US6318639B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermostat with temporary fan on function
Assignee: Emerson Electric Co
•
Filing: 1999-10-15
•
Granted: 2001-11-20
•
Expires: 2019-10-15
Abstract
Abstract An electronic programmable thermostat having different modes of fan operation, including an automatic mode, a time mode, and a continuous mode, preferably includes a temporary fan-on mode for selecting a predetermined period of time for enabling operation of a climate control system including an air circulating fan. The period of time for operation of the temporary fan on mode is selected from a plurality of predetermined periods of time. The temporary mode of operation preferably can be selected during any other mode of operation and after the expiration of the selected period of time for temporary fan on operation, the thermostat returns to the mode of operation of the fan that it should be in based on a programmed schedule of the thermostat. Selection of a predetermined period of time and activation of the temporary mode results in operation of the air circulating fan for that selected period of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Bartholomew L. Toth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:19
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1902; G05D23/1904; F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/30; F24F11/50; F24F11/52; F24F11/523; F24F11/61; F24F11/62; F24F11/63; F24F11/70; F24F11/72; F24F11/74; F24F11/76; F24F11/80; F24F11/86; F24F11/65; F24F2110/00; F24F2110/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
In a thermostat for controlling the operation of a climate control system including an air-circulating fan, the thermostat providing at least one of the following user-selectable modes of operating the fan: an automatic mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated based on temperature-related demands of the climate control system; a time mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated based on the time of day; and a continuous mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated continuously, the improvement comprising a user-selectable temporary fan-on mode of operating the air-circulating fan in which the air-circulating fan is operated only once for a pre-selected period of time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a thermostat for controlling the operation of a climate control system including an air-circulating fan, the thermostat providing at least one of the following user-selectable modes of operating the fan: an automatic mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated based on temperature-related demands of the climate control system; a time mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated based on the time of day; and a continuous mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated continuously, the improvement comprising a user-selectable temporary fan-on mode of operating the air-circulating fan in which the air-circulating fan is operated only once for a pre-selected period of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the preselected period of time is one of a plurality of predetermined periods of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the temporary fan-on mode can be selected during any other mode of operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The thermostat according to claim 3 wherein the thermostat includes a programmed schedule and wherein after the expiration of the preselected period of time of the temporary fan-on mode, the thermostat returns to the mode of operation that it should be in based on the programmed schedule of the thermostat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thermostat according to claim 4 wherein the preselected period of time is selected from a plurality of predetermined periods of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
A thermostat for controlling the operation of a climate control system including an air-circulating fan, the thermostat providing a temporary fan-on mode for selectively operating the air circulating fan only once for a pre-selected period of time in addition to at least one other user-selectable mode of operation selected from: an automatic mode in which the air circulating fan is operated based on temperature-related demands to the climate control system; a time mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated based on the time of day; and a continuous mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated continuously.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
A thermostat for controlling the operation of a climate control system including an air-circulating fan, the thermostat providing a temporary fan-on mode for selectively operating the air circulating fan only once for a pre-selected period of time in addition to at least one other user-selectable mode of operation selected from: an automatic mode in which the air circulating fan is operated based on temperature-related demands to the climate control system; a time mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated based on the time of day; and a continuous mode in which the air-circulating fan is operated continuously.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thermostat according to claim 6 wherein the preselected period of time is one of a plurality of predetermined periods of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The thermostat according to claim 6 wherein the thermostat includes a control for selecting the temporary fan on mode of operation, and a control for preselecting the period of time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The thermostat according to claim 8 wherein the control for preselecting the period of time is a control for preselecting one of a plurality of predetermined periods of time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The thermostat according to claim 9 wherein the control for preselecting the period of time is activated upon operation of the control for selecting the temporary fan-on mode, and wherein the control for pre-selecting one of a plurality of predetermined periods of time scrolls through a series of pre-determined periods of time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The thermostat according to claim 10 wherein the temporary fan-on mode can be selected during any other mode of operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The thermostat according to claim 11 wherein the control for preselecting one of a plurality of predetermined periods of time is deactivated if no period of time is selected by a user.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The thermostat according to claim 12 wherein the control for preselecting one of a plurality of predetermined periods of time is changeably selectable at any time prior to activation of the air circulating fan in the temporary fan-on mode of operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The thermostat according to claim 12 wherein the control for preselecting one of a plurality of predetermined periods of time is changeably selectable during the temporary fan-on mode of operation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The thermostat according the claim 14 wherein the control for selecting the temporary fan or mode is changeably selectable to select another user-selectable mode of operation during the temporary fan-on mode of operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The thermostat according to claim 6 wherein the thermostat includes a programmed schedule and wherein after the expiration of the preselected period of time of the temporary fan-on mode, the thermostat returns to the mode of operation that it should be in based on the programmed schedule of the thermostat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a method of controlling a climate control system including an air-circulating fan in which the fan is operated in at least one of an automatic mode wherein the fan is operated based on temperature-related demands of the climate control system, a time mode wherein the fan is operated based on the time of day, and a continuous mode wherein the fan is operated continuously, the improvement comprising the step of selectively operating the fan in a temporary fan-on mode in which the fan operates only once for a preselected period of time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a method of controlling a climate control system including an air-circulating fan in which the fan is operated in at least one of an automatic mode wherein the fan is operated based on temperature-related demands of the climate control system, a time mode wherein the fan is operated based on the time of day, and a continuous mode wherein the fan is operated continuously, the improvement comprising the step of selectively operating the fan in a temporary fan-on mode in which the fan operates only once for a preselected period of time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of returning the thermostat to the mode of operation that it should be in based on a programmed schedule of the thermostat, after the expiration of the preselected period of time of the temporary fan-on mode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 18 wherein the step of selectively operating the fan in a temporary fan-on mode includes the step of selecting one of a plurality of predetermined periods of time for the fan-on mode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 19 wherein the step of selectively operating the fan in the temporary fan-on mode includes the step of overriding any other mode of operation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3635044A
Cited
US4298946A
Cited
US4299096A
Cited
US4838482A
Cited
US5000382A
Cited
US5230482A
Cited
US5611484A
Cited
US5547017A
Cited
US5547017B1
Cited
US5582233A
Cited
US5881806A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-11-19 | 2005-05-21 | 2005-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-11-19 | 2009-05-21 | 2009-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-11-19 | 2013-05-21 | 2013-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |