Space heater with remote control

Abstract

A space heater remote control system according to the present invention includes a remote control device and a base unit attached to a gas- or electricity-powered space heater. The remote control device may include a case, a display, an RF transmitter, electronic circuitry, a microprocessor and a power supply connection. The base unit and space heater may include a container, an RF receiver, a variable flow control circuit, a status detection circuit, heater connection circuitry, electronic circuitry, a microprocessor, power supply, and heating elements. The remote control device transmits command controls to the base unit, and the base unit modulates the quantity of gas or electric current flowing through the space heater in accordance with the command controls.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A remote controlled space heater comprising: 
 a remote control device, the remote control device including 
 a remote microcontroller,  
 a keypad coupled to the remote microcontroller,  
 a remote power supply connection coupled to the remote microcontroller and electrically connectable to a remote power source,  
 a remote RF transmitter coupled to the remote microcontroller, and  
 a remote case housing the remote microcontroller, the keypad, the remote power supply connection, and the remote RF transmitter;  
   a base unit, the base unit including: 
 a base microcontroller,  
 a base power supply connection coupled to the base microcontroller and being electrically connectable to a base power source, and  
 a base RF receiver coupled to the base microcontroller; and,  
   a portable space heater, the portable space heater including: 
 a heating element  
 a heater power supply connection coupled to the heating element and to the base microcontroller and being connectable to a heater power source.  
   
     
     
         2 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 1 , the remote control device further comprising a remote thermometer coupled to the remote microcontroller and housed in the remote case, and the remote microcontroller executing an adjustment algorithm; 
 wherein the remote thermometer measures a remote ambient temperature proximate to the remote control device, the remote microcontroller calculates an adjustment command control based on the adjustment algorithm in light of the remote ambient temperature and the primary command controls, the remote microcontroller communicates the adjustment command control to the base microcontroller, and the base microcontroller controls the heater power flowing to the heating element in accordance with the adjustment command control in light of the primary command controls.    
     
     
         3 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 1 , the base unit further comprising a base thermometer coupled to the base microcontroller, and the base microcontroller executing an adjustment algorithm; 
 wherein the base thermometer measures a base ambient temperature proximate to the base unit, the base microcontroller calculates an adjustment command control based on the adjustment algorithm in light of the base ambient temperature and the primary command controls, and the base microcontroller controls the heater power flowing to the heating element in accordance with the adjustment command control in light of the primary command controls.    
     
     
         4 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 1 , the remote control device further comprising a display and a remote RF receiver, the display and the remote RF receiver being coupled to the remote microcontroller and housed in the remote case, the primary commands being represented on the display; and the base unit further comprising a base RF transmitter coupled to the base microcontroller; 
 wherein the remote RF receiver receives status information transmitted by the base RF transmitter, the remote RF receiver communicates the status information to the remote microcontroller, and the remote microcontroller presents a user-relevant portion of the status information on the display.    
     
     
         5 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 1 , wherein the remote microcontroller interfaces primary command controls with the remote RF transmitter, the remote RF transmitter transmits the primary command controls to the base RF receiver, the base RF receiver interfaces the primary command controls with the base microcontroller, and the base microcontroller controls the heater power flowing to the heating element in accordance with the primary command controls received from the remote control device.  
     
     
         6 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the base power source and the heater power source include an electrical outlet,    a power cord is coupled to the base power supply connection and to the heater power supply connection and is removably coupleable to the electrical outlet, and    the base power supply connection includes an AC/DC converter coupled to the base microcontroller.    
     
     
         7 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the base power source includes a battery removably housed within the base unit and removably coupled to the base power supply connection,    the heater power source includes a gas canister removably housed within the portable space heater and removably coupled to the heater power supply connection, and    the heater power supply connection includes a gas regulator valve to increase or decrease a flow of gas to the heating elements and an electric ignition system to ignite gas flowing from the gas canister to the heating elements.    
     
     
         8 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 1 , the remote control device further comprising a remote antenna coupled to the remote RF transmitter, and the base unit further comprising a base antenna coupled to the base RF receiver.  
     
     
         9 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 4 , the remote control device further comprising a remote antenna coupled to the remote RF transmitter and to the remote RF receiver, and the base unit farther comprising a base antenna coupled to the base RF receiver and to the base RF transmitter.  
     
     
         10 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 1 , wherein the remote microcontroller includes a display coupled to the remote microcontroller, a remote central processing unit, remote read-only memory, remote random-access memory, a remote input port, a remote output port, and a display driver, the remote input port interfacing the keypad with the remote central processing unit, the remote output port interfacing the remote RF transmitter with the remote central processing unit, and the display driver interfacing the display with the remote central processing unit.  
     
     
         11 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 6 , the base unit further comprising 
 a variable flow control circuit coupled to the base microcontroller and regulating the heater power supply connection, and    a status detection circuit coupled to the base microcontroller;    wherein the variable flow control circuit controls the electric current received via the base power supply connection for transfer to the portable space heater via the heater power supply connection in accordance with instructions received from the base microcontroller, and the status detection circuit monitors the electric current passing through the portable space heater and notifies the base microcontroller of heater conditions.    
     
     
         12 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 7 , the base unit further comprising 
 a variable flow control circuit coupled to the base microcontroller and regulating the heater power supply connection, and    a status detection circuit coupled to the base microcontroller;    wherein the variable flow control circuit regulates a flow of gas from the heater power source to the heating elements via the heater power supply connection in accordance with instructions received from the base microcontroller, and the status detection circuit monitors the portable space heater and notifies the base microcontroller of heater irregularities.    
     
     
         13 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 11  wherein the base microcontroller includes a base central processing unit, base read-only memory, base random-access memory, and a base input port, a base output port, the base input port interfacing the base RF transmitter and the status detection circuit with the base central processing unit, the base output port interfacing the variable flow control circuit with the base central processing unit.  
     
     
         14 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 4 , wherein the remote control device further includes a display coupled to the remote microcontroller, wherein the base power source comprises a battery removably coupled to the base microcontroller, wherein the base unit communicates the status information to the remote control device, and wherein the remote control device represents the user-relevant portion of the status information on the display even when the heater power supply connection is not connected to the heater power source.  
     
     
         15 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 1  further comprising one of a LED indicator coupled to the base microcontroller and a display coupled to the base microcontroller, wherein the LED indicator luminesces or the display depicts when the portable space heater is operating.  
     
     
         16 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 1  further comprising a sound generator coupled to the base microcontroller, wherein the sound generator makes an audible sound when the base unit receives a command control from the remote control device.  
     
     
         17 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control device further includes a display coupled to the remote microcontroller, the keypad includes an LED keypad backlight coupled to the keypad and housed in the remote case, the display includes an LED display backlight coupled to the display and housed in the remote case, and the LED keypad backlight and the LED display backlight luminesce when the user uses the keypad.  
     
     
         18 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 1  further comprising one of an electric light and a gas-powered light.  
     
     
         19 . The remote controlled space heater of  claim 7  further comprising a parasol heater.  
     
     
         20 . A remotely controlled portable space heater system, the system comprising: 
 a portable space heater coupled to a power source;    a remote control device having a remote RF transceiver; and    a base unit having a base RF transceiver, being coupled to the portable space heater, and having regulating means to regulate a flow a power to the portable space heater from the power source;    wherein the remote RF transceiver transmits command controls to and receives status information from the base RF transceiver, whereupon the base unit regulates the flow of power flowing from the power source to the space heater in accordance with the command controls received from the remote control device.    
     
     
         21 . A method of remotely controlling a portable space heater, the method comprising: 
 coupling a remote power supply connection of a RF remote control device to a remote power source,    coupling a base power supply connection of a base unit to a base power source,    coupling a heater power supply connection of the portable space heater to a heater power source,    using a keypad on the RF remote control device to generate primary command controls, the primary command controls then being represented on a display on the remote control device and communicated to a remote microcontroller on the remote control device, the remote microcontroller interfacing the primary command controls with a remote RF transmitter on the remote control device, the remote RF transmitter transmitting the primary command controls to a base RF receiver on the base unit, the base RF receiver interfacing the primary command controls with a base microcontroller on the base unit, and the base microcontroller regulating a flow of power flowing from the heater power source to the portable space heater in accordance with the primary command controls received from the remote control device.    
     
     
         22 . A method of remotely controlling a portable space heater, the method comprising: 
 using a keypad on a remote control device to generate primary command controls,    displaying the primary command controls on a display on the remote control device    communicating the primary control commands to a remote microcontroller on the remote control device,    interfacing the primary command controls with a remote RF transmitter on the remote control device,    transmitting the primary command controls to a base RF receiver on a base unit,    interfacing the primary command controls with a base microcontroller on the base unit, and    regulating a flow of power flowing through a heater power supply connection to the portable space heater in accordance with the primary command controls received from the remote control device.