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`US 20060186214Al
`
`c19) United States
`c12) Patent Application Publication c10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0186214 Al
`Aug. 24, 2006
`Simon et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`
`(54) THERMOSTAT OPERATION METHOD AND
`APPARATUS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Timothy M. Simon, San Francisco, CA
`(US); Blaine M. Smith, Portland, OR
`(US); Matthew T. Fisher, Reno, NV
`(US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`HAYNES BEFFEL & WOLFELD LLP
`PO BOX 366
`HALF MOON BAY, CA 94019 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Tim Simon, Inc., San Francisco, CA
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`11/335,182
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jan. 19, 2006
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/645,083, filed on Jan.
`19, 2005. Provisional application No. 60/664,561,
`filed on Mar. 23, 2005.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G0SD 23112
`(2006.01)
`B64D 13/00
`(2006.01)
`F24F 111053
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................................ 236/1 C; 236/91 D
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A thermostat may be placed in a heating mode when the
`sensed temperature is less than the lowest of the heating and
`cooling target temperatures by a first amount and may be
`placed in a cooling mode when the sensed temperature is
`greater than the highest of the heating and cooling target
`temperatures by a second amount. The presence or absence
`of a user may be monitored. If the thermostat is in a user
`absent mode, a cool setback amount may be added to the
`cooling target temperature and a heat setback amount may
`be subtracted from the heating target temperature to arrive at
`setback cooling and setback heating target temperatures,
`respectively. The thermostat may comprise a touch-sensitive
`screen having various display areas.
`
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`Page 00001
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 1 of 7
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 3 of 7
`
`US 2006/0186214 Al
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`IPR2023-00624 Page 00004
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 4 of 7
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 5 of 7
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`IPR2023-00624 Page 00006
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 6 of 7
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`IPR2023-00624 Page 00007
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 7 of 7
`
`US 2006/0186214 Al
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`

`

`US 2006/0186214 Al
`
`Aug. 24, 2006
`
`1
`
`THERMOSTAT OPERATION METHOD AND
`APPARATUS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of pro­
`visional patent application No. 60/645,083, filed 19 Jan.
`2005, Attorney Docket number TIMS 1007-1, entitled Ther­
`mostat With Touch-Screen Display, and provisional patent
`application No. 60/664,561, filed 23 Mar. 2005, Attorney
`Docket number TIMS 1009-1, entitled Water Timer and
`Method.
`[0002] This application is related to U.S. application Ser.
`No. ___ (Attorney Docket TIMS 1007-3), titled Multiple
`Thermostat Installation, filed on 19 Jan. 2006.
`
`STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY
`SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
`
`[0003] Not applicable.
`
`REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
`
`[0004] Not applicable.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0005] The present invention relates generally to thermo­
`stats used for heating and cooling systems, such as gas or
`electric forced air furnaces, gas or electric radiant heating
`furnaces, electric forced air air-conditioning systems, and
`electric heat pumps. Invention may also be suitable for other
`types of systems, including solar and solar electric heating
`and cooling systems.
`[0006] Digital set-back programmable thermostats typi­
`cally use a screen, such as a liquid-crystal display (LCD), to
`display both operational functions and programming values.
`The user enters commands into the thermostat, such as for
`setting the current time and date and programming the
`thermostat, by pressing keys or pressing appropriate posi­
`tions on a touch screen display. In many cases a set of
`instructions explaining the steps that must be taken to
`operate the thermostat is printed on the thermostat or sepa­
`rately documented so that programming such a thermostat
`can be quite confusing and tedious. Also, programming
`conventional thermostats is typically accomplished only
`after selecting a series of different screens on the display. In
`addition, information relating to the status of the thermostat
`and the settings in the program controlling the thermostat is
`often accessible only by reviewing different screens on the
`display.
`[0007] Many thermostats are used to control both a fur­
`nace in the heating mode and an air-conditioning unit in the
`cooling mode. The heating and cooling modes are typically
`controlled manually. That is, the user sets the thermostat to
`either cool or heat so that only the furnace or only the
`air-conditioning unit is operational in the chosen mode.
`[0008] Many programmable thermostats have only heat,
`off, or cool. Programmable thermostats that have an auto­
`matic setting, sometimes referred to as auto thermostats,
`typically have heat, auto, cool, off. In both cases, the user
`can put in separate setting times and temperatures for a heat
`program and for a cool program. Auto thermostats automati­
`cally switch between the user's heat and cool programs as a
`function of room temperature.
`
`[0009] There are typically two limitations associated with
`conventional auto thermostats. One limitation is the heat and
`cool program times must be the same; that is the times for
`each period (typically morning, day, evening, night) must be
`the same. The other limitation is the user's cool program can
`never be closer than X degrees (typically 3° F.) to the user's
`heat program. So if the user sets the heat target temperature
`to 70, the cool target temperature cannot be set any closer
`than 73 in this example. When the user tries to lower the cool
`target temperature below 73, the programming of the ther­
`mostat typically just stops and frustrates the user. Likewise,
`if the user wants to raise the heat setting, for example
`changing the heat target temperature from 70 to 72, the
`higher temperature may be too close to the cool target
`temperature so that the programming of the thermostat may
`also stop.
`
`[0010] Although programmable thermostats hold out the
`promise of reducing the energy used by heating systems, the
`U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which provides the
`ENERGY STAR certification for appliances and other
`devices, has expressed concern that potential energy savings
`are not being realized because of the difficulties consumers
`face trying to program conventional digital thermostats.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0011] A first aspect of the invention is directed to a
`method for automatically switching between heating and
`cooling modes of a thermostat, comprising: setting a heating
`target temperature; setting a cooling target temperature;
`sensing the temperature within a conditioned region; placing
`the thermostat in a heating mode when the sensed tempera­
`ture is less than the lowest of the heating and cooling target
`temperatures by a first amount; and placing the thermostat in
`a cooling mode when the sensed temperature is greater than
`the highest of the heating and cooling target temperatures by
`a second amount.
`
`[0012] A second aspect of the invention is directed to a
`method for automatically switching between heating and
`cooling modes of a thermostat, comprising: setting a heating
`target temperature; setting a cooling target temperature;
`sensing the temperature within a conditioned region; deter­
`mining the apparent presence or absence of a user; and
`placing the thermostat in a user present mode or a user
`absent mode based upon the result of the determining step.
`If the thermostat is in a user present mode, then: place the
`thermostat in a heating mode when the sensed temperature
`is less than the lowest of the heating and cooling target
`temperatures by a first amount; and place the thermostat in
`a cooling mode when the sensed temperature is greater than
`the highest of the heating and cooling target temperatures by
`a second amount. If the thermostat is in a user absent mode,
`then: add the cool setback amount to the cooling target
`temperature and subtract the heat setback amount from the
`heating target temperature to arrive at setback cooling and
`setback heating target temperatures, respectively. The ther­
`mostat is placed in a heating mode when the sensed tem­
`perature is less than the setback heating target temperature.
`The thermostat is placed in a cooling mode when the sensed
`temperature is greater than the setback cooling target tem­
`perature.
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00009
`
`

`

`US 2006/0186214 Al
`
`Aug. 24, 2006
`
`2
`
`[0013] A third aspect of the invention is directed to a
`method for automatically switching between heating and
`cooling modes of a thermostat, the thermostat comprising a
`thermostat controller, the method comprising: setting a
`heating target temperature; setting a cooling target tempera­
`ture; sensing the temperature within a conditioned region;
`and determining the apparent presence or absence of a user.
`The determining step is carried out using each of the
`following: sensing motion within a monitored region and
`providing an occupant present signal to the thermostat
`controller when motion above a threshold minimum level
`has been sensed; detecting air pressure changes and provid­
`ing a change in occupancy signal to the controller when an
`air pressure change above a threshold minimum level has
`been sensed; and monitoring sound level and integrating the
`monitored sound level over time and providing an occupant
`present signal to the controller when sound above a thresh­
`old minimum integrated sound level has been sensed. The
`thermostat is placed in a user present mode or a user absent
`mode based upon any one ofthe motion sensing, air pressure
`detecting or sound level monitoring steps.
`
`[0014] A fourth aspect of the invention is directed to a
`thermostat comprising: a user interface; a controller coupled
`to the user interface and configured to provide a target
`temperature signal to a heater/cooler; a temperature sensor
`operably coupled to the controller; and an occupant presence
`detector operably coupled to the controller to provide the
`controller with an occupant present/absent signal according
`to the perceived presence/absence of an occupant. The
`occupant presence detector comprises: a motion sensor
`constructed to provide an occupant present signal to the
`controller when motion above a threshold minimum level
`has been sensed; an air pressure change detector constructed
`to provide a change in occupancy signal to the controller
`when an air pressure change above a threshold minimum
`level has been sensed; and an integrating sound level sensor
`constructed to integrate sensed sound level over time and
`provide an occupant present signal to the controller when
`sound above a threshold minimum integrated sound level
`has been sensed.
`
`[0015] A fifth aspect of the invention is directed to a
`touch-sensitive screen for a user interface for a thermostat
`comprising: first display areas for time of day set points;
`second display areas, corresponding to each of the first
`display areas, for occupant-present target temperatures; and
`third display areas, corresponding to each of the first display
`areas, for occupant-absent target temperatures.
`
`[0016] A sixth aspect of the invention is directed to a
`thermostat comprising: a user interface; a controller coupled
`to the user interface and configured to provide a target
`temperature signal to a heater/cooler; a temperature sensor
`operably coupled to the controller. The controller comprises:
`time of day set points; occupant-present target temperatures
`for at least some of the time of day set points; and occupant­
`absent target temperatures for at least some of the time of
`day set points. The user interface comprises a display for
`displaying each of the time of day set points and the
`occupant-present and occupant-absent target temperatures
`associated therewith. An occupant presence detector is oper­
`ably coupled to the controller to provide the controller with
`
`an occupant present/absent signal according to the perceived
`presence/absence of an occupant, whereby the target tem­
`perature signal depends on the target temperature corre­
`sponding to: (1) the time of day and (2) the present/absent
`signal.
`
`[0017] A seventh aspect of the invention is directed to a
`user interface for a thermostat comprising: a touch-sensitive
`screen comprising a screen display with a plurality of screen
`areas. The screen areas comprise: a plurality of display areas
`for display of thermostat status information; and a plurality
`of touch-sensitive input areas for user input of thermostat
`inputs. All of the screen areas for thermostat status infor­
`mation and for thermostat inputs are single-function screen
`areas and are accessible on a single screen display.
`
`[0018] An eighth aspect of the invention is directed to a
`thermostat comprising: a user interface; a controller coupled
`to the user interface and configured to provide a target
`temperature signal to a heater/cooler; and a temperature
`sensor operably coupled to the controller. The controller
`comprises: time of day set points; occupant-present target
`temperatures for at least some of the time of day set points;
`and occupant-absent target temperatures for at least some of
`the time of day set points. The user interface comprises a
`touch-sensitive screen, the touch-sensitive screen compris­
`ing: first display areas for displaying each of the time of day
`set points; second display areas, corresponding to each ofthe
`first display areas, for displaying each of the occupant­
`present target temperatures; and third display areas, corre­
`sponding to each of the first display areas, for displaying
`each of the occupant-absent target temperatures. All of the
`display areas are single-function display areas and are
`accessible on a single screen display. An occupant presence
`detector is operably coupled to the controller to provide the
`controller with an occupant present/absent signal according
`to the perceived presence/absence of an occupant. Whereby
`the target temperature signal depends on the target tempera­
`ture corresponding to: (1) the time of day and (2) the
`present/absent signal.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a thermostat
`made according to the invention connected to a heater/
`cooler, the thermostat including a user interface coupled to
`a controller;
`
`[0020] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an occupant presence
`detector usable all with the thermostats of FIGS. 1 and 5;
`
`[0021] FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the general concept
`that a higher rate of change of temperature generally corre­
`sponds to a lower efficiency; and
`
`[0022] FIG. 4 is a simplified, generic version of test
`circuitry usable with the thermostat of FIG. 1;
`
`[0023] FIG. 5 is a front view of an alternative embodiment
`of the thermostat of FIG. 1;
`
`[0024] FIG. 6 is a partially exploded isometric view ofthe
`thermostat of FIG. 5 with a portion separated to show wire
`connections and test buttons;
`
`[0025] FIGS. 7 and 8 are front views of the thermostat of
`FIG. 5 shown in sleep and stealth modes;
`
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`Aug. 24, 2006
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`3
`
`[0026] FIG. 9 shows a network of three of the thermostats
`of FIG. 5 coupled to one another and to external temperature
`sensors and other remote modules; and
`
`[0027] FIG. 10 shows a network of three thermostats
`similar to that of FIG. 9 connected to ductwork baffles for
`zoned heating and cooling.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`[0028] The following description of the invention will
`typically be with reference to specific structural embodi­
`ments and methods. It is to be understood that there is no
`intention to limit the invention to the specifically disclosed
`embodiments but that the invention may be practiced using
`other features, elements, methods and embodiments.
`
`[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates a thermostat 10 connected to a
`heater/cooler 12. Heater/cooler 12 can include a heating
`system, a cooling system, or both a heating and cooling
`system. Heater/cooler 12 typically includes both heating and
`cooling units. Thermostat 10 may be used with, for example,
`one or more of gas or electric forced air furnaces, gas or
`electric radiant heating furnaces, electric forced air air­
`conditioning systems, and electric heat pumps. The inven­
`tion may also be suitable for solar or solar electric heating/
`in addition
`to
`instead of or
`cooling systems used
`conventional heating and/or cooling systems.
`
`[0030] Thermostat 10 includes a user interface 14 coupled
`to a CPU or controller 16. User interface 14 includes a
`display 18 having a touch sensitive screen 20. Thermostat 10
`also includes, in this embodiment, a temperature sensor 22
`and an occupant presence detector 24, sometimes called a
`people sensor, connected to controller 16. Optionally ther­
`mostat 10 may be coupled to one or more external tempera­
`ture sensors 22, an outside temperature sensor 26 and a
`remote control module 28. The various components of
`thermostat 10 will now be discussed.
`[0031] Touch sensitive screen 20 includes a number of
`display areas, a number of touch-sensitive input areas for the
`user input of information, and identifiers, typically words
`and/or symbols used to identify what is displayed in the
`associated display areas. Temporary identifier 30 is when it
`is desired to override the target temperature with an override
`temperature for the particular heating or cooling period. The
`target temperature is returned to during the next heating or
`cooling period.
`
`[0032] Current target temperature display area 32 displays
`the current target temperature for thermostat 10; display area
`32 is identified by current target temperature identifier 34.
`The current time is displayed at current time display area 36
`with this location identified by time identifier 38. The
`current temperature in the room or rooms or other area or
`areas being monitored is displayed at current temperature
`display area 40 next to current temperature identifier 42. If
`more than one room or area is being monitored for tem­
`perature, each temperature may be simultaneously displayed
`or displayed in an alternating or rotating fashion; also, the
`display the temperature may be an average or median
`temperature as well.
`
`[0033]
`In some situations that may be desirable to allow
`the user to reset or calibrate the temperature displayed at
`current temperature display area 40 so that the displayed
`
`temperature corresponds to, for example, a thermometer in
`the same room as thermostat 10. Calibration identifier 43
`indicates when this calibration function has been activated.
`In FIG. 1 calibration identifier 43 indicates no calibration of
`the displayed temperature.
`
`[0034] Below this upper row of display areas and identifier
`are four row-type display areas. The first is the time of day
`display area 48 for the user input of, in this embodiment,
`eight different times at which the temperature can be set as
`discussed below. Each time of day display area 48 is
`identified by a corresponding time of day identifier 50. Each
`time ( displayed at its display area 48) associated with a time
`of day identifier 50 is set by first pressing on set identifier 44
`and then using up and down set arrows 45 located above and
`below set identifier 44. Below display areas 48 are the
`occupant present temperature display areas 52 displaying the
`target temperature for the particular time of day when the
`presence of an occupant is sensed. Occupant presence detec­
`tor 24 is operably coupled to controller 16 to provide the
`controller with an occupant present/absent signal according
`to the perceived presence/absence of an occupant. Occu­
`pancy in an area is presumed when there are two occupant
`present determinations in a five-minute period. The occu­
`pant present status will then typically be maintained for a
`period of one hour following the last determination of
`occupancy. The occupant present temperature for each occu­
`pant present temperature display area 52 is input by first
`pressing on present identifier 46 and then using up and down
`arrows 47 located above and below present identifier 46.
`
`[0035] For example, in the disclosed embodiment of FIG.
`1 the first, second and third occupant present temperatures
`are all indicated to be 68° while the fourth target temperature
`display area 52 shows that the target temperature has been
`increased to 70°. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the
`target temperatures are for the heating mode. This indicates
`that from 6 a.m. through 10 a.m., assuming the presence of
`an occupant has been sensed, the occupant present target
`temperature remains at 68°. The transition from 10 a.m. to
`12 p.m. (noon) can be handled in at least two ways. The
`simplest would be at 12 noon the target temperature will
`increase from 68° to 70° in a stepwise fashion. Alternatively,
`the transition from 68° to 70° can be a more gradual
`transition (typically an incremental steps) over, for example,
`the entire two hours from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or, for example,
`from 11 :30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The drop in temperature between,
`in this example, 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. may also be stepwise at
`10 p.m. or a more gradual drop in temperature a starting
`sometime before 10 p.m.
`
`[0036] The third, occupant absent temperature display
`area 54 displays the target temperature corresponding to
`each time of day when controller 16 determines that an
`occupant is no longer present based upon the occupant
`present/absent signal from occupant presence detector 24 or
`from any external occupant presence detector 24. As will be
`discussed below, this is typically based upon the failure to
`detect the presence of an occupant for a predetermined
`period of time or upon sensing that the occupant has left the
`premises and has not returned for a period of time. The
`occupant absent temperature for each occupant absent tem­
`perature display area 54 is input by first pressing on absent
`identifier 49 and then using up and down arrows 51 located
`above and below absent identifier 49.
`
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`4
`
`[0037] The target temperature displayed at display area 32
`therefore depends on the target temperature corresponding
`to: (1) the time of day and (2) the present/absent signal.
`
`[0038] Fan setting display area 56 is positioned directly
`below absent temperature display areas 54 and indicates
`whether the fan is to operate continuously during the chosen
`time period, the ON setting, or only when needed, the Auto
`setting. The status of the fan for each time of day identifier
`50 is set by pressing fan identifier 53 and then pressing either
`on identifier 55 or auto identifier 57. In the disclosed
`embodiment of FIG. 1, the fan has been set to auto so to
`operate only upon demand, that is during an active heating
`and/or cooling cycle, from 12 a.m. (midnight) through 6
`p.m. but has been set to on to operate continuously from 6
`p.m. to midnight. Another fan setting, called the Auto+
`Circulate setting, may be provided by which the fan is
`operated during heating or cooling cycles, as in the Auto
`setting, and also is periodically operated for a set for length
`of time, such as 10 minutes each hour regardless of the
`heating or cooling requirements. The length of time may be
`preset or may be chosen by the user, typically from a series
`or range of times, such as 5, 10 or 15 minutes every hour.
`Therefore, under the Auto+Circulate setting, even if the
`target temperatures are set so that the heater/cooler 12 does
`not ever tum on, the fan will still be operated for a portion
`of each period of time, such as 10 minutes per hour, to keep
`air circulating.
`
`[0039] The next row has a hold temperature display area
`58 next to a hold temperature identifier 60. The hold
`temperature function is activated by pressing on hold iden­
`tifier 60 and then using set arrows 45 to select the hold
`temperature. The hold temperature feature is typically used
`when the user is going to be absent for a period of time, such
`as while on vacation. When the hold temperature feature is
`active, thermostat 10 uses this relatively energy efficient
`temperature setting instead of the individual occupant
`present and occupant absent temperature settings. For
`example, in the winter a hold temperature may be 50° while
`in the summertime the hold temperature may be 85°.
`
`[0040] Outside temperature display area 62 shows the
`current outdoor temperature as sensed by outdoor tempera­
`ture sensor 26. Display area 62 is identified by outside
`temperature identifier 64. If outdoor temperature sensor 26
`is used, the outdoor temperature will be displayed at outside
`temperature display area 62. When thermostat 10 is used
`with both a furnace and an air-conditioning unit, and when
`outdoor temperature sensor 26 is used, the outdoor tempera­
`ture can be used to automatically switch between heating
`and cooling functions. For example, controller 16 can be
`programmed so that if the outdoor temperature is 71 ° or
`above, COOL settings take precedence and the air-condi­
`tioning unit is operated. If the outdoor temperature 70° or
`below, HEAT settings take precedence and the furnace is
`operated.
`
`[0041] A total filter hours display area 66 is next to a total
`filter hours identifier 68. A remaining filter life display area
`70 is used next to a remaining filter life identifier 72. The
`total filter life hours for the filter being used is input into
`display area 66 when the filter is replaced or cleaned by
`pressing filter hours identifiers 68 and then using set arrows
`45 to select the total filter hours, 250 in the example of FIG.
`1. When the filter is cleaned or replaced, the filter hours and
`
`display areas 66 and 70 will be the same. The estimated life
`of the filter is, in this embodiment, reduced according to the
`period of time the fan is operated. The remaining estimated
`life of the filter is displayed at remaining filter life display
`area 70 in a count-down fashion. Computing and displaying
`the estimated remaining filter life continuously and con­
`spicuously provides the user with an immediate estimate of
`when the filter should be replaced or cleaned.
`
`[0042] A temperature swing display area 74, located next
`to the temperature swing identifier 76, indicates the chosen
`temperature swing. In this embodiment a 2 degree tempera­
`ture swing has been chosen so that at the present time, 6: 13
`p.m., the occupant present target temperature of 72° will
`cause the furnace to cycle on when the room temperature
`drops to 70° and thereafter to cycle off when the room
`temperature increases to 74°. Temperature swing values of
`0.5°, 1°, 1.5°, 2°, 2.5° or 3° would be typical. In some
`embodiments the user can select the temperature swing; to
`do so the user presses temperature swing identifier 76 and
`then uses set arrows 45 to select the temperature swing. The
`positive and negative temperature swings need not be the
`same, such as a -2° temperature swing to tum on heat and
`a + 1 ° to turn off heat.
`
`[0043] Program chosen display area 78 is next to program
`chosen identifier 80 and indicates which of preset tempera­
`ture programs have been selected. In one embodiment
`program A uses the EPA recommended temperatures for
`ENERGY STAR certification for the occupant present tem­
`perature settings. One of the advantages of the present
`invention is that additional energy savings can be achieved
`through the use of the occupant absent temperature settings
`when using program A. In this embodiment program B is
`preset to occupant present temperature settings of 70° and
`occupant absent temperature settings of 62°; the temperature
`settings are intended to be used as a starting point for the
`user to raise or lower them as appropriate for the different
`time periods. Additional and/or different temperature pro­
`grams may also be provided.
`
`[0044] Six differen