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

• Current Assignee: SecureAlert Incorporated
• Original Assignee: American Secure Care, LLC
• Inventors: Boling, Brian M., Natale, Nicholas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US09/513,110
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102.05, 236/47, 236/51, 340/825.72, 340/870.17
• US Class Current: 236/47
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C

Abstract

A thermostat system for controlling activation of a temperature management system is 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 has operating mode control circuitry which includes (1) a manual mode control operable to cause the operating mode control circuit to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states when pressed by the user, (2) a wireless receiver for receiving a wireless mode switching signal that causes the operating mode switching circuitry to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states, and (3) telephone communication circuitry for receiving a telephonic mode switching signal that causes the operating mode switching circuitry to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states. Thus, the present invention offers at least three convenient ways for the user to switch between energy-savings and comfort modes of operation. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of the air space and produces a sensed temperature signal based on the temperature of the air space. A controller produces an under-temperature signal when the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature is less than a minimum temperature and an over-temperature signal when the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature is greater than a maximum temperature. When the under-temperature or over-temperature signal is produced, the telephone communication circuitry places a telephone call to a telephone number of a designated receiving telephone to give a warning concerning the over- or under-temperature condition.

Claims

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.

2. The thermostat system of claim 1 wherein:

the controller is further operable to activate the temperature management system to heat the air space when

(a) the operating mode control means is in the energy-savings state, and

(b) the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is less than the energy-savings low temperature set point, the controller is further operable to activate the temperature management system to heat the air space when

(c) the operating mode control means is in the comfort state, and

(d) the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is less than the comfort low temperature set point, the controller is further operable to activate the temperature management system to cool the air space when

(e) the operating mode control means is in the energy-savings state, and

(f) the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is greater than the energy-savings high temperature set point, and the controller is further operable to activate the temperature management system to cool the air space when

(g) the operating mode control means is in the comfort state, and

(h) the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is greater than the comfort high temperature set point.

3. The thermostat system of claim 1 further comprising:

the controller further for producing an under-temperature signal when the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is less than a minimum temperature; and

the telephone communication means further for communicating a notification telephone signal when the under-temperature signal is produced.

4. The thermostat system of claim 3 further comprising:

the memory device for storing a predetermined telephone number of a designated receiving telephone; and

the telephone communication means for communicating the notification telephone signal to the receiving telephone by placing a telephone call to the predetermined telephone number when the under-temperature signal is produced.

5. The thermostat system of claim 3 further comprising the controller for producing the under-temperature signal when

(i) the operating mode control means is in the energy-savings state, and

(j) the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is less than the energy-savings low temperature set point minus a predetermined number of temperature units.

6. The thermostat system of claim 1 further comprising:

the controller further for producing an over-temperature signal when the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is greater than a maximum temperature; and

the telephone communication means further for communicating a notification telephone signal when the over-temperature signal is produced.

7. The thermostat system of claim 6 further comprising:

the memory device for storing a predetermined telephone number of a designated receiving telephone; and

the telephone communication means for communicating the notification telephone signal to the receiving telephone by placing a telephone call to the predetermined telephone number when the over-temperature signal is produced.

8. The thermostat system of claim 6 further comprising the controller for producing the over-temperature signal when

(k) the operating mode control means is in the energy-savings state, and

(l) the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is greater than the energy-savings high temperature set point plus a predetermined number of temperature units.

9. The thermostat system of claim 5 wherein the predetermined number of temperature units is 10 degrees F.

10. The thermostat system of claim 8 wherein the predetermined number of temperature units is 10 degrees F.

11. The thermostat system of claim 1 further comprising a wireless transmitter unit for transmitting the wireless mode switching signal.

12. The thermostat system of claim 1 wherein the telephone communication means further comprises a modem operable to receive the telephonic switching signal over a telephone line.

13. The thermostat system of claim 1 wherein the telephone communication means further comprises a cellular telephone receiver operable to receive the telephonic switching signal over a cellular communication link.

14. The thermostat system of claim 1 further comprising a display device operable to display the comfort high and low temperature set point values, the energy-savings high and low temperature set point values, and the sensed temperature in a numerical format.

15. The thermostat system of claim 14 wherein the display device further comprises a liquid crystal display screen.

16. The thermostat system of claim 1 wherein the manual temperature set point adjustment means further comprise:

a set control that, when operated, causes the manual temperature set point adjustment control to switch between the comfort high temperature set point value, the comfort low temperature set point value, the energy-savings high temperature set point value, and the energy-savings low temperature set point value, thereby selecting one of the set point values to be a selected set point value;

an increment control that, when operated, causes the manual temperature set point adjustment control to increment the selected set point value; and

a decrement control that, when operated, causes the manual temperature set point adjustment control to decrement the selected set point value.

17. 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:

a radio-frequency transmitter unit for transmitting a radio-frequency mode switching signal;

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

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

telephone communication means for receiving a telephonic mode switching signal over a telephone line, the operating mode control means 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 based on the temperature of the air space;

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, the manual temperature set point adjustment control comprising;

a set control that, when operated, causes the manual temperature set point adjustment control to switch between the comfort high temperature set point value, the comfort low temperature set point value, the energy-savings high temperature set point value, and the energy-savings low temperature set point value, thereby selecting one of the set point values to be a selected set point value;

an increment control that, when operated, causes the manual temperature set point adjustment control to increment the selected set point value; and

a decrement control that, when operated, causes the manual temperature set point adjustment control to decrement the selected set point value;

a liquid crystal display device operable to display the comfort high and low temperature set point values, the energy-savings high and low temperature set point values, and the sensed temperature in a numerical format

a memory device for storing the comfort high and low temperature set point values, the energy-savings high and low temperature set point values, and a predetermined telephone number of a designated receiving telephone;

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 the air space when

(a) the operating mode control means is in the energy-savings state, and

(b) the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is less than the energy-savings low temperature set point, the controller operable to activate the temperature management system to heat the air space when

(c) the operating mode control means is in the comfort state, and

(d) the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is less than the comfort low temperature set point,

the controller operable to activate the temperature management system to cool the air space when

(e) the operating mode control means is in the energy-savings state, and

(f) the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is greater than the energy-savings high temperature set point, the controller operable to activate the temperature management system to cool the air space when

(g) the operating mode control means is in the comfort state, and

(h) the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is greater than the comfort high temperature set point, the controller operable to produce an under-temperature signal when

(i) the operating mode control means is in the energy-savings state, and

(j) the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is less than the energy-savings low temperature set point minus a predetermined number of temperature units, and the controller operable to produce an over-temperature signal when

(k) the operating mode control means is in the energy-savings state, and

(l) the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature of the air space is greater than the energy-savings high temperature set point plus the predetermined number of temperature units; and

the telephone communication means further operable to send a notification telephone signal over the telephone line to the receiving telephone by placing a telephone call to the predetermined telephone number when the under-temperature signal or the over-temperature signal is produced.