Monitoring and recoverable protection of thermostat switching circuitry
US8659302B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 21, 2012 |
| Grant date | Feb 25, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 21, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY04S20/14
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Voltage is detected on both sides of a protection fuse within a thermostat, such that a determination can be made as to the status of the fuse. When a blown fuse is detected, the user can be notified via (1) an error message on the thermostat display, and/or (2) a message on another device such as a mobile device and/or web-client device. According to some embodiments the thermostat manufacturer is notified via network connection. According to some embodiments drain voltage is measured on MOSFETs used in the thermostat for switching on and off HVAC functions. If an over-current is detected on a FET switch, it immediately turned off and a fault indictor is sent to the microcontroller. The FET switch remains “off” until it is re-enabled under control of the microcontroller.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.