Active power stealing

US9696734B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Google LLC · US

Inventors

• Daniel Adam Warren · San Francisco, US
• Hugo Fiennes · Palo Alto, US
• Jonathan Alan Dutra · Saratoga, US
• David Bell · Los Altos Hills, US
• Anthony M. Fadell · Portola Valley, US
• Matthew Lee Rogers · Los Gatos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 30, 2014
• Grant date: Jul 4, 2017
• Expiry date: Jul 26, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49826
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A thermostat and related methods are described for controlling one or more functions, such as heating and cooling in an HVAC. According to some embodiments the thermostat includes a switching circuit for controlling an HVAC function, where closing the switching circuit activates the HVAC function. The thermostat may also include power harvesting circuitry adapted and arranged to harvest power from the HVAC system, where during times when the HVAC function is active the switching circuit opens for a time interval. The power harvesting circuitry may harvest power from the HVAC system during the time interval, and the time interval may be short enough that the HVAC function remains activated without interruption during the time interval.