Patent US3898999A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4071745A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Programmable time varying control system and method
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1977-03-04
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Granted: 1978-01-31
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Expires: 1997-03-04
Abstract
Abstract An electronic system and method are disclosed for controlling a measured temperature during a sequence of time intervals, in accordance with a sequence of selected reference temperatures, each corresponding to one of the intervals. The values of the reference temperatures are programmable and changeable by the user. The system and method can thus be used to establish thermostatic control in conformity with a referenced temperature that varies throughout the day, for example, hour by hour.
Inventors
- 👤 B. C. Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:01
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/07; G05B19/075; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1902; G05D23/1904; G05D23/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A system for controlling a measured temperature during a sequence of time intervals in accordance with a sequence of selected reference temperatures, each corresponding to one of the intervals, comprising: means for storing a plurality of digital numbers, each representing a value of one of the reference temperatures; means connectable to respond to a reference frequency source for repeatedly generating a digital number representative, at each generation, of the present time of day; means for storing a digital number representative of a value of hysteresis; updating means for repeatedly determining, from said time of day number, when one of said intervals embraces the present time and identifying the one of said reference temperatures corresponding to said embracing interval and for storing, as a current reference temperature value, a digital number representing the value of said identified reference temperature, said updating means including means for determining that as soon as said present time exceeds the last interval in said sequence, said time becomes embraced by the first interval in the sequence; means connectable to be responsive to a sensor of said measured temperature for generating an electrical signal representation of said measured temperature; comparison means responsive to said signal representation, to the current reference temperature number, and to the hysteresis number, for repeatedly generating control signals suitable for controlling thermal means affecting said measured temperature.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
224 words
A system for controlling a measured temperature during a sequence of time intervals in accordance with a sequence of selected reference temperatures, each corresponding to one of the intervals, comprising: means for storing a plurality of digital numbers, each representing a value of one of the reference temperatures; means connectable to respond to a reference frequency source for repeatedly generating a digital number representative, at each generation, of the present time of day; means for storing a digital number representative of a value of hysteresis; updating means for repeatedly determining, from said time of day number, when one of said intervals embraces the present time and identifying the one of said reference temperatures corresponding to said embracing interval and for storing, as a current reference temperature value, a digital number representing the value of said identified reference temperature, said updating means including means for determining that as soon as said present time exceeds the last interval in said sequence, said time becomes embraced by the first interval in the sequence; means connectable to be responsive to a sensor of said measured temperature for generating an electrical signal representation of said measured temperature; comparison means responsive to said signal representation, to the current reference temperature number, and to the hysteresis number, for repeatedly generating control signals suitable for controlling thermal means affecting said measured temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1, when there are twenty-four of said intervals, each interval having a duration of one hour.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1, further including means, accessible to a user, for entering the reference temperature numbers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 1, further including means, accessible to a user, for selecting a time of day and for displaying the value of the reference temperature corresponding to the interval embracing the selected time and means, accessible to a user, for entering a selected reference temperature value replacing the displayed value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1, further including means, accessible to a user, for entering a digital number representing a reference temperature adjustment and wherein said comparison means includes means for performing said generating of control signals, with the current reference temperature value modified by the value of said adjustment number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The system of claim 1, further including means for storing a digital number representative of an anticipator value; and wherein said comparison means includes means for generating said control signals capable of activating said thermal means, dependent on the relation of the measured temperature to the current reference temperature value as modified by the hysteresis value; and means for generating said control signals, capable of deactivating said thermal means, dependent on the relation of the measured temperature to the current reference temperature value as modified by the anticipator value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said comparison means includes means for generating a signal capable of initiating heating, when the measured temperature is less than the current reference temperature value minus the hysteresis value and means for generating a signal capable of terminating heating, when the measured temperature becomes substantially equal to the current reference temperature value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said comparison means includes means for generating a signal capable of initiating cooling, when the measured temperature is greater than the current reference temperature value plus the hysteresis value and means for generating a signal capable of terminating cooling, when the measured temperature decreases to the current reference temperature value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said comparison means includes: means for generating a signal capable of initiating heating, when the measured temperature is less than the current reference temperature value minus the hysteresis value and means for generating a signal capable of terminating heating, when the measured temperature increases to the current reference temperature value; means for generating a signal capable of initiating cooling, when the measured temperature is greater than the current reference temperature value plus the hysteresis value; and means for generating a signal capable of terminating cooling, when the measured temperature decreases to the current reference temperature value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
198 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said reference temperatures, including said current reference temperature, are relatively higher reference temperatures; further including means, accessible to a user, for entering and storing a sequence of digital numbers, each representing a value of a relatively lower reference temperature and each corresponding to one of said intervals; wherein said updating means further includes means for identifying the one of the lower reference temperatures corresponding to said embracing interval and for storing, as a current lower reference temperature value, a digital number representing the value of said identified lower reference temperature; and wherein said comparison means includes means for generating a signal capable of initiating heating, when the measured temperature is less than the current lower reference temperature value minus the hysteresis value and means for generating a signal capable of terminating heating, when the measured temperature increases to the current lower reference temperature value, means for generating a signal capable of initiating cooling, when the measured temperature is greater than the current higher reference temperature value plus the hysteresis value, and means for generating a signal capable of terminating cooling, when the measured temperature decreases to the current higher reference temperature value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system of claim 1, further including means for storing a digital number representative of a change to be produced in the measured temperature by said affecting means in response to said control signals; and means, responsive to the measured temperature signal representation and to the condition of said control signals and to said number representative of a change, for generating an alarm indication if said change is not actually produced in response to said control signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 1, further including means, accessible to a user, for entering a digital number representing a reference temperature adjustment; means for repeatedly generating a digital number representative of the present value of an external temperature; and wherein said comparison means includes means for performing, in response to said external temperature number, said generating of control signals with the current reference temperature value modified by the value of said adjustment number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said control signals include an analog of a linear function of the measured temperature and the current reference temperature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 1, including means for storing a digital number representative of the value of a parameter for multiple stage operation; wherein the comparison means includes means for generating said control signals capable of commanding said thermal means to affect the measured temperature at a rate dependent on a comparison between said parameter value and the deviation of the measured temperature from the current reference temperature value.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
224 words
A system for controlling a measured temperature during a sequence of time intervals in accordance with a sequence of selected reference temperatures, each corresponding to one of the intervals, comprising: means, accessible to a user, for entering and storing a plurality of digital numbers, each representing a value of one of the reference temperatures; means, accessible to a user, for entering and storing a digital number determining the duration of each of said intervals; means connectable to respond to a reference frequency source for repeatedly generating a digital number representative, at each generation, of the present time of day; means, accessible to a user, for entering and storing a digital number representative of a selected value of hysteresis; updating means for repeatedly determining, from said time of day number, when one of said intervals embraces the present time and identifying the one of said reference temperatures corresponding to said embracing interval and for storing, as a current reference temperature value, a digital number representing the value of said identified reference temperature; means connectable to be responsive to a sensor of said measured temperature for generating an electrical signal representation of said measured temperature; comparison means, responsive to said signal representation, to the current reference temperature number, and to the hysteresis number, for repeatedly generating controlled signals suitable for thermal means affecting said measured temperature.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
224 words
A system for controlling a measured temperature during a sequence of time intervals in accordance with a sequence of selected reference temperatures, each corresponding to one of the intervals, comprising: means, accessible to a user, for entering and storing a plurality of digital numbers, each representing a value of one of the reference temperatures; means, accessible to a user, for entering and storing a digital number determining the duration of each of said intervals; means connectable to respond to a reference frequency source for repeatedly generating a digital number representative, at each generation, of the present time of day; means, accessible to a user, for entering and storing a digital number representative of a selected value of hysteresis; updating means for repeatedly determining, from said time of day number, when one of said intervals embraces the present time and identifying the one of said reference temperatures corresponding to said embracing interval and for storing, as a current reference temperature value, a digital number representing the value of said identified reference temperature; means connectable to be responsive to a sensor of said measured temperature for generating an electrical signal representation of said measured temperature; comparison means, responsive to said signal representation, to the current reference temperature number, and to the hysteresis number, for repeatedly generating controlled signals suitable for thermal means affecting said measured temperature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
228 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said reference temperatures, including said current reference temperature, are relatively higher temperatures; and further including means, accessible to a user, for entering and storing a sequence of digital numbers, each representing a value of a relatively lower reference temperature and each corresponding to one of said intervals; and means, accessible to a user, for entering and storing a digital code indicative of a selected mode of operation; and wherein said updating means further includes means for identifying the one of said lower reference temperatures corresponding to said embracing interval and for storing, as a current lower reference temperature value, a digital number representing the value of said identified lower reference temperature; and wherein said comparison means further includes means for generating, in response to a first value of said code, signals for controlling heating, means for generating, in response to a second value of said code, signals for controlling cooling, means for generating, in response to a third value of said code, signals for controlling heating in accordance with said current lower reference temperature value and cooling in accordance with said current higher reference temperature value, and means for generating, in response to a fourth value of said code, signals for controlling both heating and cooling in accordance with the same one of said reference temperature values during all of said intervals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said signal representation is an electrical analog signal; and said comparison means further includes means for coverting said signal to a sequence of digital representations.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
135 words
A system for controlling a measured temperature in each of a plurality of zones, during a sequence of time intervals, comprising: means for storing values, for each zone, of a sequence of reference temperatures, each corresponding to one of the time intervals; means for selecting from the reference temperature values, for each zone, and during each interval, a current reference temperature value; means for generating signals suitable for controlling means affecting the temperature of air delivered to the collection of zones, dependent on the relation of the measured temperatures, in the zones to the current reference temperatures of the zones; and means for generating signals suitable for controlling means affecting the temperature of air delivered to each zone, dependent on the relation of measured temperature in the affected zone to the current reference temperature thereof.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
135 words
A system for controlling a measured temperature in each of a plurality of zones, during a sequence of time intervals, comprising: means for storing values, for each zone, of a sequence of reference temperatures, each corresponding to one of the time intervals; means for selecting from the reference temperature values, for each zone, and during each interval, a current reference temperature value; means for generating signals suitable for controlling means affecting the temperature of air delivered to the collection of zones, dependent on the relation of the measured temperatures, in the zones to the current reference temperatures of the zones; and means for generating signals suitable for controlling means affecting the temperature of air delivered to each zone, dependent on the relation of measured temperature in the affected zone to the current reference temperature thereof.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for the control of a measured temperature during a sequence of time intervals in accordance with a sequence of selected reference temperatures, each corresponding to one of the intervals, comprising: storing, in electronically readable form, a plurality of digital numbers, each representing a value of one of the reference temperatures; repeatedly generating, in electronic form, a digital number representing the present time of day at each generation; storing, in electronically readable form, a digital number representative of a value of hysteresis; repeatedly determining, by an electronic comparison including the time of day number, when one of said intervals embraces the present time, including determining that as soon as said present time exceeds the last interval in said interval sequence, said time becomes embraced by the first interval in the sequence; identifying the one of said reference temperatures corresponding to said embracing interval; storing, in electronically readable form, as a current reference temperature value, a digital number representing the value of said identified reference temperature; generating an electrical signal representation of said measured temperature; electronically computing a digital number representing a function of the current reference temperature and the hysteresis number; electronically comparing the function number and the representation of measured temperature; and responsive to the results of the last mentioned comparing, generating signals suitable to control means affecting the measured temperature.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for the control of a measured temperature during a sequence of time intervals in accordance with a sequence of selected reference temperatures, each corresponding to one of the intervals, comprising: storing, in electronically readable form, a plurality of digital numbers, each representing a value of one of the reference temperatures; repeatedly generating, in electronic form, a digital number representing the present time of day at each generation; storing, in electronically readable form, a digital number representative of a value of hysteresis; repeatedly determining, by an electronic comparison including the time of day number, when one of said intervals embraces the present time, including determining that as soon as said present time exceeds the last interval in said interval sequence, said time becomes embraced by the first interval in the sequence; identifying the one of said reference temperatures corresponding to said embracing interval; storing, in electronically readable form, as a current reference temperature value, a digital number representing the value of said identified reference temperature; generating an electrical signal representation of said measured temperature; electronically computing a digital number representing a function of the current reference temperature and the hysteresis number; electronically comparing the function number and the representation of measured temperature; and responsive to the results of the last mentioned comparing, generating signals suitable to control means affecting the measured temperature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-30 | 1981-08-01 | 1982-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-30 | 1985-08-01 | 1986-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-30 | 1989-08-01 | 1990-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |