Interactive electronic thermostat with installation assistance
First Claim
1. An electronic thermostat for controlling the operation of a temperature-modifying apparatus of a type having a plurality of wires to which the thermostat must be connected, said thermostat comprising:
- data entry means for permitting manual entry of data into said thermostat;
means for providing individual messages in a spoken language;
means for providing a sequence of prompts to instruct an installer to perform corresponding steps in a procedure for providing electrical connections from the wires of said apparatus to points in said thermostat, and for requesting manual entry of response data via said data entry means to indicate the effect on the apparatus as certain of said steps are performed; and
control means responsive to entry of said response data for structuring said thermostat for proper operation with the connections of said wires by said user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive electronic thermostat operates to communicate with an installed through an audible or visual display and keypad to instruct the installer to perform tasks and enter observations to effect proper connections at the thermostat of heater/air conditioner wires in spite of the absence of labels identifying the functions of those wires. The thermostat requires entry of coded indicia representing operator-observed conditions in the system in response to displayed instructions carried out by the operator. Control circuits are automatically assigned functional tasks in response to the operator-observed conditions entered into the system. Different program routines are invoked depending upon the number of system wires and the type of heater/air conditioner being controlled. Under appropriate circumstances, messages are displayed informing the operator/homeowner that the thermostat is incompatible, or has no advantageous use, with the heater/air conditioner. In one embodiment the installer need only connect the wires to the thermostat terminals one time; the thermostat reconfigures its internal connection paths in response to installer-entered indicia to assure proper control of the system.
335 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An electronic thermostat for controlling the operation of a temperature-modifying apparatus of a type having a plurality of wires to which the thermostat must be connected, said thermostat comprising:
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data entry means for permitting manual entry of data into said thermostat; means for providing individual messages in a spoken language; means for providing a sequence of prompts to instruct an installer to perform corresponding steps in a procedure for providing electrical connections from the wires of said apparatus to points in said thermostat, and for requesting manual entry of response data via said data entry means to indicate the effect on the apparatus as certain of said steps are performed; and control means responsive to entry of said response data for structuring said thermostat for proper operation with the connections of said wires by said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for automatically interacting between an electronic thermostat and an installer for the purpose of effecting proper electrical connections required at the thermostat for a plurality of wires of a temperature-modifying apparatus controlled by the thermostat, said thermostat including means for automatically structuring said thermostat for proper operation of said apparatus with connections of said wires to said thermostat, said method comprising the steps of:
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requesting and receiving entry of installer-initiated indications into said thermostat; providing a plurality of sequential instructional prompts in a commonly spoken language to instruct the installer to follow respectiev steps to effect proper operation of said apparatus for the electrical connections of said plurality of wires at said thermostat, said prompts also including instructions to the installer to enter installer-observed responses of said apparatus; and causing said structuring means to automatically structure said thermostat for proper operation of said apparatus with connections of said wires in response to entered installer-observed apparatus responses. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. In an electronic thermostat for controlling the operation of an HVAC system having a furnace, an air conditioner and a ventilation fan and at least four wires to which the thermostat must be connected, wherein one of said wires is a power supply wire common to said furnace, air conditioner and fan, an apparatus for assisting an installer in the installation of the thermostat, said apparatus comprising:
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at least four thermostat terminals T1, T2, T3 and T4; a first selectively actuable control circuit for providing a connection between terminals T1 and T2; a second selectively actuable control circuit for providing a connection between terminals T1 and T3; a third selectively actuable control circuit for providing a connection between terminals T1 and T4; means for instructing the installer to remove power from the HVAC system, then to connect said four wires to said four terminals without necessarily identifying which wires are to be connected to which terminals, then to apply power to the HVAC system, and then to provide a first indication that the power has been so applied; means responsive to said first indication for actuating said first control circuit and instructing the installer to provide an indication as to whether (1) the furnace is energized, (2) the air conditioner is energized, (3) only the fan is energized, or (4) none of the furnace, air conditioner or fan are energized; and means responsive to indication (4) for de-actuating said first control circuit, then instructing the installer to;
remove power from the HVAC system;
then exchange the wires connected to terminals T1 and T2 with the wires connected to terminals T3 and T4;
then to restore power to the HVAC system; and
then to provide a second indication that the power has been so restored. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. In an electronic thermostat for controlling the operation of an HVAC system having a furnace, an air conditioner and a ventilation fan and at least four wires to which the thermostat must be connected, wherein one of said wires is a power supply wire common to said furnace, air conditioner and fan, an apparatus for assisting an installer in the installation of the thermostat, said apparatus comprising:
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at least four thermostat terminals T1, T2, T3 and T4; a first selectively actuable control circuit for providing a connection between said first and second control lines; a second selectively actuable control circuit for providing a connection between said first and third control lines; a third selectively actuable control circuit for providing a connection between said first and fourth control lines; switching means for connecting each of said terminals to a respective one of said control lines, said switching means being selectively actuable to change which terminal is connected to which control line; means for instructing the installer to remove power from the HVAC system, then to connect said four wires to said four terminals without necessarily identifying which wires are to be connected to which terminals, then to apply power to the HVAC system, and then to provide a first indication that the power has been so applied; means responsive to said first indication for actuating said first control circuit and instructing the installer to provide an indication as to whether (1) the furnace is energized, (2) the air conditioner is energized, (3) only the fan is energized, or (4) none of the furnace, air conditioner or fan are energized; and means responsive to indications (1), (2), (3) and (4) for de-actuating said actuating said switching means to automatically change which of said terminals are connected to which of said control lines until the terminal to which said supply wire is connected is connected to said first control line.
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Specification