US 8,950,687 B2Granted

Remote control of an HVAC system that uses a common temperature setpoint for both heat and cool modes

AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.

InventorsGabriel Albert Bergman, Chris Mullarkey, Cary Leen, David Schultz, Milos Cabel

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Abstract

An HVAC system includes an HVAC unit having a cooling mode and a heating mode for conditioning the air in an inside space, and a programmable thermostat located remotely from the HVAC unit. The HVAC unit may have an onboard controller configured to control when the HVAC unit is in the cooling mode or heating mode, and whether the HVAC unit is activated or not. In some cases, the onboard controller of the HVAC unit may use a common temperature setpoint when controlling in the cooling mode and the heating mode. The programmable thermostat may have a programmable schedule with a plurality of time periods, where each time period has a heating setpoint and a cooling setpoint separated by a dead band. The onboard controller of the HVAC unit may be configured to accept input signals from the remotely located thermostat. The remotely located thermostat may send one or more input signals to the onboard controller of the HVAC unit in accordance with the programmable schedule, where the one or more input signals cause the onboard controller of the HVAC unit to set the HVAC unit to a particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode, and to activate the HVAC unit so as to condition the air in the inside space in the particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A wireless HVAC control system configured to command an HVAC unit, the HVAC unit having a heating mode and a cooling mode for modifying an air temperature of an inside space, the HVAC unit having an onboard HVAC unit thermostatic controller, the onboard HVAC unit thermostatic controller configured to accept external selection of a control mode including a cooling control mode and a heating control mode, external input of an onboard setpoint, and external override of a current control temperature, the wireless HVAC control system including a wireless thermostat, the wireless thermostat comprising:

a memory for storing operational parameters of the wireless thermostat including setpoints that include at least a cooling setpoint and a heating setpoint;
a user interface configured to allow a user to modify the operational parameters of the wireless thermostat;
a transmitter configured to transmit commands wirelessly to the HVAC unit;
a temperature sensor disposed to measure the air temperature;
and
a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the user interface, the transmitter and the temperature sensor;
wherein the controller is programmed to:
determine whether modification of the air temperature is desired by comparing the air temperature measured by the temperature sensor with at least one of the cooling setpoint and the heating setpoint;
if modification of the air temperature is not desired, wirelessly commanding the onboard HVAC unit thermostatic controller, via the transmitter, to prevent modification of the air temperature by the HVAC unit;
and
if modification of the air temperature is desired, wirelessly commanding via the transmitter to the onboard HVAC unit thermostatic controller to:
externally select the control mode;
and
externally input the onboard setpoint and/or externally override the current control temperature with values effective to cause the HVAC unit to cool or heat, according to the desire for modification of the air temperature.

11 more elements

A wireless HVAC control system configured to command an HVAC unit, the HVAC unit having a heating mode and a cooling mode for modifying an air temperature of an inside space, the HVAC unit having an onboard HVAC unit thermostatic controller, the onboard HVAC unit thermostatic controller configured to operate in accordance with a single temperature setpoint when in autochanger mode, the onboard HVAC unit thermostatic controller further configured to accept external selection of a control mode including a cooling control mode and a heating control mode, external input of an onboard setpoint, and external override of a current control temperature, the wireless HVAC control system including a wireless thermostat, the wireless thermostat comprising:

a memory for storing operational parameters of the wireless thermostat including setpoints that include at least a cooling setpoint and a heating setpoint;
a user interface configured to allow a user to modify the operational parameters of the wireless thermostat;
a transmitter configured to transmit commands wirelessly to the HVAC unit;
a temperature sensor disposed to measure the air temperature;
and
a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the user interface, the transmitter and the temperature sensor;
wherein the controller is programmed to:
determine whether modification of the air temperature is desired by comparing the air temperature measured by the temperature sensor with at least one of the cooling setpoint and the heating setpoint;
if modification of the air temperature is not desired, wirelessly commanding the onboard HVAC unit thermostatic controller, via the transmitter, to prevent modification of the air temperature by the HVAC unit;
and
if modification of the air temperature is desired, wirelessly commanding via the transmitter to the onboard HVAC unit thermostatic controller to:
externally select the control mode;
and
externally input the onboard setpoint and/or externally override the current control temperature with values effective to cause the HVAC unit to cool or heat, according to the desire for modification of the air temperature.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.