-7B are diagrams showing a thermostat backplate
having a plurality of user-friendly tool-free wiring terminals,
according to some embodiments. For ease of installation, as
described supra, the thermostat 102 is separable into a head unit
540 and backplate 542. Shown in FIG. 7A is a plan view of backplate
542 which has been configured for easy installation by a non-expert
installer, such as an end-user. Back plate 542 includes two banks
of HVAC wire connectors, which together provide capability for
tool-free connection to up to 10 HVAC system wires. A
semi-circularly arranged left bank includes 5 connectors 710, 712,
714, 716 and 718. Likewise, a semi-circularly arranged right bank
includes 5 connectors 720, 722, 724, 726 and 728. Although 10
wiring connectors are shown in the embodiments of FIG. 7A, other
numbers of connectors (for example 6, 8 or 12 connectors) can be
similarly arranged in banks of circular arrangements. A large
central opening 692 is provided through which the HVAC wires can
pass when backplate 542 is wall mounted. As shown in FIG. 7A, the
backplate is mounted using two screw fasteners 760 and 762 passing
through backplate mounting holes 692 and 694 respectively and
anchored into wall 780. A number of HVAC system wires, for example
wires 772 and 774 are shown protruding through wall hole 770 and
through backplate central opening 692. By arranging the connectors
along an arc close to the outer periphery of the backplate 542, a
relatively large number of wiring connectors can be accommodated,
with each individual connector still being large enough to allow
for ease of making electrical connection with HVAC wires by a
non-expert without the use of tools. In particular, each wiring
connector has a spring loaded pushable button which allows for an
HVAC wire to be inserted into a wire hole. For example, connector
726 has a spring loaded button 734 and a wire hole 736. When the
button is released, the spring action within the connectors a wire
securely grasps the wire inserted in the wire hole. Each connector
is wedge shaped as shown, with the button end being wider than the
wire-hole end. In the examples shown, the button end of the
connector is 8.5 mm in width and the wire-hole end is 5.1 mm in
width. In the embodiment shown, each connector occupies 15.3
degrees of an arc on the backplate 542, however, it has been found
that connector widths of between 10-20 degrees of arc to be
suitable for many applications. Another important dimension from a
usability standpoint has been found to be the distance from the
button surface to the wire insertion location (the wire hole). If
the button to wire-hole distance is too short, it has been found
that many users have difficulty in installation because the finger
used to press the button tends to block a good view of the wire
hole. In the embodiments shown the distance from the button center
to the wire hole is 12.2 mm.
[0066] By arranging the buttons in an arc-shaped pattern close to
the outer periphery of backplate 542, and by shaping each connecter
in a wedge-like shape, the surface area of the buttons can be
maximized since there is more room for each button when the
connectors are shaped and arranged as shown. Additionally, it has
been found that it is easier for many users to press a button that
is very close to the periphery of a backplate device, especially
located close to the left and right edges when wall-mounting a
thermostat. HVAC system wires, such as wires 772 and 774 are
commonly 18 gauge solid (18 AWG or 1.024 mm diameter). As a result
the wires protruding from the hole in the wall are rather stiff and
may be difficult to bend and otherwise manipulate. By passing the
HVAC wires through a central opening 692 and arranging the
connectors close to the outer periphery of backplate 542 and
positioning the wire holes in an arc-shaped pattern surrounding the
central opening, more space is allowed the user to bend the HVAC
wires. The distance d from the center 704 of the central opening
692 (and of the backplate 542) to the wire hole in each connector
is 21 mm. Also, since the wire holes are arranged in a circular
pattern around the central opening 692, the distance d from the
wire hole to the center of the backplate is equal for each
connector, thereby aiding the installation of many wires being the
same length protruding from wall 780 from the same hole 770. The
radial direction between the hole 770 and the wire holes of the
conductors also allows for few and less complicated bending of the
HVAC wires during installation, since each hole is directly facing
the hole 770. Thus, for many reasons, the placement, shape
orientation and arrangement of the connectors on the backplate 542
has been found to greatly increase the user install ability of the
thermostat. An example of user's finger 702 is shown pressing the
button of connector 728.
[0067] FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a backplate being installed
on a wall, according to some embodiments. The backplate 542 is
shown attached to surface of wall 780. The user has a left hand 704
that is pressing the button of connector 716 while a right hand 706
is inserting a wire 750 into the wire hole 746 of wiring connector
716. Note that due to the adequate distance between the button and
wire hole of the connector, the user's finger used to press the
button does not block the user's view of the wire hole. It has been
found that the combination of pressing a spring loaded button and
inserting the wire in a wire hole is much easier for non-expert
installers than conventional screw-type wire terminals which
require carefully holding a wire in place while positioning and
turning a relatively small sized screw driver.
[0068] FIGS. 8A-8E are perspective views showing further details of
a tool-free thermostat wiring connector, according to some
embodiments. Shown in FIG. 8A is one wiring connector 800 of the
ten shown mounted on backplate 542 in FIGS. 7A-7B. The wiring
connector 800 has a large button surface 810 formed on a lever 802
that pivots about rotational axis 804. The pivoting motion, shown
in the solid arrows, is in relation to the connector body 820 which
is attached to the backplate circuit board both physically and
electrically by a number of pins, of which 840, 842, 850 and 852
are visible. The wire insertion hole 830 is shown, and as
described, supra, the button center to wire hole distance is 12.2
mm.
[0069] FIGS. 8B-8C are perspective views of the lever 802 and
connector body 820, respectively. The lever 802 includes a button
surface 810 and two lever arms that rotatably engage with two posts
on the connector housing 820. Near button 810 is a surface 812 that
engages curved portions of one or more protruding conducing members
on the connector body 820 such that the presence of a wire can be
mechanically detected. Lever 802 also includes two slotted holes
862 and 864 for accepting two protrusions on the spring conductor
of the housing 820, of which one protrusion, 860, is visible in
FIG. 8C. By making the lever 802 relatively long, as with the
design shown, a user can easily compress a relatively strong spring
used to securely hold a HVAC wire in place. In the example shown,
lever 802 is 11.5 mm measured from the center of the button 810 to
the axis 804, and 13.6 mm from the outer upper edge to the pivot
axis 804.
[0070] FIGS. 8D-8E are rear perspective views of connector body 820
and of inner conductors 870, 872 and 874. From these views, the
protrusions 880 and 882 of conductors 874 and 872, respectively,
can be seen that are engaged by the surface 812 of lever 802 (shown
in FIG. 8B). Also visible is spring conductor 870 that makes
electrical contact with an inserted wires, and extends downwards to
two connection pins 840 and 842. The spring conductor 870 is also
used to provide spring bias to the lever 802 through engagement of
two protrusions 860 and 866 to the to slotted holes 862 and 864 on
lever 802, respectively (shown in FIG. 8B). According to some
embodiments, the spring conductor 870 is made from a copper
titanium allow to allow for both good spring and conductive
properties. Conductor 874 is bent such that it normally makes
electrical contact with pin and conductor 852, unless the
protrusion 880 is engaged by surface 812 of lever 802. Similarly,
the conductor 872 is bent such that it normally makes electrical
contact with pin 854, unless it is engaged by surface 812 of lever
802. Thus in the arrangement shown, pins 850 and 852 are
electrically connected to each other unless the lever 802 is in a
depressed state, such as when a wire is inserted in the connector,
so as allow for mechanical detection of the inserted wire for
example by measuring impedance between pins 850 and 852.
[0071] FIGS. 9A-9B are cross sections of the connector 800 showing
the interactions of various components, according to some
embodiments. Specifically, FIG. 9A is a cross section without a
wire inserted and FIG. 9B is a cross section showing a wire 920
inserted. In FIG. 9A, the spring conductor urges lever 802 to the
uppermost position shown though engagement of the protrusions 860
and 866 and slotted holes 862 and 864 shown in FIGS. 8B and 8E.
When a wire 920 is inserted, the spring conductor 870 is pushed
downwards as shown and serves to both securely hold and make
electrical contact with wire 920 as shown. The electrical
connection is thus made between the inserted wire 920 and pins 840
and 842 (of which only pin 840 is visible in FIG. 9B). When spring
conductor 870 is in its compressed state, as shown in FIG. 9B,
lever 802 is also held in a depressed state, though the engagement
of the protrusions 860 and 866 and slotted holes 862 and 864 shown
in FIGS. 8B and 8E. When the lever 802 is in a depressed state, as
shown in FIG. 9B, its surface 812 engages protrusion 880 of
conductor 874 such that electrical contact with pin 852 is broken.
Thus the mechanical presence of an inserted wire is used to open
the connection between pins 850 and 852. Note that the leading
lower edge 910 of lever 802 is rounded so as to smoothly push
against protrusion 880 of conductor 874 when button 810 is pressed
by a user. Note that although in FIGS. 9A-9B only a single set of
pins 850 and 852 are visible that are used to detect the presence
of an inserted wire, additional pairs of pins can be provided,
depending on the expected purpose of the inserted wire.
[0072] FIGS. 10A-10B show perspective and cross section views
showing a tool-free thermostat wiring connector, according to some
alternative embodiments. In this case, connector 1020 is
rectangular rather than being wedge shaped. The button is biased in
the upwards position (shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B), by the spring
conductor 1070. In operation, button 1010 is depressed by a user's
finger and a wire is inserted in wire hole 1030. The button 1010 is
attached via a lever so as to pivot about pivot axis 1004. Pushing
the button 1010 also brings button body 1002 into engagement with a
protrusion on bent conductor 1052 and served to break the
electrical connection between conductors 1052 and 1050. An inserted
wire through wire hole 1030 will compresses spring conductor 1070
downward which so as to hold the inserted wire in place, make
electrical connection between the wire and pins 1040 and 1042, as
well as served to hold the lever and button body 1002 in the
depressed state so as to keep the connection between 1050 and 1052
open. In this way, impedance between 1050 and 1052 can be used to
detect the physical presence of an inserted wire. Note that
according to some embodiments, several rectangular connectors such
as connector 1020 can be arranged into one or more rectangular
banks of connectors for use on a backplate of the thermostat.
[0073] FIG. 11 is a diagram shown aspects of a thermostat backplate
having an oval-shape, according to some embodiments. Backplate 1100
is shown that has two arc-shaped banks each being made up of five
wiring connectors. The connectors, for example wiring terminal
1120, allow for tool free wire connections through the use of a
push button 1124 and insertion of the HVAC wire into a wire hole
1122, as described herein supra. The backplate includes oval-shaped
central opening 1112, and the connection terminals are arranged
such that the wiring holes face the central opening.
[0074] Although the tool-free wiring connectors have been thus far
described with respect to a thermostat, according to some
embodiments wiring connectors such as those described can be used
in a number of other types of home electronic devices shown in FIG.
1, especially those devices that make connections to several wires
in a relatively small location without the use of tools. Examples
include: connection of irrigation valve control wires to an
irrigation controller/timer; connection of sensor wires to
multi-sensing hazard detection systems; connection of sensor wires
to home alarm and/or entryway interface devices; connection of
lighting control wires to lighting control systems; connection of
speaker or other audio/video signal wires to audio/video electronic
equipment; and connection of signal wires to intercom systems.
[0075] Various modifications may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be further appreciated
that the term thermostat, as used hereinabove and hereinbelow, can
include thermostats having direct control wires to an HVAC system,
and can further include thermostats that do not connect directly
with the HVAC system, but that sense an ambient temperature at one
location in an enclosure and cooperatively communicate by wired or
wireless data connections with a separate thermostat unit located
elsewhere in the enclosure, wherein the separate thermostat unit
does have direct control wires to the HVAC system. Accordingly, the
invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but
instead is defined by the appended claims in light of their full
scope of equivalents.
* * * * *