公开(公告)号：US08659302B1

公开(公告)日：2014-02-25

申请号：US13624882

申请日：2012-09-21

Applicant: Nest Labs, Inc.

Inventor： Daniel Adam Warren ,  Brian J. Conner ,  Ian C. Smith

IPC: G01R31/02

CPC classification number: H02H7/20 ,  F24D5/02 ,  F24D5/12 ,  F24D19/1009 ,  G01R31/07 ,  G05D23/19 ,  G05D23/1902 ,  H01H85/0241 ,  H01H85/32 ,  H01H2300/03 ,  H05B1/0205 ,  Y02B90/224 ,  Y04S20/14

Abstract: Voltage is detected on both sides of a protection fuse within a thermostat, such that a determination can be made as to the status of the fuse. When a blown fuse is detected, the user can be notified via (1) an error message on the thermostat display, and/or (2) a message on another device such as a mobile device and/or web-client device. According to some embodiments the thermostat manufacturer is notified via network connection. According to some embodiments drain voltage is measured on MOSFETs used in the thermostat for switching on and off HVAC functions. If an over-current is detected on a FET switch, it immediately turned off and a fault indictor is sent to the microcontroller. The FET switch remains “off” until it is re-enabled under control of the microcontroller.

Abstract translation: 在恒温器内的保护保险丝的两侧检测到电压，从而可以确定保险丝的状态。 当检测到熔断的熔丝时，可以通过（1）温控器显示器上的错误消息，和/或（2）诸如移动设备和/或web客户端设备的另一设备上的消息来通知用户。 根据一些实施例，通过网络连接通知恒温器制造商。 根据一些实施例，在用于接通和关闭HVAC功能的恒温器中使用的MOSFET上测量漏极电压。 如果在FET开关上检测到过电流，则立即关闭，并向微控制器发送故障指示器。 FET开关保持“关闭”，直到在微控制器的控制下重新使能。

公开(公告)号：US20140175181A1

公开(公告)日：2014-06-26

申请号：US14106544

申请日：2013-12-13

Applicant: NEST LABS, INC.

Inventor： Daniel Adam Warren ,  Brian J. Conner ,  Ian C. Smith

IPC: H02H7/20 ,  G05D23/19

CPC classification number: H02H7/20 ,  F24D5/02 ,  F24D5/12 ,  F24D19/1009 ,  G01R31/07 ,  G05D23/19 ,  G05D23/1902 ,  H01H85/0241 ,  H01H85/32 ,  H01H2300/03 ,  H05B1/0205 ,  Y02B90/224 ,  Y04S20/14

Abstract: A method of automated sensing of an electrical anomaly associated with a thermostat may include switching a switching circuit within the thermostat to an on state. The switching circuit may be configured to activate an HVAC function when switched to the on state. The method may also include monitoring one or more electrical properties associated with the switching circuit. The method may additionally include determining if an electrical anomaly is associated with the switching circuit based at least in part on the monitored one or more electrical properties. The method may further include switching the switching circuit to an off state if an electrical anomaly is detected.

Abstract translation: 自动感测与恒温器相关联的电气异常的方法可包括将恒温器内的开关电路切换到导通状态。 开关电路可以被配置为当切换到接通状态时激活HVAC功能。 该方法还可以包括监视与开关电路相关联的一个或多个电气特性。 该方法可以另外包括至少部分地基于所监测的一个或多个电气特性来确定电异常是否与开关电路相关联。 该方法还可以包括如果检测到电气异常则将开关电路切换到断开状态。

公开(公告)号：US09234668B2

公开(公告)日：2016-01-12

申请号：US13656189

申请日：2012-10-19

Applicant: NEST LABS, INC.

Inventor： Anthony Michael Fadell ,  Matthew Lee Rogers ,  Edwin H. Satterthwaite, Jr. ,  Ian C. Smith ,  Daniel Adam Warren ,  Joseph E. Palmer ,  Shigefumi Honjo ,  Grant M. Erickson ,  Jonathan Alan Dutra ,  Hugo Fiennes

IPC: F24F11/00 ,  G05D23/19 ,  G05D23/27 ,  G06F3/0487 ,  G05D23/24 ,  G01J5/00 ,  G01J5/04 ,  G06N99/00 ,  H04L29/08 ,  G01K1/02 ,  G05B15/02

CPC classification number: G06F3/04847 ,  F24F11/00 ,  F24F11/30 ,  F24F11/46 ,  F24F11/47 ,  F24F11/50 ,  F24F11/52 ,  F24F11/56 ,  F24F11/58 ,  F24F11/62 ,  F24F11/63 ,  F24F11/70 ,  F24F11/89 ,  F24F2110/00 ,  F24F2110/10 ,  F24F2120/10 ,  F24F2120/12 ,  F24F2120/14 ,  F24F2140/60 ,  G01J5/0025 ,  G01J5/041 ,  G01K1/02 ,  G01R31/26 ,  G05B15/02 ,  G05D23/19 ,  G05D23/1902 ,  G05D23/1919 ,  G05D23/1932 ,  G05D23/24 ,  G05D23/2454 ,  G05D23/27 ,  G05D23/275 ,  G06F1/3231 ,  G06F1/3265 ,  G06F3/011 ,  G06F3/02 ,  G06F3/0304 ,  G06F3/0362 ,  G06F3/042 ,  G06F3/0482 ,  G06F3/04842 ,  G06F3/0487 ,  G06F3/167 ,  G06N99/005 ,  H01H25/06 ,  H04L67/10 ,  Y02D70/00 ,  Y02T10/88

Abstract: A user-friendly, network-connected learning thermostat is described. The thermostat is made up of (1) a wall-mountable backplate that includes a low-power consuming microcontroller used for activities such as polling sensors and switching on and off the HVAC functions, and (2) separable head unit that includes a higher-power consuming microprocessor, color LCD backlit display, user input devices, and wireless communications modules. The thermostat also includes a rechargeable battery and power-stealing circuitry adapted to harvest power from HVAC triggering circuits. By maintaining the microprocessor in a “sleep” state often compared to the lower-power microcontroller, high-power consuming activities, such as learning computations, wireless network communications and interfacing with a user, can be temporarily performed by the microprocessor even though the activities use energy at a greater rate than is available from the power stealing circuitry.

Abstract translation: 描述了一个用户友好的网络连接的学习恒温器。 恒温器由（1）壁挂式背板组成，包括一个低功耗微控制器，用于诸如轮询传感器和接通和关闭HVAC功能的活动，以及（2）可分离的头单元， 功耗微处理器，彩色LCD背光显示器，用户输入设备和无线通信模块。 恒温器还包括可充电电池和电力窃取电路，其适于从HVAC触发电路获取电力。 通过将微处理器经常与低功率微控制器相比较，将微处理器维持在“休眠”状态，即使在微处理器的活动中也可以暂时执行诸如学习计算，无线网络通信和与用户接口等大功率消耗活动 以比偷窃电路可用的更大的速率使用能量。

公开(公告)号：US08770491B2

公开(公告)日：2014-07-08

申请号：US13958191

申请日：2013-08-02

Applicant: Nest Labs, Inc.

Inventor： Daniel Adam Warren ,  Edwin H. Satterthwaite, Jr. ,  Ian C. Smith

IPC: G05D23/19

CPC classification number: G05D23/19 ,  F24D19/1048 ,  F24D19/1063 ,  F24D19/1081 ,  F24F11/30 ,  F24F11/56 ,  F24F11/61 ,  F24F2110/10 ,  F24F2120/14 ,  G05D23/1902 ,  Y10T307/50

Abstract: A thermostat includes a plurality of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) wire connectors including a connection to at least one call relay wire. The thermostat may also include a powering circuit, including a rechargeable battery, which is configured to provide electrical power to the thermostat by power stealing from a selected call relay wire. The power stealing may comprise an active power stealing mode, in which power is taken from the same selected call relay wire that is used to call for an HVAC function, and an inactive power stealing mode in which, in which no active call is being made. The powering circuit may be configured to substantially suspend (or at least reduce the level of) power stealing for at least a first time period following each transition of the thermostat from between operating states.

Abstract translation: 恒温器包括多个HVAC（加热，通风和空调）线连接器，其包括与至少一个呼叫继电器线的连接。 恒温器还可以包括供电电路，其包括可再充电电池，其被配置为通过从所选择的呼叫继电器电线窃取来向恒温器提供电力。 电力窃取可以包括有功功率窃取模式，其中从用于呼叫HVAC功能的相同的所选择的呼叫中继线获取电力，以及其中不进行主动呼叫的无效电力窃取模式 。 供电电路可以被配置为在恒温器从操作状态开始的每个转换之后至少第一时间段基本上暂停（或至少降低）电力窃取的水平。