Thermostat facilitating user-friendly installation thereof

A thermostat for controlling the operation of an HVAC system having a plurality of wires requiring connection to the thermostat, each wire being associated with a distinct HVAC signal type, the thermostat comprising:

• a control unit including at least one processor and at least one environmental sensor;
• a plurality of connection ports, each connection port being associated with a predetermined HVAC signal type, each connection port being configured to receive one of the plurality of wires, each connection port having an associated wire insertion sensing circuit that identifies to the control unit the presence or absence of an inserted wire therein;
• and
• a user interface operatively coupled to said control unit, said user interface including at least one output device for providing output information to a user and at least one input device for receiving one or more user inputs;
• wherein said control unit is configured and programmed to cause the thermostat to carry out an installation verification process, comprising:
• operating said insertion sensing circuits to identify a first subset of said connection ports into which wires have been inserted, said first subset of connection ports having an associated first subset of HVAC signal types;
• identifying a first candidate HVAC operating function that is consistent with said first subset of HVAC signal types;
• receiving a first input from the user at said user interface indicative of a completion of insertion of the required plurality of wires into the thermostat;
• subsequent to said receiving the first input and before applying any set of operating control signals to the HVAC system, comparing said first subset of HVAC signal types to first information representative of known erroneous HVAC signal type combinations, and providing an indication of an error condition on said user display if a known erroneous HVAC signal type combination is present;
• subsequent to said receiving the first input and before applying any set of operating control signals to the HVAC, comparing said first subset of HVAC signal types to second information representative of known ambiguous HVAC signal type combinations that indicate plural potential HVAC system configurations, and operating the user interface to receive selected information from the user that facilitates identification of an actual HVAC system configuration from the plural potential HVAC system configurations if a known ambiguous HVAC signal type combination is present;
• applying a first set of control signals to the HVAC system through one or more of the first subset of connection ports, said first set of control signals being configured to instantiate operation of the HVAC system according to the first candidate HVAC operating function;
• acquiring, upon said application of the first set of control signals, a first time sequence of environmental readings using said environmental sensor;
• processing said first time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring an input from the user, whether the HVAC system has successfully operated according to said first candidate HVAC operating function;
• providing an indication of an error condition on said user display if said automatic determination is that the HVAC system has not successfully operated according to the first candidate operating function.

A thermostat for controlling the operation of an HVAC system having a plurality of wires requiring connection to the thermostat, each wire being associated with a distinct HVAC signal type, the thermostat comprising:

• a control unit including at least one processor and at least one temperature sensor;
• a plurality of connection ports, each connection port being associated with a predetermined HVAC signal type, each connection port being configured to receive one of the plurality of wires, each connection port having an associated wire insertion sensing circuit that identifies to the control unit the presence or absence of an inserted wire therein;
• and
• a user interface operatively coupled to said control unit, said user interface including at least one output device for providing output information to a user and at least one input device for receiving one or more user inputs;
• wherein said control unit is configured and programmed to cause the thermostat to carry out an installation verification process, comprising:
• receiving a first input from the user at said user interface indicative of a completion of insertion of a required plurality of wires into the thermostat;
• operating said insertion sensing circuits to identify a first subset of said connection ports into which wires have been inserted, said first subset of connection ports having an associated first subset of HVAC signal types;
• identifying a first candidate HVAC operating function that is consistent with said first subset of HVAC signal types, said first candidate HVAC operating function being one of a heating function and a cooling function;
• if said first candidate HVAC operating function is a heating function and said first subset of HVAC signal types includes a heat pump (O/B) signal type, performing a first automated test in which both (a) a heat pump heating functionality is confirmed and (b) a heat pump call convention of the HVAC system is empirically determined without requiring user input, the first automated test comprising:
• (i) applying a first heat pump heating call to the HVAC system according to a first heat pump call convention, operating the temperature sensor to detect an associated temperature change and, if an associated temperature rise is detected, determining that the heat pump heating functionality is confirmed and that the HVAC system has said first heat pump call convention;
• (ii) if an associated temperature decrease is instead detected upon said applying the first heat pump heating call, applying a second heat pump heating call to the HVAC system according to a second heat pump call convention, operating the temperature sensor to detect the associated temperature change, determining that the heat pump heating functionality is confirmed and that the HVAC system has said second heat pump call convention if an associated temperature rise is detected, and providing an indication of an error condition on said user display if the associated temperature rise is not detected;
• if said first candidate HVAC operating function is a cooling function and said first subset of HVAC signal types includes a heat pump (O/B) signal type, performing a second automated test in which both (a) a heat pump cooling functionality is confirmed and (b) the heat pump call convention of the HVAC system is empirically determined without requiring user input, the second automated test comprising:
• (i) applying a first heat pump cooling call to the HVAC system according to one of said first and second heat pump call conventions, operating the temperature sensor to detect an associated temperature change and, if an associated temperature decrease is detected, determining that the heat pump cooling functionality is confirmed and that the HVAC system has said one of said first and second heat pump call conventions;
• (ii) if an associated temperature rise is instead detected upon said applying the first heat pump cooling call, applying a second heat pump cooling call to the HVAC system according to an other of said first and second heat pump call conventions, operating the temperature sensor to detect the associated temperature change, determining that the heat pump cooling functionality is confirmed and that the HVAC system has said other of said first and second heat pump call conventions if an associated temperature decrease is detected, and providing an indication of an error condition on said user display if the associated temperature decrease is not detected.

A method of operation in a thermostat for facilitating user-friendly installation thereof, the thermostat for controlling the operation of an HVAC system having a plurality of wires requiring connection to the thermostat, each wire being associated with a distinct HVAC signal type, the thermostat comprising at least one environmental sensor and a population of connection ports, each connection port being associated with a predetermined HVAC signal type, the method comprising:

• receiving the plurality of wires at a respective plurality of the population of connection ports;
• identifying, by automated sensing, a first subset of the population of connection ports into which wires have been inserted, the first subset of connection ports having an associated first subset of HVAC signal types;
• receiving a first input from the user at the user interface indicative of a completion of insertion of the required plurality of wires into the thermostat;
• subsequent to said receiving the first input and before applying any set of operating control signals to the HVAC system, receiving a second input from the user indicative of a user selection to begin a normal operation of the HVAC system;
• responsive to said received second input and before applying any set of operating control signals to the HVAC system, identifying a first candidate HVAC operating function that is consistent with the first subset of HVAC signal types by:
• operating the at least one environmental sensor to sense a current temperature;
• assigning the first candidate HVAC operating function as a heating function if the current temperature is less than or equal to a heating trip point temperature of the thermostat and the heating function is consistent with said first subset of HVAC signal types;
• and
• assigning the first candidate HVAC operating function as a cooling function if said current temperature is greater than or equal to a cooling trip point temperature of the thermostat and the cooling function is consistent with said first subset of HVAC signal types;
• applying a first set of control signals to the HVAC system through one or more of the first subset of connection ports, said first set of control signals being configured to instantiate operation of the HVAC system according to the first candidate HVAC operating function;
• acquiring, upon said application of the first set of control signals, a first time sequence of environmental readings using the at least one environmental sensor, the environmental readings being temperature readings;
• processing the first time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring an input from a user, whether the HVAC system has successfully operated according to said first candidate HVAC operating function;
• and
• providing an indication of an error condition on a user interface if the automatic determination is that the HVAC system has not successfully operated according to the first candidate operating function;
• whereby the first candidate HVAC operating function is not identified unless and until such operating function would be normally carried out at the currently sensed temperature according to the normal operation of the HVAC system.

A method of operation in a thermostat for facilitating user-friendly installation thereof, the thermostat for controlling the operation of an HVAC system having a plurality of wires requiring connection to the thermostat, each wire being associated with a distinct HVAC signal type, the thermostat comprising at least one environmental sensor and a population of connection ports, each connection port being associated with a predetermined HVAC signal type, the method comprising:

• receiving the plurality of wires at a respective plurality of the population of connection ports;
• identifying, by automated sensing, a first subset of the population of connection ports into which wires have been inserted, the first subset of connection ports having an associated first subset of HVAC signal types;
• receiving a first input from the user at said user interface indicative of a completion of insertion of the required plurality of wires into the thermostat;
• subsequent to said receiving the first input and before applying any set of operating control signals to the HVAC system, comparing said first subset of HVAC signal types to first information representative of known erroneous HVAC signal type combinations, and providing an indication of an error condition on said user interface if a known erroneous HVAC signal type combination is present;
• subsequent to said receiving the first input and before applying any set of operating control signals to the HVAC system, comparing said first subset of HVAC signal types to second information representative of known ambiguous HVAC signal type combinations that indicate plural potential HVAC system configurations, and operating the user interface to receive selected information from the user that facilitates identification of an actual HVAC system configuration from the plural potential HVAC system configurations if a known ambiguous HVAC signal type combination is present;
• identifying a first candidate HVAC operating function that is consistent with the first subset of HVAC signal types;
• applying a first set of control signals to the HVAC system through one or more of the first subset of connection ports, said first set of control signals being configured to instantiate operation of the HVAC system according to the first candidate HVAC operating function;
• acquiring, upon said application of the first set of control signals, a first time sequence of environmental readings using the at least one environmental sensor;
• processing the first time sequence of environmental readings to automatically determine, without requiring an input from a user, whether the HVAC system has successfully operated according to said first candidate HVAC operating function;
• and
• providing an indication of an error condition on a user interface if the automatic determination is that the HVAC system has not successfully operated according to the first candidate operating function.

A method of operation in a thermostat for facilitating user-friendly installation thereof, the thermostat for controlling the operation of an HVAC system having a plurality of wires requiring connection to the thermostat, each wire being associated with a distinct HVAC signal type, the thermostat comprising at least one environmental sensor and a population of connection ports, each connection port being associated with a predetermined HVAC signal type, the method comprising:

• receiving the plurality of wires at a respective plurality of the population of connection ports;
• identifying, by automated sensing, a first subset of the population of connection ports into which wires have been inserted, the first subset of connection ports having an associated first subset of HVAC signal types;
• identifying a first candidate HVAC operating function that is consistent with the first subset of HVAC signal types, said first candidate HVAC operating function being one of a heating function and a cooling function;
• if said first candidate HVAC operating function is a heating function and said first subset of HVAC signal types includes a heat pump (O/B) signal type, performing a first automated test in which both (a) a heat pump heating functionality is confirmed and (b) a heat pump call convention of the HVAC system is empirically determined without requiring user input, the first automated test comprising:
• (i) applying a first heat pump heating call to the HVAC system according to a first heat pump call convention, operating the temperature sensor to detect an associated temperature change and, if an associated temperature rise is detected, determining that the heat pump heating functionality is confirmed and that the HVAC system has said first heat pump call convention;
• (ii) if an associated temperature decrease is instead detected upon said applying the first heat pump heating call, applying a second heat pump heating call to the HVAC system according to a second heat pump call convention, operating the temperature sensor to detect the associated temperature change, determining that the heat pump heating functionality is confirmed and that the HVAC system has said second heat pump call convention if an associated temperature rise is detected, and providing an indication of an error condition on said user display if the associated temperature rise is not detected;
• if said first candidate HVAC operating function is a cooling function and said first subset of HVAC signal types includes a heat pump (O/B) signal type, performing a second automated test in which both (a) a heat pump cooling functionality is confirmed and (b) the heat pump call convention of the HVAC system is empirically determined without requiring user input, the second automated test comprising:
• (i) applying a first heat pump cooling call to the HVAC system according to one of said first and second heat pump call conventions, operating the temperature sensor to detect an associated temperature change and, if an associated temperature decrease is detected, determining that the heat pump cooling functionality is confirmed and that the HVAC system has said one of said first and second heat pump call conventions;
• (ii) if an associated temperature rise is instead detected upon said applying the first heat pump cooling call, applying a second heat pump cooling call to the HVAC system according to an other of said first and second heat pump call conventions, operating the temperature sensor to detect the associated temperature change, determining that the heat pump cooling functionality is confirmed and that the HVAC system has said other of said first and second heat pump call conventions if an associated temperature decrease is detected, and providing an indication of an error condition on said user display if the associated temperature decrease is not detected.