REMOTE CONTROL FOR USE IN ZONED AND NON-ZONED HVAC SYSTEMS

• US 20090140058A1
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Schultz, David A., Koster, Chad W., Leen, Cary
• Granted Patent: US 8,387,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/49.300
• 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 11/52 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

An HVAC remote controller for use in an HVAC system is described. In some instances, the HVAC remote controller may include a wirelessly interface for communicating with one or more HVAC controllers and/or other HVAC devices. The HVAC remote controller may be configured to automatically determine whether the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system or a non-zoned HVAC system, and operate accordingly.

Claims

1. A portable wireless remote control unit for use in conjunction with an HVAC system, the wireless remote control unit comprising:

a wireless interface;

a display;

a controller in communication with the wireless interface and the display, the controller configured to communicate with the HVAC system via the wireless interface;

the controller further configured to display one or more menu screens on the display; and

the controller further configured to automatically determine whether the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system or a non-zoned HVAC system, and to select from the one or more menu screens for display on the display based on whether it is determined that the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system or a non-zoned HVAC system.

2. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 1, wherein the controller automatically determines whether the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system or a non-zoned HVAC system through the detection of the presence of one or more wireless thermostats via the wireless interface.

3. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 2, wherein the controller determines that the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system by detecting the presence of two or more wireless thermostats.

4. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 2, wherein the controller determines that the HVAC system is a non-zoned HVAC system by detecting the presence of only one wireless thermostat.

5. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 1, wherein if the controller determines that the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system, the controller is configured to display one or more zone menu screens on the display that:

allow a user to select between the two or more zones of the zoned HVAC system, where upon selection of a selected zone, the controller loads one or more parameters and/or settings associated with the selected zone via the wireless interface, and displays at least one of the received parameters and/or settings on the display; and

allow a user to change one or more of the parameters and/or settings that are displayed on the display for the selected zone, and to send the one or more changed parameters and/or settings to the zoned HVAC system via the wireless interface, wherein the zoned HVAC system subsequently operates in accordance with the one or more changed parameters and/or settings in the selected zone.

6. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 5, wherein if the controller determines that the HVAC system is a non-zoned HVAC system, the controller does not display the one or more zone menu screens.

7. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 2 further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a measure of temperature at the portable wireless remote control unit, wherein if the controller determines that the HVAC system is a non-zoned HVAC system, the controller is configured to display a read temperature menu option on the display that allows a user to select whether a temperature sensed by a detected wireless thermostat is to be used for controlling the non-zoned HVAC system or whether the measure of temperature provided by the temperature sensor of the portable wireless remote control unit is to be used for controlling the non-zoned HVAC system.

8. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 7, wherein if the controller determines that the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system, the controller does not display the read temperature menu option.

9. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 2, wherein the portable wireless remote control unit is configured to detect and establish communication with each of the one or more wireless thermostats either simultaneously, sequentially or by user selection.

10. A portable wireless remote control unit for use in conjunction with an HVAC system having one or more wireless thermostats, the wireless remote control unit comprising:

a wireless interface;

a display;

a controller in communication with the wireless interface and the display, the controller configured to communicate with the one or more wireless thermostats of the HVAC system via the wireless interface; and

the controller further configured to detect each of the one or more wireless thermostats of the HVAC system via the wireless interface, and to automatically change its behavior depending on whether only one wireless thermostat is detected or whether two or more wireless thermostats are detected.

11. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to display one or more menu screens on the display, and to automatically change the one or more menu screens that are displayed depending on whether only one wireless thermostat is detected or whether two or more wireless thermostats are detected.

12. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 11, wherein if two or more wireless thermostats are detected, the controller is configured to automatically change the one or more menu screens depending on how many wireless thermostats are detected.

13. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 10, wherein if two or more wireless thermostats are detected, the controller is configured to automatically change its behavior depending on how many wireless thermostats are detected.

14. A portable wireless remote control unit for use in conjunction with an HVAC system, the wireless remote control unit comprising:

a wireless interface;

a display;

a controller in communication with the wireless interface and the display, the controller configured to communicate with the HVAC system via the wireless interface; and

the controller further configured to automatically determine whether the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system or a non-zoned HVAC system, and to automatically change its behavior depending on whether the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system or a non-zoned HVAC system.

15. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to display one or more menu screens on the display, and to automatically change the one or more menu screens depending on whether the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system or whether the HVAC system is a non-zoned HVAC system.

16. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 14, wherein the controller receives an indication of whether the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system or a non-zoned HVAC system via the wireless interface.

17. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 16, wherein the portable wireless remote control unit is configured to detect the presence of one or more wireless thermostats of the HVAC system, and the indication of whether the HVAC system is a zoned HVAC system or a non-zoned HVAC system includes how many wireless thermostats are detected by the portable wireless remote control unit.

18. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 17, wherein only one detected wireless thermostat indicates a non-zoned HVAC system.

19. The portable wireless remote control unit of claim 17, wherein more than one detected wireless thermostat indicates a zoned HVAC system.