HVAC System with Motion Sensor

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a motion sensor located in a system controller, a zone thermostat, and/or a zone sensor. The zone sensor is configured to detect motion within a space conditioned by the HVAC system. In response to either detecting motion and/or not detecting motion, the HVAC system may alter a display setting, such as intensity and/or brightness of backlighting, on the system controller and communicate information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor to at least one of another system controller of another HVAC system and/or a remote system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 a motion sensor; and   an HVAC system controller configured to selectively communicate information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor to a remote system.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the motion sensor is carried by the system controller. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the motion sensor is located remote from the system controller. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote system is a security provider. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote system is a home automation provider. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote system comprises a smartphone. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote system is a second HVAC system. 
     
     
         8 . The HVAC system of  claim 7 , wherein the second HVAC system is configured to selectively control a visual display of the second HVAC system in response to the information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The HVAC system of  claim 8 , wherein the second HVAC system is configured alter an amount of energy consumed by the visual display in response to the information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 providing an HVAC system comprising a motion sensor; and   communicating information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor to a remote system.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the motion sensor is carried by a system controller of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the motion sensor is located remote from a system controller of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the remote system is a security provider. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the remote system is a home automation provider. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the remote system comprises a smartphone. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the remote system is a second HVAC system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second HVAC system is configured to selectively control a visual display of the second HVAC system in response to the information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second HVAC system is configured alter an amount of energy consumed by the visual display in response to the information regarding motion sensed by the motion sensor.