When you invest in programmable thermostat, you are taking more control over your heating and cooling system. Not only that, the money that you spend can be a valuable investment. Here are some important advantages of digital wall thermostats with programming functions.

Saving Money

Thermostats that have programming capabilities can be an excellent way to save money on energy bills. For example, you might wish to have your home interior warmer, when no one is home in the hot weather. On the other hand, by the time you get home in the evenings, your home can be cool and comfortable inside. For example, you can set the indoor temperature to 85F or 29C, when the house is empty. However, you may set the temperature for a more comfortable 76F or 24C for when everyone is home in the evenings.

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This invention relates to which control operation of heating and/or cooling apparatus, and particularly to an improved means for establishing a desired set point temperature in such thermostats.

For many years, thermostats for controlling heating and/or cooling apparatus have incorporated a bi-metal sensitive to room temperature, a switching means carried by the bi-metal, which switching means controls operation of the heating and/or cooling apparatus, and a lever or knob mechanically linked to the bi-metal. Associated with the lever or knob is some type of temperature indexing means. The arrangement is such that the user can establish a desired set point temperature at which the thermostat is to effect energizing or de-energizing of the heating and/or cooling apparatus by simply manually adjusting the lever or knob so as to visually indicate the desired set point temperature.

In recent years, a wide variety of have been developed which have the capability of being programmed by the user to provide a time-temperature schedule whereby the thermostat will automatically control room temperature at different set point temperatures during different time periods of the day and week. Many of such programmable thermostats incorporate a microcontroller which provides digital logic. The microcontroller provides a cost-effective means for implementing the desired functions of such thermostats. The microcontroller, primarily because of its digital logic, also enables such thermostats to provide more accurate and reliable control of room temperature than can generally be achieved by the aforementioned bi-metal type.

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Digital thermostat with single rotary encoder switch

A includes a microcontroller and a single rotary encoder switch having an adjusting shaft and a knob connected to the shaft. The shaft of the switch is rotatable by the knob to a plurality of discrete angular positions, each of which enables the switch to provide a unique signal to the microcontroller..

For many years, for controlling heating and/or cooling apparatus have incorporated a bi-metal sensitive to room temperature, a switching means carried by the bi-metal, which switching means controls operation of the heating and/or cooling apparatus, and a lever or knob mechanically linked to the bi-metal. Associated with the lever or knob is some type of temperature indexing means.
In recent years, a wide variety of thermostats have been developed which have the capability of being programmed by the user to provide a time-temperature schedule whereby the floor heating thermostat will automatically control room temperature at different set point temperatures during different time periods of the day and week. Many of such programmable thermostats incorporate a microcontroller which provides digital logic. The microcontroller provides a cost-effective means for implementing the desired functions of such thermostats. The microcontroller, primarily because of its digital logic, also enables such thermostats to provide more accurate and reliable control of room temperature than can generally be achieved by the aforementioned bi-metal type.
While such programmable thermostat have been widely accepted in the marketplace, there still remains a segment of homeowners who, while desirous of the accuracy and reliability in controlling room temperature due to the use of a microcontroller in such thermostats, prefer a thermostat in which the set point temperature can be adjusted manually, and in a simple manner, for example, similar to that used in the aforementioned bi-metal types, instead of it being adjusted automatically in accordance with a programmed time-temperature schedule.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a digital thermostat utilizing a microcontroller so as to implement the accuracy and reliability provided by the microcontroller, and utilizing a simple, easy-to-understand means for establishing a desired set point temperature.

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Objects of the digital thermostat

The principal object of the is to provide an improved energy conserving thermostatic control which utilizes digital control circuits for regulating the operation of heating and/or air conditioning systems.

Another object of the is to provide a digital thermostatic control which will automatically regulate the temperature of a home or office at a selected night temperature and at a selected day temperature during predetermined times of night and day, respectively.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a digital thermostatic control which will automatically cycle heat transfer apparatus on and off to maintain a regulated comfort temperature level in a controlled area during predetermined periods of normal activity and for maintaining the temperature of the controlled area at an energy conserving level during periods when the controlled area is not occupied or during periods of minimum activity such as at night.

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