Systems and Methods for Power Stealing

• US 20130228633A1
• Filed: 03/01/2012
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Toth, Bartholomew L., Zhu, Xiaobing
• Granted Patent: US 10,191,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A thermostat includes a power stealing circuit selectively configured to provide power to the thermostat and to circuit(s) ancillary to the thermostat from power source(s) external to the thermostat, without requiring a common or neutral connection between the thermostat and the power source(s). Exemplary embodiments also are disclosed of a climate control system that includes such a thermostat. This thermostat can power-steal off of existing load wires (e.g., a W and/or Y terminal, etc.) and can provide power for a continuous backlight and/or other device (e.g., a remote sensor and/or low-power transceiver, etc.).

Claims

1. A thermostat comprising:

a power stealing circuit selectively configured to provide power to the thermostat and to one or more circuits ancillary to the thermostat from one or more power sources external to the thermostat, without requiring a common or neutral connection between the thermostat and the one or more power sources.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the one or more ancillary circuits comprise one or more of the following:

a back light, a sensor, and a transceiver.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a battery configured to provide alternative power to the one or more ancillary circuits.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a common or neutral connection with the one or more power sources.

5. The thermostat of claim 4, wherein the thermostat is selectively configured to provide power to the one or more ancillary circuits through the common or neutral connection.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the power stealing circuit is selectively configured to provide power to the thermostat and to the one or more circuits ancillary to the thermostat from a single power source external to the thermostat.

7. The thermostat of claim 6, further comprising a battery configured to provide power to the thermostat and to the one or more circuits ancillary to the thermostat when a load of the single power source external to the thermostat is energized.

8. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the power stealing circuit comprises a switch operable to disconnect the power stealing circuit from the one or more external power sources.

9. A climate control system comprising the thermostat and/or power stealing circuit of claim 1.

10. A thermostat comprising:

a power stealing circuit selectively configured to provide power to the thermostat and to one or more circuits ancillary to the thermostat, without requiring a connection of the thermostat to a common or neutral connector of a power source external to the thermostat or to a power source internal to the thermostat.

11. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the one or more ancillary circuits comprise one or more of the following:

a back light, a sensor, and a transceiver.

12. The thermostat of claim 10, further comprising a battery configured to provide alternative power to the one or more ancillary circuits.

13. The thermostat of claim 10, further comprising a connection with a common or neutral connector of the one or more power sources.

14. The thermostat of claim 13, wherein the thermostat is selectively configured to provide power to the one or more ancillary circuits through the common or neutral wire connection.

15. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the power stealing circuit comprises a switch operable to disconnect the power stealing circuit from the one or more external power sources.

16. A climate control system comprising the power stealing circuit and/or thermostat of claim 10.

17. A method of providing climate control, the method comprising:

connecting a thermostat with a climate control system, the thermostat having a power stealing circuit selectively configured to provide power to the thermostat and to one or more climate control system circuits ancillary to the thermostat from a power source external to the thermostat; and

operating the climate control system using the thermostat;

the method performed without having to connect the thermostat, through a common or neutral wire connection, with the external power source.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the climate control system includes a common or neutral wire connection available to the thermostat from the power source external to the thermostat;

the method further comprises connecting the thermostat to the common or neutral wire connection; and

the one or more climate control system circuits ancillary to the thermostat are powered through the common or neutral wire connection.