Programmable Thermostat

• US 20100308120A1
• Filed: 08/18/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Drew, David Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,770,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/46R
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1951 with control of the working time of a temperature controlling device

Abstract

A thermostat for a climate control system includes an electronic memory in which at least three occupancy settings are stored. The occupancy settings including a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point associated with an unoccupied state, a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point associated with an occupied-awake state and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point associated with an occupied-asleep state. The thermostat'"'"'s microprocessor is configured to communicate with the memory, and to establish at least three time periods during the day. The microprocessor assigns to each time period one of at least three user-selectable occupancy states including an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state and an occupied-asleep state. The microprocessor controls operation of the climate control system to maintain the unoccupied temperature set-point during any time period assigned the unoccupied state, the occupied temperature set-point during any time period assigned the occupied-awake state, and the sleep temperature set-point to any time period assigned the occupied-asleep state.

Claims

1. A thermostat for a heating and/or air conditioning system, comprising:

an electronic memory in which at least three occupancy settings are stored, the at least three occupancy settings including a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point associated with an unoccupied state, a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point associated with an occupied-awake state and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point associated with an occupied-asleep state;

a microprocessor configured to control operation of a heating and/or air conditioner system for a space and to communicate with the electronic memory, the microprocessor being configured to establish at least three time periods during the day and to assign to each of the time periods one of at least three user-selectable occupancy states including an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state and an occupied-asleep state, wherein the microprocessor controls operation of the climate control system as needed to maintain the unoccupied temperature set-point during any time period assigned the unoccupied state, and to maintain the occupied temperature set-point during any time period assigned the occupied-awake state, and to maintain the sleep temperature set-point to any time period assigned the occupied-asleep state.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the occupancy states including the unoccupied state, the occupied-awake state and the occupied-asleep state are selectable by a user for each of the at least three or more time periods during the day.

3. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the thermostat does not permit a user to enter a numerical temperature set-point value, and only permits selection of the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point and the pre-defined sleep temperature set-point.

4. The thermostat of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor controls operation of the heating and/or air conditioner system to maintain only one of the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point or the pre-defined sleep temperature set-point.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the at least three time periods during the day are adjustable.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the at least three occupancy states for the at least three time periods during the day are selectable for each day of the week.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point and pre-defined asleep temperature set-point are both off-set at least 3 degrees relative to the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point.

8. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point, and the pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are default values that are stored in a memory of the thermostat.

9. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, pre-defined occupied temperature set-point, and pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are adjustable by a user of the thermostat.

10. A thermostat for a heating and/or air conditioning system, comprising:

an electronic memory device in which three or more occupancy settings are stored, wherein the occupancy settings include a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point associated with an unoccupied state, a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point associated with an occupied-awake state and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point associated with an occupied-asleep state;

a microprocessor in communication with the electronic memory, being configured to control operation of an heating and/or air conditioner system to maintain a temperature set point for a space, the microprocessor including

a read-only-memory encoded with instructions operable to designate, for each of three or more time periods during the day, one of at least three user-selectable occupancy states including an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state and an occupied-asleep state, wherein the encoded instructions are operable to assign the unoccupied temperature set-point to each time period designated as said unoccupied state, the occupied temperature set-point to each time period designated as said occupied-awake state, and the sleep temperature set-point to each time period designated as said occupied-asleep state;

wherein the microprocessor controls operation of the heating and/or air conditioner system during each of the at least three time periods to maintain only one of the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point or the pre-defined sleep temperature set-point.

11. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the occupancy states including the unoccupied state, the occupied-awake state and the occupied-asleep state are selectable by a user for each of the at least three or more time periods during the day.

12. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the at least three time periods during the day are adjustable.

13. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the at least three occupancy states for the at least three time periods during the day are selectable for each day of the week.

14. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point and pre-defined asleep temperature set-point are both off-set at least 3 degrees relative to the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point.

15. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point, and the pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are default values that are stored in a memory of the thermostat.

16. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, pre-defined occupied temperature set-point, and pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are adjustable by a user of the thermostat.

17. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the electronic memory device includes stored occupancy settings specific to a cooling mode of operation, which include a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point of 79 degrees Fahrenheit or less that is associated with an occupied-awake state, a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit that is associated with an unoccupied state, and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit that is associated with an occupied-asleep state.

18. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the electronic memory device includes stored occupancy settings specific to a heating mode of operation, which include a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point of 70 degrees Fahrenheit or more that is associated with an occupied-awake state, a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point of 69 degrees Fahrenheit or less that is associated with an unoccupied state, and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point of 69 degrees Fahrenheit or less that is associated with an occupied-asleep state.

19. A method of programming settings for a thermostat, the method comprising:

storing a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point associated with an unoccupied state, a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point associated with an occupied-awake state and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point associated with an occupied-asleep state;

displaying one of at least three time periods within a day, in which to select from at least three user-selectable occupancy states including an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state and an occupied-asleep state;

selecting one of an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state and an occupied-asleep state for each of the at least three time periods in the day; and

establishing thermostat operation to maintain only the occupied temperature set-point during any time period assigned the occupied-awake state, and only the unoccupied temperature set-point during any time period assigned the unoccupied state, and only the sleep temperature set-point during any time period assigned the occupied-asleep state.

20. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of selecting one of an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state and an occupied-asleep state for each of at least three time periods for two or more days of the week.