Self-programmable thermostat

Abstract

A hybrid manual/programmable thermostat for a furnace or air conditioner offers the simplicity of a manual thermostat while providing the convenience and versatility of a programmable one. Initially, the hybrid thermostat appears to function as an ordinary manual thermostat; however, it privately observes and learns that is configured to learn from a user's manual temperature setting habits settings and eventually programs program itself accordingly. If users begin changing their preferred temperature settings due to seasonal changes or other reasons, the thermostat continues learning The thermostat may be configured to learn and will adapt to those changes as well. For ease of use, the thermostat does not require an onscreen menu as a user interface. In some embodiments, the thermostat can effectively program itself for temperature settings that are set to occur at particular times daily or just on weekends, yet the user is not required to enter the time of day or the day of the week a user's manual temperature settings over time.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A thermostat method for a temperature conditioning unit, wherein the temperature conditioning unit helps control a temperature of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp; 
 controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature; 
 receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp; 
 controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature; 
 receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp; 
 controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature; 
 identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and third manually entered setpoint temperature; and 
 controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature; and wherein 
 the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp are based on a 24-hour timer and all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on the 24-hour timer. 
 
     
     
       2. The thermostat method of  claim 1 , wherein first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and third manually entered setpoint temperature all lie within 5° F. of each other. 
     
     
       3. The thermostat method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature, receiving a fourth manually entered setpoint temperature; and 
 after receiving the fourth manually entered setpoint temperature, controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the fourth manually entered setpoint temperature. 
 
     
     
       4. The thermostat method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 after controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the fourth manually entered setpoint temperature, returning to controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature. 
 
     
     
       5. A thermostat method for a temperature conditioning unit, wherein the temperature conditioning unit helps control a temperature of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp; 
 controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature; 
 receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp; 
 controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature; 
 receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp; 
 controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature; 
 identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and third manually entered setpoint temperature; and 
 controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature; and wherein 
 the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp are based on a 168-hour timer and all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on the 168-hour timer. 
 
     
     
       6. A method for a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller helps control a temperature conditioning unit of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and third manually entered setpoint temperature;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature; and   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp are based on a daily pattern and all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on the daily pattern; and   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp all lie within 90 minutes of each other based on the daily pattern.   
     
     
       7. A method for a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller helps control a temperature conditioning unit of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and third manually entered setpoint temperature;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature;   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp are based on a daily pattern and all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on the daily pattern; and   wherein the controlling step controls the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature at a learned setpoint time, wherein the learned setpoint time is based on the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and/or the third timestamp on the daily pattern.   
     
     
       8. A method for a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller helps control a temperature conditioning unit of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and third manually entered setpoint temperature;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature;   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp are based on a daily pattern and all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on the daily pattern; and   wherein the controlling step controls the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature at a learned setpoint time, wherein the learned setpoint time is set before the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp on the daily pattern.   
     
     
       9. A method for a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller helps control a temperature conditioning unit of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on an average of the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature and the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature; and   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on a daily pattern.   
     
     
       10. A method for a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller helps control a temperature conditioning unit of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and/or the third manually entered setpoint temperature if the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and the third manually entered setpoint temperature all fall within a temperature range that is less than 5 degrees F.;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature; and   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on a daily pattern.   
     
     
       11. A method for a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller helps control a temperature conditioning unit of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and third manually entered setpoint temperature;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature;   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp are based on a weekly pattern and all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on the weekly pattern; and   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp all lie within 90 minutes of each other based on the weekly pattern.   
     
     
       12. A method for a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller helps control a temperature conditioning unit of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and third manually entered setpoint temperature;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature;   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp are based on a weekly pattern and all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on the weekly pattern; and   wherein the controlling step controls the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature at a learned setpoint time, wherein the learned setpoint time is based on the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and/or the third timestamp on the weekly pattern.   
     
     
       13. A method for a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller helps control a temperature conditioning unit of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and third manually entered setpoint temperature;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature;   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp are based on a weekly pattern and all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on the weekly pattern; and   wherein the controlling step controls the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature at a learned setpoint time, wherein the learned setpoint time is set before the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp on the weekly pattern.   
     
     
       14. A method for a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller helps control a temperature conditioning unit of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature and the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature; and   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on a weekly pattern.   
     
     
       15. A method for a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller helps control a temperature conditioning unit of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on an average of the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature and the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature; and   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on a weekly pattern.   
     
     
       16. A method for a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller helps control a temperature conditioning unit of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and third manually entered setpoint temperature;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature;   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp are based on a weekly pattern and all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on the weekly pattern; and   wherein the identifying step identifies a learned setpoint temperature when the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and third manually entered setpoint temperature are within a predetermined deviation from one another.   
     
     
       17. A method for a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller helps control a temperature conditioning unit of a comfort zone, the method comprising:
 receiving a first manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a first timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the first manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a second manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a second timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the second manually entered setpoint temperature;   receiving a third manually entered setpoint temperature, which is assigned a third timestamp;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the third manually entered setpoint temperature;   identifying a learned setpoint temperature based on the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and/or the third manually entered setpoint temperature if the first manually entered setpoint temperature, the second manually entered setpoint temperature, and the third manually entered setpoint temperature all fall within a temperature range that is less than 5 degrees F.;   controlling the temperature conditioning unit in response to the learned setpoint temperature; and   wherein the first timestamp, the second timestamp, and the third timestamp all lie within a predetermined range of each other based on a weekly pattern.