HVAC controller with checkout utility

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10458670-B2
Application number	US-201815887965-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2018
Priority date	Nov 30, 2006
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

A zone control panel that is easy and intuitive to use and to program. In some embodiments, a zone control panel may be configured to have an easy to use, single level menu structure with, for example, a configuration mode and/or a checkout mode. The configuration mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. Likewise, the checkout mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. A mode selector may be provided to select a particular mode, after which, the menu screens that correspond to the selected mode may be sequentially displayed to the user. Other features and aspects are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A zone control panel for controlling a zoned HVAC system that includes two or more zones, an HVAC unit for delivering conditioned air to the two or more zones, two or more zone dampers for controlling delivery of conditioned air to the two or more zones, and a thermostat in each of the two or more zones, the zone control panel comprising:
a first set of two or more wiring terminals, each of the first set of two or more wiring terminals providing a connection point for a corresponding wire from a first thermostat in a first one of the two or more zones;
a second set of two or more wiring terminals, separate from the first set of two or more wiring terminals, each of the second set of two or more wiring terminals providing a connection point for a corresponding wire from a second thermostat in a second one of the two or more zones;
an output for providing control signals to the HVAC unit and to each of the two or more zone dampers, wherein the output includes two or more wiring terminals, wherein each of the two or more wiring terminals of the output provide a connection point for a corresponding wire from the HVAC unit or a corresponding one of the two or more zone dampers;
a user interface, the user interface includes:
a display;
a bank of HVAC status indicators remote from the display that each indicate an operational status of at least one of two or more pieces of HVAC equipment of the HVAC unit;
a bank of zone indicators remote from the display that each indicate an operational status of at least one of the two or more zones dampers; and

a controller operatively coupled to the first set of two or more wiring terminals, the second set of two or more wiring terminals, the output and the user interface, the controller configured to receive calls from the first thermostat in the first one of the two or more zones and calls from the second thermostat in the second one of the two or more zones, and in response, provide control signals to the HVAC unit and to the two or more zone dampers via the output; and
the controller further configured to display two or more configuration menu screens on the display of the user interface that facilitate a user in setting two or more configuration parameters for configuring the zone control panel, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise one or more of a number of heating stages, a number of cooling stages, a heat fan control parameter, a purge time parameter, a fan control in purge parameter, a number of zones in the zoned HVAC system, a DAT parameter that indicates if a discharge air temperature sensor is present or not, a discharge air temperature low limit, and a discharge air temperature high limit.

2. The zone control panel of claim 1 , wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise:
a number of heating states;
a number of cooling stages;
a fan control in purge parameter; and
a DAT parameter that indicates if a discharge air temperature sensor is present or not.

3. The zone control panel of claim 2 , wherein the two or more configuration parameters further comprising an HVAC unit system type.

4. The zone control panel of claim 1 , wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise:
an HVAC unit system type
a number of heating states;
a number of cooling stages;
a fan control in purge parameter; and
a DAT parameter that indicates if a discharge air temperature sensor is present or not, and if present:
a discharge air temperature low limit; and
a discharge air temperature high limit.

5. The zone control panel of claim 1 , wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise one or more of an HVAC unit system type and a number of heating stages.

6. The zone control panel of claim 1 , wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise a fan control in purge parameter.

7. The zone control panel of claim 1 , wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprises a discharge air temperature low limit and a discharge air temperature high limit, wherein the discharge air temperature low limit and the discharge air temperature high limit are only displayed via the two or more configuration menu screens on the display of the user interface when a discharge air temperature sensor is indicated as being present.

8. The zone control panel of claim 1 , wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise a thermostat type.

9. The zone control panel of claim 8 , wherein the thermostat type is one of a convention heat/cool thermostat type or a heat pump thermostat type.

10. The zone control panel of claim 1 , wherein:
the first set of two or more wiring terminals are adjacent a first side of the zone control panel;
the second set of two or more wiring terminals are adjacent a second side of the zone control panel opposite the first side with an intervening region between the first side and the second side of the zone control panel and extending between the first set of two or more wiring terminals and the second set of two or more wiring terminals;
wherein the bank of HVAC status indicators is positioned in the intervening region; and
a removable cover that, when attached, hides the display.

11. The zone control panel of claim 10 , wherein the removable cover is configured to also make visible the bank of HVAC status indicators and the bank of zone indicators when the removable cover is attached.

12. The zone control panel of claim 1 , wherein:
the first set of two or more wiring terminals are adjacent a first side of the zone control panel;
the second set of two or more wiring terminals are adjacent a second side of the zone control panel opposite the first side with an intervening region between the first side and the second side of the zone control panel and extending between the first set of two or more wiring terminals and the second set of two or more wiring terminals; and
the zone control panel further comprises a housing that includes one or more first side apertures along the first side of the housing to provide a path for wires to enter the housing and access the first set of two or more wiring terminals, and one or more second side apertures along the second side of the housing to provide a path for wires to enter the housing and access the second set of two or more wiring terminals.

13. The zone control panel of claim 12 , wherein the housing includes a removable cover that defines a front aperture that exposes the bank of HVAC status indicators and the bank of zone indicators when the removable cover is attached.

14. The zone control panel of claim 13 , wherein the removable cover, when attached, is configured to hide the display.

15. The zone control panel of claim 13 , wherein the removable cover, when attached, defines at least part of one or more of the first side apertures and at least part of one or more of the second side apertures.

16. The zone control panel of claim 13 , wherein the removable cover, when attached, is secured via a snap connection.

17. A zone control panel for controlling a zoned HVAC system that includes two or more zones, an HVAC unit for delivering conditioned air to the two or more zones, two or more zone dampers for controlling delivery of conditioned air to the two or more zones, and a thermostat in each of the two or more zones, the zone control panel comprising:
a first set of two or more wiring terminals adjacent a first side of the zone control panel, each of the first set of two or more wiring terminals providing a connection point for a corresponding wire from a first thermostat in a first one of

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

• Hoglund Steven R
• Schwendinger Paul G
• Huang Jian
• Arneson David
• Paine Brad
• Liu Tony

Classifications

• F24F11/65

  for selecting an operating mode · CPC title

• F24F11/50

  characterised by user interfaces or communication · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• F24F2110/10

  Temperature · CPC title

• F24F11/30 Primary

  for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring · CPC title