Thermostat self-test apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method of detecting a fault in the wiring of a thermostat of an air conditioning system wherein the thermostat has a series of outputs which are energized under the appropriate conditions in known patterns to effect operation of the air conditioning system which comprises the steps of:
- determining which outputs of the thermostat are energized;
comparing the status of the outputs ascertained by the step of determining with the known pattern of legal thermostat outputs; and
indicating a fault condition when the step of comparing detects that the outputs ascertained by the step of determining are other than a known pattern.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for effecting self-test of a thermostat is disclosed. The permissible thermostat outputs are arranged into an array capable of being converted into a binary number. Testing is done to determine whether or not the binary number ascertained falls into a known legal array of binary numbers for permissible thermostat outputs. If the testing indicates a fault condition then the fault is indicated and operation may be discontinued.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of detecting a fault in the wiring of a thermostat of an air conditioning system wherein the thermostat has a series of outputs which are energized under the appropriate conditions in known patterns to effect operation of the air conditioning system which comprises the steps of:
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determining which outputs of the thermostat are energized; comparing the status of the outputs ascertained by the step of determining with the known pattern of legal thermostat outputs; and indicating a fault condition when the step of comparing detects that the outputs ascertained by the step of determining are other than a known pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for determining if a thermostat assembly associated with an air conditioning system is appropriately energizing the outputs from the thermostat in known patterns which comprises:
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means for determining which outputs of the thermostat are energized; means for storing the outputs determined in an array having a predetermined order; means for comparing the output array generated with known legal outputs; and means for indicating a fault condition if the means for comparing ascertains the output array is not a legal array. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification