Patent ID: 8177139
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: F24F,G05D

Abstract:
1. A thermostat for controlling a heating and/or cooling appliance for a space to maintain a set-point temperature, the thermostat comprising: at least one sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the temperature within the space; a memory for storing at least one sensed temperature offset value associated with a request for reduced operation associated with an energy savings mode enabled by a user of the thermostat; and a controller in communication with the memory and the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to set an energy savings mode to an enabled setting in response to receiving a request for reduced operation from a user of the thermostat, the controller being configured to periodically receive a sensed temperature value from the at least one sensor, where the controller offsets the sensed temperature value by the at least one sensed temperature offset value associated with the energy savings mode when a request for reduced operation from a user has been received, to thereby determine an artificial temperature value for the space, the controller being configured to discontinue cooling operation for the space where the determined artificial temperature value is below the set-point temperature, and configured to discontinue heating operation for the space where the determined artificial temperature value is above the set-point temperature; and a display device in communication with the controller that displays the determined artificial temperature value for the space instead of the actual sensed temperature of the space, and also displays the user selected set point temperature without alteration, such that the alteration of the sensed temperature for the space is transparent to the user and the user would be less likely to change the set-point temperature.