AUXILIARY STAGE CONTROL OF MULTISTAGE THERMOSTATS
First Claim
1. A method of controlling an HVAC system installed within a building or structure, the HVAC system including a primary stage and an auxiliary stage, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a multistage thermostat controller having a normal mode of operation and an economy mode of operation;
receiving a temperature setpoint to adjust the temperature within the building or structure;
sensing the temperature within the building or structure and activating the primary stage if the sensed temperature is different than the temperature setpoint;
determining a target time to reach the temperature setpoint; and
achieving the temperature setpoint at or near said target time while delaying or suppressing activation of the auxiliary stage.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for the auxiliary stage control of multistage thermostats are disclosed. An illustrative multistage thermostat for a multistaged HVAC system installed within a building or structure can include a processor having a control algorithm adapted to operate the thermostat in either a normal mode for achieving rapid temperature changes within the building or structure or an economy mode for conserving energy usage. In the economy mode of operation, the thermostat can be configured to determine a target time for achieving a temperature setpoint by either delaying or suppressing activation of the system'"'"'s auxiliary stage. The target time can be adjusted in part based on the past usage characteristics of the auxiliary stage, the behavior of the user, and/or the progress of the primary stage in achieving the setpoint change without operating the auxiliary stage.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling an HVAC system installed within a building or structure, the HVAC system including a primary stage and an auxiliary stage, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a multistage thermostat controller having a normal mode of operation and an economy mode of operation;
receiving a temperature setpoint to adjust the temperature within the building or structure;
sensing the temperature within the building or structure and activating the primary stage if the sensed temperature is different than the temperature setpoint;
determining a target time to reach the temperature setpoint; and
achieving the temperature setpoint at or near said target time while delaying or suppressing activation of the auxiliary stage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A multistage thermostat for controlling an HVAC system installed within a building or structure, the HVAC system including a primary stage and an auxiliary stage, said thermostat controller comprising:
-
a processor including a control algorithm adapted to run the thermostat controller in either a normal mode of operation for achieving rapid temperature changes within the building or structure or an economy mode of operation for conserving energy usage of the auxiliary stage; and
a user interface for receiving temperature setpoint changes from a user or other controller;
wherein the thermostat controller in said economy mode of operation is adapted to determine a target time for achieving the setpoint changes while delaying or suppressing activation of the auxiliary stage. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An HVAC system, comprising:
-
a heating or cooling device having a primary stage and one or more auxiliary stages;
a non-programmable multistage thermostat controller having a normal mode of operation and an economy mode of operation; and
a user interface for receiving temperature setpoint changes;
wherein the thermostat controller in said economy mode of operation is adapted to delay or suppress activation of the one or more auxiliary stages in response to a change in the temperature setpoint.
-
Specification