Auxiliary stage control of multistage thermostats
First Claim
1. A method of controlling an HVAC system installed within a building or structure, the HVAC system including a primary stage and an auxiliary stage, and a multistage controller for controlling the primary stage and the auxiliary stage to achieve a temperature within the building or structure that is in accordance with a currently active temperature setpoint, the multistage controller having a user interface that allows a user to make a change to the currently active temperature setpoint resulting in a changed currently active temperature setpoint, whereby the multistage controller then controls the primary stage and the auxiliary stage to achieve a temperature within the building or structure that is in accordance with the changed currently active temperature setpoint, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a change to the currently active temperature setpoint from a user via the user interface of the multistage controller, wherein the change is not part of a programmed schedule, the change resulting in a changed currently active temperature setpoint;
controlling the primary stage and the auxiliary stage to achieve a temperature within the building or structure that is in accordance with the changed currently active temperature setpoint at or near a target time after receiving the change to the currently active temperature setpoint, the controlling step including;
sensing the temperature within the building or structure;
activating the primary stage if the sensed temperature is different from the changed currently active temperature setpoint;
determining the target time to reach the changed currently active temperature setpoint; and
achieving the changed currently active temperature setpoint at or near said target time while delaying or suppressing activation of the auxiliary stage, wherein the controlling step is initiated upon receiving the change to the currently active temperature setpoint from the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for the auxiliary stage control of multistage thermostats are disclosed. An illustrative multistage thermostat for a multistaged HVAC system installed within a building or structure can include a processor having a control algorithm adapted to operate the thermostat in either a normal mode for achieving rapid temperature changes within the building or structure or an economy mode for conserving energy usage. In the economy mode of operation, the thermostat can be configured to determine a target time for achieving a temperature setpoint by either delaying or suppressing activation of the system'"'"'s auxiliary stage. The target time can be adjusted in part based on the past usage characteristics of the auxiliary stage, the behavior of the user, and/or the progress of the primary stage in achieving the setpoint change without operating the auxiliary stage.
260 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of controlling an HVAC system installed within a building or structure, the HVAC system including a primary stage and an auxiliary stage, and a multistage controller for controlling the primary stage and the auxiliary stage to achieve a temperature within the building or structure that is in accordance with a currently active temperature setpoint, the multistage controller having a user interface that allows a user to make a change to the currently active temperature setpoint resulting in a changed currently active temperature setpoint, whereby the multistage controller then controls the primary stage and the auxiliary stage to achieve a temperature within the building or structure that is in accordance with the changed currently active temperature setpoint, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a change to the currently active temperature setpoint from a user via the user interface of the multistage controller, wherein the change is not part of a programmed schedule, the change resulting in a changed currently active temperature setpoint; controlling the primary stage and the auxiliary stage to achieve a temperature within the building or structure that is in accordance with the changed currently active temperature setpoint at or near a target time after receiving the change to the currently active temperature setpoint, the controlling step including; sensing the temperature within the building or structure; activating the primary stage if the sensed temperature is different from the changed currently active temperature setpoint; determining the target time to reach the changed currently active temperature setpoint; and achieving the changed currently active temperature setpoint at or near said target time while delaying or suppressing activation of the auxiliary stage, wherein the controlling step is initiated upon receiving the change to the currently active temperature setpoint from the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A multistage thermostat for controlling an HVAC system installed within a building or structure, the HVAC system including a primary stage and an auxiliary stage, said multistage thermostat comprising:
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a processor including a control algorithm adapted to run the multistage thermostat in either of two separate modes of operation, a normal mode of operation for achieving rapid temperature changes within the building or structure after a change to a currently active temperature setpoint is received, or an economy mode of operation for conserving energy usage of the auxiliary stage after a change to a currently active temperature setpoint is received, wherein the processor in the economy mode of operation determines a target time from the time a change to the currently active temperature setpoint is received from the user, wherein the change is not part of a programmed schedule, wherein the target time is for achieving a temperature within the building or structure that is consistent with the changed currently active temperature setpoint while delaying or suppressing activation of the auxiliary stage; and a user interface for receiving temperature setpoint changes from a user, including changes to the currently active temperature setpoint resulting in a changed currently active temperature setpoint. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A multistage thermostat for controlling an HVAC system installed within a building or structure, the HVAC system including a primary stage and an auxiliary stage, said multistage thermostat comprising:
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a processor including a control algorithm adapted to run the multistage thermostat in either a normal mode of operation for achieving rapid temperature changes within the building or structure after a change to a currently active temperature setpoint is received, or an economy mode of operation for conserving energy usage of the auxiliary stage after a change to a currently active temperature setpoint is received, wherein the multistage thermostat does not have a programmable schedule, wherein the processor in the economy mode of operation determines a target time from the time a change to the currently active temperature setpoint is received, for achieving a temperature within the building or structure that is consistent with the changed currently active temperature setpoint while delaying or suppressing activation of the auxiliary stage; and a user interface for receiving temperature setpoint changes from a user, including changes to the currently active temperature setpoint resulting in a changed currently active temperature setpoint.
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Specification