Thermostat with temporary fan on function

Automatic temperature and humidity regulation – With timing element – Timer other than clock

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C236S049300, C062S231000, C165S244000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06318639

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to thermostats, and in particular, to electronic programmable thermostats having different modes of operation for enabling operation of a climate control system including an air-circulating fan.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electronic digital thermostats typically have one or more programmable modes of fan operation. These modes may include an automatic mode based on temperature-related demands or requirements of the heating/cooling system, a time mode based on the time of day and a continuous mode for continuous operation. These thermostats commonly include user interfaces or programming pads for selecting among the available modes of operation.
A variety of thermostats, including ones with multiple modes of operation, are known in the art for controlling heating/cooling systems and air circulation systems. However, none of the previously available thermostats gave the user the option to turn the fan on, upon demand, for a preselected period.
The ability to turn the fan on and make it operate continuously for a preselected period, regardless of temperature or time, would give the user improved control over the environment. The user could ensure that the fan adequately ventilates the room, independent of temperature and time, and the user need not remain to turn the fan off.
What has been needed is a thermostat with an easily selected mode to operate the fan upon demand for a preselected period (and preferably one of a plurality of preselected periods).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The thermostat of the present invention provides a temporary fan-on mode of operation. The temporary fan-on mode allows the user to select one of a plurality of preselected periods to operate the fan. The fan will turn on upon demand by the user, will run for the preselected period regardless of the temperature or time, and will turn off without intervention by the user.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an improved thermostat is provided for controlling the operation of a climate control system including an air-circulating fan. The thermostat provides at least one of the following user-selectable modes of operating the fan: an automatic mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated based on temperature-related demands of the heating/cooling system; a time mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated based on the time of day; and a continuous mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated continuously. The improvement to the thermostat is a user-selectable temporary fan-on mode of operating the air-circulating fan in which the air-circulating fan is operated upon demand for a preselected period of time. The period of time for operation of the temporary fan-on mode is selectable from a plurality of predetermined periods of time. The temporary fan-on mode of operation preferably can be selected during any other mode of operation and after the expiration of the preselected period of time for temporary fan-on operation, the thermostat returns to the mode of operation of the fan that it should be in based on the programmed schedule of the thermostat.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a thermostat for controlling the operation of a climate control system including an air-circulating fan is provided with a temporary fan-on mode of operation for selectively operating the air circulating fan for a preselected period of time. The temporary fan-on mode is provided in addition to at least one of the following other user-selectable modes of operation: an automatic mode in which the air circulating fan is operated based on temperature-related demands of the heating/cooling system; a time mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated based on the time of day; and a continuous mode in which the air-circulating fans is operated continuously. The time period for the temporary fan-on mode is selected from a plurality of predetermined periods of time. In this aspect, the thermostat preferably includes a control for selecting the temporary fan on mode of operation and a control for preselecting the period of time. The control for preselecting the period of time is a control for preselecting one of a plurality of predetermined periods of time and the control for preselecting the period of time is activated upon operation of the control for selecting the temporary fan-on mode. The control for preselecting one of a plurality of predetermined periods of time scrolls through a series of pre-determined periods of time. The temporary fan-on mode of operation preferably may be selected during any other mode of operation. Additionally, after expiration of the preselected period of time, the thermostat preferably returns to the mode of operation of the fan that it should be in based on the programmed schedule of the thermostat.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for controlling a climate control system that includes an air-circulating fan in which the fan is operated in at least one of an automatic mode wherein the fan is operated based on temperature-related demands of the heating/cooling system; a time mode wherein the fan is operated based on the time of day; and a continuous mode wherein the fan is operated continuously. The method comprises the step of selectively operating the fan in a temporary fan-on mode, with the fan operating for a preselected period of time during the temporary fan-on mode. A further step includes, after expiration of the preselected time, returning the thermostat to the mode of operation of the fan that it should be in based on the programmed schedule of the thermostat. The step of selectively operating the fan in a temporary fan-on mode preferably includes the steps of selecting one of a plurality of predetermined periods of time for the fan-on mode and overriding any other mode of operation upon activation of the temporary fan-on mode.
Therefore, the present invention provides numerous novel features and advantages over prior thermostats. In particular, the invention provides a user selectable temporary fan-on mode of operation to a thermostat. The temporary fan-on mode provides the thermostat with a mode of operation to control a climate control system including an air-circulating fan, such that the fan is operated upon demand for a preselected period of time determined by a user. The temporary fan-on mode provides the user with a quick and easy option to select a specific predetermined period of time for operation of the fan and prevents undesired fan operation, which may occur when a user selects a continuous mode of fan operation and forgets that the thermostat is in the continuous mode.
These and other features and advantages will be in part apparent and in part pointed out in a more detailed description of the various embodiments and aspects of the invention as set out below.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3635044 (1972-01-01), Heth
patent: 4298946 (1981-11-01), Hartsell et al.
patent: 4299096 (1981-11-01), Van Camp
patent: 4838482 (1989-06-01), Vogelzang
patent: 5000382 (1991-03-01), Stedman
patent: 5230482 (1993-07-01), Ratz et al.
patent: 5547017 (1996-08-01), Rudd
patent: 5582233 (1996-12-01), Noto
patent: 5611484 (1997-03-01), Uhrich
patent: 5881806 (1999-03-01), Rudd

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