Wireless Thermostat and System

• US 20140217186A1
• Filed: 02/04/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2013
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Blue Radios Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Blue Radios Incorporated
• Inventors: Kramer, Mark, Tucker, Wilfred, Sample, John, Bermel, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 10,261,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/1.C
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

A secure wireless thermostat and system comprising the thermostat are described and taught. The temperature control unit replaces the traditional thermostat by attaching to the wall and using the existing wiring from the traditional thermostat. This temperature control unit has no display or programming buttons, rather a user interacts with the temperature control unit via electronic devices such as smart phones, laptop computers, and desktop computers. The settings of the system can be modified by the user from these access ports. If the user opts to interact with the system via a third party IP server, a local DHCP web server can be employed to store data safely and securely.

Claims

1. A temperature control unit comprising:

an exterior shell, the exterior shell comprising an upper half and a lower half operably connected; and

a printed circuit board (PCB), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a battery, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and an accelerometer contained within the exterior shell.

2. The temperature control unit of claim 1 further comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED).

3. The temperature control unit of claim 1 further comprising a wall mounting bracket, wherein the wall mounting bracket attaches to the exterior shell via terminal screws.

4. The temperature control unit of claim 1 wherein the temperature control unit operates over the 2.4 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) radio band.

5. The temperature control unit of claim 1 wherein the temperature control unit operates as a wireless local area network device.

6. The temperature control unit of claim 1 wherein the temperature control unit employs near field communication (NFC) as well as the accelerometer.

7. The temperature control unit of claim 1 wherein the printed circuit board has at least two terminal screws.

8. A temperature control system comprising:

a temperature control unit, the temperature control unit comprising an exterior shell and having a printed circuit board (PCB), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a battery, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and an accelerometer contained within the exterior shell; and

a smart phone paired to the temperature control unit, wherein the smart phone employs the use of a temperature control application to control the temperature control system.

9. The temperature control system of claim 8 wherein system access is achieved through a gateway device.

10. The temperature control system of claim 8 further comprising near field communications capabilities.

11. The temperature control system of claim 8 wherein a user manipulates the settings of the system via the smart phone'"'"'s touch sensitive screen.

12. The temperature control system of claim 11 wherein the smart phone/gateway configures and sets the schedule of the system.

13. The temperature control system of claim 12 wherein the scheduling of the temperature control system occurs automatically based on factors such as global positioning or wireless short range proximity to the thermostat or an electronic travel calendar or the like.

14. The temperature control system of claim 11 wherein the settings of the system are universal and customizable to fit a particular system.

15. A temperature control system comprising:

a temperature control unit, the temperature control unit comprising an exterior shell and having a printed circuit board (PCB), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a battery, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and accelerometer contained within the exterior shell; and

a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server for added security and system access.

16. The temperature control system of claim 15 wherein system access can also be achieved through a wireless access point, router, or hub.

17. The temperature control system of claim 15 further comprising near field communications capabilities.

18. The temperature control system of claim 15 wherein the wireless access point is selected form the group consisting of a laptop computer, desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), gaming systems, tablet device, and gateway.

19. The temperature control system of claim 15 wherein the scheduling of the temperature control system occurs automatically based on factors such as global positioning or wireless short range proximity to the thermostat or an electronic calendar or the like.