Wireless Thermostat With Dual Stage Failsafe Circuits

• US 20150345818A1
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Oh, Eric, Amodeo, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 9,939,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1928 sensing the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/2754 using bimetallic element

Abstract

A multi-mode thermostat includes, a sensor of ambient temperature and control circuits coupled to the sensor, wherein the control circuits are responsive to signals from the sensor to maintain a predetermined regional temperature. First electrically actuated backup circuits, responsive to a sensed operational power level, to alter a status signal transmission rate by the control circuits. Second electrically actuated backup circuits, responsive to a lower sensed operational power level to provide a backup, lower regional temperature electromechanically.

Claims

1. A thermostat comprising:

a wireless transmitter;

control circuits coupled to the transmitter;

power sensing circuitry;

a thermal sensor coupled to the control circuits wherein the control circuits respond to a pre-set temperature requirement to activate a selected output;

wherein, responsive to sensing available power, at a first level, wireless communications are reduced to a predetermined level and responsive to sensing available power at a lower, second level the selected output is activated by a thermally responsive switch.

2. A thermostat as in claim 1 with the switch comprising a bi-metallic temperature responsive electro-mechanical switch.

3. A thermostat as in claim 2 which includes a power source coupled to the power sensing circuitry, and wherein the output is couplable to a heating system.

4. A thermostat as in claim 2 which includes a manually operable temperature specifying element coupled to the control circuits, and which includes a power source coupled to the power sensing circuitry.

5. A thermostat as in claim 1 where the power sensing circuitry responds to received AC-type electrical energy, or, received DC-type electrical energy.

6. A thermostat as in claim 5 wherein the control circuits send out, via the transmitter, a low power indicating indicium when available power is at, or, below the first level.

7. A thermostat as in claim 2 which includes terminals for a battery and for coupling to an HVAC system.

8. A thermostat as in claim 7 which includes a manually operable temperature specifying element coupled to the control circuits.

9. A thermostat as in claim 8 wherein the control circuits send out, via the transmitter, a low power indicating indicium when available power is at or below the first level.

10. A thermostat as in claim 9 wherein the control circuits respond to the pre-set temperature requirement to activate the selected output so long as the available power is above the second level.

11. A multi-mode thermostat comprising:

a sensor of ambient temperature;

control circuits coupled to the sensor, wherein the control circuits are responsive to signals from the sensor to maintain a predetermined regional temperature;

first electrically actuated backup circuits, responsive to a sensed operational power level, to alter an operational characteristic of the control circuits; and

second electrically actuated backup circuits, responsive to a different sensed operational power level to further alter the operational characteristic.

12. A multi-mode thermostat as in claim 11 where the sensed operational power level comprises at least one of an AC-type power level, or a DC-type power level.

13. A multi-mode thermostat as in claim 11 where the first electrically actuated backup circuits implement a first backup mode responsive to sensing a reduced operational power level to attempt to maintain the predetermined regional temperature.

14. A multi-mode thermostat as in claim 13 where the second electrically actuated backup circuits, respond to sensing a further reduced operational power level to maintain a backup regional temperature lower than the predetermined regional temperature.

15. A multi-mode thermostat as in claim 14 where the further reduced operational power level corresponds to a substantially complete loss of power.

16. A multi-mode thermostat as in claim 11 where the operational characteristic corresponds to a frequency of transmission by the control circuits.

17. A multi-mode thermostat as in claim 11 where the second electrically actuated backup circuits comprise a thermal-mechanical switch.

18. A multi-mode thermostat as in claim 17 wherein the control circuits intermittently transmit status indicating signals, and, in response to the sensed power level, the first electrically actuated backup circuits reduce a rate of transmission of the status indicating signals.

19. A method comprising:

providing a sensor of ambient temperature;

receiving signals from the sensors, and, responsive to signals from the sensor maintaining a predetermined regional temperature;

responding to a sensed operational power level, altering a rate of transmission of status signals, and

responding to a different sensed operational power level to terminate transmission of the status signals.

20. A method as in claim 19 which including providing a thermal-mechanical switch, and providing a lower predetermined regional temperature in response to the different sensed operational power level.