# US 2013/0158716 A1 · Hvac controller with utility saver switch diagnostic feature > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158716 A1 - Document ID: US20130158716A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/325,503 - Filed: 2011-12-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Eric Barton; Cary Leen; Stan Zywicki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158716A1 ## CPC - F24F 11/38: Failure diagnosis - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/39: Monitoring filter performance - F24F 11/523: for displaying temperature data - F24F 11/63: Electronic processing - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) ## Abstract An HVAC controller may display a user query on the display of the HVAC controller, which queries the user as to whether a utility saver switch is installed and in use. The HVAC controller may take into account whether a utility saver switch is installed and in use when determining, logging and/or reporting out diagnostic faults of the HVAC system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An HVAC controller configured to control one or more components of an HVAC system, the HVAC controller comprising: a user interface including a display; a memory; an I/O block for receiving one or more signals from the HVAC system and for providing one or more control signals to the HVAC system; and a controller coupled to the memory, the user interface and the I/O block, the controller configured to: monitor one or more signals received from the HVAC system via the I/O block that are related to a current performance level of the HVAC system: determine if the current performance level of the HVAC system falls below a minimum performance level; wherein when the controller determines that the current performance level has fallen below the minimum performance level, the controller is further configured to display an alert on the display of the HVAC controller in combination with a user query that queries the user about a utility load saver switch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The HVAC controller of claim 1, where the controller is further configured to display two or more selectable options for responding to the user query about the utility saver switch on the display of the HVAC controller, wherein at least one option, when selected, indicates that a user is uncertain about the utility saver switch and causes the controller to display a further option for delaying the alert. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to display two or more selectable options for responding to the user query about the utility saver switch on the display of the HVAC controller, wherein at least one option, when selected, confirms the utility saver switch and causes the controller to dismiss the alert displayed on the display of the HVAC controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to display two or more selectable options for responding to the user query about the utility saver switch wherein at least one option, when selected, causes the controller to display at least one other possible cause for the alert displayed on the display of the HVAC controller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The HVAC controller of claim 1, two or more selectable options for responding to the user query about the utility saver switch wherein at least one option, when selected, causes the controller to display a screen that allows the user to disable diagnostics for a period of time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to accept an entry from a user indicating a heating equipment type and number of heating equipment stages through the user interface and wherein upon indication of the heating equipment type the controller is further configured to determine if the heating equipment type may include a utility saver switch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to accept an entry from a user indicating a cooling equipment type and a number of cooling equipment stages through the user interface and wherein upon indication of the cooling equipment type the controller is further configured to determine if the cooling equipment type may include a utility saver switch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to detect a type of HVAC equipment and to determine if the HVAC equipment may include a utility saver switch. ### Claim 9 An HVAC controller configured to control one or more components of an HVAC system, the HVAC controller comprising: a user interface including a display; a memory; an I/O block for receiving one or more signals from the HVAC system and for providing one or more control signals to the HVAC system; a controller coupled to the memory, the user interface and the I/O block, the controller configured to: monitor one or more signals received from the HVAC system via the I/O block that are related to a current performance level of the HVAC system: determine if the current performance level of the HVAC system falls below a minimum performance level; and display a user query on the display of the HVAC controller that queries the user about a utility saver switch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The HVAC controller of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to display an alert on the display of the HVAC controller when the controller determines that the current performance level has fallen below the minimum performance level. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The HVAC controller of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to simultaneously display the user query and the alert on the display of the HVAC controller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The HVAC controller of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to accept an HVAC equipment type from a user through the user interface of the HVAC controller and wherein the controller is further programmed to determine that the HVAC equipment type may include the use of a utility saver switch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The HVAC controller of claim 12, wherein the HVAC equipment type is a type of cooling equipment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The HVAC controller of claim 12, wherein the HVAC equipment type is a type of heating equipment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The HVAC controller of claim 9, wherein the controller is further programmed to detect an HVAC equipment type and wherein the controller is further programmed to determine that the HVAC equipment type may include the use of a utility saver switch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The HVAC controller of claim 9, wherein the controller is further programmed to display two or more selectable options on the display of the user interface for responding to the user query about the utility saver switch, wherein at least one selectable option, when selected, indicates that a user is uncertain about a utility saver switch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The HVAC controller of claim 10, wherein the controller is further programmed to display two or more selectable options on the display of the user interface for responding to the user query about the utility saver switch, wherein at least one selectable option, when selected, confirms the utility saver switch and causes the controller to dismiss the alert. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The HVAC controller of claim 10, wherein the controller is further programmed to display two or more selectable options on the display of the user interface for responding to the user query about the utility saver switch, wherein at least one selectable option, when selected, may cause the controller to display at least one other possible cause for the user alert. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The HVAC controller of claim 9, wherein the controller is further programmed to determine the current performance level of the HVAC system based, at least in part, on a current delta T value and a delta T limit stored in the memory of the controller. ### Claim 20 A method of monitoring a performance of an HVAC system, the HVAC system including one or more HVAC components that are controller, at least in part, by an HVAC controller having a user interface including a display, a memory, and a controller, the method comprising: the controller monitoring one or more signals from the HVAC system to determine a current performance level of the HVAC system; and the controller displaying a user query on the display of the HVAC controller that queries the user about whether a utility saver switch is installed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising the controller displaying a user alert on the display of the HVAC controller when the controller determines that the current performance level of the HVAC system falls below a minimum performance level. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising the controller displaying the user query and the user alert at the same time on the display of the HVAC controller. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising the controller displaying two or more selectable options for responding to the user query about whether a utility saver switch is installed on the display of the HVAC controller, wherein at least one option, when selected, indicates that a user is uncertain about whether a utility saver switch is installed and causes the controller to display a further option for delaying the alert. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising the controller displaying two or more selectable options for responding to the user query about whether a utility saver switch is installed on the display of the HVAC controller, wherein at least one option, when selected, confirms a utility saver switch is installed and causes the controller to dismiss the alert displayed on the display of the HVAC controller. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising the controller determining the current performance level of the HVAC system based, at least in part, on a the current delta T value and a delta T limit stored in the memory of the controller.