Room temperature sensor and thermostat control device

• US 5,934,554 A
• Filed: 07/21/1998
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Wolfinger, Kenneth F., Charles, Donald E., Wojtowicz, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US09/119,924
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 236/46 R, 236/51, 236/47, 165/209
• US Class Current: 236/46.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/021 the sensing element being a non-metallic solid, e.g. elastomer, paste
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

A thermostat control having improved user controls wherein an analog version contains a binary coded switch for selectively setting a setpoint temperature. The binary coded switch is configured to have discrete positions corresponding to a plurality of setpoint temperature settings. It contains, among other things, a resistor network configured to produce a setpoint signal indicative of the binary coded switch position and a setpoint adjust switch for setting the binary coded switch position. Also, digital version having a man-machine interface port, wherein point information from a controller can be viewed and modified with the thermostat control device controls when a hardware passkey is inserted into the man-machine interface port.

Claims

1. A thermostat control device adapted for use in controlling the temperature of a space by a temperature control system, the device comprising:

means for measuring the temperature in the space and generating a temperature signal indicative thereof;

means for setting a setpoint temperature and generating a setpoint signal indicative thereof;

a microprocessor for transmitting said setpoint signal to a networked temperature control system;

means for disabling of setpoint signals when the temperature control system switches to a night mode of operation wherein the temperature control system controls setpoint temperature setting;

means for overriding the temperature control system when the temperature control system is in night mode, so that the thermostat control device controls setpoint temperature setting;

a liquid crystal display for displaying said measured temperature and/or said critical point, and mode of operation;

means for switching temperature display mode between metric and standard engineering units;

means for storing said setpoint temperature, mode of operation and display mode;

a display driver for driving said liquid crystal display under said microprocessor control; and

a man-machine interface port for receiving a hardware passkey whereby when said passkey is inserted in said MMI port, database information from said networked temperature control system is displayed on said liquid crystal display.

2. A thermostat control device according to claim 1 wherein the device further comprising:

a man-machine interface port for connecting a man-machine interface computer to said networked temperature control system and placing said microprocessor in an idle state when said man-machine interface computer is connected to said man-machine interface port so that said man-machine interface computer may communicate directly with said networked temperature control system.

3. A thermostat control device according to claim 1 wherein the device further comprising:

means for retrieving said stored setpoint temperature from said means for storing upon initial power up or after a power failure; and

means for restoring said setpoint temperature with said stored setpoint temperature.

4. A thermostat control device according to claim 1 wherein the device further comprising:

means for setting said setpoint temperature to a predetermined default setpoint value when said means for storing does not contain a setpoint temperature.