User setup for an HVAC remote control unit

• US 9,765,983 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Plakkoottam, Dominick L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comings, Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US13/434,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20120181010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• Field of Search: 236 51, 236 1 B, 700276, 700277, 700 17, 700 83
• 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 execute a user setup routine for entering user setup information, where the user setup routine may cause the HVAC remote controller to display a sequence of two or more user setup screens, sometimes at a common menu level rather than a sub-menu. Some or all of the two or more user setup screens may include, for example, a message center indicating a parameter or function to be set, one or more buttons for adjusting or selecting the parameter or function, and a next button to advance the user setup routine to a next screen in the sequence of user setup screens.

Claims

1. A portable wireless device for use in conjunction with a thermostat of an HVAC system, wherein the thermostat is configured to control one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system, the thermostat having a wireless interface and further having a temperature sensor for sensing an ambient temperature adjacent the thermostat, the portable wireless device comprising:

a housing;

a wireless interface secured relative to the housing;

a user interface secured relative to the housing;

a local temperature sensor secured relative to the housing for sensing an ambient temperature proximate the portable wireless device;

a controller in communication with the wireless interface and the user interface of the portable wireless device, the controller secured relative to the housing, the controller configured to communicate the ambient temperature sensed by the local temperature sensor of the portable wireless device to the thermostat via the wireless interface of the portable wireless device and the wireless interface of the thermostat; and

wherein the controller is configured to present a selection via the user interface to select whether the thermostat is to control the or more HVAC components of the HVAC system using the ambient temperature sensed by the local temperature sensor of the portable wireless device, or to control the or more HVAC components of the HVAC system using the ambient temperature sensed by the temperature sensor of the thermostat.

2. The portable wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller of the portable wireless device is configured to communicate the selection to the thermostat via the wireless interface of the portable wireless device.

3. A portable wireless device for use in conjunction with an HVAC controller of an HVAC system, wherein the HVAC controller of the HVAC system is configured to control one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system, and the HVAC controller includes a temperature sensor for sensing an ambient temperature adjacent the HVAC controller, the portable wireless device comprising:

an outer housing;

a wireless interface disposed at least in part within the outer housing;

a user interface including a display secured relative to the outer housing;

a local temperature sensor disposed within the outer housing for sensing an ambient temperature proximate the portable wireless device;

a controller disposed within the outer housing in communication with the wireless interface and the user interface, the controller configured to communicate with the HVAC controller of the HVAC system via the wireless interface, wherein the controller is configured to communicate the ambient temperature sensed by the local temperature sensor of the portable wireless device to the HVAC controller of the HVAC system via the wireless interface of the portable wireless device; and

wherein the controller is configured to present a selection via the user interface to select whether the HVAC Controller is to control the or more HVAC components of the HVAC system using the ambient temperature sensed by the local temperature sensor of the portable wireless device, or to control the or more HVAC components of the HVAC system using the ambient temperature sensed by the temperature sensor of the HVAC Controller.

4. The portable wireless device of claim 3, wherein the controller of the portable wireless device is configured to communicate the selection to the HVAC Controller via the wireless interface of the portable wireless device.

5. The portable wireless device of claim 3, wherein the HVAC Controller has an outer housing, and wherein the temperature sensor for sensing the ambient temperature adjacent the HVAC Controller is positioned within the outer housing.

6. The portable wireless device of claim 3, wherein the HVAC Controller is a wall mountable programmable thermostat.

7. The portable wireless device of claim 3, wherein the HVAC Controller has an outer housing, and wherein the temperature sensor for sensing the ambient temperature adjacent the HVAC Controller is positioned remote from the outer housing.

8. The portable wireless device of claim 3, wherein the controller of the portable wireless device is configured to upload at least some operational information from the HVAC Controller to the portable wireless device via the wireless interface of the portable wireless device.

9. The portable wireless device of claim 8, wherein the controller of the portable wireless device is configured to display at least some of the uploaded operational information on the display of the portable wireless device.

10. The portable wireless device of claim 3, wherein the HVAC Controller includes a wireless interface for communicating with the wireless interface of the portable wireless device.

11. A method for operating an HVAC system of a building, comprising:

sensing a first ambient temperature using a temperature sensor of a portable wireless device;

sensing a second ambient temperature at a fixed location within the building;

storing the first ambient temperature sensed using the temperature sensor of the portable wireless device in an HVAC Controller that is remote from the portable wireless device;

storing the second ambient temperature sensed at the fixed location in the HVAC Controller; and

presenting a selection via a user interface of the portable wireless device to select whether the HVAC controller is to control the HVAC system using the first ambient temperature sensed using the temperature sensor of the portable wireless device, or to control the HVAC system using the second ambient temperature sensed at the fixed location within the building.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising communicating the selection from the portable wireless device to the HVAC Controller.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling the HVAC system in accordance with the selection.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first ambient temperature is communicated to the HVAC controller via a wireless interface of the portable wireless device.