HVAC CONTROLLER WITH PARAMETER CLUSTERING

• US 20090143879A1
• 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: Amundson, John, Boll, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/83
• 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 11/62 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 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

An HVAC controller is described that is configured to be more intuitive and user friendly to program and operate than convention HVAC controllers. In some instances, the HVAC controller may include a touch screen interface that provides greater flexibility in displaying information to the user and/or soliciting information from the user.

Claims

1. A HVAC controller configured to control at least part of an HVAC system, the HVAC controller comprising:

a controller configured to operate an algorithm that at least partially controls the HVAC system, the algorithm referencing a plurality of setup parameters that setup the algorithm for controlling the HVAC system, the plurality of setup parameters typically being setup during installation of the HVAC system and not changed by a user during subsequent operation of the HVAC system;

a touch screen LCD display coupled to the controller; and

the controller configured to display on a single screen two or more of the plurality of setup parameters and to permit a user to change the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters, wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters that are displayed are related to a common setup category.

2. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the common setup category relates to a number of stages of the HVAC system.

3. The HVAC controller of claim 2, wherein the HVAC system includes a heating unit and a cooling unit, and the common setup category relates to number of stages, and wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include a number of stages parameter for the heating unit and a number of stages parameter for the cooling unit.

4. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the HVAC system includes a first stage and a second stage, and the common setup category relates to cycles per hour (CPH), and wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include a CPH parameter for a first stage of the HVAC system and a CPH parameter for a second stage of the HVAC system.

5. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the HVAC system includes a heat pump, and the common setup category relates to heat pump lockout temperatures, wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include a compressor lockout temperature and an auxiliary lockout temperature.

6. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the HVAC system includes a humidifier, and the common setup category relates to humidity control, wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include a humidification enable parameter and a window frost protection enable parameter.

7. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the HVAC system is installed in a house, and the common setup category relates to ventilation, wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include a number of bedrooms parameter and a house size parameter.

8. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the common setup category relates to ventilation, and wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include a ventilation level parameter and a maximum ventilation limit parameter.

9. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the HVAC system includes a number of replaceable elements, and the common setup category relates to replacement reminders, wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include a replaceable time reminder parameter for at least two of the replaceable elements.

10. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the common setup category relates to temperature set point stop limits, and wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include a maximum heat set point stop limit parameter and a minimum cool set point stop limit parameter.

11. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the common setup category relates to minimum off times, and wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include a minimum off time parameter for non-compressor stages and a minimum off time parameter for compressor stages.

12. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the common setup category relates to minimum on times, and wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include a minimum on time parameter for non-compressor stages and a minimum on time parameter for compressor stages.

13. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the common setup category relates to extended fan on times, and wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include an extended fan on time parameter for use when heating and an extended fan on time parameter for use when cooling.

14. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the common setup category relates to display temperature offsets, and wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include a display offset parameter for use in displaying indoor temperature, a display offset parameter for use in displaying outdoor temperature, and/or a display offset parameter for use in displaying indoor humidity.

15. The HVAC controller of claim 1, wherein the common setup category relates to indoor air quality equipment, and wherein the two or more of the plurality of setup parameters include a humidifier enable parameter, a dehumidifier enable parameter and/or a ventilator enable parameter.

16. A HVAC controller configured to control at least two separate HVAC units that are part of an HVAC system, the HVAC controller comprising:

a controller configured to operate an algorithm that at least partially controls two separate HVAC units of an HVAC system, the algorithm referencing one or more first setup parameters that define to the algorithm the first HVAC unit, and one or more second setup parameters that define to the algorithm the second HVAC unit;

a touch screen LCD display coupled to the controller; and

the controller configured to simultaneously display on the touch screen a menu for modifying a first one of the first parameters and a first one of second parameters, wherein the first one of the first parameters and the first one of the second parameters relate to a common setup category.

17. The HVAC controller of claim 16, wherein the first HVAC unit is a cooling unit and the second HVAC unit is a heating unit.

18. The HVAC controller of claim 17, wherein the common setup category relates to number of stages, and wherein the first one of the first setup parameters corresponds to a number of stages of the cooling unit, and the first one of the second parameters corresponds to a number of stages of the heating unit.

19. The HVAC controller of claim 16, wherein the first HVAC unit is a first stage of a heating unit and the second HVAC unit is a second stage of the heating unit.

20. The HVAC controller of claim 19, wherein the common setup category relates to cycles per hour (CPH), and wherein the first one of the first parameters corresponds a cycles per hour parameter for the first stage of the heating unit and the first one of the second parameters corresponds to a cycles per hour parameter for the second stage of the heating unit.

21. The HVAC controller of claim 16, wherein the first HVAC unit is a first stage of a cooling unit and the second HVAC unit is a second stage of the cooling unit.

22. The HVAC controller of claim 21, wherein the common setup category relates to cycles per hour (CPH), and wherein the first one of the first parameters corresponds a cycles per hour parameter for the first stage of the cooling unit and the first one of the second parameters corresponds to a cycles per hour parameter for the second stage of the cooling unit.

23. A method for displaying setup parameters of an HVAC system, the method comprising:

displaying on a single screen two or more setup parameters on a screen of a thermostat, wherein the two or more setup parameters that are displayed are related to a common setup category; and

permitting a user to change the two or more setup parameters.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the HVAC system includes at least two separate HVAC units, and wherein a first one of the two or more setup parameters that are displayed relate to a first one of the HVAC units and a second one of the two or more setup parameters that are displayed relate to a second one of the HVAC units.

25. A thermostat configured to control one or more components of an HVAC system, the thermostat comprising:

a controller configured to operate an algorithm that at least partially controls the one or more components of the HVAC system, the algorithm including a setup menu including at least a first parameter setup screen and a second parameter setup screen; and

a touch screen LCD coupled to the controller, the controller displaying on the touch screen the first parameter setup screen where upon a user can set one or more values, and subsequently displaying on the touch screen the second parameter setup screen, the second parameter setup screen having one or more parameters that are or are not displayed depending on the one or more values set via the first setup parameter screen.

26. The thermostat of claim 25, wherein the first parameter setup screen includes a number of heating stages parameter, where upon a user can set the number of heating stages of the HVAC system, and the second parameter setup screen includes a number of cycles per hour for each of the number heating stages set via the first parameter setup screen.

27. The thermostat of claim 25, wherein the first parameter setup screen includes a number of cooling stages parameter, where upon a user can set the number of cooling stages of the HVAC system, and the second parameter setup screen includes a number of cycles per hour for each of the number cooling stages set via the first parameter setup screen.