Thermostat with self-configuring connections to facilitate do-it-yourself installation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9116529-B2
Application number	US-201414504220-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2014
Priority date	Feb 24, 2011
Publication date	Aug 25, 2015
Grant date	Aug 25, 2015

Abstract

A thermostat compatible with single-HVAC- and dual-HVAC-transformer systems may include a first power return wire connector, a second power return wire connector, and a user-moveable mechanical element that physically blocks wire insertion into the first wire connector when in a first position and physically allows wire insertion into the first wire connector when in a second position. The thermostat may also include a switching circuit that may be in a first configuration when the mechanical element is in the first position, and in a second configuration when the mechanical element is in the second position. The first wire connector may be electrically coupled to the second wire connector in the first configuration, and first wire connector may be electrically isolated from the second wire connector in the second configuration to promote foolproofing against undesired isolation of the first and second wire connectors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A thermostat compatible with single-HVAC- transformer systems and dual-HVAC-transformer systems, the thermostat comprising:
a plurality of HVAC wire connectors configured for receiving a corresponding plurality of HVAC control wires, wherein the plurality of HVAC wire connectors includes a first call relay wire connector, a first power return wire connector, a second call relay wire connector, and a second power return wire connector, the first power return wire connector comprising a first opening configured to receive a corresponding first power return wire from the HVAC system, the second power return wire connector comprising a second opening configured to receive a corresponding second power return wire from the HVAC system;
a moveable mechanical element that is moveable between a first position and a second position, the moveable mechanical element physically blocking wire insertion into said first power return wire connector when in said first position and physically allowing wire insertion into said first power return wire connector when in said second position; and
a switching circuit coupled to said moveable mechanical element and to said first and second power return wire connectors, said switching circuit being in a first configuration when said moveable mechanical element is in said first position, and said switching circuit being in a second configuration when said moveable mechanical element is in said second position;
wherein said first configuration of said switching circuit is characterized in that said first power return wire connector is electrically coupled to said second power return wire connector during thermostat operation; and
wherein said second configuration of said switching circuit is characterized in that said first power return wire connector is electrically isolated from said second power return wire connector during thermostat operation when first and second HVAC power return wires are inserted respectively into said first and second power return wire connectors, and wherein said isolation therebetween cannot occur unless said moveable mechanical element has been moved to said second position, which second position is required in order to allow insertion of the first power return wire into said first power return wire connector.

2. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein said switching circuit comprises a first switch element coupled between said first power return wire connector and said second power return wire connector, wherein said first switch element is closed when said moveable mechanical element is in said first position, and wherein said first switch element is open when said moveable mechanical element is in said first position.

3. The thermostat of claim 2 , wherein said switching circuit comprises a second switch element coupled between said first power return wire connector and said second power return wire connector, wherein said second switch element is closed when no wire is inserted into the second power return wire connector, and wherein said second switch element is open when the second power return wire is inserted into the second power return wire connector.

4. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein said thermostat is originally provided with said moveable mechanical element in said first position, said moveable mechanical element remaining in said first position unless it is moved to said second position.

5. The thermostat of claim 1 , further comprising a head unit and a backplate, the head unit being configured for removable attachment to the backplate, the head unit having a graphical user interface and a plurality of temperature sensors and a processing system, the backplate containing said plurality of HVAC wire connectors and being configured for affixation to a wall during installation whereby installation of the thermostat comprises affixing the backplate to the wall, inserting the plurality of HVAC wires into respective ones of the plurality of HVAC wire connectors, and attaching the head unit to the backplate;
wherein the isolation of said first and second power return wire connectors is achieved solely by virtue of said positioning of said moveable mechanical element for the insertion of applicable ones of the first and second power return wires during installation such that the isolation of said first and second power return wire connectors does not require use of the processing system of the head unit.

6. The thermostat of claim 5 , further comprising inductive isolation circuitry configured to protect said processing system and associated internal thermostat control circuits from anomalous voltage and/or current surges received through the plurality of HVAC wire connectors.

7. The thermostat of claim 6 , wherein said inductive isolation circuitry is disposed on a printed circuit card housed within said back plate.

8. The thermostat of claim 1 , further comprising a head unit and a backplate, the head unit being configured for removable attachment to the backplate, the head unit having a graphical user interface and a plurality of temperature sensors and a processing system, the backplate containing said plurality of HVAC wire connectors and being configured for affixation to a wall during installation whereby installation of the thermostat comprises affixing the backplate to the wall, inserting respective ones of the plurality of HVAC wires into the plurality of HVAC wire connectors, and attaching the head unit to the backplate, wherein:
said backplate is circular in shape and comprises an opening near a middle thereof through which the HVAC wires are received for insertion into the HVAC wire connectors; and
said first power return wire connector and said moveable mechanical element are mutually configured such that the moveable mechanical element is moved between said first and second positions in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a direction of insertion of the first power return wire into the first power return wire connector.

9. A compact thermostat comprising:
a frustum-shaped shell body having first and second ends, a circular cross-section, and a central axis generally perpendicular to a wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body being wall-facing when the thermostat is wall- mounted, the first end of the frustum-shaped shell body having a first diameter and the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body having a second, larger diameter;
a circular rotatable ring mounted proximate the second end of the frustum-shaped shell body, the circular rotatable ring including an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the wall when the thermostat is wall-mounted, the circular rotatable ring being configured to be rotatable about the axis of rotation, wherein rotation of the circular rotatable ring results in input for adjusting a temperature setting of the thermostat;
a circular wall-mountable back plate configured to allow detachable coupling of the frustum-shaped shell body thereonto, the back plate comprising a plurality of HVAC wire connectors configured for receiving a corresponding plurality of HVAC control wires, wherein the plurality of HVAC wire connectors includes a first call relay wire connector, a first power return wire connector, a second call relay wire connector, and a second power return wire connector, the back plate including a first opening away from a periphery thereof through which the plurality of HVAC control wires can be routed for insertion into respective ones of the HVAC wire connectors, the first power return wire connector having a second opening for allowing an insertion of a corresponding first power return wire from the HVAC system;
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Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Warren Daniel Adam
• Fiennes Hugo
• Dutra Jonathan Alan
• Bell David
• Fadell Anthony Michael
• Rogers Matthew Lee
• Filson John Benjamin
• Bould Fred

Classifications

• F24F2120/14

  Activity of occupants · CPC title

• F24F11/56

  Remote control · CPC title

• F24F11/61

  using timers · CPC title

• Y10T29/49174

  Assembling terminal to elongated conductor · CPC title

• F24F11/30

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