US 12,449,153 B2
Thermostat device with improved energy optimization
Kevin Trinh, Toronto (CA)
Assigned to GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC., , WI (US)
Filed by GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC., Waukesha, WI (US)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/542,187.
Application 18/542,187 is a continuation of application No. 17/211,398, filed on Mar. 24, 2021, granted, now 11,892,187.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/994,937, filed on Mar. 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0117986 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F24F 11/67 (2018.01); F24F 11/00 (2018.01); F24F 11/46 (2018.01); F24F 110/20 (2018.01); F24F 120/10 (2018.01); F24F 110/10 (2018.01); F24F 120/20 (2018.01)
CPC F24F 11/67 (2018.01) [F24F 11/0008 (2013.01); F24F 11/46 (2018.01); F24F 2110/10 (2018.01); F24F 2110/20 (2018.01); F24F 2120/10 (2018.01); F24F 2120/20 (2018.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for controlling at least one of a heating system and a cooling system within a premise, the device comprising:
a housing;
at least one relay within the housing, the at least one relay connected to the at least one of a heating system and a cooling system;
at least one environmental sensor within the housing, operable to measure the temperature and humidity within the premise;
memory, operable to store a programming schedule having at least one temperature setpoint and further operable to store current and historical temperature and humidity values provided by the at least one environmental sensor; and
a processor, connected to the at least one relay, the at least one environmental sensor and the memory, the processor being operable to execute an energy control program;
wherein the energy control program is operable to control the at least one of a heating system and a cooling system based upon one of the following control strategies:
a first control strategy that compares the at least one temperature setpoint in the programming schedule to the current measured dry bulb temperature to determine whether to engage or disengage the at least one of a heating system and a cooling system, and
a second control strategy that compares the at least one temperature setpoint in the programming schedule to a normalized humidex temperature to determine whether to engage or disengage the at least one of a heating system and a cooling system, the normalized humidex temperature being the current measured dry bulb temperature modified by historical humidity values to provide an indicator of thermal comfort within the premise and
wherein the energy control program uses the second control strategy when the memory contains historical humidity values covering a time period exceeding a time threshold, and uses the first control strategy when the memory contains historical humidity values covering a time period smaller than the time threshold.