Thermostat wiring connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9494332-B2
Application number	US-201113034666-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2011
Priority date	Sep 14, 2010
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A thermostat includes a wiring terminal having a moveable component that is actuatable to enable insertion of an HVAC system conductive wire within the wiring terminal. Insertion of the HVAC system conductive wire within the wiring terminal electrically connects the wiring terminal and the HVAC system conductive wire. The actuation of the moveable component opens a loop of an electrical circuit that does not include the HVAC system conductive wire. The loop may enable power harvesting for the thermostat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A thermostat comprising a wiring terminal that includes a moveable component, the moveable component being actuatable so as to enable insertion of an HVAC system conductive wire within the wiring terminal to electrically connect the wiring terminal with the HVAC system conductive wire, the actuation of the moveable component opening a loop of an electrical circuit that does not include the HVAC system conductive wire, wherein the loop enables power harvesting.

2. The thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the loop includes an HVAC wire for a controlling at least part of a cooling system.

3. The thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the loop includes an HVAC wire for controlling at least part of a heating system.

4. The thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the HVAC system wire is a common wire.

5. The thermostat according to claim 4 wherein the loop includes an HVAC wire for controlling at least part of a heating and/or cooling system.

6. The thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the loop is used to detect the presence of the HVAC system wire.

7. The thermostat according to claim 1 further comprising a second wiring terminal and a third wiring terminal adapted and configured to make an electrical connection to further HVAC system conductive wires.

8. The thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the actuation of the moveable component switches a second loop of a second electrical circuit that does not include the HVAC system conductive wire.

9. The thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the thermostat is designed for controlling residential HVAC systems.

10. The thermostat according to claim 1 wherein the thermostat is designed for controlling light commercial HVAC systems.

11. A thermostat comprising a wiring terminal that includes a moveable component that is actuatable to enable insertion of an HVAC system common wire within the wiring terminal and to open a loop of an electrical circuit that does not include the HVAC system common wire, the loop being usable for harvesting power for the thermostat.

12. The thermostat according, to claim 11 , the thermostat being further configured so that actuation of the moveable component switches open a second loop of a second electrical circuit that does not include the HVAC system common wire and that is useable for harvesting power for the thermostat.

Assignees

• Filson John Benjamin
• Warren Daniel Adam
• Fadell Anthony Michael
• Yu Sheng-Nan
• Google Inc

Inventors

• Filson John Benjamin
• Warren Daniel Adam
• Fadell Anthony Michael
• Yu Sheng-Nan

Classifications

• F24F2110/00

  Control inputs relating to air properties · CPC title

• F24F11/39

  Monitoring filter performance · CPC title

• F24F11/30 Primary

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

• F24F11/89

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• F24F2120/20

  Feedback from users · CPC title