Thermostat responsive to inputs from external devices
First Claim
1. A digital thermostat for controlling the operation of a climate control system having at least a heat pump system and an auxiliary heating system, comprising:
- a display means for visually displaying operating error information to a user of the thermostat;
a temperature sensor for sensing the outside ambient temperature;
a processor having an input means for receiving at least one communication signal from either the heat pump or auxiliary heating system indicating whether the heat pump or auxiliary heating system is not operating, wherein the processor responds to the non-operating communication signal by initiating the deactivation of the non-operating system and the activation of the other operable system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermostat is provided that receives one or more inputs from at least one heating system of a climate control system, and initiates an appropriate action in response to the input. The thermostat can turn off a heat pump providing substandard heat and responsively turn on a fuel-fired auxiliary furnace. The thermostat may discontinue further operation of the auxiliary furnace upon receiving an operating error signal associated with the auxiliary furnace, and responsively turn on the heat pump to provide for continued heating. The thermostat may also discontinue operation of the fuel-fired furnace and turn on a circulating fan in response to an input signal indicating a furnace high-temperature or a carbon monoxide presence.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A digital thermostat for controlling the operation of a climate control system having at least a heat pump system and an auxiliary heating system, comprising:
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a display means for visually displaying operating error information to a user of the thermostat;
a temperature sensor for sensing the outside ambient temperature;
a processor having an input means for receiving at least one communication signal from either the heat pump or auxiliary heating system indicating whether the heat pump or auxiliary heating system is not operating, wherein the processor responds to the non-operating communication signal by initiating the deactivation of the non-operating system and the activation of the other operable system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A digital thermostat for controlling the operation of a climate control system having at least a fuel-fired furnace, comprising:
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a display means for visually displaying information to the user of the digital thermostat; and
a processor having an input means for receiving at least one input signal from a furnace controller communicating operating error code information relating to the furnace, wherein the processor responsively communicates to the display means the information to be displayed to the user of the thermostat. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An improved digital thermostat for controlling the operation of a climate control system comprising at least a fuel-fired furnace, the improvement comprising:
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a display means for visually displaying error signal information from a climate control system to the user of the digital thermostat;
a processor having an input means for receiving at least one input signal from a furnace controller indicating an operating error signal from the controller, wherein the operating information signal from the furnace controller comprises at least one error code signal communicated by the furnace controller; and
wherein the processor responds to a predetermined error code by controlling the activation or deactivation of one or more devices within the climate control system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification