HVAC controller with device scheduling program

• US 8,965,585 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Generac Power Systems Incorporated (Generac Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ecobee Inc (Generac Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lombard, Stuart, Machiondo, Mark, Fahmy, Hesham Ezzat, Sobec, Erlend
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mia, Md N
• Application Number:
  US13/347,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20130178986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

A controller is provided for HVAC equipment. The controller has a processor, memory, and a RF module for a home automation network, and is operable to regulate operation of the HVAC equipment based upon a scheduling program stored in memory. The scheduling program includes at least one usage periods and at least one set point associated with each usage period. The controller is also operable to regulate operation of remote electrical devices over the home automation network; and to create a device scheduling program for the remote electrical devices, the device scheduling program including at least one device period and an operational state associated with each device period.

Claims

1. A controller for operating HVAC equipment on a premise, the controller having a processor, memory, and a RF module for communication with a home automation network, wherein

the controller being adapted to regulate operation of the HVAC equipment based upon a scheduling program created by a user and stored in memory, the scheduling program including at least one usage period and at least one set point associated with each usage period;

the controller being adapted to regulate operation of at least one electrical device over the home automation network;

the controller being further adapted to create a device scheduling program for each electrical device of the at least one electrical devices, the device scheduling program including at least one device period and an operational state associated with each at least one device period; and

wherein the controller prompts the user to select between a linked device scheduling program in which the controller links the device scheduling program to the scheduling program for the HVAC equipment so that the at least one device period of the device scheduling program automatically correspond to the at least one usage period of the scheduling program and an unlinked device scheduling program in which the user configures the at least one device period of the device scheduling program for the at least one electrical device.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein changing one of the at least one device periods and the at least one usage periods changes the other of the at least one device periods and the at least one usage periods.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the each device period of the at least one device periods being associated with the electrical devices has an operational state of ON or OFF.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller automatically queries the user to create the device scheduling program upon detection of a new electrical device within the home automation network.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to communicate with a remote device across a wireless network so that the remote device can configure and program the electrical device on the home automation network.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the user can program the device scheduling program for more than one electrical device concurrently using the controller.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein each device scheduling program can include an option to allow the device'"'"'s operational state to be modified during a demand response event received by the controller from a utility.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller includes separate device scheduling programs each electrical device for when the controller is in Heat mode and when the controller is in Cool mode.

9. The controller of claim 1, wherein the scheduling program may be temporarily overridden by vacation overrides stored in the memory of the controller, and the device scheduling program is similarly overridden by the vacation overrides.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein the device scheduling program may be temporarily overridden by an override requested by the user, the length of the override being configured in a Preferences menu of the controller.

11. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller can display the current operational state of the at least one electrical device to the user outside of the device scheduling program.

12. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller can display the instantaneous electrical consumption of the at least one electrical device.

13. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller can display the cumulative electrical consumption of the at least one electrical device.

14. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller can display electrical pricing information for the at least one electrical device, the electrical pricing information being supplied by a utility.

15. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller can display electrical pricing information for the at least one electrical device, the electrical pricing information being inputted by the user and stored in the memory of the controller.