Two mode thermostat with set-back temperature and humidity set-point feature

• US 7,793,510 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Sartain, John M., Perry, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyler; Cheryl J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez; Paolo
• Application Number:
  US11/796,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 621/57, 621/766, 622/31, 236/44.C, 165/237, 165/238, 165/239
• US Class Current: 62/176.6
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

Various thermostat embodiment are provided that includes at least a first sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the temperature within the space, and at least a second sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the humidity within the space. The thermostat further includes a controller in communication with the at least first and second sensors, for controlling the thermostat'"'"'s operation. The controller is configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature of the space is above a temperature set-point or when the sensed humidity level is above the humidity set-point. The controller is further configured to operate in a second mode in which the controller operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature is below a set-back temperature set-point, or when the sensed humidity is above a set-back humidity set-point.

Claims

1. A programmable thermostat for controlling the operation of at least an air conditioner for conditioning a space, the thermostat comprising:

a first sensor configured to communicate information indicative of a temperature within the space;

a second sensor configured to communicate information indicative of a humidity within the space;

a controller in communication with the first and second sensors, for controlling the thermostat'"'"'s operation;

the controller being configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller initiates signals for controlling activation of the air conditioner system in response to a communication from the first sensor indicating that the sensed temperature in the space is above a temperature set, or in response to a communicate from the second sensor indicating that the sensed humidity in the space is above a humidity set point, and being configured to operate in a set-back mode in which the controller initiates signals for controlling activation of the air conditioner system in response to a communication from the first sensor indicating that the sensed temperature in the space is above a set-back temperature set point, the controller being configured to automatically set a set-back humidity set point of 100%, such that the sensed humidity can never be above the set back humidity set point so as to trigger air conditioning operation during the set-back mode, to thereby provide for reduction in air conditioner operation.

2. The programmable thermostat of claim 1, wherein the set-back temperature set-point for controlling air conditioning operation in the set-back mode of operation is at least 5 degrees higher than the temperature set-point of the first mode of operation.

3. The programmable thermostat of claim 1, wherein the controller switches from the first mode of operation to the set-back mode of operation based on programmed time period settings selected by the user of the thermostat.

4. The programmable thermostat of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of the blower at either a full capacity level or a less than full capacity level.

5. The programmable thermostat of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of a compressor at either a full capacity level or a less than full capacity level.

6. The programmable thermostat of claim 5, wherein the controller operates the compressor at less than full capacity and a blower at less than full capacity when the sensed temperature is below the temperature set point and the sensed humidity is above the desired humidity set point.

7. A programmable thermostat for controlling the operation at least an air conditioner for conditioning a space, the thermostat comprising:

a first sensor configured to communicate information indicative of a temperature within the space;

a second sensor configured to communicate information indicative of a humidity within the space;

a controller in communication with the first and second sensors, for controlling the thermostat'"'"'s operation, the controller being configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller initiates signals for controlling activation of the air conditioner system in response to a communication from the first sensor indicating that the sensed temperature in the space is above a temperature set point, or in response to a communicate from the second sensor indicating that the sensed humidity in the space is above a humidity set point, and being configured to operate in a set-back mode in which the controller initiates signals for controlling activation of the air conditioner system in response to communication from the first sensor indicating that the sensed temperature in the space is above a set-back temperature set point, the controller being further configured to ignore the sensed humidity level during the set back mode, such that the controller only operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature is above a set-back temperature set-point.

8. The programmable thermostat of claim 7, wherein the set-back temperature set-point for controlling air conditioning operation in the set-back mode of operation is at least 5 degrees higher than the temperature set-point of the first mode of operation.

9. The programmable thermostat of claim 7, wherein the controller switches from the first mode of operation to the set-back mode of operation based on programmed time period settings selected by the user of the thermostat.

10. The programmable thermostat of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of the blower at either a full capacity level or a less than full capacity level.

11. The programmable thermostat of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of a compressor at either a full capacity level or a less that full capacity level.

12. The programmable thermostat of claim 11, wherein the controller operates the compressor at less than full capacity and a blower at less than full capacity when the sensed temperature is below the temperature set point and the sensed humidity is above the desired humidity set point.

13. A programmable thermostat for controlling at least an air conditioner system having an indoor blower configured to operate at a full capacity level and a less than full capacity level and a compressor configured to operate at a full capacity level and a less than full capacity level, the programmable thermostat comprising:

a first sensor configured to communicate information indicative of a temperature within the space;

a second sensor configured to communicate information indicative of a humidity within the space;

one or more relays configured to be activated to operate both the compressor and blower at full capacity, and configured to be activated to operate both the compressor and blower at less than full capacity;

a controller in communication with the first and second sensors, for controlling the thermostat'"'"'s operation;

the controller being configured to operate in a first mode and in a set back mode;

where in the first mode the controller is configured to initiate signals for controlling activation of the air conditioner by activating the one or more relays to operate both the compressor and blower at full capacity in response to communication from the first sensor indicating that the sensed temperature of the space is above a temperature set point, or to initiate signals for controlling activation of the air conditioner by activating the one or more relays to operate both the compressor and blower at less than full capacity, in response to communication from the first sensor indicating that the sensed temperature of the space is below the temperature set point and communication from the second sensor indicating that the sensed humidity of the space is above the humidity set point; and

where in the set back mode the controller is configured, in response to communication from the first sensor indicating that the sensed temperature of the space is above a set-back temperature set point, to initiate signals for controlling activation of the air conditioner by activating the one or more relays to operate both the compressor and blower at full capacity such that the space is cooled at a maximum rate to thereby shorten the operation time, wherein the controller is configured to automatically set a set-back humidity set point of 100%, such that the sensed humidity can never be above the set back humidity set point so as to trigger air conditioning operation during the set-back mode, to thereby provide for reduction in air conditioner operation by preventing humidity from triggering air conditioning operation.