Thermostat having a multiple color signal capability with single indicator opening

• US 6,164,374 A
• Filed: 07/02/1998
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Rhodes, William D., Toth, Bartholomew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CIRIC, LJILJANA V
• Application Number:
  US09/109,470
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 165/240, 236/94, 62/127
• US Class Current: 165/240
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

A thermostat for operating a climate control system, the thermostat comprising a base, a bi-color LED on the base capable of producing at least two distinct illuminated signals, and a cover for the base, the cover having a single signal opening which is aligned with the bi-color LED when the cover is on the base to provide at least two distinct lighted signals in a thermostat through a single signal opening in the cover.

Claims

1. A thermostat for operating a climate control system, the thermostat comprising at least one LED capable of producing at least two differently colored signals indicative of the status of the climate control system, a cover enclosing at least one LED and having a single viewing opening enabling at least two differently colored signals to be viewed through the single viewing opening in the cover.

2. The thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the at least one LED comprises a bi-color LED.

3. The thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the at least one LED comprises at least two LED'"'"'s.

4. A thermostat for operating a climate control system, the thermostat comprising a base, a light source on the base for providing at least two differently colored signal lights indicative of the status of the climate control system;

a cover having a single indicator opening; and

a light guide for transmitting the light from the light source to the indicator opening in the cover.

5. The thermostat according to claim 4 wherein the light source comprises a bi-color LED.

6. A thermostat for operating a climate control system, the thermostat comprising a base, a bi-color LED on the base capable of producing at least two distinctly colored illuminated signals, and a cover for the base, the cover having a single signal opening which is aligned with the bi-color LED when the cover is on the base.

7. A thermostat for operating a climate control system and producing at least two distinctly colored illuminated signals indicating non-coincident operating conditions of the climate control system, the thermostat comprising a base, a bi-color LED on the base capable of producing at least two distinctly colored illuminated signals, a circuit connectable to the climate control system for operating a bi-color LED to produce a first illuminated signal of a first color upon the occurrence of a first condition, and a second illuminated signal of a second color upon the occurrence of a second condition;

and a cover for the base, the cover having a single signal opening which is aligned with the bi-color LED when the cover is on the base.

8. The thermostat according to claim 7 wherein the bi-color LED comprises two LED'"'"'s, and is capable of producing at least three distinctly colored illuminated signals, a first signal when one of the LED'"'"'s is energized, a second signal when the other of the LED'"'"'s is energized, and a third signal when both of the LED'"'"'s are energized.

9. The thermostat according to claim 8 wherein the thermostat produces at least three distinctly colored illuminated signals, the circuit energizing one of the LED'"'"'s upon the occurrence of a first condition in the climate control system, energizing the other of the LED'"'"'s upon the occurrence of a second condition in the climate control system, and energizing both of the LED'"'"'s upon the occurrence of a third condition in the climate control system.

10. The thermostat according to claim 9 wherein the bi-color LED produces a green light when one of the LED'"'"'s is lit, a red light when the other of the LED'"'"'s is lit, and a yellow light when both of the LED'"'"'s are lit.

11. The thermostat according to claim 10 wherein the climate control system comprises a heat pump including a compressor, an auxiliary heater, and an emergency heater and wherein the circuit drives the bi-color LED to produce a green light when the compressor is operating;

to produce a yellow light when the auxiliary heater is operating; and

to produce red light when the emergency heater is operating.

12. The thermostat according to claim 11 wherein the circuit drives the bi-color LED to produce a blinking red light in the event of a climate control system malfunction.