Extended clock thermostat
First Claim
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1. An electronically controlled thermostat comprising:
- a processor for controlling the operation of heating, venting or air conditioning equipment in response to control information having been provided to the thermostat;
a nonvolatile memory operatively connected to said processor, said nonvolatile memory having the control information stored therein for recall when said processor loses its main source of power;
a real time clock operatively connected to said processor so as to provide accurate real time information to the processor; and
an emergency power source connected only to said real time clock so as to maintain the integrity of the real time clock during loss of power to said processor, said nonvolatile memory and said heating, venting or air conditioning equipment.
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Abstract
An electronically controlled thermostat has an emergency power configuration which only provides long term emergency power to a real time clock. All other components of the thermostat function only for a limited period of time following a power outage. Emergency power to the other components is monitored during power outage with appropriate action being taken to assure that control information has been stored in nonvolatile memory before emergency power deteriorates to a critical level.
189 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An electronically controlled thermostat comprising:
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a processor for controlling the operation of heating, venting or air conditioning equipment in response to control information having been provided to the thermostat; a nonvolatile memory operatively connected to said processor, said nonvolatile memory having the control information stored therein for recall when said processor loses its main source of power; a real time clock operatively connected to said processor so as to provide accurate real time information to the processor; and an emergency power source connected only to said real time clock so as to maintain the integrity of the real time clock during loss of power to said processor, said nonvolatile memory and said heating, venting or air conditioning equipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A process for maintaining the integrity of operating information necessary for a thermostat to control a heating, venting or air conditioning system, said process comprising the steps of:
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providing a main source of power to all elements of the thermostat which are to process or maintain the operating information; providing a separate source of power to a real time clock within the thermostat; detecting when a voltage from the main source of power drops below a predetermined voltage level; and checking whether the operating information necessary to control the heating, venting or air conditioning system has been stored in a nonvolatile memory when a drop is detected below the predetermined voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification