Room temperature controller
First Claim
1. A control device for a room in which the temperature is controlled by an adjustable thermostat which controls heating and cooling apparatus comprising:
- detection means disposed in the room for producing a control signal when the room is occupied;
control means connected to said detection means for enabling said thermostat in response to said control signal; and
timing means connected to said control means for causing said control means to disable said thermostat after a first preselected time period following an occurrence of said control signal and to disable said detection means for a second preselected time period following said first preselected time period, said second period short with respect to said first period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The room temperature controller of the present invention is adapted for use in a room in which the temperature is controlled by a thermostat coupled to an air conditioner unit. The room temperature controller includes a detector positioned within the room for detecting from a distance the presence of an occupant within the room. A logic and control circuit is coupled to the output of the detector and to the thermostat. The logic and control circuit modifies the normal operation of the thermostat when an occupant is not detected within the room to reduce unnecessary heating and cooling expenses. This circuit also enables the thermostat to operate normally for timed intervals when an occupant is detected within the room.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A control device for a room in which the temperature is controlled by an adjustable thermostat which controls heating and cooling apparatus comprising:
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detection means disposed in the room for producing a control signal when the room is occupied; control means connected to said detection means for enabling said thermostat in response to said control signal; and timing means connected to said control means for causing said control means to disable said thermostat after a first preselected time period following an occurrence of said control signal and to disable said detection means for a second preselected time period following said first preselected time period, said second period short with respect to said first period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 11, 14, 15)
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4. A control device for a room in which the temperature is controlled by an adjustable thermostat, said thermostat adjustable by occupants of the room, in which the thermostat when operating controls heating or cooling apparatus in the room comprising:
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sound sensing means disposed in the room for producing a control signal in response to high frequency sounds created by occupants of the room, said sound sensing means non-responsive to low frequencies created either externally or internally to the room; control means connected to said sound sensing means and said thermostat, said control means responsive to said control signal to enable said thermostat such that the temperature of the room is controlled in accordance with the setting of said thermostat; and timing means connected to said control means and to said sound sensing means for disabling said thermostat for a preselected period of time following each of said control signals during which period said thermostat is prevented from controlling the temperature of the room, said timing means disabling said sound sensing means for a short time following said preselected period. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17)
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18. In a room having a heating and cooling unit controlled by an adjustable thermostat, apparatus for disabling the thermostat when the room is not occupied and enabling the thermostat when the room is occupied comprising:
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an audio transducer for producing electrical signals from sounds produced in the room; amplifier means connected to said transducer for amplifying said electrical signals therefrom; high pass filter means having a sharp cutoff frequency, said frequency selected in accordance with a frequency for which the walls of said room greatly attenuate sounds generated external to the room; detector means connected to said high pass filter for producing a logic signal when electrical signals are present at the output of said filter; logic circuit means connected to said detector means for receiving said logic signal; counter means connected to an ac power line for counting down from the power line frequency to produce a first preselected period of time and to produce a second shorter preselected time period immediately thereafter, said counter having outputs connected to said logic circuit; a thermistor disposed in said room for measuring the ambient temperature thereof; high temperature comparator connected to said thermistor for producing a logic signal when the ambient temperature exceeds a preset high temperature; low temperature comparator connected to said thermistor for producing a logic signal when said ambient temperature is less than a preselected low temperature, the outputs of said high temperature and low temperature comparators connected to said logic circuit; electronic switch means connected to said thermostat for enabling said thermostat when said switch means is closed and disabling said thermostat when said switch means is open, said switch means connected to said logic circuit means and responsive to control signals therefrom, said logic circuit means closing said switch means responsive to a logic signal from said detector means, a logic signal from said high temperature comparator or a logic signal from said low temperature comparator, said logic circuit means opening said switch means responsive to said outputs from said counter means after expiration of said preselected time period and disregarding a logic signal from said detector means during said shorter preselected time period. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. In a room having a heating and cooling unit controlled by an adjustable thermostat, apparatus for disabling the thermostat when the room is not occupied and enabling the thermostat when the room is occupied comprising:
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means for transmitting an ultrasonic signal within the room; means for receiving ultrasonic signals from said transmitting means wherein said received signals are reflected from various surfaces in the room; means coupled to said transmitting means and said receiving means for detecting changes in frequency or phase between said transmitted signal and said received signal, said detecting means producing a logic signal when a frequency or phase change is detected; logic circuit means connected to said detecting means for receiving said logic signal; counter means connected to an ac power line for counting down from the power line frequency to produce a first preselected period of time and to produce a second shorter preselected time period immediately thereafter, said counter having outputs connected to said logic circuit; a thermistor disposed in said room for measuring the ambient temperature thereof; high temperature comparator connected to said thermistor for producing a logic signal when the ambient temperature exceeds a preset high temperature; low temperature comparator connected to said thermistor for producing a logic signal when said ambient temperature is less than a preselected low temperature, the outputs of said high temperaure and low temperature comparators connected to said logic circuit; electronic switch means connected to said thermostat for enabling said thermostat when said switch means is closed and disabling said thermostat when said switch means is open, said switch means connected to said logic circuit means and responsive to control signals therefrom, said logic circuit means closing said switch means responsive to a logic signal from said detector means, a logic signal from said high temperature comparator or a logic signal from said low temperature comparator, said logic circuit means opening said switch means responsive to said outputs from said counter means after expiration of said preselected time period and disregarding a logic signal from said detector means during said shorter preselected time period.
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Specification