The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 17, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 25, 2000
Nicholas A. Natale, Knoxville, TN (US);
Brian M. Boling, Knoxville, TN (US);
American Secure Care, LLC, Knoxville, TN (US);
Abstract
A thermostat system for controlling activation of a temperature management system is operable in an energy-savings mode for enhancing energy savings and in a comfort mode for enhancing comfort, where the operating mode is selectable by a user. The thermostat system has operating mode control circuitry which includes (1) a manual mode control operable to cause the operating mode control circuit to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states when pressed by the user, (2) a wireless receiver for receiving a wireless mode switching signal that causes the operating mode switching circuitry to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states, and (3) telephone communication circuitry for receiving a telephonic mode switching signal that causes the operating mode switching circuitry to switch between the energy-savings and the comfort states. Thus, the present invention offers at least three convenient ways for the user to switch between energy-savings and comfort modes of operation. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of the air space and produces a sensed temperature signal based on the temperature of the air space. A controller produces an under-temperature signal when the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature is less than a minimum temperature and an over-temperature signal when the sensed temperature signal indicates that the temperature is greater than a maximum temperature. When the under-temperature or over-temperature signal is produced, the telephone communication circuitry places a telephone call to a telephone number of a designated receiving telephone to give a warning concerning the over- or under-temperature condition.