Systems and methods for controlling a heating and air-conditioning (hvac) system

Abstract

A system and method for controlling indoor climate of a building. The system includes one or more equipment of a heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, a thermostat configured to wirelessly transmit operational data and a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more equipment and the thermostat. The controller includes a communication module configured to exchange the operational data with the thermostat and an equipment interface configured to communicate control signals to the one or more equipment to control operation of the one or more equipment. The controller is configured to receive the operational data wirelessly transmitted from the thermostat using the communication module, determine based on the operational data a control plan to operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system, and operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system based on the control plan.

1 . A system for controlling an indoor climate of a building, comprising:
 one or more equipment associated with a heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system;   a plurality of sensors, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to transmit first operational data;   a primary thermostat communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of sensors and configured to receive the first operational data from each of the plurality of sensors and transmit the first operational data; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more equipment and the primary thermostat;   wherein the controller comprises:
 a communication module configured to exchange at least the first operational data with the primary thermostat; and 
 an equipment interface configured to communicate control signals to the one or more equipment to control operation of the one or more equipment; 
 wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the first operational data from the primary thermostat using the communication module; 
 determine a control plan based at least in part on the first operational data to operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system; and 
 operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system based on the control plan. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the primary thermostat is configured to transmit second operational data;   the communication module is configured to exchange the second operational data with the primary thermostat; and   the controller is further configured to:
 receive the second operational data from the primary thermostat using the communication module; and 
 determine the control plan based on the first operational data and the second operational data to operate the one or more equipment of the HVAC system. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a first sensor of the plurality of sensors comprises a temperature sensor; and   the first operational data transmitted by the first sensor comprises a first temperature reading measured by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the second operational data transmitted by the primary thermostat comprises a second temperature reading measured by the primary thermostat.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 one or more of the plurality of sensors is configured to wirelessly transmit the first operational data.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the primary thermostat is configured to wirelessly transmit the first operational data;   the communication module configured to wirelessly exchange at least the first operational data with the primary thermostat; and   the controller wirelessly receives the first operational data from the primary thermostat using the communication module.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one of one or more thermostats, one or more temperature sensors, one or more humidity sensors and one or more occupancy sensors. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive an indication that one of the plurality of sensors is the primary thermostat. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the communication module of the controller comprises a wireless interface capable of connecting the controller to a wireless local area network (LAN);   the primary thermostat is configured to wirelessly connect to the wireless LAN; and   the controller wirelessly receives the first operational data from the primary thermostat over the wireless LAN.   
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling an indoor climate of a building using a controller, the method comprising:
 receiving operational data from a cloud service over the internet using a communication module of the controller;   determining, based on the operational data, a control plan to operate one or more equipment of a heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system; and   operating the one or more equipment of the HVAC system based on the control plan.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the operational data comprises one or more of current ambient temperature in the building, current ambient humidity in the building, occupancy data, a temperature set point, a humidity set point and a target rate of temperature change. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the communication module of the controller comprises one or more of:
 a wired interface capable of connecting to the internet over a wired connection; and 
 a wireless interface capable of wirelessly connecting to the internet over a Wi-Fi network; 
   further comprising:
 connecting the controller to the internet using at least one of the wired interface or the wireless interface; and 
 downloading the operational data from the cloud service over the internet. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 connecting the controller to a wireless local area network (LAN) via a wireless interface of the communication module;   connecting a thermostat to the wireless LAN; and   wirelessly receiving at least a portion of the operational data from the thermostat over the wireless LAN.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving at least a portion of the operational data from one or more additional thermostats, wherein each of the one or more additional thermostats is configured to wirelessly transmit the operational data.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising receiving an indication that one of the additional thermostats is a priority thermostat. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 wirelessly receiving a portion of the operational data from one or more sensors configured to record at least a portion of the operational data, wherein the portion includes one or more of a current ambient temperature, a current ambient humidity and occupancy in the building.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving 24 volts control signals from a thermostat using a terminal block communicatively coupled to the thermostat using a wired connection.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the communication module comprises a wireless interface capable of wirelessly communicating with one or more computing devices; and   further comprising:
 wirelessly receiving at least a portion of the operational data from the one or more computing devices. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more computing device includes at least one of a laptop, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a smart watch, a netbook, or a desktop computer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more equipment comprises at least one of one or more furnaces, one or more air conditioners, one or more air handlers or one or more heat pumps.