Automatic temperature and humidity regulation – With timing element – Timer other than clock
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-25
2003-11-11
Wayner, William (Department: 3743)
Automatic temperature and humidity regulation
With timing element
Timer other than clock
C236S051000, C340S870030, C713S152000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06644557
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to thermostat security systems and more specifically to a thermostat security system that is access controlled to prevent unauthorized changing of temperature settings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other thermostat security systems. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,286 issued to Linton on Jan. 9, 1979.
Another patent was issued to Fodera on Sep. 13, 1983 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,646. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,951 was issued to Poulin on May 12, 1987 and still yet another was issued on Jun. 27, 1989 to Parker et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,084.
Another patent was issued to Parker et al. on Nov. 28, 1989 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,214. Another patent was issued to Smith et al on Jun. 25, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,230. Another patent was issued to Johnson et al. on Oct. 28, 1997 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,475. Another patent was issued to Ratcliffe et al on Nov. 4, 1997 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,949. Another patent was issued to Lawrence on May 1, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,993 B1. Another patent was issued to Kline et al. on Jun 5, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,156 B1. Another patent was issued to Natale et al. on Jul. 17, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,765 B1.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,286
Inventor: Jonathan L. Linton
Issued: Jan. 9, 1979
An adjustable thermostat as disclosed having an adjustment stem journaled for rotation on the thermostat body for adjusting the operating temperature of the thermostat. Mounted on the adjusting stem is a pointer member formed of deformable material such as Nylon and providing a peripheral surface which engages with interference stationary surfaces on the thermostat body. Interengagement is provided between the peripheral surface and the stationary surfaces which causes deformation of the pointer member and creates friction resisting rotation of the pointer and of the adjusting stem. A detent-like structure is provided by flats formed on the peripheral surface of the pointer which mate with the corresponding surfaces of the body to tend to lock the pointer and in turn adjusting stem at a predetermined temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,646
Inventor: Anthony W. Fodera
Issued: Sep. 13, 1983
A thermostat device for motels/hotels requiring the guest use a key to select a desired room temperature which in turn requires that the thermostat must be set back to a preset temperature when guest desires to lock the door to his motel/hotel room upon leaving the room.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,951
Inventor: Fernand H. Poulin
Issued: May 12, 1987
A security device for a thermostat comprising a housing for said thermostat, a lid member secured to the housing for movement between an opened position and a closed position, to gain and prevent access to the thermostat, respectively. The thermostat has a rotatable thermostat adjustment shaft extending exteriorly of the housing for manual manipulation thereof. A lock member is mounted in the housing for movement between a first position whereat the lock member lockingly engages the adjustment shaft to prevent rotation thereof and engages the lid member to prevent opening thereof and a second position whereat the lock member is disengaged from the adjustment shaft and the lid member permitting manual manipulation of the shaft or opening of the lid member and a key-operated actuating member disposed in the housing and extending exteriorly of the housing for displacing the lock member between its first and second positions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,084
Inventor: Jeffrey L. Parker, et al.
Issued: Jun. 27, 1989
A microcomputer-controlled thermostat for use in monitoring and controlling a single zone HVAC system which provides conditioned air to one or more zones. The thermostat can be programmed and used either as a monitor thermostat to control the HVAC unit alone and/or to control the HVAC unit and its damper in a multiple zone mode. The thermostat is also programmed as a slave thermostat in a master-slave relationship with a monitor thermostat. The microcomputer memory is supplemented with additional ROM containing control algorithms for use in system operation. Logic circuitry is used to recognize commands as being for operation of the HVAC unit, the operation of the damper, or selection of which systems sensors are to be enabled. A real time clock circuit in the monitor thermostat is used to supply data for time-based system operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,214
Inventor: Jeffrey L. Parker, et al.
Issued: Nov. 28, 1989
A microcomputer-controlled thermostat for use in monitoring and controlling a single zone HVAC system which provides conditioned air to one or more zones. The thermostat can be programmed and used either as a monitor thermostat to control the HVAC unit alone and/or to control the HVAC unit and its damper in a multiple zone mode. The thermostat is also programmed as a slave thermostat in a master-slave relationship with a monitor thermostat. The microcomputer memory is supplemented with additional ROM containing control algorithms for use in system operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,230
Inventor: Andrew M. Smith, et al.
Issued: Jun. 25, 1996
A new variable password safety interlock system for microwave ovens and other computerized or electrical appliance allows the user to dynamically and automatically generate a new password immediately prior to each use. The variable password comprises some prearranged transposition or combination of numbers of digits that were already entered into the microwave control panel by the user. The user first enters digits representing the microwave time, the target food temperature, the microwave power level, the actual time of day on display or some other required combination of digits or microwave console buttons, and then presses the “Start” button. The new value of the variable password for that use of the microwave will be some prearranged transposition or combination of the digits, numbers or buttons that had just previously been pressed by the user and that appeared on the microwave control panel at the moment the user pressed the “Start” button. Preferably, the password is the digits of the microwave heating time just entered by the user but in reverse order. The password does not require memorization and is easy for the user to compute because the numbers are on display to the user. This password safety interlock is child-proof because a young child will be unable to compute the ephemeral and varying password needed to operate the microwave.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,475
Inventor: William J. Johnson, et al.
Issued: Oct. 28, 1997
A method and system are provided for controlling access to a data processing system through the use of a variable password. In one embodiment, the invention substitutes the value of a variable into an expression contained in a predefined password, evaluates the expression and password, and compares the result of the valuation of the password to a character string input to the data processing system, granting access if they are identical. A range of values of certain characters of the password may be permitted. The password may require that certain characters be entered within a defined time interval measured from the entry of other characters. The values of environment variables, which are referenced by the variable password, may change from time to time, as a function, for example, of the current time or temperature or system utilization.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,949
Inventor: Edward L. Ratcliffe, et al.
Issued: Nov. 4, 1997
This document describes an energy management system in which microprocessor based thermostats are used to control individual room temperatures in a multiple room building in accordance with the known occupancy status of the room. The occupancy status information, as well as other control parameters, are transmitted to the thermostats from a central computer program. The control of a heating and cooling appliances is performed by an algorithm running on the electronic thermostat, which performs this function in accordance with these downloaded parame
Kroll Michael I.
Wayner William
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