Ulllted States Patent [19]
`Ehlers et al.
`
`US005924486A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,924,486
`Jul. 20, 1999
`
`[54] ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION CONTROL
`AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
`AND METHOD
`
`0577532 A1 1/1994 European Pat. Off. ......... .. H02] 3/14
`0580217 A1 1/1994 European Pat. Off.
`H02] 3/14
`0 688 085 A1 12/1995 European Pat. Off. ....... .. H02] 13/00
`
`[75] Inventors: Gregory A. Ehlers, Tampa; Richard
`M. Silva, St. Petersburg, both of Fla.
`
`[73] AssigneeZ Tecom’ Inc_ Tampa Fla_
`’
`’
`
`_
`[21] Appl' NO" 08/960’748
`[22] Filed:
`Oct. 29, 1997
`
`6
`[51] Int. Cl. ................................ .. F23N 3/00; H02] 1/00
`[52] US. Cl. ...................... .. 165/238; 165/255; 236/46 R;
`307/39
`[58] Field Of Search ............................... .. 165/255, 238;
`236/46 R’ 47; 364/492’ 557; 307/39
`References Cited
`
`[56]
`
`.
`t
`d
`t'
`L' t
`( 15 Con mue on neX page)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Eaton Corporation, Cutler—Hammer—Westinghouse Prod
`ucts, Power Distribution Components Division “IMPACC
`System Communications,” IL 17384, (May 1995), Rev. 2.1,
`Appendix E (title, page, contents listing and pp. E—1 through
`E4)
`Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Electrical Components
`Division, “Instructions for F Frame, IQ Energy Sentinel,” IL
`17459, (Effective NOV_ 1992)
`
`(L1St Con?rmed on next Page)
`Primary Examiner—William Wayner
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Wolf Gren?eld & Sacks, PC.
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`1 547 242 7/1925 Strieby
`470757699
`2/1978 Schneider et a1. .................... .. 364/492
`4:174:517 11/1979 Mandel .............. ..
`340/310
`4,217,646
`8/1980 caltagirone er a1
`165/238
`4,218,737
`8/1980 Buscher et a1.
`364/493
`364/492
`4,245,319
`1/1981 Hedges -------- -
`4,291,375
`9/1981 Wolf ................ ..
`364/483
`guléwan’tn let a1‘
`307/38
`1/1983 Miller et a1. "
`4,367,414
`165/238
`4 382 544 5/1983 Stewart ~~~~~~~ u
`364/145
`4:466:074
`8/1984 Jindrick et aL
`370/124
`4,475,193 10/1984 Brown _________ __
`_ 179/2 DP
`4,503,288
`3/1985 Kessler ,,,, ,,
`. . . . . . .. 364/481
`4,511,979
`4/1985 Amirante . . . . . .
`4,513,189
`4/1985 Ueda et al- -------------------- -- 219/10-55 B
`-
`-
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`egese a.....
`
`..
`
`,
`
`,
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2121124 7/1993 Canada ........................ .. G05D 23/19
`0163572 A1 12/1985 European Pat. on. ....... .. H02] 13/00
`0288413 A1 10/1988 European Pat. Off.
`G01R 21/133
`0534839 A1 3/1993 European Pat. Off. ...... .. H05B 37/03
`
`-
`
`.
`
`..
`
`An indoor environmental condition control and energy man
`agemem System includes a plurality of inputs- Auser input
`receives user input Parameters including a desired indoor
`environmental condition range for at least one energy unit
`price point. An indoor environmental condition input
`receives a sensed indoor environmental condition. An
`energy price input receives a Schedule of projected energy
`unit prices per time periods. A processor, coupled to the
`inputs, computes an environmental ‘condition deadband
`range for multiple energy unit price points based on the user
`input parameters and controls at least one energy-consuming
`load device to maintain the indoor environmental condition
`Within the computed deadband range for a then-current
`energy unit price point. In an embodiment, the environmen
`tal condition includes at least temperature and the at least
`one load device includes a heating and cooling system. The
`.
`.
`.
`processor, in one embodiment, communicates through a
`communications link With at least one energy supply com
`pany and selects one energy supply company for a premise
`to minimize ener Consum tion Cost
`gy
`p
`'
`
`37 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`THERMOSTAT
`SETTING
`
`77__
`
`76——
`
`MIN’ PRICE
`
`POI'NT
`
`MAX PRICE
`
`POINT
`
`75 __ COOLING ;
`ON
`I
`:
`
`74 -_
`
`I
`I
`I
`
`DEAD-BAND
`DEGREE RANGE
`
`__ +5
`
`—— +4
`
`—— +3
`
`—— +2
`
`73
`__
`
`DEADlBAND
`I
`THERMOSTAT FOR COOLING
`I
`l
`I
`72 __ """" _"E“"§E‘I'_P_O_INT """ '"I """"""" ‘ ‘ _'_ +0
`
`__ +1
`
`71——
`70 __
`
`6g ——-—
`
`:
`I
`I
`
`HEAT :
`ON
`;
`
`68-——
`
`I
`
`DEAD-‘BAND
`FOR HEATING
`I
`
`l
`l
`
`'
`
`—— -1
`2
`__ '
`
`—— '3
`
`__ .4
`
`67——
`
`|
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`l
`|
`I
`|
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`I
`I
`|
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`l
`I
`I
`I
`l
`I
`I
`012345678910111213141516171819
`
`__ .5
`
`COST PER ENERGY UNIT
`
`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 1 of 31
`
`

`
`5,924,486
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`4/1985 Brown et al. ........................ .. 179/2.51
`4,514,594
`6/1985 Vander Molen .......................... .. 34/45
`4,520,576
`6/1985 Carroll --------- -~
`179/5 R
`4,521,645
`6/1985 Brown et a1~ ~~
`370/30
`4,523,307
`9/1985 Sanders """" "
`" 340/657
`475397562
`4,549,274 10/1985 Lerner et al. ......................... .. 364/492
`4,567,557
`1/1986 Burns .................................... .. 364/145
`4,630,218 12/1986 Hurley .
`.. 364/481
`
`Eaton Corporation, Cutler—Hammer—Westinghouse Prod
`nets,
`Power
`Distribution
`Components
`Division,
`Cutler—Hammer Consulting Application Guide, “Metering
`and Monitoring Devices”, pp. 610—613 and “Metering,
`Monitoring, and Protective Devices,” pp. 636—649.
`“Boosting Your Homes’s IQ; Manufacturers agree on Stark
`dards for Crea?n the Smart house” Technolo
`70 (not
`dated)
`g
`’
`gy’p'
`
`'
`
`.
`
`“
`
`.
`
`,
`
`4,633,775
`
`1/1987 016k ......... ..
`
`379/24
`
`“ 379/104
`5/1987 Honda et a1‘
`476657544
`4 697 182 9/1987 Swanson .......................... .. 340/870.02
`4,701,698 10/1987 Karlsson etal. ...................... .. 324/116
`4,728,949
`3/1988 Platte et al.
`340/825.37
`4,771,185
`9/1988 Feron et al.
`307/39
`4,772,870
`9/1988 Reves ........... ..
`. 340/310 R
`4,819,180
`4/1989 Hedman et al. ...................... .. 364/492
`4,847,554
`7/1989 Goodwin ............................... .. 324/127
`4,847,780
`7/1989 Gilker et al. .......................... .. 364/483
`4,847,781
`7/1989 Brown, 111 et al. .................. .. 364/492
`4,847,782
`7/1989 Brown, Jr. et al.
`. 364/492
`:2;
`1213/
`guddleskzln Ct ‘111' """"""""" "
`/
`’
`’
`/
`ammon et a‘ """""""""" "
`4,888,495 12/1989 Feron et al. ............................ .. 307/39
`4,899,129
`2/1990 MacFadyen et al. ............. .. 340/310 R
`4,899,217
`2/1990 MacFadyen et al. .
`358/86
`479717136 11/1990 Mathur et aL
`__ 165/1
`479777515 12/1990 Rudden et at
`364/492
`4,987,513
`1/1991 Shelley .................................... .. 361/92
`4,998,097
`3/1991 Noth et al. ............................ .. 340/684
`5,033,112
`7/1991 Bowling et al.
`.. 455/603
`5,045,823
`9/1991 Nichols, III
`.. 333/132
`5,086,385
`2/1992 Launey et a1
`-- 364/188
`
`Schrock, Clifford B., Conservation and safety for the 90 s
`‘15mg Cable TV networks > Cable Bus Systems COIP- (no ref
`or date)
`_
`Dawson, Fred, “Energy Saver can Support V0169 and data”,
`Multichannel News, (OCI- 21, 1991)
`“Schlumberger launches neW venture for building automa
`tion systems in Europe using Echelon Technology”, Bus,
`Wire, (Jul. 13, 1992).
`Saladygas John S” “New home automation Systems integrate
`Security, energy and entertainment”, Newsday, Inc” (Oct'
`15, 1992)'
`Rupinski, Patrick, “NeW device automatically alerts com
`pany of poWer interruption”, (no ref. or date).
`C
`N. 1. M. h 1R P
`V. _T W C t
`lgg. 1’t. 16 _ae
`" f 0W5: tlew' W°_ ay us Omer Om‘
`inumca “151010 re ' or 86)
`_
`Demonstrating smarts; bright home: a demonstration home
`that utilizes consumer electron1cs .
`.
`. ” Popular Sc1ence,
`(1111- 1991)
`“Scienti?c—Atlanta, Bell Atlantic To Offer C0st—Effective
`Information”, PR NeWsWire, (Sep. 23, 1991) (Mary Nagel
`hOut).
`“Entergy moves into ?ber optics to control residential con
`
`5,101,191
`
`
`
`Vander Mey et al. .................... .. 3/1992 MacFadyen et al. ............. .. 340/310 R
`
`
`
`Sumption”, Energy Report, (Dec_ 4, (Sr abst)
`
`V01' 20, NO_
`
`5,109,222
`4/1992 Welty ............................... .. 340/825.72
`2,152,322 3233; gog?oiyonntwl. ................... .. gig/5411(1)
`’
`’
`_ . at awl e a '
`"
`5,168,170 12/1992 Hartlg ..................................... .. 307/35
`5,170,360 12/1992 Porter et al. .......................... .. 364/483
`5,196,982
`3/1993 Landsberg etal. ..................... .. 361/93
`5218 552 6/1993 Stirk et al. ............................ .. 364/492
`5,220,311
`6/1993 Schweitzer, Jr.
`.. 340/650
`5’263’o46 11/1993 Vander Mey __
`__ 375/1
`5,274,571 12/1993 Hesse etal.
`364/492
`5,278,862
`1/1994 Vander Mey ............................. .. 375/1
`5,289,362
`2/1994 Liebl et al. ........................... .. 364/140
`gfilpentl
`"
`
`“Commonwealth Edison installs Metricom, s Communica_
`tion network” Business Wire, (Man 4, 1993)‘
`Sanders, Michele, “Interfacing With the home of the future”,
`I f
`t. A
`A 1993
`_
`_
`_
`“H Orma 10“ 6,6655‘ pr‘,
`)'
`PGW to begln_automanc meter reader mstananons 1“
`500900 homes 1“ J1ln~”> PR Newswlre ASSOC- (APR 2,
`1993)
`Jones, David A., “Smart Money? Home automation sys
`terns”, Builder (Jun. 1993), pp. 162—166.
`Millar, Heather, “Smart houses: getting sWitched on”, Busi
`Hess Week, (Jun 28, 1993)'
`“Is DSM having an impact on electric—utility credit rat
`
`,
`
`,
`
`1 as e a . ............................ ..
`
`-
`
`q”
`
`-
`
`6/1994 Wolf et al. ............................ .. 364/140
`5,323,307
`9/1994 Singh ____ __
`__ 307/125
`573477167
`5/1995 Seem ..................................... .. 364/492
`5,414,640
`7/1995 Gilbert .................................... .. 307/38
`5,436,510
`5,462,225 10/1995 Massara et al-
`-
`5,469,365
`Diekema et al. ..................... .. 364/483
`5,475,371 12/1995 Dunk et al. ........................... .. 340/660
`5,572,438 11/1996 Ehlers et al.
`..
`5,684,710 11/1997 Ehlers etal. .......................... .. 364/492
`5,696,695 12/1997 Ehlers etal. .......................... .. 364/492
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2645968 A1
`2660511 A1
`27 43 212 A1
`WO93/08653
`WO94/00824
`WO/9403989
`WO94/09572
`
`10/1990
`10/1991
`3/1979
`4/1993
`1/1994
`2/1994
`4/1994
`
`France ......................... .. G01B 19/12
`France
`H040 9/02
`Germany
`.. H02] 13/00
`WIPO
`H04B 3/56
`WIPO
`.. G06F 15/46
`WIPO
`. H04L 27/30
`WIPO ............................ .. H04B 3/54
`
`_
`Lugs‘ ’E1eCmCa1_W(f1d’(Aug'1993)‘,
`Entergy Enterprises CC2000 test Joined by Sprmt Hon
`@YWell -
`-
`- PR Newswlre ASSOC» (Aug- 26, 1993)
`Kaplan, Daniel, “DSM Monitoring a key issue for utility
`industry E—source”, The Energy Daily, (Oct. 5, 1993).
`Jones, David, A‘, “Cutting edge; three houses that break the
`rules and break new round
`,, Builder Info Access (NOV
`1993
`g
`' " ’
`’
`'
`_
`)' _
`__
`Plepmeler, James M- et al- “The tools of COIIIPGHHOHI”
`.
`, The Electricity Journal
`differentiation, segmentation .
`.
`(Nov. 1993).
`Colman, AndreW et al., “Competitive edge—PoWer VieW: A
`DSM—focused technology”, Fortnightly.
`ViZard, Frank, “Building the information superhighway”,
`Popular Mechanics, (Jan. 1994).
`“Entergy announces a major development in its residential
`customer—controlled load manage .
`.
`. ”, PR NeWsWire
`Assoc., (Jan. 19, 1994).
`
`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 2 of 31
`
`

`
`5,924,486
`Page 3
`
`McLeister, Dan, “Dramatic changes lie ahead for home
`automation”Professional Builder & Remodeler, (Feb. 1994).
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`Corp. support home automation application .
`.
`. ” PR
`Newswire, (Mar. 1, 1994).
`“Honeywell, Oracle Corp. Unveil joint technology and
`marketing alliance”, Electric Utility Week’s Demand, Side
`Report, (Mar. 3, 1994).
`Phillips, Tim, “Welcome to the computerized home”, The
`Guardian, (Mar. 10, 1994).
`“First Paci?c Networks, Central and South West Corp. to
`conduct energy management project in Laredo, TX”, Busi
`ness Wire, (Mar. 24, 1994).
`“Johnson Controls makes major entry into home energy
`automation market .
`.
`. ”, PR Newswire, (Mar. 28, 1994).
`“Re—engineering electric utility metering and communica
`tions”, Transmission & Distribution, (Apr. 1994).
`Cain, Charles J ., “Metering gets real”, Fortnightly, (Apr. 1,
`1994), pp. 39—40.
`“Itron signs $27M contract with Baltimore Gas and Elec
`tric”, PR Newswire, (Apr. 4, 1994).
`“Leading companies demonstrate home automation based
`on Echelon’s technology”, Business Wire, (Apr. 14, 1994).
`Salpukas, Agis, “Big hopes put on electric wires”, The New
`York Times, (Jul. 6, 1994).
`
`Karve, Anita, “Brainy Buildings”, LAN MagaZine, (Aug.
`1994).
`“LonWorks—the choice in home automation”, Motorola,
`(Mar. 1994).
`“Home automation: what’s in it for utilities?”, EPRI, (Apr.
`1990).
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`“Variable electric rates”, TransteXt.
`“Bell of Pennsylvania’s automatic meter reading could mean
`greater security and privacy for customers”, PR Newswire,
`(Feb. 28, 1990).
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`ing system”, Research Newsletter, 4th quarter (1990).
`Teletimer Energy Savings Service: “Low—cost—high value
`building automation”.
`“PLC features & speci?cations”, Regency Electronics, Inc.
`“Using the line sharing switch in power utility load study
`applications”, Teltone Telesolutions (1993).
`Home Automation Laboratories, (Fall 1994 Catalog).
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`Signetics.
`Stevenson, Jr. William, “Elements of Power System Analy
`sis”, 4th Edition (1982), pp. 13—18 PCT International Search
`Report.
`
`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 3 of 31
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 20, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 of6
`
`5,924,486
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`
`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 4 of 31
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
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`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 5 of 31
`
`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 5 of 31
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 20, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 of6
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`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 6 of 31
`
`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 6 of 31
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 20, 1999
`
`Sheet 4 of6
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`Page 7 of 31
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`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 7 of 31
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 20, 1999
`
`Sheet 5 of6
`
`5,924,486
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`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 8 of 31
`
`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 8 of 31
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 20, 1999
`
`Sheet 6 of6
`
`5,924,486
`
`LOCAL
`PROCESSOR
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`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 9 of 31
`
`

`
`1
`ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION CONTROL
`AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
`AND METHOD
`
`5,924,486
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to a residential or
`commercial environmental condition control system and,
`more speci?cally, to a system that controls internal environ
`mental conditions to optimiZe comfort and minimiZe energy
`consumption and/or energy cost, based on user-de?ned
`parameters.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`Residential and commercial internal environmental con
`dition control systems, such as temperature control systems,
`have been used for many years. Temperature control systems
`include thermostats and thermostatic control devices. These
`devices are designed primarily to sense the temperature
`inside a premise and, based on an occupant-designated
`temperature setting, activate a heating and/or cooling system
`or systems to maintain the temperature at that setting.
`There eXist tWo main types of temperature control
`devices. One type of temperature control device includes a
`standard, single temperature control device having a setting
`control With Which an occupant can set a desired tempera
`ture and a sWitch to select betWeen a heating or cooling
`system, only one of Which Will be activated at a time. The
`heating system, When activated, Will heat the premise When
`the actual temperature falls beloW the desired temperature
`setting. Similarly, the cooling (i.e., air conditioning) system,
`When activated, Will cool the premise When the actual
`temperature eXceeds the desired setting.
`Another temperature control device includes a dual tem
`perature control device having a dual setting control
`35
`attached both to a heating system and a cooling system. A
`user may enter tWo desired temperature settings, a minimum
`desired temperature setting Which controls activation of the
`heating system and a maXimum desired temperature setting
`Which controls activation of the cooling system. When the
`actual temperature falls beloW the minimum desired tem
`perature setting, the heating system automatically is acti
`vated. Similarly, When the actual temperature rises above the
`maXimum desired temperature setting, the cooling system
`automatically is activated. Such a dual temperature control
`device alloWs the user to input a comfort range betWeen tWo
`temperature settings and does not require the user to manu
`ally activate either the heating system or the cooling system.
`From the tWo basic temperature control devices described
`above, numerous temperature control systems have been
`developed, offering different features and variations. The
`temperature sensing and control devices have moved from
`traditional bi-metal contractors to more sophisticated elec
`tronic devices as technology has advanced. Some modem
`systems have been developed to enable a user to conserve
`energy While controlling temperature comfort levels. One
`modem system, for example, may be programmed by a user
`With multiple desired temperature settings for activating
`both heating systems and cooling systems based on time
`dependent user-programmed parameters, such as time of
`day, day of Week, month, etc. Another system, called Smart
`Systems 1000TM, sold by Smart Systems International,
`includes an infra-red motion sensor for sensing the presence
`of a person in the premise being controlled. The system
`controls the temperature differently When a person’s pres
`ence is detected than in the absence of such detection, in an
`attempt to conserve energy When the premise is vacant.
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`Another system, called TransteXt®, sold by Integrated Com
`munication Systems, Inc. of RosWell, Ga., alloWs a user to
`select different desired temperature settings depending on
`Which of three utility company energy cost tiers (high,
`medium or loW) then is in effect, giving the user a certain
`level of control over energy consumption cost savings.
`While such systems offer a certain level of energy con
`sumption control and, therefore, energy consumption cost
`control, none provides a user With direct energy consump
`tion level or energy consumption price level control.
`Additionally, none offers user-de?ned control of environ
`mental conditions other than temperature, nor does any
`provide automatic environmental condition control based on
`sensed eXternal environmental conditions, Which eXternal
`conditions may greatly effect internal conditions.
`As the energy (i.e., gas, electric, etc.) supply industry
`becomes re-regulated and numerous energy suppliers
`become available to each premise, energy consumption
`control and price information (and control) Will enable the
`savings of energy consumption and a tremendous amount of
`money spent thereon. A change occurring today in the
`energy and utility industry includes the movement of energy
`suppliers from a monopoly base to a competitive base,
`Which movement Will enable a user to select a supplier from
`an available group. Comparison shopping for the best price
`Will be enabled. With the complicated pricing formats of
`most energy suppliers, and due to the dependence of total
`energy cost on usage times, energy levels, number of loads,
`etc., it Will be quite difficult, from an accounting standpoint,
`for a user to predict cost and therefore take advantage of the
`selection opportunity.
`It is a general object of the present invention to provide an
`environmental condition control system that automatically
`controls internal environmental conditions to optimiZe com
`fort and minimiZe energy consumption and/or energy cost,
`based on user-defmed parameters.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed to an environmental
`condition sensing and control system aimed at optimiZing
`comfort and minimiZing energy consumption and cost,
`based on user-de?ned comfort and cost level parameters. In
`its simplest embodiment, the system of the invention acts as
`a thermostat replacement to sense and control temperature.
`In a more elaborate embodiment, the system may form part
`of an overall energy management system, such as that
`described in US. Pat. No. 5,572,438, Which is herein
`incorporated by reference in its entirety.
`In one embodiment, the system of the invention Would
`have the ability to sense an indoor temperature. In an
`enhanced embodiment, the system could sense at least
`humidity, outside temperature, UV intensity, Wind direction
`and speed, relative humidity, Wet bulb thermometer
`measurements, and deW point. The system also can accept
`and process inputs such as local Weather forecast data,
`energy supply company pricing schemes, and user-entered
`parameters such as desired comfort levels and energy price
`cutoff points. Such sensed conditions and inputs are pro
`cessed by a processor of the system, With softWare operating
`on the processor, to maintain environmental conditions and
`energy consumption level and cost Within the user-de?ned
`levels.
`In one embodiment, the system solely Will manage indoor
`air temperature through the control of heating and/or cooling
`systems. In a more enhanced embodiment, the system Will
`manage air quality and humidity through control of appro
`
`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 10 of 31
`
`

`
`3
`priate heating, ?ltration, conditioning and cooling systems
`equipment in conjunction With damper and fresh air input
`ducts, electrostatic ?lters and ioniZation devices. The system
`Will manage its operation of the available environmental
`conditioning resources to maintain the optimum
`temperature, humidity and air quality conditions based on
`user-de?ned minimum and maXimum values for comfort
`indices and price of energy indices. In a more elaborate
`embodiment, the system also has the ability to sWitch energy
`types, i.e., electric to/from gas for environment heating and
`the ability to sWitch suppliers based on the asking price of
`the energy suppliers or brokers serving the location.
`The system of the invention balances environmental con
`dition comfort With price and energy consumption manage
`ment. In the absence of cost and energy consumption control
`input parameters, the system Will maintain environmental
`conditions Within user-de?ned comfort ranges. With such
`parameters, including environmental condition price-related
`preferences, price point cutoffs and historical energy con
`sumption data, as Well as energy supplier cost structure
`inputs, the system Will alter environmental condition levels,
`as needed, to achieve the optimum environmental
`conditions, balancing comfort With energy consumption and
`cost control.
`In an embodiment, to provide feedback to the user, the
`system Will record the number of energy units (i.e., kiloWatt
`hours, British Thermal Units [BTUs], Therms, and Joules)
`consumed as a function of time for each of a number of
`environmental condition controlling loads monitored and/or
`controlled by the system. The system Will have the ability to
`report back detailed consumption data as a function of time
`and format the data in summary fashion to provide, at a
`minimum, daily averages for any user de?ned period,
`monthly totals, as Well as track the costs of each energy unit
`consumed per period and provide detailed and average daily
`cost for any user-de?ned period as Well as monthly totals.
`The system Will be capable of controlling loads beyond its
`primary management function of the environmental air
`management systems, using, at least in part, the same
`economic modeling techniques and controls that it uses to
`manage its primary functions. It also Will manage, report and
`track total premise energy unit usage and interface With
`energy unit suppliers via a communications channel. The
`system controls Will be located at the premise, While the
`processors for modeling and managing the sources and types
`of energy units to be utiliZed and committed to, may be
`distributed and operate over a communications netWork
`Without regard to the actual location of or distance from the
`premise. Such a distributed processor Would be located on a
`reliable netWork so as to be capable of delivering the
`necessary controls to the premise in a timely and reliable
`fashion and to achieve the desired results.
`One embodiment of the present invention is directed to an
`indoor environmental condition control and energy manage
`ment system. It includes a user input that receives user input
`parameters including a desired indoor environmental con
`dition range for at least one energy unit price point. An
`indoor environmental condition input receives a sensed
`indoor environmental condition. An energy price input
`receives a schedule of projected energy unit prices per time
`period. A processor, coupled to the inputs, computes an
`environmental condition deadband range for multiple
`energy unit price points based on the user input parameters,
`and controls at least one energy-consuming load device to
`maintain the indoor environmental condition Within the
`computed deadband range for a then-current energy unit
`price point.
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`5,924,486
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`4
`In one embodiment, the environmental condition includes
`at least temperature and the at least one load device includes
`a heating and cooling system.
`In an embodiment, multiple deadband ranges may be
`selected by a user for different time periods.
`In an embodiment, the system further includes a commu
`nications link through Which the process communicates With
`at least one energy supply company and Wherein the pro
`cessor selects one energy supply company to minimiZe
`energy consumption cost.
`In an embodiment, the system further includes an outdoor
`environmental condition input that receives a sensed outdoor
`environmental condition, and Wherein the processor controls
`the at least one energy-consuming load device based in part
`on the sensed outdoor environmental condition.
`In an embodiment, the processor may select betWeen
`suppliers of different types of energy.
`In an embodiment, the processor controls operation of the
`at least one load device to repeat a pattern of usage by the
`user over a time period.
`In an embodiment, the at least one load device includes a
`plurality of energy-consuming load devices. In this
`embodiment, the processor monitors energy consumption by
`each load device.
`In one embodiment, the processor communicates infor
`mation to the at least one energy supply company. This
`information includes at least one of energy consumption
`data, energy usage schedule, cost information and account
`information.
`In one embodiment, the system further includes a central
`processor, coupled to the local processor over a communi
`cations channel, for monitoring energy consumption at a
`plurality of premises.
`In an embodiment, the processor monitors and controls
`each of a plurality of appliances based on user input param
`eters relating to usage of the appliances.
`In one embodiment, the system further includes a
`mechanism, coupled to the processor, for controlling an
`on-premise energy-generating device to operate during peri
`ods of higher cost from an energy supplier.
`In an embodiment, the processor controls the heating and
`cooling system to ramp up or doWn indoor temperature
`during certain time periods to reduce energy consumption
`costs.
`In an embodiment, the system further includes a mecha
`nism for receiving an indication of premise occupancy and
`Wherein the processor computes a vacancy deadband range
`and an occupied deadband range.
`In an embodiment, the system further includes a mecha
`nism for activating an alarm When an eXtreme environmental
`condition is sensed.
`An embodiment of the system is directed to an energy
`consumption management and environmental condition
`control system. A user input receives user input parameters
`including at least an energy unit price cutoff point and a
`desired environmental condition comfort range. An environ
`mental condition input receives information relating to a
`sensed environmental condition. An energy supply company
`input receives energy supply company pricing information.
`A local processor, coupled to the inputs, controls operation
`of at least one energy-utiliZing load on a premise to optimiZe
`an indoor environmental condition and minimiZe energy
`consumption costs, based on the user input parameters. The
`at least one load includes an indoor environmental condition
`control device.
`
`Petitioner Emerson's Exhibit 1012
`Page 11 of 31
`
`

`
`5,924,486
`
`5
`In one embodiment, the at least one load includes a
`plurality of loads, the environmental condition includes
`temperature and the environmental condition control device
`includes a heating and cooling system.
`In an embodiment, the local processor analyZes energy
`supply company pricing information and selects betWeen
`multiple energy supply companies to minimiZe cost.
`In an embodiment, the local processor monitors total
`energy consumption per a time period by all of the loads of
`the premise and by each load individually.
`In an embodiment, the local processor records historical
`load energy usage and computes projected estimated energy
`consumption for at least one load based on the historical
`usage and the inputs.
`In an embodiment, the system further includes a commu
`nication channel, coupled to the local processor, through
`Which the local processor and at least one energy supply
`company communicate.
`In an embodiment, the system further includes a central
`processor, coupled to at least one local processor through a
`communication channel, that monitors and controls energy
`consumption and cost for each premise including a local
`processor.
`In an embodiment, the local processor selects an ene