Apparatus and Method for Control of a Thermostat
First Claim
1. A controller for activating a switching device to apply electrical power to a heating element, the controller comprising:
- a processor configured to receive, from a temperature sensor, a temperature signal indicative of an ambient temperature of a fluid within a space, to determine a temperature delta value indicative of a difference between the ambient temperature and a set point temperature, and to determine an offset based on an average duty cycle of a switching device for a predetermined number of historical time intervals;
wherein the processor is configured to calculate a duty cycle for controlling the switching device based on the temperature delta value and the offset and to activate the switching device according to the calculated duty cycle, to thereby control the extent of electrical power applied to the heating element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Controllers and methods for activating a switching device to apply electrical power to a heating element are provided. One example controller includes a temperature sensor disposed within the fluid and configured to sense an ambient temperature of the fluid, a switching device configured to apply electrical power to a heating element, and a processor coupled to the temperature sensor and the switching device. The processor is configured to determine a temperature delta value based on the sensed ambient temperature from the temperature sensor and a set point temperature, to determine an offset based on an average duty cycle of a switching device for a predetermined number of historical time intervals, and to calculate a duty cycle based on the temperature delta value and the offset.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A controller for activating a switching device to apply electrical power to a heating element, the controller comprising:
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a processor configured to receive, from a temperature sensor, a temperature signal indicative of an ambient temperature of a fluid within a space, to determine a temperature delta value indicative of a difference between the ambient temperature and a set point temperature, and to determine an offset based on an average duty cycle of a switching device for a predetermined number of historical time intervals; wherein the processor is configured to calculate a duty cycle for controlling the switching device based on the temperature delta value and the offset and to activate the switching device according to the calculated duty cycle, to thereby control the extent of electrical power applied to the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A controller for activating a switching device to apply electrical power to a heating element for heating a fluid within a space, the controller comprising:
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a temperature sensor disposed within the fluid and configured to sense an ambient temperature of the fluid; a switching device configured to apply electrical power to a heating element; and a processor coupled to the temperature sensor and the switching device, the processor configured to determine a temperature delta value based on the sensed ambient temperature from the temperature sensor and a set point temperature, to determine an offset based on an average duty cycle of a switching device for a predetermined number of historical time intervals, and to calculate a duty cycle based on the temperature delta value and the offset; wherein the processor is configured to activate the switching device according to the calculated duty cycle, to thereby control the extent of electrical power applied to the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for activating a switching device to apply electrical power to a heating element, the method comprising:
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receiving, from a temperature sensor, a temperature signal indicative of an ambient temperature of a fluid within a space; determining, at a processor, a temperature delta value indicative of a difference between the ambient temperature and a set point temperature; determining, at the processor, an offset based on an average duty cycle of a switching device for a predetermined number of historical time intervals; calculating a duty cycle for controlling the switching device based on the temperature delta value and the offset; and activating the switching device according to the calculated duty cycle, to thereby control the extent of electrical power applied to the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification