Wireless programming or programmable thermostat mobile unit for multiple separate controller or programmable fixed units and programming transmission method

• US 6,196,467 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Venstar Incorporated (Daikin Industries Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Venstar Incorporated (Daikin Industries Ltd)
• Inventors: Staples, John, Zimmerman, Terry, Bohm, Grant, Dushane, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US09/079,326
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 236/51, 236/46.R, 236/94, 165/238, 165/209
• US Class Current: 236/46.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/10 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices only the heater being controlled F24H9/20
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

The present invention allows the user to quickly and repeatedly program one receiver controller device at least controlling one or more heating or cooling devices for one desirably separate zone of occupation to another such receiver controller device set at least controlling another separate set of heating or cooling devices for another desirably separate zone of occupation. The realities of present day industrial and commercial buildings is that they comprise many such separate zones of occupation with separate heating or cooling devices controlled with separate controllers due to the diverse nature of the desired temperatures, dead bands for controlling such temperatures, temperature and device operation ramping, times of occupation, economization measures imposed for each zone, and the many similar aspects of thermostatic control described herein and in the prior art.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly programming programmable thermostats comprising:

(a) a programming device comprising means for storing program parameters for a programmable thermostat and wirelessly transmitting a plurality of those program parameters to a controller device;

(b) a programmable thermostat comprising the controller device comprising means for controlling heating or air conditioning equipment with program parameters and for accepting such program parameters only wirelessly from the programming device;

(c) causing the programming device to wireless transmit to the controller device at least a plurality of program parameters, whereby at least a plurality of program parameters are received into a memory of the controller device; and

(d) the programming device further comprises a user input interface without means for displaying those inputs on the programming device and adapted for inputting program parameters into a memory of the programming device, the user then inputting program parameters by observing display of those parameters on display means separate from the programming device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the programming device, during user input of program parameters, wirelessly transmits to a controller device, the controller device further comprising display means for parameters stepwise entered by a user into the programming device, each program parameter as it is inputted by the user into the programming device and thereby the controller device subsequently displays the program parameter input on the display means.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a program for the programmable thermostat consists of a definite set of variable program parameters and wherein the programming device retains in a memory all of a desired set of that definite set of variable program parameters, the programming device then wirelessly transmitting to the controller device in a continuous transmission all of a desired set of that definite set of variable program parameters.

4. A method for wirelessly programming programmable thermostats comprising:

(a) a programming device comprising means for storing program parameters for a programmable thermostat and wirelessly transmitting a plurality of those program parameters to a controller device;

(b) a programmable thermostat comprising the controller device comprising means for controlling heating or air conditioning equipment with program parameters and for accepting such program parameters wirelessly from the programming device;

(c) causing the programming device to wireless transmit to the controller device at least a plurality of program parameters, whereby at least a plurality of program parameters are received into a memory of the controller device; and

(d) the programming device further comprises a user input interface without means for displaying those inputs on the programming device and adapted for inputting program parameters into a memory of the programming device, the user then inputting program parameters by observing display of those parameters on display means separate from the programming device.

5. The method of claim 4 herein the programming device, during user input of program parameters, wirelessly transmits to a controller device, the controller device further comprising display means for parameters stepwise entered by a user into the programming device, each program parameter as it is inputted by the user into the programming device and thereby the controller device subsequently displays the program parameter input on the display means.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein a program for the programmable thermostat consists of a definite set of variable program parameters and wherein the programming device retains in a memory all of a desired set of that definite set of variable program parameters, the programming device then wirelessly transmitting to the controller device in a continuous transmission all of a desired set of that definite set of variable program parameters.

7. A method for wirelessly programming a programming device comprising:

(a) the programming device comprising means for storing program parameters for a programmable thermostat and wirelessly transmitting one or more program parameters to a display device, the programming device having a user input interface adapted for inputting program parameters into a memory of the programming device although without means for displaying those inputs on the programming device;

(b) the display device comprising reception means for wireless transmissions from the programming device and for displaying those transmissions on a display observable by the user of the programming device; and

(c) the user then inputting program parameters to the programming device, wireless transmission of the inputs by the programming device to the display device and reception and display of the inputs by the display device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

(d) a programmable thermostat comprises a controller device comprising the display device, means for controlling heating or air conditioning equipment with program parameters and for accepting such program parameters only wirelessly from the programming device; and

(e) causing the programming device to wireless transmit to the controller device at least a plurality of program parameters, whereby at least a plurality of program parameters are received into a memory of the controller device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a program for the programmable thermostat consists of a definite set of variable program parameters and wherein the programming device retains in a memory all of a desired set of that definite set of variable program parameters, the programming device then wirelessly transmitting to the controller device in a continuous transmission all of a desired set of that definite set of variable program parameters.