Programmable thermostat

1. A thermostat for a climate control system, comprising:

an electronic memory for storing at least three occupancy state set-points including an unoccupied temperature set-point, an occupied temperature set-point, and a sleep temperature set-point; and

a microprocessor configured to:

receive a first user input predefining, independently of any time period scheduled or schedulable for thermostat operation, one or more of the at least three occupancy state set-points;

assign each of the one or more predefined occupancy state set-points to a corresponding one of at least three occupancy states including an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state, and an occupied-asleep state; and

receive a second user input assigning one or more of the at least three occupancy states to one or more time periods;

wherein the microprocessor controls operation of the climate control system to maintain one of the pre-defined occupancy state set-points during any time period assigned the occupancy state corresponding to the one of the predefined occupancy state set-points; and

wherein one of the occupancy states is selectable by a user for a plurality of time periods during the day.

2. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the at least three occupancy state set-points comprise heating temperature set-points user-selectable for assignment to the at least three occupancy states for a heating mode, and cooling temperature set-points user-selectable for assignment to the at least three occupancy states for a cooling mode of the climate control system.

3. The thermostat of claim 2 , wherein the microprocessor controls operation of the climate control system to maintain only one of the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point or the pre-defined sleep temperature set-point.

4. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the one or more time periods are adjustable.

5. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the at least three occupancy states are selectable for each day of the week.

6. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point and pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are both off-set at least 3 degrees relative to the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point.

7. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein default values are provided by a manufacturer of the thermostat for the unoccupied temperature set-point, the occupied temperature set-point, and the sleep temperature set-point.

8. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, pre-defined occupied temperature set-point, and pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are adjustable by the user of the thermostat.

9. A thermostat for a heating and/or air conditioning system, comprising:

an electronic memory in which three occupancy state temperature set-points are stored and predefined, the predefined occupancy state temperature set-points assigned to three occupancy states including an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state, and an occupied-asleep state, where the predefined occupancy state temperature set-points are user-predefined for the occupancy states independently of any time period scheduled or schedulable for thermostat operation; and

a microprocessor in communication with the electronic memory, being configured to control operation of a heating and/or air conditioning system to maintain a temperature set-point for a space, the microprocessor configured to execute instructions to:

in response to user input, assign to each of a plurality of time periods during a day, one of the unoccupied state, the occupied-awake state and the occupied-asleep state;

the microprocessor further configured to control operation of the heating and/or air conditioning system during a given time period to maintain the pre-defined occupancy state temperature set-point that corresponds to the occupancy state assigned to the given time period;

wherein one of the occupancy states is selectable by a user for two or more of the time periods during the day.

10. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein the time periods during the day are adjustable.

11. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein the occupancy states are selectable for each day of the week.

12. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point and pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are both off-set at least 3 degrees relative to the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point.

13. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, the pre-defined occupied temperature set-point, and the pre-defined sleep temperature set-point replace default values stored in the memory of the thermostat.

14. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein the pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point, pre-defined occupied temperature set-point, and pre-defined sleep temperature set-point are adjustable by the user of the thermostat.

15. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein the electronic memory includes stored occupancy settings specific to a cooling mode of operation, which include a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point of 79 degrees Fahrenheit or less that is associated with the occupied-awake state, a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit that is associated with the unoccupied state, and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit that is associated with the occupied-asleep state.

16. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein the electronic memory includes stored occupancy settings specific to a heating mode of operation, which include a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point of 70 degrees Fahrenheit or more that is associated with the occupied-awake state, a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point of 69 degrees Fahrenheit or less that is associated with the unoccupied state, and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point of 69 degrees Fahrenheit or less that is associated with the occupied-asleep state.

17. A method of controlling a climate control system, the method comprising:

displaying, on a display for user selection therefrom independent of any time period scheduled or schedulable for thermostat operation, three occupancy states including an unoccupied state, an occupied-awake state, and an occupied-asleep state;

receiving at least one user input predefining at least one temperature set-point for assignment to a user-selected one of the three displayed occupancy states;

storing one or more user-predefined temperature set-points including one or more of the following: a pre-defined unoccupied temperature set-point associated with the unoccupied state, a pre-defined occupied temperature set-point associated with the occupied-awake state and a pre-defined sleep temperature set-point associated with the occupied-asleep state;

receiving a user selection of one of a plurality of time periods within a day, and a user selection of one of the three occupancy states for assignment to the user-selected time period;

establishing thermostat operation to maintain only the occupied temperature set-point during any time period assigned the occupied-awake state, and only the unoccupied temperature set-point during any time period assigned the unoccupied state, and only the sleep temperature set-point during any time period assigned the occupied-asleep state; and

assigning, in accordance with user input, one of the occupancy states to more than one time period in a day.