Wireless controller with gateway
Remote control of energy consumption is realized using a readily installable, flexible approach. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a remote source communicates with a wireless controller for executing energy usage control. The remote source sends signals to the wireless controller via a gateway located near or, in one implementation, forming part of the wireless controller. In response to the signals, the wireless controller sets control settings for operating one or more of a variety of equipment types, such as a furnace, air conditioner, water heater or heat pump. With this approach, wired connections from the gateway to energy-consuming equipment do not necessarily need to be made in order to effect remote energy-consumption control. For instance, when used in connection with a controller wired to the energy-consuming equipment, the gateway need only communicate wirelessly with the controller and does not necessarily need to be coupled to the energy-consuming equipment. In addition, access to the energy-consuming equipment for establishing remote energy control is not necessary; rather, the remote energy control can be effected by accessing user-friendly locations, such as those where thermostats and other controllers are typically located.
1. A thermostat for use in controlling an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the building or other structure having a gateway for receiving one or more load shedding messages from a utility, the thermostat comprising:
a user interface for allowing a user to interact with the thermostat;
a wireless transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the gateway of the building or other structure, wherein the gateway is located remotely from the thermostat;
a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature inside the building or other structure and for providing a signal related to the sensed temperature; a thermostat controller coupled to the user interface, the wireless transceiver and the temperature sensor, the thermostat controller having a control algorithm for controlling the HVAC system based, at least in part, on the signal provided by the temperature sensor, the control algorithm including a load shedding algorithm, wherein the thermostat controller employs the load shedding algorithm when the thermostat controller receives one or more load shedding messages from the remotely located gateway via the wireless transceiver;
a thermostat housing and a thermostat base, wherein the thermostat housing is removably coupled to the thermostat base such that when the thermostat housing is coupled to the thermostat base, one or more electrical signals can be communicated between the thermostat housing and the thermostat base; and
the thermostat housing carrying the user interface, the temperature sensor and the thermostat controller, and the thermostat base carrying the wireless transceiver.
2. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the thermostat base is configured to be mounted to an interior wall of the building or other structure.
3. The thermostat of claim 2 wherein the thermostat base includes one or more wire connectors, wherein the one or more wire connectors are configured to accept and retain one or more control wires from the HVAC system.
4. A thermostat for use in controlling an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the building or other structure having a gateway for receiving one or more load shedding messages from a utility, the thermostat comprising:
a user interface for allowing a user to interact with the thermostat;
a wireless transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the gateway of the building or other structure, wherein the gateway is located remotely from the thermostat;
a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature inside the building or other structure and for providing a signal related to the sensed temperature; a thermostat controller coupled to the user interface, the wireless transceiver and the temperature sensor, the thermostat controller having a control algorithm for controlling the HVAC system based, at least in part, on the signal provided by the temperature sensor, the control algorithm including a load shedding algorithm, wherein the thermostat controller employs the load shedding algorithm when the thermostat controller receives one or more load shedding messages from the remotely located gateway via the wireless transceiver; and
the load shedding algorithm includes cycling the HVAC system in order to reduce the energy consumed.
5. A thermostat for use in controlling an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the building or other structure having a gateway for receiving one or more load shedding messages from a utility, the thermostat comprising:
a user interface for allowing a user to interact with the thermostat;
a wireless transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the gateway of the building or other structure, wherein the gateway is located remotely from the thermostat;
a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature inside the building or other structure and for providing a signal related to the sensed temperature; a thermostat controller coupled to the user interface, the wireless transceiver and the temperature sensor, the thermostat controller having a control algorithm for controlling the HVAC system based, at least in part, on the signal provided by the temperature sensor, the control algorithm including a load shedding algorithm, wherein the thermostat controller employs the load shedding algorithm when the thermostat controller receives one or more load shedding messages from the remotely located gateway via the wireless transceiver;
one or more of the load shedding messages provided to the thermostat controller from the remotely located gateway include a price tier; and
the thermostat controller is configured to display a message related to the price tier via the user interface.
6. A thermostat for use in controlling an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the building or other structure having a gateway for receiving one or more load shedding messages from a utility, the thermostat comprising:
a user interface for allowing a user to control the thermostat;
a wireless transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the gateway of the building or other structure, wherein the gateway is located remotely from the thermostat;
a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature inside the building or other structure and for providing a signal related to the sensed temperature;
a thermostat controller coupled to the user interface, the wireless transceiver and the temperature sensor, the thermostat controller having a control algorithm for controlling the HVAC system based, at least in part, on the signal provided by the temperature sensor, the control algorithm including a load shedding algorithm, wherein the thermostat controller employs the load shedding algorithm when the thermostat controller receives one or more load shedding messages from the remotely located gateway via the wireless transceiver;
one or more wire connectors configured to accept and retain one or more control wires from the HVAC system;
a thermostat housing and a thermostat base, wherein the thermostat housing is removably coupled to the thermostat base such that when the thermostat housing is coupled to the thermostat base, one or more electrical signals are communicated between the thermostat housing and the thermostat base; and
the thermostat housing carrying the user interface, the temperature sensor and the thermostat controller, and the thermostat base carrying the wireless transceiver and the one or more wire connectors.