Multiple heatsink cooling system for a line voltage thermostat
First Claim
1. A thermostat for controlling an electric heater comprising:
- an ambient temperature sensor;
a temperature setpoint device;
a comparator mechanism connected to the ambient temperature sensor and the temperature setpoint device;
a power switch having a control terminal connected to the comparator mechanism; and
wherein the power switch comprises;
two or more separate heatsinks;
a solid state switch situated on each heatsink; and
wherein each solid state switch has a control input connected in parallel to the other solid state switches to the control terminal of the power switch to form the power switch; and
wherein;
the comparator mechanism compares a first temperature indication from the ambient temperature sensor and a second temperature indication from the temperature setpoint device and provides a first output signal, a second output signal or no output signal to the control terminal of the power switch;
the first output signal indicates that the second temperature indication is X degrees greater than the first temperature indication;
the second output signal indicates that the first temperature indication is Y degrees greater than the second temperature indication;
X is a predetermined number; and
Y is a predetermined number.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A line voltage thermostat having a multiple heatsink switch. A total switch may have a semiconductor switch mounted on each heatsink of the multiple heatsink switch. The semiconductor switches of the respective heatsinks may be connected in parallel to represent the total switch. Each of the two or more heatsinks, having a semiconductor switch for switching, and in total conveying the same power as one equivalent switch with one total heatsink, may have higher maximum operating temperatures and higher thermal resistances than twice the thermal resistance of the one total heatsink. The two or more heatsinks may be situated within a housing of the line voltage thermostat, and be easier to distribute in the housing to achieve an efficient layout of a display and control buttons for the thermostat.
427 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A thermostat for controlling an electric heater comprising:
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an ambient temperature sensor; a temperature setpoint device; a comparator mechanism connected to the ambient temperature sensor and the temperature setpoint device; a power switch having a control terminal connected to the comparator mechanism; and wherein the power switch comprises; two or more separate heatsinks; a solid state switch situated on each heatsink; and wherein each solid state switch has a control input connected in parallel to the other solid state switches to the control terminal of the power switch to form the power switch; and wherein; the comparator mechanism compares a first temperature indication from the ambient temperature sensor and a second temperature indication from the temperature setpoint device and provides a first output signal, a second output signal or no output signal to the control terminal of the power switch; the first output signal indicates that the second temperature indication is X degrees greater than the first temperature indication; the second output signal indicates that the first temperature indication is Y degrees greater than the second temperature indication; X is a predetermined number; and Y is a predetermined number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method, for controlling an electric load, comprising:
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providing a thermostat comprising a power switch connectable to an electric load; determining how much power is to be delivered by an electric load; designating an amount of time the electric load is to be powered; and designing a power switch capable of turning on and off the power of an electric load, incorporating two or more solid state switches connected in parallel to form the power switch and attached to separate heatsinks; measuring a first temperature of a space having a temperature to be controlled; and comparing a first temperature and a second temperature indication from the thermostat; providing a first output signal indicating that the second temperature indication is X degrees greater than the first temperature, a second output signal that indicated that the first temperature is Y degrees greater than the second temperature indication, or no output signal to the power switch; and wherein each of the two or more solid state switches is capable of turning on and off the power of the electric load. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A heatsink cooling system for a line voltage thermostat comprising:
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a switching component; and a thermostatic control; a comparator mechanism; and wherein; the switching component comprises; two or more heatsinks; and a semiconductor switch situated on each of the two or more heatsinks; and wherein each semiconductor switch has an input connectable to a line voltage and an output connectable to an electric load, and has a control terminal; and the thermostatic control has an output connected to the control terminal of each semiconductor switch; the comparator mechanism compares a first temperature indication from an ambient temperature sensor and a second temperature indication from the thermostatic control and provides a first output signal, a second output signal or no output signal to the control terminal of the switching component; the first output signal indicates that the second temperature indication is X degrees greater than the first temperature indication; the second output signal indicates that the first temperature indication is Y degrees greater than the second temperature indication. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification