Programmable Communicating Thermostat And System
First Claim
1. A distributed power line communicating thermostat control system comprising:
- a HVAC system transformer adapted for lowering primary alternating current power voltage within a building to secondary alternating current power voltage for an HVAC system, the transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding;
a capacitor electrically connected across the primary winding and secondary winding of the HVAC system transformer, the capacitor assisting in analog transference of a power line communication radio frequency signal across the HVAC system transformer;
a programmable thermostat electrically connectable to the HVAC system transformer for being powered by the secondary alternating current power voltage at a distributed distance from the HVAC system transformer;
the programmable thermostat comprising;
a power line communication reception/transmission system for receiving the power line communication radio frequency signal from the secondary alternating current power voltage lines and for deriving control instructions from the received power line communication radio frequency signal, and for transmitting a radio frequency response signal onto the secondary alternating current power voltage lines based upon response information; and
a control processor programmed to change thermostat functions based upon control instructions from the power line communication reception system, the control processor also programmed to provide response information to the power line communication reception/transmission system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A programmable thermostat has two way communication with a utility using a power carrier line signal across distributed low voltage power lines in a building downstream of an HVAC system transformer. The two way PLC communication includes transmission to the utility of response information regarding the response taken by the thermostat to a power “shed” command, and preferably also includes sensed temperature and/or temperature set point information. The HVAC system transformer includes an integral capacitive bypass path for PLC data transmission across the windings of the transformer. The thermostat positions its temperature sensor to avoid heat given off by the PLC receiver/transmitter and its electrical circuits as well as the thermostat microprocessor and the electrical power circuits therefore.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A distributed power line communicating thermostat control system comprising:
-
a HVAC system transformer adapted for lowering primary alternating current power voltage within a building to secondary alternating current power voltage for an HVAC system, the transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a capacitor electrically connected across the primary winding and secondary winding of the HVAC system transformer, the capacitor assisting in analog transference of a power line communication radio frequency signal across the HVAC system transformer; a programmable thermostat electrically connectable to the HVAC system transformer for being powered by the secondary alternating current power voltage at a distributed distance from the HVAC system transformer;
the programmable thermostat comprising;a power line communication reception/transmission system for receiving the power line communication radio frequency signal from the secondary alternating current power voltage lines and for deriving control instructions from the received power line communication radio frequency signal, and for transmitting a radio frequency response signal onto the secondary alternating current power voltage lines based upon response information; and a control processor programmed to change thermostat functions based upon control instructions from the power line communication reception system, the control processor also programmed to provide response information to the power line communication reception/transmission system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A power line communicating programmable thermostat comprising:
-
a power line communication reception/transmission system for receiving the power line communication radio frequency signal on low voltage lines and for deriving control instructions from the received power line communication radio frequency signal, and for transmitting a radio frequency response signal onto the secondary alternating current power voltage lines based upon response information; a temperature sensor; an output for controlling HVAC equipment; a control processor programmed to change thermostat functions based upon sensed temperature and based upon control instructions from the power line communication reception system, the control processor also programmed to provide response information to the power line communication reception/transmission system; and power circuits for the programmable thermostat, the power circuits operating on a HVAC system voltage less than 120 volts, wherein the temperature sensor, the control processor, power circuits for the programmable thermostat and the power line communication reception/transmission system are mounted in a housing, with the temperature sensor positioned in the housing lower than the control processor, the power circuits and the power line communication reception/transmission system so as to sense ambient air temperature while minimizing error introduced from heat generated by the control processor, the power circuits and the power line communication reception/transmission system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification