Thermostat

• US 20080264085A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Sartain, John M., Perry, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,793,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/176.6
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

Various thermostat embodiment are provided that includes at least a first sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the temperature within the space, and at least a second sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the humidity within the space. The thermostat further includes a controller in communication with the at least first and second sensors, for controlling the thermostat'"'"'s operation. The controller is configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature of the space is above a temperature set-point or when the sensed humidity level is above the humidity set-point. The controller is further configured to operate in a second mode in which the controller operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature is below a set-back temperature set-point, or when the sensed humidity is above a set-back humidity set-point.

Claims

1. A programmable thermostat for controlling the operation of at least an air conditioner for conditioning a space, the thermostat comprising:

at least a first sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the temperature within the space;

at least a second sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the humidity within the space;

a controller in communication with the at least first and second sensors, for controlling the thermostat'"'"'s operation;

the controller being configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller operates the air conditioner when either the sensed temperature of the space is above a temperature set-point or when the sensed humidity level is above the humidity set-point, and being configured to operate in a second mode in which the controller only operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature is above a set-back temperature set-point, or when the sensed humidity level is above a set-back humidity set-point.

2. The programmable thermostat of claim 1, wherein the set-back temperature set-point for controlling air conditioner operation in the second mode of operation is at least 5 degrees higher than the temperature set-point of the first mode of operation.

3. The programmable thermostat of claim 1, wherein the set-back humidity set-point for controlling air conditioner operation in the second mode of operation is more than a predetermined amount above the humidity set-point of the first mode of operation.

4. The programmable thermostat of claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount is at least a value of 15 percent relative humidity or more.

5. The programmable thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processor switches from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on programmed time period settings selected by the user of the thermostat.

6. The programmable thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the operation of the blower at either a full capacity level or a less than full capacity level.

7. The programmable thermostat of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to control the operation of the compressor at either a full capacity level or a less than full capacity level.

8. The programmable thermostat of claim 7, wherein the processor operates the compressor at less than full capacity and the blower at less than full capacity when the sensed temperature is above the temperature set point and the sensed humidity is below the desired humidity set point.

9. A programmable thermostat for controlling the operation at least an air conditioner for conditioning a space, the thermostat comprising:

at least a first sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the temperature within the space;

at least a second sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the humidity within the space;

a controller in communication with the at least first and second sensors, for controlling the thermostat'"'"'s operation, the controller being configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller operates the air conditioner when either the sensed temperature of the space is above a temperature set-point or when the sensed humidity level is above a humidity set-point, and being configured to operate in a second mode in which the controller only operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature is above a set-back temperature set-point, regardless of whether the sensed humidity is above the humidity set point.

10. The programmable thermostat of claim 9, wherein the set-back temperature set-point for controlling air conditioner operation in the second mode of operation is at least 5 degrees higher than the temperature set-point of the first mode of operation.

11. The programmable thermostat of claim 9, wherein the processor switches from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on programmed time period settings selected by the user of the thermostat.

12. The programmable thermostat of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to control the operation of the blower at either a full capacity level or a less that full capacity level.

13. The programmable thermostat of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to control the operation of the compressor at either a full capacity level or a less that full capacity level.

14. The programmable thermostat of claim 13, wherein the processor operates the compressor at less than full capacity and the blower at less than full capacity when the sensed temperature is above the temperature set point and the sensed humidity is below the desired humidity set point.

15. A programmable thermostat for controlling at least an air conditioner system having an indoor blower capable of operating at a full capacity level and a less than full capacity level, the programmable thermostat comprising:

at least a first sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the temperature within the space;

at least a second sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the humidity within the space;

a controller in communication with the at least first and second sensors, for controlling the thermostat'"'"'s operation;

the controller being configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller either establishes air conditioner operation with the blower at full capacity when the sensed temperature of the space is above a temperature set-point, or air conditioner operation with the blower at less than full capacity when the sensed humidity level is above the humidity set-point, the controller being further configured to operate in a second mode in which the controller only establishes air conditioner operation with the blower at full capacity when only the sensed temperature is above a set-back temperature set-point, such that the space is cooled at a greater rate to thereby shorten the time required to lower the sensed temperature to the set-back temperature set-point.

16. The programmable thermostat of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured in the second mode to establish air conditioner operation with the blower at reduced capacity when the sensed humidity level is above a set-back humidity set-point.

17. The programmable thermostat of claim 16, wherein the set-back humidity set-point for controlling air conditioner operation in the second mode of operation is more than a predetermined amount above the humidity set-point of the first mode of operation.

18. The programmable thermostat of claim 17, wherein the predetermined amount is at least a value of 15 percent relative humidity or more.

19. A method of controlling the operation of thermostat for an air conditioner having a variable speed compressor and blower, a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing the temperature of the space to be maintained;

sensing the humidity level of the space to be maintained;

determining if the sensed humidity level is above the desired humidity set point;

determining if the sensed temperature is above the temperature set point but less than a predetermined amount above the temperature set point;

responsively establishing operation of the compressor at full capacity and operation of the blower at less than full capacity when the sensed humidity is above the desired humidity set point, and when the sensed temperature is above the temperature set point but less than a predetermined amount above the temperature set point.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of establishing operation of the compressor at full capacity and the blower at full capacity when the sensed temperature rises more than a predetermined amount above the temperature set point.