Heat pump controller configurable between a plurality of defrost modes

Abstract

A heat pump controller for use in a heat exchange system includes a first input connector, a second input connector, and a computing device. The first input connector is configured to be coupled to a first sensor for receiving a first signal from the first sensor. The second input connector is configured to be selectively coupled to a second sensor for selectively receiving a second signal from the second sensor. The computing device is configured to initiate a defrost cycle, and is selectively configurable between a plurality of defrost modes including a first defrost mode and a second defrost mode. In the first defrost mode the computing device initiates the defrost cycle based on the first signal received from the first sensor and a period of time. In the second defrost mode, the computing device initiates the defrost cycle based on at least the second signal received from the second sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat pump controller for use in a heat exchange system including an external heat exchanger, a compressor, a reversing valve, and an internal heat exchanger in fluid communication with one another, the heat pump controller comprising:
 a first input connector configured to be coupled to a first sensor for receiving a first signal from the first sensor;   a second input connector configured to be selectively coupled to a second sensor for selectively receiving a second signal from the second sensor; and   a computing device configured to initiate a defrost cycle, the computing device selectively configurable between a plurality of defrost modes including a first defrost mode and a second defrost mode, wherein in the first defrost mode the computing device initiates the defrost cycle based on the first signal received from the first sensor and a period of time, and in the second defrost mode the computing device initiates the defrost cycle based on at least the second signal received from the second sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the external heat exchanger, and the second sensor is a second temperature sensor configured to measure an ambient air temperature surrounding the external heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pump controller of  claim 2 , wherein in the second defrost mode the computing device initiates the defrost cycle based on a temperature differential between the temperature of the external heat exchanger and the ambient air temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump controller of  claim 3 , wherein in the second defrost mode, the computing device initiates the defrost cycle based on the temperature differential and a compressor run time. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein the first defrost mode and the second defrost mode are mutually exclusive modes. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is one of a pressure sensor, a photo-optical sensor, and a tactile sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a third input connector configured to be coupled to a third sensor, wherein the third sensor is one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a photo-optical sensor, and a tactile sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further selectively configurable between the first defrost mode, the second defrost mode, and a third defrost mode different than the first and second defrost modes. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pump controller of  claim 1 , further comprising an output connector configured to be coupled to the reversing valve, the computing device further configured to output an energizing signal to the reversing valve via the output connector to actuate the reversing valve and initiate or terminate the defrost cycle. 
     
     
         10 . The heat pump controller of  claim 9 , wherein the computing device is further selectively configurable between a first energizing mode and a second energizing mode, wherein in the first energizing mode the computing device outputs the energizing signal when the heat exchange system is in a heating mode, and in the second energizing mode the computing device outputs the energizing signal when the heat exchange system is in a cooling mode. 
     
     
         11 . The heat pump controller of  claim 10 , wherein in the first energizing mode the computing device outputs the energizing signal only when the heat exchange system is in a heating mode, and in the second energizing mode the computing device outputs the energizing signal only when the heat exchange system is in a cooling mode. 
     
     
         12 . The heat pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to receive user selections including at least one of the first defrost mode and the second defrost mode. 
     
     
         13 . The heat pump controller of  claim 12 , further comprising a computer-readable storage device coupled to the computing device, the computer-readable storage device configured to store the user selections. 
     
     
         14 . The heat pump controller of  claim 12 , wherein the user selections further include at least one of a defrost enable temperature, a defrost termination temperature, and an auxiliary heater lockout temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The heat pump controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface coupled to the computing device, the user interface configured to display a plurality of user-configurable settings and receive a user selection corresponding to one of the user-configurable settings. 
     
     
         16 . The heat pump controller of  claim 15 , wherein for each user-configurable setting the user interface is configured to display a plurality of options corresponding to the user-configurable setting and receive a user selection of one of the options. 
     
     
         17 . The heat pump controller of  claim 15 , wherein the user-configurable settings include at least one of a defrost mode and a reversing valve energizing mode. 
     
     
         18 . The heat pump controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a computer-readable storage device coupled to the computing device, the computer-readable storage device including a plurality of user-selectable pre-configurations, each pre-configuration corresponding to one of a plurality of heat exchange system manufacturers' default settings. 
     
     
         19 . The heat pump controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a single printed circuit board, wherein the first input connector, the second input connecter, and the computing device are each coupled to the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         20 . A method of installing a heat pump controller in a heat exchange system including an external heat exchanger, a compressor, a reversing valve, and an internal heat exchanger in fluid communication with one another, the heat pump controller including a first input connector, a second input connector, an output connector, and a computing device coupled to the first input connector, the second input connector, and the output connector, the method comprising:
 coupling the first input connector to a first sensor;   coupling the output connector to the reversing valve; and   selecting between one of a plurality of defrost modes including a first defrost mode and a second defrost mode, wherein in the first defrost mode the computing device initiates a defrost cycle based on a first signal received from the first sensor and a period of time, and in the second defrost mode the computing device initiates a defrost cycle based on at least a second signal received from a second sensor.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising coupling the second input connector to the second sensor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first sensor is a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the external heat exchanger, and the second sensor is a second temperature sensor configured to measure an ambient air temperature surrounding the external heat exchanger. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein in the second defrost mode the computing device initiates the defrost cycle based on a temperature differential between the temperature of the external heat exchanger and the ambient air temperature. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein in the second defrost mode, the computing device initiates the defrost cycle based on the temperature differential and a compressor run time. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the heat pump controller further includes a third input connector, the method further comprising coupling the third input connector to a third sensor, wherein the third sensor is one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a photo-optical sensor, and a tactile sensor. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein selecting between one of a first defrost mode and a second defrost mode includes selecting between one of the first defrost mode, the second defrost mode, and a third defrost mode different from the first and second defrost modes. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising selecting between one of a first energizing mode and a second energizing mode, wherein in the first energizing mode the computing device outputs an energizing signal to the reversing valve when the heat exchange system is in a heating mode, and in the second energizing mode the computing device outputs an energizing signal to the reversing valve when the heat exchange system is in a cooling mode. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the heat pump controller further comprises a computer-readable storage device including a plurality of user-selectable pre-configurations, each pre-configuration corresponding to one of a plurality of heat exchange system manufacturers' default settings, and wherein selecting between one of a first defrost mode and a second defrost mode includes selecting one of the plurality of pre-configurations.