Temperature control system and controller therefor
First Claim
1. A temperature control system to supply conditioned air to a plurality of zones via ducts extending to the zones comprising:
- at least one temperature sensing device in each of said zones;
a thermostat to allow a desired temperature setting to be selected; and
a controller acting between said thermostat and said temperature sensing devices, said controller including selection means to allow one of said zones to be designated as a control zone and to allow other zones to be selected by opening dampers in the ducts extending to the selected zones to control the flow of conditioned air thereto, the dampers in the ducts extending to deselected zones being maintained in a closed condition to isolate them from conditioned air; and
display means to provide a visual indication of the selected zones and a different visual indication of the control zone, said controller making a heating or cooling decision for said temperature control system on the basis of the desired temperature setting and the output of the at least one temperature sensing device in said control zone.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A temperature control system for a building structure such as a household is divided into a plurality of zones. A controller acts between temperature sensing devices in each of the zones and an adjustable thermostat which allows the desired temperature in the building structure to be selected. The controller allows individual zones to be selected to receive conditioned air and allows one of the selected zones to be designated as a control zone. A heating or cooling decision for the temperature control system for all of the selected zones is made based on the difference between the thermostat setting and the output of the temperature sensing device in the control zone. The control zone can be changed manually to the next available selected zone. Different visual indications are given for the control zone and the selected zones. Zones with faulty temperature sensing devices cannot be control zones or selected zones.
173 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A temperature control system to supply conditioned air to a plurality of zones via ducts extending to the zones comprising:
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at least one temperature sensing device in each of said zones; a thermostat to allow a desired temperature setting to be selected; and a controller acting between said thermostat and said temperature sensing devices, said controller including selection means to allow one of said zones to be designated as a control zone and to allow other zones to be selected by opening dampers in the ducts extending to the selected zones to control the flow of conditioned air thereto, the dampers in the ducts extending to deselected zones being maintained in a closed condition to isolate them from conditioned air; and
display means to provide a visual indication of the selected zones and a different visual indication of the control zone, said controller making a heating or cooling decision for said temperature control system on the basis of the desired temperature setting and the output of the at least one temperature sensing device in said control zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A temperature control system to supply conditioned air to a plurality of zones via ducts extending to the zones comprising:
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at least one temperature sensing device in each of said zones, said zones being numerically ordered; a thermostat to allow a desired temperature setting to be selected; and a controller acting between said thermostat and said temperature sensing devices, said controller including selection means to allow one of said zones to be designated as a control zone and to allow other zones to be selected by opening dampers in the ducts extending to the selected zones to control the flow of conditioned air thereto, the dampers in the ducts extending to deselected zones being maintained in a closed condition to isolate them from conditioned air, said selection means including user input means to allow said control zone to be changed, said selection means changing control from the existing control zone to the next available selected zone in response to user input, said controller making a heating or cooling decision for said temperature control system on the basis of the desired temperature setting and the output of the at least one temperature sensing device in said control zone. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A temperature control system to supply conditioned air to a plurality of zones via ducts extending to said zones comprising:
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at least one temperature sensing device in each of said zones, at least one zone having at least two temperatures sensing devices therein; a thermostat to allow a desired temperature setting to be selected; and a controller including selection means to allow one of said zones to be designated as a control zone and to allow other zones to be selected by opening dampers in the ducts extending to the selected zones to control the flow of conditioned air thereto, the dampers in the ducts extending to deselected zones being maintained in a closed condition to isolate them from conditioned air, said controller making a heating or cooling decision for said temperature control system on the basis of the desired temperature setting and the output of the at least one temperature sensing device in said control zone, said controller averaging the output of said at least two temperature sensing devices when said zone having the at least two temperature sensing devices therein is said control zone and a heating or cooling decision is being made.
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14. A controller for a temperature control system, said temperature control system supplying conditioned air to a plurality of zones via a duct extending to each zone, each of said ducts having a damper therein actuable between an opened condition wherein conditioned air is supplied to said zone and a closed condition wherein said zone is isolated from conditioned air, each of said zones having at least one temperature sensing device therein to sense the temperature in said zone, said temperature control system further including a thermostat to select a desired temperature for said temperature control system, said controller comprising:
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selection means to allow one of said zones to be designated as a control zone and to allow other zones to be selected by opening dampers in the ducts extending to the selected zones to control the flow of conditioned air thereto, the dampers in the ducts extending to deselected zones being maintained in a closed condition to isolate them from conditioned air; control means responsive to said selection means and acting between the temperature sensing device in said control zone and said thermostat, said controller making a heating or cooling decision for said temperature control system on the basis of the desired temperature and the output of the at least one temperature sensing device in said control zone; and display means to provide a visual indication of the selected zones and a different visual indication of the control zone. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification