Electronic thermostat employing adaptive cycling

• US 4,725,001 A
• Filed: 10/17/1986
• Issued: 02/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arnold D. Berkeley
• Original Assignee: Arnold D. Berkeley
• Inventors: Bernstein, Alec, Berkeley, Arnold D., Carney, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/920,291
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 62/231, 236/46 R, 236/94, 236/10, 236/11, 165/11 R, 165/12, 364/505, 364/557
• US Class Current: 236/11
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0251 with on-off operation
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

Environmental heating/cooling systems are controlled by an interactive microprocessor and have continuous on-time and adaptive cycling modes wherein continuous on-time brings the temperature to a programmed set point and cycling precisely maintains that temperature rather than causing the temperature to oscillate between limits of a dead zone. Minimum pause and on-time intervals of the cycling mode are established in accordance with optimum thermal transfer efficiency and/or equipment limitations. The initial cycle pause interval is a function of the degree transition time (i.e., time required for system to change temperature one degree as measured during continuous on-time mode); the initial cycle on-time interval becomes the established minimum interval. Cycle intervals are modified as necessary to maintain the temperature at the set point with preference given to minimizing the cycle on-time interval. Hence, the cycle on-time interval is decreased to its established minimum before attempting to increase the cycle pause interval; conversely, the pause interval is decreased to its established minimum before increasing the cycle on-time interval. The system is predisposed to remain in the cycling mode whereby predetermined temperature variations from set point, in a direction opposed to system control, initiate a continuous on-time to bring the temperature back to set point, but only after attempting to do so with an additional modified cycle. Degree transition time and initial pause and intervals are re-established during each continuous mode. Cost savings provided by cycling, as compared to continuous, are periodically computed.

Claims

1. An electronic thermostat system for controlling the operation of a temperature-modifying apparatus arranged to modify the temperature of a conditioned space, said apparatus having an on state in which it consumes fuel and an off state in which it does not consume fuel, said thermostat comprising:

set point storage means for storing an operative set point temperature representing the desired temperature in said conditioned space;

measurement means for measuring the temperature in said conditioned space and providing a measured temperature signal representing the measured temperature;

cycle means for establishing a cycle mode of operation for said system in which said apparatus alternates between a variable on-time interval (in which said apparatus is in said on state) and a variable pause interval (in which said apparatus in in said off state), wherein the total time of the on-time and pause intervals is variable during different cycles;

means for establishing a minimum on-time interval for said cycle mode; and

cycle modification means responsive to said measured temperature signal, said set point temperature, said minimum on-time interval and the most recent values of said on-time and pause intervals for modifying the on-time and pause intervals to maintain the temperature in said conditioned space substantially at the set point temperature.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said measured temperature signal varies in predetermined minimum temperature increments, and wherein said cycle modification means includes means for maintaining said measured temperature within one minimum predetermined temperature increment of said set point temperature by modifying said on-time and pause intervals.

3. The system according to claim 2 further comprising:

means for establishing a temperature increment transition time for said apparatus corresponding to the time required for said apparatus (in said on state) to change the temperature in said space by said minimum predetermined temperature increment; and

initial interval determining means responsive to entry of said system into said cycle mode for establishing an initial value of said on-time interval which is significantly less than said temperature increment transition time.

4. The system according to claim 2 wherein said minimum on-time interval is determined by operating characteristics of said apparatus, and further comprising initial interval determining means for establishing said minimum on-time interval as an initial value of said on-time interval.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said initial interval determining means further comprises means for establishing an initial pause interval value as an inverse function of said temperature increment transition time.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein said apparatus (in its on state) tends to change the measured temperature in said conditioned space in a first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said conditioned space which tend to change the measured temperature therein in a second sense opposite said first sense, said system further comprising:

means for establishing a minimum pause interval for said cycle mode;

means operative in said cycle mode, and responsive to at least a predetermined difference between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said second sense, for calculating a decremented pause interval value as a function of the existing pause interval;

means for comparing the calculated decremented pause interval value to the minimum pause interval;

pause interval establishing means, responsive to the decremented pause interval value being at least as long as the minimum pause interval, for establishing the decremented pause interval value as the pause interval, said pause interval establishing means being further responsive to the decremented pause interval value being shorter than the minimum pause interval for establishing the minimum pause interval as the pause interval; and

on-time interval incrementing means, responsive to the decremented pause interval value being shorter than minimum pause interval, for calculating an incremented on-time interval value as a function of the existing on-time interval, and for establishing said incremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval;

whereby the on-time interval is only incremented in response to an attempt to decrement the pause interval below the minimum pause interval.

7. The system according to claim 6 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode, and responsive to at least a predetermined difference between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said first sense, for calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a function of the existing on-time interval;

means for comparing the decremented on-time interval to the minimum on-time interval;

on-time interval establishing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being at least as long as the minimum on-time interval, for establishing the decremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval, and responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval for establishing the minimum on-time interval as the on-time interval; and

pause interval incrementing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, for calculating an incremented pause interval value as a function of the existing pause interval, and for establishing said incremented pause interval value as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval is only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the burn interval below the minimum burn interval.

8. The system according to claim 7 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode for counting the number of attempts made in each cycle mode to decrement the on-time interval below said minimum on-time interval; and

means responsive to the total of said attempts count becoming greater than a predetermined count value for terminating the cycle mode.

9. The system according to claim 8 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode for counting the number of cycles occurring in each cycle mode;

means responsive to the occurrence of a predetermined number of successive cycles without change in said on-time and pause intervals for calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a function of the existing on-time interval;

on-time interval establishing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being at least as long as the minimum on-time interval, for establishing the decremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval, and responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, for establishing the minimum on-time interval as the on-time interval; and

pause interval incrementing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, for calculating an incremented pause interval value as a function of the existing pause interval, and for establishing said incremented pause interval value as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval is only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the on-time interval below the minimum on-time interval.

10. The system according to claim 7 further comprising:

continuous on-time means for initiating a continuous on-time mode of operation for said system in response to a predetermined difference (in said second sense) between said measured and set point temperatures, said continuous on-time mode being characterized by said apparatus being maintained continuously in said on state, wherein said predetermined difference is equal to a plurality of said minimum temperature increments;

means operative in said continuous on-time mode, and responsive to said measured temperature becoming equal to the set point temperature, for initiating said cycle mode.

11. The system according to claim 10 further comprising:

temperature transient compensation means, operative in said cycle mode and responsive to the difference between the measured and set point temperatures being at least a pre-established value (in said second sense) at the end of each of plural successive cycles, for transferring the system out of said cycle mode;

wherein said pre-established value is greater than said predetermined minimum temperature increment and less than said predetermined difference between said measured and set point temperatures.

12. The system according to claim 10 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode, and responsive to the difference between the measured and set point temperatures being at least a pre-established value in said second sense, for transferring the system out of said cycle mode;

wherein said pre-established value is greater than said predetermined minimum temperature increment and less than said predetermined difference between said measured and set point temperatures.

13. The system according to claim 5 wherein said apparatus is a forced air heating apparatus in which a fan blows air (during the on state) over a heat exchanger to heat the air, and then delivers the heated air into the conditioned space, said system further comprising:

fan control means operative during each pause interval for maintaining said fan on for the initial portion of that pause interval, said initial portion being a predetermined fraction of the on-time interval, said fan control means including means for turning said fan off after the initial portion of said pause interval.

14. The system according to claim 1 wherein said minimum on-time interval is determined by operating characteristics of said apparatus, said system further comprising:

means responsive to initiation of a cycle mode for establishing an initial value of said on-time interval equal to said minimum on-time interval.

15. The system according to claim 14 further comprising:

means for establishing a temperature increment transition time for said apparatus corresponding to the time required for said apparatus, (in said on state), to change the temperature in said space by a minimum predetermined temperature increment; and

initial pause interval determining means, responsive to initiation of a cycle mode, for establishing an initial pause interval value as an inverse function of said temperature increment transition time.

16. The system according to claim 14 further comprising:

means for establishing a minimum pause interval for said cycle mode;

means for establishing an initial pause interval value as a direct function of said minimum on-time interval and said minimum pause interval.

17. The system according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus (in its on state) tends to change the measured temperature in said conditioned space in a first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said conditioned space which tend to change the measured temperature therein in a second sense opposite said first sense, said system further comprising:

means for establishing a minimum pause interval for said cycle mode;

means operative in said cycle mode, and responsive to at least a predetermined difference between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said second sense, for calculating a decremented pause interval value as a function of the existing pause interval;

means for comparing the decremented pause interval value to the minimum pause interval;

pause interval establishing means, responsive to the decremented pause interval value being at least as long as the minimum pause interval, for establishing the decremented pause interval value as the pause interval, said pause interval establishing means being further responsive to the decremented pause interval value being shorter than the minimum pause interval for establishing the minimum pause interval as the pause interval; and

on-time interval incrementing means, responsive to the decremented pause interval value being shorter than minimum pause interval, for calculating an incremented on-time interval value as a preset function of the existing on-time interval, and for establishing said incremented longer on-time interval value as the on-time interval;

whereby the on-time interval is only incremented in response to an attempt to decrement the pause interval below the minimum pause interval.

18. The system according to claim 17 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode, and responsive to at least a predetermined difference between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said first sense, for calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a preselected function of the existing on-time interval;

means for comparing the decremented on-time interval to the minimum on-time interval;

on-time interval establishing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being greater than or equal to the minimum on-time interval, for establishing the decremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval, and responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval for establishing the minimum on-time interval as the on-time interval; and

pause interval incrementing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, for calculating an incremented pause interval value as a preset function of the existing pause interval, and for establishing said incremented pause interval value as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval is only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the on-time interval below the minimum on-time interval.

19. The system according to claim 18 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode for counting the number of attempts made in each cycle mode to decrement the on-time interval below said minimum on-time interval; and

means responsive to the total of said attempts count becoming greater than a predetermined count value for terminating the cycle mode.

20. The system according to claim 19 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode for counting the number of cycles occurring in each cycle mode;

means response to the occurrence of a predetermined number of successive cycles without change in said on-time and pause intervals for calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a function of the existing on-time interval;

on-time interval establishing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being greater than or equal to the minimum on-time interval, for establishing the decremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval, and responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval for establishing the minimum on-time interval as the on-time interval; and

pause interval incrementing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, for calculating an incremented pause interval value as a preset function of the existing pause interval, and for establishing said incremented pause interval value as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval is only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the on-time interval below the minimum on-time interval.

21. The system according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus, in its on state, tends to change the measured temperature in said conditioned space in a first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said conditioned space that tend to change the measured temperature in a second sense opposite said first sense, said system further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode, and responsive to variation of said measured temperature from the set point temperature by a predetermined amount in said first sense, for calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a preselected function of the existing on-time interval;

means for comparing the decremented on-time interval to the minimum on-time interval;

on-time interval establishing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being at least as great as the minimum on-time interval, for establishing the decremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval, and responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval for establishing the minimum burn interval as the on-time interval; and

pause interval incrementing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum burn interval, for calculating an incremented pause interval value as a preset function of the existing pause interval, and for establishing said incremented pause interval value as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval is only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the on-time interval below the minimum on-time interval.

22. The system according to claim 21 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode for counting the number of attempts made in each cycle mode to decrement the on-time interval below said minimum on-time interval; and

means responsive to the total of said attempts count becoming greater than a predetermined count value for terminating the cycle mode.

23. The system according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus, in its on state, tends to change the measured temperature in said space in a first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said space that tend to change the measured temperature in a second sense opposite said first sense, wherein said measured temperature signal varies in predetermined minimum temperature increments, said system further comprising:

continuous on-time means for initiating a continuous on-time mode of operation for said system in response to a predetermined difference, in said second sense, between said measured and set point temperatures, said continuous on-time mode being characterized by said apparatus being maintained continuously in said on state, wherein said predetermined difference is equal to a plurality of said minimum temperature increments;

means operative in said continuous on-time mode, and responsive to said measured temperature becoming equal to the set point temperature, for initiating said cycle mode.

24. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode, and responsive to the difference between the measured and set point temperatures becoming a pre-established value in said second sense, for transferring the system out of said cycle mode;

wherein said pre-established value is greater than said predetermined minimum temperature increment and less than said predetermined difference between set measured and set point temperatures.

25. The system according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus, in its on state, tends to change the measured temperature in said space in a first sense to oppose conditions in said space that tend to change the measured temperature in a second and opposite sense, and further comprising:

temperature transient compensation means, operative in said cycle mode and responsive to the difference between the measured and set point temperatures becoming a pre-established value (in said second sense) at the end of each of plural successive cycles, for transferring the system out of said cycle mode;

wherein said pre-established value is greater than said predetermined minimum temperature increment and less than said predetermined difference between said measured and set point temperatures.

26. The system according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a forced air heating apparatus in which a fan blows air during the on state over a heat exchanger to heat the air and then delivers the heated air into the conditioned space, said system further comprising:

fan control means operative during each pause interval for maintaining said fan on for the initial portion of that pause interval, said initial portion being a predetermined fraction of the on-time interval, said fan control means including means for turning said fan off after the initial portion of said pause interval.

27. The system according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a forced air type temperature modifying unit.

28. The system according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a boiler-type heater unit wherein heated liquid is circulated through flow conduits in the conditioned space to permit thermal transfer from the liquid through the flow conduits to air in the conditioned space.

29. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

means for periodically establishing a temperature increment transition time for said apparatus corresponding to the time required for said apparatus, in said on state, to change the temperature in said space by a minimum predetermined temperature increment;

means for periodically determining the accumulated on-time interval time, in the cycle mode, required to change the temperature in said space by said minimum predetermined increment; and

means for periodically computing the cost saving resulting from operating in the cycle mode by comparing said temperature increment transition time to said accumulated on-time interval time.

30. The system according to claim 1 wherein said temperature modifying apparatus is of a type which must be in its on state for a minimum period of time before reaching substantially optimum efficiency in modifying the temperature in the conditioned space, wherein said minimum on-time interval is at least as long as said minimum period of time, and wherein said cycle modification means includes means for preventing said on-time interval from becoming shorter than said minimum on-time interval.

31. The system according to claim 30 further comprising means for establishing a minimum pause interval for said cycle mode, wherein said cycle modification means includes means for preventing said pause interval from becoming shorter than said minimum pause interval.

32. The system according to claim 31 wherein said apparatus is a forced air heater in which heat is generated during the on state to heat a thermal exchange surface over which air is directed before being delivered into said conditioned space, wherein said minimum on-time interval corresponds to the apparatus on time required to heat said thermal exchange surface sufficiently so that further apparatus on time does not significantly increase the temperature of said thermal exchange surface, and wherein said minimum pause interval is sufficiently long to enable most of the useful thermal energy stored at said thermal exchange surface during the immediately previous on-time interval to be transferred to the air directed over the thermal exchange surface but sufficiently short to prevent complete cooling of said thermal exchange surface to ambient temperature between burn intervals, said system further comprising means for maintaining air flow over said thermal exchange surface for at least a portion of each pause interval.

33. The system according to claim 32 wherein said portion of each pause interval is a predetermined fraction of the current on-time.

34. The system according to claim 31 wherein said apparatus is a boiler-type heater in which liquid is heated during the on state and caused to flow through pipes at least partially located in said conditioned space to heat air in that space, wherein said minimum on-time interval corresponds to the time required to heat said liquid to substantially its maximum temperature, and wherein said minimum pause interval is sufficiently long to enable most of the useful thermal energy stored in said liquid during the immediately preceding on-time interval to be transferred to the air in said conditioned space, but sufficiently short to prevent said liquid to be cooled to the ambient temperature in said conditioned space between on-time intervals.

35. The system according to claim 31 wherein said apparatus is an air conditioner in which a refrigerant fluid is compressed to a liquid state during the apparatus on state to cool a thermal exchange surface, the refrigerant fluid tending to return to a gaseous state during the off state, wherein said minimum pause interval is sufficiently long to permit vaporization of the refrigerant fluid between on-time intervals, wherein said minimum on-time interval is sufficiently long to ensure that relatively cool refrigerant fluid in its vapor state can be compressed to its liquid state, said system further comprising means for establishing a maximum pause interval for said cycle mode, wherein said cycle modification means includes means for preventing said pause interval from becoming longer than said maximum pause interval, and wherein said maximum pause interval is sufficiently short to prevent the vaporized refrigerant fluid from warming significantly beyond the temperature necessary to achieve vaporization.

36. The system according to claim 1 wherein said system includes a programmable computer and further comprising:

data entry means for permitting manual entry of selected time information into said computer;

real time clock means for measuring time; and

means responsive to the time, as measured by said real time clock means, becoming equal to a manually selected and entered time for establishing a changed condition in said system.

37. The claim according to claim 36 wherein said changed condition is said set point temperature.

38. The system according to claim 1 further comprising means for permitting manual entry of new set point temperature information to override the set point temperature stored in said set point temperature storage means.

39. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

data entry means for permitting manual entry of a plurality of selected temperature set points into said system along with time information identifying times when said temperature set points shall be effective;

real time clock means for measuring time; and

means responsive to said real time clock means for automatically employing each of the entered set points as the operative set point in said system at the indicated effective time for that entered set point.

40. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

data entry means;

a plurality of wires for electrically connecting said apparatus to said system; and

user-interactive means for providing a plurality of sequentially displayed prompts in the English language to instruct a user to follow respective steps in connecting said plurality of wires to said system, said prompts including instructions to the user to enter coded indicia via said data entry means to indicate system response to wire connections made by the user in response to certain of said prompts.

41. An electronic thermostat system for controlling the operation of a temperature modifying apparatus arranged to modify the temperature, in a first sense, of a conditioned space, said apparatus having an on state in which the apparatus consumes fuel and an off state in which the apparatus does not consume fuel, said thermostat comprising:

set point means for storing an operative set point temperature representing the desired temperature in said conditioned space;

measurement means for measuring the temperature in said conditioned space and providing a measured temperature signal representing the measured temperature;

cycle means for establishing a cycle mode of operation for said system in which said apparatus alternates between a variable on-time interval (in which said apparatus is in said on state) and a variable pause interval (in which said apparatus is in said off state);

means for establishing a minimum on-time interval for said cycle mode, said minimum on-time interval corresponding to the on state time of said apparatus required to achieve substantially optimum efficiency in terms of maximum temperature modification in said conditioned space for a specified fuel consumption;

means for establishing a minimum pause interval for said cycle mode, said minimum pause interval corresponding to sufficient time in the off state to permit said apparatus to dissipate substantially all of the useful residual thermal energy remaining stored in said apparatus after an immediately preceding on-time interval;

cycle modification means responsive to temperature conditions in said conditioned space for maintaining the measured temperature substantially at said set point temperature, said cycle modification means including;

means responsive to differences between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in a second sense, opposite said first sense, for maintaining said on-time interval at said minimum on-time interval while decrementing said pause interval in successive cycles until the measured temperature returns substantially to said set point temperature or until said pause interval becomes equal to said minimum pause interval, which ever occurs first; and

means responsive to (a) the pause interval being equal to the minimum pause interval, (b) the on-time interval being equal to the minimum on-time interval, and (c) a difference between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said second sense, for incrementing said on-time interval to reduce said difference;

whereby the minimum on-time interval is the preferred on-time interval for said system and is maintained in spite of temperature modification requirements in said conditioned space unless the pause interval is equal to the minimum pause interval.

42. The system according to claim 41 wherein each cycle, consisting of a on-time interval and a pause interval, has a variable total time interval.

43. The system according to claim 41 wherein said cycle modification means includes means for permitting modification of said on-time interval and said pause interval only as specified increments and decrements of the existing on-time and pause intervals, respectively.

44. The system according to claim 41 wherein said measured temperature signal varies in predetermined minimum temperature increments, wherein said cycle modification means includes means for maintaining said measured temperature within one minimum predetermined temperature increment of said set point temperature by modifying said on-time and pause intervals.

45. The system according to claim 44 further comprising:

means for establishing a temperature increment transition time for said apparatus corresponding to the time required for said apparatus in said on state to change the temperature in said space by said minimum predetermined temperature increment; and

initial interval determining means responsive to entry of said system into said cycle mode for establishing an initial value of said on-time interval which is significantly less than said temperature increment transition time.

46. The system according to claim 45 wherein said minimum burn interval is determined by operating characteristics of said apparatus, and wherein said initial interval determining means includes means for establishing said minimum on-time interval as said initial value of said on-time interval.

47. The system according to claim 46 wherein said initial interval determining means further comprises means for establishing an initial pause interval value as an inverse function of said temperature increment transition time.

48. The system according to claim 41 further comprising

means operative in said cycle mode, and reponsive to differences between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said first sense, for calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a function of the existing on-time interval;

means for comparing the decremented on-time interval value to the minimum on-time interval;

on-time interval establishing means responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being greater than or equal to the minimum on-time interval for establishing the decremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval, and responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval for establishing the minimum on-time interval as the on-time interval; and

pause interval incrementing means responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval for calculating an incremented pause interval value as a preselected function of the existing pause interval, and for establishing said incremented pause interval value as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval is only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the on-time interval below the minimum on-time interval.

49. The system according to claim 48 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode for counting the number of attempts made in each cycle mode to decrement the on-time interval below said minimum on-time interval; and

means responsive to the total of said attempts count becoming greater than a predetermined count value for terminating the cycle mode.

50. The system according to claim 48 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode for counting the number of cycles occurring in each cycle mode;

means response to the occurrence of a predetermined number of successive cycles without change in said on-time and pause intervals for calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a preselected function of the existing on-time interval;

on-time interval establishing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being greater than or equal to the minimum on-time interval, for establishing the decremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval, and responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval for establishing the minimum on-time interval as the on-time interval; and

pause interval incrementing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, for calculating an incremented pause interval value as a preset function of the existing pause interval, and for establishing said incremented pause interval value as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval is only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the on-time interval below the minimum on-time interval.

51. The system according to claim 41 wherein said apparatus, in its on state, tends to change the measured temperature in said space in said first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said space that tend to change the measured temperature in a second sense opposite said first sense, wherein said measured temperature signal varies in predetermined minimum temperature increments, said system further comprising:

continuous on-time means for initiating a continuous on-time mode of operation for said system in response to a predetermined difference, in said second sense, between said measured and set point temperatures, said continuous on-time mode being characterized by said apparatus being maintained continuously in said on state, wherein said predetermined difference is equal to a plurality of said minimum temperature increments;

means operative in said continuous on-time mode, and responsive to said measured temperature becoming equal to the set point temperature, for initiating said cycle mode.

52. The system according to claim 41 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode, and responsive to the difference between the measured and set point temperatures becoming a pre-established value in said second sense, for transferring the system out of said cycle mode;

wherein said pre-established value is greater than said predetermined minimum temperature increment and less than said predetermined difference between set measured and set point temperatures.

53. The system according to claim 41 further comprising:

temperature transient compensation means, operative in said cycle mode and responsive to the difference between the measured and set point temperature becoming a pre-established value in said second sense at the end of plural successive cycles, for transferring the system out of said cycle mode;

wherein said pre-established value is greater than said predetermined minimum temperature increment and less than said predetermined difference between said measured and set point temperatures.

54. The system according to claim 41 wherein said apparatus is a forced air heating apparatus in which a fan blows air during the on state over a heat exchanger to heat the air and then delivers the heated air into the conditioned space, said system further comprising:

means operative during each pause interval for maintaining said fan on for the initial portion of that pause interval, said initial portion being a predetermined fraction of the on-time interval.

55. The system according to claim 44 wherein said apparatus is a boiler-type heater unit wherein heated liquid is circulated through flow conduits in the conditioned space to permit thermal transfer from the liquid to air in the conditioned space through the flow conduits.

56. The system according to claim 41 further comprising:

means for periodically establishing a temperature increment transition time for said apparatus corresponding to the time required for said apparatus, in said on state, to change the temperature in said space by a minimum predetermined temperature increment;

means for periodically determining the accumulated burn interval time, in the cycle mode, required to change the temperature in said space by said minimum predetermined increment; and

means for periodically computing the cost saving resulting from operating in the cycle mode by comparing said temperature increment transition time to said accumulated on-time interval time.

57. The system according to claim 41 wherein said temperature modifying apparatus is of a type which must be in its on state for a minimum period of time before reaching substantially optimum efficiency in modifying the temperature in the conditioned space, wherein said minimum on-time interval is at least as long as said minimum period of time, and wherein said cycle modification means includes means for preventing said on-time interval from becoming shorter than said minimum on-time interval.

58. The system according to claim 57 further comprising means for establishing a minimum pause interval for said cycle mode, wherein said cycle modification means includes means for preventing said pause interval from becoming shorter than said minimum pause interval.

59. The system according to claim 57 wherein said apparatus is a forced air heater in which heat is generated during the on state to heat a thermal exchange surface over which air is directed before being delivered into said conditioned space, wherein said minimum on-time interval corresponds to the apparatus on time required to heat said thermal exchange surface sufficiently so that further apparatus on time does not significantly increase the temperature of said thermal exchange surface, and wherein said minimum pause interval is sufficiently long to enable most of the useful thermal energy stored in said thermal exchange surface during the immediately previous on-time interval to be transferred to the air directed over the thermal exchange surface but sufficiently short to prevent complete cooling of said thermal exchange surface to ambient temperature between on-time intervals, said system further comprising means for maintaining air flow over said thermal exchange surface for at least a portion of each pause interval.

60. The system according to claim 59 wherein said portion of each pause interval is a predetermined fraction of the current on-time interval.

61. The system according to claim 57 wherein said apparatus is a boiler-type heater in which liquid is heated during the on state and caused to flow through pipes at least partially located in said conditioned space to heat air in that space, wherein said minimum on-time interval corresponds to the time required to heat said liquid to its maximum temperature, and wherein said minimum pause interval is sufficiently long to enable most of the useful thermal energy stored in said liquid during the immediately preceding on-time interval to be transferred to the air in said conditioned space, but sufficiently short to prevent said liquid to be cooled to the ambient temperature in said conditioned space between on-time intervals.

62. The system according to claim 57 wherein said apparatus is an air conditioner in which a refrigerant fluid is compressed to a liquid state during the apparatus on state to cool a thermal exchange surface, the refrigerant fluid tending to return to a gaseous state during the off state, wherein said minimum pause interval is sufficiently long to permit vaporization of the refrigerant fluid between on-time intervals, wherein said minimum on-time interval is sufficiently long to ensure that relatively cool refrigerant fluid in its vapor state can be compressed to its liquid state, said system further comprising means for establishing a maximum pause interval for said cycle mode, wherein said cycle modification means includes means for preventing said pause interval from becoming longer than said maximum pause interval, and wherein said maximum pause interval is sufficiently short to prevent the vaporized refrigerant fluid from warming significantly beyond the temperature necessary to achieve vaporization.

63. The system according to claim 41 further comprising:

data entry means for permitting manual entry of selected time information into said system;

real time clock means for measuring time; and

means responsive to the time, as measured by said real time clock means, becoming equal to a manually selected and entered time for establishing a changed condition in said system.

64. The claim according to claim 63 wherein said changed condition is said set point temperature.

65. The system according to claim 41 further comprising means for permitting manual entry of new set point temperature information to override the set point temperature stored in said set point temperature storage means.

66. The system according to claim 41 further comprising:

data entry means for permitting manual entry of a plurality of selected temperature set points into said system along with time information identifying when said temperature set points shall be effective;

real time clock means for measuring time; and

means responsive to said real time clock means for automatically employing each of the entered set points as the operative set point in said system at the indicated effective time for that entered set point.

67. The system according to claim 41 further comprising:

data entry means;

a plurality of wires for electrically connecting said apparatus to said system; and

user-interactive means for providing a plurality of sequentially displayed prompts in the English language to instruct a user to follow respective steps in connecting said plurality of wires to said system, said prompts including instructions to the user to enter coded indicia via said data entry means to indicate system response to wire connections made by the user in response to certain of said prompts.

68. A method for controlling the operation of a temperature-modifying apparatus arranged to modify the temperature of a conditioned space, said apparatus having an on state in which it consumes fuel and an off state in which it does not consume fuel, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a set point temperature representing the desired temperature in said conditioned space;

(b) measuring the temperature in said conditioned space and providing a measured temperature signal representing the measured temperature;

(c) establishing a cycle mode of operation in which said apparatus alternates between a variable on-time interval (in which said apparatus is in said on state) and a variable pause interval (in which said apparatus is in said off state), wherein the total time of the on-time and pause intervals is variable from cycle to cycle;

(d) establishing a minimum on-time interval for said cycle mode; and

(e) in response to said measured temperature signal, to said set point temperature, to said minimum on-time interval, and to the most recent values of said on-time and pause intervals, modifying the on-time and pause intervals to maintain the temperature in the conditioned space substantially at the set point temperature.

69. The method according to claim 68 wherein said measured temperature signal varies in predetermined minimum temperature increments, and wherein step (e) includes maintaining said measured temperature within one minimum predetermined temperature increment of said set point temperature by modifying said on-time and pause intervals.

70. The method according to claim 68 further comprising:

(f) establishing a temperature increment transition time for said apparatus corresponding to the time required for said apparatus (in said on state) to change the temperature in said space by a minimum predetermined temperature increment; and

(g) in response to entry of said system into said cycle mode, establishing an initial value of said on-time interval which is significantly less than said temperature increment transition time.

71. The method according to claim 68 wherein said minimum on-time interval is determined by operating characteristics of said apparatus, and further including the step of establishing said minimum on-time interval as said initial value of said burn interval.

72. The method according to claim 69 further comprising the step of:

(f) establishing a temperature increment transition time for said apparatus corresponding to the time required for said apparatus (in said on state) to change the temperature in said space by a minimum predetermined temperature increment; and

(g) establishing an initial pause interval value as an inverse function of said temperature increment transition time.

73. The method according to claim 72 further comprising:

establishing a minimum pause interval for said cycle mode;

wherein said initial pause interval value is established in step (g) as a direct function of said minimum on-time interval and said minimum pause interval.

74. The method according to claim 68 wherein said apparatus (in its on state) tends to change the measured temperature in said conditioned space in a first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said conditioned space which tend to change the measured temperature therein in a second sense opposite said first sense, said method further comprising:

establishing a minimum pause interval for said cycle mode;

in said cycle mode, and in response to at least a predetermined difference between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said second sense, calculating a decremented pause interval value as a function of the existing pause interval;

comparing the decremented pause interval value to the minimum pause interval;

in response to the decremented pause interval being at least as long as the minimum pause interval, establishing the decremented pause interval value as the pause interval, and in response to the decremented pause interval being shorter than the minimum pause interval, establishing the minimum pause interval as the pause interval; and

in response to the decremented pause interval being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, calculating an incremented on-time interval value as a preset function of the existing on-time burn interval, and establishing said incremented burn interval value as the burn interval;

whereby the burn interval is only incremented in response to an attempt to decrement the pause interval below the minimum pause interval.

75. The method according to claim 68 wherein said apparatus (in its on state) tends to change the measured temperature in said conditioned space in a first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said conditioned space which tend to change the measured temperature therein in a second sense opposite said first sense, said method further comprising:

in said cycle mode, and in response to at least a predetermined difference between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said first sense, calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a preselected function of the existing on-time interval;

comparing the decremented on-time interval to the minimum on-time interval;

in response to the decremented on-time interval being at least as long as the minimum pause interval, establishing the decremented on-time interval as the on-time interval, and in response to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, establishing the minimum on-time interval as the on-time interval; and

in response to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, calculating an incremented pause interval as a preset function of the existing pause interval, and establishing said incremented pause interval value as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval is only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the on-time interval below the minimum on-time interval.

76. The method according to claim 75 further comprising:

counting the number of attempts made in each cycle mode to decrement the on-time interval below said minimum on-time interval; and

in response to said attempts count becoming greater than a predetermined count value, terminating the cycle mode.

77. The method according to claim 68 wherein said temperature modifying apparatus is of a type which must be in its on state for a minimum period of time before reaching substantially optimum efficiency in modifying the temperature in the conditioned space, wherein said minimum on-time interval is at least as long as said minimum period of time, and wherein step (e) includes preventing said on-time interval from becoming shorter than said minimum on-time interval.

78. The method according to claim 68 further comprising:

counting the number of cycles occurring in each cycle mode;

in response to the occurrence of a predetermined number of successive cycles without change in said on-time and pause intervals, calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a function of the existing on-time interval;

in response to the decremented on-time interval value being at least as long as the minimum on-time interval, establishing the decremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval;

in response to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, establishing the minimum on-time interval as the on-time interval; and

in response to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, calculating an incremented pause interval as a function of the existing pause interval, and establishing said incremented pause interval value as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval is only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the on-time interval below the minimum on-time interval.

79. The method according to claim 68 wherein said apparatus, in its on state, tends to change the measured temperature in said space in a first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said space that tend to change the measured temperature in a second sense opposite said first sense, wherein said measured temperature signal varies in predetermined minimum temperature increments, said method further comprising:

initiating a continuous on-time mode of operation for said system in response to a predetermined difference, in said second sense, between said measured and set point temperatures, said continuous on-time mode being characterized by said apparatus being maintained continuously in said on state, wherein said predetermined difference is equal to a plurality of said minimum temperature increments; and

in said continuous on-time mode, and in response to said measured temperature becoming equal to the set point temperature, initiating said cycle mode.

80. The method according to claim 68 wherein said apparatus (in its on state) tends to change the measured temperature in said conditioned space in a first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said conditioned space which tend to change the measured temperature therein in a second sense opposite said first sense, wherein said measured temperature signal varies in predetermined minimum temperature increments, said method further comprising:

in said cycle mode, and in response to the difference between the measured and set point temperatures becoming a pre-established value in said second sense, transferring the system out of said cycle mode;

wherein said pre-established value is greater than said predetermined minimum temperature increment and less than said predetermined difference between said measured and set point temperatures.

81. The method according to claim 68 wherein said apparatus, in its on state, tends to change the measured temperature in said conditioned space in a first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said conditioned space which tend to change the measured temperature therein in a second sense opposite said first sense, wherein said measured temperature signal varies in predetermined minimum temperature increments, said method further comprising:

in said cycle mode, and in response to the difference between the measured and set point temperatures becoming a pre-established value (in said second sense) at the end of plural successive cycles, transferring the system out of said cycle mode;

wherein said pre-established value is greater than said predetermined minimum temperature increment and less than said predetermined difference between said measured and set point temperatures.

82. The method according to claim 68 wherein said apparatus is a forced air heating apparatus in which a fan blows air, during the on state, over a heat exchanger to heat the air, and then delivers the heated air into the conditioned space, said method further comprising:

during each pause interval, maintaining said fan on only for the initial portion of that pause interval, said initial portion being a predetermined fraction of the on-time interval.

83. The method according to claim 68 further comprising:

periodically estabishing a temperature increment transition time for said apparatus corresponding to the time required for said apparatus (in its on state) to change the temperature in said space by a minimum predetermined temperature increment;

periodically determining the accumulated on-time interval time, in a cycle mode, required to change the temperature in said space by said minimum predetermined increment; and

periodically computing the cost savings resulting from operating in the cycle mode by comparing said temperature increment transition time to said accumulated on-time interval time.

84. The method according to claim 68 wherein said apparatus is a forced air heater in which heat is generated during the on state to heat a thermal exchange surface over which air is directed before being delivered into said conditioned space, wherein said minimum on-time interval corresponds to the apparatus on time required to heat said thermal exchange surface sufficiently so that further apparatus on time does not significantly increase the temperature of said thermal exchange surface, and wherein said minimum pause interval is sufficiently long to enable most of the useful thermal energy stored at said thermal exchange surface during the immediately previous on-time interval to be transferred to the air directed over the thermal exchange surface, but sufficiently short to prevent complete cooling of said thermal exchange surface to ambient temperature between on-time intervals, said method further comprising the step of maintaining air flow over said thermal exchange surface for at least a portion of each pause interval.

85. The method according to claim 84 wherein said portion of each pause interval is a predetermined fraction of the current on-time interval.

86. The method according to claim 68 wherein said apparatus is a boiler-type heater in which liquid is heated during the on state and caused to flow through pipes at least partially located in said conditioned space to heat air in that space, wherein said minimum on-time interval corresponds to the time required to heat said liquid to substantially its maximum temperature, and wherein the minimum pause interval is sufficiently long to enable most of the useful thermal energy stored in said liquid during the immediately preceding on-time interval to be transferred to the air in said conditioned space, but sufficiently short to prevent said liquid to be cooled to the ambient temperature in said conditioned space between said on-time intervals.

87. The method according to claim 68 wherein said apparatus is an air conditioner in which a refrigerant fluid is compressed to a liquid state during the apparatus on state to cool a thermal exchange surface, the refrigerant fluid tending to return to a gaseous state during the off state, wherein said minimum pause interval is sufficiently long to permit vaporization of the refrigerant fluid between on-time intervals, wherein said minimum on-time interval is sufficiently long to ensure that relatively cool refrigerant fluid in its vapor state can be compressed to its liquid state, said method further comprising the step of establishing a maximum pause interval for said cycle mode, wherein said step (e) includes preventing said pause interval from becoming longer than said maximum pause interval, and wherein said maximum pause interval is sufficiently short to prevent the vaporized refrigerant fluid from warming significantly beyond the temperature necessary to achieve vaporization.

88. A method for controlling the operation of a temperature modifying apparatus arranged to modify the temperature (in a first sense) of a conditioned space, said apparatus having an on state in which the apparatus consumes fuel and an off state in which the apparatus does not consume fuel, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a set point temperature representing the desired temperature in said conditioned space;

(b) measuring the temperature in said conditioned space and providing a measured temperature signal representing the measured temperature;

(c) establishing a cycle mode of operation in which said apparatus alternates between a variable on-time interval (in which said apparatus is in the on state) and a variable pause interval (in which said apparatus is in said off state);

(d) establishing a minimum on-time interval for said cycle mode, said minimum on-time interval corresponding to the on state time of said apparatus required to achieve substantially optimum efficiency in terms of maximum temperature modification in said conditioned space for a specified fuel consumption;

(e) establishing a minimum pause interval for said cycle mode, said minimum pause interval corresponding to a sufficient time in the off state to permit the apparatus to dissipate substantially all of the useful residual thermal energy remaining stored in said apparatus after an immediately preceding burn interval; and

(f) in response to temperature conditions in said conditioned space, maintaining the measured temperature substantially at said set point temperature, said step of maintaining including;

in response to differences between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in a second sense (opposite said first sense), maintaining said on-time interval at said minimum on-time interval while decrementing said pause interval in successive cycles until the measured temperature returns substantially to said set point temperature, or until said pause interval becomes equal to said minimum pause interval, whichever occurs first; and

in response to (1) the pause interval being equal to the minimum pause interval, (2) the on-time interval being equal to the minimum on-time interval, and (3) a difference between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said second sense, incrementing said on-time interval to reduce said difference;

whereby the minimum on-time interval is the preferred on-time interval for said system and is maintained in spite of temperature modification requirements in said conditioned space unless the pause interval is equal to the minimum pause interval.

89. The method according to claim 88 wherein each cycle, consisting of a on-time and a pause interval, has a variable total time interval.

90. The method according to claim 88 wherein step (f) includes permitting modification of said on-time interval and said pause interval only as specified increments and decrements of the existing on-time and pause intervals, respectively.

91. The method according to claim 88 wherein said measured temperature signal varies in predetermined minimum temperature increments, and wherein step (f) includes maintaining said measured temperature within one minimum predetermined temperature increment of said set point temperature by modifying said on-time and pause intervals.

92. The method according to claim 91 further comprising the steps of:

(g) establishing a temperature increment transition time for said apparatus corresponding to the time required for said apparatus in said on state to change the temperature in said space by said minimum predetermined temperature increment; and

(h) in response to entry into said cycle mode, establishing an initial value of said on-time interval which is significantly less than said temperature increment transition time.

93. The method according to claim 92 wherein said minimum on-time interval is determined by operating characteristics of said apparatus, and wherein step (h) includes establishing said minimum on-time interval as said initial value of said burn interval.

94. The method according to claim 93 wherein step (h) further includes establishing an initial pause interval as an inverse function of said temperature increment transition time.

95. The method according to claim 88 further comprising:

in said cycle mode, and in response to differences between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said first sense, calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a function of the existing on-time interval;

comparing the decremented on-time interval value to the minimum on-time interval;

in response to the decremented on-time interval value being at least as long as the minimum pause interval, establishing the decremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval;

in response to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, establishing the minimum on-time interval as the on-time interval; and

in response to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, calculating an incremented pause interval value as a function of the existing pause interval, and establishing said incremented pause interval value as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval is only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the on-time interval below the minimum on-time interval.

96. The method according to claim 95 further comprising:

counting the number of attemps made in each cycle to decrement the on-time interval below said minimum on-time interval; and

in response to the attemps count being greater than a predetermined count value, terminating the cycle mode.

97. The method according to claim 88 further comprising:

counting the number of cycles occurring in each cycle mode;

in response to the occurrence of a predetermined number of successive cycles without change in said on-time and pause intervals, calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a function of the existing on-time interval;

in response to the decremented on-time interval value being at least as long as the minimum pause interval, establishing the decremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval;

in response to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, establishing the minimum on-time interval as the on-time interval; and

in response to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, calculating an incremented pause interval value as a preset function of the existing pause interval, and establishing said incremented pause interval value as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval in only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the on-time interval below the minimum on-time interval.

98. The method according to claim 88 wherein said apparatus, in its on state, tends to change the measured temperature in said space in said first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said space that tend to change the measured temperature in a second sense opposite said first sense, wherein said measured temperature signal varies in predetermined minimum temperature increments, said method further comprising the steps of:

initiating a continuous on-time mode of operation in response to a predetermined difference, in said second sense, between said measured and set point temperatures, said continuous on-time mode being characterized by said apparatus being maintained continuously in said on state, wherein said predetermined difference is equal to a plurality of said minimum temperature increments;

100. The method according to claim 88 further comprising:

in said cycle mode, and in response to the difference between the measured and set point temperatures becoming a pre-established value in said second sense, transferring the system out of said cycle mode;

wherein said pre-established value is greater than said predetermined minimum temperature increment and less than said predetermined difference between said measured and set point temperatures.

101. The method according to claim 88 further comprising:

in said cycle mode, and in response to the difference between the measured and set point temperatures becomming a pre-established value in said second sense at the end of each of plural successive cycles, transferring the system out of said cycle mode;

wherein said pre-established value is greater than said predetermined minimum temperature increment and less than said predetermined difference between said measured and set point temperatures.

102. The method according to claim 88 wherein said apparatus is a forced air heating apparatus in which a fan blows air, during the on state, over a heat exchanger to heat the air, and then delivers the heated air into the conditioned space, said method further comprising:

during each pause interval, maintaining said fan on for the initial portion of that pause interval, said initial portion being a predetermined fraction of the on-time interval.

103. The method according to claim 88 further comprising the steps of:

periodically establishing a temperature increment transition time for said apparatus corresponding to the time required for said apparatus (in said on state) to change the temperature in said space by a minimum predetermined temperature increment;

periodically determining the accumulated on-time interval time, in the cycle mode, required to change the temperature in said space by said minimum predetermined increment; and

periodically computing the cost savings resulting from operating in the cycle mode by comparing said temperature increment transition time to said accumulated on-time interval time.

104. The method according to claim 88 wherein said temperature modifying apparatus is of a type which must be in its on state for a minimum period of time before reaching substantially optimum efficiency in modifying the temperature in the conditioned space, wherein said minimum on-time interval is at least as long as said minimum period of time, and wherein step (f) includes preventing said on-time interval from becoming shorter than said minimum on-time interval.

105. The method according to claim 103 wherein step (f) includes preventing said pause interval from becoming shorter than said minimum pause interval.

106. The method according to claim 103 wherein said apparatus is a forced air heater in which heat is generated during the on state to heat a thermal exchange surface over which air is directed before being delivered into said conditioned space, wherein said minimum on-time interval corresponds to the apparatus on time required to heat the thermal exchange surface sufficiently so that further apparatus on time does not significantly increase the temperature of said thermal exchange surface, wherein said minimum pause interval is sufficiently long to enable most of the useful thermal energy stored in said thermal exchange surface during the immediately previous on-time interval to be transferred to the air directed over the thermal exchange surface but sufficiently short to prevent complete cooling of said thermal exchange surface to ambient temperature between on-time intervals, said method further comprising the step of maintaining air flow over said thermal exchange surface for at least a portion of each pause interval.

107. The method according to claim 105 wherein said portion of each pause interval is a predetermined fraction of the current on-time interval.

108. The method according to claim 103 wherein said apparatus is a boiler-type heater in which liquid is heated during the on state and caused to flow through pipes at least partially located in said conditioned space to heat air in that space, wherein said minimum on-time interval corresponds to the time required to heat said liquid to substantially its maximum temperature, and wherein said minimum pause interval is sufficiently long to enable most of the useful thermal energy stored in said liquid during the immediately preceding on-time interval to be transferred to the air in said conditioned space but sufficiently short to prevent said liquid to be cooled to the ambient temperature in said conditioned space between on-time intervals.

109. The method according to claim 103 wherein said apparatus is an air conditioner in which a refrigerant fluid is compressed to a liquid state during the apparatus on state to cool a thermal exchange surface, the refrigerant fluid tending to return to a gaseous state during the off state, wherein said minimum pause interval is sufficiently long to permit vaporization of the refrigerant fluid between on-time intervals, wherein said minimum on-time interval is sufficiently long to ensure that relatively cool refrigerant fluid in its vapor state can be compressed to its liquid state, said method further comprising establishing a maximum pause interval for said cycle mode, wherein step (f) includes preventing said pause interval from becoming longer than said maximum pause interval, and wherein said maximum pause interval is sufficiently short to prevent the vaporized refrigerant fluid from warming significantly beyond the temperature necessary to achieve vaporization.

110. A method according to claim 88 further comprising the steps of:

permitting manual entry of selected time information into said system;

continuously measuring elapsed time; and

in response to the measured time becoming equal to a manually selected and entered time, establishing a changed condition in said system.

111. The method according to claim 109 wherein said changed condition is said set point temperature.

112. The method according to claim 88 further comprising the step of permitting manual entry of new set point temperature information in order to override the stored set point temperature.

113. The method according to claim 88 further comprising the steps of:

permitting manual entry of a plurality of selected temperature set points into said system along with time information identifying times when each temperature set point shall be effective;

measuring elapsed time on a continuous basis; and

in response to the measured time, automatically employing each of the entered set points as the operational set point in said system at the indicated effective time for that entered set point.

114. The method according to claim 88 further comprising the steps of:

permitting manual entry of data into a data storage unit;

wherein said apparatus includes a plurality of wires for electrically interconnecting said apparatus with a thermostat programmed to perform said method; and

providing a plurality of sequentially displayed prompts in common English language instructing a user to follow respective steps in connecting said a plurality of wires to said system, said prompts including instructions to the user to enter coded indicia as manually entered data to indicate system responses to wire connections made by the user in response to certain of said prompts.

116. The system according to claim 114 wherein each cycle, consisting of a on-time interval and a pause interval, has a variable total time.

117. The system according to claim 114 wherein said cycle modification means includes means for permitting modification of said on-time interval and said pause interval only as specified increments and decrements of the existing on-time and pause intervals, respectively.

118. The system according to claim 114 wherein said measured temperature signal varies in predetermined minimum temperature increments, and wherein said cycle modification means includes means for maintaining said measured temperature within one minimum predetermined temperature increment of said set point temperature by modifying said on-time and pause intervals.

119. The system according to claim 117 further comprising:

means for establishing a temperature increment transition time for said apparatus corresponding to the time required for said apparatus, in said on state, to change the temperature in said space by said minimum predetermined temperature increment; and

initial interval determining means responsive to entry of said system into said cycle mode for establishing an initial value of said on-time interval which is significantly less than said temperature increment transition time.

120. The system according to claim 118 wherein said minimum on-time interval is determined by operating characteristics of said apparatus, and wherein said initial interval determining means includes means for establishing said minimum on-time interval as said initial value of said on-time interval.

121. The system according to claim 119 wherein said initial interval determining means further comprises means for establishing an initial pause interval value as an inverse function of said temperature increment transition time.

123. The system according to claim 121 wherein said portion of each pause interval is a predetermined fraction of the current on-time interval.

124. The system according to claim 121 wherein said apparatus (in its on state) tends to change the measured temperature in said conditioned space in a first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said conditioned space which tend to change the measured temperature therein in a second sense opposite said first sense, said system further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode, and responsive to a predetermined difference between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said second sense, for calculating a decremented pause interval value as a function of the existing pause interval;

means for comparing the calculated decremented pause interval to the minimum pause interval;

pause interval establishing means, responsive to the decremented pause interval being at least as long as the minimum pause interval, for establishing the decremented pause interval value as the pause interval, said pause interval establishing means being further responsive to the decremented pause interval being shorter than the minimum pause interval for establishing the minimum pause interval as the pause interval; and

on-time interval incrementing means, responsive to the decremented pause interval value being shorter than the minimum pause interval, for calculating an incremented on-time interval value as a function of the existing on-time interval, and for establishing said incremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval;

whereby the on-time interval is only incremented in response to an attempt to decrement the pause interval below the minimum pause interval.

125. The system according to claim 121 wherein said apparatus (in its on state) tends to change the measured temperature in said conditioned space in a first sense to oppose temperature conditions in said conditioned space which tend to change the measured temperature therein in a second sense opposite said first sense, said system further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode, and responsive to at least a predetermined difference between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said first sense, for calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a function of the existing on-time interval;

127. The sytem according to claim 124 further comprising:

means operative in said cycle mode for counting the number of attempts made in each cycle mode to decrement the on-time interval below said minimum on-time interval; and

means responsive to the total of said attemps count being greater than a predetermined count value for terminating the cycle mode.

128. The system according to claim 121 further comprising:

means for counting the number of cycles occurring in each cycle mode;

means responsive to the occurrence of a predetermined number of successive cycles without change in said on-time and pause intervals for calculating a decremented on-time interval value as a function of the existing on-time interval;

on-time interval establishing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being at least as long as the minimum on-time interval, for establishing the decremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval, and responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, for establishing the minimum on-time interval as the on-time interval; and

pause interval incrementing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, for calculating an incremented pause interval value as a function of the existing pause interval, and for establishing said incremented pause interval as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval is only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the on-time interval below the minimum on-time interval.

99. in said continuous on-time mode, and in response to said measured temperature becoming equal to the set point temperature, initiating a cycle mode.

115. An electronic thermostat system for controlling the operation of a temperature modifying apparatus arranged to modify the temperature, in a first sense, of a conditioned space, said apparatus having an on state in which the apparatus consumes fuel and an off state in which the apparatus does not consume fuel, said thermostat comprising:

set point means for storing a set point temperature representing the desired temperature in said conditioned space;

measurement means for measuring the temperature in said conditioned space and providing a measured temperature signal representing the measured temperatures;

cycle means for establishing a cycle mode of operation for said system in which said apparatus alternates between a variable on-time interval (in which said apparatus is in said on state) and a variable pause interval (in which said apparatus is in said off state);

means for establishing a minimum on-time interval for said cycle mode, said minimum on-time interval corresponding to the on state time of said apparatus required to achieve substantially optimum efficiency in terms of maximum temperature modification in said conditioned space for a specified fuel consumption;

means for establishing a minimum pause interval for said cycle mode, said minimum pause interval corresponding to sufficient time in said off state to permit said apparatus to dissipate substantially all of the useful residual thermal energy remaining stored in said apparatus after an immediately preceding on-time interval;

cycle modification means responsive to temperature conditions in said conditioned space for maintaining the measured temperature substantially at said set point, said cycle modification means including;

means responsive to differences between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said first sense for maintaining said pause interval at said minimum pause interval while decrementing said on-time interval in successive cycles until the measured temperature returns substantially to said set point temperature, or until said on-time interval becomes equal to said minimum on-time interval, whichever occurs first; and

means responsive to (a) the on-time interval being equal to the minimum on-time interval, (b) the pause interval being equal to the minimum pause interval, and (c) a difference between said measured temperature and said set point temperature in said first sense, for incrementing said pause interval to reduce said difference;

whereby the minimum on-time interval is the preferred on-time interval for said system.

122. An electronic thermostat system for controlling the operation of a temperature-modifying apparatus arranged to modify the temperature of a conditioned space, said apparatus having an on state in which it consumes fuel and an off state in which it does not consume fuel, said thermostat comprising:

set point storage means for storing a set point temperature representing the desired temperature in said conditioned space;

measurement means for measuring the temperature in said conditioned space and providing a measured temperature signal representing the measured temperature;

cycle means for establishing a cycle mode of operation for said system in which said apparatus alternates between a variable on-time interval (in which said apparatus is in said on state) and a variable pause interval (in which said apparatus is in said off state), wherein the total time of the on-time and pause intervals is variable from cycle to cycle;

means for establishing a minimum on-time interval for said cycle mode;

cycle modification means responsive to said measured temperature for maintaining the temperature in said conditioned space substantially at the set point temperature by modifying the durations of the on-time and pause intervals;

means for establishing a temperature increment transition time for said apparatus corresponding to the time required for said apparatus (in said on state) to change the temperature in said space by a predetermined minimum temperature increment; and

initial interval determining means responsive to entry of said system into said cycle mode for establishing an initial value of said on-time interval which is significantly less than said temperature increment transition time;

wherein said minimum on-time interval is determined by operation characteristics of said apparatus, and wherein said initial interval determining means includes means for establishing said minimum on-time interval as said initial value of said on-time interval; and

wherein said initial interval determining means further includes means for establishing an initial pause interval as an inverse function of the temperature increment transition time.

126. means for comparing the decremented on-time interval to the minimum on-time interval;

on-time interval establishing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval being as least as long as the minimum on-time interval, for establishing the decremented on-time interval value as the on-time interval, and responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval for establishing the minimum on-time interval as the on-time interval; and

pause interval incrementing means, responsive to the decremented on-time interval value being shorter than the minimum on-time interval, for calculating an incremented pause interval value as a function of the existing pause interval, and for establishing said incremented pause interval as the pause interval;

whereby the pause interval is only incremented in response to a corresponding attempt to decrement the on-time interval below the minimum on-time interval.