HVAC controller with checkout utility
First Claim
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;
a user interface that includes a display;
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, wherein the controller is configured to;
receive calls from the first thermostat;
receive calls from the second thermostat, andin response to the calls from the first thermostat and the calls from the second thermostat, provide control signals to the HVAC unit and to the two or more zone dampers; and
operate in a checkout mode in which the controller displays one or more checkout menu screens on the display of the user interface that facilitate a user in activating the HVAC unit and each of the two or more zone dampers via the user interface of the zone control panel.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
40 Claims
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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:
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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; a user interface that includes a display; 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, wherein the controller is configured to; receive calls from the first thermostat; receive calls from the second thermostat, and in response to the calls from the first thermostat and the calls from the second thermostat, provide control signals to the HVAC unit and to the two or more zone dampers; and operate in a checkout mode in which the controller displays one or more checkout menu screens on the display of the user interface that facilitate a user in activating the HVAC unit and each of the two or more zone dampers via the user interface of the zone control panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. 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:
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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 and each of the two or more zone dampers; a user interface comprising a display and a plurality of HVAC status lights spaced from the display, wherein the plurality of HVAC status lights include; a zone status light for each of two or more zones dampers, wherein the zone status lights are configured to indicate an operational status of a corresponding zone damper; a heating status light configured to indicate an operational status of a heating component of the HVAC unit; a fan status light configured to indicate an operational status of a fan of the HVAC unit; wherein at least one of the plurality of HVAC status lights is positioned in the intervening region; a removable cover that, when secured, hides the display; 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, wherein the controller is configured to; receive calls from the first thermostat in the first one of the two or more zones, receive calls from the second thermostat in the second one of the two or more zones, receive calls from the third thermostat in the third one of the two or more zones if present, in response to the calls from the first thermostat, the calls from the second thermostat, and the calls from the third thermostat, provide control signals to the HVAC unit and to the two or more zone dampers via the output; and cause the display to display two or more checkout menu screens, wherein the two or more checkout menu screens are configured to facilitate a user in activating the HVAC unit via the user interface of the zone control panel. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. 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:
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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 size 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; 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 and each of the two or more zone dampers; a user interface that includes a plurality of HVAC status lights, wherein the plurality of HVAC status lights include; a zone status light for each of two or more zones dampers, wherein the zone status lights are configured to indicate an operational status of a corresponding zone damper; a heating status light configured to indicate an operational status of a heating component of the HVAC unit; a fan status light configured to indicate an operational status of a fan of the HVAC unit; wherein at least one of the plurality of HVAC status lights is positioned in the intervening region; 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, wherein the controller is configured to; receive calls from the first thermostat in the first one of the two or more zones, receive calls from the second thermostat in the second one of the two or more zones, and in response to the calls from the first thermostat and the calls from the second thermostat, provide control signals to the HVAC unit and to the two or more zone dampers via the output; and 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. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification