US 4,843,084 AGranted

Thermostat control system

AssigneeParker Electronics, Inc.

InventorsJeffrey L. Parker, Edward Parker

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A microcomputer-controlled thermostat for use in monitoring and controlling a single zone HVAC system which provides conditioned air to one or more zones. The thermostat can be programmed and used either as a monitor thermostat to control the HVAC unit alone and/or to control the HVAC unit and its damper in a multiple zone mode. The thermostat is also programmed as a slave thermostat in a master-slave relationship with a monitor thermostat. The microcomputer memory is supplemented with additional ROM containing control algorithms for use in system operation. Logic circuitry is used to recognize commands as being for operation of the HVAC unit, the operation of the damper, or selection of which systems sensors are to be enabled. A real time clock circuit in the monitor thermostat is used to supply data for time-based system operation.

Claims72

Dependent claims

In a system for monitoring and controlling the condition of air in a plurality of zones within predetermined operating limits using a single zone HVAC unit, operated by a first control means, in which conditioned air passes into a plurality of zones via a plurality of dampers, each operated by a control means, in a plurality of ducts communicating with respective zones, a thermostat means for operating said first control means and said control means for one said damper in one said zone, said thermostat means comprising:

first circuit means responsive to input signals for establishing operating limits for said one zone and providing a first digital word output signal representative of said operating limits;
second circuit means responsive to input signals indicative of the actual condition of air in said one zone for providing a second digital word output signal representative of the actual condition of air therein;
third circuit means adapted to be coupled to a peripheral circuit means for receiving data from a peripheral circuit means and for providing a third digital word output signal representative of the information contained in such data;
fourth circuit means responsive to output signals from said first, second, and third circuit means for providing fourth digital word output signals for operating said control means of said one damper and said first control means;
programmable logic means for providing digital word input signals to said fourth circuit means for selectively controlling said fourth circuit means;
and
logic means for selectively operating said one damper control means and said first control means in response to respective said fourth digital word input signals from said fourth circuit means.

4 more elements

In a system for monitoring and controlling the condition of air in a zone within predetermined operating limits using a single zone HVAC unit, operated by a control means, in which conditioned air passes into the zone in a duct communicating with the zone, a thermostat means for operating said control means, said thermostat means comprising:

first circuit means responsive to input signals for establishing operating limits for the zone and providing a first digital word output signal representative of said operating limits, said first circuit means including means responsive to input signals for establishing the desired temperature in the zone and providing a first digital word output signal representative of the desired temperature therein;
second circuit means responsive to input signals indicative of the actual condition of air in said one zone for providing a second digital word output signal representative of the actual condition of air therein;
a first sensor located in the zone for providing an output signal representative of the actual temperature of the zone, said second circuit means including means responsive to said output signal from said first sensor for providing a second digital word output signal representative of the actual temperature in said one zone;
a second sensor located in the duct for determining the temperature therein and providing an output signal representative of the temperature in the duct, said second circuit means responsive to said output signal from said second sensor and providing a digital word output signal representative of the duct temperature;
third circuit means responsive to output signals from said first and second circuit means for providing third digital word output signals for operating said control means of the HVAC unit;
said third circuit means is selectively controllable and is operable and adapted for comparing a digital word representative of the actual temperature of the zone and digital word representative of desired temperature in the zone for determining the demand for heating or cooling or no demand in the zone;
programmable logic means for providing digital word input signals to said third circuit means for selectively controlling said third circuit means;
and
logic means for selectively operating said control means in response to respective said third digital word input signals from said third circuit means.

6 more elements

In a system for monitoring and controlling the condition of air in a zone within predetermined operating limits using a single zone HVAC unit, operated by a first control means, in which conditioned air passes into the zone via a damper, operated by a control means, in a duct communicating with the zone, a thermostat means for operating said control means for the damper in the zone, said thermostant means comprising:

first circuit means responsive to input signals for establishing operating limits for the zone and providing a first digital word output signal representative of said operating limits;
second circuit means responsive to input signals indicative of the actual condition of air in said one zone for providing a second digital word output signal representative of the actual condition of air therein;
a first sensor located in the zone for providing an output signal representative of the actual temperature of the zone, said second circuit means including means responsive to said output signal from said first sensor for providing a second digital word output signal representative of the actual temperature in the zone;
third circuit means adapted to be coupled to a peripheral circuit means for receiving data from a peripheral circuit means and for providing a third digital word output signal representative of the information contained in such data;
fourth circuit means responsive to output signals from said first, second, and third circuit means for providing fourth digital word output signals for operating said control means of said damper;
programmable logic means for providing digital word input signals to said fourth circuit means for selectively controlling said fourth circuit means;
and
logic means for selectively operating said one damper control means in response to respective said fourth digital word input signals from said fourth circuit means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.