1111011111110111011111110111010111011101110101111111111011111
`US008622314B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Fisher et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,622,314 B2
`Jan. 7, 2014
`
`(54) SMART-HOME DEVICE THAT
`SELF-QUALIFIES FOR AWAY-STATE
`FUNCTIONALITY
`
`(71) Applicant: Nest Labs, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US)
`
`(72) Inventors: Evan J. Fisher, Palo Alto, CA (US):
`Yoky Matsuoka, Palo Alto, CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Nest Labs, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US)
`
`CA
`EP
`
`4,408,711 A
`4,615,380 A
`4,674,027 A
`
`10/1983 Levine
`10/1986 Beckey
`6/1987 Beckey
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2/2000
`2202008 Al (cid:9)
`12/1991
`0 196 069 Bl (cid:9)
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/632,142
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Sep. 30, 2012
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2013/0098596 Al (cid:9)
`
`Apr. 25, 2013
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 13/279,151,
`ifled on Oct. 21, 2011.
`(60) Provisional application No. 61/627,996, ifled on Oct.
`21, 2011, provisional application No. 61/550,345,
`ifled on Oct. 21, 2011.
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`GO5D 23/19
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC
`(58) Field of Classiifcation Search
`USPC
`236/1 C, 46 C, 46 R; 165/237
`See application ifle for complete search history.
`
`236/46 C; 165/237
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,223,831 A
`4,335,847 A
`
`9/1980 Szarka
`6/1982 Levine
`
`Aprilaire Electronic Thermostats Model 8355 User's Manual,
`Research Products Corporation, 2000, 16 pages.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Marc Norman
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Kilpatirck Townsend &
`Stockton LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A thermostat, includes a housing and an occupancy sensor
`that is disposed within the housing and conifgured to detect
`physical presences of users within a responsive area of the
`occupancy sensor. The thermostat may also include a pro-
`cessing system that is disposed within the housing and in
`operative communication with the occupancy sensor. The
`processing system may be configured to determine, after a
`trial period, whether to activate an away-state feature by
`storing indications of how often the occupancy sensor
`detected physical presences during the trial period, comput-
`ing an occupancy level for the trial period, comparing the
`occupancy level to a threshold criterion, determining whether
`sufifciently true indications of occupancy conditions were
`sensed by the occupancy sensor during the trial period, and
`enabling the away-state feature of the thermostat if it is deter-
`mined that the sufifciently true indications of occupancy con-
`ditions were sensed during the trial period.
`
`18 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`1
`
`4
`
`,
`
`^----no
`
`ti
`
`,
`
`7
`
`EXHIBIT 2002
`
`

`

`(56)
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`US 8,622,314 B2
`Page 2
`
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`
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`
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`
`165/237
`
`

`

`US 8,622,314 B2
`Page 3
`
`(56)
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`
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`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`FIG. 1
`
`\
`
`[12\160
`
`1
`
`130
`
`124
`
`516
`
`120 1
`
`108
`
`164
`
`166
`
`114
`
`ROTATABLE RING
`
`170A
`
`170B
`
`112
`
`100
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 2014
`
`Sheet 2 of 15
`
`US 8,622,314 B2
`
`200
`
`210
`(HEAD UNIT)
`
`208 __---,
`(THERMOSTAT)
`
`212 . _^--
`(BACK PLATE)
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 2014
`
`Sheet 3 of 15
`
`US 8,622,314 B2
`
`300a
`
`-
`41X;
`
`330
`(HEAD UNIT - FRONTAL ASSEMBLY)
`
`360
`(LCD MODULE)
`
`,- - "
`
`_.--^
`
`/44
`i r
`
`w
`
`
`
`=^^' .
`
`350
`(HEAD UNIT FRONT PLATE)
`
`340
`(HEAD UNIT CIRCUIT BOARD)
`
`344
`(BATTERY)
`
`342
`(OPTICAL FINGER
`NAVIGA' TiON MODULE)
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 2014
`
`Sheet 4 of 15
`
`US 8,622,314 B2
`
`3001) --^
`
`-------- 332
`(BACKPLATE UNIT)
`
`324
`
`322
`
`,
`
`Ezt
`
`\
`310
`
`320
`(BACKPLATE CIRCUIT BOARD)
`
`380
`(BACKPLATE COVER)
`
`FIG. 3B
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 2014
`
`Sheet 5 of 15
`
`US 8,622,314 B2
`
`DO i° k
`
`B
`
`LCD
`DISPLAY
`A
`r\--402
`
`AUDIO
`TRANSDUCER
`A
`r\-404
`
`406
`("
`
`4
`
`RING
`ROTATE,
`INWARD
`CLICKS
`
`4
`
`464
`POWER
`Po- CONTROL
`CIRCUITRY
`
`CORE THERMOSTAT
`OPERATIONS
`
`OCCUPANCY
`SENSING
`
`416
`
`418
`
`422
`(j
`
`SCHEDULE LEARNING
`AND MANAGEMENT
`
`BUILDING
`CHARACTERISTICS
`(INCL. TIME TO TEMP, OVERSHOOT-
`UNDERSHOOT CONTROL)
`
`420
`
`426
`-O
`
`CLOUD MANAGEMENT
`INTERFACE
`
`410
`r?_
`
`WIRELESS
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`A
`
`A
`
`r\-412
`V
`WI-FI
`MODULE
`
`-\-414
`V
`ZIGBEE
`MODULE
`
`408
`Lj!
`
`USER INTERFACE
`2 2
`POWER
`MANAGEMENT
`
`(77_'
`
`424
`SENSOR HISTORY
`OBJECTS, GLOBAL
`STATE OBJECTS
`
`428
`r77_)
`CONSERVATION
`ENCOURAGEMENT
`AND GAMING
`
`432
`(77_)
`BACKPLATE
`CONTROL
`
`A
`
`r\-430
`V
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 2014
`
`Sheet 6 of 15
`
`US 8,622,314 B2
`
`HEAD UNIT
`MICROPROCESSOR
`*
`^-436
`
`: t 8
`
`HEAD UNIT
`MICROPROCESSOR
`COMMUNICATIONS
`444
`
`SWITCH
`MANAGEMENT
`(HVAC ACTUATION)
`
`r
`
`COMMAND
`INTERPRETER
`
`440
`(-)
`WIRE
`INSERTION
`SENSING
`
`460
`
`POWER
`MANAGEMENT
`
`LED INDICATOR
`LIGHT CONTROL
`
`450
`
`SENSOR READING
`MEMORY
`
`HVAC WIRE 442
`INSERTION
`SWI TCHES
`
`462
`
`BOOTSTRAP
`REGULATOR
`
`POWER 464
`STEALING
`CIRCUITRY
`
`BUCK
`CONVERTER
`
`466
`
`468
`
`BATTERY
`CONTROLLER
`
`446
`
`POWER
`FET
`DRIVING
`C/RCU/TRY
`
`LED
`INDICATOR
`LIGHTS
`
`448
`?
`SENSOR POLLING INTERFACE
`
`, OTHER
`I- SENSOR(S)
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`®
`t
`TEMP HUMIDITY
`SENSORS SENSOR
`
`•
`®
`t
`PASSIVE PROXIMITY AMBIENT
`INFRARED SENSOR
`LIGHT
`SENSOR
`MOTION
`SENSOR
`
`FIG. 4B
`
`

`

`FIG. 5
`
`AUX-GTL
`
`FET SW 4-
`
`---i(cid:127)
`
`0- ELECTRICAL I.S. SIGNALS
`
`SENSORS 4
`BP ENVIR.
`
`\.._,
`
`'' r
`MAIN
`V cc
`
`q
`
`HU PWR MGMT
`
`Eli
`
`BP PWR MGMT
`
`530
`/
`
`BATTERY
`Li - ION
`I
`
`IBAT
`
`—
`/ /cc .4w,
`531
`
`i
`
`r4
`
`i
`
`4085
`LTC
`
`?
`528
`
`REG,
`BUCK
`
`1„
`
`,)
`
`/
`
`-
`
`522
`
`,..- --.
`
`(
`
`tw o
`
`Rc
`
`C W Y
`0
`
`CAUSATION
`MECHANICAL
`+
`
`523
`
`VBR
`
`/---/
`
`510
`
`C, Y, or W
`
`2
`519
`
`516
`
`500
`
`0
`
`
`
`VN
`
`CAUS 1.'"
`
`1
`
`L
`
`("I.S.")
`
`SENSING
`INSERTION
`
`t
`
`_1
`
`L
`
`---;-:n—i
`
`WIRES
`HVAC
`
`BACKPLATE HEAD UNIT
`
`r^ [
`
`INPUT, WI-Fl, etc.
`DISPLAY, USER
`V
`
`SENSORS
`HU ENVIR.
`
`±
`
`
`
`AI
`
`K
`
`EA
`
`7*
`
`4 AUX
`
`4 G
`
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`
`4
`
`MSP430
`
`AM3703
`
`44
`
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`
`532
`
`508
`
`- - - -
`MO D 4.... y
`PS ret---- w
`
`...
`-
`
`C_
`_
`Dr
`_
`
`ig. A
`
`G-CTL
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`
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`)
`
`4
`
`FET SW
`
`FET SW 4 >
`
`?
`
`)
`
`1
`
`Y-CTL
`
`W-CTL
`
`,
`
`4
`
`FET SW
`
`FET SW
`
`.."
`-s.
`
`)
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 2014
`
`Sheet 8 of 15
`
`US 8,622,314 B2
`
`600a --NA
`
`/ /
`
`602
`
`,
`
`i
`
`\
`
`.
`
`—
`
`—__
`
`-
`
`Te
`604
`
`t _
`
`_
`
`__ — — — —
`
`FIG. 6A
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 2014
`
`Sheet 9 of 15
`
`US 8,622,314 B2
`
`600b
`
`/
`/
`
`--
`
`604
`
`FIG. 68
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 2014
`
`Sheet 10 of 15
`
`US 8,622,314 B2
`
`Trial Period
`
`installation—
`
`700
`
`$
`
`702
`
`Training
`
`Trial Penod Ends
`
`r
`
`Threshold Criterion
`Met?
`
`No
`
`Away-
`
`(cid:9) Feature
`State
`
`4
`
`706
`
`Off
`
`y-State
`
`FIG. 7
`
`

`

`': __________________________________
`
`E
`
`-
`
`‘
`
`-——->
`«-
`D
`——
`Do
`—- a
`N
`—————————————————— m?- ——————— —————-—
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 2014
`
`Sheet 13 of 15
`
`US 8,622,314 B2
`
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`1100 (cid:9)
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 7, 2014
`
`Sheet 15 of 15
`
`US 8,622,314 B2
`
`1201
`
`Install/Reset
`
`1200
`
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`
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`
`Record sensor readings ■
`
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`
`FIG. 12
`
`

`

`US 8,622,314 B2
`
`1
`SMART-HOME DEVICE THAT
`SELF-QUALIFIES FOR AWAY-STATE
`FUNCTIONALITY
`
`CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`5
`
`10
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`15
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`This application claims the beneift of the following com-
`monly assigned applications, each of which is incorporated
`by reference herein: U.S. Provisional Application No.
`61/550,345 ifled Oct. 21, 2011; U.S. Provisional Application
`No. 61/627,996 filed Oct. 21, 2011; and U.S. Ser. No. 13/279,
`151 ifled Oct. 21, 2011.
`
`2
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0019051 Al
`discusses overriding of nonoccupancy status in a thermostat
`device based upon analysis or recent patterns of occupancy.
`The publication discusses a "safety time," for example during
`the nighttime hours in a hotel or motel room, during which
`requirements to maintain a condition of occupancy are
`relaxed based on pattern recognition analysis. A "hysteresis"
`period of typically less than a few minutes can be built into the
`motion sensor to establish occupancy for some period after
`any motion is detected or signaled. An increased hysteresis
`period can be used during safety times such as during the
`evening and night hours. The focus is mainly on reliably
`detecting when occupants return from an absence.
`Important issues arise, however, at the interface between (i)
`energy-saving technologies that might be achievable using
`known sensing and processing methods, and (ii) the actual
`This patent speciifcation relates to systems and methods
`widespread user adoption of devices that implement such
`for the monitoring and control of energy-consuming systems (cid:9)
`energy-saving technologies and the integration of those
`or other resource-consuming systems. More particularly, this 20 devices into their daily routines and environment. It has been
`patent speciifcation relates to control units that govern the (cid:9)
`found especially important that the "first contact" between a
`operation of energy-consuming systems, household devices,
`user and an energy-saving device, and the first couple of
`or other resource-consuming systems, including methods for (cid:9)
`days/weeks of the user experience with that energy-saving
`activating electronic displays for thermostats that govern the (cid:9)
`device, constitute a particularly easy, enjoyable, and pleasant
`operation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning 25 experience, or else the user can quickly "turn off' or "tune
`(HVAC) systems.
`
`" the device and its energy-saving advantages, such as outto
`by de-activating the advanced features (for example, setting
`their thermostat to a "temporary" manual-override mode on a
`permanent basis) or even taking it back to the seller and
`While substantial effort and attention continues toward the 30 replacing it with their old device or a "less complicated"
`development of newer and more sustainable energy supplies, (cid:9)
`device. More bluntly stated, the roadways of green technol-
`the conservation of energy by increased energy efifciency (cid:9)
`ogy are littered with the skulls of devices and systems that
`remains crucial to the world's energy future. According to an (cid:9)
`promised to save energy but that no homeowners wanted to
`October 2010 repotr from the U.S. Department of Energy, (cid:9)
`use. One or more issues arises in the context of providing an
`heating and cooling account for 56% of the energy use in a 35 intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected, energy-saving
`typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for (cid:9)
`device for adoption into the home in an easy, pleasant, and
`most homes. Along with improvements in the physical plant (cid:9)
`user-friendly manner that is at least partially addressed by one
`associated with home heating and cooling (e.g., improved (cid:9)
`or more of the embodiments described further hereinbelow.
`insulation, higher efifciency furnaces), substantial increases (cid:9)
`Other issues arise as would be apparent to a person skilled in
`in energy efficiency can be achieved by better control and 40 the art in view of the present teachings.
`regulation of home heating and cooling equipment. By acti-
`vating heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
`equipment for judiciously selected time intervals and care-
`In one embodiment, a thermostat may be presented. The
`fully chosen operating levels, substantial energy can be saved
`while at the same time keeping the living space suitably 45 thermostat may include a housing and a processing system
`comfotrable for its occupants.
`disposed within the housing. The processing may be coupled
`Programmable thermostats have become more prevalent in
`to a user interface and conifgured to be in operative commu-
`nication with one or more temperature sensors for determin-
`recent years in view of Energy Star (US) and TCO (Europe)
`ing an ambient air temperature. The processing system may
`standards, and which have progressed considerably in the (cid:9)
`number of different settings for an HVAC system that can be so also be in operative communication with one or more input
`individually manipulated. Some programmable thermostats (cid:9)
`devices, including the user interface, for determining a set-
`have standard default programs built in. Additionally, users (cid:9)
`point temperature value. The processing system may be in
`are able to adjust the manufacturer defaults to optimize their (cid:9)
`still further operative communication with a heating, ventila-
`own energy usage. Ideally, a schedule is used that accurately (cid:9)
`tion, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control the
`reflects the usual behavior of the occupants in terms of sleep- 55 HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a
`ing, waking and periods of non-occupancy. Due to difficulty (cid:9)
`measured ambient temperature and the setpoint temperature
`in programming many thermostats, however, may schedules (cid:9)
`value.
`do not accurately relfect the usual behavior of the occupants.
`The thermostat may also include at least one occupancy
`For example, the schedule may not account for some usual (cid:9)
`sensor in operative communication with the processing sys-
`periods of non-occupancy. Additionally, even when a suitable
`60 tem. The thermostat may include an away-state feature in
`schedule is programmed into the thermostat, inevitably there (cid:9)
`which the thermostat enters into an away-state mode of opera-
`are departures from usual behavior. The user can manually set (cid:9)
`tion upon a determination by the processing system based on
`back the thermostat when leaving the house and then resume (cid:9)
`readings acquired by the at least one occupancy sensor that an
`the schedule upon returning, but many users never or very (cid:9)
`away-state criterion indicative of a non-occupancy condition
`seldom perform these tasks. Thus an opportunity for energy 65 for an enclosure in which the thermostat has been installed
`and cost savings exist if a thermostat can automatically set (cid:9)
`has been satisfied, where the away-state mode of operation
`back the setpoint temperature during time of non-occupancy. (cid:9)
`can include an automated setpoint temperature setback mode.
`
`

`

`US 8,622,314 B2
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`30
`
`4
`of the thermostat only if it is determined that the sufifciently
`true indications of occupancy conditions were sensed during
`the trial period.
`A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the
`5 present invention may be realized by reference to the remain-
`ing portions of the specification and the drawings. Also note
`that other embodiments may be described in the following
`disclosure and claims.
`
`3
`In one embodiment, the processing system can be further
`configured to automatically determine, without requiring
`user input, whether to activate the away-state feature for the
`enclosure in which the thermostat has been installed. This
`may include receiving readings from the at least one occu-
`pancy sensor during a trial period; comparing information (cid:9)
`derived from the trial period readings to a threshold criterion (cid:9)
`to establish whether sufifciently true indications of occu- (cid:9)
`pancy conditions were sensed by the at least one occupancy
`sensor during the trial period; and enabling the away-state to
`feature of the thermostat only if it is determined that the
`sufifciently true indications of occupancy conditions were
`FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a thermostat,
`sensed during the trial period.
`according to one embodiment.
`In another embodiment, a method of qualifying a thermo-
`FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a ther-
`stat to activate an away-state feature may be presented. The is mostat having a head unit and the backplate, according to one
`method may include receiving readings from at least one (cid:9)
`embodiment.
`occupancy sensor during a trial period, where the at least one
`FIG. 3A illustrates an exploded perspective view of a head
`occupancy sensor can be in operative communication with a
`unit with respect to its primary components, according to one
`processing system. In one embodiment, the processing sys-
`embodiment.
`tem is disposed within a thermostat housing and coupled to a 20
`FIG. 3B illustrates an exploded perspective view of a back-
`user interface, the processing system being conifgured to be
`plate with respect to its primary components, according to
`in operative communication with one or more temperature
`one embodiment.
`sensors for determining an ambient air temperature, in opera-
`FIG. 4A illustrates a simplified functional block diagram
`tive communication with one or more input devices including
`for a head unit, according to one embodiment.
`the user interface for determining a setpoint temperature 25
`FIG. 4B illustrates a simplified functional block diagram
`value, and in still further operative communication with a
`for a backplate, according to one embodiment.
`heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to
`FIG. 5 illustrates a simpliifed circuit diagram of a system
`control the HVAC system based at least in part on a compari-
`for managing the power consumed by a thermostat, according
`son of a measured ambient temperature and the setpoint tem-
`to one embodiment.
`perature value.
`FIG. 6A illustrates an overhead view of an area monitored
`The method may also include comparing information
`by a thermostat, according to one embodiment.
`derived from the trial period readings to threshold criterion to
`FIG. 6B illustrates an overhead view of another area moni-
`establish whether sufifciently true indications of occupancy
`tored by a thermostat, according to one embodiment.
`conditions were sensed by the at least one occupancy sensor
`FIG. 7 illustrates a state diagram for determining whether
`during the trial period. The method may additionally include 35 sufifcient sensor confidence can be established for enabling
`determining automatically, without requiring user input, (cid:9)
`and away-state feature, according to one embodiment.
`whether to activate the away-state feature for an enclosure in
`FIG. 8 illustrates a graph of various sensors responses
`which the thermostat has been installed. In one embodiment, (cid:9)
`during a trial period, according to one embodiment.
`the away-state feature causes the thermostat to enter into an
`FIG. 9 illustrates a graph depicting one method of storing
`away-state mode of operation upon a determination by the 40 occupancy sensor measurements, according to one embodi-
`processing system based on the readings acquired by the at (cid:9)
`ment.
`least one occupancy sensor that an away-state criterion
`FIG. 10 illustrates a graph depicting storage of occupancy
`indicative of a non-occupancy condition for the enclosure in (cid:9)
`sensor measurements during the trial period.
`which the thermostat has been installed has been satisifed,
`FIG. 11 illustrates a representation of occupancy levels for
`where the away-state mode of operation may include an auto- 45 each day in one week, according to one embodiment.
`mated setpoint temperature setback mode. The method may
`FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of a method for determining
`further include enabling the away-state feature of the thermo-
`whether an away-state feature should be enabled, according
`stat only if it is determined that the sufifciently true indica-
`to one embodiment.
`tions of occupancy conditions were sensed during the trial
`period.
`In yet another embodiment, another thermostat may be
`The subject matter of this patent speciifcation further
`presented. The thermostat may include a housing and an
`relates to the subject matter of the following commonly
`occupancy sensor that is disposed within the housing and
`conifgured to detect physical presences of users within a (cid:9)
`assigned applications, each of which is incorporated by ref-
`responsive area of the occupancy sensor. The thermostat may 55 erence herein: U.S. Ser. No. 13/269,501 ifled Oct. 7, 2011;
`also include a processing system that is disposed within the (cid:9)
`International Application PCT/US12/00007 filed Jan. 3,
`housing and in operative communication with the occupancy (cid:9)
`2012; U.S. Ser. No. 13/632,070 filed even date herewith and
`sensor, the processing system being conifgured to determine (cid:9)
`entitled, "Automated Presence Detection and Presence-Re-
`after a trial period whether to activate an away-state feature. (cid:9)
`lated Control Within An Intelligent Controller;" and U.S. Ser.
`This determination may include storing indications of how 60 No. 13/632,112 ifled even date herewith and entitled,
`often the occupancy sensor detected physical presences of (cid:9)
`"Adjusting Proximity Thresholds for Activating a Device
`users during the trial period; computing an occupancy level (cid:9)
`User Interface." The above-referenced patent applications are
`for the trial period based on the stored indications; comparing (cid:9)
`collectively referenced herein as "the commonly-assigned
`the occupancy level to a threshold criterion; determining (cid:9)
`incorporated applications."
`whether sufifciently true indications of occupancy conditions
`In the following detailed description, for purposes of
`were sensed by the occupancy sensor during the trial period (cid:9)
`explanation, numerous speciifc details are set forth to provide
`based on the comparison; and enabling the away-state feature (cid:9)
`a thorough understanding of the various embodiments of the
`
`50
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`65 (cid:9)
`
`

`

`US 8,622,314 B2
`
`6
`5
`provide an enabling disclosure. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspec-
`present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize
`five view of a thermostat 100, according to one embodiment.
`that these various embodiments of the present invention are
`In this specific embodiment, the thermostat 100 can be con-
`illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting in any way.
`trolled by at least two types of user input, the ifrst being a
`Other embodiments of the present invention will readily sug- (cid:9)
`gest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of 5 rotation of the outer ring 112, and the second being an inward
`push on an outer cap 108 until an audible and/or tactile "click"
`this disclosure.
`In addition, for clarity purposes, not all of the routine
`occurs. As used herein, these two types of user inp