Hvac control with a remote user interface and a remote temperature sensor

Abstract

An illustrative HVAC controller may include a communication module for wirelessly communicating with a network and wiring terminals for receiving a wired connection to a remote temperature sensor that is situated remote from the HVAC controller and in a living space of the building. A controller may be operably coupled to the communication module and the wiring terminals and may be configured to implement a thermostat control algorithm to generate one or more control signals, wherein the one or more control signals are provided by a wired connection to the HVAC system to control one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system. The thermostat control algorithm may be configured to compare a sensed temperature received from the remote temperature sensor via the wiring terminals and a temperature setpoint received from the server via the network.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An equipment interface module (EIM) comprising:
 one or more transceivers for communicating with a network, the one or more transceivers configured to establish communication with a remote server via the network;   a communications port for communicating with a plurality of remote sensors situated remote from the EIM and in a space of a building, wherein the plurality of remote sensors comprises wired sensors and wireless sensors; and   a controller operably coupled to the one or more transceivers and the communications port, the controller configured to:
 receive a plurality of signals from the plurality of remote sensors via the communications port, wherein each signal of the plurality of signals indicates one or more environmental conditions associated with a respective remote sensor of the plurality of remote sensors and the one or more environmental conditions include temperature, and 
 receive a temperature setpoint via a user interface connected to the EIM via the network; 
 implement a thermostat control algorithm to generate one or more control signals to control one or more heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) components of an HVAC system, wherein the thermostat control algorithm includes a comparison of a temperature value determined based on the plurality of signals received from the plurality of remote sensors to the temperature setpoint received via the network. 
   
     
     
         22 . The EIM of  claim 21 , wherein the EIM is free from an on-board temperature sensor that is used by the thermostat control algorithm to generate the one or more control signals. 
     
     
         23 . The EIM of  claim 21 , wherein the user interface does not include a remote sensor configured to provide signals indicating environmental conditions within the building to the EIM. 
     
     
         24 . The EIM of  claim 21 , wherein each sensor of the plurality of remote sensors further provides one or more of: audio, visual and security. 
     
     
         25 . The EIM of  claim 21 ,
 wherein one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system comprises a furnace, and the furnace comprises:
 a furnace housing; 
 the burner situated inside of the furnace housing; 
 the heat exchanger situated inside of the furnace housing and thermally coupled to the burner; 
 the blower situated inside of the furnace housing for providing air across the heat exchanger; 
 the gas valve configured to provide gas to the burner; and 
 a furnace controller situated inside of the furnace housing for controlling the gas valve and the blower, wherein the EIM is configured to send the control signals via a wired connection to the furnace controller. 
   
     
     
         26 . The EIM of  claim 21 ,
 wherein one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system comprises a heat pump,   wherein the EIM is configured to send the control signals via a wired connection to control the heat pump.   
     
     
         27 . The EIM of  claim 21 ,
 wherein one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system comprises an air conditioning unit,   wherein the EIM is configured to send the control signals via a wired connection to control the air conditioning unit.   
     
     
         28 . The EIM of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more transceivers comprises a WiFi transceiver for communicating with the network. 
     
     
         29 . The EIM of  claim 21 , wherein the EIM is powered by a transformer of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         30 . The EIM of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more environmental conditions further include humidity, and wherein the EIM is further configured implement a control algorithm to generate the one or more control signals based on a comparison of a humidity value determined based on the plurality of signals received from the plurality of remote sensors to a humidity setpoint received via the network. 
     
     
         31 . A method to control one or more environmental conditions within a building, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a controller of an equipment interface module (EIM), communications from a network; wherein:
 the controller is coupled to one or more transceivers for communicating with the network, 
 the one or more transceivers establish communication with a remote server via the network, and 
 at least one of the communications comprise a temperature setpoint from a user interface connected to the network; 
   receiving, by a communications port for communicating with a plurality of remote sensors, a plurality of signals from the plurality of remote sensors, wherein:
 the control port is operably coupled to the controller of the EIM; 
 each signal of the plurality of signals indicates one or more environmental conditions associated with a respective remote sensor of the plurality of remote sensors, 
 the one or more environmental conditions include temperature, and 
 the plurality of remote sensors comprises wired sensors and wireless sensors situated remote from the EIM and in a space of the building; 
   implementing, by the controller of the EIM, a thermostat control algorithm to generate one or more control signals, wherein the thermostat control algorithm includes a comparison of a temperature value determined based on the plurality of signals received from the plurality of remote sensors to the temperature setpoint received via the network;   controlling, by the one or more control signals, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) component of an HVAC system to control the one or more environmental conditions.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the EIM is free from an on-board temperature sensor that is used by the thermostat control algorithm to generate the one or more control signals. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the user interface does not include a remote sensor configured to provide signals indicating environmental conditions within the building to the EIM. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each sensor of the plurality of remote sensors further provides one or more of: audio, visual and security. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 ,
 wherein one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system comprises a furnace, and the furnace comprises:
 a furnace housing; 
 the burner situated inside of the furnace housing; 
 the heat exchanger situated inside of the furnace housing and thermally coupled to the burner; 
 the blower situated inside of the furnace housing for providing air across the heat exchanger; 
 the gas valve configured to provide gas to the burner; and 
 a furnace controller situated inside of the furnace housing for controlling the gas valve and the blower, wherein the EIM is configured to send the control signals via a wired connection to the furnace controller. 
   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 ,
 wherein one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system comprises a heat pump,   wherein the EIM is configured to send the control signals via a wired connection to control the heat pump.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 ,
 wherein one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system comprises an air conditioning unit,   wherein the EIM is configured to send the control signals via a wired connection to control the air conditioning unit.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more transceivers comprises a WiFi transceiver for communicating with the network. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more environmental conditions further include humidity, and wherein the EIM is further configured implement a control algorithm to generate the one or more control signals based on a comparison of a humidity value determined based on the plurality of signals received from the plurality of remote sensors to a humidity setpoint received via the network. 
     
     
         40 . A system comprising:
 a user interface configured to:
 communicate with a network of a building; 
 receive input to enter, edit and view parameters for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), security, audio, visual and other systems in the building; 
   an equipment interface module (EIM) separate from the user interface, the EIM comprising:
 one or more transceivers for communicating with the network, the one or more transceivers configured to establish communication with a remote server via the network; 
 a communications port for communicating with a plurality of remote sensors situated remote from the EIM and in a space of a building, wherein the plurality of remote sensors comprises wired sensors and wireless sensors; and 
 a controller operably coupled to the one or more transceivers and the communications port, the controller configured to:
 receive a plurality of signals from the plurality of remote sensors via the communications port, wherein each signal of the plurality of signals indicates one or more environmental conditions associated with a respective remote sensor of the plurality of remote sensors and the one or more environmental conditions include temperature, and 
 receive a temperature setpoint via the user interface; 
 implement a thermostat control algorithm to generate one or more control signals to control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system, wherein the thermostat control algorithm includes a comparison of a temperature value determined based on the plurality of signals received from the plurality of remote sensors to the temperature setpoint received via the network.