Patent ID: 9405303
Filing Date: 2016-08-02
CPC Classification: G05D,H02M

Claim Text:
1. A wireless-enabled thermostat for use in a climate control system, the thermostat comprising: a control having a wireless network interface configured to intermittently connect the thermostat in a wireless network in accordance with a duty cycle, the duty cycle having a connect time in which the thermostat is connected in the wireless network and a sleep time in which the thermostat is not connected in the wireless network; and a power stealing circuit configured to steal power through an “on-mode” load of the climate control system and to charge a capacitor to provide the power for the wireless network interface, the power stealing circuit having a step-down current transformer in series with a relay operable to switch the load between “on” and “off” modes, the step-down current transformer configured to obtain current from the “on-mode” load for charging the capacitor; the control configured to adjust at least the sleep time in accordance with a time for charging the capacitor to a threshold voltage.