Energy saving temperature control apparatus

An energy saving override control apparatus for use in combination with room temperature control systems of the type having an air temperature control load, a power source for energizing the air temperature control load, and thermostat means for controlling energization of the air temperature control load to maintain the ambient room air temperature within a selectable comfort temperature range of degrees, said override control means comprising:

• a. electrical switching means normally operatively connecting in circuit the air temperature control load with the energizing power source, responsive to receipt of an interrupt control signal for selectively electrically opening the energization path between the power source and the air temperature control load, said switching means being operable independent of the thermostat means;
• b. energy saving control circuit means for monitoring the ambient room air temperature and for providing in response thereto said interrupt control signal whenever the monitored ambient room air temperature is within an energy saving range of consecutive temperature degrees, whereby said energy saving temperature range normally includes the comfort temperature range of degrees;
• c. means for operatively connecting said energy saving control circuit with said electrical switching means for transfer of said interrupt control signal therebetween;
• and
• d. room occupant detector means responsive to receipt of a room occupant entered stimuli for sensing a uniquely detectable activating member of a type normally carried by a room occupant upon leaving the room and for inhibiting transfer of said interrupt control signal to said switching means in response to said sensed activating member, whereby said interrup control signal is prevented from energizing said switching means whenever said uniquely detectable activating member is sensed in real time by said detector means.

The combination with a room temperature control system of the type having thermostat means for sensing the ambient room air temperature and for controlling in response to the sensed temperature energization of a heating/cooling unit load mounted within the room to normally maintain the ambient room air temperature generally at a selectable comfort temperature setting, and an electrical power source operatively connected by the thermostat means to energize the heating/cooling unit, of an energy-saving override control apparatus, comprising:

• a. temperature sensing circuit means mountable within the room for sensing the ambient room air temperature and for providing first and second output control signals in response thereto, said temperature sensor means being operable to provide said first output control signal whenever said sensed air temperature is within a predetermined energy saving range of consecutive temperature degrees and being operable to produce said second output control signal whenever said sensed air temperature is outside of said predetermined energy saving temperature range;
• b. a portable activating member suitable for hand-carrying by a room occupant and of a type which is normally carried by the room occupant when he leaves the room;
• c. room occupant sensor means suitable to cooperatively receive said portable activating member for providing a third output control signal whenever said activating member is cooperatively received thereby;
• and
• d. switching control means operatively mounted in circuit between the heating/cooling unit and the electrical power source and responsive to said output control signals for selectively opening and closing the energizing circuit therebetween, said switching control means being operable in response to receipt of said third output control signal to electrically close the energizing circuit path to said heating/cooling unit enabling control thereof by the thermostat means regardless of the presence of said first and said second output control signals, and being operable in the absence of said third output control signal to operatively close the energizing circuit path to said heating/cooling unit in response to receipt of said second output control signal and to electrically open the energizing circuit path to said heating/cooling unit in response to receipt of said first output control signal.