Remote temperature sensing transmitting and programmable thermostat system

• US 6,213,404 B1
• Filed: 03/17/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Application Number:
  US09/270,954
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 236/51, 236/94, 340/870.17, 165/205-1
• US Class Current: 236/51
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/10 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices only the heater being controlled F24H9/20
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

The present invention is a system of wireless, battery operated temperature sensing devices which transmit ambient or other sensed temperature information to a programmable thermostat. The compact construction and multi-level programming of the temperature sensing devices for only periodic transmission of temperature information to the programmable thermostat permits years of operation with power supplied by small, inexpensive batteries. The temperature sensing devices are therefore easily installed at any location within about 100-200 feet from the programmable thermostat. The present invention also comprises a method of retrofit for the programmable thermostat of U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,319, whereby a compact receiver device is connected to available connections for input of remotely transmitted information and the programming of the programmable thermostat is adapted to receive, store, display and control environmental control devices according to the input temperatures received from the temperature sensing devices.

Claims

1. A system of battery operated remote temperature sensing transmitters, receiver means and a programmable thermostat comprising:

(a) each battery operated remote temperature sensing transmitter comprising temperature sensing means, power supplied solely by a battery power supply, sensed temperature storage means and transmission means whereby a sensed temperature is stored and the value transmitted periodically such that battery operation of the transmitter is capable of being maintained without battery replacement for at least several months;

(b) receiver means for receiving and uniquely identifying and storing transmitted temperatures from one or more transmitters; and

(c) programmable thermostat means connected operatively with the receiver means whereby sensed temperatures stored in the receiver means are retrieveable by the programmable thermostat means for use by one or more functions of the programmable thermostat means.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each transmitter further comprises means for transmitting a unit code before transmission of a sensed temperature, which unit code uniquely identifies the transmission of a single transmitter among a plurality of transmitters transmitting to the receiver means, whereby receiver means may uniquely store the transmitted sensed temperature identified to that single transmitter.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the unit code is settable by a user with switch means at each transmitter.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein each sensed temperature stored in the receiver means is capable of being displayed on the display screen of the programmable thermostat by use of user action interface means.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein an average of sensed temperatures stored in receiver means are transmitted to the programmable thermostat for comparison to control setpoints and other comparison functions whereby one or more environmental control equipment means are operated by the programmable thermostat.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein receiver means further comprises one or more actuatable light means whereby receipt of transmission of a sensed temperature from a transmitter causes the lights means to become lighted, further comprising means for a regular arrangement of the light means in an identifiable physical sequence such that each light means becomes lighted only upon receipt of transmission of a transmitter transmitting a matching one of the several unit codes, whereby a user may view a confirmation of receipt of the transmission from the matching unit code transmitter.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein transmitters further comprise time interval means for a user to set non-transmission periods between transmission of sensed temperatures.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein time interval means permit the user to set a non-transmission period for at least a fast response period of about 1 to 3 minutes and a slow response period of from about 4 to 9 minutes.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein each transmitter further comprises means for transmitting a house code before transmission of the unit code, which house code uniquely identifies the transmission of a single transmitter among a plurality of receiver means receiving transmitter transmissions within a common zone of potential reception the plurality of receiver means, whereby each receiver means may uniquely receive only sensed temperature transmissions from transmitters having an identically set house code.

10. A system of remote temperature sensing transmitters, receiver means and a programmable thermostat comprising:

(a) each remote temperature sensing transmitter comprising temperature sensing means, power supplied solely by a battery power supply, sensed temperature storage means and transmission means whereby a sensed temperature is stored and the value transmitted periodically;

(b) receiver means for receiving and uniquely identifying and storing transmitted temperatures from one or more transmitters; and

(c) programmable thermostat means connected operatively with the receiver means whereby sensed temperatures stored in the receiver means are retrieveable by the programmable thermostat means for use by one or more functions of the programmable thermostat means.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein

(d) each transmitter further comprises means for transmitting a unit code before transmission of a sensed temperature, which unit code uniquely identifies the transmission of a single transmitter among a plurality of transmitters transmitting to the receiver means, whereby receiver means may uniquely store the transmitted sensed temperature identified to that single transmitter; and

(e) each transmitter further comprises means for transmitting a house code before transmission of the unit code, which house code uniquely identifies the transmission of a single transmitter among a plurality of receiver means receiving transmitter transmissions within a common zone of potential reception the plurality of receiver means, whereby each receiver means may uniquely receive only sensed temperature transmissions from transmitters having an identically set house code.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the unit code is settable by a user with switch means at each transmitter.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein each sensed temperature stored in the receiver means is capable of being displayed on the display screen of the programmable thermostat by use of user action interface means.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein an average of sensed temperatures stored in receiver means are transmitted to the programmable thermostat for comparison to control setpoints and other comparison functions whereby one or more environmental control equipment means are operated by the programmable thermostat.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein receiver means further comprises one or more actuatable light means whereby receipt of transmission of a sensed temperature from a transmitter causes the lights means to become lighted, further comprising means for a regular arrangement of the light means in an identifiable physical sequence such that each light means becomes lighted only upon receipt of transmission of a transmitter transmitting a matching one of the several unit codes, whereby a user may view a confirmation of receipt of the transmission from the matching unit code transmitter.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein transmitters further comprise time interval means for a user to set non-transmission periods between transmission of sensed temperatures.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein time interval means permit the user to set a non-transmission period for at least a fast response period of about 1 to 3 minutes and a slow response period of from about 4 to 9 minutes.