Integral thermostat-digital clock unit

• US 4,191,328 A
• Filed: 09/01/1977
• Issued: 03/04/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rapidcircuit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rapidcircuit Corporation
• Inventors: Sandelman, David, Shprecher, Daniel E., Isaacs, Roger H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/829,904
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 236/47, 236/46 R, 236/94, 236/51, 165/12, 165/11, 58/152 R, 58/752 A, 307/141, 340/309.4, 219/506, 219/492, 364/569, 364/418
• US Class Current: 236/46.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/20 with sensing elements having variation of electric or magnetic properties with change of temperature G05D23/13 takes precedence

Abstract

An integral thermostat and digital clock is disclosed which operates with conventional two-wire systems connected between the thermostat and remotely operated relay. The two wires are used to carry a control signal from the thermostat to the remote relay and power to the integral unit for providing timing signals and power. The integral unit has a combined display which can be used for the time of day or temperature and separate day and night time settings are provided for changing the control of the thermostat according to the users'"'"' needs.

Claims

1. A room unit thermostat connected by only two wires with a remotely controlled circuit for controlling the supply of warm or cold air to alter the ambient temperature in said room, said room unit comprising display means to display the time of day and the ambient temperature, clock means to generate said time of day connected to said display means, and power means connected to said two wires for supplying timing signals and power to said clock means and power to said thermostat, said thermostat supplying a control signal on said two wires for controlling said remotely controlled circuit, further comprising daytime temperature control means and nighttime temperature control means, logic means connected to said clock means and comprising means to enable said daytime control or said nighttime control, said logic means being settable to nighttime and daytime settings and comprising means responsive to the time of day being equal to said settings so enabling said respective daytime and nighttime control means.

2. A room unit as set forth in claim 1, comprising rectifier means, AC power connected to said rectifier means, said rectifier means supplying said timing signals and power.

3. A room unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said remotely controlled circuit comprises plug means adapted to be inserted in a conventional AC socket.

4. A room unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said control signal is supplied from said thermostat to said remote circuit during the negative half cycle of said AC power signal.

5. A room unit as set forth in claim 1, further comprising indicator means contained in said room unit, said indicator means connected to receive said control signal to energize said indicator means displaying the condition of the heater/air conditioner.

6. A room unit as set forth in claim 1, comprising switch means connected to said logic means to change from either of said nighttime control or daytime control independent of the actual time of day.

7. A room unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said nighttime and daytime settings are connected to said display means, further comprising switch means to display said time of day, said daytime and said nighttime settings.

8. A room unit as set forth in claim 3, wherein said remotely controlled circuit comprises a transformer and a diode for rectifying said AC, said diode being biased to permit current to flow in one direction to serve as said power for said room unit thermostat and permit current to flow in the opposite direction to energize heating/cooling means to alter the ambient temperature.

9. A room unit thermostat connected by only two wires with a remotely controlled circuit for controlling the supply of warm or cold air to alter the ambient temperature in said room, said room unit comprising display means to display the time of day and the ambient temperature, clock means to generate said time of day connected to said display means, and power means connected to said two wires for supplying timing signals and power to said clock means and power to said thermostat, said thermostat supplying a control signal on said two wires for controlling said remotely controlled circuit further comprising temperature sensor means for sensing the ambient temperature, said temperature sensor means connected to said display means, and switch means connected to said temperature sensor means and said clock means to display alternately said time of day and ambient temperature.

10. An integral unit as set forth in claim 9 further comprising setting means connected to said clock means to set daytime and nighttime switch means, said switch means connected to said setting means for displaying said daytime switch time and said nighttime switch time on said digital display.

11. An integral unit as set forth in claim 10, further comprising daytime temperature and setting means and nighttime temperature level setting means and light means connected to said clock means for displaying which of said level setting means is controlling the thermostat operation.

12. A thermostat system comprising a wall unit for mounting in the area in which temperature is to be controlled and a remotely located circuit for operating a heating/cooling unit, said wall unit comprising means to sense the ambient temperature and generate a control signal responsive thereto, said wall unit further comprising a control generator housed within said wall unit operative to control several functions of said thermostat system, said control generator comprising solid state electronics and issuing electronic command signals to operate said thermostat system, a sinusoidal power source connected to said wall unit for supplying power and timing signals for said thermostat system, said sinusoidal power source comprising conventional AC located at said remotely located circuit, further comprising two wires only connected between said wall unit and said remotely located circuit, and rectifier means at said remotely located circuit connected to said conventional AC to permit power to be supplied to said wall unit on one-half cycle and control signals to be carried from said wall unit to said remotely located circuit on the other half cycle to control said heating/cooling unit.