COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THERMOSTAT AND ROOFTOP UNIT OF CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20180106490A1
• Filed: 10/16/2017
• Published: 04/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Abrishamkar, Farhad, Vishinsky, Anna, Bennett, Alan E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,914,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/06 Separate outdoor units, e.g. outdoor unit to be linked to a separate room comprising a compressor and a heat exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/68 Arrangement of multiple separate outdoor units
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• 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 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/32 Supports for air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation units
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0002 for admittance of outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/12 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/22 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/70 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/40 Damper positions, e.g. open or closed
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/16 mounted on the roof
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 : associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 : to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 : Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

According to certain embodiments, a thermostat is configured for use in a climate control system. The thermostat is operable to use two-way communication for communicating operational information between the thermostat and at least one rooftop unit (RTU) within the climate control system. For example, the two-way communication comprises sending first operational information to the RTU and receiving second operational information from the RTU. The operational information comprising one or more climate control commands, setpoints, configuration information, diagnostics, and/or sensor data. The thermostat is further operable to operate the climate control system based on the operational information communicated between the thermostat and the RTU.

Claims

1. A thermostat for use in a climate control system, the thermostat operable to:

use two-way communication for communicating operational information between the thermostat and at least one rooftop unit (RTU) within the climate control system, the operational information comprising one or more climate control commands, setpoints, configuration information, diagnostics, and/or sensor data; and

operate the climate control system based on the operational information communicated between the thermostat and the RTU;

wherein the two-way communication comprises sending first operational information to the RTU and receiving second operational information from the RTU.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the first operational information indicates one or more temperature setpoints that allow the RTU to operate heating or cooling on its own.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the thermostat is further operable to receive a temperature, a humidity level, or a carbon dioxide level from one or more sensors within a conditioned space, and wherein the first operational information comprises sensor data based on the received temperature, humidity level, or carbon dioxide level.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the second operational information comprises sensor data based on a refrigerant discharge temperature, an outdoor air temperature, or an outdoor humidity level that the RTU receives from one or more sensors.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the second operational information received from the RTU comprises capability information indicating one or more climate control commands supported by the RTU, and wherein the first operational information comprises one of the climate control commands supported by the RTU according to the received capability information.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, the thermostat further operable to detect when it is connected to multiple RTUs.

7. The thermostat of claim 6, the thermostat further operable to automatically adjust dampers for each RTU and/or adjust heating/cooling votes for each RTU based on the number of RTUs connected to the thermostat.

8. The thermostat of claim 6, the thermostat further operable to:

detect whether the RTUs are configured for zoned operation or unzoned operation; and

automatically adjust dampers for each RTU and/or adjust heating/cooling votes for each RTU based on whether the RTUs are configured for zoned operation or unzoned operation;

wherein zoned operation comprises using each RTU to control the climate in a different space and unzoned operation comprises using each RTU to control the climate in the same space.

9. A rooftop unit (RTU) controller for use in a climate control system, the RTU controller operable to:

use two-way communication for communicating operational information between the RTU controller and a thermostat within the climate control system, the operational information comprising one or more climate control commands, setpoints, configuration information, diagnostics, and/or sensor data; and

operate the climate control system based on the operational information communicated between the RTU controller and the thermostat;

wherein the two-way communication comprises receiving first operational information from the thermostat and sending second operational information to the thermostat.

10. The RTU controller of claim 9, wherein the first operational information indicates one or more temperature setpoints that allow the RTU to operate heating or cooling on its own.

11. The RTU controller of claim 9, wherein the first operational information comprises sensor data based on a temperature, a humidity level, or a carbon dioxide level that the thermostat receives from one or more sensors within a conditioned space.

12. The RTU controller of claim 9, wherein the second operational information comprises sensor data based on a refrigerant discharge temperature, an outdoor air temperature, or an outdoor humidity level that the RTU receives from one or more sensors.

13. The RTU controller of claim 9, wherein the second operational information that the RTU communicates to the thermostat comprises capability information indicating one or more climate control commands supported by the RTU, and wherein the first operational information comprises one of the climate control commands supported by the RTU according to the capability information.

14. A climate control system comprising a thermostat and a rooftop unit (RTU), the system operable to:

use two-way communication for communicating operational information between the RTU controller and a thermostat within the climate control system, the operational information comprising one or more climate control commands, setpoints, configuration information, diagnostics, and/or sensor data; and

operate the climate control system based on the operational information communicated between the RTU controller and the thermostat;

wherein the two-way communication comprises communicating first operational information from the thermostat to the RTU and communicating second operational information from the RTU to the thermostat.

15. The climate control system of claim 14, wherein the first operational information indicates one or more temperature setpoints that allow the RTU to operate heating or cooling on its own.

16. The climate control system of claim 14, wherein the first operational information comprises sensor data based on a temperature, a humidity level, or a carbon dioxide level that the thermostat receives from one or more sensors within a conditioned space.

17. The climate control system of claim 14, wherein the second operational information comprises sensor data based on a refrigerant discharge temperature, an outdoor air temperature, or an outdoor humidity level that the RTU receives from one or more sensors.

18. The climate control system of claim 14, wherein the second operational information communicated from the RTU to the thermostat comprises capability information indicating one or more climate control commands supported by the RTU, and wherein the first operational information comprises one of the climate control commands supported by the RTU according to the capability information.

19. The climate control system of claim 14, wherein the thermostat is further operable to detect when it is connected to multiple RTUs and to automatically adjust dampers for each RTU and/or adjust heating/cooling votes for each RTU based on the number of RTUs connected to the thermostat.

20. The climate control system of claim 14, wherein the climate control system comprises a plurality of RTUs connected to the thermostat and the thermostat is further operable to:

detect whether the RTUs are configured for zoned operation or unzoned operation; and

automatically adjust dampers for each RTU and/or adjust heating/cooling votes for each RTU based on whether the RTUs are configured for zoned operation or unzoned operation;

wherein zoned operation comprises using each RTU to control the climate in a different space and unzoned operation comprises using each RTU to control the climate in the same space.