Abstract: An HVAC controller receives signals from a plurality of sensors positioned in different spaces. The HVAC controller includes a housing and a user interface that is accessible from an exterior of the housing. A controller is configured to control the HVAC system using a control temperature that comprises a weighted combination of two or more of the current temperatures reported by the plurality of sensors. The controller tracks which of the different spaces are currently occupied and how long each of the currently occupied spaces have been occupied, and as a currently occupied space remains occupied for a longer period of time, the controller provides increasing weight over time to the current temperature reported by the sensor of the plurality of sensors that is in that currently occupied space, and controls the HVAC system in order to drive the control temperature towards a temperature set point.

Abstract: An HVAC controller receives signals from a plurality of sensors positioned in different spaces. The HVAC controller includes a housing and a user interface that is accessible from an exterior of the housing. A controller is configured to control the HVAC system using a control temperature that comprises a weighted combination of two or more of the current temperatures reported by the plurality of sensors. The controller tracks which of the different spaces are currently occupied and how long each of the currently occupied spaces have been occupied, and as a currently occupied space remains occupied for a longer period of time, the controller provides increasing weight over time to the current temperature reported by the sensor of the plurality of sensors that is in that currently occupied space, and controls the HVAC system in order to drive the control temperature towards a temperature set point.

Abstract: A programmable controller for homes and/or buildings and their related grounds, such as thermostat, that has a display and an external interface. The external interface may be use for uploading electronic images and/or other information from an external data source, and may use the uploaded electronic images and/or other information for programming and/or updating the controller and/or for viewing the electronic images and/or other information on the display of the controller.

Abstract: A mechanism for indicating ambient temperature of an enclosure from temperatures determined within the enclosure. The temperatures may be obtained from two or more sensors at each of two or more locations within the enclosure. The enclosure may include heat generating components such as electronics. The enclosure may also incorporate one or more dynamic components that emanate sudden amounts of heat. The present mechanism compensates for such heat sources with a compensating scheme.

Abstract: A processor and power broker for controlling the obtaining, distribution and usage of electrical power for electronic devices such as peripherals of thermostats. Sources of power may incorporate batteries, energy harvesting modules, energy storage capacitors, and power lines. The power broker may maintain charge on the capacitors, operate the energy harvesting modules, control usage of the batteries, and utilize power line sources when available. Loads such as the peripherals may need to request approval for energy usage. Energy usage and conservation may be managed by the power broker according to a power scheme. A power scheme may consist of a set of rules as to how energy usage by the peripherals is to be managed. The rules may also indicate as to how the energy sources are managed.

Abstract: Systems and methods herein include features for compensating a temperature reading of a thermostat. The thermostat may include a housing and one or more temperature sensors within the housing. The thermostat may sense a temperature using one or more of the temperature sensors. A processor and/or memory of the thermostat may be capable of and/or configured to compensate the sensed temperature with a first temperature compensation model and compensate the sensed temperature with a second temperature compensation model. During compensation of the sensed temperature, the system may transition from compensating the sensed temperature with the first temperature compensation model to compensating the sensed temperature with the second temperature compensation model over time and independent of the sensed temperature.

Abstract: A mechanism for indicating ambient temperature of an enclosure from temperatures determined within the enclosure. The temperatures may be obtained from two or more sensors at each of two or more locations within the enclosure. The enclosure may include heat generating components such as electronics. The enclosure may also incorporate one or more dynamic components that emanate sudden amounts of heat. The present mechanism compensates for such heat sources with a compensating scheme.

Abstract: A mechanism for indicating ambient temperature of an enclosure from temperatures determined within the enclosure. The temperatures may be obtained from two or more sensors at each of two or more locations within the enclosure. The enclosure may include heat generating components such as electronics. The enclosure may also incorporate one or more dynamic components that emanate sudden amounts of heat. The present mechanism compensates for such heat sources with a compensating scheme.

Abstract: A processor and power broker for controlling the obtaining, distribution and usage of electrical power for electronic devices such as peripherals of thermostats. Sources of power may incorporate batteries, energy harvesting modules, energy storage capacitors, and power lines. The power broker may maintain charge on the capacitors, operate the energy harvesting modules, control usage of the batteries, and utilize power line sources when available. Loads such as the peripherals may need to request approval for energy usage. Energy usage and conservation may be managed by the power broker according to a power scheme. A power scheme may consist of a set of rules as to how energy usage by the peripherals is to be managed. The rules may also indicate as to how the energy sources are managed.

Abstract: A programmable controller for homes and/or buildings and their related grounds, such as thermostat, that has a display and an external interface. The external interface may be use for uploading electronic images and/or other information from an external data source, and may use the uploaded electronic images and/or other information for programming and/or updating the controller and/or for viewing the electronic images and/or other information on the display of the controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods herein include features for compensating a temperature reading of a thermostat. The thermostat may include a housing and one or more temperature sensors within the housing. The thermostat may sense a temperature using one or more of the temperature sensors. A processor and/or memory of the thermostat may be capable of and/or configured to compensate the sensed temperature with a first temperature compensation model and compensate the sensed temperature with a second temperature compensation model. During compensation of the sensed temperature, the system may transition from compensating the sensed temperature with the first temperature compensation model to compensating the sensed temperature with the second temperature compensation model over time and independent of the sensed temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for operating a utility-powered HVAC system for conditioning inside air of a building. In an illustrative but non-limiting example, a nominal schedule is maintained by a local HVAC controller, where the nominal schedule has a number of days and one or more time periods for each of at least some of the days. The nominal schedule also has at least one setpoint associated with each of the time periods. The local HVAC controller is configured to accept manual input from a user via a user interface. The manual input may include accepting entry of a utility pricing schedule that corresponds to scheduled price changes of a utility. The utility pricing schedule may include at least one enhanced pricing time period. Entry of at least one utility price level setpoint may also be accepted to correspond to each of the enhanced pricing time periods.

Abstract: A mechanism for indicating ambient temperature of an enclosure from temperatures determined within the enclosure. The temperatures may be obtained from two or more sensors at each of two or more locations within the enclosure. The enclosure may include heat generating components such as electronics. The enclosure may also incorporate one or more dynamic components that emanate sudden amounts of heat. The present mechanism compensates for such heat sources with a compensating scheme.

Abstract: An HVAC controller with setpoint recovery with utility time of day pricing. In one illustrative embodiment, the HVAC controller may include a nominal programmable schedule and a utility pricing schedule. The utility pricing schedule may correspond to scheduled price changes of a utility, including one or more enhanced pricing time periods each having corresponding one or more enhanced pricing time period setpoints. The HVAC controller may establish or modify an enhanced pricing setpoint recovery schedule based at least in part upon the nominal schedule and the utility pricing schedule, and may control one or more HVAC units in accordance with the setpoint recovery schedule. In some instances, the HVAC controller may identify recovery opportunities based at least in part upon the nominal schedule and the utility pricing schedule.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for operating a utility-powered HVAC system for conditioning inside air of a building. In an illustrative but non-limiting example, a nominal schedule is maintained by a local HVAC controller, where the nominal schedule has a number of days and one or more time periods for each of at least some of the days. The nominal schedule also has at least one setpoint associated with each of the time periods. The local HVAC controller is configured to accept manual input from a user via a user interface. The manual input may include accepting entry of a utility pricing schedule that corresponds to scheduled price changes of a utility. The utility pricing schedule may include at least one enhanced pricing time period. Entry of at least one utility price level setpoint offset may also be accepted to correspond to each of the enhanced pricing time periods.

Abstract: An HVAC controller with setpoint recovery with utility time of day pricing. In one illustrative embodiment, the HVAC controller may include a nominal programmable schedule and a utility pricing schedule. The utility pricing schedule may correspond to scheduled price changes of a utility, including one or more enhanced pricing time periods each having corresponding one or more enhanced pricing time period setpoints. The HVAC controller may establish or modify an enhanced pricing setpoint recovery schedule based at least in part upon the nominal schedule and the utility pricing schedule, and may control one or more HVAC units in accordance with the setpoint recovery schedule. In some instances, the HVAC controller may identify recovery opportunities based at least in part upon the nominal schedule and the utility pricing schedule.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for operating a utility-powered HVAC system for conditioning inside air of a building. In an illustrative but non-limiting example, a nominal schedule is maintained by a local HVAC controller, where the nominal schedule has a number of days and one or more time periods for each of at least some of the days. The nominal schedule also has at least one setpoint associated with each of the time periods. The local HVAC controller is configured to accept manual input from a user via a user interface. The manual input may include accepting entry of a utility pricing schedule that corresponds to scheduled price changes of a utility. The utility pricing schedule may include at least one enhanced pricing time period. Entry of at least one utility price level setpoint may also be accepted to correspond to each of the enhanced pricing time periods.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for operating a utility-powered HVAC system for conditioning inside air of a building. In an illustrative but non-limiting example, a nominal schedule is maintained by a local HVAC controller, where the nominal schedule has a number of days and one or more time periods for each of at least some of the days. The nominal schedule also has at least one setpoint associated with each of the time periods. The local HVAC controller is configured to accept manual input from a user via a user interface. The manual input may include accepting entry of a utility pricing schedule that corresponds to scheduled price changes of a utility. The utility pricing schedule may include at least one enhanced pricing time period. Entry of at least one utility price level setpoint offset may also be accepted to correspond to each of the enhanced pricing time periods.

Abstract: A programmable controller for homes and/or buildings and their related grounds, such as thermostat, that has a display and an external interface. The external interface may be use for uploading electronic images and/or other information from an external data source, and may use the uploaded electronic images and/or other information for programming and/or updating the controller and/or for viewing the electronic images and/or other information on the display of the controller.