Thermostatically controlled remote control for a ceiling fan and light

A method of operating a multi-speed ceiling fan at a plurality of fan speeds comprising the steps of:

• independently selecting through an input device a temperature set-point corresponding to each ceiling fan speed, such that each temperature set-point is established independent of every other temperature set-point;
• storing the temperature set-points entered by said input device corresponding to each fan speed;
• measuring a room temperature value;
• determining a desired fan speed by comparing the room temperature value with at least one of the temperature set-points;
• and
• driving the fan at the desired fan speed.

A method of operating a multi-speed ceiling fan at a plurality of fan speeds comprising the steps of:

• selecting through said input device a temperature set-point for the highest fan speed;
• b) selecting through an input device an airflow direction corresponding to the temperature set-point for the highest fan speed;
• c) selecting through said input device a temperature set-point for a lower fan speed and an airflow direction corresponding to the temperature set-point for the lower fan speed;
• d) repeating step c) until a temperature set-point for a lowest fan speed is selected;
• e) storing the temperature set-points and airflow directions entered by said input device corresponding to each fan speed;
• f) measuring a room temperature value;
• g) determining a desired fan speed and a desired airflow direction by comparing the room temperature value and the temperature set-points;
• and
• h) driving the fan at the desired fan speed and in the desired airflow direction.

A method of operating a light associated with a ceiling fan comprising the steps of:

• selecting a program number from a set of program numbers;
• displaying the selected program number to enable a user to determine which program number has been selected;
• storing a look-up table comprising the set of program numbers with each program number in the set of program numbers corresponding to a particular on-time value and duration value for the light;
• selecting the on-time value and duration value corresponding to the selected program number by using the program number as an index into the look-up table;
• generating a time of day signal;
• generating a light control signal for operating the light in real time from the selected on-time value and duration value and the time of day signal;
• and
• turning the light on and off in response to the light control signal.

An apparatus for controlling the operation of a multi-speed fan operable at a plurality of fan speeds and airflow directions and having a multi-level illumination light associated therewith, comprising:

• a temperature sensor which generates a temperature signal indicative of room temperature;
• an input device which enables a user to independently enter a temperature set-point, such that each temperature set-point is established independent of every other temperature set-point, and an airflow direction corresponding to each fan speed and to select a program number from a set of program numbers;
• a clock which provides a time of day signal;
• a memory device for storing the temperature set-points entered by said input device corresponding to each fan speed and a look-up table in which each program number in the set of program numbers corresponds to a particular on-time value and duration value for the light;
• a processor for receiving the temperature signal from said temperature sensor and determining a desired fan speed by comparing the temperature signal with at least one of the temperature set-points, said processor further responsive to a selected program number from said input device to index the look-up table in said memory device to select the on-time value and duration value corresponding to the selected program number, said processor generating a light control signal for operating said light in real time from the selected on-time value and duration value and the time of day signal;
• a transmitter unit for transmitting an increase fan speed signal if the desired speed is faster than the operating fan speed, and a decrease fan speed signal if the desired fan speed is slower than the operating fan speed, said increase and decrease fan speed signals including the airflow direction corresponding to the desired fan speed, said transmitter further transmitting the light control signal from said processor;
• a receiver unit for receiving said increase and decrease fan speed signals and said light control signal;
• a fan driving device connected to the fan and responsive to the increase and decrease speed signals provided by said receiver to drive the multi-speed fan at the desired fan speed;
• and
• a light driving device associated with the light for turning the light on and off in response to the light control signal.