TAMPER PROOF THERMOSTAT THAT LIMITS TEMPERATURE CONTROLS

• US 20120286051A1
• Filed: 05/06/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chicago Controls, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chicago Controls Thermostats, Inc.
• Inventors: Lyle, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,201,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/47
• 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 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

A thermostat includes: a controller adapted to control the function of an associated HVAC system; and user controls adapted to provide instructions to the controller including selecting between heating functions and cooling functions, wherein the controller is limited by a maximum temperature when heating functions are selected and limited by a minimum temperature when the cooling functions are selected, wherein the maximum temperature is a lower temperature than the minimum temperature.

Claims

1. A thermostat comprising:

a controller adapted to control the function of an associated HVAC system; and

user controls adapted to provide instructions to the controller including selecting between heating functions and cooling functions, wherein the controller is limited by a maximum temperature when heating functions are selected and limited by a minimum temperature when the cooling functions are selected, wherein the maximum temperature is a lower temperature than the minimum temperature.

2. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the controller is hardware limited.

3. The thermostat of claim 1 further wherein the controller is configured to control the associated HVAC system according to a fixed schedule including a plurality of time segments wherein within each time segment is an associated fixed temperature.

4. The thermostat of claim 3 further wherein the controller allows a user to temporarily override the associated fixed temperature with a selected temporary temperature.

5. The thermostat of claim 4 wherein the controller reverts the selected temporary temperature to the associated fixed temperature at the start of a subsequent time segment.

6. The thermostat of claim 4 wherein the controller reverts the selected temporary temperature to the associated fixed temperature after a specified duration of time.

7. The thermostat of claim 1 further including a wireless communication device in communication with the controller.

8. The thermostat of claim 7 wherein the wireless communication device is adapted to receive a time signal broadcast that it communicates to the controller.