Importance

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Abstract

The programmable thermostat includes a sensor for sensing the ambient temperature within the predetermined volume of space, a timer for generating the current time of day, and a memory for storing a plurality of program times, and a heating and a cooling control temperature corresponding to each program time. The memory also stores a first temperature span associated with the heating control temperatures and a second temperature span associated with the cooling control temperatures. The current ambient temperature is compared to a first temperature above the heating control temperature, a second temperature below the heating control temperature, a third temperature above the cooling control temperature, and a fourth temperature below the cooling control temperature. These comparisons generate a switching control signal for controlling the on/off state of the heating and cooling systems. The first, second, third, and fourth temperatures are fixed by the first and second temperature spans. An alternation controller controls the alternation of operation of the heating system and the cooling system. The alternation controller includes a first adjustor for adjusting the first temperature span to a first adjusted temperature span prior to an alternation from the cooling system to the heating system. A second adjustor adjusts the second temperature span to a second adjusted temperature span prior to the alternation from the heating system to the cooling system.

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First Claim