Programmable Thermostat

• US 20140309792A1
• Filed: 07/07/2014
• Published: 10/16/2014
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,152,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• 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:

a 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 processor 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 associating one or more of the at least three occupancy states with one or more time periods;

the thermostat configured to control operation of the climate control system to maintain one of the pre-defined occupancy state set-points during any time period associated with the occupancy state corresponding to the one of the predefined occupancy state set-points;

one of the occupancy states being user-selectable for association with a plurality of time periods in a day.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein one or more of the time periods is assigned to one of the occupancy states based on the second user input.

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

4. The thermostat of claim 1, selectively configured to control operation of the climate control system to maintain a set-point selected only from the pre-defined occupancy state set-points.

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

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the occupancy states are selectable for each day of the week.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the occupancy states is associated with the one or more time periods independently of the first user input.

8. 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.

9. 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 user-adjustable.

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

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

a processor configured with the memory to control operation of the climate control system, the processor configured to execute instructions to;

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

the thermostat further configured to control operation of the climate control system during a given time period to maintain a pre-defined occupancy state temperature set-point that corresponds to an occupancy state associated with the given time period;

one of the occupancy states being user-selectable for two or more of the time periods in the day.

11. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein one or more of the time periods is assigned to one of the occupancy states in response to the user input.

12. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the time periods in the day are adjustable.

13. The thermostat of claim 10, selectively configured to control operation of the climate control system to maintain a set-point selected only from the pre-defined occupancy state temperature set-points.

14. The thermostat of claim 10, 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.

15. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, pre-defined occupied temperature set-point, and pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are adjustable by a user of the thermostat.

16. The thermostat of claim 10, wherein the occupancy states are associated with the time periods independently of defining of the occupancy state temperature set-points.

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 association with 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

associating, in accordance with the user selections, one of the occupancy states with more than one time period in a day;

the method performed by the thermostat.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising assigning one of the time periods to one of the occupancy states based on the user selections.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising associating, in accordance with the user selections, one or more of the occupancy states with one or more time periods for each day in a week.

20. The thermostat of claim 17, wherein the one or more of the occupancy states is associated with the one or more time periods independently of the pre-defining of the occupancy state temperature set-points.