Patent Document ID: 20130173064
Application ID: 13656189
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A programmable device for controlling an HVAC system, the device comprising: high-power consuming circuitry adapted and programmed to perform while in an active state a plurality of high power activities including interfacing with a user, the high-power consuming circuitry using substantially less power while in an inactive state; low-power consuming circuitry adapted and programmed to perform a plurality of low power activities; power stealing circuitry adapted to harvest power from an HVAC triggering circuit for turning on and off an HVAC system function; and a power storage medium adapted to store power harvested by the power stealing circuitry for use by at least the high-power consuming circuitry such that the high-power consuming circuitry can temporarily operate in an active state while using energy at a greater rate than can be safely harvested by the power stealing circuitry without inadvertently switching the HVAC function.