Building control system with remote control unit and methods of operation
First Claim
1. A comfort control system for controlling one or more HVAC components of a building or other structure, the comfort control system comprising:
- a first controller having access to a first temperature sensor for sensing a first temperature, a wireless interface, and a control module for controlling the comfort level of at least a portion of the building or other structure in accordance with a temperature set point by activating and deactivating the one or more HVAC components of the building or other structure so that a sensed temperature approaches the temperature set point;
a second controller having a second temperature sensor for sensing a second temperature, and a wireless interface, the wireless interface of the second controller and the wireless interface of the first controller providing a communication path whereby the second temperature can be communicated from the second controller to the first controller;
the control module of the first controller controlling the comfort level of at least the portion of the building or other structure in accordance with the temperature set point by using a selected one of the first temperature or the second temperature as the sensed temperature; and
wherein, when the control module of the first controller is controlling the comfort level of at least the portion of a building or other structure using the second temperature as the sensed temperature, the control module automatically switches to controlling the comfort level using the first temperature as the sensed temperature when a predetermined temperature condition is detected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A building controller for controlling the comfort level in a building is described. The building controller may include a thermostat and wireless remote controller for communicating with the thermostat from a remote location. The thermostat may have access to a first temperature sensor for sensing a first temperature, sometimes at or near the thermostat. The remote controller may likewise have a second temperature sensor for sensing a second temperature, sometimes at or near the remote controller. Under some conditions, the thermostat may use the second temperature sensed by the remote controller to control the comfort level in a building unless or until a predetermined condition is detected, after which the thermostat may use a different temperature, such as the first temperature at or near the thermostat, to control the comfort level in a building.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A comfort control system for controlling one or more HVAC components of a building or other structure, the comfort control system comprising:
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a first controller having access to a first temperature sensor for sensing a first temperature, a wireless interface, and a control module for controlling the comfort level of at least a portion of the building or other structure in accordance with a temperature set point by activating and deactivating the one or more HVAC components of the building or other structure so that a sensed temperature approaches the temperature set point; a second controller having a second temperature sensor for sensing a second temperature, and a wireless interface, the wireless interface of the second controller and the wireless interface of the first controller providing a communication path whereby the second temperature can be communicated from the second controller to the first controller; the control module of the first controller controlling the comfort level of at least the portion of the building or other structure in accordance with the temperature set point by using a selected one of the first temperature or the second temperature as the sensed temperature; and wherein, when the control module of the first controller is controlling the comfort level of at least the portion of a building or other structure using the second temperature as the sensed temperature, the control module automatically switches to controlling the comfort level using the first temperature as the sensed temperature when a predetermined temperature condition is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A building system controller comprising:
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a thermostat having access to a first temperature sensor for sensing a first temperature; a portable remote controller for remotely controlling the thermostat, the portable remote controller having a second temperature sensor for sensing a second temperature; a wireless interface adapted to communicate the second temperature from the portable remote controller to the thermostat; and the thermostat having a control module that controls the comfort level of at least a portion of a building by activating and/or deactivating one or more HVAC components so that a sensed temperature approaches a temperature set point, wherein when desired, the control module controls the comfort level using the second temperature as the sensed temperature, and if a predetermined condition is subsequently detected, the control module controls the comfort level using a temperature different from the second temperature as the sensed temperature. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for controlling the comfort level in at least a portion of a building using a thermostat having access to a first temperature sensor for sensing a first temperature, and a remote controller for remotely controlling the thermostat having a second temperature sensor for sensing a second temperature, the method comprising:
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controlling the comfort level in at least the portion of the building so that a sensed temperature approaches a temperature set point, wherein the sensed temperature is the second temperature; determining if one or more predetermined temperature conditions exist; and if one or more of the predetermined temperature conditions is determined to exist, controlling the comfort level in at least the portion of the building using a different temperature than the second temperature as the sensed temperature. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification