Interactive Control System for an HVAC System

Abstract

An interactive system for controlling an HVAC system includes a thermostat for initiating HVAC system operation in a full-capacity or reduced-capacity mode of operation, and a controller for an outside condenser unit having condenser fan and compressor motors. The controller may operate the compressor in a full-capacity or reduced-capacity mode. A controller for an indoor blower unit having a blower fan motor may operate the blower fan motor in a full-capacity or reduced-capacity mode. A communication means is provided for transmitting information between the outside condenser unit controller and indoor blower controller. The indoor blower controller responsively controls blower fan motor operation in a full-capacity or reduced-capacity mode based on the information received from the outdoor unit controller. The outdoor unit controller responsively controls compressor operation in a full-capacity or reduced-capacity mode based on the information received from the indoor blower controller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interactive system for controlling at least a heating apparatus in a climate control system having a thermostat and at least one controller for controlling at least a compressor of an air conditioner system, the interactive system comprising:
 a heating controller for controlling operation of the heating apparatus; and   a two-wire communication network for transmitting data signals to and from the thermostat, the heating controller and the at least one controller for controlling at least the compressor, where the data signals being transmitted include information identifying a destination controller that a data signal is intended for;   wherein the heating controller is configured to receive data signals that include information about operation of at least one component within the air conditioning system, and the heating controller is configured to modify operation of at least an air circulator blower in response to the information about operation of the at least one component within the air conditioning system.   
     
     
         2 . The interactive system of  claim 1  wherein the information about operation of the at least one component indicates the air conditioner compressor is only capable of operating at one of a high capacity or a reduced capacity mode of operation, and the heating controller responsively operates the air circulator blower at a capacity level that corresponds to the high capacity or reduced capacity mode of operation of the compressor. 
     
     
         3 . The interactive system of  claim 1  wherein the information about operation of the at least one component indicates the air conditioner compressor is only capable of operating intermittently, and the heating controller responsively operates the air circulator blower intermittently to correspond to the intermittent compressor operation. 
     
     
         4 . The interactive system of  claim 1  wherein the heating controller is capable of modifying an operating capacity of the air circulator blower in response to receiving a sensor-transmitted signal that is intended for the thermostat and that includes information about a sensed parameter that is out of a designated range. 
     
     
         5 . The interactive system of  claim 4  wherein the sensor is a carbon monoxide sensor, and the sensed parameter indicates the presence of carbon monoxide gas at a level predetermined as harmful. 
     
     
         6 . An interactive controller for controlling the operation of at least an air circulator blower of a climate control system, the interactive controller comprising:
 a connection means for connection to a two-wire network for permitting communication with a thermostat and a controller for controlling an air conditioner compressor, wherein the interactive controller is connected to the thermostat and air conditioner compressor controller only through the connection means to the two-wire network; and   a microprocessor capable of monitoring signals being communicated via the two-wire network, the microprocessor being capable of modifying the operating capacity of the air circulator blower in response to receiving a signal that is addressed to the thermostat or the air conditioner compressor controller, and includes information about an operating parameter of at least one component in the climate control system.   
     
     
         7 . The interactive controller of  claim 6 , capable of reducing the operating capacity of the air circulator blower in response to receiving a signal intended for the thermostat that includes information of a reduced operating capacity of the air conditioner compressor. 
     
     
         8 . The interactive controller of  claim 7 , capable of reducing the operating capacity of the air circulator blower regardless of any signal being sent by the thermostat. 
     
     
         9 . An interactive controller for controlling the operation of at least an air circulator blower of a climate control system, the interactive controller comprising:
 a connection means for connection to a two-wire network for permitting communication with one or more controllers within the climate control system that are connected to the network; and   a microprocessor capable of monitoring communication signals through the two-wire network upon connection to the two-wire network, and capable of identifying other controllers that are transmitting signals via the two-wire network, where the interactive controller and the network are not configured in a master-slave configuration;   wherein the interactive controller is capable of modifying operation of the operating capacity of the air circulator blower in response to detecting a signal addressed to another controller that includes information about an operating parameter of at least one component in the climate control system.   
     
     
         10 . The interactive controller of  claim 9 , capable of establishing operation of the air circulator blower in response to receiving a signal transmitted by a carbon monoxide sensor that is intended for a communication coordinator controller connected with the network, where the transmitted signal indicates the presence of a harmful level of carbon monoxide gas. 
     
     
         11 . The interactive controller of  claim 9  wherein the controller for controlling the operation of at least an air circulator blower is capable of reducing the operating capacity of the air circulator blower in response to receiving a signal intended for the thermostat controller that includes information of a reduced operating capacity of the air conditioner compressor. 
     
     
         12 . An interactive system for controlling a climate control system, comprising:
 a two-wire network; and   a plurality of system controllers configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from one another via the two-wire network absent any control by a master controller, where each system controller is capable of listening to signals sent by any one of the other system controllers and addressed to any other of the other system controllers via the network, where the signals include information about operation of one or more components in the climate control system, and where a given one of the system controllers is capable of responsively modifying operation of at least one climate control system component that the given system controller has control over, the modifying based on the information about the operation of the one or more components in the climate control system.   
     
     
         13 . The interactive system of  claim 12 , wherein the system controllers comprise controllers connected into the network in the course of installing new components in the climate control system. 
     
     
         14 . The interactive system of  claim 12 , wherein a single signal transmission intended for a specific one of the system controllers includes information upon which a plurality of the system controllers base modification of operation of a plurality of components of the climate control system. 
     
     
         15 . The interactive system of  claim 12 , wherein one of the system controllers modifies operation of one of the climate system components in response to one of the signals, regardless of a request by a thermostat controller of the climate control system. 
     
     
         16 . The interactive system of  claim 12 , wherein one of the system controllers is a controller of an air circulator blower and is capable of reducing an operating capacity of the air circulator blower regardless of any signal being sent by a thermostat of the climate control system. 
     
     
         17 . The interactive system of  claim 12 , wherein one of the system controllers is a heating controller capable of modifying an operating capacity of an air circulator blower in response to receiving a sensor-transmitted signal that is intended for a thermostat of the climate control system. 
     
     
         18 . The interactive system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor-transmitted signal includes information about a sensed parameter that is out of a designated range.