WO2012157125A1

WO2012157125A1 - Controller for air conditioner

Info

Publication number: WO2012157125A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/061915
Authority: WO
Inventors: Atsushi Mise; Kiyotaka Takehara
Original assignee: Panasonic Corporation
Priority date: 2011-05-18
Filing date: 2011-05-18
Publication date: 2012-11-22

Abstract

A controller for an air conditioner may include a control unit, an operation signal receiver, and a memory. The control unit transmits a control signal to an air conditioner. The control signal is effective to change a temperature setting of the air conditioner from an initial setting to a control setting. The operation signal receiver receives an operation signal from the air conditioner. The operation signal indicates a user setting of the air conditioner set by a user. Energy consumption of the air conditioner at the user setting is greater than at the control setting and less than at the initial setting. The memory stores operation temperature data including a balanced setting derived from the user setting and associates the balanced setting with a predetermined time. The control unit further determines a current balanced setting for the air conditioner based on the operation temperature data stored in the memory.

Description

CONTROLLER FOR AIR CONDITIONER

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Some embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to temperature control in an air conditioner. More particularly, example embodiments are directed to techniques for balancing user comfort and energy conservation while controlling an air conditioner.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Air conditioners are used throughout the world to heat and/or cool the interiors of houses, buildings, and other structures in which people live, work, or are otherwise found. Air conditioners may typically perform a heating function during winter or other relatively cold times of year and/or a cooling function during summer or other relatively hot times of year. When performing a heating function, air conditioners typically consume more energy at higher temperature settings than at lower temperature settings. In contrast, when performing a cooling function, air conditioners typically consume more energy at lower temperature settings than at higher temperature settings.

[0003] During cold times of the year, as the temperature setting on an air conditioner is lowered, the air conditioner will consume less energy but people within rooms conditioned by the air conditioner may become uncomfortably cold. On the other hand, as the temperature setting on the air conditioner is raised, people within the rooms conditioned by the air conditioner may become more comfortable but the air conditioner will consume more energy. Analogous considerations may apply during hot times of the year. In these and other situations, it may be difficult to set the air conditioner at a temperature setting that provides a balance between user comfort and energy conservation.

[0004] The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Some example embodiments disclosed herein are directed to techniques for balancing user comfort and energy conservation in controlling an air conditioner.

[0006] In an example embodiment, a controller for an air conditioner includes a control unit, an operation signal receiver, and a memory. The control unit may be configured to transmit, during a learning session, a first control signal to an air conditioner at a first predetermined time. The first control signal may be effective to change a temperature setting of the air conditioner from an initial setting to a first control setting. The operation signal receiver may be configured to receive, during the learning session, a first operation signal from the air conditioner within a predetermined time period from the first predetermined time. The first operation signal may indicate a first user setting of the air conditioner set by a user. Energy consumption of the air conditioner at the first user setting may be greater than at the first control setting and less than at the initial setting. The memory may be configured to store operation temperature data including a balanced setting derived from the first user setting and to associate the balanced setting with the first predetermined time. The control unit may be further configured to determine, during normal operation, a current balanced setting for the air conditioner based on the operation temperature data stored in the memory.

[0007] In another example embodiment, a method for controlling temperature settings of an air conditioner to balance user comfort and energy conservation is described. The method may include performing a learning session beginning at a first predetermined time, including performing at least one learning cycle included in the learning session. Performing at least one learning cycle may include transmitting, to an air conditioner, a control signal effective to change a temperature setting of the air conditioner from an initial setting to a control setting. Performing at least one learning cycle may also include receiving, from the air conditioner, an operation signal indicating a user setting of the air conditioner set by a user. Energy consumption of the air conditioner at the user setting may be greater than at the control setting and less than at the initial setting. The method may further include storing operation temperature data including a balanced setting derived from the user setting and associating the balanced setting with the first predetermined time. The method may further include, during normal operation at a current time, determining a current balanced setting for the air conditioner based on the operation temperature data including associations between balanced settings and predetermined times.

[0008] In yet another example embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium is described that has computer-executable instructions stored thereon that are executable by a computing device to perform various operations. The operations may include performing a learning session beginning at a first predetermined time, including performing at least one learning cycle included in the learning session. Performing at least one learning cycle may include transmitting, to an air conditioner, a control signal effective to change a temperature setting of the air conditioner from an initial setting to a control setting. Performing at least one learning cycle may also include receiving, from the air conditioner, an operation signal indicating a user setting of the air conditioner set by a user. Energy consumption of the air conditioner at the user setting may be greater than at the control setting and less than at the initial setting. The operations may further include storing operation temperature data including a balanced setting derived from the user setting and associating the balanced setting with the first predetermined time. The operations may further include, during normal operation at a current time, determining a current balanced setting for the air conditioner based on the operation temperature data including associations between balanced settings and predetermined times.

[0009] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0011] Figure 1 illustrates an example air conditioning system in which some embodiments of a controller and air conditioner can be implemented;

[0012] Figure 2 shows an example embodiment of the controller of Figure 1 ;

[0013] Figures 3A and 3B are graphs depicting temperature settings that may be applied to an air conditioner during example learning sessions;

[0014] Figure 4 is a graph depicting an example correlation between external temperatures and balanced settings;

[0015] Figure 5 includes a table representing an example correlation between external temperature ranges, time ranges, and balanced settings;

[0016] Figure 6 includes two tables respectively representing a first period and a subsequent second period in which a number of learning sessions performed in the subsequent second period is less than in the first period;

[0017] Figure 7 is a graph depicting an example of periodic change in external temperatures beginning in the month of October through the end of April;

[0018] Figure 8 includes a table spanning a period A and a period B of Figure 7; and

[0019] Figure 9 shows an example flow diagram of a method 900 for controlling temperature settings of an air conditioner;

all arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to temperature control in an air conditioner or other climate-control unit. In some embodiments, a controller for an air conditioner is configured to determine user temperature preferences and balance the user temperature preferences against energy conservation. The controller may determine user temperature preferences by changing a temperature setting of the air conditioner from an initial setting in which the air conditioner consumes relatively more energy to a control setting in which the air conditioner consumes relatively less energy. For instance, if the air conditioner is heating air within a structure, the controller may change the temperature setting from a relatively higher temperature setting to a relatively lower temperature setting.

[0021] Subsequently, the controller may receive an operation signal from the air conditioner indicating a user setting of the air conditioner that was set by a user within the structure conditioned by the air conditioner. Energy consumption of the air conditioner at the user setting may be more than at the control setting and less than at the initial setting. The user may set the air conditioner at the user setting in response to experiencing discomfort when the air conditioner is set at the control setting. While the air conditioner consumes more energy at the user setting than at the control setting, it consumes less energy at the user setting than at the initial setting. The user setting may be used as a balanced setting that balances both user comfort and energy conservation, and/or may serve as a basis for deriving the balanced setting. Optionally, operation temperature data including the balanced setting may be stored in memory, and may be associated with a predetermined time at which the control setting was applied to the air conditioner or with a time range in which the predetermined time occurred. [0022] The process of applying the control setting to the air conditioner, receiving an operation signal indicating the user setting and storing the balanced setting in memory in association with the particular time may be referred to as a learning cycle. Multiple learning cycles may be performed in sequence beginning at the particular time to fine tune the balanced setting associated with the particular time.

[0023] A set of one or more learning cycles performed in sequence and beginning at a particular time may be referred to as a learning session. Learning sessions may be performed at different times of a day to determine balanced settings associated with the different times of the day. Learning sessions may also be performed at the same time on different days to accumulate additional balanced setting data.

[0024] Optionally, external temperatures associated with an environment external to a structure in which the air conditioner is installed can be retrieved during the learning sessions. The external temperature retrieved during each learning session may include an average daily temperature associated with a particular day on which a corresponding learning session is performed, or it may include an actual temperature measured in the environment external to the structure. Each of the retrieved external temperatures or a corresponding temperature range can be associated in the memory with a corresponding balanced setting, a particular time at which a corresponding learning session was performed, and/or a particular time range in which the particular time belongs, and can be saved as part of the operation temperature data stored in memory.

[0025] The operation temperature data thereby acquired and stored in memory can be used in the future by the controller to set the air conditioner at a balanced setting that balances both user comfort and energy conservation, without performing additional learning sessions. For example, the controller may determine a current time and/or current external temperature, and select a balanced setting from the memory that has been associated in the memory with the same time of day or same time range in the day as the current time and/or with the same external temperature or external temperature range as the current external temperature.

[0026] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe various aspects of some example embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of such exemplary embodiments, and are not limiting of the present invention, nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.

[0027] Figure 1 illustrates an example air conditioning system 100 in which some embodiments of a controller 102 and air conditioner 104 can be implemented, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. In addition to the controller 102 and air conditioner 104, the air conditioning system 100 may optionally further include a temperature sensor 106.

[0028] In general, the air conditioning system 100 may be configured to condition air enclosed within a structure 108. In the context of the present application, the term "condition" is to be broadly construed to include any form of cooling or heating or combinations thereof. Alternately or additionally, the structure 108 may include, but is not limited to, a house, an apartment building, an office building, or any other structure in which air conditioning may be desired.

[0029] The controller 102 may generally be configured to control operation of the air conditioner 104 and may communicate with the air conditioner 104 via a wired or wireless signal channel(s). In some embodiments, the controller 102 may be permanently or removably attached to the structure 108. Alternately or additionally, the controller 102 may be implemented within a portable remote control device that can moved about within the structure 108 to permit control of the air conditioner 104 from potentially any location within the structure 108.

[0030] In these and other embodiments, the controller 102 may be implemented as a replacement controller for an existing air conditioner 104 that includes an existing controller lacking some or all of the functionality described herein. For example, if the existing controller lacking some or all of the functionality described herein is a portable remote control device, it may be replaced according to some embodiments by a remote control device including a controller 102 to thereby implement some or all of the functionality described herein.

[0031] Alternately or additionally, the controller 102 may be configured to perform one or more learning sessions, each including one or more learning cycles, to learn user preferences of a user 1 10. In these and other embodiments, the controller 102 may communicate with one or more of the air conditioner 104, and temperature sensor 106.

[0032] For example, the controller 102 may provide control signals to the air conditioner 104 to, e.g., set the air conditioner 104 at a control setting during a learning cycle and/or at a balanced setting during normal operation. Alternately or additionally, the controller 102 may receive operation signals from the air conditioner 104 which indicate a user setting applied to the air conditioner 104 by the user 1 10.

[0033] As another example, the controller 102 may receive actual external temperatures from the temperature sensor 106. As used herein, an "actual external temperature" refers to a temperature measured external to the structure 108 in which the air conditioner 104 is installed at a particular time and at a location at least within a general vicinity of the structure 108. Accordingly, the temperature sensor 106 may be installed on the exterior of the structure 108 to measure actual external temperatures external to the structure 108 and within an immediate vicinity of the structure 108.

[0034] Alternately or additionally, the controller 102 may receive actual external temperatures, via a network 1 12, from a remote temperature sensor 114 located within the general vicinity of the structure 108. For example, the remote temperature sensor 114 may be located within the same neighborhood, town, or city as the structure 108. The network 1 12 may include the Internet, one or more cellular radio frequency ("RF") networks and/or one or more wired and/or wireless networks such as, but not limited to, 802.xx networks, Bluetooth access points, wireless access points, Internet Protocol ("IP")-based networks, or the like.

[0035] Each of the temperature sensor 106 and remote temperature sensor 1 14 may include a thermistor, thermocouple, mercury-in-glass thermometer, or the like.

[0036] More generally, the controller 102 may retrieve external temperatures associated with an environment external to the structure 108. The retrieved external temperatures may include actual external temperatures retrieved from one or both of the temperature sensor 106 or remote temperature sensor 114. Alternately or additionally, the retrieved external temperatures may include predetermined external temperatures, each associated with a particular day. For instance, the predetermined external temperatures may include, for any given day, a high temperature for the day, a low temperature for the day, an average daily temperature, or the like. In these and other embodiments, the external temperatures may be retrieved over the network 112 from a suitable online resource, or the external temperatures may be programmed into the controller 102, or the external temperatures may be retrieved from some other suitable source.

[0037] In general, the air conditioner 104 may be configured to provide heat to, extract heat from, or provide heat to and extract heat from, the air enclosed within the structure 108 to condition the air. In some embodiments, for instance, the air conditioner 104 may only be configured to provide heat and thus may be operated during relatively colder times of year to heat air enclosed within the structure 108. In other embodiments, the air conditioner 104 may only be configured to extract heat and thus may be operated during relatively warmer times of year to cool air enclosed within the structure 108. In still other embodiments, the air conditioner 104 may be configured to both provide heat or extract heat as desired and thus may be operated to either heat or cool air enclosed within the structure 108 as desired. Accordingly, the air conditioner 104 may include, but is not limited to, an evaporative cooler, an absorptive chiller, a resistive heater, a radiative heater, a furnace, a central air conditioning unit, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC") unit, or the like or any combination thereof

[0038] As already indicated, the air conditioner 104 may be configured to heat air within the structure 108, to cool air within the structure 108, or both. When the air conditioner 104 is heating air within the structure 108, energy consumption of the air conditioner 104 generally increases with increasing temperature setting of the air conditioner 104. In comparison, when the air conditioner 104 is cooling air within the structure 108, energy consumption of the air conditioner 104 generally increases with decreasing temperature setting of the air conditioner 104. [0039] Figure 2 shows an example embodiment of the controller 102 of Figure 1 , arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. The controller 102 may include a control unit 202, an operation signal receiver 204, and a memory 206. Optionally, the controller 102 may further include a temperature retrieval unit 208 and/or an analyzer 210.

[0040] The control unit 202 may be configured to transmit control signals to the air conditioner 104 that are effective to change a temperature setting of the air conditioner 104 from an initial setting to a control setting specified by the control signal, and/or to set the temperature setting at a balanced setting specified by the control signal. During a learning cycle, energy consumption of the air conditioner 104 at the control setting may be less than at the initial setting.

[0041] The operation signal receiver 204 may be configured to receive an operation signal from the air conditioner 104. The operation signal may indicate or specify a user setting of the air conditioner 104 set by, e.g., the user 1 10 of Figure 1. During a learning cycle, energy consumption of the air conditioner 104 at the user setting may be greater than at the control setting and less than at the initial setting.

[0042] The memory 206 may be configured to store operation temperature data including a balanced setting derived from the user setting and to associate the balanced setting with a predetermined time corresponding to the transmission of the control signal by the control unit 202. For example, an entry including the balanced setting, the predetermined time corresponding to the transmission of the control signal, and/or a particular time corresponding to the receipt of the operation signal may be added to a table in the memory 206. In some embodiments, the balanced setting is derived from the user setting, e.g., by the control unit 202 or other component of the controller 102.

[0043] The memory 206 may alternately or additionally store computer-executable instructions such as program code. The computer-executable instructions may be executable by the control unit 202 and/or other component(s) of the controller 102 to perform one or more of the functions and operations described herein.

[0044] The temperature retrieval unit 208 may be configured to retrieve or otherwise receive external temperatures (from, e.g., the temperature sensor 106, remote temperature sensor 1 14, or other suitable source) during learning cycles and/or during normal operation. In some embodiments, the temperature retrieval unit 208 may retrieve or otherwise receive an external temperature at the particular time corresponding to the transmission of the control signal and/or the particular time corresponding to the receipt of the operation signal. Each external temperature may be stored in the memory 206 in association with the particular time and/or a corresponding balanced setting in the memory 206.

[0045] Alternately or additionally, the temperature retrieval unit 208 may be configured to retrieve or otherwise receive external temperatures (from, e.g., the temperature sensor 106, remote temperature sensor 1 14, or other suitable source) during normal operation. The external temperatures retrieved (or received) during normal operation may be provided to the analyzer 210.

[0046] The analyzer 210 may be configured to determine a correlation between external temperatures and balanced settings based on the operation temperature data including associated external temperatures stored in the memory 206. Alternately or additionally, during normal operation at a current time, the analyzer 210 may be configured to determine a current balanced setting based solely on the determined correlation and on a current external temperature received from the temperature retrieval unit 208. The current balanced setting may then be provided to the control unit 202 to apply the current balanced setting to the air conditioner 104.

[0047] Figures 3A and 3B are graphs depicting temperature settings that may be applied to an air conditioner during example learning sessions, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. The learning sessions of Figures 3 A-3B are specific to winter or other cold- weather periods in which the air conditioner 104 of Figure 1 is used to heat air within the structure 108 of Figure 1. Thus, the air conditioner 104 may consume relatively more energy at relatively higher temperature settings and relatively less energy at relatively lower temperature settings. The principles disclosed herein can also be applied in learning sessions during summer or other warm-weather periods in which the air conditioner 104 of Figure 1 is used to cool air within the structure 108 of Figure 1.

[0048] As previously mentioned, a learning session may include one or more learning cycles performed in sequence. In the learning session of Figure 3 A, a single learning cycle is performed during the learning session, while in the learning session of 3B, multiple learning cycles are performed sequentially.

[0049] With combined reference to Figures 1-3 A, the temperature setting of the air conditioner 104 prior to the learning session may be initially set at an initial setting S_t. the controller 102 performs the learning session beginning at a predetermined time tj, including the control unit 202 sending a control signal to the air conditioner 104 that is effective to change the temperature setting of the air conditioner 104 from the initial setting S¹, to a control setting S_c. Energy consumption of the air conditioner 104 at the control setting S_c is less than at the initial setting S

[0050] The change in temperature caused by changing the temperature setting on the air conditioner 104 to the control setting S_c may result in a temperature that is too cold and is uncomfortable for the user 110. Thus, the user 1 10 may operate the air conditioner 104 to set the temperature setting to a user setting S_u that will make the temperature more comfortable for the user 110. In response to the user 1 10 setting the air conditioner 104 to the user setting S_u, the air conditioner 104 sends an operation signal indicating the user setting S_u to the controller 102, which may be received by the operation signal receiver 204 at time /_?· In some embodiments, the operation signal is disregarded and the learning cycle terminates unless the time t2 is within a predetermined time period from the predetermined time t]. Alternately or additionally, if an operation signal is not received, the control setting S_u may be used as a balanced setting and associated in memory 206 with the predetermined time ti and/or a time range that includes the predetermined time tj. Energy consumption of the air conditioner 104 at the user setting S_u may be greater than at the control setting S_c but less than at the initial setting 5,·.

[0051] A balanced setting may be derived from the user setting S_u and stored in the memory 206 in association with the predetermined time t] or a time range that includes the predetermined time tj. For example, the user setting S_u may be used as the balanced setting. The balanced setting may be applied to the air conditioner 104 during normal operation. The balanced setting may be referred to as a "balanced" setting because it balances both user comfort and energy conservation when it is derived from the user setting S_u. In particular, the air conditioner 104 may consume less energy at the balanced setting than at the initial setting S, while at the same time providing a more comfortable temperature than at the control setting S_c and reflecting the user's 1 10 preferences since the balanced setting was set by the user 1 10. The amount of energy conserved at the balanced setting compared to the initial setting Si may be proportional to the difference AS between the initial setting S, and the user setting S_u when the balanced setting includes the user setting S_u.

[0052] To further refine the balanced setting determined according to some embodiments, multiple learning cycles may be performed in sequence, as shown in Figure 3B. For instance, in Figure 3B, two learning cycles are performed. The first learning cycle begins at predetermined time t] and ends at time ts, and the second learning cycle begins at time ts and ends at time ts.

[0053] In more detail, and with combined reference to Figures 1-2 and 3B, during the first learning cycle, at a predetermined time t], a first control signal is sent to the air conditioner 104 that is effective to change the temperature setting of the air conditioner 104 from the initial setting S, to a first control setting S_c]. Energy consumption at the first control setting S_c] is less than at the initial setting S,. In response, the user 1 10 may operate the air conditioner 104 to set the temperature setting to a first user setting S_ui that will make the temperature more comfortable for the user 1 10, which may cause the air conditioner 104 to send a first operation signal indicating the first user setting S_ui to the controller 102. The first operation signal may be received at time t2- Energy consumption at the first user setting S_ui may be greater than at the first control setting S_ci but less than at the initial setting Sj.

[0054] At time t₃, another learning cycle may be performed with the controller 102 sending a second control signal to the air conditioner 104 that is effective to change the temperature setting of the air conditioner 104 from the first user setting S_ui to a second control setting S_C2. Energy consumption at the second control setting S_C2 is less than at the first user setting S_uj but more than at the first control setting S_c]. In response, the user 1 10 may operate the air conditioner 104 to set the temperature setting to a second user setting S_U2 that will make the temperature more comfortable for the user 1 10, which may cause the air conditioner 104 to send a second operation signal indicating the second user setting S_U2 to the controller 102. The second operation signal may be received at time t₄. Energy consumption at the second user setting S„2 may be greater than at the second control setting S_C2 but less than at the first user setting S_ui.

[0055] The memory 206 may then store operation temperature data including a balanced setting derived from the first user setting S_u] and the second user setting S_U2 and/or the balanced setting may be associated with the predetermined time tj. The balanced setting may be derived from the first and second user settings S_uj and S_U2 by, e.g., using the first user setting S_ui as an initial setting during the second learning cycle and the second user setting S_u2 as the balanced setting. Alternately or additionally, trend curves 302, 304 may be respectively fitted to the set of user settings S_uj, S_U2 and the set of control settings S_cj, S_C2. When the trend curves 302, 304 converge towards a particular setting ¾ as shown in Figure 3B, the particular setting ¾ may be used as the balanced setting ¾ associated with the predetermined time tj.

[0056] Accordingly, in a learning session including multiple learning cycles such as depicted in Figure 3B, the initial setting of each subsequent learning cycle may correspond to the user setting of the immediately preceding learning cycle. Alternately or additionally, the difference between the initial setting and control setting during the first learning cycle may be relatively large, while the difference between the initial setting and control setting during subsequent learning cycles may be successively smaller with each subsequent learning cycle. Stated another way, an absolute value of a difference between the control setting and the initial setting of the subsequent learning cycle may be less than an absolute value of a difference between the control setting and the initial setting of the immediately preceding learning cycle. Alternately or additionally, an absolute value of a difference between the user setting and the control setting of the subsequent learning cycle may be less than an absolute value of a difference between the user setting and the control setting of the immediately preceding learning cycle.

[0057] In some embodiments, user 110 activity within the structure 108 may generally be the same during various time ranges each day. Further, the user's 1 10 temperature setting preferences for the air conditioner 104 may vary depending on the activity. For instance, from about midnight to about 8:00 am, or 0:00 to 8:00 in military time, the user 1 10 may be sleeping and may prefer a moderate temperature setting for the air conditioner 104. From about 8:00 am to about 4:00 pm, or from about 8:00 to 16:00 in military time, the user 110 may be away from the structure 110 at work or the like, and may prefer a temperature setting that consumes relatively little energy since the user 1 10 is not in the structure. From about 4:00 pm to about midnight, or from about 16:00 to about 24:00 in military time, the user 1 10 may be moving about within the structure 1 10 and may prefer a more comfortable temperature setting on the air conditioner 104 that consumes relatively more energy. Accordingly, the controller 102 may be configured to perform at least one learning session during a predetermined time in each time range on one or more days to determine a balanced setting for each corresponding time range. [0058] Alternately or additionally, external temperatures outside the structure 108 may have an effect on the setting that is applied to the air conditioner 104 for the user 1 10 to be comfortable. For instance, in winter, as the external temperature decreases, the temperature setting applied to the air conditioner 104 may be increased to achieve the same comfort level for the user 110 as at a higher external temperature. As another example, in summer, as the external temperature increases, the temperature setting applied to the air conditioner 104 may be decreased to achieve the same comfort level for the user 110 as at a lower external temperature.

[0059] In view of the foregoing, for one or more learning sessions, an external temperature for each learning session can be retrieved or otherwise received by the temperature retrieval unit 208 (Figure 2). The external temperature may include an actual external temperature and may be measured at about the same time as the predetermined time at which the learning session begins, or may be measured at another time during the same day as the day on which the predetermined time occurs. Alternately or additionally, the external temperature may include a predetermined external temperature associated with a particular day on which a corresponding learning session is performed, such as a high temperature for the day, a low temperature for the day, or an average daily temperature for the day. The external temperature can also be included in the operation temperature data stored in memory 206 and can be associated in the memory 206 with the balanced setting determined during the learning session, with the predetermined time at which the learning session began.

[0060] Accordingly, in some embodiments, multiple learning sessions are performed one or more times in each of multiple external temperature ranges. The external temperature ranges can then be correlated with balanced settings by, e.g., the analyzer 210 of Figure 2. Alternately or additionally, the correlation between external temperature ranges and balanced settings can be used to determine a balanced setting during normal operation based solely on a current external temperature and/or a current time.

[0061] For instance, Figure 4 is a graph depicting an example correlation between external temperatures and balanced settings, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. The graph of Figure 4 may be consistent with winter or other cold weather use of the air conditioner 104. As shown in Figure 4, a balanced setting of 21 °C may be associated with an external temperature of 5°C, whereas relatively higher balanced settings may be associated with relatively lower external temperatures, and relatively lower balanced settings may be associated with relatively higher external temperatures.

[0062] After developing a correlation between balanced setting and external temperature such as that shown in Figure 4, a current balanced setting may be applied to the air conditioner 104 during normal operation in some embodiments based solely on the correlation and the current external temperature. Alternately or additionally, the current balanced setting may also be based on the current time.

[0063] Figure 5 includes a table representing an example correlation between external temperature ranges, time ranges, and balanced settings, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Data represented by the table of Figure 5 may be stored in memory 206 and used to determined balanced settings during normal operation by obtaining a current external temperature and/or a current time and selecting a balanced setting associated with a corresponding external temperature range and/or time range. [0064] The external temperature ranges and time ranges in Figure 5 are provided by way of example only and should not be construed to limit the embodiments described herein. Moreover, the "XX" included in the balanced settings column of Figure 5 is merely a placeholder for specific balanced settings that may be determined according to some embodiments described herein. Further, the external temperature ranges of Figure 5 may correspond to ranges of average daily external temperature per day, and/or ranges of actual external temperatures at the predetermined time at which a learning session is performed, or the like.

[0065] According to some embodiments, balanced settings for each combination pair of a time range and a temperature range are determined by performing at least two learning sessions, one each on two different days having associated therewith external temperatures within the same external temperature range and in the same time range on each day. The external temperature associated with each of the two different days may include an actual external temperature on each of the two different days, an average daily temperature associated with each of the two different days, or the like. The at least two balanced settings obtained from the at least two learning sessions may then be averaged or otherwise used to determine a single balanced setting corresponding to the given external temperature range and given time range.

[0066] Alternately or additionally, the number of learning sessions performed in a given time period may be reduced in subsequent time periods having the same duration as the given time period. The number of learning sessions may be reduced in subsequent time periods at least partly due to generally periodic fluctuations in external temperature over the course of a year. [0067] For example, Figure 6 includes two tables 602, 604 respectively representing a first period and a subsequent second period in which a number of learning sessions performed in the subsequent second period is less than in the first period, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Some or all of the data represented by the table of Figure 6 may be stored in memory 206 and used to determine whether to perform a learning session on any given day during the first or second period represented by the table 602 or 604. Although not shown, data stored in memory 206 may further specify one or more predetermined times at which a learning session should be performed on the specified days.

[0068] The first period may include October through April of a first year, while the second period may include October through April of a second subsequent year. Whereas external temperatures during each month of any given year are, on average, about the same as external temperatures during the same month of a different year, the balanced settings determined during each month of one year may, in general, be applicable to the same months of a subsequent year.

[0069] Accordingly, as can be seen from a comparison of tables 602 and 604, relatively more learning sessions may be performed during each month of the first period than during each month of the second period. For instance, a total of eight learning sessions may be performed during October in the first period, while only a total of 2 learning sessions may be performed during a subsequent October in the second period. Although not shown, even fewer learning sessions may be performed in a third period including October through April of a third subsequent year than are performed in the second period. [0070] Figure 6 further illustrates that, within a given period, relatively more learning sessions may be performed as the external temperature transitions to a colder or warmer temperature range and/or at the beginning of each month in the given period. For example, in the first period, relatively more learning sessions are performed in the first week of Cold external temperatures (e.g., the first week of November) than are performed in each of the three weeks that follow (e.g., the last three weeks of November) in which the external temperature remains at Cold. Additionally, relatively more learning sessions are performed in the first week of March than are performed in the last three weeks of March, even though March is subject to Cold external temperatures and balanced temperatures for Cold external temperatures may have already been obtained during the preceding November.

[0071] The larger number of learning sessions performed when a new temperature range begins may serve to obtain previously unknown balanced settings for the new temperature range. Alternately or additionally, the larger number of sessions performed at the beginning of a new month may serve to confirm that previously obtained balanced settings in a given temperature range are still accurate for the new month. It is understood that while the temperature ranges provided in Figure 6 are qualitative, in other embodiments, the temperature ranges may be quantitative, such as the temperature ranges provided in Figure 5.

[0072] In some embodiments, the analyzer 210 of Figure 2 may be configured to analyze periodic changes in external temperatures obtained by the temperature retrieval unit 208 to identify an extreme external temperature, such as a minimum external temperature in winter or a maximum external temperature in summer, and a particular day of the year on which the extreme external temperature was measured or with which the extreme external temperature is associated. For example, an average daily temperature for the particular day of the year is an external temperature that is associated with the particular day of the year.

[0073] Figure 7 is a graph depicting an example of periodic change in external temperatures beginning in the month of October through the end of April, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. In particular, the graph of Figure 7 may depict average daily temperatures from October through the end of April. In the illustrated embodiment, a minimum temperature occurs on or is otherwise associated with a day in January and divides the time period from October through April into time periods A and B that respectively end and begin on the day in January having the minimum temperature. During period A and/or prior to period B, learning sessions can be performed to determine balanced settings, associated time ranges, and/or associated external temperatures or external temperature ranges. Subsequently, during period B, a balanced setting for the air conditioner 104 during normal operation can be selected by the control unit 202 determining a current external temperature and/or time and looking up in memory 206 the balanced setting associated with a corresponding external temperature range and/or time range.

[0074] As can be seen in Figure 7, each of the external temperatures of period B has previously occurred in period A. As such, the controller 102 can learn the relationship between balanced settings and external temperatures during period A by conducting multiple learning sessions in period A, and can then determine balanced settings during normal operation in period B without performing any additional learning sessions based on, for any given day in period B, an external temperature and the operation temperature data acquired during period A. [0075] In this regard, Figure 8 includes a table spanning period A and period B of Figure 7, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 8, multiple learning sessions are performed during period A, whereas none are performed during period B since the relationship between external temperatures and balanced settings is already know based on operation temperature data acquired during period A.

[0076] Figure 9 shows an example flow diagram of a method 900 for controlling temperature settings of an air conditioner, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. The method 900 may be performed in some embodiments by the controller 102 of Figure 1, and more particularly, by one or more of the components of the controller 102 of Figure 1, such as one or more of the control unit 202, operation signal receiver 204, memory 206, temperature retrieval unit 208 and/or analyzer 210. The method 900 includes various operations, functions or actions as illustrated by one or more of blocks 902, 904 and/or 906.

[0077] In block 902, a learning session is performed beginning at a first predetermined time, including performing at least one learning cycle included in the learning session. In some embodiments, the learning session is performed by the controller 102 of Figure 1. Alternately or additionally, performing at least one learning cycle included in the learning session may include performing sub-blocks 902 A and 902B.

[0078] In sub-block 902A, a control signal effective to change a temperature setting of an air conditioner from an initial setting to a control setting is transmitted to the air conditioner. The control signal may be transmitted by the control unit 202 of Figure 2 to the air conditioner 104 in some embodiments. Alternately or additionally, energy consumption of the air conditioner at the control setting may be lower than at the initial setting.

[0079] In sub-block 902B, an operation signal is received from the air conditioner that indicates a user setting of the air conditioner set by a user. The operation signal may be received by the operation signal receiver 204 of Figure 2 from the air conditioner 104 in some embodiments. Alternately or additionally, energy consumption of the air conditioner at the user setting may be greater than at the control setting and less than at the initial setting.

[0080] In block 904, operation temperature data including a balanced setting derived from the user setting may be stored and the balanced setting may be associated with the first predetermined time. In some embodiments, the operation temperature data is stored by the memory 206. Associating the balanced setting with the first predetermined time may include associating the balanced setting with a time range that includes the first predetermined time.

[0081] In some embodiments, the balanced setting may be determined by the control unit 202 of Figure 2. Optionally, the balanced setting corresponds to a user setting obtained during a learning session including a single learning cycle, or to a last user setting obtained during a last learning cycle of a learning session that includes multiple learning cycles. Alternately, the balanced setting may be derived in some other manner from one or more user settings obtained during one or more learning cycles of the learning session.

[0082] In block 906, during normal operation at a current time, a current balanced setting is determined for the air conditioner based on the operation temperature data including associations between balanced settings and predetermined times. In some embodiments, the current balanced setting may be determined by the control unit 202 of Figure 2. [0083] One skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, the functions performed in the processes and methods may be implemented in differing order. Furthermore, the outlined steps and operations are only provided as examples, and some of the steps and operations may be optional, combined into fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additional steps and operations without detracting from the essence of the disclosed embodiments.

[0084] For example, performing at least one learning cycle included in the learning session at block 902 may include performing multiple learning cycles in sequence. Performing each of the multiple learning cycles may include repeatedly performing one or more of sub-blocks 902A-902B.

[0085] As another example, although not shown in Figure 9, the method 900 may further include determining a relationship between balanced settings and external temperatures associated with an environment external to a structure in which the air conditioner is installed. In some embodiments, the relationship may be determined by performing multiple learning sessions, each learning session beginning at a corresponding one of multiple predetermined times. Multiple balanced settings may be determined, each being associated with a corresponding one of the predetermined times. During each learning session, an external temperature associated with the environment external to the structure in which the air conditioner is installed may be retrieved. The external temperature retrieved during each learning session may include an average daily temperature associated with a particular day on which the corresponding learning session is performed. Each of the external temperatures may be included within a corresponding one of multiple external temperature ranges. Finally, each balanced setting may be associated with a corresponding one of the external temperature ranges based on the external temperature retrieved during the corresponding learning session. The association between balanced settings and external temperature ranges may be stored as part of the operation data.

[0086] In these and other embodiments, determining a balanced setting for the air conditioner based on the operation temperature data may include determining a current external temperature. Determining a current external temperature may include receiving a measurement of an actual external temperature from a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the environment external to the structure in which the air conditioner is installed, or retrieving an average daily temperature associated with a current day.

[0087] A balanced setting may be identified in the operation temperature data that is associated with an external temperature range that includes the current external temperature. The identified balanced setting may be used as the current balanced setting and a control signal effective to set the air conditioner at the current balanced setting may be transmitted to the air conditioner during normal operation.

[0088] Determining a balanced setting for the air conditioner based on the operation temperature data may further include determining a current time. In these and other embodiments, the balanced setting identified as being associated with an external temperature range may be further identified as being associated with a time range that includes the current time prior to being used as the current balanced setting.

[0089] Alternately or additionally, the method 900 may further include analyzing periodic changes in external temperatures associated with an environment external to a structure in which the air conditioner is installed to identify an extreme external temperature from among the external temperatures and a particular day with which the extreme external temperature is associated. The extreme external temperature may be a maximum or a minimum external temperature. The particular day may define a first time period that ends on the particular day and a second time period that begins on the particular day. A relationship may be determined between balanced settings and external temperatures. In some embodiments, the relationship may be determined during the first time period. Data representing the relationship between balanced settings and external temperatures may be stored as part of the operation data such that, during the second time period, a current balanced setting for the air conditioner during the second time period may be determined by applying the relationship to a current external temperature measured during the second time period.

[0090] Alternately or additionally, the method 900 may further include performing multiple learning sessions over time. An average number of learning sessions performed per period of time may be decreased over time.

[0091] The embodiments described herein may include the use of a special purpose or general-purpose computer including various computer hardware or software modules, as discussed in greater detail below.

[0092] Embodiments within the scope of the present invention also include computer- readable media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0093] Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

[0094] As used herein, the term "module" or "component" can refer to software objects or routines that execute on the computing system. The different components, modules, engines, and services described herein may be implemented as objects or processes that execute on the computing system (e.g., as separate threads). While the system and methods described herein are preferably implemented in software, implementations in hardware or a combination of software and hardware are also possible and contemplated. In this description, a "computing entity" may be any computing system as previously defined herein, or any module or combination of modulates running on a computing system. [0095] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A controller for an air conditioner, the controller comprising:

a control unit configured to transmit, during a learning session, a first control signal to an air conditioner at a first predetermined time, wherein the first control signal is effective to change a temperature setting of the air conditioner from an initial setting to a first control setting;

an operation signal receiver configured to receive, during the learning session, a first operation signal from the air conditioner within a predetermined time period from the first predetermined time, wherein the first operation signal indicates a first user setting of the air conditioner set by a user and wherein energy consumption of the air conditioner at the first user setting is greater than at the first control setting and less than at the initial setting; and a memory configured to store operation temperature data including a balanced setting derived from the first user setting and to associate the balanced setting with the first predetermined time;

wherein the control unit is further configured to determine, during normal operation, a current balanced setting for the air conditioner based on the operation temperature data stored in the memory.

2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein:

the control unit is further configured to transmit, during the learning session and after receipt of the first operation signal, a second control signal effective to change the temperature setting of the air conditioner from the first user setting to a second control setting; and

energy consumption of the air conditioner at the second control setting is less than at the first user setting and greater than at the first control setting.

3. The controller of claim 1 , further comprising:

a temperature retrieval unit configured to retrieve, during each of a plurality of learning sessions, an external temperature associated with an environment external to a structure in which the air conditioner is installed, wherein the memory is further configured to associate operation temperature data including a balanced setting determined during the corresponding learning session with a corresponding temperature range that includes the corresponding external temperature;

an analyzer configured to select, during normal operation at a current time, a current balanced setting for the air conditioner by determining a current external temperature and looking up, in the memory, a balanced setting associated with an external temperature range that includes the current external temperature,

wherein the control unit is further configured to transmit, during normal operation, a control signal to the air conditioner effective to set the temperature setting of the air conditioner at the current balanced setting selected by the analyzer.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein: the analyzer is further configured to analyze periodic changes in external temperatures to identify an extreme external temperature from among the external temperatures and a particular day with which the extreme external temperature is associated; the particular day defines a first time period that ends on the particular day and a second time period that begins on the particular day; and

the control unit is configured to determine balanced settings during normal operation on days in the second time period based on operation temperature data stored in the memory and acquired during the first time period that provides an association between external temperatures and balanced settings.

5. The controller of claim 4, wherein the extreme external temperature is a maximum external temperature in summer or a minimum external temperature in winter.

6. The controller of claim 3, wherein the external temperature retrieved during each learning session includes an average daily temperature associated with a particular day on which a corresponding learning session is performed.

7. The controller of claim 1 , wherein:

the controller is configured to perform a first number of learning sessions during a first time period;

the controller is configured to perform a second number of learning sessions during a subsequent second time period equal in duration to the first time period; and the second number of learning sessions is less than the first number of learning sessions.

8. A method for controlling temperature settings of an air conditioner to balance user comfort and energy conservation, the method comprising:

performing a learning session beginning at a first predetermined time, including performing at least one learning cycle included in the learning session, wherein performing at least one learning cycle includes:

transmitting, to an air conditioner, a control signal effective to change a temperature setting of the air conditioner from an initial setting to a control setting; and

receiving, from the air conditioner, an operation signal indicating a user setting of the air conditioner set by a user, wherein energy consumption of the air conditioner at the user setting is greater than at the control setting and less than at the initial setting;

storing operation temperature data including a balanced setting derived from the user setting and associating the balanced setting with the first predetermined time; and

during normal operation at a current time, determining a current balanced setting for the air conditioner based on the operation temperature data including associations between balanced settings and predetermined times.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein performing at least one learning cycle includes performing multiple learning cycles in sequence.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the multiple learning cycles include at least one subsequent learning cycle and at least one immediately preceding learning cycle and for each subsequent learning cycle:

an initial setting of the subsequent learning cycle corresponds to a user setting of the immediately preceding learning cycle;

an absolute value of a difference between a control setting and the initial setting of the subsequent learning cycle is less than an absolute value of a difference between a control setting and an initial setting of the immediately preceding learning cycle; and

an absolute value of a difference between a user setting and the control setting of the subsequent learning cycle is less than an absolute value of a difference between the user setting and a control setting of the immediately preceding learning cycle.

1 1. The method of claim 9, wherein the balanced setting associated with the first predetermined time is a user setting from a last one of the multiple learning cycles.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining a relationship between balanced settings and external temperatures associated with an environment external to a structure in which the air conditioner is installed by: performing a plurality of learning sessions, each learning session beginning at a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined times;

determining a plurality of balanced settings, each associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of predetermined times;

during each learning session, retrieving an external temperature associated with the environment external to the structure in which the air conditioner is installed, each of the external temperatures being included within a corresponding one of a plurality of external temperature ranges; and

associating each balanced setting with a corresponding one of the plurality of external temperature ranges based on the external temperature retrieved during the corresponding learning session, wherein the association is stored as part of the operation data.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein determining a current balanced setting for the air conditioner based on the operation temperature data includes:

determining a current external temperature; and

identifying, in the operation temperature data, a balanced setting that is associated with an external temperature range that includes the current external temperature,

wherein the identified balanced setting is used as the current balanced setting.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining a current balanced setting for the air conditioner based on the operation temperature data further includes determining a current time and wherein the balanced setting identified as being associated with an external temperature range is further identified as being associated with a time range that includes the current time prior to being used as the current balanced setting.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting a control signal to the air conditioner that is effective to set the temperature of the air conditioner at the current balanced setting.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the external temperature retrieved during each learning session includes an average daily temperature associated with a particular day on which the corresponding learning session is performed.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining a current external temperature includes:

receiving a measurement of an actual external temperature from a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the environment external to the structure in which the air conditioner is installed; or

retrieving an average daily temperature associated with a current day.

18. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

analyzing periodic changes in external temperatures associated with an environment external to a structure in which the air conditioner is installed to identify an extreme external temperature from among the external temperatures and a particular day with which the extreme external temperature is associated, wherein the particular day defines a first time period that ends on the particular day and a second time period that begins on the particular day;

determining a relationship between balanced settings and external temperatures; and storing data representing the relationship between balanced settings and external temperatures as part of the operation data such that, during the second time period, a current balanced setting for the air conditioner during the second time period is determined by applying the relationship to a current external temperature measured during the second time period.

19. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

performing a plurality of learning sessions over time;

decreasing, over time, an average number of learning sessions performed per period of time.

20. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that are executable by a computing device to perform operations comprising:

performing a learning session beginning at a first predetermined time, including performing at least one learning cycle included in the learning session, wherein performing at least one learning cycle includes: transmitting, to an air conditioner, a control signal effective to change a temperature setting of the air conditioner from an initial setting to a control setting; and