HVAC REMOTE CONTROL UNIT

• US 20090140063A1
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Schultz, David A., Koster, Chad W., Leen, Cary
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/51
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

An HVAC remote control unit for use in an HVAC system is described. In some instances, an HVAC remote control unit may be provided that wirelessly communicates with two or more HVAC controllers and/or other HVAC devices in a zoned HVAC system. When so provided, the remote control unit may be configured to allow a user to select between two or more zones of the zoned HVAC system, and to load one or more of the parameters and/or settings associated with a selected zone via the wireless interface. The remote control unit may be further configured to display at least one of the received parameters and/or settings on a display of the remote control unit, and a user may be allowed to change one or more of the parameters and/or settings that are displayed on the display for a selected zone. The zoned HVAC system may subsequently operate in accordance with the one or more changed parameters and/or settings in the selected zone. In some cases, it is contemplated that the remote control unit may be configured to dynamically change its behavior based on whether a zoned or non-zoned HVAC system is detected. In some instances, most or all functionality of the HVAC remote control unit may be accessible from a single menu level without having to access a sub-menu, but this is not required in all embodiments.

Claims

1. A portable wireless remote control unit for use in conjunction with a zoned HVAC system having two or more zones, wherein each zone has one or more associated parameters and/or settings, the wireless remote control unit comprising:

a wireless interface;

a display;

a controller in communication with the wireless interface and the display, the controller configured to communicate with the zoned HVAC system via the wireless interface;

the controller further configured to allow a user to select between the two or more zones of the zoned HVAC system, and to load one or more of the parameters and/or settings associated with a selected zone via the wireless interface;

the controller further configured to display at least one of the received parameters and/or settings on the display; and

the controller further configured to allow a user to change one or more of the parameters and/or settings that are displayed on the display for the selected zone, and to send the one or more changed parameters and/or settings to the zoned HVAC system via the wireless interface, wherein the zoned HVAC system subsequently operates in accordance with the one or more changed parameters and/or settings in the selected zone.

2. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 1, wherein the zoned HVAC system includes a wall mounted thermostat that also includes a wireless interface, wherein the wireless interface of the portable wireless remote control unit is configured to communicate with the wireless interface of the wall mounted thermostat of the zoned HVAC system.

3. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 2, wherein the wall mounted thermostat stores one or more parameters and/or settings associated with at least one of the two or more zones, and controls the zoned HVAC system accordingly.

4. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 3, wherein the portable wireless remote control unit is configured to load the one or more of the parameters and/or settings associated with the selected zone from the wall mounted thermostat.

5. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor coupled with the controller of the portable wireless remote control unit for providing a measure related to a temperature at the portable wireless remote control unit.

6. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 1, wherein the zoned HVAC system includes two or more wall mounted thermostats each having a wireless interface, wherein the portable wireless remote control unit is configured to communicate with the wireless interface of each of the two wall mounted thermostats.

7. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 6, wherein the portable wireless remote control unit is configured to automatically detect and establish communication with each of the two or more wall mounted thermostats either simultaneously, sequentially or by user selection.

8. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 7, wherein the portable wireless remote control unit is configured to dynamically change its behavior based on whether it detects a non-zoned or a zoned HVAC system.

9. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 8, wherein the portable wireless remote control unit is configured to automatically provide a selection mechanism on the user interface of the portable wireless remote control unit that allows a user to select, display and/or control one or more of the parameters and/or settings of two or more wall mounted thermostats when a zoned HVAC system is detected, and to not provide the selection mechanism when a non-zoned HVAC system is detected.

10. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 1, wherein the display is an LCD display.

11. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 1, wherein the display is a fixed segment display.

12. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 1, wherein the display is a touch screen display.

13. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to display a touch button on the display that allow a user to select between the two or more zones of the zoned HVAC system.

14. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 13, wherein the touch button, when touched, scrolls to a next one of the two or more zones.

15. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to display a name of the selected zone on the display.

16. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to display a progress indicator on the display when loading the one or more of the parameters and/or settings associated with the selected zone.

17. A portable wireless remote control unit for use in conjunction with two or more zone controllers of a zoned HVAC system, the wireless remote control unit comprising:

a wireless interface;

a display;

a controller in communication with the wireless interface and the display, the controller configured to communicate with each of the two or more zone controllers via the wireless interface;

the controller further configured to allow a user to select between the two or more zone controllers of the zoned HVAC system, and to load one or more parameters and/or settings associated with a selected zone controller via the wireless interface;

the controller further configured to display at least one of the received parameters and/or settings on the display; and

the controller further configured to allow a user to change one or more of the parameters and/or settings that are displayed on the display for the selected zone, and to send the one or more changed parameters and/or settings to the selected zone controller via the wireless interface, wherein the selected zone controller subsequently operates in accordance with the one or more changed parameters and/or settings in the selected zone.

18. A zoned HVAC system having two or more zones, comprising:

a wall mountable thermostat for controlling at least part of the zoned HVAC system, the wall mountable thermostat storing one or more parameters and/or settings associated with at least one of the two or more zones, and controls the zoned HVAC system accordingly, the wall mountable thermostat having a wireless interface;

a portable wireless remote control unit including;

a wireless interface for providing wireless communication with the wireless interface of the wall mountable thermostat;

a display;

a controller in communication with the wireless interface and the display of the portable wireless remote control unit, the controller configured to communicate with the wall mountable thermostat via the wireless interface of the portable wireless remote control unit and the wireless interface of the wall mountable thermostat;

the controller further configured to allow a user to select between the two or more zones of the zoned HVAC system, and to load one or more of the parameters and/or settings associated with a selected zone from the wall mountable thermostat via the wireless interface of the portable wireless remote control unit and the wireless interface of the wall mountable thermostat;

the controller further configured to display at least one of the received parameters and/or settings on the display; and

the controller further configured to allow a user to change one or more of the parameters and/or settings that are displayed on the display for the selected zone, and to send the one or more changed parameters and/or settings to the wall mountable thermostat via the wireless interface of the portable wireless remote control unit and the wireless interface of the wall mountable thermostat, wherein the wall mountable thermostat subsequently operates the zoned HVAC system in accordance with the one or more changed parameters and/or settings for the selected zone.

19. A portable wireless remote control unit for use in conjunction with two or more zone controllers of a zoned HVAC system, wherein each of the two or more zone controllers has one or more associated parameters and/or settings, the wireless remote control unit comprising:

a wireless interface;

a display;

a controller in communication with the wireless interface and the display, the controller configured to communicate with each of the two or more zone controllers via the wireless interface;

the controller further configured to automatically select one of the two or more zone controllers of the zoned HVAC system based on a current proximity of the wireless remote control unit to each of the two or more zone controllers, and to load one or more of the parameters and/or settings associated with the selected zone controller via the wireless interface;

the controller further configured to display at least one of the loaded parameters and/or settings on the display; and

the controller further configured to allow a user to change one or more of the parameters and/or settings that are displayed on the display, and to send the one or more changed parameters to the selected zone controller via the wireless interface, wherein the selected zone controller subsequently operates in accordance with the one or more changed parameters and/or settings.

20. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 19 further including a signal strength indicator that provides a measure of the signal strength received from each of the two or more zone controllers via the wireless interface, and the controller automatically selects one of the two or more zone controllers of the zoned HVAC system based on the detected signal strength.

21. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 20, wherein the controller automatically selects one of the two or more zone controllers of the zoned HVAC system based on which signal strength is highest.

22. A portable wireless remote control unit for use in conjunction with an HVAC system, the wireless remote control unit comprising:

a wireless interface;

a display;

a controller in communication with the wireless interface and the display, the controller configured to communicate with the HVAC system via the wireless interface;

the controller further configured to load one or more parameters and/or settings associated with the HVAC system via the wireless interface;

the controller further configured to display at least one of the received parameters and/or settings on the display;

the controller further configured to allow a user to change one or more of the parameters and/or settings that are displayed on the display, and to send the one or more changed parameters and/or settings to the HVAC system via the wireless interface, wherein the HVAC system subsequently operates in accordance with the one or more changed parameters and/or settings; and

the controllers further configured to display a home screen on the display that can be used to change an HVAC system setting, a set point temperature, and a hold setting without having to access a sub-menu.

23. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 22, wherein the display is a fixed segment display.

24. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 22, wherein the home screen is further configured to be used to change whether the HVAC system uses a temperature sensed by the portable wireless remote control unit or a separate thermostat, without having to access a sub-menu.

25. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 22, wherein the home screen is further configured to be used to select between two or more zones when the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system, without having to access a sub-menu.

26. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 22, wherein the home screen is also configured to display one or more temperature readings, without having to access a sub-menu.

27. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 22, wherein the home screen is also configured to display an indoor temperature reading and an outdoor temperature reading, without having to access a sub-menu.

28. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 22, further comprising a setup menu separate from the home screen for use in initially setting up and/or configuring the portable wireless remote control unit for use with the HVAC system.

29. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 22, wherein the HVAC system includes a wall mountable thermostat, and the portable wireless remote control unit is configured to communicate with the wall mountable thermostat via the wireless interface.