Furnace controller useable, without modification, with either a single or two stage thermostat
First Claim
1. A controller (1) connectable to a heat transfer device having a first heat transfer rate and a second, higher heat transfer rate, and (2) interchangeably connectable to either a single stage thermostat or a two stage thermostat, said controller being operative to receive at least one heat transfer rate demand signal from the thermostat to which it is connected and responsively regulate the operation of the heat transfer device, said controller comprising:
- a first thermostat input portion for receiving a thermostat-generated low heat transfer rate demand signal;
a second thermostat input portion for receiving a thermostat-generated high heat transfer rate demand signal; and
control means for monitoring said first and second thermostat input portions and (1) generating a first control output useable to regulate the operation of the heat transfer device in a two stage thermostat mode in response to the detection by said control means of the receipt of said low heat transfer rate demand signal without the receipt of said high heat transfer rate demand signal, and (2) generating a second control output useable to regulate the operation of the heat transfer device in a single stage thermostat mode in response to the detection by said control means of the receipt of said high heat transfer rate demand signal without the receipt of said low heat transfer rate demand signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic two stage furnace controller may be used interchangeably, without modification thereof, with either a single or two stage thermostat to regulate the heating and cooling operation of a two stage heating/cooling furnace to which the controller is connected. The controller is operative to monitor the input it receives from the thermostat, automatically deduce whether the input is from a single stage thermostat or a two stage thermostat, and responsively regulate the operation of the furnace under a corresponding single stage thermostat heating or cooling mode, or a corresponding two stage thermostat heating or cooling mode.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A controller (1) connectable to a heat transfer device having a first heat transfer rate and a second, higher heat transfer rate, and (2) interchangeably connectable to either a single stage thermostat or a two stage thermostat, said controller being operative to receive at least one heat transfer rate demand signal from the thermostat to which it is connected and responsively regulate the operation of the heat transfer device, said controller comprising:
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a first thermostat input portion for receiving a thermostat-generated low heat transfer rate demand signal; a second thermostat input portion for receiving a thermostat-generated high heat transfer rate demand signal; and control means for monitoring said first and second thermostat input portions and (1) generating a first control output useable to regulate the operation of the heat transfer device in a two stage thermostat mode in response to the detection by said control means of the receipt of said low heat transfer rate demand signal without the receipt of said high heat transfer rate demand signal, and (2) generating a second control output useable to regulate the operation of the heat transfer device in a single stage thermostat mode in response to the detection by said control means of the receipt of said high heat transfer rate demand signal without the receipt of said low heat transfer rate demand signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A controller (1) connectable to a heat transfer device having a first heat transfer rate and a second, higher heat transfer rate, and (2) interchangeably connectable to either a single stage thermostat or a two stage thermostat, said controller being operative to receive at least one heat transfer rate demand signal from the thermostat to which it is connected and responsively regulate the operation of the heat transfer device, said controller comprising:
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a first thermostat input portion for receiving a thermostat-generated low heat transfer rate demand signal; a second thermostat input portion for receiving a thermostat-generated high heat transfer rate demand signal; and control means operative without modification of said controller to; (1) automatically determine, by interpreting signal receipt at said first and second thermostat input portions, whether said controller is connected to a single stage thermostat or a two stage thermostat, (2) generate a first control output useable to regulate the operation of the heat transfer device in a first mode when said controller is connected to a two stage thermostat, and (3) generate a second control output useable to regulate the operation of the heat transfer device in a second mode when said controller is connected to a single stage thermostat. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. Heat transfer apparatus comprising:
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a heat transfer device having selectable first and second heat transfer rates, said second heat transfer rate being higher than said first heat transfer rate; and a controller connected to said heat transfer device and interchangeably connectable to either a single stage thermostat or a two stage thermostat, said controller being operative to receive at least one heat transfer rate demand signal from the thermostat to which it is connected and responsively regulate the operation of said heat transfer device, said controller including; a first thermostat input portion for receiving a thermostat-generated low heat transfer rate demand signal, a second thermostat input portion for receiving a thermostat-generated high heat transfer rate demand signal, and control means for monitoring said first and second thermostat input portions and (1) generating a first control output operative to regulate the operation of said heat transfer device in a two stage thermostat mode in response to the detection by said control means of the receipt of said low heat transfer rate demand signal without the receipt of said high heat transfer rate demand signal, and (2) generating a second control output operative to regulate the operation of said heat transfer device in a single stage thermostat mode in response to the detection by said control means of the receipt of said high heat transfer rate demand signal without the receipt of said low heat transfer rate demand signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Heat transfer apparatus comprising:
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a heat transfer device having selectable first and second heat transfer rates, said second heat transfer rate being higher than said first heat transfer rate; and a controller connected to said heat transfer device and interchangeably connectable to either a single stage thermostat or a two stage thermostat, said controller being operative to receive at least one heat transfer rate demand signal from the thermostat to which it is connected and responsively regulate the operation of said heat transfer device, said controller including; a first thermostat input portion for receiving a thermostat-generated low heat transfer rate demand signal, a second thermostat input portion for receiving a thermostat-generated high heat transfer rate demand signal, and (1) automatically determine, by interpreting signal receipt at said first and second thermostat input portions, whether said controller is connected to a single stage thermostat or a two stage thermostat, (2) generate a first control output useable to regulate the operation of the heat transfer device in a first mode when said controller is connected to a two stage thermostat, and (3) generate a second control output useable to regulate the operation of the heat transfer device in a second mode when said controller is connected to a single stage thermostat. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of using a thermostat to regulate the operation of a heat transfer device having selectively operable first and second heat transfer stages, said method comprising the steps of:
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operatively connecting a controller to said heat transfer device; connecting a thermostat to said controller, said thermostat being selected from the group consisting of a single stage thermostat and a two stage thermostat; transmitting a heat transfer demand output from the selected thermostat to said controller; and causing said controller, without modification thereof, to determine from said heat transfer demand output whether the selected thermostat is a single stage thermostat or a two stage thermostat and responsively initiate the regulation of said first and second heat transfer stages in a first mode if the selected thermostat is a two stage thermostat, and in a second mode different than said first mode if the selected thermostat is a single stage thermostat. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification