Reconfigurable programmable thermostat

• US 7,575,179 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2006
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Controls and Measurements Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Controls and Measurements Corporation
• Inventors: Morrow, Benjamin V., Kadah, Ronald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): JIANG, CHEN WEN
• Application Number:
  US11/408,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20070246553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,214 Days
• Field of Search: 621/58, 236/1.C, 236/91.D, 236/46.R, 236/94, 236/51
• US Class Current: 236/91.00D
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

A programmable thermostat can be programmed and configured using a set up selector keys or pushbuttons to enter set up modes and to move from screen to screen on the thermostat display, and using up and down selector keys to change the time and temperature settings within each screen or mode. The thermostat can be set into a master mode be depressing two of the selector keys simultaneously, and then the programmed settings of the thermostat can be electronically transferred to each of a batch of similar thermostats using a thermostat conductor in a multi-conductor thermostat wire such as the fan conductor. The thermostat can be toggled back to a normal or target mode for thermostat operation.

Claims

1. A programmable and reconfigurable thermostat in which settings can be programmed and which is adapted for copying the settings of the thermostat electronically, thermostat-to-thermostat, directly onto any of a plurality of similar thermostats, the thermostat comprising:

A wiring terminal block having at least two terminals adapted to receive and connect to thermostat wires that provide thermostat power to room comfort apparatus to turn the room comfort apparatus on and off;

A temperature sensor;

A microprocessor coupled to the at least two terminals and to the temperature sensor, including a clock for tracking time of day and day of week, and capable of connecting the thermostat power to said terminals to turn on and off one or more room comfort apparatus in accordance with the temperature sensed at said temperature sensor and settings stored in said microprocessor;

A display for showing a plurality of modes and respective time and temperature settings of said thermostat;

A plurality of selector keys coupled to said microprocessor permitting a user to switch into each of a plurality of modes and to adjust program time and temperature settings; and

Means for establishing a data output mode and a target mode, whereby when in the data output mode electrical contact of the at least two terminals of the wiring terminal block of the thermostat directly to similar terminals of a wiring terminal block of a second one of said similar thermostats, by means of temporary connection of thermostat conductor wires, when the latter thermostat is in the target mode electronically transfers the settings of the first-mentioned thermostat via said temporary connection of thermostat conductor wires into the microprocessor of the second thermostat.

2. The thermostat according to claim 1, wherein said microprocessor includes software stored therein responsive to actuation of selected ones of said plurality of selector keys, namely, responsive to a mode select key to set the thermostat into a configuration mode, producing a series of setup screens on said display, responsive to an advance key to advance from each of said setup screens to a subsequent setup screen, and to one or more setting select keys to select time and/or temperature settings within each of said setup screens.

3. The thermostat according to claim 1, wherein for an air conditioning mode or heat pump mode, the thermostat further includes time delay means providing a time delay for actuation of a compressor following a de-energization of the compressor.

4. The thermostat according to claim 1, wherein the thermostat has operating modes including at least one heat stage mode, at least one cooling stage mode, and a program mode.

5. The thermostat according to claim 1, further comprising a lockout feature to prevent tampering with the settings after programming is complete wherein further adjustment of said settings can only be enabled by entering an enable code on said selector keys.

6. The thermostat according to claim 5, further comprising an internal battery for powering the microprocessor and display when the thermostat is not connected to a thermostat power source.

7. The thermostat according to claim 1, wherein said wiring block has at least three terminals including first and second terminals to be connected to receive thermostat power, and a third terminal, wherein the third terminal is adapted for data transfer to communicate the settings of the first-mentioned thermostat that is in the data output mode to the microprocessor of the second thermostat.

8. The thermostat according to claim 1, wherein said means for establishing the data output mode and the target mode includes a facility coupled to two of said plurality of selector keys, wherein actuating said two keys simultaneously toggles the thermostat between its data output mode and its target mode.

9. The thermostat according to claim 1, wherein when said thermostat is in its data output mode, said display shows a predetermined data output mode indication.

10. The thermostat according to claim 1, wherein when said thermostat is in its target mode and is receiving settings being electronically transferred directly from another thermostat set in its data output mode, said display shows a download indication, and when said transfer is complete, said display shows a download-completed indication.