Temperature controller
First Claim
1. A supplementary thermal system controller for assisting a main air temperature control system in maintaining a desired air temperature in at least one zone by communicating with at least one corresponding temperature sensor, wherein the main air temperature control system includes a duct system having a supply duct and a return duct for routing the air medium through the zone and situating the temperature sensors, a circulation means for circulating air through the ducts, a supplemental thermal source, in thermal communication with said circulation means and the air medium, for providing a secondary thermal output to the air medium to assist in maintaining the desired air temperature and a thermostat responsive to the temperature of the circulated air so as to activate the main air temperature control system when the air temperature passes a predetermined desired temperature setpoint, said controller comprising:
- (a) a microcontroller for reading and processing a processor readable medium of program code and being in electrical communication with the thermostat for being activated by the thermostat together with the main air temperature control system;
(b) a signal conditioner circuit in electrical communication with said microcontroller and at least one temperature sensor for receiving and electrically communicating temperature related signals generated by the temperature sensor with said microcontroller, said signals providing successive temperature measurements of the air medium in the return duct;
(c) processor readable medium of program code in electrical communication with said successive return duct temperature measurements, said program code comprising;
processing means for reading said return duct temperature measurements and determining the rate of temperature change of the air medium in the return duct from said successive return duct temperature measurements;
comparison means, in communication with said processing means, for comparing said successive return duct temperatures with predetermined thresholds; and
energizing means, in communication with said comparison means, for selectively generating control signals based on the relationship of the return duct temperature measurements to said thresholds to selectively energize the supplemental thermal source while the desired temperature is being achieved; and
(d) a supplemental thermal source driver, in electrical communication with said energizing means, for adjusting the secondary thermal output of the supplemental thermal source in response to said control signals.
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Abstract
A supplementary thermal system controller for assisting a main system controller in retaining a desired temperature rise by monitoring the temperature in the return duct, wherein the supplemental controller comprises a microcontroller for reading and processing return duct temperature measurements, a signal conditioner circuit for preparing temperature related signals for processing by the microcontroller, processor readable medium of program code for determining the rate of temperature change in the return duct and providing control signals based on the rate of temperature change, and a supplemental thermal source driver for controlling a supplemental thermal source, such as electrical resistance heating elements, to cause the assisting temperature source to increase or decrease its thermal output.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A supplementary thermal system controller for assisting a main air temperature control system in maintaining a desired air temperature in at least one zone by communicating with at least one corresponding temperature sensor, wherein the main air temperature control system includes a duct system having a supply duct and a return duct for routing the air medium through the zone and situating the temperature sensors, a circulation means for circulating air through the ducts, a supplemental thermal source, in thermal communication with said circulation means and the air medium, for providing a secondary thermal output to the air medium to assist in maintaining the desired air temperature and a thermostat responsive to the temperature of the circulated air so as to activate the main air temperature control system when the air temperature passes a predetermined desired temperature setpoint, said controller comprising:
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(a) a microcontroller for reading and processing a processor readable medium of program code and being in electrical communication with the thermostat for being activated by the thermostat together with the main air temperature control system; (b) a signal conditioner circuit in electrical communication with said microcontroller and at least one temperature sensor for receiving and electrically communicating temperature related signals generated by the temperature sensor with said microcontroller, said signals providing successive temperature measurements of the air medium in the return duct; (c) processor readable medium of program code in electrical communication with said successive return duct temperature measurements, said program code comprising; processing means for reading said return duct temperature measurements and determining the rate of temperature change of the air medium in the return duct from said successive return duct temperature measurements; comparison means, in communication with said processing means, for comparing said successive return duct temperatures with predetermined thresholds; and energizing means, in communication with said comparison means, for selectively generating control signals based on the relationship of the return duct temperature measurements to said thresholds to selectively energize the supplemental thermal source while the desired temperature is being achieved; and (d) a supplemental thermal source driver, in electrical communication with said energizing means, for adjusting the secondary thermal output of the supplemental thermal source in response to said control signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A supplementary heating system controller for assisting a main heating system in maintaining a desired air temperature in at least one zone by communicating with at least one corresponding temperature sensor, wherein the main heating system includes a duct system having a supply duct and a return duct for routing the air medium through the zone and situating the temperature sensors, a circulation means for circulating air through the ducts, a supplemental heating source, in thermal communication with said circulation means and the air medium, for providing a secondary heating output into the air medium to assist in maintaining the desired air temperature and a thermostat responsive to the temperature of the circulated air so as to activate the main heating system when the air temperature falls below a predetermined desired temperature setpoint, said controller comprising:
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(a) a microcontroller for reading and processing a processor readable medium of program code and being in electrical communication with the thermostat for being activated by the thermostat together with the main heating system; (b) a signal conditioner circuit in electrical communication with said microcontroller and at least one temperature sensor for receiving and electrically communicating temperature related signals generated by the temperature sensor with said microcontroller, said signals providing successive temperature measurements of the air medium in the return duct; (c) processor readable medium of program code in electrical communication with said successive return duct temperature measurements, said program code comprising; processing means for reading said return duct temperature measurements and determining the rate of temperature change of the air medium in the return duct from said successive return duct temperature measurements; comparison means, in communication with said processing means, for comparing said rate of temperature change with a high limit and a low limit; and energizing means, in communication with said comparison means, for selectively generating a first control signal when the rate of temperature change falls below said low limit to selectively increase the secondary heating output of the supplemental heating source, and for selectively generating a second control signal when the rate of temperature change exceeds said high limit to selectively decrease the secondary heating output of the supplemental heating source; and (d) a supplemental heating source driver, in electrical communication with said energizing means, for adjustably energizing and deenergizing the supplemental heating source in response to said control signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for assisting a main heating system in maintaining a desired air temperature in at least one zone by communicating with at least one corresponding temperature sensor, wherein the main heating system includes a duct system having a supply duct and a return duct for routing the air medium through the zone and situating the temperature sensors, a circulation means for circulating air through the ducts, a supplemental heating source, in thermal communication with said circulation means and the air medium, for providing a secondary heating output to the air medium to assist in maintaining the desired air temperature and a thermostat responsive to the temperature of the circulated air so as to activate the main heating system when the air temperature falls below a predetermined desired temperature setpoint, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring the temperature of the air medium in the return duct to derive a return duct temperature measurement; (b) comparing said return duct temperature measurement to a low temperature threshold and a high temperature threshold; (c) increasing the secondary heating output when said return duct temperature measurement falls below said low temperature threshold and decreasing said secondary heating output when said return duct temperature exceeds said high temperature threshold; (d) deriving a difference between successive return duct temperature measurements when said return duct temperature measurement falls between said low temperature threshold and said high temperature threshold; and (e) comparing said difference to a high limit and decreasing the secondary heating output when said difference exceeds said high limit, and comparing said difference to a low limit and increasing the secondary heating output when said difference falls below said low limit. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification