Move-a-thermostat system

Abstract

A method and system for easily relocating a thermostat for a heating and/or cooling system is used to enable a more suitable location for the efficient control of heating or cooling. The thermostat system utilizes a selectively placable transmitting thermostat that communicates with a receiver that is installed in place of the original, removed thermostat and connects by the existing original thermostat wiring to the HVAC units. In another aspect, multiple transmitting thermostats communicate with a single receiver which accepts thermostatic and other data. The receiver is configured to allow the user to select which one or more of the thermostats are made active. If multiple thermostats are activated, the user can select the priority assigned to each.

1 . A method of controlling temperature in an area of a building having a fixedly located, temperature set control point connected by an electrical conductor to an HVAC controller comprising the steps of:
 providing a thermostat with a temperature set control;   mounting the thermostat in a location remote from the temperature detection and temperature set control point in the building;   providing a signal generator in the thermostat capable of generating a temperature related signal;   mounting a control capable of receiving control signals from the signal generator in the thermostat, the control including a signal generator responsive to the control signal and capable of generating temperature related control signals, the control located at the temperature detection and temperature set control point;   connecting the control signal generator to the electrical conductor connected to the HVAC controller;   transmitting the temperature related signal from the thermostat to the control; and   sending the temperature related control signals from the control signal generator to the HVAC controller over the electrical conductor to control the temperature of the environment regulated by the HVAC controller in response to the temperature signal from the thermostat.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 removing a thermostat from the temperature set control point; and   replacing the thermostat with the control at the control point.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of transmitting the temperature related signal from the thermostat to the signal control comprises the steps of:
 providing a signal receiver in the control; and   wirelessly transmitting the temperature related signal from the thermostat to the signal receiver.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of transmitting the temperature related signal from the thermostat to the control comprises the step of:
 transmitting the temperature related signal from the thermostat to the control via an electrical conductor.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing a thermostat with temperature set controls comprises the steps of:
 providing a plurality of discrete thermostats, each with discrete temperature set controls;   mounting each thermostat in a different location in a building remote from the signal receiver; and   selecting at least one of the thermostats for transmission of temperature related signals generated by the selected thermostat by the control signal generator.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the step of:
 providing an input element to select each thermostat.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising the step of:
 mounting the input element for each thermostat on the control   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the step of:
 providing a priority selection for each of the plurality of selected thermostats.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of:
 providing a priority input selection element to establish the priority of each selected thermostat in controlling the temperature of the environment regulated by the HVAC controller.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising a step of:
 mounting the priority input selection element on the control.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 providing the thermostat with a temperature detection feature, the temperature related signal including temperature detection data.   
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for controlling the temperature in an area of a building having a fixedly located, temperature set control point connected by an electrical conductor to an HVAC controller which regulates the temperature in the building comprising:
 a thermostat having a temperature set control, the thermostat adapted to be mounted in a location remote from temperature set control point;   a temperature data signal generator in the thermostat;   a control capable of receiving signals from the signal generator in the thermostat, the control including a control temperature signal generator, the control located at the temperature set control point;   the control temperature signal generator connected by the electrical conductor to the HVAC controller;   the thermostat including means for transmitting a temperature related signal to the control; and   the control temperature signal generator sending signals to the HVAC controller over the electrical conductor to control the temperature of the environment regulated by the HVAC controller in response to the temperature signal from the thermostat.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein transmitting means comprise:
 wireless means for transmitting signals from the signal generator in the thermostat to a signal receiver in the control.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the transmitting means comprises:
 means for transmitting the temperature related signal from the thermostat to the control via an electrical conductor.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein a thermostat comprises:
 a plurality of discrete thermostats, each with a discrete temperature set control;   each thermostat adapted to be mounted in a different location in a building remote from the signal receiver; and   means for selecting at least one of the thermostats for transmission of the temperature related signal generated by the selected thermostat by the control temperature signal generator.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the selecting means comprises:
 an input element to select each thermostat.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein:
 the input element for each thermostat is carried on the control.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprises:
 means for providing a priority selection for each of the plurality of selected thermostats.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the priority selection providing means comprises:
 means for providing a priority input selection element to establish the priority of each selected thermostat in controlling the temperature of the environment regulated by the HVAC controller.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein:
 the priority input selection element is carried on the control.   
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein:
 the thermostat includes detection means for detecting the temperature of the ambient environment in which the thermostat is disposed; and   the signal generator transmitting temperature detection data in the temperature related signal.