Automatic temperature and humidity regulation – High and low temperature alternate
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-15
2001-10-23
Wayner, William (Department: 3744)
Automatic temperature and humidity regulation
High and low temperature alternate
C165S238000, C236S094000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305611
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to thermostats having the capability of tracking, recording, and reporting setback information to a remotely located entity.
Thermostats have heretofore received and implemented adjustments to locally programmed setpoints in response to receiving setpoint information from a remotely located source such as an energy provider. An example of such a thermostat is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/456,355 entitled “Communicating Thermostat”. The aforementioned thermostat implements the adjustments to the locally programmed setpoints at such time as the adjustments are scheduled to begin.
The above described thermostat could potentially fail to initiate the adjustments to the locally programmed setpoints if the setpoint information is not timely received. In this regard, the time at which the adjustments were scheduled to start could have already passed. This could happen if there are any unforeseen delays at the energy provider's end in initially transmitting the setpoint information. This could also happen if there is any disruption or delay in the communication link to the thermostat. Such a delay may, for instance, occur if the energy provider is communicating to the thermostat over a phone line that is not dedicated to the thermostat. In this latter case, the phone line could be tied up for long periods of time on other matters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a thermostat with the capability of partially implementing any setback or curtailment request of locally entered setpoints in the event of a delay in the transmission or receipt of the setback or curtailment request.
The above and other objects are achieved by a thermostat having a transceiver associated therewith for receiving setback or curtailment information relative to locally programmed setpoints from a remotely located source. The thermostat is operative to store the information which preferably includes an offset to the currently programmed setpoint as well as a start time for any setback period of operation as well as the length of the setback period. The thermostat is thereafter operative to implement the requested setback at the setback start time or any time thereafter that the setback information is first processed. The thermostat tracks the time during which the thermostat is in the requested setback mode of operation. This tracking of the time includes noting any override of the requested setback which would prematurely terminate the period during which the setback mode of operation is in effect.
The thermostat is moreover operative to maintain a record of previous setback modes of operation implemented by the thermostat whether or not terminated prematurely by an override. The record of the current mode of setback operation as well as any previous setback modes of operation is stored for retrieval by the remotely located entity, which is usually an energy provider seeking an accurate record of actual setback operation of the thermostat. This time record is available at any time, including a time when the thermostat is in a setback mode of operation. The thermostat also preferably allows the requester to clear the accumulated time record or simply read the time record without clearing. In either case, the thermostat preferably continues to track any time during which the thermostat is in a setback mode of operation. This includes the tracking of any remaining time in a current setback mode of operation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5419489 (1995-05-01), Burd
patent: 5462225 (1995-10-01), Massara et al.
Archacki, Jr. Raymond J.
Proffitt Jerry L.
Carrier Corporation
Wayner William
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