Emerson Electric Company

Umc Industries, Inc.

Other

Bartholomew L Toth

Carl J Mueller

William D Rhodes

Donald E Donnelly

John M Sartain

Bradley C Zikes

David L Perry

Dwain F Moore

Frank A Albanello

William P Butler

Jeffrey E Price

Scott J Brunk

Bernard T Brown

David I Kniepkamp

Xiaobing Zhu

Dennis Snow

Ronald J Holohan, Jr

A thermostat includes a power stealing circuit selectively configured to provide power to the thermostat and to circuit(s) ancillary to the thermostat from power source(s) external to the thermostat, without requiring a common or neutral connection between the thermostat and the power source(s). Exemplary embodiments also are disclosed of a climate control system that includes such a thermostat. This thermostat can power-steal off of existing load wires (e.g., a W and/or Y terminal, etc.) and can provide power for a continuous backlight and/or other device (e.g., a remote sensor and/or low-power transceiver, etc.).

Systems and methods for power stealing

A removable cover is provided that includes a flexible elastic material forming a cover front portion and a plurality of edge portions. The plurality of edge portions are configured to be stretched over at least a portion of two or more sides of a thermostat, such that the cover may be secured onto a thermostat via the tension of the edge portions stretched over the thermostat. The cover is adapted to be placed onto the thermostat to provide protection for at least the front surface of a thermostat.

Thermostat having a discardable protective cover

A microprocessor-based control system is provided that comprises a plurality of latching relays, at least some of which may be connected in parallel. A momentary application of voltage of a first polarity or a second polarity to the coil causes the latching relay contacts to switch and remain in an open or closed state respectively. An individual relay driver circuit is provided for a corresponding latching relay or set of latching relays, and has a first and second switch that respectively apply a voltage or a ground connection to a first end of each coil corresponding to the individual relay driver. The control system includes a common relay driver connected to at least one of the latching relays for each relay drive circuit, and has a first and second switch that respectively apply a voltage or a ground connection to the second end of the latching relay coils connected to the common relay driver circuit.

Relay drive matrix

A thermostat control system having remote devices and/or other internally powered devices provides transmissions at different power levels and at different data transfer rates to conserve power life. Thermostat control system components and devices may be powered by replaceable power supplies that are conserved by transmitting at a lower power level more often than at a higher power level. A higher power level transmission is provided at a lower data transfer rate, and a lower power level transmission is provided at a higher data transfer rate. A higher power transmission is provided periodically to ensure reliable communication of temperature information.

Thermostat control system providing power saving transmissions

A thermostat is provided comprising a first connector for connecting to an air conditioner, a second connector for connecting to either a conventional heater or a heat pump reversing valve, and a selection means for selecting from at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. The first mode of operation is configured to establish cooling by providing an on signal to the first connector and to establish heating by providing an on signal to the second connector. The second mode of operation is configured to establish cooling by providing an on signal to the first and second connectors, and heating by providing an on signal to the first connector but not the second connector. When the second mode is selected and the second connector is connected to conventional heating, the thermostat detects when both the conventional heating and air conditioning are operating simultaneously during cooling.

Thermostat for a heat pump or conventional heating system

A method of controlling a heating system including at least a first stage heat pump and a second stage auxiliary heater, and a control that implements the method. The control shuts off the first stage heat pump during cold outside temperatures without the need to directly sense the outside temperature. The method includes selectively turning on the first stage heat pump or the second stage auxiliary heater based upon a measure of the amount of time at least one of the stages was on verses the time neither of the stages was on. This can be implemented with a counter that increases when neither the heat pump nor the auxiliary heater is on, and that decreases when either the heat pump or the auxiliary heater is on.

Control for heat pump with auxiliary heat source

An apparatus is described for mounting a bimetal coil in a thermostat having an anticipator operable via an anticipator circuit. The apparatus includes an insulating member configured to insulate the coil from the anticipator circuit. The apparatus also includes a conductive shaft configured for mounting the coil and anticipator thereon. The insulating member is further configured for mounting between the coil and the shaft. This apparatus allows an inner end of a bi-metal coil to be secured easily in a thermostat, thus eliminating a need for more expensive mounting methods and costly insulating parts. The apparatus also simplifies calibration while reducing costs of assembly and materials.

Methods and apparatus for mounting a bimetal coil in a thermostat

A thermostat comprising a software sub-routine for controlling the operation of an air conditioner and a stored value representative of the air conditioner's operating and non-operating time, which is indicative of the outdoor temperature and load on the air conditioning system. The stored value representative of operating time is evaluated by the software sub-routine, which responsively raises the set-point temperature when the stored value exceeds a predetermined level indicative of a high outdoor temperature. The economy feature can be manually enabled, or remotely enabled via an input signal from a phone or Internet connection.

Thermostat with air conditioning load management feature

A method and device includes the use of multiple remote sensors transmitting temperature information to a thermostat, while reducing or eliminating transmission interference and providing increased user control. Remote temperature sensors of the present invention sense temperature at variable time periods and only transmit temperature information on a sensed change in temperature. Transmission of temperature information is provided on variably selected frequencies within a specified range, and may be based in part on previous temperature transmissions. A learn mode is provided that allows for recognition of each sensor by a host-controlling thermostat, including determining the proper transmission power level for each sensor. Additionally, each sensor is programmable to provide a temperature offset and each sensor may be individually weighted according to specific requirements or needs.

Method and apparatus for automatically transmitting temperature information to a thermostat

A thermostat adapted to be connected to a climate control system for operating the climate control system. The thermostat comprises a main unit having a microprocessor, a keypad connected to the microprocessor for operating the thermostat, and a sub-base. The sub-base is adapted to communicate with at least one remote temperature sensor and provide information from the remote temperature sensor to the microprocessor. The sub-base comprises either a first sub-base assembly or a second sub-base assembly. The first sub-base assembly is adapted for connection to the remote temperature sensor via a wire lead. The second sub-base assembly has a receiver adapted for wireless communication with the remote temperature sensor. The main unit is releasably connectable to the sub-base in a manner so that when the main unit is connected to the sub-base, the main unit is adapted to receive from the sub-base the information from the remote temperature sensor regardless of whether the sub-base constitutes the first sub-base assembly or the second sub-base assembly.

Thermostat and method for controlling an HVAC system with remote temperature sensor

A thermostat comprising a circuit board for controlling the thermostat, a display, a keypad, and at least one electroluminescent element. The display is operatively connected to the circuit board for displaying information concerning the thermostat. The keypad has at least one key adapted to be pressed by a user. The key is operatively connected to the circuit board in a manner to enable the user to input at least one signal to the circuit board by pressing the key. The electroluminescent element is operatively connected to the circuit board and has a first electroluminescent section and a second electroluminescent section. The first electroluminescent section is adjacent the keypad and the second electroluminescent section is adjacent the display. The first electroluminescent section and the keypad are adapted so that the first electroluminescent section illuminates the keypad. The second electroluminescent section and the display are adapted so that the second electroluminescent section illuminates the display.

Thermostat having an illuminated keypad and display

An electronic programmable thermostat having different modes of fan operation, including an automatic mode, a time mode, and a continuous mode, preferably includes a temporary fan-on mode for selecting a predetermined period of time for enabling operation of a climate control system including an air circulating fan. The period of time for operation of the temporary fan on mode is selected from a plurality of predetermined periods of time. The temporary mode of operation preferably can be selected during any other mode of operation and after the expiration of the selected period of time for temporary fan on operation, the thermostat returns to the mode of operation of the fan that it should be in based on a programmed schedule of the thermostat. Selection of a predetermined period of time and activation of the temporary mode results in operation of the air circulating fan for that selected period of time.

Thermostat with temporary fan on function

An electronic digital thermostat adapted for installation in locations with or without an external power supply preferably includes a compartment for receiving a replaceable internal power supply, such as a batteries, for powering the thermostat if an external power supply is not available, and a connector for connecting the thermostat to an external power supply for powering the thermostat when the external power supply is available. The thermostat is configured to preferentially draw power from an external power supply connected to the thermostat, if power from an external power supply is available, and draw power from an internal power supply connected to the thermostat, if power from an external power supply is not available. An additional power backup, such as a capacitor, may be provided to maintain power to the thermostat for short durations when power is unavailable from both the internal power supply and the external power supply.

Hardwired or battery powered digital thermostat

A thermostat for operating a climate control system, the thermostat comprising a base, a bi-color LED on the base capable of producing at least two distinct illuminated signals, and a cover for the base, the cover having a single signal opening which is aligned with the bi-color LED when the cover is on the base to provide at least two distinct lighted signals in a thermostat through a single signal opening in the cover.

Thermostat having a multiple color signal capability with single

A thermostat for an environmental control load that includes a temperature sensor, a timer, and a controller, and a method of controlling the thermostat that allows temporary system outages including, but not limited to, outages caused by lockouts or failure of pulsed relays to operate, to be corrected automatically, by the thermostat itself. The environmental control load may include a heating system such as a heat pump or a millivolt heating system, although the thermostat and its method of operation could also be employed with cooling systems, or heating and cooling systems. The controlled load may be one that has a 'lockout' mode to prevent activation when a problem is detected, such as a reduction in gas pressure. The temperature sensor detects whether, for example, a request for heat issued by the controller has been satisfied, or alternately, if the ambient temperature has risen within some period of time, usually about two hours. If the ambient temperature has not satisfied this condition within two hours, the environmental control load is turned off, and then on, to recycle and overcome the lockout condition, if the load is resettable and the condition causing the lockout has passed. This resetting may occur only once, or may be repeated after another period of time, with the repetitions optionally being limited in number. The thermostat can safely be used without noticeable degradation in service even with nonrecyclable systems.

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Bartholomew L Toth