Apparatus and method for self-test of thermostat

• US 9,784,463 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Babich, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Norman, Marc
• Application Number:
  US14/579,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20150107816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• 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 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

An environmental control system includes at least one of a security monitoring system or a building automation control system. A thermostat is coupled to the at least one system, wherein the thermostat provides feedback as to output signals therefrom to evaluate functioning of the thermostat. The output signals would be coupled to a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a thermostat to control temperature in a region being monitored;

providing a self-test feature for the thermostat;

determining that the self-test feature should be activated by the thermostat;

the self-test feature altering a temperature setting of the thermostat in a first direction and then monitoring a first output signal from the thermostat;

the self-test feature altering the temperature setting in a second direction, opposite the first direction, and then monitoring a second output signal from the thermostat; and

determining if the first output signal and the second output signal correspond to expected output signals.

2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising providing a monitoring facility and evaluating the first output signal and the second output signal at the monitoring facility.

3. The method as in claim 1 further comprising determining if maintenance of the thermostat is needed when the first output signal and the second output signal do not correspond to the expected output signals.

4. The method as in claim 1 further comprising testing circuit activation of the thermostat.

5. The method as in claim 1 further comprising testing functionality of a heating input, a cooling input, or a humidity input of the thermostat.