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Remotely controllable thermostat

  • US 6,260,765 B1
  • Filed: 02/25/2000
  • Issued: 07/17/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A thermostat system for controlling activation of a temperature management system based on a temperature of an air space, the thermostat system operable in an energy-savings mode for enhancing energy savings and in a comfort mode for enhancing comfort, where the operating mode is selectable by a user, the thermostat system comprising:

  • operating mode control means for switching between an energy-savings state and a comfort state, where the energy-savings state corresponds to system operation in the energy-savings mode and the comfort state corresponds to system operation in the comfort mode, the operating mode control means comprising;

    a manual mode control operable to cause the operating mode control means to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states when pressed by the user;

    a wireless receiver for receiving a wireless mode switching signal, the operating mode control means being operable to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states when the wireless mode switching signal is received; and

    telephone communication means for receiving a telephonic mode switching signal, the operating mode control means being operable to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states when the telephonic mode switching signal is received;

    a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the air space and for producing a sensed temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of the air space;

    a manual temperature set point adjustment control for selecting, based on manual adjustments made by an operator, a comfort high temperature set point value representing a comfort high temperature set point, for selecting a comfort low temperature set point value representing a comfort low temperature set point, for selecting an energy-savings high temperature set point value representing an energy-savings high temperature set point, and for selecting an energy-savings low temperature set point value representing an energy-savings low temperature set point;

    a memory device for storing the comfort high and low temperature set point values and the energy-savings high and low temperature set point values;

    a controller for receiving the sensed temperature signal and the state of the operating mode control means, for accessing the comfort high and low temperature set point values and the energy-savings high and low temperature set point values from the memory device, the controller operable to activate the temperature management system to heat or cool the air space based on the sensed temperature signal, the state of the operating mode control means, and the temperature set point values.

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