Programmable thermostat

• US 8,770,490 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2010
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Drew, David Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang, Chen Wen
• Application Number:
  US12/858,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20100308120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 236/46.R, 236/94, 236/1.C, 700/278
• US Class Current: 236/1.C
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1951 with control of the working time of a temperature controlling device

Abstract

A thermostat for a climate control system includes an electronic memory in which at least three occupancy settings are stored. The occupancy settings including a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point associated with an unoccupied state, a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point associated with an occupied-awake state and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point associated with an occupied-asleep state. The thermostat'"'"'s microprocessor is configured to communicate with the memory, and to establish at least three time periods during the day. The microprocessor assigns to each time period one of at least three user-selectable occupancy states including an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state and an occupied-asleep state. The microprocessor controls operation of the climate control system to maintain the unoccupied temperature set-point during any time period assigned the unoccupied state, the occupied temperature set-point during any time period assigned the occupied-awake state, and the sleep temperature set-point to any time period assigned the occupied-asleep state.

Claims

1. A thermostat for a climate control system, comprising:

an electronic memory for storing at least three occupancy state set-points including an unoccupied temperature set-point, an occupied temperature set-point, and a sleep temperature set-point; and

a microprocessor configured to;

receive a first user input predefining, independently of any time period scheduled or schedulable for thermostat operation, one or more of the at least three occupancy state set-points;

assign each of the one or more predefined occupancy state set-points to a corresponding one of at least three occupancy states including an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state, and an occupied-asleep state; and

receive a second user input assigning one or more of the at least three occupancy states to one or more time periods;

wherein the microprocessor controls operation of the climate control system to maintain one of the pre-defined occupancy state set-points during any time period assigned the occupancy state corresponding to the one of the predefined occupancy state set-points; and

wherein one of the occupancy states is selectable by a user for a plurality of time periods during the day.

2. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the at least three occupancy state set-points comprise heating temperature set-points user-selectable for assignment to the at least three occupancy states for a heating mode, and cooling temperature set-points user-selectable for assignment to the at least three occupancy states for a cooling mode of the climate control system.

3. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the microprocessor controls operation of the climate control system to maintain only one of the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point or the pre-defined sleep temperature set-point.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the one or more time periods are adjustable.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the at least three occupancy states are selectable for each day of the week.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point and pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are both off-set at least 3 degrees relative to the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein default values are provided by a manufacturer of the thermostat for the unoccupied temperature set-point, the occupied temperature set-point, and the sleep temperature set-point.

8. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, pre-defined occupied temperature set-point, and pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are adjustable by the user of the thermostat.

9. A thermostat for a heating and/or air conditioning system, comprising:

an electronic memory in which three occupancy state temperature set-points are stored and predefined, the predefined occupancy state temperature set-points assigned to three occupancy states including an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state, and an occupied-asleep state, where the predefined occupancy state temperature set-points are user-predefined for the occupancy states independently of any time period scheduled or schedulable for thermostat operation; and

a microprocessor in communication with the electronic memory, being configured to control operation of a heating and/or air conditioning system to maintain a temperature set-point for a space, the microprocessor configured to execute instructions to;

in response to user input, assign to each of a plurality of time periods during a day, one of the unoccupied state, the occupied-awake state and the occupied-asleep state;

the microprocessor further configured to control operation of the heating and/or air conditioning system during a given time period to maintain the pre-defined occupancy state temperature set-point that corresponds to the occupancy state assigned to the given time period;

wherein one of the occupancy states is selectable by a user for two or more of the time periods during the day.

10. The thermostat of claim 9, wherein the time periods during the day are adjustable.

11. The thermostat of claim 9, wherein the occupancy states are selectable for each day of the week.

12. The thermostat of claim 9, wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point and pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are both off-set at least 3 degrees relative to the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point.

13. The thermostat of claim 9, wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point, and the pre-defined sleep temperature set-point replace default values stored in the memory of the thermostat.

14. The thermostat of claim 9, wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, pre-defined occupied temperature set-point, and pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are adjustable by the user of the thermostat.

15. The thermostat of claim 9, wherein the electronic memory includes stored occupancy settings specific to a cooling mode of operation, which include a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point of 79 degrees Fahrenheit or less that is associated with the occupied-awake state, a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit that is associated with the unoccupied state, and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit that is associated with the occupied-asleep state.

16. The thermostat of claim 9, wherein the electronic memory includes stored occupancy settings specific to a heating mode of operation, which include a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point of 70 degrees Fahrenheit or more that is associated with the occupied-awake state, a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point of 69 degrees Fahrenheit or less that is associated with the unoccupied state, and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point of 69 degrees Fahrenheit or less that is associated with the occupied-asleep state.

17. A method of controlling a climate control system, the method comprising:

displaying, on a display for user selection therefrom independent of any time period scheduled or schedulable for thermostat operation, three occupancy states including an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state, and an occupied-asleep state;

receiving at least one user input predefining at least one temperature set-point for assignment to a user-selected one of the three displayed occupancy states;

storing one or more user-predefined temperature set-points including one or more of the following;

a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point associated with the unoccupied state, a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point associated with the occupied-awake state and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point associated with the occupied-asleep state;

receiving a user selection of one of a plurality of time periods within a day, and a user selection of one of the three occupancy states for assignment to the user-selected time period;

establishing thermostat operation to maintain only the occupied temperature set-point during any time period assigned the occupied-awake state, and only the unoccupied temperature set-point during any time period assigned the unoccupied state, and only the sleep temperature set-point during any time period assigned the occupied-asleep state; and

assigning, in accordance with user input, one of the occupancy states to more than one time period in a day.