Communicating thermostat

• US 5,203,497 A
• Filed: 12/20/1991
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Schnell, Robert J., Ratz, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US07/811,765
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 236/51, 236/46 R, 165/12
• US Class Current: 236/46.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

A thermostat providing external communication comprising two microprocessors. One microprocessor may be dedicated to the external communication while the other microprocessor runs the application programming. The thermostat is separated into a thermostat housing and subbase. One microprocessor may be located within the thermostat housing with the other located within the subbase. This allows for changing the applications programming through replacement either the housing or the subbase. Replacement of only one portion of the thermostat is cheaper and can be easier.

Claims

1. A thermostat for control of an HVAC system, comprising:

a temperature sensor for producing a temperature signal indicative of a local temperature;

data entry means for entering time and temperature data into the thermostat;

a clock, for producing a real time signal indicative of real time;

data entry means for entering time and temperature data into the thermostat and for requesting display of thermostat data;

a display means, connected to said data entry means, said temperature sensor and said clock, for displaying said time and temperature data, said real time and said local temperature, said data entry means being capable of modifying said display means;

a first microprocessor connected to said temperature sensor, said data entry means, said clock, and said display means, said first microprocessor receiving data, said temperature signal and said real time signal and controlling said display means;

a second microprocessor connected to said first microprocessor, said second microprocessor controlling the operation of the HVAC system in accordance with prestored instructions and user entered time and temperature data entered through said data entry means, said first microprocessor sending to said second microprocessor said temperature signal and said time and temperature data, said second microprocessor sending to said first microprocessor a HVAC system status, said thermostat being divided into a thermostat housing in a subbase, said thermostat carrying said data entry means, said temperature sensor, and said display means.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein:

said first microprocessor is physically located in said thermostat housing; and

said second microprocessor is physically located in said subbase.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein:

said first and second microprocessors are physically located in said subbase.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein:

said first and second microprocessors are physically located in said thermostat housing.

5. The thermostat unit of claim 1, wherein:

said first microprocessor is physically located in said subbase; and

said second microprocessor is physically located in said thermostat housing.