Electronic thermostat with heat anticipation and control method incorporating same
First Claim
1. Thermostat apparatus comprising:
- sensor circuit means responsive to ambient temperature for generating a digital electrical temperature signal representative of ambient temperature;
set point means for generating a digital electrical set point signal representative of a desired temperature set point;
data processor means receiving said temperature and set point signals for generating a composite signal from one of said temperature and set point signals comprising a first component signal representative of said one signal, a second offset component signal having a sense to reinforce the state of said output signal, and a third component signal comprising a time-varying signal having a slope opposite to the sense of said offset signal, said data processor means comparing said composite signal with the other of said set point and temperature signals for generating an output control signal when said composite signal reaches a predetermined value relative to said other signal; and
control circuit means responsive to said output control signal for controlling a source of energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic thermostat includes digital electronic apparatus for simulating heat anticipation so that in operation, the temperature of the room being heated or cooled does not exhibit excessive overshoot. A sensor generates a signal representative of temperature in the room. In a preferred embodiment, the system compares the temperature signal with a composite set point signal. The composite set point signal is generated by a data processor to effect the following system characteristics: (1) when the temperature signal remains constant and is equal to the set point, the system can cycle approximately six times an hour with a fifty percent duty cycle; (2) a relatively small change in temperature or set point will modify the duty cycle substantially; and (3) if the temperature and set point signals differ by more than a predetermined amount, the system will lock on or off, depending on which is greater.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Thermostat apparatus comprising:
- sensor circuit means responsive to ambient temperature for generating a digital electrical temperature signal representative of ambient temperature;
set point means for generating a digital electrical set point signal representative of a desired temperature set point;
data processor means receiving said temperature and set point signals for generating a composite signal from one of said temperature and set point signals comprising a first component signal representative of said one signal, a second offset component signal having a sense to reinforce the state of said output signal, and a third component signal comprising a time-varying signal having a slope opposite to the sense of said offset signal, said data processor means comparing said composite signal with the other of said set point and temperature signals for generating an output control signal when said composite signal reaches a predetermined value relative to said other signal; and
control circuit means responsive to said output control signal for controlling a source of energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- sensor circuit means responsive to ambient temperature for generating a digital electrical temperature signal representative of ambient temperature;
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11. Electronic thermostat apparatus for controlling a source of energy with an output control signal having first and second states for actuating and de-actuating a controller respectively, comprising:
- sensor circuit means responsive to ambient temperature for generating an electrical signal representative of temperature;
set point signal means for generating an electrical signal representation of a desired set point;
data processor means receiving said temperature signal for generating a composite set point function signal and for comparing the same with said temperature signal, said composite set point function including a first component representative of a desired set point, a second component including a step function, and having a sense reinforcing said output signal, and a third component comprising a time-varying signal having a slope opposite to the sense of said second component, said data processor means comparing said composite set point function signal with said temperature signal for generating one state of said output control signal when the composite set point function is less than the temperature signal and for generating the other state of said output control signal when the composite set point function is greater than said temperature signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
- sensor circuit means responsive to ambient temperature for generating an electrical signal representative of temperature;
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16. Electronic thermostat apparatus for generating complementary output control signals for actuating and de-actuating a controller respectively comprising:
- sensor circuit means responsive to ambient temperature for generating a temperature signal representative of temperature;
set point signal means for generating a set point signal representation of a desired set point;
data processor circuit means receiving said temperature signal for generating a composite sensor function signal and for comparing the same with said set point signal, said composite sensor function signal including a first component representative of ambient temperature, a second component comprising a step function, and a third component comprising a time-varying signal having a slope opposite to the sense of said step function, said data processor means comparing said composite sensor function signal with said set point signal for generating a first output control signal when the set point signal bears a predetermined relationship with said composite temperature function and for generating the complementary output control signal when the composite sensor function bears a predetermined relationship with said set point signal; and
output circuit means responsive to said output control signal for controlling said controller.
- sensor circuit means responsive to ambient temperature for generating a temperature signal representative of temperature;
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17. A method of controlling the temperature of a zone by a bivary output control signal to a controller comprising:
- establishing an upper and a lower limit defining a range for a given temperature set point signal;
generating a temperature signal representative of the temperature of said zone;
generating a composite set point function signal comprising a first component representative of a desired set point for said zone, a second component representative of an increase or decrease of said composite signal to the upper or lower limit of said range when said output control signal is in one or the other of its complementary states respectively, and a third time-varying component having a slope tending to overcome said second component;
comparing said composite signal with said temperature signal;
generating said one state of said output control signal to said controller when said composite step point signal bears a first predetermined relationship with said temperature signal; and
generating the other state of said control signal to said controller when said composite set point signal bears a different predetermined relationship with said temperature signal, said second component forcing said composite set point signal to said upper limit of said range when said output control signal is switched from said other state to said one state, and forcing said composite set point signal to said lower limit of said range when said output control signal is switched from said one state to said other state, said third component having a tendency to cycle said controller but being limited by said limits. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
- establishing an upper and a lower limit defining a range for a given temperature set point signal;
Specification