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Power-sensing circuit for wireless zone sensors

  • US 9,639,100 B2
  • Filed: 12/06/2011
  • Issued: 05/02/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for controlling climate conditions in a dwelling including a plurality of zones, the system comprising:

  • a plurality of wireless thermostats disposed throughout the plurality of zones within the dwelling, each thermostat being operable to control a climate condition in a corresponding zone, the corresponding zone being selected from the plurality of zones;

    a master control unit communicatively linked to the plurality of wireless thermostats and operable to receive a plurality of signals therefrom, the plurality of signals being communicated through a network associated with the system; and

    a primary power source linked to the master control unit and operable to supply power to each thermostat operatively connected thereto, wherein each thermostat powered by the primary power source is operable to operate in a high-power mode;

    wherein each thermostat includes a corresponding secondary power source operable to supply power for operating in a low-power mode;

    wherein each thermostat not powered by the primary power source in the high-power mode is powered by the corresponding secondary power source in the low-power mode;

    wherein each thermostat is selectively operable between a repeating thermostat and a non-repeating thermostat;

    wherein each thermostat operating in the high-power mode operates as a repeating thermostat to receive and route signals received from other thermostats operating in either the high-power mode or the low-power mode through a wireless portion of the network, the signals being selected from the plurality of signals;

    wherein each thermostat operating in the low-power mode operates as a non-repeating thermostat to limitedly perform sensing functions and wirelessly transmit sensed parameters of at least one corresponding zone to an exclusion of control parameters of other non-corresponding zones;

    wherein a thermostat operating in the high-power mode as a repeating thermostat automatically switches to operating in the low-power mode as a non-repeating thermostat in response to a switch from the primary power source providing power to the thermostat to the secondary power source providing power to the thermostat; and

    wherein a thermostat operating in the low-power mode as a non-repeating thermostat automatically reverts to operating in the high-power mode as a repeating thermostat in response to a switch from the secondary power source providing power to the thermostat to the primary power source providing power to the thermostat.

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