Honeywell International Inc.

Ademco Inc.

David Mulhouse

Mohammad Aljabari

Tracy L Lentz

Eugene J Takach

Robert D Juntunen

Tarik Khoury

Petr Adamik

Steven James McPherson

Paul G Schwendinger

Arnie Kalla

Daniel Becvar

Soumitri N Kolavennu

Cary Leen

Amit Kulkarni

Josef Novotny

Steven R Hoglund

Heidi Finch

Hari Thiruvengada

Preston Gilmer

Christopher Goh

Jiri Sapak

Tomas Losak

Anuj Kohli

Thomas C Gessner

Jay Nelson

Martin Adamek

Adam Nemcek

Liliana Reategui

Arnold Kalla

Juraj Buno

Martin Skala

Libor Horky

Jan Malek

Daniel Eppinger

David Bures

Petr Kasparik

Roman Konecny

Christian Richard Trifilio

Daniel V Clements

Brad Edward Paine

Patrick C Tessier

Stephane Joseph Pierre Beland

Marcus D Stoner

Jason L Ableitner

David Arneson

Nicholas Dalsin

Vincent Boutin

Hyunki Kim

Ronaldo Fernandez Carreon

Ludek Zavodny

Steven J Mcpherson

Jesus Omar Ponce

Vaclav Novak

Curtis B McNamara

Heidi J Finch

A system for detection of equipment connections to a thermostat. The thermostat has one or more terminals with a one-to-one connection to one or more loads respectively of heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning equipment, and one or more terminals with a one-to-one connection to electrical power. One or more detectors are connected one-to-one to each of the one or more terminals, respectively, for connection to the one or more loads, and the one or more connections to the electrical power. Each detector is connected to a processor. Each detector is configured to provide a signal to the processor relative to a corresponding terminal indicating a status of a connection of the terminal to a load or to the electrical power.

Detection of HVAC equipment wired to a thermostat

A device for detecting a wire configuration connecting a thermostat and HVAC equipment includes fan controller circuitry, AC controller circuitry, switching circuitry, and processing circuitry. The fan controller circuitry is configured to operate a fan unit of the HVAC equipment using a G pin in a first wire configuration and using a K pin in a second wire configuration. The AC controller circuitry is configured to operate an AC unit of the HVAC equipment using a Y pin in the first wire configuration and the K pin in the second wire configuration. The switching circuitry is configured to refrain from electrically coupling the Y pin and the K pin in response to a deactivation signal. The processing circuitry is configured to determine the HVAC equipment is in the first wire configuration in response to determining the AC controller circuitry receives power while outputting the deactivation signal to the switching circuitry.

Thermostat wire detection

A method of controlling an HVAC system can include receiving audio that includes a predefined trigger phrase followed by a voice command to change a set point temperature of the HVAC system to a requested set point value, converting the audio into a natural language audio stream, identifying the predefined trigger phrase in the natural language audio stream, transmitting a part of the natural language audio stream that includes the voice command to a remote web service for identifying the voice command therein, receiving a first building control device command generated by and from the remote web service at a building control device when the requested set point value is within a predetermined range, and receiving a second building control command generated by and from the remote web service at the building control device when the requested set point value is outside of the predetermined range.

Devices and methods for interacting with an HVAC controller

A surge protection circuit for an electronic device such as an HVAC controller. In one example, the surge protection circuit may include a first voltage clamp, a second voltage clamp, a resistor, and an output port. The first voltage clamp may provide a first clamping voltage between a power input terminal and a common terminal. The second voltage clamp may provide a second clamping voltage that is less than the first clamping voltage. The resistor may be connected in series with the second voltage clamp, and the series connected resistor and second voltage clamp may be connected in parallel with the first voltage clamp. As such, a surge current at the power input terminal may be split between the first voltage clamp and the second voltage clamp. The amount of surge current that is provided to the second voltage clamp may be set by the value of the resistor.

Thermostat assembly

An electronic assembly may have a display, a display holder, and a printed circuit board (PCB). The display may have a front side for viewing the display, a back side, and side walls extending between the front side and the back side. The display holder may have a recess for receiving at least part of the display, where the display holder may extend adjacent part of the front side of the display and adjacent at least part of the side walls of the display. The PCB may be secured relative to the display holder and adjacent the back side of the display. The PCB may be in operative communication with the display. In some cases, a spacer may be situated between the back side of the display and the PCB.

Thermostat with display and printed circuit board

An HVAC controller may be controlled in response to a natural language audio message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language audio message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be a thermostat including a housing that houses a temperature sensor, a microphone, and a controller. The controller may identify a trigger phrase in an audio stream provided by the microphone. In response to identifying the trigger phrase, the controller initiates processing of the audio stream to identify a command following the trigger phrase and to generate a command understandable by the thermostat that instructs the controller to perform the identified command. The controller then executes the generated command understandable by the thermostat. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the microphone of the thermostat and/or a remote device having a microphone.

Surge protection for an electronic device

Electronic device and methods

Thermostat housing

A zone controller having an electronic board with a plurality of electronic components attached thereto. The electronic components are constructed and arranged to receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of thermostats and to transmit a plurality of signals to a plurality of air control devices for controlling airflow in ducts. The electronic components include a first grouping of electronic components that are not accessed to perform either installation or operation functions, a second grouping of electronic components that are accessed to perform installation functions, and a third grouping of electronic components that are only accessed to perform operation functions. A first cover is provided that covers and prevents access to the first grouping of electronic components. A second cover is provided that selectively covers and prevents access to the second grouping of electrical components but not the third grouping of electrical components.

HVAC zone controller

A zone control panel for use with an HVAC system having zone control and a variable speed blower, and a method for controlling a fluid temperature conditioning device. In one aspect, the zone control panel includes a plurality of thermostat terminals for receiving thermostat signals, a plurality of damper terminals for transmitting damper control signals, and one or more terminals for transmitting signals to control a fluid temperature conditioning device having a variable speed blower. The zone control panel also includes a blower terminal for transmitting a signal to a dehumidification terminal associated with the fluid temperature conditioning device, where the dehumidification terminal is labeled or indicated for use with a dehumidification operating mode or for initiating a dehumidification operating mode of the variable speed blower. The blower terminal changes state in response to the number of zones that are calling for conditioning and changes between only a first off state and a second alternating current (AC) signal state. The change in the state of the blower terminal causes the speed of the variable speed blower to change.

Variable speed blower control in an HVAC system having a plurality of zones

Electronic devices that include batteries can be adapted to provide one or more indications of a low battery condition. An electronic device such as a controller can include a battery and can be adapted to determine a first low battery condition. A first indication can be provided in response to the first low battery condition. In some cases, a second battery condition can be determined and a second indication can be provided in response to the second battery condition. The indications provided to the user can be made progressively more noticeable over time, until the battery is replaced.

Low battery indicator

An electrical terminal assembly for an HVAC device is disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, the terminal assembly includes one or more quick-connect or screwless type terminal blocks mounted on a printed circuit board. The terminal assembly may also include one or more test pads electrically connected to the one or more quick-connect or screwless terminals via one or more traces on the printed circuit board. The one or more test pads may include a recessed portion.

Terminal block and test pad for an HVAC controller

Growing community of inventors

Minnetonka, MN, United States of America

David Mulhouse