Patent Abstract:
A multi-mode thermostat includes, a sensor of ambient temperature and control circuits coupled to the sensor, wherein the control circuits are responsive to signals from the sensor to maintain a predetermined regional temperature. First electrically actuated backup circuits, responsive to a sensed operational power level, to alter a status signal transmission rate by the control circuits. Second electrically actuated backup circuits, responsive to a lower sensed operational power level to provide a backup, lower regional temperature electromechanically.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The application pertains to thermostats. More particularly, the application pertains to wireless thermostats with multi-stage backup circuitry to provide failsafe operation. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Electronic thermostats have many features including energy saving operations and wireless communications for remote access. Typically these electronic thermostats use 24 VAC or battery power to operate. 
         [0003]    Thermostats with wireless RF communications can draw quite a bit of power and when power is lost, the primary function of temperature control fails. During winter months, a home without heat for an extended period of time can lead to freezing water pipes and eventually burst costing expensive repairs and loss of valuables. 
         [0004]    For 24 VAC power type thermostats with rechargeable battery backup, there is still a chance that the battery with drained after some period of lost AC. There is no failsafe mechanism to keep gas heat running. For battery power the same problem can occur if the homeowner forgets to periodically replace the current batteries with a fresh set, and, there is no failsafe mechanism to keep the house temperature within normal limits. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a thermostat in accordance herewith. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0006]    While disclosed embodiments can take many different forms, specific embodiments hereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles hereof, as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the claims hereof to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
         [0007]    In embodiments hereof, multiple, low cost, fail safe mechanisms built into an electronic RF communicating thermostat provide more than one level of backup. First level backup circuitry reduces RF communication when a low power condition is detected. For example, a failure of 24 VAC input voltage, or a detected drop in battery backup voltage level below safe operational levels. 
         [0008]    The thermostat will only use minimum power to maintain temperature control and cuts RF communication to only sending out low power status once a day. It will not send any other communication message nor will it receive any incoming messages. 
         [0009]    RF communications can be implemented with any form of radio frequency communication or technologies such as Wi-Fi, Z-Wave or ZigBee, one-way or bi-directional RF communications. 
         [0010]    The second level of backup circuitry includes a mechanical bimetallic thermal switch for providing minimum heating operation in case of a complete loss of power. This is an especially useful for 24 VAC powered thermostats with no battery backup. This type of thermostat will lose temperature control immediate after AC lost. 
         [0011]    When the thermostat electronics shouts down after its power is completely gone, the mechanical bimetallic thermo switch will take over to provide basic heating control and maintain heat in the house, or monitored region, above freezing level. The bimetallic thermal switch does not require any power to provide an open and close circuit function at a preset temperature setting. This provides a dual stage failsafe design to extend the operation of the thermostat and protects the home with gas heat from an installed regional heating system, or, an or emergency gas heating system. Also it minimizes risk of an electronic failure in the thermostat. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a thermostat  10  which includes multi-mode backup circuitry and which is an exemplary embodiment hereof. Thermostat  10  includes a housing  12  which carries control circuits  14 . Circuits  14  can be implemented, at least in part, by a programmed processor  14   a  and associated, executable instructions  14   b.  One or more heating/cooling control switches  14   c  are also coupled to control circuits  14 , as discussed subsequently. 
         [0013]    Housing  12  also carries a user display  16   a,  and a manually operable temperature setting element  16   b.  Housing  12  also carries a regional temperature sensor  20 , and an AC and/or DC power, or voltage sensor  22 . 
         [0014]    The control circuits are also coupled to a wireless transceiver  24 , and an antenna  24   a.  It will be understood that neither the exact type of wireless transmission, nor the type of modulation are limitations hereof. 
         [0015]    The control circuits  14  carry out a regional temperature regulation function, based on signals from temperature sensor  20 , via control switches  14   c  and an output port  30  which can be coupled via a cable C to a local regional heating/cooling system HVAC. Such couplings would be known to those of skill in the art and need not be discussed further. 
         [0016]    Control circuits  14 , responsive to power level sensing signal from sensor  22  can also carry out an initial backup operation in response to available power dropping below a first predetermined threshold. In response to a detected power drop, due to an electrical failure, or due to a voltage drop at local battery  32 , energy using functions of the control circuits  14  can be reduced or eliminated temporarily. For example, instead of routinely transmitting status signals, or other messages via transceiver  24  on a periodic basis, such as hourly, such messages can be temporarily transmitted with much longer intervals, such as daily, between transmissions to conserve energy. 
         [0017]    While in the above described initial backup mode, the control circuits  14  can continue to control the HVAC system in its usual fashion, via switches  14   c,  to maintain regional temperature at the user&#39;s temperature setting in the region R. 
         [0018]    A bimetallic temperature control switch  28  is also carried by the housing  12  to provide a second backup operational mode. In response to a major power loss, for example a drop in output voltage of battery  32  substantially to zero volts, the bimetallic switch  28  functions to activate the HVAC system to provide a lower, backup level of heat to the region R without needing electrical energy from local supply  32 . 
         [0019]    In summary, embodiments hereof can be developed into a connected thermostat which communicates via WiFi or Z-Wave transmissions and which is 24 VAC or battery powered. The electronic control circuits, such as circuits  14 , can detect a low power mode, for example if voltage of battery  32  drops. In response to the detected drop, RF communications, can be shut down, or, substantially reduced, except for basic low battery status reporting to conserve power. The circuits  14  can continue to control the HVAC system to maintain the pre-set temperature in the region R. 
         [0020]    If total power is lost and the electronic control circuit  14  is unable to maintain room temperature at its regular setpoint, a second backup system becomes operational. As the room temperature drops below a threshold setpoint  40 F for example, the internal, mechanical, bimetallic thereto switch  28  will take over operating the heating system by a temperature based opening and closing of its thermal switch. 
         [0021]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5