US 5,161,606 A · Interactive electronic thermostat with minimum and maximum temperature thermal limit switches

Abstract

An interactive electronic thermostat operates to communicate with an installer through an audible or visual display and keypad to instruct the installer to perform tasks and enter observations to effect proper connections at the thermostat of heater/air conditioner wires in spite of the absence of labels identifying the functions of those wires. The thermostat requires entry of coded indicia representing operator-observed conditions in the system in response to displayed instructions carried out by the operator. Control circuits are automatically assigned functional tasks in response to the operator-observed conditions entered into the system. Different program routines are invoked depending upon the number of system wires and the type of heater/air conditioner being controlled. Under appropriate circumstances, messages are displayed informing the operator/homeowner that the thermostat is incompatible, or has no advantageous use, with the heater/air conditioner. In one embodiment the installer need only connect the wires to the thermostat terminals one time; the thermostat configures its internal connection paths in response to installer-entered indicia to assure proper control of the system. Another embodiment incorporates a safety backup system to automatically activate the HVAC system in the event that normal operation of the thermostat is interrupted and the temperature in the conditioned area falls or rises beyond a predetermined range.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An electronic thermostat for controlling the operation of a temperature-modifying apparatus which is arranged to modify temperature within a conditioned space, the apparatus having at least two control wires to which said thermostat must be connected, said thermostat comprising:

data entry means for permitting manual entry of data into said system;
means for providing individual messages in a spoken language;
means for providing a sequence of prompts to instruct an installed to perform a procedure for providing electrical connections from the wires of said apparatus to points in said thermostat, and for requesting manual entry of response data via said data entry means to indicate the effect on the apparatus as certain of said steps are performed;
control means responsive to said response data for automatically structuring said thermostat for proper operation with the connections of the wires made by the installed, and for thereafter automatically modifying the temperature in the conditioned space;
auxiliary means for controlling said temperature-modifying apparatus to maintain the temperature in the conditioned space within a temperature range independently of said control means, said auxiliary means comprising thermostat means and connecting means which is configurable for connecting said thermostat means to the control wires of the temperature-modifying apparatus in accordance with said response data;
and
means for providing and memorizing a configuration of said connecting means based on said response data, said connecting means in said configuration connecting said thermostat means to the control wires for proper operation with the wire connections made by the installer between the apparatus and said electronic thermostat.

4 more elements

A method for effecting proper electrical connections between a plurality of wires of a temperature-modifying apparatus and a thermostat for controlling operation of said apparatus, said thermostat including temperature control means for modifying temperature within a conditioned space and auxiliary temperature control means for controlling the apparatus to maintain a temperature within a temperature range independently of said temperature control means, said auxiliary means comprising thermostat means and connecting means which is configurable for connecting said thermostat means to the control wires of the temperature-modifying apparatus, said method comprising the steps:

providing an instructional prompt in a commonly spoken language to instruct an installed to electrically connect said plurality of wires of said apparatus to points in said thermostat;
instructing said installer to enter data indicative of installer-observed responses to said apparatus;
receiving said installer-observed responses data and automatically configuring said thermostat for proper operation with connections of said wires to said thermostat points made by said installer based upon said entered installer-observed responses data;
and
providing another instructional prompt based upon said entered install-observed responses data to instruct said installer for configuring of said connecting means for auxiliary control of said temperature-modifying apparatus by said auxiliary temperature control means.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interactive electronic thermostat with minimum and maximum temperature thermal limit switches

Life of this patent

Interactive electronic thermostat with minimum and maximum temperature thermal limit switches

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11