Sensor features for climate control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10746424-B2
Application number	US-201715784914-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2017
Priority date	Oct 17, 2016
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

According to certain embodiments, a device is configured for use in a climate control system. The device is operable to determine, based on configuration information, whether thermostat functionality of the device is enabled or disabled and whether sensor functionality of the device is enabled or disabled. The device is further operable to operate according to the configuration information. Thus, according to certain embodiments, the device can be configured as a thermostat, a sensor, or both.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A climate control system, comprising:
a sensor/thermostat configured to:
determine, based on configuration information, whether thermostat functionality of the device is enabled or disabled;
determine, based on the configuration information, whether sensor functionality of the device is enabled or disabled;
operate according to the configuration information;
determine a number of sensors associated with the climate control system; and
adjust a resistance for each sensor based on the number of sensors.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor/thermostat is further configured to:
receive updated configuration information from a user via a graphical user interface, wherein the updated configuration information changes an enabled/disabled status of the thermostat functionality or the sensor functionality; and
operate according to the updated configuration information.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor/thermostat operates using internal setpoints when the thermostat functionality is enabled.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor/thermostat operates using information received from one or more sensors when the thermostat functionality is enabled, and wherein at least one of the sensors comprises an internal sensor of the device when the sensor functionality is enabled.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein when the sensor functionality is enabled and the thermostat functionality is disabled, the sensor/thermostat reports information detected by an internal sensor to an external controller, the external controller configured with its own setpoints.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor/thermostat comprises a carbon dioxide sensor integrated with the sensor/thermostat.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein when the sensor functionality is enabled, the sensor/thermostat reports a detected carbon dioxide level to an external controller, the external controller configured to control ventilation of the climate control system based on the detected carbon dioxide level.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein when the sensor functionality and the thermostat functionality are enabled, the sensor/thermostat detects a carbon dioxide level and controls ventilation of the climate control system based on the detected carbon dioxide level.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor/thermostat is further operable to automatically adjust the resistance for each sensor in response to a determination that at least one sensor has been added to or removed from the climate control system.

10. A method, comprising:
determining, based on configuration information, whether thermostat functionality of a device is enabled or disabled;
determining, based on the configuration information, whether sensor functionality of the device is enabled or disabled;
operating the device according to the configuration information;
determining a number of sensors associated with the device; and
adjusting a resistance for each sensor based on the number of sensors.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving updated configuration information from a user via a graphical user interface, wherein the updated configuration information changes an enabled/disabled status of the thermostat functionality or the sensor functionality; and
operating the device according to the updated configuration information.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein operating the device comprises using internal setpoints when the thermostat functionality is enabled.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein operating the device comprises using information received from one or more sensors when the thermostat functionality is enabled, and wherein at least one of the sensors comprises an internal sensor of the device when the sensor functionality is enabled.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
in response to determining that the sensor functionality is enabled and the thermostat functionality is disabled, reporting information detected by an internal sensor to an external controller, the external controller configured with its own setpoints.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
reporting a carbon dioxide level detected by an internal carbon dioxide sensor of the device to an external controller, the external controller configured to control ventilation of the climate control system based on the detected carbon dioxide level.

16. The method of claim 10 , determining that the thermostat functionality is enabled and, in response, controlling ventilation of the climate control system based on a carbon dioxide level detected by an internal carbon dioxide sensor of the device.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising automatically adjusting the resistance for each sensor in response to a determination that at least one sensor has been added to or removed from the climate control system.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising logic that, when executed by processing circuitry, causes the processing circuitry to perform operations comprising:
determining, based on configuration information, whether thermostat functionality of a device is enabled or disabled;
determining, based on the configuration information, whether sensor functionality of the device is enabled or disabled;
operating the device according to the configuration information;
determining a number of sensors associated with the device; and
adjusting a resistance for each sensor based on the number of sensors.

Assignees

• Lennox Ind Inc
• Lennox Ind Inc

Inventors

• Abrishamkar Farhad
• Vishinsky Anna
• Bennett Alan E

Classifications

• Y02B30/70

  Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating · CPC title

• F24F11/56

  Remote control · CPC title

• F24F11/52

  Indication arrangements, e.g. displays · CPC title

• F24F2221/16

  mounted on the roof · CPC title

• F24F1/68

  Arrangement of multiple separate outdoor units · CPC title