초록 ▼

The present invention controls a room temperature by controlling an environmental control unit. A total span about a setpoint temperature is adjusted in accordance with a previous total span and a multiplicative factor. The multiplicative factor is periodically updated from a desired cycle time and

The present invention controls a room temperature by controlling an environmental control unit. A total span about a setpoint temperature is adjusted in accordance with a previous total span and a multiplicative factor. The multiplicative factor is periodically updated from a desired cycle time and a previous cycle time. The room temperature may also be controlled by adjusting a duty cycle for controlling an environmental control unit. The duty cycle is adjusted based on an error associated with a previous control cycle and an attenuation factor. A new control cycle may be started by cutting the previous control cycle or a current control cycle may be extended if a predetermined condition is detected. The control mode is selected based on environmental characteristics and room characteristics. The control mode may include a span control mode and a duty cycle control mode that is selected from the cycle rate.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus that controls a temperature of a room, the apparatus comprising: a temperature sensor that measures the temperature; and a processing unit that controls an environmental control unit and that is configured to perform: (a) determining a control mode; (b) if the co

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus that controls a temperature of a room, the apparatus comprising: a temperature sensor that measures the temperature; and a processing unit that controls an environmental control unit and that is configured to perform: (a) determining a control mode; (b) if the control mode equals a span control mode, adjusting a current total span of a current control cycle based on a desired cycle time and a previous cycle time; and (c) if the control mode equals a duty cycle control mode, adjusting a duty cycle of the current control cycle based on an error of a previous control cycle. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to perform: (b)(i) obtaining a previous total span of the previous control cycle; and (b)(ii) multiplying the previous total span by a multiplicative factor. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multiplicative factor is determined from a ratio equal to the desired cycle time divided by the previous cycle time. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to perform: (c)(i) determining the error from a setpoint temperature and a predicted temperature. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the predicted temperature is based on an average temperature and a temperature change of the previous control cycle. 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processing unit is further configured to perform: (c)(ii) multiplying the error by an attenuation factor. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processing unit is further configured to perform: (c)(iii) adjusting the attenuation factor to match a characteristic of the room. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environmental control unit comprises a heating unit. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environmental control unit comprises a cooling unit. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to perform: (a)(i) if a cycle rate exceeds a predetermined limit, setting the control mode to the duty cycle control mode; and (a)(ii) if the cycle rate is less than or equal to the predetermined limit, setting the control mode to the span control mode.