Switching apparatus for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (hvac) systems

Abstract

Some present aspects provide a switching device for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a premises. The switching device includes a transceiver configured to receive a command from a remote control panel; one or more switching relays each having an output for coupling with the HVAC system; and one or more processors that, individually or in combination, are configured to control an operation of the one or more switching relays in response to the command received from the remote control panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A switching device for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a premises, the switching device comprising:
 a transceiver configured to receive a command from a remote control panel;   one or more switching relays each having an output for coupling with the HVAC system; and   one or more processors that, individually or in combination, are configured to control an operation of the one or more switching relays in response to the command received from the remote control panel.   
     
     
         2 . The switching device of  claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the command using a wired or wireless interface. 
     
     
         3 . The switching device of  claim 1 , wherein the switching device is powered by power drawn from the HVAC system. 
     
     
         4 . The switching device of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery configured to be charged using power drawn from the HVAC system. 
     
     
         5 . The switching device of  claim 1 , further comprising a primary battery that is unrechargeable. 
     
     
         6 . The switching device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors, individually or in combination, are further configured to control the operation of the one or more switching relays based on data received from one or more sensors. 
     
     
         7 . The switching device of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor or an indoor air quality (IAQ) sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The switching device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more switching relays comprises a latching relay including a coil and an actuation component and having the output coupled with at least one component of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         9 . The switching device of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of the one or more switching relays controls a respective operation of at least one of a heating mode or a cooling mode of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a premises, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a transceiver of a switching device, a command from a remote control panel; and   controlling, by one or more processors of the switching device, individually or in combination, an operation of one or more switching relays of the switching device in response to the command received from the remote control panel, the one or more switching relays each having an output for coupling with the HVAC system.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein receiving the command comprises receiving using a wired or wireless interface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the switching device is powered by power drawn from the HVAC system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the switching device further comprises a battery configured to be charged using power drawn from the HVAC system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising a primary battery that is unrechargeable. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein controlling the operation of the one or more switching relays is further based on data received from one or more sensors. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor or an indoor air quality (IAQ) sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of the one or more switching relays comprises a latching relay including a coil and an actuation component and having the output coupled with at least one component of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the operation of the one or more switching relays controls a respective operation of at least one of a heating mode or a cooling mode of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         19 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, individually or in combination, cause the one or more processors to control a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a premises, including:
 receiving, by a transceiver of a switching device, a command from a remote control panel; and   controlling, by the one or more processors of the switching device, individually or in combination, an operation of one or more switching relays of the switching device in response to the command received from the remote control panel, the one or more switching relays each having an output for coupling with the HVAC system.   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a central control panel; and   a plurality of switching devices configured to control a plurality of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, wherein each switching device is configured to control a respective HVAC system, wherein each switching device comprises:
 a transceiver configured to receive a command from the central control panel; 
 one or more switching relays each having an output for coupling with the respective HVAC system; and 
 one or more processors that, individually or in combination, are configured to control an operation of the one or more switching relays in response to the command received from the central control panel. 
   
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a premises, the apparatus comprising:
 one or more memories storing instructions; and   one or more processors communicatively coupled with the one or more memories and, individually or in combination, configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive, by a transceiver of a switching device, a command from a remote control panel; and 
 control, by the one or more processors of the switching device, individually or in combination, an operation of one or more switching relays of the switching device in response to the command received from the remote control panel, the one or more switching relays each having an output for coupling with the HVAC system.