Apparatus for remote temperature control

• US 6,508,407 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Generac Power Systems Incorporated (Generac Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lefkowitz, Kenneth R., Reich, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, DANIEL LEON
• Application Number:
  US09/596,258
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 236/47, 236/51, 165/208, 165/268, 165/231, 165/209
• US Class Current: 236/51
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

The invention is a remote temperature control system. The remote temperature control system contains temperature sensors, which are remotely placed in zones of temperature regulation throughout an area to be heated or cooled. A thermostat is then placed outside the zones of temperature regulation and communicates with the temperature sensors. Based on the information received from the temperature sensors, the thermostat then sends commands to a temperature control source to regulate the temperature of the various zones of temperature regulation. Placing the temperature sensors in remote locations and having the thermostat outside these remote locations allows the remote temperature remote control system to more accurately control the temperatures in those remote locations.

Claims

1. A remote temperature control system for controlling the temperature inside a habitable zone of temperature regulation, comprising:

a thermostat located outside the habitable zone of temperature regulation;

a temperature sensor for measuring air temperature, located inside the habitable zone of temperature regulation and communicatively connected to said thermostat; and

a temperature control source for controlling air temperature communicatively connected to said thermostat.

2. A remote temperature control system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the temperature sensor is communicatively connected to the thermostat via a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver.

3. A method of regulating temperature conditions in a remote and habitable zone of temperature regulation comprising the steps of:

positioning a temperature sensor in a habitable zone of temperature regulation, said temperature sensor for measuring air temperature;

positioning a thermostat outside the habitable zone of temperature regulation;

the temperature sensor transmitting a temperature condition in the habitable zone of temperature regulation to the thermostat;

the thermostat transmitting a temperature regulation command to a temperature control source responsive to the temperature condition received from the temperature sensor, said temperature control source for controlling air temperature;

the temperature control source regulating the temperature condition in the habitable zone of temperature regulation responsive to the temperature regulation command received from the thermostat.

4. A method of regulating temperature conditions in a remote zone of temperature regulation as recited in claim 3, wherein:

the temperature sensor transmits the temperature condition in the zone of temperature regulation to the thermostat via a wireless transmitter; and

the thermostat receives the temperature condition in the zone of temperature regulation from the temperature sensor via a wireless receiver.

5. A method of regulating temperature conditions in remote zones of temperature regulation as recited in claim 3, wherein:

the thermostat averages the temperature conditions received from a plurality of temperature sensors; and

the thermostat transmits a temperature regulation command to the temperature control source based on the average temperature condition.

6. The method of regulating temperature conditions in remote zones of temperature regulation as recited in claim 3, wherein:

the thermostat receives the temperature conditions in a plurality of zones of temperature regulation from a corresponding plurality of temperature sensors;

the thermostat transmits an individual temperature regulation command to the temperature control source for each of the temperature conditions; and

the temperature control source regulates the temperature condition of each zone of temperature regulation responsive to the individual temperature regulation command received from the thermostat.