Thermostat with integrated carbon monoxide (co) sensor

Abstract

A thermostat control device is disclosed. The thermostat control device includes a temperature sensor, a cartridge sensor and a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the cartridge sensor. The controller further includes a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing processor executable instructions configured to: generate a furnace control signal in response to a temperature sensor signal; analyze a cartridge sensor signal received from the cartridge sensor against a threshold; and generate, if the cartridge sensor signal exceeds the threshold, an emergency furnace shutdown signal.

1 . A thermostat control device comprising:
 a temperature sensor;   a cartridge sensor;   a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the cartridge sensor, the controller comprising:
 a processor; 
 a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing processor executable instructions configured to: 
 generate a furnace control signal in response to a temperature sensor signal; 
 analyze a cartridge sensor signal received from the cartridge sensor against a threshold; and 
 generate, if the cartridge sensor signal exceeds the threshold, an emergency furnace shutdown signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a touch screen display in communication with the controller, the touch screen display configured to:
 display at least one piece of sensor data; and 
 receive a control input to alter the furnace control signal. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a wireless communication module in communication with the controller, wherein the wireless communication module is configured for communication with one or more safety devices. 
 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the wireless communication module is configured to communication according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of: IEEE 802.11 (WiFi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMax), IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee) and Bluetooth. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the cartridge sensor signal is received from one of the safety devices via the wireless communication module. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature sensor signal is received from one of the safety devices via the wireless communication module. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge sensor includes a carbon dioxide sensor cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon monoxide sensor includes a removable sensor cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . A thermostat control system comprising:
 a thermostat device comprising:
 a temperature sensor; 
 a communication module; and 
 a controller configured to: 
 generate a furnace control signal in response to a temperature sensor signal; 
 analyze a carbon monoxide sensor signal received, via the communication module, from the carbon monoxide sensor with respect to a threshold; and 
 generate, if the carbon monoxide sensor signal exceeds the threshold, an emergency furnace shutdown signal; 
   a safety device in communication with the thermostat device, the safety comprising:
 a carbon monoxide sensor; and 
 a communication module configured to communicate the carbon monoxide sensor signal to communication module portion of the thermostat device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the safety device further comprises:
 a temperature sensor, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate the temperature signal to communication module portion of the thermostat device.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a touch screen display in communication with the controller, the touch screen display configured to:
 display at least one piece of sensor data; and 
 receive a control input to alter the furnace control signal. 
 
 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the communication module is a wireless communication module in communication with the controller, wherein the wireless communication module is configured for communication with the safety device. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the wireless communication module is configured to communication according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of: IEEE 802.11 (WiFi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMax), IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee) and Bluetooth. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the carbon monoxide sensor includes a removable sensor cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a carbon monoxide sensor, wherein the carbon monoxide sensor includes a removable sensor cartridge. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method of residential environmental control in a building utilizing a thermostat in communication with an environmental control device and a sensing device wherein the thermostat is disposed within the building, the method comprising:
 analyzing a temperature control signal, wherein the temperature control signal represents a physical temperature substantially adjacent to the thermostat;   generating an environmental control signal in response to the received temperature sensor signal, wherein the environmental control signal is provided to the environmental control device;   receiving, at the thermostat, a sensor signal from the sensing device;   analyzing the received sensor signal with respect to a threshold; and   generating, if the received sensor signal exceeds the threshold, an emergency environmental control shutdown signal, wherein the environmental control signal is provided to the environmental control device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor signal is a carbon monoxide signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein analyzing the temperature control signal comprises wirelessly receiving the temperature control signal from the sensing device, wherein the sensing device is in wireless communication with the thermostat. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein analyzing the temperature control signal comprises receiving the temperature control signal from the sensing device via a communication bus provided within the thermostat. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the environmental control device is selected from the group consisting of: a furnace; an air conditioning unit and a ventilation unit. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sensing device is a carbon monoxide sensor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the carbon monoxide sensor include a replaceable cartridge.