HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM USER INTERFACE HAVING REMOTE PLATFORM ACCESS APPLICATION ASSOCIATED THEREWITH AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF

• US 20130151018A1
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bias, Larry S., Castillo, Daniel, DiFulgentiz, Bobby, Mlambo, Gabaza B., Vendt, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US13/432,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20130151018A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control

Abstract

An HVAC system and a method of communicating with an HVAC system. In one embodiment, the HVAC system includes: (1) a user interface having a touchpad configured to accept input from a user and a display configured to provide information to the user via a plurality of screens arranged in a screen structure, (2) an application executable on a general-purpose computer and configured to cause the general-purpose computer to display substantially similar counterparts of the screens arranged in the screen structure and (3) a receiver configured to communicate with the general-purpose computer.

Claims

1. An HVAC system, comprising:

a user interface configured to accept input from a user and a display configured to provide information to said user via a plurality of screens arranged in a screen structure;

an application executable on a general-purpose computer and configured to cause said general-purpose computer to display substantially similar counterparts of said screens arranged in said screen structure; and

a receiver configured to communicate with said general-purpose computer.

2. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said receiver is selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless receiver, and

a wireline receiver.

3. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said application contains the same software code that executes in said user interface.

4. The HVAC system as recited in claim 3 wherein an emulator executing on said general-purpose computer is configured to allow said software code to execute therein.

5. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said general-purpose computer is selected from the group consisting of:

a Smartphone,

a tablet, and

a personal computer.

6. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said user interface is a thermostat.

7. A method of communicating with an HVAC system, comprising:

accepting input from a user with a user interface having a touchpad;

providing information to said user via a plurality of screens arranged in a screen structure using a display of said user interface;

executing an application in a general-purpose computer to cause said general-purpose computer to display substantially similar counterparts of said screens arranged in said screen structure; and

using a receiver to communicate with said general-purpose computer.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said receiver is selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless receiver, and

a wireline receiver.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said application contains the same software code that executes in said user interface.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising employing an emulator executing on said general-purpose computer to allow said software code to execute therein.

11. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said general-purpose computer is selected from the group consisting of:

a Smartphone,

a tablet, and

a personal computer.

12. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said user interface is a thermostat.

13. An HVAC system, comprising:

a heat pump or a compressor having at least one stage;

at least one condenser coil;

an expansion valve;

at least one evaporator coil;

a loop of pipe interconnecting said heat pump or compressor, said at least one condenser coil, said expansion valve and said at least one evaporator coil and containing a refrigerant;

at least one fan configured to cause outdoor air and indoor air to blow over said at least one condenser coil and said least one evaporator coil;

a user interface having a touchpad configured to accept input from a user and a display configured to provide information to said user via a plurality of screens arranged in a screen structure;

an application executable on a general-purpose computer and configured to cause said general-purpose computer to display substantially similar counterparts of said screens arranged in said screen structure; and

a receiver configured to communicate with said general-purpose computer.

14. The HVAC system as recited in claim 13 wherein said receiver is selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless receiver, and

a wireline receiver.

15. The HVAC system as recited in claim 13 wherein said application contains the same software code that executes in said user interface.

16. The HVAC system as recited in claim 15 wherein an emulator executing on said general-purpose computer is configured to allow said software code to execute therein.

17. The HVAC system as recited in claim 13 wherein said general-purpose computer is selected from the group consisting of:

a Smartphone,

a tablet, and

a personal computer.

18. The HVAC system as recited in claim 13 wherein said user interface is a thermostat.