System and method for integrating sensors in thermostats

    公开(公告)号:US09810590B2

    公开(公告)日:2017-11-07

    申请号:US14596075

    申请日:2015-01-13

    Applicant: Google Inc.

    Abstract: Provided according to one or more embodiments is a thermostat having a housing, the housing including a forward-facing surface, the thermostat comprising a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor disposed inside the housing for sensing occupancy in the vicinity of the thermostat. The PIR motion sensor has a radiation receiving surface and is able to detect the lateral movement of an occupant in front of the forward-facing surface of the housing. The thermostat further comprises a grille member having one or more openings and included along the forward-facing surface of the housing, the grille member being placed over the radiation receiving surface of the PIR motion sensor. The grille member is configured and dimensioned to visually conceal and protect the PIR motion sensor disposed inside the housing, the visual concealment promoting a visually pleasing quality of the thermostat, while at the same time permitting the PIR motion sensor to effectively detect the lateral movement of the occupant. In one embodiment, the grille member openings are slit-like openings oriented along a substantially horizontal direction.

    SYSTEMS, APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING DEMAND-RESPONSE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

    公开(公告)号:US20170241663A1

    公开(公告)日:2017-08-24

    申请号:US15458646

    申请日:2017-03-14

    Applicant: Google Inc.

    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for managing demand-response programs and events. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat controls an HVAC system to cool the structure using a demand response event implementation profile over the demand response event period. The thermostat can also receive a requested change to the setpoint temperatures defined by the demand response event implementation profile and access a determination of an impact on energy shifting that would result if the requested change is incorporated into the demand response event implementation profile. This determination can be communicated to the energy consumer.

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