Thermostat

Abstract

A thermostat including a switching device, a first connector operably coupled to the switching device, a computing device in electrical communication with the switching device, and a second connector operably coupled to the computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to transmit and receive signals to the second connector over a system bus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermostat comprising:
 a switching device;   a first connector operably coupled to the switching device;   a computing device in electrical communication with the switching device;   a second connector operably coupled to the computing device; and   a system bus operably coupled to the computing device and the second connector;   wherein the computing device is configured to transmit and receive signals to the second connector over the system bus.   
     
     
         2 . The thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to operate the switching device. 
     
     
         3 . The thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a microprocessor and a memory. 
     
     
         4 . The thermostat of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface element in electrical communication with the microprocessor. 
     
     
         5 . The thermostat of  claim 1 , further comprising a user input element in communication with the microprocessor. 
     
     
         6 . The thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the switching device comprises a relay. 
     
     
         7 . An HVAC system comprising:
 a thermostat comprising:
 a switching device; 
 a first connector operably coupled to the switching device; 
 a computing device in electrical communication with the switching device; 
 a second connector operably coupled to the computing device; and 
 a system bus operably coupled to the computing device and the second connector; 
 wherein the computing device is configured to transmit and receive signals to the second connector over the system bus; 
   a first HVAC unit operably coupled to the first connector, wherein the first HVAC unit is not configured to transmit and receive signals over the system bus; and   a second HVAC unit operably coupled to the second connector wherein the second HVAC unit is configured to transmit and receive signals over the system bus.   
     
     
         8 . The HVAC system of  claim 7 , wherein the computing device is further configured to operate the switching device based in part on the mode of operation of the first HVAC unit. 
     
     
         9 . The HVAC system of  claim 7 , wherein the computing device is further configured to operate the second HVAC unit in an operational mode based in part on the signals transmitted and received over the system bus. 
     
     
         10 . The HVAC system of  claim 7 , wherein the computing device comprises a microprocessor and a memory. 
     
     
         11 . The HVAC system of  claim 7 , wherein the thermostat further comprises a user interface element in electrical communication with the computing device. 
     
     
         12 . The HVAC system of  claim 7 , wherein the thermostat further comprises a user input element in communication with the computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The HVAC system of  claim 7 , wherein the switching device comprises a relay. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating an HVAC system with thermostat including a first connector operably coupled to a switching device and a second connector operably coupled to a computing device, the computing device configured to transmit and receive signals over a system bus, the method comprising:
 (a) operably coupling a first HVAC unit to the first connector, wherein the first HVAC unit is not configured to transmit and receive signals over the system bus;   (b) operably coupling a second HVAC unit to the second connector, wherein the second HVAC unit is configured to transmit and receive signals over the system bus;   (c) operating the thermostat to transmit a first command signal to operate the first HVAC unit in a conditioning mode; and   (d) operating the thermostat to transmit a second command signal to operate the second HVAC unit in the conditioning mode.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein step (c) comprises operating the switching device to complete an electrical circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second command signal comprises operating the computing device to transmit a signal over the system bus.