Method and system for controlling the temperature of an indoor space
First Claim
1. A method for automatically operating a thermostatic heating system controller for controlling a heating system for heating an indoor space, comprising:
- operating the heating system at a set point having a default set point value set at less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit;
automatically receiving at least one indoor temperature signal from at least one indoor temperature sensor representing one or more temperature measurements in the indoor space;
automatically receiving at least one outdoor weather indicator signal representing a measured or predicted outdoor weather condition;
based at least in part on the at least one outdoor weather indicator signal, determining a factor affecting heat flow out of water pipes adjacent to said indoor space;
comparing said factor affecting heat flow to a pre-determined freeze protection point;
based on said comparison, determining whether to maintain said set point at said default set point value or to raise said set point to a computed set point value which is higher than the default set point value,in response to determining to raise the set point to the computed set point value, computing the computed set point value based at least in part on said outdoor weather indicator signal, followed by raising the set point to the computed set point value; and
using the thermostatic heating system controller to automatically control the heating system based on a comparison of the indoor temperature signal and the set point.
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Abstract
A method for automatically operating a heating system includes operating a thermostat at a set point having a default set point value, automatically receiving an indoor temperature signal from an indoor temperature sensor, automatically receiving an outdoor weather indicator signal representing a measured or predicted outdoor weather condition, based on the outdoor weather indicator signal, determining a factor affecting heat flow out of water pipes adjacent to an indoor space, comparing the factor affecting heat flow to a pre-determined freeze protection point, based on the comparison, determining whether to maintain the set point at the default set point or to raise the set point to a computed set point higher than the default set point, and using the thermostat to automatically control the heating system.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for automatically operating a thermostatic heating system controller for controlling a heating system for heating an indoor space, comprising:
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operating the heating system at a set point having a default set point value set at less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit; automatically receiving at least one indoor temperature signal from at least one indoor temperature sensor representing one or more temperature measurements in the indoor space; automatically receiving at least one outdoor weather indicator signal representing a measured or predicted outdoor weather condition; based at least in part on the at least one outdoor weather indicator signal, determining a factor affecting heat flow out of water pipes adjacent to said indoor space; comparing said factor affecting heat flow to a pre-determined freeze protection point; based on said comparison, determining whether to maintain said set point at said default set point value or to raise said set point to a computed set point value which is higher than the default set point value, in response to determining to raise the set point to the computed set point value, computing the computed set point value based at least in part on said outdoor weather indicator signal, followed by raising the set point to the computed set point value; and using the thermostatic heating system controller to automatically control the heating system based on a comparison of the indoor temperature signal and the set point. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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2. A heating system comprising:
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a furnace for heating an indoor space; at least one heating system controller operatively connected to said furnace, said heating system controller comprising a thermostat; a receiver operatively connected to said heating system controller for automatically receiving a signal indicative of a measured or predicted outdoor weather condition; wherein the at least one heating system controller is adapted to; operate the furnace to maintain the temperature in said indoor space at a set point having a default set point value set at less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit; automatically receive at least one outdoor weather indicator signal representing a measured or predicted outdoor weather condition; based at least in part on the at least one outdoor weather indicator signal, determine a factor affecting heat flow out of water pipes adjacent to said indoor space; compare said factor affecting heat flow to a predetermined freeze protection point; based on said comparison, determine whether to maintain said set point at said default set point value or to raise said set point to a computed set point value which is higher than the default set point value, and in response to determining to raise the set point to the computed set point value, computing the computed set point value based at least in part on said outdoor weather indicator signal, followed by raising the set point to the computed set point value; and automatically control the heating system based on a comparison of the indoor temperature signal and the set point.
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14. A heating system controller adapted for controlling a thermostat for an indoor space, said thermostat having a first indoor temperature sensor, comprising:
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one or more processors adapted to; operate the thermostat at a set point having a default set point value set at less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit; automatically receive at least one outdoor weather indicator signal representing a measured or predicted outdoor weather condition; based at least in part on the at least one outdoor weather indicator signal, determine a factor affecting heat flow out of water pipes adjacent to said indoor space; compare said factor affecting heat flow to a pre-determined freeze protection point; based on said comparison, determine whether to maintain said set point at said default set point value or to raise said set point to a computed set point value which is higher than the default set point value, and in response to determining to raise the set point to the computed set point value, computing the computed set point value based at least in part on said outdoor weather indicator signal, followed by raising the set point of the thermostat to the computed set point value. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification