Hazardous condition detection system and method and thermostat for use therewith

• US 7,135,965 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Original Assignee: Maple Chase Company
• Inventors: Ashworth, Nicholas, Wallaert, Timothy E., Chapman, John Gilman Jr., Burt, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W.
• Application Number:
  US11/031,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 340/514, 340/581, 340/584, 340/588, 340/501, 340/506, 340/870.01, 340/870.16, 340/628, 340/632, 340/870.17, 340/505, 237/2.R, 237/12.5, 237/12.6, 237/1.R, 236/91.R, 236/91.D, 236/91.E, 236/40, 236/3, 236/41, 236/4, 236/94, 392/363, 700/17, 700/201, 700/202, 700/216, 205/209
• US Class Current: 340/514
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/145 of fire detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An intelligent thermostat communicates with threat detectors to allow periodic remote testing of the detector. The real-time clock and calendar functions of the thermostat allow the consumer to program the day, time, and frequency of the testing. The thermostat then communicates a test control signal to each of the detectors to initiate the self-test. The communication may be wired or wireless. During testing the thermostat displays a detector test screen. Upon completion of the self-test, the thermostat displays a test results screen for user confirmation. This results screen will indicate that the test passed or failed along with any diagnostic information provided by the detector. The thermostat also provides a test initiation screen from which the consumer may initiate a detector self-test manually. Loss of communications with a detector is also communicated to the user, as is the location of the detector that first identified a threat.

Claims

1. A hazardous condition detection system, comprising:

at least one hazardous condition detector;

a thermostat having a user interface display, the thermostat being operably coupled to the at least one hazardous condition detector for communications therewith;

wherein the at least one hazardous condition detector transmits information to the thermostat upon detection of a hazardous condition, and wherein the thermostat displays the information on the user interface display; and

wherein the information comprises location information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the information comprises hazard type information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermostat displays an indication that one of the at least one hazardous condition detectors is not communicating with the thermostat on the user interface display when the thermostat determines that one of the at least one hazardous condition detectors is no longer communicating.

3. A hazardous condition detection system, comprising:

at least one hazardous condition detector;

a thermostat having a user interface display, the thermostat being operably coupled to the at least one hazardous condition detector for communications therewith; and

a plurality of hazardous condition detectors in communications with the thermostat, and wherein the thermostat transmits a temporary alarm locate (TAL) signal to the plurality of hazardous condition detectors to initiate the TAL function within the plurality of hazardous condition detectors.

5. A hazardous condition detection system, comprising:

at least one hazardous condition detector;

a thermostat having a user interface display, the thermostat being operably coupled to the at least one hazardous condition detector for communications therewith; and

wherein the thermostat includes a user programmable hazardous condition detector test schedule function, and wherein the thermostat transmits a detector self test initiate signal to the at least one hazardous condition detector at a programmed time.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one hazardous condition detector transmits self test results information to the thermostat, and wherein the thermostat displays the self test results information on the user interface display.

7. A thermostat for controlling a dwelling'"'"'s heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the dwelling having installed therein at least one hazardous condition detector, comprising:

a user interface display;

means for communicating with the at least one hazardous condition detector;

wherein the thermostat displays information regarding the at least one hazardous condition detector on the user interface display; and

wherein the information comprises information identifying a location of a hazardous condition detected by the at least one of the hazardous condition detectors.

8. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein the information comprises information identifying a type of a hazardous condition detected by the at least one of the hazardous condition detectors.

9. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein the dwelling has installed therein a plurality of hazardous condition detectors, wherein the thermostat transmits a temporary alarm locate (TAL) signal to the plurality of hazardous condition detectors to initiate the TAL function within the plurality of hazardous condition detectors.

10. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein the thermostat displays a warning on the user interface display that the thermostat is no longer communicating with the at least one hazardous condition detector.

11. The thermostat of claim 7, further comprising a user programmable hazardous condition detector test schedule function, and wherein the thermostat transmits a detector self test initiate signal to the at least one hazardous condition detector at a programmed time.

12. The thermostat of claim 11, wherein the thermostat displays self test results information on the user interface display received from the at least one hazardous condition detector upon completion of the hazardous condition detector self test.

13. A method of testing at least one hazardous condition detector, comprising the steps of:

transmitting by an intelligent thermostat a detector control signal to the at least one hazardous condition detector; and

displaying information relating to the at least one hazardous condition detector on a user interface display of the intelligent thermostat.

14. A method of testing at least one hazardous condition detector, comprising the steps of:

transmitting by an intelligent thermostat a detector control signal; and

displaying information relating to the at least one hazardous condition detector on a user interface display of the intelligent thermostat; and

wherein the step of transmitting by an intelligent thermostat a detector control signal comprises the step of transmitting by an intelligent thermostat a detector self test signal to the at least one hazardous condition detector; and

wherein the step of displaying information relating to the at least one hazardous condition detector comprises the step of displaying a test in progress message on a user interface display of the intelligent thermostat, the method further comprising the steps of;

receiving diagnostic information from the at least one hazardous condition detector; and

displaying the diagnostic information on the user interface display.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of receiving user input to set an automatic testing schedule for the at least one hazardous condition detector within the intelligent thermostat prior to performing the steps of transmitting the detector self test signal, displaying the test in progress message, receiving diagnostic information, and displaying the diagnostic information.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of receiving a user input to initiate a manual hazardous condition detector test, and thereafter performing the steps of transmitting the detector self test signal, displaying the test in progress message, receiving diagnostic information, and displaying the diagnostic information.

17. A method of testing at least one hazardous condition detector, comprising the steps of:

transmitting by an intelligent thermostat a detector control signal; and

displaying information relating to the at least one hazardous condition detector on a user interface display of the intelligent thermostat;

receiving no communications from the at least one hazardous condition detector; and

wherein the step of displaying information relating to the at least one hazardous condition detector comprises the step of displaying a warning on the user interface display that the at least one hazardous condition detector is no longer communicating with the thermostat.

18. A method of alerting a user to a hazardous condition, comprising the steps of:

receiving by a thermostat information from at least one hazardous condition detector that has detected a hazardous condition;

displaying information on a user interface display of the thermostat alerting the user to the hazardous condition;

receiving at the thermostat user input to initiate a temporary alarm locate (TAL) function; and

broadcasting by the thermostat a TAL control signal to the at least one hazardous condition detector.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of displaying comprises the step of displaying location information on a user interface display of the thermostat alerting the user to the location of the hazardous condition.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of displaying comprises the step of displaying hazard type information on a user interface display of the thermostat alerting the user to the type of the hazardous condition.