Patent · US Expired

Interactive electronic thermostat with minimum and maximum temperature thermal limit switches

US5161606A · kind A · utility

217Cited by
3References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 27, 1991
Grant dateNov 10, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 27, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF24F2110/10
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

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 …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.