Hvac system configured to obtain demand specific data from a remote unit thereof

Abstract

An HVAC system that obtains demand specific data from an outdoor unit thereof is provided. An indoor unit controller, an outdoor unit controller and an outdoor unit of the HVAC system are also disclosed. In one embodiment, the outdoor unit controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a request for a second portion of demand data from an indoor controller of the HVAC system, wherein the request includes a first portion of the demand data that corresponds to the second portion and (2) a processor configured to respond to the request by determining the second portion based on the first portion and sending the second portion of the demand data to the indoor controller of the HVAC system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A controller for a multispeed outdoor unit of a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 an interface configured to receive a request for a second portion of demand data from an indoor controller of said HVAC system, wherein said request includes a first portion of said demand data that corresponds to said second portion; and   a processor configured to respond to said request by determining said second portion based on said first portion and sending said second portion of said demand data to said indoor controller of said HVAC system.   
     
     
         2 . The controller as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first portion is an operating speed of said compressor that corresponds to a thermostat call of said HVAC system and said second portion is a blower volume for said circulating fan that corresponds to said operating speed for said compressor. 
     
     
         3 . The controller as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first portion is a blower volume for said circulating fan that corresponds to a thermostat call of said HVAC system and said second portion is an operating speed of said compressor that corresponds to said blower volume. 
     
     
         4 . The controller as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a memory having stored thereon said demand data, wherein said processor employees said first portion to determine said second portion from said memory. 
     
     
         5 . The controller as recited in  claim 1  wherein said processor is configured to determine said second portion by interpolating between entries of said demand data stored on a memory of said controller. 
     
     
         6 . The controller as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a memory having stored thereon a data table having multiple entries of demand data for operating speeds of said compressor and corresponding blower volumes. 
     
     
         7 . The controller as recited in  claim 6  wherein at least some of said multiple entries differ for different operating modes of said HVAC system. 
     
     
         8 . A controller for an indoor unit of a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 an interface configured to receive a thermostat call; and   a processor configured to send a request for demand data that corresponds to said thermostat call to a controller of an outdoor unit of said HVAC system, wherein said requested demand data is a blower volume for a circulating fan of said HVAC system.   
     
     
         9 . The controller as recited in  claim 8  wherein said controller is a thermostat of said HVAC system. 
     
     
         10 . The controller as recited in  claim 8  wherein said outdoor unit includes a compressor. 
     
     
         11 . The controller as recited in  claim 8  wherein said processor is configured to request said blower volume when said operating speed is known from said thermostat call. 
     
     
         12 . The controller as recited in  claim 8  wherein said interface is further configured to receive a blower control signal and said processor is configured to send a known blower volume to said controller of said outdoor unit. 
     
     
         13 . The controller as recited in  claim 8  wherein said request includes an operation mode of said HVAC system. 
     
     
         14 . The controller as recited in  claim 8  wherein said interface is further configured to receive a response from said outdoor unit in reply to said request, said response including either said blower volume or said operating speed. 
     
     
         15 . A multispeed outdoor unit of a HVAC system, comprising:
 a compressor; and   an outdoor unit controller configured to direct operations of said compressor, said outdoor unit controller including:
 an interface configured to receive a request for a second portion of demand data from an indoor controller of said HVAC system, wherein said request includes a first portion of said demand data that corresponds to said second portion; and 
 a processor configured to respond to said request by determining said second portion based on said first portion and sending said second portion of said demand data to said indoor controller of said HVAC system. 
   
     
     
         16 . The multispeed outdoor unit as recited in  claim 15  wherein said first portion is an operating speed of said compressor that corresponds to a thermostat call of said HVAC system and said second portion is a blower volume for said circulating fan that corresponds to said operating speed for said compressor. 
     
     
         17 . The multispeed outdoor unit as recited in  claim 15  wherein said first portion is a blower volume for said circulating fan that corresponds to a thermostat call of said HVAC system and said second portion is an operating speed of said compressor that corresponds to said blower volume. 
     
     
         18 . The multispeed outdoor unit as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said controller further includes a memory having stored thereon said demand data, wherein said processor employees said first portion to determine said second portion from said memory. 
     
     
         19 . The multispeed outdoor unit as recited in  claim 15  wherein said processor is configured to determine said second portion by interpolating between entries of said demand data stored on a memory of said controller. 
     
     
         20 . The multispeed outdoor unit as recited in  claim 15  further comprising a memory having stored thereon a data table having multiple entries of demand data for operating speeds of said compressor and corresponding blower volumes.