Freeze protection for wireless HVAC systems
AssigneeCopeland Comfort Control LP
InventorAmit Vijay Degaonkar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exemplary system includes a thermostat configured to be operable for communicating with an equipment interface module (EIM) for controlling operation of a heating/cooling unit. The thermostat is configured to be operable for communicating wirelessly (e.g., via 900 MHz communication protocol, other wireless communication protocol, etc.) with the equipment interface module. In the event of a wireless communication loss or failure, the thermostat is configured to be operable to failover to a wired connection between the thermostat and the equipment interface module to thereby enable wired communication between the thermostat and the equipment interface module, e.g., for controlling the heating/cooling unit to provide emergency heat in the event of the wireless communication loss or failure, etc.
Claims24
A method of providing freeze protection for an HVAC system including a thermostat, a heating/cooling unit, and an equipment interface module, the method comprising configuring the equipment interface module and the thermostat to be operable for controlling operation of the heating/cooling unit via:
- wireless communication between the thermostat and the equipment interface module over a wireless network;
- and
- a wired connection between the thermostat and the equipment interface module in response to a wireless communication loss or failure between the thermostat and the equipment interface module.
A method of operating a heating/cooling unit for providing freeze protection for a HVAC system, the method comprising controlling operation of the heating/cooling unit via:
- wireless communication between a thermostat and an equipment interface module over a wireless network;
- and
- a wired connection between the thermostat and the equipment interface module in response to a wireless communication loss or failure between the thermostat and the equipment interface module.
A system for controlling operation of a heating/cooling unit for providing freeze protection for a HVAC system, the system comprising a thermostat and an equipment interface module, wherein the equipment interface module and the thermostat are configured to be operable for controlling operation of the heating/cooling unit via:
- wireless communication between the thermostat and the equipment interface module over a wireless network;
- and
- a wired connection between the thermostat and the equipment interface module in response to a wireless communication loss or failure between the thermostat and the equipment interface module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.