Hvac controller with indoor air quality scheduling

Abstract

An HVAC controller, such as a thermostat, may be configured to allow a user to set and/or select schedule time period in which one or more indoor quality units (e.g. humidification, dehumidification, ventilation, etc.) will or will not operate, and/or will operated but using different settings. In some cases, the schedule time periods available for selection may correspond to the time periods of a programmable temperature schedule of the HVAC controller, but this is not required. In some instances, the HVAC controller may allow a user to select which indoor air quality units will or will not operate, and/or what settings the indoor air quality units will operate, during a user's vacation.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 : A control system for a building, comprising:
 a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured to control a comfort level within a building;   at least one indoor air quality (IAQ) component configured to control air quality conditions within the building;   a controller configured to control the HVAC system and the at least one IAQ component, the controller comprising a touchscreen display configured to present a user interface having a common screen for controlling the HVAC system and the at least one IAQ component; and   a communications gateway in communication with the controller and configured to send signals to and receive signals from a remote device at a separate location for controlling and monitoring the HVAC system and the at least one IAQ component,   wherein upon selection of an IAQ function on the common screen, the controller presents a ventilation control screen that includes a selectable option for initiating a ventilation boost in the building, selectable options for selecting from at least two temporary ventilation boost times, and a selectable option for cancelling a temporary ventilation boost request received from either the ventilation control screen or the remote device at the separate location.   
     
     
         3 : The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the HVAC system comprises at least one of: a forced air type HVAC system, a boiler system, a radiant heating system, an electric heating system, a cooling system, a heat pump system, a system of ductwork, an air vent, a supply air duct, a return air duct, a zone control panel, a furnace, a heat pump, an electric heat pump, a geothermal heat pump, an electric heating unit, an air conditioning unit, or a damper and a valve. 
     
     
         4 : The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one IAQ component comprises at least one of: an air exchanger, an air cleaner, a humidifier unit, a dehumidifier unit, or a ventilation unit. 
     
     
         5 : The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller comprises a thermostat. 
     
     
         6 : The control system of  claim 5 , wherein the touchscreen display comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) touchscreen configured to present the user interface at the thermostat. 
     
     
         7 : The control system of  claim 5 , wherein the touchscreen display comprises a dot matrix touchscreen configured to present the user interface at the thermostat. 
     
     
         8 : The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the communications gateway is configured to enable wireless communications between the controller and the remote device. 
     
     
         9 : The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the communications gateway is configured to enable wireless communications between the controller and at least one component of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         10 : The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the communications gateway is configured to enable wireless communications between the controller and the at least one IAQ component. 
     
     
         11 : The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the remote device comprises a smartphone. 
     
     
         12 : The control system of  claim 2 , where the separate location is within the building and separate from the controller. 
     
     
         13 : The control system of  claim 2 , where the separate location is outside the building. 
     
     
         14 : The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface enables a user to select a first humidity set point for a first one of a plurality of selectable time periods of a normal operating schedule, and to program a second humidity set point for a vacation period that is different from the first humidity set point of the first one of the plurality of selectable time periods of the normal operating schedule. 
     
     
         15 : The control system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to activate at least one of a humidifier unit or a dehumidifier unit to establish the first humidity set point within the building during the first one of the plurality of selectable time periods of the normal operating schedule. 
     
     
         16 : A control system for a building, comprising:
 a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured to control a comfort level within a building;   at least one indoor air quality (IAQ) component configured to control air quality conditions within the building;   a controller configured to control the HVAC system and the at least one IAQ component, the controller comprising a touchscreen display configured to present a user interface having a common screen for monitoring the HVAC system and the at least one IAQ component; and   a communications gateway in communication with the controller and configured to send signals to and receive signals from a remote device in order to control and monitor the HVAC system and the at least one IAQ component from a separate location,   wherein upon a selection of a humidity function on the common screen, the user interface displays an indicator that provides a qualitative indication of a current humidity set point value for the building, and further displays a parameter adjustment element for use in selecting one of a plurality of humidity set points for the building, the plurality of humidity set points presented as a scale across the touchscreen display, the scale including a plurality of text descriptors describing a humidity setting in qualitative terms representing at least a low humidity range, a normal humidity range, and a high humidity range.   
     
     
         17 : The control system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one IAQ component comprises at least one of: an air exchanger, an air cleaner, a humidifier unit, a dehumidifier unit, or a ventilation unit. 
     
     
         18 : The control system of  claim 16 , wherein the controller comprises a thermostat. 
     
     
         19 : A building control system, comprising:
 a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured to control a comfort level within a building;   at least one indoor air quality (IAQ) component configured to control air quality conditions within the building;   a controller configured to control the HVAC system and the at least one IAQ component, the controller comprising a touchscreen display configured to present a user interface having a common screen for controlling the HVAC system and the at least one IAQ component;   a remote device comprising a remote display configured to present a remote user interface for controlling the HVAC system and the at least one IAQ component; and   a communications gateway in communication with the controller and configured to send signals to and receiving signals from the remote device,   wherein upon selection of an IAQ function via the remote screen, the remote device displays a selectable option for initiating a ventilation boost in the building, selectable options for selecting from at least two temporary ventilation boost times, and a selectable option for cancelling a temporary ventilation boost request received from the user interface of the controller.   
     
     
         20 : The building control system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one IAQ component comprises at least one of: an air exchanger, an air cleaner, a humidifier unit, a dehumidifier unit, or a ventilation unit. 
     
     
         21 : The building control system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller comprises a thermostat. 
     
     
         22 : The building control system of  claim 19 , wherein upon a selection of a humidity function on the remote common screen, the remote user interface displays an indicator that provides a qualitative indication of a current humidity set point value for the building, and further displays a parameter adjustment element for use in selecting one of a plurality of humidity set points for the building, the plurality of humidity set points presented as a scale across the touchscreen display, the scale including a plurality of text descriptors describing a humidity setting in qualitative terms representing at least a low humidity range, a normal humidity range, and a high humidity range.