THERMOSTAT CAPABLE OF DISPLAYING RECEIVED INFORMATION

• US 20090045263A1
• Filed: 10/13/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Miles, Ron, Carey, Steven L., Mueller, Carl J., Vogel, G. Scott, Garozzo, James P., Sartain, John M., Fredricks, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,703,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/51
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24048 Remote test, monitoring, diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24102 Display status of controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

A thermostat for controlling a climate control system is provided that comprises a network interface for establishing an internet connection with a website of a remote service provider, and a microprocessor for controlling the operation of a climate control system. The microprocessor is in communication with the network interface for establishing an internet connection and receiving user-specified information from a remote service provider that maintains a user-profile of information requested by the user. The thermostat further comprises a display device responsive to the microprocessor for displaying user-specified information received via the network controller from the remote service provider.

Claims

1. A thermostat for controlling a climate control system, comprising:

a network interface for establishing an internet connection with a website of a remote service provider;

a microprocessor for controlling the operation of a climate control system, the microprocessor being in communication with the network interface for periodically establishing an internet connection and receiving user-specified information from a remote service provider that maintains a user-profile of information requested by the user, which information comprises weather information including the day'"'"'s forecasted temperature; and

a display device responsive to the microprocessor for displaying user-specified information including the day'"'"'s forecasted temperature received via the network controller from the remote service provider.

2. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the network interface is adapted to establish an internet connection through a dial up modem and phone line.

3. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the network interface is adapted to establish a wireless internet connection through a WiFi 802.11b wireless router.

4. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the user specific information comprises at least weather forecast information of a high temperature and a low temperature, which align with weather forecast headings on the display device.

5. The thermostat of claim 1 where upon the thermostat establishing connection with the remote service provider, the remoter service provider responds to the thermostat'"'"'s identification by providing a data message containing user-specified information.

6. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the user-profile comprises a request by the user for specific information, which the remote service provider prepares and provides to the thermostat when the thermostat establishes connection with the remote service provider.

7. A thermostat for controlling a climate control system, comprising:

a network interface for establishing an internet connection with a website of a remote service provider;

a microprocessor for controlling the operation of a climate control system, the microprocessor being in communication with the network interface for establishing an internet connection and receiving a data package that includes a stored temperature value from the remote service provider that the user subscribes to, wherein the microprocessor temporarily changes the temperature set point to the requested stored temperature value for a predetermined time period; and

a display device responsive to the microprocessor for displaying the temperature value received from the remote service provider, wherein the user of the thermostat may respond to the change in set point to the received temperature value displayed on the display device by adjusting the temperature set point to override the set point temperature value received from the remote service provider.

8. The thermostat of claim 7 wherein the subscriber to the service provider may remotely access the service provider'"'"'s website using a computer and enter a requested temperature value to be provided to the user'"'"'s thermostat when the thermostat establishes connection with the service provider, for temporarily changing the set point temperature of the user'"'"'s thermostat.

9. A thermostat for controlling a climate control system, comprising:

a network interface for establishing an internet connection with a website of a remote service provider;

a microprocessor for controlling the operation of a climate control system, the microprocessor being in communication with the network interface for establishing an internet connection, and for receiving specific information from a remote service provider that maintains a user-profile of subscriber-specified information and a stored temperature value, wherein the microprocessor temporarily changes the temperature set point to the requested stored temperature value for a predetermined time period;

a display device responsive to the microprocessor for displaying the user-specified information and temperature value requested and received from the remote service provider, wherein the user of the thermostat may respond to the change in set point to the received temperature value displayed on the display device by adjusting the temperature set point to override the set point temperature value received from the remote service provider.

10. The thermostat of claim 9 wherein a utility provider may remotely submit a requested setback temperature value to the service provider, to be provided to the subscriber'"'"'s thermostat when the thermostat establishes connection with the service provider to temporarily changing the thermostat'"'"'s set point temperature for reducing energy consumption during peak demand periods.

11. The thermostat of claim 10 wherein the thermostat displays the utility'"'"'s requested set back temperature on the display device.

12. The thermostat of claim 11 wherein the user may manually override the utility'"'"'s set back temperature by pressing user-inputs for adjusting the temperature set point to a user desired temperature.

14. The thermostat of claim 9, wherein the microprocessor establishes an internet connection and receives a data package that includes a temporary stored temperature value that is entered by the user through the user profile provided by the remote service provider, and temporarily changes the current set-point temperature to the received temperature value for a temporary predetermined time period.

13. A thermostat for a climate control system comprising:

a display device having a plurality of segmented characters configured to display alphanumeric symbols for displaying text; and

a microprocessor in communication with the display device, the microprocessor being configured to display a text message of any length configured to display a text message of any length, and to communicate a portion of the text message to the display device for display thereon, wherein the microprocessor iteratively communicates portions of the text message to the display device to provide a scrolling marquee for displaying the text message in its entirety.