Connecting split HVAC systems to the internet and/or smart utility meters
First Claim
1. A system for use with a split HVAC system including at least one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units, each indoor unit having an infrared receiver, the system comprising:
- a control having connectivity to a network and/or a smart utility meter; and
a plurality of equipment interface modules, each of the plurality of equipment interface modules mounted on a corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units adjacent to the infrared receiver of the corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units while leaving at least a portion of said infrared receiver visually unobstructed to receive infrared signals directly from a handheld infrared remote control, each of the plurality of equipment interface modules configured for one-way wireless communication with the infrared receiver of the corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units and two-way wireless communication with the control, such that each of the plurality of equipment interface modules is operable for communicating instructions from the control to the infrared receiver of the corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units while also allowing the infrared receiver to receive infrared signal instructions directly from the handheld infrared remote control, thereby allowing operation of the corresponding indoor unit to be controllable via the network and/or smart utility meter, and the handheld infrared remote control;
wherein each of the plurality of equipment interface modules comprises a collector for intercepting contrary instructions from the handheld infrared remote control of the corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units, to thereby allow each of the plurality of equipment interface modules to countermand the contrary instructions by sending an instruction to the infrared receiver after receiving the contrary instruction from the handheld infrared remote control via the collector.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for connecting split HVAC systems (and/or for providing such connectivity) to networks and/or smart meters, thereby allowing a split HVAC system to be controllable via the Internet and/or a smart meter. An exemplary embodiment includes a system for use with a split HVAC system having at least one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit having a receiver. In this exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a control having connectivity to a network and/or a smart utility meter. An equipment interface module is configured for wireless communication with the receiver of the at least one indoor unit and the control. The equipment interface module is operable for communicating instructions from the control to the receiver of the at least one indoor unit, thereby allowing operation of the at least one indoor unit to be controllable via the network and/or smart utility meter.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for use with a split HVAC system including at least one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units, each indoor unit having an infrared receiver, the system comprising:
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a control having connectivity to a network and/or a smart utility meter; and a plurality of equipment interface modules, each of the plurality of equipment interface modules mounted on a corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units adjacent to the infrared receiver of the corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units while leaving at least a portion of said infrared receiver visually unobstructed to receive infrared signals directly from a handheld infrared remote control, each of the plurality of equipment interface modules configured for one-way wireless communication with the infrared receiver of the corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units and two-way wireless communication with the control, such that each of the plurality of equipment interface modules is operable for communicating instructions from the control to the infrared receiver of the corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units while also allowing the infrared receiver to receive infrared signal instructions directly from the handheld infrared remote control, thereby allowing operation of the corresponding indoor unit to be controllable via the network and/or smart utility meter, and the handheld infrared remote control; wherein each of the plurality of equipment interface modules comprises a collector for intercepting contrary instructions from the handheld infrared remote control of the corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units, to thereby allow each of the plurality of equipment interface modules to countermand the contrary instructions by sending an instruction to the infrared receiver after receiving the contrary instruction from the handheld infrared remote control via the collector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A multi-split HVAC system comprising:
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at least one outdoor unit; a plurality of indoor units each having an infrared receiver; a zone control; a plurality of radio frequency transceivers, each of which is configured for two-way communication with the zone control via radio frequency signals and for one-way communication with a corresponding one of the infrared receivers via infrared signals, and is mounted on the one of the plurality of indoor units having the corresponding one of the infrared receivers, adjacent to the corresponding one of the infrared receivers while leaving at least a portion of said corresponding one of the infrared receivers visually unobstructed to receive infrared signals directly from a handheld infrared remote control, whereby the radio frequency transceivers are operable for communicating instructions from the zone control to the infrared receivers while also allowing the infrared receiver to receive infrared signal instructions directly from the handheld infrared remote control, thereby allowing operation of all of the indoor units to be controllable by the zone control and the handheld infrared remote control; wherein each of the plurality of radio frequency transceivers comprises a collector for intercepting contrary instructions from the handheld infrared remote control of the corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units, to thereby allow each of the plurality of equipment interface modules to countermand the contrary instructions by sending an instruction to the infrared receiver after receiving the contrary instruction from the handheld infrared remote control via the collector. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for wirelessly, remotely controlling a split HVAC system having at least one outdoor unit, multiple indoor units each having an infrared receiver, and multiple equipment interface modules each configured for one-way communication with a corresponding one of the multiple indoor units and mounted to the corresponding one of the multiple indoor units adjacent the infrared receiver of the corresponding one of the multiple indoor units while leaving at least a portion of said infrared receiver visually unobstructed to receive infrared signals directly from a handheld infrared remote control, each of the plurality of equipment interface modules comprising a collector for intercepting contrary instructions from the handheld infrared remote control of the corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units, to thereby allow each of the plurality of equipment interface modules to countermand the contrary instructions by sending an instruction to the infrared receiver after receiving the contrary instruction from the handheld infrared remote control via the collector, the method comprising:
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remotely setting an instruction for at least one of the multiple indoor units via a network, a smart meter, or a zone control; wirelessly transmitting the instruction to the corresponding one of the multiple equipment interface modules that converts the instruction to a command for the at least one indoor unit; wirelessly receiving, at the infrared receiver of the at least one indoor unit, an infrared signal directly from a handheld infrared remote control; and wirelessly transmitting the command to the infrared receiver of the at least one indoor unit, whereby operation of the at least one indoor unit may be controllable according to the command and/or the infrared signal from the handheld infrared remote control received directly at the infrared receiver of the at least one indoor unit. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification