Stackable thermostat
First Claim
1. A thermostat comprising:
- a user interface module, the user interface module having a display, a plurality of user interface buttons, and a first power and communications interface;
an I/O module, the I/O module electrically coupled to a HVAC plant and the I/O module having a plurality of switches to control the HVAC plant, and a second power and communications interface;
wherein the first power and communications interface is electrically coupled to the second power and communications interface; and
wherein the user interface module and the I/O module are communicatively coupled and exchange power via the first and second power and communications interfaces and the thermostat can be mounted and operated in one of two user selectable installations at least a selected one of;
a stacked configuration comprising a thermostat having the user interface module directly mounted to the I/O module, anda remote configuration comprising a thermostat having the user interface module remotely mounted from the I/O module.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a thermostat including a user interface module. The user interface module has a display, a plurality of user interface buttons, and a first power and communications interface. The thermostat also includes an I/O module, the I/O module electrically coupled to a HVAC plant and the I/O module having a plurality of switches to control the HVAC plant, and a second power and communications interface. The user interface module and the I/O module are communicatively coupled and exchange power via the power and communications interfaces and the thermostat can be mounted and operated in one of two user selectable installations: a stacked configuration comprising a thermostat having the user interface module directly mounted to the I/O module, or a remote configuration comprising a thermostat having the user interface module remotely mounted from the I/O module.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A thermostat comprising:
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a user interface module, the user interface module having a display, a plurality of user interface buttons, and a first power and communications interface; an I/O module, the I/O module electrically coupled to a HVAC plant and the I/O module having a plurality of switches to control the HVAC plant, and a second power and communications interface; wherein the first power and communications interface is electrically coupled to the second power and communications interface; and wherein the user interface module and the I/O module are communicatively coupled and exchange power via the first and second power and communications interfaces and the thermostat can be mounted and operated in one of two user selectable installations at least a selected one of; a stacked configuration comprising a thermostat having the user interface module directly mounted to the I/O module, and a remote configuration comprising a thermostat having the user interface module remotely mounted from the I/O module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for installing a thermostat where fewer pre-installed thermostat wires are available to an installer than are needed for connecting the thermostat to an HVAC plant comprising the steps of:
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providing pre-installed thermostat wires; providing a thermostat having two separable sections, the thermostat including a user interface module and an I/O module; locating the I/O module physically near the HVAC plant; connecting a plurality of wires between the I/O module and the HVAC plant to control the HVAC plant with the I/O module; locating the user interface module in a space where comfort levels are to be controlled by the thermostat; and connecting the user interface module to the I/O module using the pre-installed thermostat wires to facilitate communications and electrical power transfer between the user interface module and the I/O module. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification