Hybrid zone control system
First Claim
1. A zoned HVAC system comprising:
- a first thermostat located in a first zone of the zoned HVAC system configured to communicate in accordance with ClimateTalk network protocol;
a second thermostat located in a second zone of the zoned HVAC system configured to communicate in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol;
a first HVAC unit configured to communicate in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol; and
,a controller communicatively coupled to each of the first thermostat, the second thermostat, and the first HVAC unit, wherein, the controller is configured to;
establish, in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol, a first ClimateTalk network between the controller and the first HVAC unit;
establish, in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol, a second ClimateTalk network between the controller and the first ClimateTalk thermostat located in the first zone of the zoned HVAC system,establish, in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol, a third ClimateTalk network between the controller and the second ClimateTalk thermostat located in the second zone of the zoned HVAC system;
wherein the controller identifies itself as a thermostat to the first HVAC unit in the first network and identifies itself as an HVAC unit to the first and second thermostats in the second and third networks in order to bridge at least the first and second networks without the first and second thermostats being aware of each other,the first ClimateTalk network, the second ClimateTalk network, and the third ClimateTalk network being separate and distinct ClimateTalk networks.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for using multiple ClimateTalk™ compliant thermostats in a zoned HVAC system are provided. The system may include a first ClimateTalk™ thermostat in a first zone, a second ClimateTalk™ thermostat in a second zone, a third ClimateTalk or 24v AC thermostat in a third zone, and a ClimateTalk™ HVAC unit and/or 24v AC HVAC unit, for servicing the demands in the first, second and third zones. A controller in the zoned HVAC system may establish a ClimateTalk™ network between the controller and the HVAC unit, where the controller may identify itself as the sole ClimateTalk™ thermostat in this network. The controller may also establish additional ClimateTalk™ networks between the controller and each of the first, second and third thermostats, by identifying the controller as a distinct ClimateTalk™ HVAC unit in each of the respective additional networks.
36 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A zoned HVAC system comprising:
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a first thermostat located in a first zone of the zoned HVAC system configured to communicate in accordance with ClimateTalk network protocol; a second thermostat located in a second zone of the zoned HVAC system configured to communicate in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol; a first HVAC unit configured to communicate in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol; and
,a controller communicatively coupled to each of the first thermostat, the second thermostat, and the first HVAC unit, wherein, the controller is configured to; establish, in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol, a first ClimateTalk network between the controller and the first HVAC unit; establish, in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol, a second ClimateTalk network between the controller and the first ClimateTalk thermostat located in the first zone of the zoned HVAC system, establish, in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol, a third ClimateTalk network between the controller and the second ClimateTalk thermostat located in the second zone of the zoned HVAC system; wherein the controller identifies itself as a thermostat to the first HVAC unit in the first network and identifies itself as an HVAC unit to the first and second thermostats in the second and third networks in order to bridge at least the first and second networks without the first and second thermostats being aware of each other, the first ClimateTalk network, the second ClimateTalk network, and the third ClimateTalk network being separate and distinct ClimateTalk networks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for using multiple ClimateTalk network compliant thermostats in a zoned HVAC system, the method comprising:
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establishing, in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol, a first ClimateTalk network between a controller and a first ClimateTalk network compliant HVAC unit; establishing, in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol, a second ClimateTalk network between the controller and a first ClimateTalk network compliant thermostat located in a first zone of the zoned HVAC system; establishing, in accordance with the ClimateTalk network protocol, a third ClimateTalk network between the controller and a second ClimateTalk network compliant thermostat located in a second zone of the zoned HVAC system, wherein the controller identifies itself as a ClimateTalk network compliant thermostat to the first ClimateTalk network compliant HVAC unit in the first ClimateTalk network and identifies itself as a ClimateTalk network compliant HVAC unit to the first and second ClimateTalk network compliant thermostats in the second and third ClimateTalk networks in order to bridge at least the first and second networks such that the first and second thermostats are not aware of each other, wherein, each of the first ClimateTalk network, the second ClimateTalk network, and the third ClimateTalk network are distinct ClimateTalk networks different from each other. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification