Thermostat control system providing power saving transmissions

Abstract

A thermostat control system having remote devices and/or other internally powered devices provides transmissions at different power levels and at different data transfer rates to conserve power life. Thermostat control system components and devices may be powered by replaceable power supplies that are conserved by transmitting at a lower power level more often than at a higher power level. A higher power level transmission is provided at a lower data transfer rate, and a lower power level transmission is provided at a higher data transfer rate. A higher power transmission is provided periodically to ensure reliable communication of temperature information.

1 . A thermostat control system adapted for use with one or more remote temperature sensors, the thermostat control system comprising:
 one or more remote temperature sensors that are each configured to transmit signals comprising temperature information, and a unique identification code associated with the remote temperature sensor such that a select set of unique identification codes is associated with the one or more remote temperature sensors,   wherein each of the one or more remote temperature sensors has a base frequency that is configurable, and is configured to transmit at a base frequency of about 418 MHz;   a thermostat including:   a processor for controlling the operation of the thermostat;   a receiver configured to receive signals from the one or more remote temperature sensors, wherein the received signals are frequency shifted by the receiver, the receiver being configured to compare the received signal to a reference signal provided by an oscillator having a frequency of 418 Mhz, and to demodulate the signal into a digital data stream, said receiver being further configured to communicate to the processor only those signals that have an identification code identical to one of the select set of unique identification codes; and   wherein the processor receives the signals from the receiver and stores the temperature information included in only those received signals that include one of the unique identification codes within the select set of unique identification codes associated with the one or more remote temperature sensors.   
   
   
       2 . The thermostat control system according to  claim 1  wherein the remote sensor is configured to transmit a signal including the temperature information upon sensing a temperature change that exceeds 3/16 of a degree Fahrenheit. 
   
   
       3 . The thermostat control system according to  claim 2  wherein the remote sensor is configured to transmit the temperature information at a first data transfer rate of about 2000 bits per second and a second data transfer rate of about 4000 bits per second. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . The thermostat control system according to  claim 1  wherein the thermostat is configured to display the sensed temperature that corresponds to each of the one or more remote temperature sensors. 
   
   
       8 . The thermostat control system according to  claim 7  wherein the user-assigned code comprises an alpha-numeric character for labeling the one or more remote temperature sensors. 
   
   
       9 . The thermostat control system according to  claim 8  wherein the user-assigned code comprises text for labeling the location of the one or more remote temperature sensors. 
   
   
       10 . A thermostat control system adapted for use with one or more remote temperature sensors, the thermostat control system comprising:
 one or more remote temperature sensors that are each configured to transmit signals comprising temperature information, and a unique identification code and user assigned code associated with the remote temperature sensor such that a select set of unique identification codes is associated with the one or more remote temperature sensors,   wherein each of the one or more remote temperature sensors has a base frequency that is configurable, and is configured to transmit at a base frequency of about 418 MHz;   a thermostat including:   a processor for controlling the operation of the thermostat;   a receiver configured to receive signals from the one or more remote temperature sensors, wherein the received signals are frequency shifted by the receiver, the receiver being configured to compare the received signal to a reference signal provided by an oscillator having a frequency of 418 Mhz, and to demodulate the signal into a digital data stream, said receiver being further configured to communicate to the processor only those signals that comprise an identification code that is included within the select set of unique identification codes, wherein the processor stores the transmitted temperature information included in only those received signals that include one of the unique identification codes within the select set of unique identification codes associated with the one or more remote temperature sensors, for use in controlling the operation of the thermostat; and   a display means for displaying a signal strength level indicator for each remote sensor signal received by the processor, whereby the user may verify reception of a transmitted signal from each remote sensor.   
   
   
       11 . The thermostat control system according to  claim 10 , wherein the receiver is a transceiver that is capable of receiving wireless signals from the remote temperature sensors, and transmitting wireless signals including said user assigned code to each of the one or more remote temperature sensors. 
   
   
       12 . The thermostat control system according to  claim 11  wherein the remote sensor is configured to transmit a signal including the temperature information upon sensing a temperature change that exceeds 3/16 of a degree Fahrenheit. 
   
   
       13 . The thermostat control system according to  claim 12  wherein the remote sensor is configured to transmit the temperature information at a first data transfer rate of about 2000 bits per second and a second data transfer rate of about 4000 bits per second. 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . The thermostat control system according to  claim 10  wherein the thermostat is configured to display the sensed temperature that corresponds to each of the one or more remote temperature sensors. 
   
   
       18 . The thermostat control system according to  claim 17  wherein the user-assigned code comprises an alpha-numeric character for labeling the one or more remote temperature sensors. 
   
   
       19 . The thermostat control system according to  claim 18  wherein the user-assigned code comprises text for labeling the location of the one or more remote temperature sensors. 
   
   
       20 . A thermostat control system adapted for use with one or more remote temperature sensors, the thermostat control system comprising:
 one or more remote temperature sensors that are configured to sense temperature, each of the one or more remote temperature sensors having a transceiver that is configured to receive a signal including a user assigned code, and to transmit signals including temperature information and a unique identification code and user assigned code associated with the remote temperature sensor, such that a select set of unique identification codes is associated with the one or more remote temperature sensors, wherein each of the one or more remote temperature sensors has a base frequency that is configurable, and is configured to transmit at a base frequency of about 418 MHz, and each of the one or more remote temperature sensors is configured to transmit a signal including temperature information upon sensing a temperature change that exceeds 3/16 of a degree Fahrenheit;   a thermostat including a processor for controlling the operation of the thermostat, and a transceiver configured to receive signals from the one or more remote temperature sensors, where said received signals are frequency shifted by the receiver, the receiver being configured to compare the received signal to a reference signal provided by an oscillator having a frequency of 418 Mhz, and to demodulate the signal into a digital data stream, said receiver being further configured to communicate to the processor only those signals that comprise an identification code that is included within the select set of unique identification codes, wherein the processor stores the transmitted temperature information associated with the user-assigned code that identifies each remote sensor among one or more remote temperature sensors, for use in controlling the operation of the thermostat.