REMOTE CONTROL OF AN HVAC SYSTEM THAT USES A COMMON TEMPERATURE SETPOINT FOR BOTH HEAT AND COOL MODES
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a mini-split system HVAC unit via a thermostat that is located remotely from the HVAC unit, the HVAC unit having a cooling mode and a heating mode for conditioning air in the inside space, the HVAC unit having an onboard controller that is configured to control whether the HVAC unit is in the cooling mode or heating mode, and whether the HVAC unit is activated or not, the onboard controller of the HVAC unit is configured to accept input signals wirelessly transmitted from the remotely located thermostat, the method comprising:
- the remotely located thermostat comparing a sensed temperature in the inside space with a setpoint, and determining if the sensed temperature is different from the setpoint by at least a predetermined amount; and
if the sensed temperature is different from the setpoint by at least the predetermined amount, the thermostat wirelessly sending one or more input signals to the onboard controller of the HVAC unit, the one or more input signals causing the onboard controller of the HVAC unit to set the HVAC unit to a particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode, and to activate the HVAC unit so as to condition the air in the inside space in the particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode in accordance with a control setpoint.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An HVAC system includes an HVAC unit having a cooling mode and a heating mode for conditioning the air in an inside space, and a programmable thermostat located remotely from the HVAC unit. The HVAC unit may have an onboard controller configured to control when the HVAC unit is in the cooling mode or heating mode, and whether the HVAC unit is activated or not. In some cases, the onboard controller of the HVAC unit may use a common temperature setpoint when controlling in the cooling mode and the heating mode. The programmable thermostat may have a programmable schedule with a plurality of time periods, where each time period has a heating setpoint and a cooling setpoint separated by a dead band. The onboard controller of the HVAC unit may be configured to accept input signals from the remotely located thermostat. The remotely located thermostat may send one or more input signals to the onboard controller of the HVAC unit in accordance with the programmable schedule, where the one or more input signals cause the onboard controller of the HVAC unit to set the HVAC unit to a particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode, and to activate the HVAC unit so as to condition the air in the inside space in the particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a mini-split system HVAC unit via a thermostat that is located remotely from the HVAC unit, the HVAC unit having a cooling mode and a heating mode for conditioning air in the inside space, the HVAC unit having an onboard controller that is configured to control whether the HVAC unit is in the cooling mode or heating mode, and whether the HVAC unit is activated or not, the onboard controller of the HVAC unit is configured to accept input signals wirelessly transmitted from the remotely located thermostat, the method comprising:
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the remotely located thermostat comparing a sensed temperature in the inside space with a setpoint, and determining if the sensed temperature is different from the setpoint by at least a predetermined amount; and if the sensed temperature is different from the setpoint by at least the predetermined amount, the thermostat wirelessly sending one or more input signals to the onboard controller of the HVAC unit, the one or more input signals causing the onboard controller of the HVAC unit to set the HVAC unit to a particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode, and to activate the HVAC unit so as to condition the air in the inside space in the particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode in accordance with a control setpoint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling a mini-split system HVAC unit via a thermostat that is located remotely from the HVAC unit, the HVAC unit having a cooling mode and a heating mode for conditioning air in the inside space, the HVAC unit having an onboard controller that is configured to control whether the HVAC unit is in the cooling mode or heating mode, and whether the HVAC unit is activated or not, the onboard controller of the HVAC unit is configured to accept input signals wirelessly transmitted from the remotely located thermostat, the method comprising:
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receiving one or more wireless input signals from the thermostat to activate the HVAC unit, wherein the one or more wireless input signals specify either a cooling mode command or a heating mode command; if a cooling mode command is specified by the one or more wireless input signals, setting the HVAC unit into the cooling mode; if a heating mode command is specified by the one or more wireless input signals, setting the HVAC unit into the heating mode; and with the mode of the HVAC unit set, running the HVAC unit so as to condition the air in the inside space in the set mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling an HVAC unit via a wireless thermostat that is located remotely from the HVAC unit, the HVAC unit having a cooling mode and a heating mode for conditioning air in the inside space, the HVAC unit having an onboard controller that is configured to control whether the HVAC unit is in the cooling mode or heating mode, and whether the HVAC unit is activated or not, the onboard controller of the HVAC unit is configured to accept input signals wirelessly transmitted from the remotely located thermostat, the method comprising:
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the remotely located thermostat comparing a sensed temperature in the inside space with a set point, and determining if the sensed temperature is different from the set point by at least a predetermined amount; and if the sensed temperature is different from the set point by at least the predetermined amount, the thermostat wirelessly sending one or more input signals to the onboard controller of the HVAC unit, wherein the one or more input signals specifies either a cooling mode command or a heating mode command, the one or more input signals causing the onboard controller of the HVAC unit to set the HVAC unit to either the cooling mode or the heating mode in accordance with the sent command, and the one or more input signals also causing the HVAC unit to activate so as to condition the air in the inside space in the particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification