Security System with Integrated HVAC control

• US 20140244047A1
• Filed: 02/26/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: OH, ERIC, ROTHMAN, RONALD K., ADDY, KENNETH L., ZAKREWSKI, DAVID S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,001,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• 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 11/33 to fire, excessive heat or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow

Abstract

A monitoring security system can be coupled to a thermostatic HVAC control module, either wired or wirelessly. In at least some embodiments, the thermostatic module can be communicated with via an interactive interface of the security system. Information as to the operation of the security system and the module can be presented on a common display of the security system, and commands, which are directed to the module, can be entered via the security system.

Claims

1. A security system with a thermostatic module comprising:

a housing;

a security monitoring system having an interactive user display module, carried by the housing, for user control of a security monitoring system wherein the monitoring system is coupled by at least one of a wired, or, a wireless medium to members of a plurality of condition detectors;

at least one HVAC control module which is one of, displaced from the user display module, or engages a portion of the housing with a snap-fit wherein the HVAC control module communicates with the user module; and

where the display module includes a multi-dimensional display unit for visually presenting both HVAC related information and security related information pertaining to the monitoring system.

2. A system as in claim 1 where the HVAC control module and the user module are in one of wired or wireless communication with one another.

3. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of HVAC control modules with the display unit presenting HVAC related information associated with more than one of the modules.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein the HVAC control modules comprise AC powered satellite temperature zone controllers that are displayless, except for at least one LED, and can be wired to operate heating/cooling/fan equipment with known HVAC wiring schemes, with wireless communication to the security monitoring system where the display module provides a common user interface for users to operate security and HVAC functions.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein an HVAC control module includes a temperature sensor, multiple relays for heating/cooling/fan equipment control, status LED'"'"'s, push buttons, a radio, HVAC wiring terminal blocks and power supply wherein the device is displayless, except for light emitting diodes of differing colors, and functions as a satellite HVAC interface module that can be wirelessly controlled by a security keypad or self-contained security panel and which includes manually operable buttons for increasing or decreasing a setpoint temperature by a predetermined amount and where the light emitting diodes provide local temperature information relative to the setpoint.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the HVAC control modules is battery powered with circuitry to recharge the battery, and, wherein wireless communications can be implemented with a low power mode to wakeup periodically to measure temperature, transmit data and receive, wirelessly, control messages from the security system.

13. A method of operating a system as in claim 5 including connecting to and operating the security monitoring system and the HVAC control module wirelessly and remotely via the cloud using one of a mobile tablet or a smartphone.

14. A system as in claim 3 wherein wireless communications between the security monitoring system and members of a plurality of HVAC control modules can be implemented with wireless technologies selected from a class which includes at least one of Z-wave, Zigbee, and WiFi.

7. A cloud connected apparatus comprising a security system and thermostatic control module both with wireless network connectivity and, in the absence of local peer-to-peer connection therebetween, the cloud connects both devices and provides communications therebetween, and wherein both the thermostatic module and the security system include a display.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein connectivity can be selected from a class which includes at least GPRS, 6LoWPAN, Z-Wave, Zigbee, WiFi, and RF6 systems.

9. A method of automating control of HVAC equipment in an emergency with a security system including:

an HVAC control module comprising;

one of detecting a life safety alarm condition from sensors of the security system;

determining the source/location/type of the alarm;

determining the type of HVAC equipment that needs to be properly turned on or off to better control the spread of the condition; and

turning on ventilating equipment in response thereto.

10. A method as in claim 9 wherein the alarm condition comprises a hazardous gas, and turning on the ventilation equipment circulates fresh air in a region being monitored.

11. A method of improving comfort control with a combined security monitoring/HVAC control system that includes:

multiple environmental sensors in different areas of a region of interest, where the combined security/HVAC system includes;

a table/array/database storing location information of wired or wireless temperature and environmental condition sensors; and

wherein the readings from several sensors can be averaged, or otherwise processed to provide better comfort control in a region of interest.

12. A method of identifying HVAC equipment trouble conditions, diagnostic, life expectance and maintenance conditions with a combine security and HVAC control system that includes:

environmental sensors and equipment diagnostic interfacing modules, wherein the connected security/HVAC system comprises;

a table/array/database storing HVAC equipment information of wired or wireless environment sensors and equipment diagnostic interfacing modules and including;

a method to detect equipment trouble, diagnostic symptoms;

filter life expectances and maintenance indications; and

wherein a connected security/HVAC control system can communicate HVAC equipment status to a cloud based processing center, the end user'"'"'s mobile devices and/or a maintenance repair crew processing center, where the security system could also display the equipment status on a screen for on-site information update.