초록 ▼

An automatic temperature setback system for controlling a heating unit includes the use of two devices. One device includes a oscillator circuit which is actuated by a timer control. The oscillator circuit can be an astable or free-running multivibrator. The output from such device is coupled across

An automatic temperature setback system for controlling a heating unit includes the use of two devices. One device includes a oscillator circuit which is actuated by a timer control. The oscillator circuit can be an astable or free-running multivibrator. The output from such device is coupled across the low voltage secondary transformer winding of a typical heating system control unit so that, at specific timed intervals, the low voltage (i.e., 24 volts RMS) can have high frequency modulations superimposed upon either the positive cycles of such voltage or alternatively the negative cycles or alternatively both cycles. Such one device could be termed, in general, means for half-wave modulating the low alternating voltage carrier from a typical heating system control unit. The low voltage wires from the typical heating system control unit, in a conventional household, are coupled through the house to a low voltage thermostat located in one of the rooms of the house. The second device of the system includes a module, herein termed a thermostat module, which is activated by the modulation in the low voltage wires which are coupled to the thermostat. The thermostat module provides an output across a heating resistor which is placed in proximity to the low voltage thermostat to influence the thermostat when the first named device is operative. The second device can generally be termed a means for demodulating such modulation to provide current to flow through a heating resistor which is in proximity to the thermostat. The second device can include a separate switch for deactivating or activating such module, wherein such switch is coupled to one of the low voltage leads. The opposite end of the switch is coupled through the heating resistor and through a variable potentiometer to the anode of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR). The cathode of the SCR is coupled to the other lead of the low voltage supply. A capacitor is coupled across the anode and the gate electrode of the SCR. A resistor couples the gate electrode and the cathode of the SCR. The capacitor is of such a value as to be of low impedance to the modulated signal. Desirably, a serial connected resistor and a light emitting diode are coupled between the switch and the anode of the SCR so that, when the second device is operative the light emitting diode glows to indicate that the thermostat module is functioning.

대표청구항 ▼

A temperature setback controlling system suitable for use in a building wherein a thermostat having a room temperature sensing element is employed on a wall in a first room to sense room temperature for control of a heating system effective in said first room to maintain a thermostat selected ambien

A temperature setback controlling system suitable for use in a building wherein a thermostat having a room temperature sensing element is employed on a wall in a first room to sense room temperature for control of a heating system effective in said first room to maintain a thermostat selected ambient room temperature, wherein heating controls for said system including a transformer having a secondary winding for providing low voltage, 60 Hz power are located in a second room of said building, and wherein a thermostat cable coupling said thermostat in said first room to said heating controls in said second room is located at least partially within interior walls of said building, said temperature setback controlling system comprising timed control means, adapted to be coupled to said transformer winding, for modulating during selected time periods cycles of one polarity of said 60 Hz low voltage with a high frequency; a resistive heater, adapted to be placed in proximity to said room temperature sensing element; and detector means, adapted to be coupled to said thermostat cable in said first room, for detecting said high frequency modulation during cycles of said one polarity and coupled to said resistive heater for providing current flow thereto in response to such detected modulation, whereby the ambient temperature in said first room tends to be maintained at a predetermined temperature setback during said selected time periods.