HVAC control with a remote user interface and a remote temperature sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11137158-B2
Application number	US-201916678875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2019
Priority date	Feb 3, 2017
Publication date	Oct 5, 2021
Grant date	Oct 5, 2021

Abstract

An illustrative HVAC controller may include a communication module for wirelessly communicating with a network and wiring terminals for receiving a wired connection to a remote temperature sensor that is situated remote from the HVAC controller and in a living space of the building. A controller may be operably coupled to the communication module and the wiring terminals and may be configured to implement a thermostat control algorithm to generate one or more control signals, wherein the one or more control signals are provided by a wired connection to the HVAC system to control one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system. The thermostat control algorithm may be configured to compare a sensed temperature received from the remote temperature sensor via the wiring terminals and a temperature setpoint received from the server via the network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An HVAC controller comprising:
one or more transceivers for communicating with a network, the one or more transceivers configured to establish communication with a remote server via the network;
a communications port for communicating with a plurality of remote sensors situated remote from the HVAC controller and in a space of a building; and
a controller operably coupled to the one or more transceivers and the communications port, the controller configured to:
receive a plurality of sensed temperature signals from the plurality of remote sensors via the communications port;
receive a temperature setpoint via the network;
implement a thermostat control algorithm to generate one or more control signals based on a comparison of the sensed temperature signals received from the plurality of remote sensors to the temperature setpoint received via the network,
wherein the HVAC controller is configured to be located inside a housing of an HVAC system, and wherein the housing of the HVAC system includes one or more HVAC components, wherein the one or more HVAC components comprise one or more of a blower, a heat exchanger, a burner, or a gas valve;
wherein the HVAC system does not include a remote sensor of the plurality of remote sensors configured to change the setpoint; and
wherein the one or more control signals are provided to the HVAC system to control one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system.

2. The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein the HVAC controller is free from an on-board temperature sensor that is used by the thermostat control algorithm to generate the one or more control signals.

3. The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein the HVAC controller is implemented at least in part by a control board of one of the one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system.

4. The HVAC controller of claim 3 ,
wherein the one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system comprises a furnace, and the HVAC controller is implemented at least in part by a furnace control board of the furnace, and
wherein the housing is a furnace housing, and wherein the furnace control board is located inside of the furnace housing.

5. The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein each sensor of the plurality of remote sensors further provides one or more of: audio, visual and security.

6. The HVAC controller of claim 1 ,
wherein one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system comprises a furnace,
wherein the housing is a furnace housing and the furnace comprises:
the burner situated inside of the furnace housing;
the heat exchanger situated inside of the furnace housing and thermally coupled to the burner;
the blower situated inside of the furnace housing for providing air across the heat exchanger;
the gas valve configured to provide gas to the burner; and
a furnace controller situated inside of the furnace housing for controlling the gas valve and the blower, wherein the HVAC controller is implemented at least in part by the furnace controller.

7. The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein the HVAC controller is implemented at least in part by an Equipment Interface Module (EIM) that is wired to one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system.

8. The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more transceivers comprises a WiFi transceiver for communicating with the network.

9. The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein the HVAC controller is powered by a transformer of the HVAC system.

10. An HVAC controller comprising:
one or more transceivers configured to communicate with a remote server via a network and configured to communicate with a plurality of remote sensors situated remote from the HVAC controller in a space of a building;
a controller operably coupled to the one or more transceivers, the controller configured to:
receive a plurality of sensed temperature signals from the plurality of remote sensors;
receive a temperature setpoint via the network;
implement a thermostat control algorithm, using the sensed temperature signals received from the plurality of remote sensors via the one or more transceivers and the temperature setpoint received via the network, to generate one or more control signals,
wherein:
the HVAC controller is located inside a housing of the HVAC system,

wherein the housing of the HVAC system includes one or more HVAC components, wherein the one or more HVAC components comprise one or more of a blower, a heat exchanger, a burner, or a gas valve;
wherein the HVAC system does not include a remote sensor of the plurality of remote sensors configured to change the setpoint; and
the one or more control signals are provided by a wired connection to the HVAC system to control one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system.

11. The HVAC controller of claim 10 , wherein the HVAC controller is free from an on-board temperature sensor that is used by the thermostat control algorithm to generate the one or more control signals.

12. The HVAC controller of claim 10 , wherein the HVAC controller is implemented at least in part by a control board of one of the one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system.

13. The HVAC controller of claim 12 ,
wherein the one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system comprises a furnace, and the HVAC controller is implemented at least in part by a furnace control board of the furnace, and
wherein the housing is a furnace housing, and wherein the furnace control board is located inside of the furnace housing.

14. The HVAC controller of claim 10 , wherein each sensor of the plurality of remote sensors further provides one or more of: audio, visual and security.

15. The HVAC controller of claim 10 , wherein the one or more transceivers comprises a first transceiver for communicating with the network using a first communication protocol and a second transceiver for communicating with the remote temperature sensor using a second communication protocol.

16. The HVAC controller of claim 15 , wherein the second transceiver consumes less power than the first transceiver during wireless communication.

17. An HVAC controller comprising:
wiring terminals:
configured to receive a wired connection to a wireless module that is distinct from the HVAC controller, the wireless module is configured to communicate with a remote server via a network; and
configured to receive a wired connection to a plurality of remote sensors situated remote from the HVAC controller and in a space of a building;

a controller operably coupled to the wiring terminals, the controller is configured to:
receive a plurality of sensed temperature signals from the plurality of remote sensors via the wiring terminals;
receive a temperature setpoint via the network;
implement a thermostat control algorithm to generate one or more control signals based on a comparison of the sensed temperature signals received from the plurality of remote sensors to the temperature setpoint received via the network,

wherein the HVAC controller is located inside the housing of an HVAC system, the HVAC system comprising a housing that includes one or more HVAC components, wherein the one or more HVAC components comprise one or more of; a blower, a heat exchanger, a burner; or a gas valve;
wherein the HVAC system does not include a remote sensor of the plurality of remote sensors capable of changing the setpoint; and
the one or more control signals are provided by a wired connection to the HVAC system to control one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system.

18. The HVAC controller of claim 17 , wherein the wired connection

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

• Anderson Peter M
• Strassburg Ryan
• Strand Rolf L
• Piram Luke A
• Mitchell John D

Classifications

• F24F11/89 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• F24F11/64

  using pre-stored data · CPC title

• F24F11/58

  using Internet communication · CPC title

• F24F2221/18

  combined with domestic apparatus · CPC title

• F24F11/30 Primary

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