HVAC SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE EQUIPMENT INTERFACE MODULES
First Claim
1. A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system, the HVAC system having two or more HVAC components and at least two Equipment Interface Modules (EIM), wherein each of the at least two Equipment Interface Modules (EIM) includes a wireless interface and each is wired to a different one of the HVAC components of the HVAC system, the thermostat comprising:
- a user interface including a display;
a controller coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to provide one or more control commands to control two or more of the HVAC components of the HVAC system;
two or more control terminals, each for optionally receiving a control wire connected to an HVAC component of the HVAC system; and
a wireless interface coupled to the controller, the wireless interface for sending one or more control commands of the controller to each of two or more HVAC components via the wireless interfaces of the at least two different Equipment Interface Modules (EIM).
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An HVAC system may include a building controller, two or more HVAC components and at least two Equipment Interface Modules (EIM). Each of the EIMs may include a wired and/or wireless interface for communication to the HVAC controller. Each EIM may be wired to one or more of the HVAC components of the HVAC system. In some cases, the HVAC controller may be configured to provide one or more control commands to control two or more of the HVAC components of the HVAC system via the EIMs. In some cases, the EIMs may provide control signals to the HVAC controller, and the HVAC controller may generate one or more commands in response to the received control signals.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system, the HVAC system having two or more HVAC components and at least two Equipment Interface Modules (EIM), wherein each of the at least two Equipment Interface Modules (EIM) includes a wireless interface and each is wired to a different one of the HVAC components of the HVAC system, the thermostat comprising:
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a user interface including a display; a controller coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to provide one or more control commands to control two or more of the HVAC components of the HVAC system; two or more control terminals, each for optionally receiving a control wire connected to an HVAC component of the HVAC system; and a wireless interface coupled to the controller, the wireless interface for sending one or more control commands of the controller to each of two or more HVAC components via the wireless interfaces of the at least two different Equipment Interface Modules (EIM). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A thermostat for controlling two or more HVAC components of an HVAC system, wherein a first HVAC component of the HVAC system is wired to a first Equipment Interface Module (EIM) and a second HVAC component of the HVAC system is wired to a second Equipment Interface Module (EIM), the first Equipment Interface Module (EIM) and the second Equipment Interface Module (EIM) each having a wireless interface, the thermostat comprising:
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a user interface including a display; a controller coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to provide one or more control commands for controlling the first HVAC component and the second HVAC component of the HVAC system; the controller including a memory for storing a data structure that associates the first HVAC component of the HVAC system with the first Equipment Interface Module (EIM) and associates the second HVAC component of the HVAC system with the second Equipment Interface Module (EIM); and a wireless interface coupled to the controller, the wireless interface configured to reference the data structure, and based on the data structure, send one or more control commands to the first HVAC component via the first Equipment Interface Module (EIM), and to send one or more control commands to the second HVAC component via the second Equipment Interface Module (EIM). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling two or more distributed HVAC components of an HVAC system, the method comprising:
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generating one or more first control commands for a first HVAC component of the HVAC system; wirelessly sending the one or more first control commands for the first HVAC component to a wireless interface of a first Equipment Interface Module (EIM), wherein the first HVAC component is wired to the first Equipment Interface Module (EIM); generating one or more second control commands for a second HVAC component of the HVAC system; wirelessly sending the one or more second control commands for the second HVAC component to a wireless interface of a second Equipment Interface Module (EIM), wherein the second HVAC component is wired to the second Equipment Interface Module (EIM). - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification