Automatic temperature and humidity regulation – High and low temperature alternate
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2001-07-17
Wayner, William (Department: 3744)
Automatic temperature and humidity regulation
High and low temperature alternate
C236S051000, C340S870030, C379S102050
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260765
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is generally directed to thermostats. More particularly, the invention is directed to a thermostat that is remotely controllable by a radio frequency or telephone link.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heating and cooling systems in most homes are controlled by a thermostat which is set to a threshold temperature. In heating mode, when the room temperature drops below the threshold temperature, the heating system is activated to heat the home. In cooling mode, when the room temperature rises above the threshold temperature, the cooling system is activated to cool the home.
To save energy, it is desirable to adjust the thermostat's threshold temperature to an offset temperature when the occupants of the home are away. For example, significant energy savings may result by using an offset temperature of 10 degrees below the normal threshold temperature for the heating mode, or 10 degrees above the normal threshold temperature for the cooling mode.
In order to realize the potential energy savings of an offsetable thermostat, offset temperatures must be easy to initially program into the thermostat, and easy to activate once programmed. If the programming and use of an offsetable thermostat is not easy and intuitive, users are likely to become frustrated with it and not use it, thus forgoing possible energy and money savings.
Also, there are often times when a user intends to activate a temperature offset before leaving home, but forgets to do so until the user is a long distance from home. Sometimes, the user remembers to activate the temperature offset while leaving the home, such as when getting in the car to drive away. In such situations, it is desirable to be able to remotely activate the offset temperature, such as from the car while backing out of the driveway of the home, or from a hotel room that is hundreds of miles away from the home.
Therefore, a thermostat is needed that provides offset temperatures for energy savings, that is easy to program and operate, and that may be operated remotely, either from a few feet away or a few hundred miles away.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other needs are met by a thermostat system for controlling activation of a temperature management system based on a temperature of an air space. The thermostat system is operable in an energy-savings mode for enhancing energy savings and in a comfort mode for enhancing comfort, where the operating mode is selectable by a user. The thermostat system includes operating mode control circuitry for switching between an energy-savings state and a comfort state, where the energy-savings state corresponds to system operation in the energy-savings mode and the comfort state corresponds to system operation in the comfort mode. The operating mode switching circuitry includes a manual mode control operable to cause the operating mode switching circuit to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states when pressed by the user. The operating mode switching circuitry also includes a wireless receiver for receiving a wireless mode switching signal that causes the operating mode switching circuitry to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states. The operating mode switching circuitry further includes telephone communication circuitry for receiving a telephonic mode switching signal that causes the operating mode switching circuitry to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states.
Thus, the present invention offers at least three convenient ways for the user to switch between energy-savings and comfort modes of operation. A manual switch is provided on the thermostat housing, a wireless receiver is provided to allow the user to switch modes from a few feet to a few hundred feet away, and telephone communication circuitry is provided to allow the user to switch modes from practically anywhere in the world.
The thermostat system includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the air space and for producing a sensed temperature signal based on the temperature of the air space. A manual temperature set point adjustment control is used to select, based on manual adjustments made by an operator, a comfort high temperature set point value representing a comfort high temperature set point, and a comfort low temperature set point value representing a comfort low temperature set point. The manual temperature set point adjustment circuit is also used to select an energy-savings high temperature set point value representing an energy-savings high temperature set point, and an energy-savings low temperature set point value representing an energy-savings low temperature set point. The thermostat system includes a memory device for storing the comfort high and low temperature set point values and the energy-savings high and low temperature set point values.
The thermostat system also includes a controller for receiving the sensed temperature signal and the state of the operating mode switching circuitry, and for accessing the comfort high and low temperature set point values and the energy-savings high and low temperature set point values from the memory device. Based on the sensed temperature signal, the state of the operating mode switching circuitry, and the temperature set point values, the controller activates the temperature management system to heat or cool the air space. Preferably, the controller activates the temperature management system to heat the air space when the operating mode switching circuitry is in the energy-savings state, and the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is less than the energy-savings low temperature set point. The controller also activates the temperature management system to heat the air space when the operating mode switching circuitry is in the comfort state, and the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is less than the comfort low temperature set point. The controller activates the temperature management system to cool the air space when the operating mode switching circuitry is in the energy-savings state, and the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is greater than the energy-savings high temperature set point. The controller also activates the temperature management system to cool the air space when the operating mode control means is in the comfort state, and the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is greater than the comfort high temperature set point.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, the controller produces an under-temperature signal when the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is less than a minimum temperature and an over-temperature signal when the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is greater than a maximum temperature. When the under-temperature or over-temperature signal is produced, the telephone communication circuit generates a notification telephone signal. The telephone communication circuit communicates the notification telephone signal by placing a telephone call to a telephone number of a designated receiving telephone.
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Digi-Log Technologies Inc
Boling Brian M.
Natale Nicholas A.
American Secure Care, LLC
Luedeka Neely & Graham P.C.
Wayner William
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