HVAC SCHEDULE WITH DESIGNATED OFF PERIODS

• US 20120067560A1
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Leen, Cary, Schultz, David, Bergman, Gabriel Albert, Mullarkey, Chris, Cabel, Milos
• Granted Patent: US 10,048,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/238
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• 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: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

An HVAC controller may include a user interface, along with a memory for storing a recurring programmable schedule having two or more time periods. The user interface may be configured to allow manual modification by a user of the recurring schedule stored in the memory, wherein the user can associate an HVAC-off control mode with any of the two or more time periods. In the HVAC-off control mode, the HVAC controller may not cycle the HVAC unit on regardless of the temperature of the air in the inside space. The HVAC controller further may include an output that is configured to issue operational commands to the HVAC unit in accordance with the programmable schedule.

Claims

1. A method for operating an HVAC system, the HVAC system having an HVAC unit for conditioning inside air of a building and an HVAC controller for controlling the HVAC unit, the method comprising:

sensing a temperature of the inside air of the building;

maintaining in the memory of the HVAC controller a recurring schedule having a number of time periods, the recurring schedule having a control mode associated with at least two of the number of time periods, at least one of the time periods being associated with an HVAC-off control mode in which the HVAC unit does not condition the inside air of the building regardless of the sensed temperature of the inside air, and at least another one of the time periods being associated with an HVAC-on control mode in which the HVAC unit controls the sensed temperature of the inside air of the building in accordance with one or more setpoints; and

controlling the HVAC unit with the HVAC controller in accordance with the recurring schedule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the HVAC-on control mode, the HVAC controller cycles the HVAC unit on and off as required to control the sensed temperature of the inside air of the building in accordance with a setpoint.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein in the HVAC-off control mode, the HVAC controller does not cycle the HVAC unit on, regardless of the sensed temperature of the inside air.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the HVAC controller includes a user interface, and the user interface displays to a user the control mode of the HVAC controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the HVAC-on control mode is selected from one of an HVAC-on-cool control mode in which the HVAC unit cools the inside air of the building and an HVAC-on-heat control mode in which the HVAC unit heats the inside air of the building.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a user to modify the recurring schedule including allowing the user to select either the HVAC-off control mode or the HVAC-on control mode for any of the number of time periods of the recurring schedule.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the recurring schedule is a weekly recurring schedule.

8. An HVAC controller configured to control an HVAC unit for conditioning air of an inside space, comprising:

a user interface configured to allow manual modification by a user of a recurring schedule having two or more time periods, wherein the user can associate an HVAC-off control mode with any of the two or more time periods, where in the HVAC-off control mode, the HVAC controller does not cycle the HVAC unit on regardless of the temperature of the air in the inside space;

a memory configured to retain the recurring schedule; and

an output configured to issue operational commands to the HVAC unit.

9. The HVAC controller of claim 8, wherein the recurring schedule is a weekly recurring schedule.

10. The HVAC controller of claim 8, wherein the user can associate an HVAC-on control mode with any of the two or more time periods.

11. The HVAC controller of claim 8, wherein the user can associate an HVAC-on control mode with any of the two or more time periods, wherein the HVAC-on control mode may be one of an HVAC-on-heat control mode, an HVAC-on-cool control mode, and an HVAC-on-auto changeover control mode.

12. The HVAC controller of claim 11, wherein the HVAC controller is configured to command the HVAC unit via the output to condition the air of the inside space in accordance with one or more setpoints during time periods associated with any of the HVAC-on control modes.

13. The HVAC controller of claim 8, wherein the output includes an infrared emitter.

14. The HVAC controller of claim 8, wherein the output includes a radio-frequency transmitter.

15. The HVAC controller of claim 8, wherein the HVAC-off mode may be disabled via a configuration setting.

16. An HVAC system for conditioning air of an inside space, comprising:

an HVAC unit configured to cool and/or heat the air of the inside space;

an HVAC controller configured to issue commands to the HVAC unit, the HVAC controller including;

a user interface configured to allow manual modification by a user of a recurring schedule having a number of time periods, the recurring schedule having a control mode associated with each of the number of time periods, wherein the user can associate an HVAC-off control mode with any of the number of time periods; and

a memory configured to retain the recurring schedule;

wherein the HVAC controller is configured to command the HVAC unit not to condition air of the inside space during time periods associated with the HVAC-off control mode.

17. The HVAC system of claim 16, wherein the user can associate an HVAC-on control mode with any of the two or more time periods.

18. The HVAC system of claim 16, wherein the user can associate an HVAC-on control mode with any of the two or more time periods, wherein the HVAC-on control mode may be one of an HVAC-on-heat control mode, an HVAC-on-cool control mode, and an HVAC-on-autochangeover control mode.

19. The HVAC system of claim 18, wherein the HVAC controller is configured to command the HVAC unit to condition the air of the inside space in accordance with one or more setpoints during time periods associated with any of the HVAC-on control modes.

20. The HVAC system of claim 16, wherein the HVAC unit is structured to draw air from the inside space and supply conditioned air to the inside space without an external duct system.