Heat pump controller configurable between a plurality of reversing valve energizing modes

Abstract

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 is provided. The heat pump controller includes a computing device and a user interface coupled to the computing device. The computing device is configured to output an energizing signal to the reversing valve while the heat exchange system is in one of a heating mode or a cooling mode based on one of a plurality of user-selectable reversing valve energizing modes. The user interface is configured to display the user-selectable reversing valve energizing modes, and receive a user selection corresponding to one of the user-selectable reversing valve energizing modes.

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 computing device configured to output an energizing signal to the reversing valve while the heat exchange system is in one of a heating mode or a cooling mode based on one of a plurality of user-selectable reversing valve energizing modes; and   a user interface coupled to the computing device, the user interface configured to display the user-selectable reversing valve energizing modes and receive a user selection corresponding to one of the user-selectable reversing valve energizing modes.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein the user-selectable reversing valve energizing modes include 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. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , 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. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump controller of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to initiate a defrost cycle based on one of a plurality of user-selectable defrost modes, and the user interface is further configured to display the user-selectable defrost modes and receive a user selection corresponding to one of the user-selectable defrost modes, the user-selectable 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 a temperature of the external heat exchanger and a period of time, and 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 an ambient air temperature surrounding the external heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . 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 computing device coupled to a user interface, the method comprising:
 coupling the computing device to the reversing valve; and   selecting, using the user interface, one of a plurality of user-selectable reversing valve energizing modes.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the user-selectable reversing valve energizing modes include 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. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , 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. 
     
     
         8 . 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:
 an output connector configured to be coupled to the reversing valve; and   a computing device configured to output an energizing signal to the reversing valve via the output connector to actuate the reversing valve and initiate or terminate a defrost cycle, the computing device selectively configurable between a first energizing mode and a second energizing mode.   
     
     
         9 . The heat pump controller of  claim 8 , 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. 
     
     
         10 . The heat pump controller of  claim 9 , 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. 
     
     
         11 . The heat pump controller of  claim 8 , wherein the computing device is further configured to receive user selections including at least one of the first energizing mode and the second energizing mode. 
     
     
         12 . The heat pump controller of  claim 8 , 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. 
     
     
         13 . The heat pump controller of  claim 12 , 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. 
     
     
         14 . The heat pump controller of  claim 12 , wherein the user-configurable settings include at least one of a defrost mode and a reversing valve energizing mode. 
     
     
         15 . The heat pump controller of  claim 8 , 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. 
     
     
         16 . 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 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.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , 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. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , 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 energizing mode and a second energizing mode includes selecting one of the plurality of pre-configurations.