MULTIPLE HEATSINK COOLING SYSTEM FOR A LINE VOLTAGE THERMOSTAT
First Claim
1. A thermostat for controlling an electric heater comprising:
- a housing;
a display positioned in the housing;
a temperature setpoint device disposed within the housing;
an ambient temperature sensor;
a comparator mechanism disposed within the housing, the comparator mechanism connected to the ambient temperature sensor and the temperature setpoint device;
a power switch positioned within the housing, the power switch having a control terminal connected to the comparator mechanism; and
wherein the power switch comprises;
two or more separate heatsinks;
a solid state switch situated on each heatsink; and
wherein each solid state switch has a control input connected in parallel to the control terminal of the power switch.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A line voltage thermostat having a multiple heatsink switch. A total switch may have a semiconductor switch mounted on each heatsink of the multiple heatsink switch. The semiconductor switches of the respective heatsinks may be connected in parallel to represent the total switch. Each of the two or more heatsinks, having a semiconductor switch for switching, and in total conveying the same power as one equivalent switch with one total heatsink, may have higher maximum operating temperatures and higher thermal resistances than twice the thermal resistance of the one total heatsink. The two or more heatsinks may be situated within a housing of the line voltage thermostat, and be easier to distribute in the housing to achieve an efficient layout of a display and control buttons for the thermostat.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A thermostat for controlling an electric heater comprising:
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a housing; a display positioned in the housing; a temperature setpoint device disposed within the housing; an ambient temperature sensor; a comparator mechanism disposed within the housing, the comparator mechanism connected to the ambient temperature sensor and the temperature setpoint device; a power switch positioned within the housing, the power switch having a control terminal connected to the comparator mechanism; and wherein the power switch comprises; two or more separate heatsinks; a solid state switch situated on each heatsink; and wherein each solid state switch has a control input connected in parallel to the control terminal of the power switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A thermostat for controlling an electric heater comprising:
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a housing; a display positioned in the housing; a temperature setpoint device disposed within the housing; an ambient temperature sensor; a comparator mechanism disposed within the housing, the comparator mechanism connected to the ambient temperature sensor and the temperature setpoint device; a power switch positioned within the housing, the power switch having a control terminal connected to the comparator mechanism; and wherein the power switch comprises; a first heatsink having a first solid state switch situated thereon, the first heatsink positioned at a first location within the housing; a second first heatsink having a second solid state switch situated thereon, the second heatsink positioned at a second location within the housing, the second location positioned a maximum distance from the first location; and wherein each solid state switch has a control input connected in parallel to the control terminal of the power switch. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A heatsink cooling system for a line voltage thermostat comprising:
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a switching component comprising two or more heat sinks connected in parallel, each heat sink including a semiconductor switch situated thereon; and a thermostatic control; and a comparator mechanism, the comparator mechanism configured to compare a first temperature indication from an ambient temperature sensor and a second temperature indication from the thermostatic control and to provide a first output signal, a second output signal or no output signal to a control terminal of a power switch; wherein; each semiconductor switch has an input connectable to a line voltage and an output connectable to an electric load, and has a control terminal; and the thermostatic control has an output connected to the control terminal of each semiconductor switch. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification