Temperature control of an environment to achieve occupant comfort based on heart rate variability parameters
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Publication Number
US-11957489-B2
Publication Date
2024-04-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A temperature control system includes a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured to control temperature in an environment. A sensor is configured to generate an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal for an occupant of the environment. An environmental sensor is configured to sense environmental data selected from a group consisting of temperature, air velocity, sun load and humidity. A heart rate variability (HRV) controller is configured to receive the ECG signal; identify inter-beat intervals based on the ECG signal; and control the HVAC system based on the inter-beat intervals and the environmental data.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention relates to a temperature control system that controls an HVAC system in an environment using an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal from an occupant and environmental data. The system includes a sensor configured to generate the ECG signal and an environmental sensor configured to sense environmental data selected from environmental temperature, an ambient temperature, air velocity, sun load and humidity. A heart rate variability (HRV) controller receives the ECG signal, identifies inter-beat intervals based on the ECG signal, and controls the HVAC system based on the inter-beat intervals and the environmental data.
The invention compares the identified inter-beat intervals to thresholds and adjusts HVAC operation. The HRV controller compares inter-beat intervals to a first threshold and a second threshold, wherein the first threshold is less than the second threshold, and increases heating when at least one inter-beat interval is less than the first threshold. The HRV controller increases cooling when at least one inter-beat interval is greater than the second threshold.
The invention also compares a variation in the inter-beat intervals to a predetermined variation threshold and uses a temperature setpoint when the variation is greater than the predetermined variation threshold. In addition, the HRV controller generates N HRV parameters based on the inter-beat intervals, where N is an integer greater than one, and uses a comfort classification model defined in a N-dimensional HRV parameter space with comfort regions and discomfort regions to determine comfort of the occupant based on the N HRV parameters.
The system supports updating or training the comfort classification model using manual HVAC setpoint changes, including via a telematics system to a remote classification training system and receiving an updated comfort classification model.
Claims Coverage
The document contains five independent claims covering ECG-derived inter-beat interval HVAC control using environmental data, variation-threshold switching between control strategies, and N-dimensional HRV comfort classification model usage, including telematics-based updating.
Ecg-based inter-beat interval threshold HVAC control with environmental data
A temperature control system comprising an HVAC system, an ECG signal sensor for an occupant, an environmental sensor sensing environmental data selected from environmental temperature, an ambient temperature, air velocity, sun load and humidity, and an HRV controller configured to receive the ECG signal, identify inter-beat intervals based on the ECG signal, compare the inter-beat intervals to a first threshold and a second threshold, increase heating when at least one inter-beat interval is less than the first threshold, and increase cooling when at least one inter-beat interval is greater than the second threshold.
Variation-threshold switching between temperature setpoint and occupant comfort correlation
A temperature control system comprising an HVAC system, an ECG signal sensor for an occupant, an environmental sensor sensing environmental data selected from environmental temperature, an ambient temperature, air velocity, sun load and humidity, and an HRV controller configured to receive the ECG signal, identify inter-beat intervals based on the ECG signal, compare a variation in the inter-beat intervals to a predetermined variation threshold, control the HVAC system using a temperature setpoint when the variation is greater than the predetermined variation threshold, and control the HVAC system using a correlation between the inter-beat intervals and comfort of the occupant when the variation is less than the predetermined variation threshold.
N-dimensional HRV comfort classification model based on N HRV parameters
A temperature control system comprising an HVAC system, an ECG signal sensor for an occupant, an environmental sensor sensing environmental data selected from environmental temperature, an ambient temperature, air velocity, sun load and humidity, and an HRV controller configured to receive the ECG signal, identify inter-beat intervals based on the ECG signal, control the HVAC system based on the inter-beat intervals and the environmental data, generate N HRV parameters based on the inter-beat intervals where N is an integer greater than one, and use a comfort classification model defined in a N-dimensional HRV parameter space.
Ecg-derived inter-beat interval threshold logic for heating and cooling
A method for controlling temperature in an environment comprising controlling temperature using an HVAC system, generating an ECG signal for an occupant, generating environmental data selected from environmental temperature, an ambient temperature, humidity, sun load and air velocity, identifying inter-beat intervals based on the ECG signal, controlling the HVAC system based on the inter-beat intervals and the environmental data, comparing the inter-beat intervals to a first threshold and a second threshold where the first threshold is less than the second threshold, increasing heating when at least one inter-beat interval is less than the first threshold, and increasing cooling when at least one inter-beat interval is greater than the second threshold.
N HRV parameter comfort classification model in N-dimensional HRV parameter space
A method for controlling temperature in an environment comprising controlling temperature using an HVAC system, generating an ECG signal for an occupant, generating environmental data selected from environmental temperature, an ambient temperature, humidity, sun load and air velocity, identifying inter-beat intervals based on the ECG signal, controlling the HVAC system based on the inter-beat intervals and the environmental data, generating N heart rate variability (HRV) parameters based on the inter-beat intervals where N is an integer greater than one, and using a comfort classification model defined in a N-dimensional HRV parameter space.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on controlling an HVAC system using ECG-derived inter-beat intervals and environmental data, switching heating/cooling or control strategy based on thresholds or inter-beat interval variation, and defining occupant comfort using an N-dimensional HRV parameter space with a comfort classification model.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Vehicle temperature control using a temperature control system together with a telematics system, where N HRV parameters, environmental data, and manual setpoint changes are transmitted to a remote classification training system and an updated comfort classification model is received via telematics.
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