HVAC CONTROL SYSTEM WITH INTERCHANGEABLE CONTROL UNITS
First Claim
1. A temperature control system comprising:
- a. one or more temperature sensors for receiving ambient air temperature data;
b. a first docking thermostat comprisinga first housing;
a first user-interface component including a first interactive graphical user interface configured to receive control inputs from a user;
a first microprocessor within said first housing in operative communication with at least a first of said one or more temperature sensors, said first microprocessor in operative communication with said first user-interface component; and
a first electrical connector coupled to said first microprocessor;
c. a second docking thermostat comprising;
a second housing;
a second user-interface component including a second interactive graphical user interface configured to receive control inputs from the user;
a second microprocessor within said second housing in operative communication with at least a second of said one or more temperature sensors, said second microprocessor in operative communication with said second user-interface component;
a second electrical connector coupled to said second microprocessor;
d. a first wireless communication module;
e. a second wireless communication module;
f. a first HVAC docking device configured to mateably and removably receive said first docking thermostat or said second docking thermostat, said first HVAC docking device including a third electrical connector mateable with said first electrical connector associated with said first docking thermostat or with said second electrical connector associated with said second docking thermostat, wherein said first HVAC docking device is coupled to an HVAC system by one or more HVAC wires in wired communication therewith enabling transmission of control signals to said HVAC system and providing a source of AC power to either said first docking thermostat or said second docking thermostat from said one or more HVAC wires;
g. a second docking device configured to mateably and removably receive said second docking thermostat or said first docking thermostat, said second docking device including a fourth electrical connector mateable with said second electrical connector associated with said second docking thermostat or with said first electrical connector associated with said first docking thermostat, wherein said second docking device is not in wired communication with said HVAC system, and wherein said second docking device is configured to couple to a power source other than said one or more HVAC wires leading to said HVAC system;
h. said temperature control system capable of having a first configuration in which said second docking thermostat is mated to said second docking device and said first docking thermostat is mated to said first HVAC docking device, said second docking thermostat can at least partially control said HVAC system by wireless communication with said first docking thermostat, and said first docking thermostat is capable of transmitting control signals to said HVAC system in accordance with instructions communicated from said second docking thermostat; and
i. said temperature control system capable of having a second configuration in which said second docking thermostat is mated to said first HVAC docking device and said first docking thermostat is mated to said second docking device, said first docking thermostat can at least partially control said HVAC system by wireless communication with said second docking thermostat, and said second docking thermostat is capable of transmitting control signals to said HVAC system in accordance with instructions communicated from said first docking thermostat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide a temperature control system having multiple programmable, interchangeable docking thermostats that work cooperatively making it easier for a user to achieve desired temperature control in an enclosure with increased energy efficiency. One embodiment provides first and second docking thermostats each having a microprocessor in communication with at least one or more temperature sensors, an electrical connector connected to the microprocessor and a user interface. Also provided is a first HVAC docking device directly wired to the HVAC wire system and a second docking device that connects to a power source other than the HVAC wire system, where each of the docking devices have an electrical connector mateable to the electrical connector of the docking thermostats. The first and second docking thermostats may interchangeably mate to the docking devices, and either may control the HVAC system to achieve a desired comfort level with increased energy efficiency.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A temperature control system comprising:
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a. one or more temperature sensors for receiving ambient air temperature data; b. a first docking thermostat comprising a first housing; a first user-interface component including a first interactive graphical user interface configured to receive control inputs from a user; a first microprocessor within said first housing in operative communication with at least a first of said one or more temperature sensors, said first microprocessor in operative communication with said first user-interface component; and a first electrical connector coupled to said first microprocessor; c. a second docking thermostat comprising; a second housing; a second user-interface component including a second interactive graphical user interface configured to receive control inputs from the user; a second microprocessor within said second housing in operative communication with at least a second of said one or more temperature sensors, said second microprocessor in operative communication with said second user-interface component; a second electrical connector coupled to said second microprocessor; d. a first wireless communication module; e. a second wireless communication module; f. a first HVAC docking device configured to mateably and removably receive said first docking thermostat or said second docking thermostat, said first HVAC docking device including a third electrical connector mateable with said first electrical connector associated with said first docking thermostat or with said second electrical connector associated with said second docking thermostat, wherein said first HVAC docking device is coupled to an HVAC system by one or more HVAC wires in wired communication therewith enabling transmission of control signals to said HVAC system and providing a source of AC power to either said first docking thermostat or said second docking thermostat from said one or more HVAC wires; g. a second docking device configured to mateably and removably receive said second docking thermostat or said first docking thermostat, said second docking device including a fourth electrical connector mateable with said second electrical connector associated with said second docking thermostat or with said first electrical connector associated with said first docking thermostat, wherein said second docking device is not in wired communication with said HVAC system, and wherein said second docking device is configured to couple to a power source other than said one or more HVAC wires leading to said HVAC system; h. said temperature control system capable of having a first configuration in which said second docking thermostat is mated to said second docking device and said first docking thermostat is mated to said first HVAC docking device, said second docking thermostat can at least partially control said HVAC system by wireless communication with said first docking thermostat, and said first docking thermostat is capable of transmitting control signals to said HVAC system in accordance with instructions communicated from said second docking thermostat; and i. said temperature control system capable of having a second configuration in which said second docking thermostat is mated to said first HVAC docking device and said first docking thermostat is mated to said second docking device, said first docking thermostat can at least partially control said HVAC system by wireless communication with said second docking thermostat, and said second docking thermostat is capable of transmitting control signals to said HVAC system in accordance with instructions communicated from said first docking thermostat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A temperature control system comprising:
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a. one or more temperature sensors for receiving ambient air temperature data; b. a first docking thermostat comprising a first housing; a first user-interface component including a first interactive graphical user interface configured to receive control inputs from a user; a first microprocessor within said first housing in operative communication with at least a first of said one or more temperature sensors, said first microprocessor in operative communication with said first user-interface component; a first electrical connector coupled to said first microprocessor; c. a second docking thermostat interchangeable with said first docking thermostat, said second docking thermostat comprising; a second housing; a second user-interface component including a second interactive graphical user interface configured to receive control inputs from the user; a second microprocessor within said second housing in operative communication with at least a second of said one or more temperature sensors, said second microprocessor in operative communication with said second user-interface component; a second electrical connector coupled to said second microprocessor; d. a first wireless communication module; e. a second wireless communication module; f. a first HVAC docking device configured to mateably and removably receive said first docking thermostat or said second docking thermostat, said first HVAC docking device including a third electrical connector mateable with said first electrical connector associated with said first docking thermostat or with said second electrical connector associated with said second docking thermostat, wherein said first HVAC docking device is coupled to an HVAC system by one or more HVAC wires in wired communication therewith enabling transmission of control signals to said HVAC system and providing a source of AC power to either said first docking thermostat or said second docking thermostat from said one or more HVAC wires; and g. a second docking device configured to mateably and removably receive said second docking thermostat or said first docking thermostat, said second docking device including a fourth electrical connector mateable with said second electrical connector associated with said second docking thermostat or with said first electrical connector associated with said first docking thermostat, wherein said second docking device is not in wired communication with said HVAC system, and wherein said second docking device is configured to couple to a power source other than said one or more HVAC wires leading to said HVAC system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification