Thermostat

A thermostat for cyclically controlling an electric heater to regulate actual ambient temperature, Ta, to either of two values, T1 and T2, for selectable durations, comprising:

• (a) a switch for selecting and deselecting T1;
• (b) a sensor for detecting Ta;
• (c) a controller connected to said switch and said sensor, said controller having:
• a selector which allows T1 to be defined by a user;
• a means for defining T2 value;
• a memory to store a cycle period duration;
• a detector to detect when the switch selects or deselects T1;
• a timer which establishes T1 duration based on the time between T1 selection and deselection, and establishes T2 duration as at least a portion of the remainder of the cycle period, and automatically cyclically repeats the established T1 and T2 durations during each cycle period until T1 is again selected by the switch;
• a signal generator which generates a control signal corresponding to the difference between Ta and T1 or T2 during their respective durations;
• (d) a power interface for connection to the heater which provides heater current of a value or duration corresponding to the control signal.

An electric heating system comprising an electric heater and a thermostat connected to said heater to regulate actual ambient temperature, Ta, to either of two values, T1 and T2, for selectable durations, said thermostat comprising:

• (a) a switch for selecting and deselecting T1;
• (b) a sensor for detecting Ta;
• (c) a controller connected to said switch and said sensor, said controller having:
• a selector which allows T1 to be defined by a user;
• a means for defining T2 value;
• a memory to store a cycle period duration which is 24 hours;
• a detector to detect when the switch selects or deselects T1;
• a timer which establishes T1 duration based on the time between T1 selection and deselection, and establishes T2 duration as at least a portion of the remainder of the cycle period, and automatically cyclically repeats the established T1 and T2 durations during each cycle period until T1 is again selected by the switch;
• a signal generator which generates a control signal corresponding to the difference between Ta and T1 or T2 during their respective durations;
• (d) a power interface connected to the heater which provides heater current of a value or duration corresponding to the control signal.

A thermostat for cyclically regulating actual ambient temperature, Ta, to either of two values, T1 and T2, for selectable durations, comprising:

• (a) a switch for selecting and deselecting T1;
• (b) a sensor for detecting Ta;
• (c) a controller connected to said switch and said sensor, said controller having:
• a means for defining T1 and T2 values which includes a T1 selector which allows T1 to be varied by a user
• a memory to store a cycle period duration;
• a detector to detect when the switch selects or deselects T1;
• a timer which establishes T1 duration based on the time between T1 selection and deselection, and establishes T2 duration as at least a portion of the remainder of the cycle period, and automatically cyclically repeats the established T1 and T2 durations during each cycle period until T1 is again selected by the switch;
• a signal generator which generates a control signal corresponding to the difference between Ta and T1 or T2 during their respective durations;
• and
• (d) a power interface comprising:
• a power control switch connectable between a first side of the load and a first side of a power source for the load, and which controls power therethrough in response to the control signal;
• a power storage circuit to provide power for thermostat components and which is connected across the switch so as to be charged when the power control switch is off, said power storage circuit comprising a capacitor and associated charging circuit.

A heating system including an electric heater one side of which is connected to a first side of a power source, and including a thermostat for cyclically regulating actual ambient temperature, Ta, to either of two values, T1 and T2, for selectable durations, the thermostat comprising:

• (a) a switch for selecting and deselecting T1;
• (b) a sensor for detecting Ta;
• (c) a controller connected to said switch and said sensor, said controller having:
• a means for defining T1 and T2 values which includes a T1 selector which allows T1 to be varied by a user
• a memory to store a cycle period duration;
• a detector to detect when the switch selects or deselects T1;
• a timer which establishes T1 duration based on the time between T1 selection and deselection, and establishes T2 duration as at least a portion of the remainder of the cycle period, and automatically cyclically repeats the established T1 and T2 durations during each cycle period until T1 is again selected by the switch;
• a signal generator which generates a control signal corresponding to the difference between Ta and T1 or T2 during their respective durations;
• and
• (d) a power interface comprising:
• a power control switch connected between a second side of the power source and the heater and which controls power therethrough to the heater in response to the control signal;
• a power storage circuit to provide power for thermostat components and which is connected across the switch so as to be charged when the power control switch is off, said power storage circuit comprising a capacitor and associated charging circuit,