HVAC controller with user-friendly installation features with wire insertion detection

• US 9,092,039 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Sloo, David, Stefanski, Mark D., Matsuoka, Yoky
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad M
• Application Number:
  US13/831,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20130204440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 621/15, 621/25, 621/27, 621/29, 621/32, 621/56, 622/31, 236/1.C, 236/1.E, 236/18, 236/94, 236/91.R, 236/91.D, 700/276, 700/278
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/32 preventing human errors during the installation, use or maintenance, e.g. goofy proof
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

A thermostat includes a housing, a user interface, and a processing system configured to control an HVAC system using setpoint temperature values. The thermostat may also include a plurality of HVAC connectors configured to receive corresponding HVAC control wires, and a connection sensing module configured to determine the identities of HVAC connectors into which corresponding wires have been inserted. The processing system is further configured to select and display one or more user inquiries using the user interface based on which connectors have wires inserted, thereby enhancing and streamlining the user installation procedure.

Claims

1. A method of installing and configuring a thermostat for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system wherein the thermostat is configured to control different types of HVAC system components, the method comprising:

determining identities of a first subset of a plurality of HVAC connectors into which corresponding HVAC wires have been inserted, wherein the plurality of HVAC connectors are configured to receive a corresponding plurality of HVAC control wires corresponding to the HVAC system, each HVAC connector having an identifier that identifies one or more HVAC functionalities associated with that HVAC connector;

selecting and displaying a first user inquiry to a user presented on a user interface comprising an electronic display disposed within a housing of the thermostat, the first user inquiry selected from a group of user inquires each of which requests information regarding a type of system component to be controlled by the thermostat, and the selection of the first inquiry being based at least in part on the determined identities of the first subset of the plurality of HVAC connectors into which corresponding HVAC wires have been inserted, said selecting and displaying being performed at least in part by a processing system disposed within the housing of the thermostat and coupled to the user interface, the processing system being configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for determining an ambient air temperature, in operative communication with one or more input devices including said user interface, and still in further operative communication with the HVAC system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a measured ambient temperature and a setpoint temperature value;

allowing the user, in response to the displayed first inquiry, to select between at least two types of system components to be controlled by the HVAC controller;

accepting a first selection by the user using the user interface, the selection identifying a type of system component to be controlled by the HVAC controller;

using the processing system to modify configuration information of the thermostat based at least in part on the first selection; and

using the modified configuration information of the thermostat when controlling one or more HVAC system components of the HVAC system by the processing system.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of HVAC connectors each includes a mechanical mechanism configured to detect whether or not a wire is inserted into the connector, and wherein said determining identities of the first subset of HVAC connectors includes mechanically detecting HVAC control wires using the one or more mechanical mechanisms.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electronic display of the user interface is configured to provide a graphical representation of a position of the plurality of HVAC connectors along with the functions assigned to each of the first subset of the plurality of HVAC connectors.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the graphical representation is configured to indicate to a user which of the plurality of HVAC connectors are included in the first subset, and which of the plurality of HVAC connectors are in a second subset that do not have HVAC wires inserted.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the graphical representation includes a graphical representation of a wire inserted into a graphical representation of a connector for each of the first subset of the plurality of HVAC connectors.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein the graphical representation includes a graphical representation of each of the plurality of HVAC connectors using one or more colors to indicate one or more states associated with each of the connectors.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the one or more states includes:

a wire is connected to the connector;

a wire is not connected to the connector; and

an error is associated with the connector.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of HVAC connectors comprises a wildcard connector that can be configured to interface with a plurality of different HVAC system components, and said first user inquiry comprises a request for selection between two or more of the plurality of different HVAC system components.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein possible HVAC system components include a dual-fuel heat pump heating system and a single-fuel heat pump heating system, and said first user inquiry comprises a request for selection between single-fuel systems and dual-fuel systems.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein possible HVAC system components include a forced-air heating system and a radiant heating system, and said first user inquiry comprises a request for selection between forced-air systems and radiant systems.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein possible HVAC system components include a first heat pump reversing valve having a first polarity and a second heat pump reversing valve having a second polarity being opposite to the first polarity, and said first user inquiry comprises a request for selection between the first heat pump reversing valve and the second heat pump reversing valve.

17. A thermostat according to claim 2 wherein the electronic display of the user interface is configured to provide a graphical representation of a position of the plurality of HVAC connectors along with the functions assigned to each of the first subset of the plurality of HVAC connectors.

18. A thermostat according to claim 17 wherein the graphical representation is configured to indicate to a user which of the plurality of HVAC connectors are included in the first subset, and which of the plurality of HVAC connectors are in a second subset that do not have HVAC wires inserted.

19. A thermostat according to claim 18 wherein the graphical representation includes a graphical representation of each of the plurality of HVAC connectors using one or more types of shading to indicate one or more states associated with each of the connectors, and wherein the one or more states including:

a wire is connected to the connector;

a wire is not connected to the connector; and

an error is associated with the connector.

12. A thermostat comprising:

a housing;

a user interface comprising an electronic display;

a processing system disposed within the housing and coupled to the user interface, the processing system being configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for determining an ambient air temperature, in operative communication with one or more input devices including said user interface for receiving input from a user, and in still further operative communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a measured ambient temperature and a setpoint temperature value;

a plurality of HVAC connectors configured to receive a corresponding plurality of HVAC control wires corresponding to the HVAC system, each HVAC connector having an identifier that identifies one or more HVAC functionalities associated with that HVAC connector; and

a connection sensing module coupled to said plurality of HVAC connectors and configured to determine the identities of a first subset of the plurality of HVAC connectors into which corresponding HVAC wires have been inserted, wherein the processing system is further configured to;

select and display a first user inquiry to a user presented on the electronic display of the user interface, the first user inquiry selected from a group of user inquires each of which requests information regarding a type of system component to be controlled by the thermostat, and the selection of the first inquiry being based at least in part on determined identities of the first subset of the plurality of HVAC connectors into which corresponding HVAC wires have been inserted;

allow the user, in response to the displayed first inquiry, to select between at least two types of system components to be controlled by the HVAC controller;

accept a first selection by the user using the user interface, the selection identifying a type of system component to be controlled by the HVAC controller;

modify configuration information of the thermostat based at least in part on the first selection; and

control one or more HVAC system components of the HVAC system using the modified configuration information.

13. A thermostat according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of HVAC connectors each includes a mechanical mechanism configured to detect whether or not a wire is inserted into the connector, and wherein said connection sensing module uses the mechanical mechanism to determine the identities of the first subset of the plurality of HVAC connectors into which corresponding HVAC wires have been inserted.

14. A thermostat according to claim 13 wherein said connection sensing module uses a combination of electronic detection and said mechanical mechanisms to determine the identities of the first subset of the plurality of HVAC connectors into which corresponding HVAC wires have been inserted.

15. A thermostat according to claim 12 wherein said connection sensing module uses electronic detection to determine the identities of the first subset of the plurality of HVAC connectors into which corresponding HVAC wires have been inserted.

16. A thermostat according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of HVAC connectors are configured to accept and securely make connection with an inserted HVAC control wire without use of tools.

20. A method of installing and configuring a thermostat for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system wherein the thermostat is configured to control different types of HVAC system components, the method comprising:

determining identities of a first subset of a plurality of HVAC connectors into which corresponding HVAC wires have been inserted, wherein the plurality of HVAC connectors are configured to receive a corresponding plurality of HVAC control wires corresponding to the HVAC system, each HVAC connector having an identifier that identifies one or more HVAC functionalities associated with that HVAC connector, and each HVAC connector having a mechanical mechanism configured to detect whether or not a wire is inserted into the connector, and wherein said determining identities of the first subset of HVAC connectors is based at least in part on use of the mechanical mechanisms;

selecting and displaying a first user inquiry to a user presented on a user interface comprising an electronic display disposed within a housing of the thermostat, the first user inquiry selected from a group of user inquires each of which requests information regarding a type of system component to be controlled by the thermostat, and the selection of the first inquiry being based at least in part on the determined identities of the first subset of the plurality of HVAC connectors into which corresponding HVAC wires have been inserted, said selecting and displaying being performed at least in part by a processing system disposed within the housing of the thermostat and coupled to the user interface, the processing system being configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for determining an ambient air temperature, in operative communication with one or more input devices including said user interface, and still in further operative communication with the HVAC system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a measured ambient temperature and a setpoint temperature value, wherein the electronic display of the user interface is configured to provide a graphical representation of a position of the plurality of HVAC connectors along with the functions assigned to each of the first subset of the plurality of HVAC connectors;

allowing the user, in response to the displayed first inquiry, to select between at least two types of system components to be controlled by the HVAC controller;

accepting a first selection by the user using the user interface, the selection identifying a type of system component to be controlled by the HVAC controller;

using the processing system to modify configuration information of the thermostat based at least in part on the first selection; and

using the modified configuration information of the thermostat when controlling one or more HVAC system components of the HVAC system by the processing system.