HVAC staging control
First Claim
1. A controller configured to control an HVAC system having a plurality of zones and having a multiple stage fluid temperature conditioning device, the controller comprising:
- (i) a plurality of thermostat terminals for receiving a plurality of thermostat signals from a plurality of thermostats, each thermostat located within one of a plurality of zones, where each one of the plurality of thermostat signals indicates a call for conditioning in the zone where that thermostat is located;
(ii) a plurality of flow control terminals, each flow control terminal configured to transmit a signal to control one of a plurality of flow control devices in response to a call for conditioning in one of the plurality of zones;
(iii) one or more timers connected to the thermostat terminals, the one or more timers configured to initiate a separate timing count upon each call for conditioning in any one of the plurality of zones; and
(iv) one or more staging terminals for transmitting staging signals to control a multiple stage fluid temperature conditioning device, wherein the transmission of the staging signals determines whether the conditioning device will operate at a lower output stage or a higher output stage;
(v) wherein the controller is configured to make a timing count determination to determine if any one of the separate timing counts initiated upon each call for conditioning in any one of the plurality of zones exceeds a timing delay parameter;
(vi) wherein the transmission of staging signals depends on the timing count determination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controller for an HVAC system having a plurality of zones and having a multiple stage fluid temperature conditioning device. The controller is configured to receive a plurality of thermostat signals and to transmit a signal to control one of a plurality of flow control devices in response to a call for conditioning in one of the plurality of zones. The controller also includes one or more timers that are connected to the thermostat terminals, where the one or more timers are configured to initiate a separate timing count upon each call for conditioning in any one of the plurality of zones. In addition, the controller includes one or more staging terminals for transmitting staging signals to control a multiple stage fluid temperature conditioning device, where the transmission of the staging signals determines whether the conditioning device will operate at a relatively higher output stage. The controller is also configured to make a timing count determination to determine if any one of the separate timing counts initiated upon each call for conditioning in any one of the plurality of zones exceeds a timing delay parameter. The transmission of staging signals depends on the timing count determination. A method is also disclosed.
102 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A controller configured to control an HVAC system having a plurality of zones and having a multiple stage fluid temperature conditioning device, the controller comprising:
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(i) a plurality of thermostat terminals for receiving a plurality of thermostat signals from a plurality of thermostats, each thermostat located within one of a plurality of zones, where each one of the plurality of thermostat signals indicates a call for conditioning in the zone where that thermostat is located; (ii) a plurality of flow control terminals, each flow control terminal configured to transmit a signal to control one of a plurality of flow control devices in response to a call for conditioning in one of the plurality of zones; (iii) one or more timers connected to the thermostat terminals, the one or more timers configured to initiate a separate timing count upon each call for conditioning in any one of the plurality of zones; and (iv) one or more staging terminals for transmitting staging signals to control a multiple stage fluid temperature conditioning device, wherein the transmission of the staging signals determines whether the conditioning device will operate at a lower output stage or a higher output stage; (v) wherein the controller is configured to make a timing count determination to determine if any one of the separate timing counts initiated upon each call for conditioning in any one of the plurality of zones exceeds a timing delay parameter; (vi) wherein the transmission of staging signals depends on the timing count determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling a multiple stage fluid temperature conditioning device of an
HVAC system having a plurality of zones, the method comprising: -
(i) receiving a plurality of thermostat signals from a plurality of thermostats, each thermostat located within one of a plurality of zones, where each of the plurality of thermostat signals indicates a call for conditioning in the zone where that thermostat is located; (ii) transmitting a flow control signal to one or more flow control devices in response to each thermostat signal calling for conditioning in one of the plurality of zones; and (iii) storing a timing delay parameter; (iv) initiating a separate timing count upon the receipt of each thermostat signal; (v) making a timing count determination by determining whether any one of the separate timing counts exceed the timing delay parameter; (iv) transmitting a staging signal to control the operation of the multiple stage fluid temperature conditioning device, wherein the transmission of the staging signal determines whether the conditioning device will operate at a lower output stage or a higher output stage, wherein the transmission of the staging signal depends on the timing count determination. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification