Patent ID: 6581846
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: F23N,F24F,G05D

Abstract:
A thermostat system for controlling space conditioning equipment comprising:A) a temperature sensor for providing an electrical signal indicative of the temperature of a conditioned space in which the temperature sensor is situated; B) a processor, said processor including: 1) a central processing unit; 2) a memory coupled to said central processing unit for storing program and data information; and 3) an input/output unit including: a) a sensor input coupled to said temperature sensor for receiving said electrical signal therefrom; b) a control output coupled to the space conditioning equipment for issuing control signals thereto; and c) an electrical device interface adapted to establish communications between said processor and a plurality of addressable electrical devices for selective actuation and deactuation thereof; said addressable electrical devices being situated within and proximate said conditioned space; and C) a program stored in said memory for causing said central processing unit to selectively: 1) place said thermostat system into a â€œvacationâ€  mode; and 2) if said thermostat system is in said â€œvacationâ€  mode, periodically actuate and deactuate predetermined ones of said addressable electrical devices in a predetermined pattern.