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Load management thermostat

  • US 7,775,454 B2
  • Filed: 05/11/2007
  • Issued: 08/17/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A thermostat for controlling a heating and/or cooling appliance for a space to maintain a set-point temperature, the thermostat comprising:

  • at least one sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the temperature within the space;

    a memory for storing at least one sensed temperature offset value associated with a request for reduced heating or reduced cooling operation received via a signal from a utility provider; and

    a controller in communication with the memory and the at least one sensor, being configured to receive a signal from a utility provider that includes a request for reduced operation, and to periodically receive a sensed temperature value from the at least one sensor, where the controller offsets the sensed temperature value by the at least one sensed temperature offset value associated with a request for reduced operation, when a request for reduced operation from a utility provider has been received, to thereby determine an artificial temperature value for the space, the controller being configured to discontinue cooling operation for the space where the determined artificial temperature value is below the set-point temperature; and

    a display device in communication with the controller that displays the determined artificial temperature value for the space instead of the actual sensed temperature of the space, and also displays the user selected set point temperature without alteration, such that the alteration of the sensed temperature for the space is transparent to the user and the user would be less likely to over-ride a request for reduced cooling operation by changing the user'"'"'s setpoint temperature.

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