CN109613943B - Thermostat for climate control system and method of operating the same - Google Patents
Thermostat for climate control system and method of operating the same Download PDFInfo
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- CN109613943B CN109613943B CN201811452679.2A CN201811452679A CN109613943B CN 109613943 B CN109613943 B CN 109613943B CN 201811452679 A CN201811452679 A CN 201811452679A CN 109613943 B CN109613943 B CN 109613943B
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- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- G05D23/00—Control of temperature
- G05D23/19—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
- G05D23/20—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means with sensing elements having variation of electric or magnetic properties with change of temperature
Abstract
A thermostat in a climate control system includes a rectifier having a rectifier output and a rectifier input for receiving input power from a voltage source, a charger circuit coupled to receive charging current from the rectifier output, and a capacitor coupled between the rectifier output and the charger circuit. The thermostat also includes a controller configured to control the charger circuit to inhibit receiving the charging current and to detect a voltage across the capacitor to determine an input voltage value of the voltage source, to control the charger circuit to allow receiving the charging current and to increase the received charging current to determine a load value, and to determine the stealing current threshold based on the determined input voltage value and the determined load value. Example methods of operating a thermostat in a climate control system are also disclosed.
Description
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to power theft in climate control systems, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to power theft capability detection for climate control system thermostats, the thermostats for climate control systems, and methods of operating the thermostats in climate control systems.
Background
This section gives background information related to the present disclosure, which is not necessarily prior art.
Climate control system thermostats typically include a processor and other components that use electrical power. Various thermostats may utilize "off mode" power stealing to obtain operating power. For example, when a load (e.g., compressor, fan, gas valve, etc.) in a climate control system is turned off, power may be stolen from the "off mode" load circuit to power the thermostat.
Drawings
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a thermostat for a climate control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a thermostat according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and
fig. 3 is a block diagram of a thermostat including a current limiting chip according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding, but not necessarily identical, parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Disclosure of Invention
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
In an exemplary embodiment, a thermostat in a climate control system includes a rectifier having a rectifier output and a rectifier input for receiving input power from a voltage source, a charger circuit coupled to receive charging current from the rectifier output, and a capacitor coupled between the rectifier output and the charger circuit. The thermostat also includes a controller configured to control the charger circuit to inhibit receiving the charging current and to detect a voltage across the capacitor to determine an input voltage value of the voltage source, to control the charger circuit to allow receiving the charging current and to increase the received charging current to determine a load value, and to determine a stealing current threshold as a function of the determined input voltage value and the determined load value.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Detailed Description
Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In a climate control system (e.g., a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, etc.), a thermostat (e.g., a climate control system controller, etc.) may steal power from an "off mode" load circuit to power one or more electrical components of the thermostat, such as a processor, etc.
The amount of power stolen by the power stealing circuit(s) of the thermostat may vary with the load resistance(s) of various equipment components in the climate control system. For example, the thermostat may operate Integrated Furnace Control (IFC) to control temperature. The IFC may be a 2-wire IFC system, in which case the thermostat needs to steal power from the control board for proper operation.
However, stealing too much power may trigger a load transition that activates one or more pieces of climate control system equipment. Different IFC systems may have different load values, and thus it may be difficult to determine how much power may be stolen without triggering a load transition of the climate control system.
Example embodiments of a thermostat and a thermostat control method that detect how much current can pass through a load when the load is in an "off mode" are disclosed herein. For example, the thermostat may regulate (e.g., maximize, etc.) the amount of current passing through the climate control system device in the "off mode" while avoiding the current from reaching a specified load transition trigger current threshold, which could activate relays, other switches, etc., to inadvertently cause the climate control system device to begin operation.
The example thermostats and thermostat control methods described herein may be used with any suitable climate control system. Climate control systems may include HVAC equipment that receives power from a single AC transformer, from multiple AC transformers that each provide power to corresponding heating and cooling subsystems, and the like.
Transformers typically include a high voltage (e.g., 24 volts, etc.) side and a common (e.g., neutral) side. HVAC equipment may be connected on a common side of the transformer and may include refrigeration equipment (e.g., fans, compressors, etc.), heating equipment (e.g., furnace gas valves), etc. In other embodiments, the HVAC equipment may include other suitable HVAC components.
The thermostat may operate a climate control system and may include a controller (e.g., processor, etc.) configured to operate various components of the thermostat, such as a display, a wireless transceiver, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a backlight, etc.
In some embodiments, the thermostat may activate one or more relays and/or other switching devices to activate different HVAC equipment components. For example, each relay may be operated by a thermostat to open or close a piece of HVAC equipment.
When the climate control system includes more than one HVAC equipment component, more than one relay, etc., the climate control system load may vary depending on which components are operating. Thus, power theft may be performed by more than one climate control system load in an "off mode," and power theft capabilities may be detected for each load individually, for combinations of loads, and so forth.
The thermostat may implement electricity stealing through the use of electricity stealing circuitry to obtain power from the transformer when the relay is open, the HVAC equipment component is turned off, etc. During electricity theft, current may flow through the HVAC equipment at a magnitude low enough to avoid closing the relay. The stolen power may be stored in one or more batteries in the thermostat, may be used to power one or more components of the thermostat, and the like.
Referring now to the drawings, fig. 1 illustrates a thermostat 100 for a climate control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The thermostat 100 includes a rectifier 102, the rectifier 102 having a rectifier input for receiving input power from a voltage source 104. The rectifier 102 also includes a rectifier output 106.
The thermostat 100 includes a charger circuit 108, a capacitor 110, and a controller 112. The charger circuit 108 is coupled to receive the charging current from the rectifier output 106. A capacitor 110 is coupled between the rectifier output 106 and the charger circuit 108.
The controller 112 is configured to control the charger circuit 108 to disable receiving the charging current. When disabled from receiving a charging current, the controller 112 may detect the voltage across the capacitor 110 to determine the input voltage value of the voltage source 104. The capacitor 110 may comprise any suitable capacitance value, such as 400 microfarads (μ F), and the like.
The controller 112 is also configured to control the charger circuit 108 to allow receiving a charging current and increasing the received charging current to determine a load value. The controller 112 may then determine a stealing current threshold based on the determined input voltage value and the determined load value.
For example, as the current used by the climate control system increases, the current flowing through the load will increase and the value of the input voltage across the capacitor 110 will decrease. The maximum current threshold may correspond to a lowest operating voltage that the climate control system may withstand.
In some embodiments, a predefined table or the like for a climate control system may be determined based on testing or the like of the climate control system. The table may include different stealing current thresholds depending on different input voltage values and different load values, and the controller 112 may use the determined input voltage values and the determined load values to determine a specific stealing current threshold by consulting the table.
The voltage source 104 may include any suitable component(s) for providing power to the thermostat, including a control board for the IFC, etc. In this example, the load value may include a load of the control panel, a load of the furnace component, and the like.
As described above, the control board may include a 2-wire IFC board, in which case the thermostat 100 is configured to steal power from the 2-wire IFC board. The electricity stealing current threshold may be below the load transition trigger current threshold of the 2-wire IFC board.
For example, the load value may be about 100 ohms, 200 ohms, 500 ohms, 1000 ohms, 2000 ohms, or the like. The load may turn on if the voltage across the load exceeds a specified load transition trigger voltage threshold, such as about 8 volts, 10 volts, 12 volts, 15 volts, etc.
The different load transition trigger current values for the load may be approximately 3 milliamps (mA), 4mA, 5mA, 10mA, 15mA, etc., based on the resistance value of the load and the specified load transition trigger voltage threshold. In other embodiments, the load(s) of the climate control system may have any other suitable load value, transition trigger threshold, and the like.
The controller 112 may be configured to increase the charging current in multiple current steps in order to determine the load value. As will be described further below, the controller 112 may control the charger circuit 108 to increase the current in a first order and then determine the load value based on the magnitude of the current step and the voltage across the capacitor 110.
In some embodiments, the thermostat 100 may include a current limiting chip. In this case, the controller 112 may increase the current in a stepwise manner using a current limiting chip, the current limiting chip may be configured to increase the current in a stepwise manner, or the like. The controller 112 may then determine a load value based on the current step size and the voltage across the capacitor 110.
When the charger circuit 108 is charging a battery, storage capacitor, etc., the controller 112 may increase the current in a step-by-step manner by setting different charging currents. For example, the controller 112 may use a specified charging current step (e.g., from a predefined table, etc.). When the thermostat 100 includes a current limiting chip, the controller 112 may use a specified charging current step to set different current limit values for the current limiting chip as the charger circuit 108 charges the battery, storage capacitor, etc.
In some embodiments, the controller 112 may be configured to determine whether the load value includes a resistive load or an inductive load. For example, the controller 112 may determine that the load value comprises an inductive load when the detected voltage across the capacitor 110 remains constant (e.g., varies by less than 5%, less than 1%, etc.) as the charging current increases (e.g., increases by 10%, increases by 50%, increases by 300%, etc.).
When the controller 112 determines that the load value includes an inductive load, the controller 112 may set the power stealing current threshold to a specified value (e.g., a specified value corresponding to a load transition triggering current threshold of the inductive load, etc.).
As shown in fig. 1, the controller 112 is configured to detect a current value (e.g., a charging current value, etc.) at the rectifier output 106. For example, the rectifier 102 may be part of a buck circuit or the like. The controller 112 may use any suitable current sensor to detect current, such as using a current transformer, a hall effect sensor, or the like.
Detecting the current flowing from the rectifier 102 at the rectifier's output 106 may increase the accuracy of determining the available current as compared to measuring the current at the input of the rectifier 102 or elsewhere in the thermostat 100, etc. Sensing the current flowing from the rectifier 102 at the rectifier's output 106 may also help enable sensing whether the load is a resistive load or an inductive load, etc.
Fig. 2 illustrates a thermostat 200 for a climate control system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The thermostat 200 includes a rectifier 202 having a rectifier input for receiving input power from a voltage source 204. The rectifier 202 also includes a rectifier output 206.
The rectifier 202 is illustrated as a full bridge rectifier, and the rectifier 202 is coupled to the RH/Rc Alternating Current (AC) input from the IFC board. In other embodiments, other rectifier topologies may be used, the rectifier 202 may be coupled to other input voltage sources, and so on. The rectifier inputs and outputs 206 may include any suitable terminals, tabs, wire traces, etc. for establishing electrical connections.
The thermostat 200 also includes a charger circuit 208, a capacitor 210, a power management unit 214, and a microcontroller unit (MCU) 212. The charger circuit 208 is coupled to receive the charging current from the rectifier output 206. A capacitor 210 is coupled between the rectifier output 206 and the charger circuit 208.
The MCU212 is configured to control the charger circuit 208 to disable receiving the charging current. When disabled from receiving a charging current, the MCU212 can detect the voltage across the capacitor 210 to determine the value of the input voltage of the voltage source 204.
As shown in fig. 2, the thermostat 200 includes a DC-DC power converter circuit 216. The DC-DC power converter circuit 216 is coupled between the charger circuit 208 and the rectifier output 206 and the capacitor 210. The DC-DC power converter circuit 216 may scale the voltage from the rectifier output 206 to a voltage suitable for the charger circuit 208, such as converting an input voltage in a range of about 1.8 volts to about 4.2 volts to a specified output voltage of about 3.3 volts, about 5 volts, and so on.
The thermostat 200 also includes a battery or storage capacitor 218 coupled for receiving at least a portion of the charging current from the charger circuit 208. A battery or storage capacitor 218 may store power "stolen" by the thermostat 200 to operate thermostat components, etc., when electricity theft is not feasible.
Although fig. 2 shows a single battery or storage capacitor 218, other embodiments may include more than one battery or storage capacitor 218, a combination of batteries and storage capacitors 218, and so forth. In some embodiments, a rechargeable single lithium ion battery may be used. The battery may be charged to any suitable voltage, such as approximately 3 volts, 4.2 volts, 4.35 volts, 5 volts, 12 volts, etc., and may have any suitable capacity value, such as 500 milliamp hours (mAh), 800mAh, etc.
The MCU212 is configured to control the charger circuit 208 to allow receiving a charging current and to increase the received charging current to determine the value of the load 220. For example, the load 220 may be a load of an IFC panel, may be a load of an HVAC equipment component coupled to the IFC panel, or the like.
When the MCU212 determines the value of the load 220, the MCU212 may determine a power stealing current threshold based on the determined input voltage value and the determined load value. As described above, the electricity stealing current threshold can be determined without using a timer, without determining the charging time of the capacitor 210, or the like.
The electricity stealing current threshold may be lower than the load transition triggering current threshold of the load 220 of the IFC board. The MCU212 may then set the maximum power stealing current value equal to or below the determined power stealing current threshold value to avoid inadvertently triggering the load 220 of the IFC board.
MCU212 may determine whether load 220 includes an inductive load, such as a contactor. In this case, the MCU212 may set the electricity stealing current threshold to a specified value (e.g., a specified value corresponding to the load transition triggering current threshold of the contactor, etc.).
Fig. 3 illustrates a thermostat 300 for a climate control system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The thermostat 300 includes a rectifier 302, the rectifier 302 having a rectifier input for receiving input power from a voltage source 304. The rectifier 302 also includes a rectifier output 306.
The thermostat 300 is similar to the thermostat 200 of fig. 2 and includes a DC-DC power converter circuit 316, a charger circuit 308, a capacitor 310, a power management unit 314, a microcontroller unit (MCU)312, and a battery or storage capacitor 318. The DC-DC power converter circuit 316 is coupled between the charger circuit 308 and the rectifier output 306 and the capacitor 310. A battery or storage capacitor 318 is coupled to receive at least a portion of the charging current from the charger circuit 308.
For example, the MCU 312 may control the current limiting chip 322 to increase the current in a stepwise manner, the current limiting chip 322 may be configured to increase the current in a stepwise manner by sequentially and periodically increasing a current limiting threshold of the current limiting chip 322, or the like.
Based on the step-wise increasing current and the voltage across the capacitor 310, the MCU 312 can determine the value of the load 320. MCU 312 may then determine a power stealing current threshold based on the determined input voltage value and the determined load value.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of operating a thermostat in a climate control system is disclosed. The thermostat includes a rectifier having a rectifier output and a rectifier input for receiving input power from a voltage source, a charger circuit coupled to receive charging current from the rectifier output, and a capacitor coupled between the rectifier output and the charger circuit.
The method includes controlling the charger circuit to inhibit receiving the charging current and sensing a voltage across the capacitor while inhibiting receiving the charging current to determine an input voltage value of the voltage source.
The method also includes controlling the charger circuit to allow receipt of the charging current, increasing the received charging current while allowing receipt of the charging current to determine a load value, and determining a stealing current threshold as a function of the determined input voltage value and the determined load value.
In some embodiments, the voltage source comprises a 2-wire integrated furnace control board and the load value comprises a load value of the 2-wire integrated furnace control board. The method may also include stealing power from the 2-wire integrated furnace control board to operate the thermostat while maintaining the power stealing current value at a level below the power stealing current threshold to avoid triggering a load transition of the 2-wire integrated furnace control board.
In some embodiments, the method may include determining whether the load value includes a resistive load or an inductive load. When the load value comprises an inductive load, the method may include setting the power stealing current threshold to a specified value.
The method may comprise increasing the received charging current in a plurality of current steps in order to determine the load value. In some embodiments, the method may include detecting a value of current at the rectifier output while increasing the received charging current.
The example thermostats and controllers described herein may be configured to perform operations using any suitable combination of hardware and software. For example, the thermostat and controller may include any suitable circuitry, logic gates, microprocessors, computer-executable instructions stored in memory, etc., that may cause the thermostat and components to perform the actions described herein (e.g., enable and disable charging current, a stealing current threshold, etc.).
The example thermostats described herein may provide one or more (or none) of the following advantages: the ability to determine the electricity stealing yield of a thermostat to avoid triggering a load transition of an HVAC equipment component, improve the accuracy of the current measurement at the output of the thermostat step down circuit, detect whether a resistive load or an inductive load, detect the electricity stealing yield without using a timer to detect the charging time of a capacitor, etc.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope to those skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some exemplary embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. Additionally, the advantages and improvements that may be realized by one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are provided for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, as the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein may provide all or none of the advantages and improvements set forth above, but still fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
Specific dimensions, specific materials, and/or specific shapes disclosed herein are exemplary in nature and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Specific values and specific numerical ranges for given parameters disclosed herein do not exclude other values and numerical ranges that may be used in one or more examples disclosed herein. Moreover, it is contemplated that any two particular values for a particular parameter set forth herein may define the endpoints of a range of values that are applicable to the given parameter (i.e., the disclosure of a first value and a second value for the given parameter may be interpreted to disclose that any value between the first and second values is also applicable to the given parameter). For example, if parameter X is illustrated herein as having a value a and is also illustrated as having a value Z, it is contemplated that parameter X may have a range of values from about a to about Z. Similarly, the disclosure of two or more numerical ranges for a parameter (whether nested, overlapping, or distinct) is contemplated to encompass all possible combinations of ranges of values that may be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if parameter X is illustrated herein as having a value in the range of 1-10 or 2-9 or 3-8, it is also contemplated that parameter X may have other numerical ranges, including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, and 3-9.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "including," and "having" are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Unless specifically identified as an order of execution, the method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being "on," "engaged to," "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, it can be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers may also be present. In contrast, when a relationship between an element and another element or layer is referred to as being "directly on," "directly engaged to," "directly connected to," or "directly coupled to," there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a similar manner (e.g., "between," "directly between," "adjacent" and "directly adjacent," etc.). As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The term "about" when applied to a numerical value indicates that the calculation or measurement allows some slight imprecision in the numerical value (with some approach to exactness in the numerical value; approximately or reasonably close to the numerical value; nearly). If for some reason the imprecision provided by "about" is not otherwise understood in the art with the ordinary meaning, then "about" as used herein indicates a variation that may result, at least in part, from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters. For example, the terms "substantially", "about" and "substantially" may be used herein to mean within manufacturing tolerances. Alternatively, for example, the term "about" as used herein in modifying the amounts of ingredients or reactants of the invention or employed refers to the inadvertent errors made by typical measurement and manipulation procedures used, for example, in making concentrates or solutions in the real world; differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of ingredients employed by making a composition or performing a method; etc., and variations in the digital quantities may occur. The term "about" also includes amounts that differ due to different equilibrium conditions of the composition resulting from a particular initial mixture. The claims, whether or not modified by the term "about," include quantitative equivalents.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply a sequence or order when used herein unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as "inner," "outer," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the example term "below" can include both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements, contemplated uses, or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. They may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
Claims (20)
1. A thermostat for a climate control system, the thermostat comprising:
a rectifier comprising a rectifier input for receiving input power from a voltage source, and a rectifier output;
a charger circuit coupled to receive charging current from the rectifier output;
a capacitor coupled between the rectifier output and the charger circuit; and
a controller configured to:
controlling the charger circuit to inhibit receiving the charging current and to detect a voltage across the capacitor to determine an input voltage value of the voltage source when inhibiting receiving the charging current;
controlling the charger circuit to allow receipt of the charging current and to increase the received charging current when the receipt of the charging current is allowed to determine the load value;
determining a stealing current threshold from the determined input voltage value and the determined load value without using a timer to detect a charging time of the capacitor;
determining whether the load value comprises a resistive load or an inductive load;
setting the power stealing current threshold to a specified value corresponding to the load transition trigger current threshold of the inductive load when the controller determines that the load value includes the inductive load; and
when the controller determines that the load value includes a resistive load, a stealing current threshold is set based on the resistance value of the load and a specified load transition trigger voltage threshold.
2. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein:
the voltage source comprises a control board; and
the load value includes a load value of the control board.
3. A thermostat according to claim 2 wherein:
the control panel comprises a 2-wire integrated furnace control panel; and
the thermostat is configured to steal power from the 2-wire integrated furnace control board and a power stealing current threshold is less than a load transition trigger current threshold of the 2-wire integrated furnace control board.
4. A thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to set a maximum electricity stealing current threshold equal to or below the determined electricity stealing current threshold to avoid inadvertently triggering a load of the climate control system; and
the thermostat is used to maximize the amount of current that is added through the load of the climate control system when the load is in an "off mode" such that the amount of current does not exceed a maximum stealing current threshold, to avoid inadvertently triggering a load transition of the climate control system load.
5. A thermostat according to any one of claims 1-4 further comprising a DC-DC power converter circuit coupled between the rectifier and the charger circuit.
6. A thermostat according to any one of claims 1-4 wherein the controller is configured to increase the received charging current in multiple current steps to determine a load value.
7. A thermostat according to any one of claims 1-4 further comprising a current limiting chip coupled between the rectifier and the charger circuit.
8. A thermostat according to claim 7 wherein the current limiting chip is configured to increase the received charging current in multiple current steps for a controller to determine a load value.
9. A thermostat according to any one of claims 1-4 further comprising a power management unit circuit coupled between the charger circuit and the controller.
10. A thermostat according to any one of claims 1-4 further comprising a battery or storage capacitor coupled to receive at least a portion of the charging current from the charger circuit.
11. A thermostat according to any one of claims 1-4 wherein the thermostat is adapted to adjust the amount of current maintained through the load of the climate control system when the load is in an "off mode" such that the amount of current does not exceed a brownout current threshold to avoid inadvertently triggering a load transition of the climate control system load.
12. A thermostat according to any one of claims 1-4 wherein the controller is configured to determine that the load value includes the inductive load when the detected voltage across the capacitor remains constant as the charging current increases.
13. A thermostat according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the controller is configured to set a stealing current threshold by referencing a table of different load transition trigger current values for different resistance values.
14. A thermostat according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the controller is configured to detect a value of current at the rectifier output when increasing the received charging current so as to assist the controller in effecting detection of whether the load is a resistive load or an inductive load.
15. A method of operating a thermostat in a climate control system, the thermostat including a rectifier having a rectifier output and a rectifier input for receiving input power from a voltage source, a charger circuit coupled to receive charging current from the rectifier output, and a capacitor coupled between the rectifier output and the charger circuit, the method comprising:
controlling the charger circuit to inhibit receiving a charging current;
detecting a voltage across the capacitor while inhibiting reception of a charging current to determine an input voltage value of a voltage source;
controlling the charger circuit to allow receipt of a charging current;
increasing the received charging current while allowing the charging current to be received to determine a load value;
determining a stealing current threshold from the determined input voltage value and the determined load value without using a timer to detect a charging time of the capacitor;
determining whether the load value comprises a resistive load or an inductive load;
setting the power stealing current threshold to a specified value corresponding to the load transition trigger current threshold of the inductive load when the load value is determined to include the inductive load; and
when it is determined that the load value includes a resistive load, a stealing current threshold is set based on a resistance value of the load and a specified load transition trigger voltage threshold.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein:
the voltage source comprises a 2-wire integrated furnace control board;
the load value comprises a load value of the 2-wire integrated furnace control board; and
the method further includes stealing power from the 2-wire integrated furnace control board to operate a thermostat while maintaining a power stealing current value at a level below a power stealing current threshold to avoid triggering a load transition of the 2-wire integrated furnace control board.
17. The method of claim 15 or 16, further comprising increasing the received charging current in multiple current steps to determine the load value.
18. The method of claim 15 or 16, further comprising adjusting an amount of current maintained through a load of the climate control system when the load is in an "off mode" such that the amount of current does not exceed a brownout current threshold to avoid inadvertently triggering a load transition of the climate control system load.
19. The method of claim 18, when the load value comprises a resistive load, comprising referencing a table of different load transition trigger current values for different resistance values, the stealing current threshold being set based on the resistance value of the load and a specified load transition trigger voltage threshold.
20. The method of claim 15 or 16, further comprising: when the received charging current is increased, the value of the current at the output of the rectifier is detected.
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| CN201811452679.2A CN109613943B (en) | 2018-11-30 | 2018-11-30 | Thermostat for climate control system and method of operating the same |
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| CN201811452679.2A CN109613943B (en) | 2018-11-30 | 2018-11-30 | Thermostat for climate control system and method of operating the same |
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| CN204030568U (en) * | 2013-04-05 | 2014-12-17 | 艾默生电气公司 | Stealing circuit and thermostat |
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| BRPI0809518A2 (en) * | 2007-03-26 | 2016-03-15 | Gillette Co | adaptive charger device and method |
| US8987997B2 (en) * | 2012-02-17 | 2015-03-24 | Innosys, Inc. | Dimming driver with stealer switch |
| CN203643766U (en) * | 2013-10-25 | 2014-06-11 | 艾默生电气公司 | Controller used in environment control system |
| EP2942851B1 (en) * | 2014-05-09 | 2016-07-13 | dSPACE digital signal processing and control engineering GmbH | Method for monitoring the power consumption of an electrical consumer |
| CN209343217U (en) * | 2018-11-30 | 2019-09-03 | 艾默生电气公司 | Thermostat for atmosphere control system |
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| CA2227944A1 (en) * | 1997-01-27 | 1998-07-27 | Arlon D. Kompelien | Power stealing solid state switch for supplying operating power to an electronic control device |
| CN204030568U (en) * | 2013-04-05 | 2014-12-17 | 艾默生电气公司 | Stealing circuit and thermostat |
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