HVAC controller with checkout utility

• US 10,458,670 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2018
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoglund, Steven R., Schwendinger, Paul G., Huang, Jian, Arneson, David, Paine, Brad, Liu, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Norman, Marc E
• Application Number:
  US15/887,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20180180316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/80 for controlling the temperature of the supplied air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A zone control panel that is easy and intuitive to use and to program. In some embodiments, a zone control panel may be configured to have an easy to use, single level menu structure with, for example, a configuration mode and/or a checkout mode. The configuration mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. Likewise, the checkout mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. A mode selector may be provided to select a particular mode, after which, the menu screens that correspond to the selected mode may be sequentially displayed to the user. Other features and aspects are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A zone control panel for controlling a zoned HVAC system that includes two or more zones, an HVAC unit for delivering conditioned air to the two or more zones, two or more zone dampers for controlling delivery of conditioned air to the two or more zones, and a thermostat in each of the two or more zones, the zone control panel comprising:

a first set of two or more wiring terminals, each of the first set of two or more wiring terminals providing a connection point for a corresponding wire from a first thermostat in a first one of the two or more zones;

a second set of two or more wiring terminals, separate from the first set of two or more wiring terminals, each of the second set of two or more wiring terminals providing a connection point for a corresponding wire from a second thermostat in a second one of the two or more zones;

an output for providing control signals to the HVAC unit and to each of the two or more zone dampers, wherein the output includes two or more wiring terminals, wherein each of the two or more wiring terminals of the output provide a connection point for a corresponding wire from the HVAC unit or a corresponding one of the two or more zone dampers;

a user interface, the user interface includes;

a display;

a bank of HVAC status indicators remote from the display that each indicate an operational status of at least one of two or more pieces of HVAC equipment of the HVAC unit;

a bank of zone indicators remote from the display that each indicate an operational status of at least one of the two or more zones dampers; and

a controller operatively coupled to the first set of two or more wiring terminals, the second set of two or more wiring terminals, the output and the user interface, the controller configured to receive calls from the first thermostat in the first one of the two or more zones and calls from the second thermostat in the second one of the two or more zones, and in response, provide control signals to the HVAC unit and to the two or more zone dampers via the output; and

the controller further configured to display two or more configuration menu screens on the display of the user interface that facilitate a user in setting two or more configuration parameters for configuring the zone control panel, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise one or more of a number of heating stages, a number of cooling stages, a heat fan control parameter, a purge time parameter, a fan control in purge parameter, a number of zones in the zoned HVAC system, a DAT parameter that indicates if a discharge air temperature sensor is present or not, a discharge air temperature low limit, and a discharge air temperature high limit.

2. The zone control panel of claim 1, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise:

a number of heating states;

a number of cooling stages;

a fan control in purge parameter; and

a DAT parameter that indicates if a discharge air temperature sensor is present or not.

3. The zone control panel of claim 2, wherein the two or more configuration parameters further comprising an HVAC unit system type.

4. The zone control panel of claim 1, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise:

an HVAC unit system type

a number of heating states;

a number of cooling stages;

a fan control in purge parameter; and

a DAT parameter that indicates if a discharge air temperature sensor is present or not, and if present;

a discharge air temperature low limit; and

a discharge air temperature high limit.

5. The zone control panel of claim 1, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise one or more of an HVAC unit system type and a number of heating stages.

6. The zone control panel of claim 1, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise a fan control in purge parameter.

7. The zone control panel of claim 1, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprises a discharge air temperature low limit and a discharge air temperature high limit, wherein the discharge air temperature low limit and the discharge air temperature high limit are only displayed via the two or more configuration menu screens on the display of the user interface when a discharge air temperature sensor is indicated as being present.

8. The zone control panel of claim 1, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise a thermostat type.

9. The zone control panel of claim 8, wherein the thermostat type is one of a convention heat/cool thermostat type or a heat pump thermostat type.

10. The zone control panel of claim 1, wherein:

the first set of two or more wiring terminals are adjacent a first side of the zone control panel;

the second set of two or more wiring terminals are adjacent a second side of the zone control panel opposite the first side with an intervening region between the first side and the second side of the zone control panel and extending between the first set of two or more wiring terminals and the second set of two or more wiring terminals;

wherein the bank of HVAC status indicators is positioned in the intervening region; and

a removable cover that, when attached, hides the display.

11. The zone control panel of claim 10, wherein the removable cover is configured to also make visible the bank of HVAC status indicators and the bank of zone indicators when the removable cover is attached.

12. The zone control panel of claim 1, wherein:

the first set of two or more wiring terminals are adjacent a first side of the zone control panel;

the second set of two or more wiring terminals are adjacent a second side of the zone control panel opposite the first side with an intervening region between the first side and the second side of the zone control panel and extending between the first set of two or more wiring terminals and the second set of two or more wiring terminals; and

the zone control panel further comprises a housing that includes one or more first side apertures along the first side of the housing to provide a path for wires to enter the housing and access the first set of two or more wiring terminals, and one or more second side apertures along the second side of the housing to provide a path for wires to enter the housing and access the second set of two or more wiring terminals.

13. The zone control panel of claim 12, wherein the housing includes a removable cover that defines a front aperture that exposes the bank of HVAC status indicators and the bank of zone indicators when the removable cover is attached.

14. The zone control panel of claim 13, wherein the removable cover, when attached, is configured to hide the display.

15. The zone control panel of claim 13, wherein the removable cover, when attached, defines at least part of one or more of the first side apertures and at least part of one or more of the second side apertures.

16. The zone control panel of claim 13, wherein the removable cover, when attached, is secured via a snap connection.

17. A zone control panel for controlling a zoned HVAC system that includes two or more zones, an HVAC unit for delivering conditioned air to the two or more zones, two or more zone dampers for controlling delivery of conditioned air to the two or more zones, and a thermostat in each of the two or more zones, the zone control panel comprising:

a first set of two or more wiring terminals adjacent a first side of the zone control panel, each of the first set of two or more wiring terminals providing a connection point for a corresponding wire from a first thermostat in a first one of the two or more zones;

a second set of two or more wiring terminals adjacent a second side of the zone control panel opposite the first side with an intervening region between the first side and the second side of the zone control panel and extending between the first set of two or more wiring terminals and the second set of two or more wiring terminals, each of the second set of two or more wiring terminals providing a connection point for a corresponding wire from a second thermostat in a second one of the two or more zones;

a third set of two or more wiring terminals, each of the third set of two or more wiring terminals providing a connection point for a corresponding wire from a third thermostat in a third one of the two or more zones if present;

an output for providing control signals to the HVAC unit and to each of the two or more zone dampers, wherein the output includes two or more wiring terminals, wherein each of the two or more wiring terminals of the output provide a connection point for a corresponding wire from the HVAC unit or a corresponding one of the two or more zone dampers;

a user interface, the user interface includes a display; and

a controller operatively coupled to the first set of two or more wiring terminals, the second set of two or more wiring terminals, the third set of two or more wiring terminals, the output and the user interface, the controller configured to receive calls from the first thermostat in the first one of the two or more zones, calls from the second thermostat in the second one of the two or more zones, and calls from the third thermostat in the third one of the two or more zones if present, and in response, provide control signals to the HVAC unit and to the two or more zone dampers via the output;

a housing that includes one or more first side apertures along the first side of the housing to provide a path for wires to enter the housing and access the first set of two or more wiring terminals, and one or more second side apertures along the second side of the housing to provide a path for wires to enter the housing and access the second set of two or more wiring terminals; and

the controller further configured to display two or more configuration menu screens on the display of the user interface that facilitate a user in setting two or more configuration parameters for configuring the zone control panel, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise one or more of a number of heating stages, a number of cooling stages, a heat fan control parameter, a purge time parameter, a fan control in purge parameter, a number of zones in the zoned HVAC system, a DAT parameter that indicates if a discharge air temperature sensor is present or not, a discharge air temperature low limit, and a discharge air temperature high limit.

18. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the housing includes a removable cover that, when attached, defines at least part of one or more of the first side apertures and at least part of one or more of the second side apertures of the housing.

19. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the two or more configuration parameters further comprise an HVAC unit system type.

20. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise:

a heat fan control parameter; and

a fan control in purge parameter.

21. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise:

an HVAC unit system type; and

a number of zones in the zoned HVAC system.

22. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise:

a number of heating states;

a number of cooling stages; and

a DAT parameter that indicates if a discharge air temperature sensor is present or not.

23. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise:

a discharge air temperature low limit; and

a discharge air temperature high limit.

24. The zone control panel of claim 23, wherein the discharge air temperature low limit and a discharge air temperature high limit are only displayed via the two or more configuration menu screens on the display of the user interface when a discharge air temperature sensor is indicated as being present.

25. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise:

an HVAC unit system type;

a number of heating states;

a number of cooling stages;

a fan control in purge parameter; and

a DAT parameter that indicates if a discharge air temperature sensor is present or not.

26. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise one or more of an HVAC unit system type and a number of heating stages.

27. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise a fan control in purge parameter.

28. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise a thermostat type.

29. The zone control panel of claim 28, wherein the thermostat type is one of a conventional heat/cool thermostat type or a heat pump thermostat type.

30. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the controller skips the display of one or more of the configuration menu screens when a predetermined configuration parameter is set to a predetermined value.

31. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein once in a configuration mode, and the user can navigate the configuration menu screens by interacting with the user interface.

32. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the user interface further comprises:

a bank of HVAC status indicators remote from the display that each indicate an operational status of at least one of two or more pieces of HVAC equipment of the HVAC unit;

a bank of zone indicators remote from the display that each indicate an operational status of at least one of the two or more zones dampers; and

wherein the bank of HVAC status indicators and the bank of zone indicators are position in the intervening region.

33. The zone control panel of claim 32, wherein the housing includes a removable cover that, when attached, defines at least part of one or more of the first side apertures and at least part of one or more of the second side apertures of the housing.

34. The zone control panel of claim 32, wherein the two or more pieces of HVAC equipment comprises one or more of a heating equipment, a cooling equipment and a fan, and wherein the bank of HVAC status indicators indicate the operational status of at least one of the heating equipment, the cooling equipment and the fan.

35. The zone control panel of claim 17, wherein the HVAC unit comprises an emergency heating element, and wherein the zone control panel comprises a dedicated emergency heating button and a dedicated emergency heating status indicator, wherein pressing the dedicated emergency heating button causes the controller to activate the emergency heating element and energize the emergency heating status indicator.

36. A zone control panel for controlling a zoned HVAC system that includes two or more zones, an HVAC unit for delivering conditioned air to the two or more zones, two or more zone dampers for controlling delivery of conditioned air to the two or more zones, and a thermostat in each of the two or more zones, the zone control panel comprising:

a first set of two or more wiring terminals, each of the first set of two or more wiring terminals providing a connection point for a corresponding wire from a first thermostat in a first one of the two or more zones;

a second set of two or more wiring terminals, separate from the first set of two or more wiring terminals, each of the second set of two or more wiring terminals providing a connection point for a corresponding wire from a second thermostat in a second one of the two or more zones;

an output for providing control signals to the HVAC unit and to each of the two or more zone dampers, wherein the output includes two or more wiring terminals, wherein each of the two or more wiring terminals of the output provide a connection point for a corresponding wire from the HVAC unit or a corresponding one of the two or more zone dampers;

a user interface, the user interface includes;

a display;

a bank of HVAC status indicators remote from the display that each indicate an operational status of at least one of two or more pieces of HVAC equipment of the HVAC unit;

a bank of zone indicators remote from the display that each indicate an operational status of at least one of the two or more zones dampers;

a plurality of mechanical buttons; and

a controller operatively coupled to the first set of two or more wiring terminals, the second set of two or more wiring terminals, the output and the user interface, the controller configured to receive calls from the first thermostat in the first one of the two or more zones and calls from the second thermostat in the second one of the two or more zones, and in response, provide control signals to the HVAC unit and to the two or more zone dampers via the output;

the controller has two or more modes including an operating mode, a configuration mode and a checkout mode, wherein the configuration mode is entered from the operating mode by pressing one or more of the plurality of mechanical buttons; and

wherein, once in the configuration mode, the controller is configured to display two or more configuration menu screens on the display of the user interface that facilitate a user in setting two or more configuration parameters for configuring the zone control panel for a particular installation, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise a system type of the HVAC unit and one or more of a number of heating stages of the HVAC unit, a number of cooling stages of the HVAC unit, and a number of zones in the zoned HVAC system.

37. The zone control panel of claim 36, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise a fan control in purge parameter.

38. The zone control panel of claim 36, wherein the two or more configuration parameters comprise one or more of a heat fan control parameter, a purge time parameter, a fan control in purge parameter, a DAT parameter that indicates if a discharge air temperature sensor is present or not, a discharge air temperature low limit, and a discharge air temperature high limit.