Thermostat with interactive installation features

• US 10,458,669 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Ribbich, Joseph R., Van Derven, Nicholas S., Alberth, Jr., William P., Schwegler, Alan S., Poquette, Corey A., Ajax, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US15/473,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20180283716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

A thermostat for controlling HVAC equipment via one or more control wires includes a user interface, a wiring terminal, and a processing circuit. The user interface is configured to display output to a user. The wiring terminal includes one or more connection points. The processing circuit is configured to determine one or more wiring instructions for wiring the thermostat with the HVAC equipment and cause the user interface to display the one or more instructions. The instructions instruct the user to connect the control wires to the connection points.

Claims

1. A thermostat for controlling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment via one or more control wires, the thermostat comprising:

an enclosure comprising a body and a removable cover;

a user interface configured to display output to a user while the removable cover is removed from the body;

a wiring terminal comprising one or more connection points, wherein the removable cover covers the one or more connection points; and

a processing circuit configured to;

determine one or more wiring connections to the one or more connection points; and

cause the user interface to display the one or more wiring connections while the removable cover is removed from the body.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the HVAC equipment via the one or more control wires connected to the one or more connection points, wherein controlling the HVAC equipment causes the HVAC equipment to control an environmental condition of a building.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board, wherein the wiring terminal is connected to the circuit board and wherein the circuit board comprises one or more holes for passing the one or more control wires through the circuit board to be connected to the wiring terminal;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to cause the user interface to display an instruction to mount the thermostat on a wall and pass the one or more control wires through the one or more holes of the circuit board.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a battery configured to power the thermostat when the thermostat is not connected a permanent power supply;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to cause the battery to power the thermostat in response to determining that the thermostat is not connected to the permanent power supply.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine wiring instructions by:

prompting the user, via the user interface, to capture one or more images of the HVAC equipment via a mobile device;

receiving the one or more images from the mobile device;

determining identities of the HVAC equipment based on the one or more images; and

determining the wiring instructions for wiring the thermostat with the HVAC equipment based on the identities of the HVAC equipment.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured determine wiring instructions by:

prompting the user, via the user interface, to capture one or more images of the HVAC equipment via a mobile device and send the one or more images to a server via the mobile device;

receiving identities of the HVAC equipment from the server, the identities determined by the server based on the one or more images; and

determining the wiring instructions for wiring the thermostat with the HVAC equipment based on the identities of the HVAC equipment.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine if the one or more control wires have been properly connected to the one or more connection points by:

prompting the user, via the user interface, to capture an image via a mobile device and send the image to the thermostat, wherein the image comprises a view of the one or more control wires connected to the wiring terminal; and

determining whether each control wire is connected to a correct connection point for the control wire specified by wiring instructions or whether the one or more control wires are connected to incorrect connection points.

8. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein determining whether each control wire is connected to the correct connection point comprises determining an actual wiring configuration based on a color of each control wire and comparing the actual wiring configuration to a correct wiring configuration.

9. The thermostat of claim 7, wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

determine one or more wiring instructions for wiring the thermostat with the HVAC equipment;

cause the user interface to display the one or more wiring instructions, wherein the one or more wiring instructions instruct the user to connect the one or more control wires to the one or more connection points;

determine one or more additional instructions in response to determining that one or more of the one or more control wires are connected to incorrect connection points; and

cause the user interface to display the one or more additional instructions, wherein the one or more additional instructions indicate one or more incorrectly connected control wires and one or more correct connection points to which the one or more incorrectly connected control wires should be connected.

10. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the removable cover is configured to fasten to the body and to detach from the body.

11. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the removable cover is configured to fasten to the body of the enclosure and move between a first position covering the one or more connection points or a second position exposing the one or more connection points.

12. A method for installing a thermostat with heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment, the method comprising:

determining, by the thermostat, one or more wiring connections to one or more connection points of a wiring terminal of the thermostat, wherein the thermostat comprises an enclosure comprising a body and a removable cover, wherein the removable cover covers the one or more connection points;

causing, by the thermostat, a user interface of the thermostat to display the one or more wiring connections while the removable cover is removed from the body; and

controlling, by the thermostat, the HVAC equipment via one or more control wires, wherein controlling the HVAC equipment causes the HVAC equipment to control an environmental condition of a building.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

passing the one or more control wires through holes in a circuit board of the thermostat to be connected to the wiring terminal, wherein the wiring terminal is connected to the circuit board; and

removing or attaching the removable cover of the thermostat, wherein the removable cover is structured to cover the circuit board.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising causing, by the thermostat, the user interface to display an instruction to mount the thermostat on a wall and pass the one or more control wires through one or more holes of the circuit board.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether the thermostat is connected to a permanent power supply; and

causing a battery of the thermostat to power the thermostat in response to determining that the thermostat is not connected to the permanent power supply.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining wiring instructions by:

prompting, by the thermostat via the user interface, a user to capture one or more images of the HVAC equipment via a mobile device and send the one or more images to the thermostat via the mobile device;

determining, by the thermostat, identities of the HVAC equipment based on the one or more images; and

determining, by the thermostat, the wiring instructions for wiring the thermostat with the HVAC equipment based on the identities of the HVAC equipment.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining, by the thermostat, if the one or more control wires have been properly connected to the one or more connection points by:

prompting, by the thermostat via the user interface, a user to capture an image via a mobile device and send the image to the thermostat, wherein the image comprises a view of the one or more control wires connected to the wiring terminal; and

determining, by the thermostat, whether each control wire is connected to a correct connection point for the control wire specified by installation instructions or whether one or more of the one or more control wires are connected to incorrect connection points.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining, by the thermostat, one or more additional instructions in response to determining that one or more of the one or more control wires are connected to incorrect connection points; and

causing, by the thermostat, the user interface to display the one or more additional instructions, wherein the one or more additional instructions indicate one or more incorrectly connected control wires and correct connection points to which the one or more incorrectly connected control wires should be connected.

19. A thermostat for controlling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment via one or more control wires, the thermostat comprising:

a circuit board comprising a wiring terminal and one or more holes for passing the one or more control wires through the circuit board to be connected to the wiring terminal, wherein the wiring terminal comprises one or more connection points;

an enclosure comprising a body and a detachable cover structured to cover the wiring terminal and the circuit board;

a battery configured to power the thermostat when the thermostat is not connected to a permanent power supply;

a user interface configured to display output to a user and receive input from the user while the detachable cover is detached from the body; and

a processing circuit configured to;

determine one or more wiring connections to the one or more connection points; and

cause the user interface to display the one or more wiring connections while the detachable cover is detached from the body.

20. The thermostat of claim 19, wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine wiring instructions by:

identifying the HVAC equipment; and

determining one or more wiring instructions applicable for the HVAC equipment.

21. The thermostat of claim 19, wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

determine one or more wiring instructions for wiring the thermostat with the HVAC equipment;

cause the user interface to display the one or more wiring instructions, wherein the one or more wiring instructions instruct the user to connect the one or more control wires to the one or more connection points;

determine one or more additional instructions in response to determining that one or more of the one or more control wires are connected to incorrect connection points; and

cause the user interface to display the one or more additional instructions, wherein the one or more additional instructions indicate one or more incorrectly connected control wires and correct connection points to which the one or more incorrectly connected control wires should be connected.