HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM USER INTERFACE HAVING ACCURIZED TEMPERATURE SENSOR CONFIGURATION AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF

• US 20130261806A1
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lazar, Steven C., Hrejsa, Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/431,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20130261806A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 to control the temperature of one space

Abstract

A user interface for use with an HVAC system, a method of providing temperature data of increased accuracy with a user interface of an HVAC system and an HVAC system incorporating the user interface or the method. In one embodiment, the user interface includes: (1) a case, (2) a backlit display configured to provide information to a user, (3) a processor and memory coupled to the backlit display and configured to drive the backlit display and (4) a temperature sensor thermally isolated from the backlit display and associated with the case.

Claims

1. A user interface for use with an HVAC system, comprising:

a case;

a backlit display configured to provide information to a user;

a processor and memory coupled to said backlit display and configured to drive said backlit display; and

a temperature sensor thermally isolated from said backlit display and associated with said case.

2. The user interface as recited in claim 1 wherein said temperature sensor is mounted on said case.

3. The user interface as recited in claim 1 wherein said temperature sensor is embedded in said case.

4. The user interface as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a D/A converter coupled to said temperature sensor; and

a calibration circuit couplable to said D/A converter.

5. The user interface as recited in claim 1 wherein said temperature sensor is a thermistor.

6. The user interface as recited in claim 1 wherein said backlit display is a backlit liquid crystal display.

7. The user interface as recited in claim 1 further comprising a circuit board coupled to said backlit display, said processor and said memory and wherein said temperature sensor is located below said circuit board when said user interface is mounted to a wall in a customary manner.

8. A method of providing temperature data of increased accuracy with a user interface of an HVAC system, comprising:

employing a backlit display to provide information to a user;

employing a processor and memory coupled to said backlit display to drive said backlit display; and

employing a temperature sensor thermally isolated from said backlit display and associated with a case of said user interface to provide said temperature data.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said temperature sensor is mounted on said case.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said temperature sensor is embedded in said case.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising:

employing a D/A converter coupled to said temperature sensor to provide said temperature data; and

employing a calibration circuit to calibrate said D/A converter.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said temperature sensor is a thermistor.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said backlit display is a backlit liquid crystal display.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said temperature sensor is located below said circuit board when said user interface is mounted to a wall in a customary manner.

15. 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; and

a user interface, including;

a case;

a backlit display configured to provide information to a user,

a processor and memory coupled to said backlit display and configured to drive said backlit display, and

a temperature sensor thermally isolated from said backlit display and associated with said case.

16. The HVAC system as recited in claim 15 wherein said temperature sensor is mounted on said case.

17. The HVAC system as recited in claim 15 wherein said temperature sensor is embedded in said case.

18. The HVAC system as recited in claim 15 wherein said user interface further includes:

a D/A converter coupled to said temperature sensor; and

a calibration circuit couplable to said D/A converter.

19. The HVAC system as recited in claim 15 wherein said temperature sensor is a thermistor.

20. The HVAC system as recited in claim 15 wherein said backlit display is a backlit liquid crystal display.

21. The HVAC system as recited in claim 15 wherein said user interface further includes a circuit board coupled to said backlit display, said processor and said memory and wherein said temperature sensor is located below said circuit board when said user interface is mounted to a wall in a customary manner.