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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020072484-A1
Application number	US-201916678875-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 8, 2019
Priority date	Feb 3, 2017
Publication date	Mar 5, 2020
Grant date	—

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 for an HVAC system that is configured to condition a living space within a building, the HVAC controller comprising:
a communication module for wirelessly communicating with a network, the communication module is configured to establish communication with a remote server via the network; wiring terminals for receiving a wired connection to a remote temperature sensor that is situated remote from the HVAC controller and in the living space of the building; a controller operably coupled to the communication module and the wiring terminals, the controller is 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; and the thermostat control algorithm is 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.

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.

5 . The HVAC controller of claim 4 , wherein the furnace comprises a furnace housing, and wherein the furnace control board is located inside of the furnace housing.

6 . The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system comprises a furnace, and the furnace comprises:
a furnace housing; a burner situated inside of the furnace housing; a heat exchanger situated inside of the furnace housing and thermally coupled to the burner; a blower situated inside of the furnace housing for providing air across the heat exchanger; a gas valve for providing 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 communication module 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 for an HVAC system that is configured to condition a living space within a building, the HVAC controller comprising:
a communication module for wirelessly communicating with a network, the communication module is configured to communicate with a remote server via the network, the communication module is also configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote temperature sensor that is situated remote from the HVAC controller and in the living space of the building; a controller operably coupled to the communication module, the controller is 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; and the thermostat control algorithm is configured to use a sensed temperature received from the remote temperature sensor via the communication module and a temperature setpoint received from the remote server via the network.

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.

14 . The HVAC controller of claim 13 , wherein the furnace comprises a furnace housing, and wherein the furnace control board is located inside of the furnace housing.

15 . The HVAC controller of claim 1 , wherein the communication module 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 for an HVAC system that is configured to condition a living space within a building, the HVAC controller comprising:
wiring terminals for receiving 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; the wiring terminals also for receiving a wired connection to a remote temperature sensor that is situated remote from the HVAC controller and in the living space of the building; a controller operably coupled to the wiring terminals, the controller is 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; and the thermostat control algorithm is configured to use a sensed temperature received from the remote temperature sensor via the wiring terminals and a temperature setpoint received from the remote server via the wiring terminals by way of the wireless module.

18 . The HVAC controller of claim 17 , wherein the wired connection between the HVAC controller and the wireless module comprises at least two power lines and at least one data line.

19 . The HVAC controller of claim 17 , wherein the HVAC controller can only access the network via the wiring terminals by way of the wireless module.

20 . The HVAC controller of claim 17 , wherein the HVAC controller further comprises a communication module for wirelessly communicating with the network, and wherein the HVAC controller can access the network via the communication module and via the wiring terminals by way of the wireless module.

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F24F11/64

  using pre-stored data · 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

• G05B2219/2614

  HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control · CPC title

• F24F2110/10

  Temperature · CPC title