THERMOSTAT WITH INTEGRATED CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) SENSOR

• US 20120251963A1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Barker, Kimberly Ann
• Application Number:
  US13/077,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20120251963A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 432/1
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/38 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2900/05001 Measuring CO content in flue gas
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2900/05002 Measuring CO2 content in flue gas
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/003 using detectors sensitive to combustion gas properties F23N5/02, F23N5/18 - F23N5/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/022 using electronic means F23N5/04 - F23N5/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/242 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

A thermostat control device is disclosed. The thermostat control device includes a temperature sensor, a cartridge sensor and a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the cartridge sensor. The controller further includes a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing processor executable instructions configured to: generate a furnace control signal in response to a temperature sensor signal; analyze a cartridge sensor signal received from the cartridge sensor against a threshold; and generate, if the cartridge sensor signal exceeds the threshold, an emergency furnace shutdown signal.

Claims

1. A thermostat control device comprising:

a temperature sensor;

a cartridge sensor;

a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the cartridge sensor, the controller comprising;

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing processor executable instructions configured to;

generate a furnace control signal in response to a temperature sensor signal;

analyze a cartridge sensor signal received from the cartridge sensor against a threshold; and

generate, if the cartridge sensor signal exceeds the threshold, an emergency furnace shutdown signal.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a touch screen display in communication with the controller, the touch screen display configured to;

display at least one piece of sensor data; and

receive a control input to alter the furnace control signal.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless communication module in communication with the controller, wherein the wireless communication module is configured for communication with one or more safety devices.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to communication according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of:

IEEE 802.11 (WiFi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMax), IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee) and Bluetooth.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the cartridge sensor signal is received from one of the safety devices via the wireless communication module.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor signal is received from one of the safety devices via the wireless communication module.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the cartridge sensor includes a carbon dioxide sensor cartridge.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the carbon monoxide sensor includes a removable sensor cartridge.

15. The device of claim 8 further comprising:

a carbon monoxide sensor, wherein the carbon monoxide sensor includes a removable sensor cartridge.

9. A thermostat control system comprising:

a thermostat device comprising;

a temperature sensor;

a communication module; and

a controller configured to;

generate a furnace control signal in response to a temperature sensor signal;

analyze a carbon monoxide sensor signal received, via the communication module, from the carbon monoxide sensor with respect to a threshold; and

generate, if the carbon monoxide sensor signal exceeds the threshold, an emergency furnace shutdown signal;

a safety device in communication with the thermostat device, the safety comprising;

a carbon monoxide sensor; and

a communication module configured to communicate the carbon monoxide sensor signal to communication module portion of the thermostat device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the safety device further comprises:

a temperature sensor, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate the temperature signal to communication module portion of the thermostat device.

11. The device of claim 9 further comprising:

a touch screen display in communication with the controller, the touch screen display configured to;

display at least one piece of sensor data; and

receive a control input to alter the furnace control signal.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the communication module is a wireless communication module in communication with the controller, wherein the wireless communication module is configured for communication with the safety device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to communication according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of:

IEEE 802.11 (WiFi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMax), IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee) and Bluetooth.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the carbon monoxide sensor includes a removable sensor cartridge.

16. A method of residential environmental control in a building utilizing a thermostat in communication with an environmental control device and a sensing device wherein the thermostat is disposed within the building, the method comprising:

analyzing a temperature control signal, wherein the temperature control signal represents a physical temperature substantially adjacent to the thermostat;

generating an environmental control signal in response to the received temperature sensor signal, wherein the environmental control signal is provided to the environmental control device;

receiving, at the thermostat, a sensor signal from the sensing device;

analyzing the received sensor signal with respect to a threshold; and

generating, if the received sensor signal exceeds the threshold, an emergency environmental control shutdown signal, wherein the environmental control signal is provided to the environmental control device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensor signal is a carbon monoxide signal.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein analyzing the temperature control signal comprises wirelessly receiving the temperature control signal from the sensing device, wherein the sensing device is in wireless communication with the thermostat.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein analyzing the temperature control signal comprises receiving the temperature control signal from the sensing device via a communication bus provided within the thermostat.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the environmental control device is selected from the group consisting of:

a furnace;

an air conditioning unit and a ventilation unit.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensing device is a carbon monoxide sensor.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the carbon monoxide sensor include a replaceable cartridge.