Systems and methods for wirelessly configuring climate control system controls

Abstract

An HVAC controller includes an HVAC control module, a control housing covering or enclosing at least a portion of the HVAC control module, a near field communication (NFC) module, and a communication connection connected to the HVAC control module and the NFC module. The HVAC control module includes a controller board, a controller processor, and a controller memory disposed on the controller board. The control housing has an inner surface facing the HVAC control module and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The NFC module includes an NFC board, NFC circuitry, and an NFC antenna connected to the NFC board. The NFC module is positioned remote from the HVAC control module and proximate the inner surface or the outer surface of the control housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An HVAC system comprising:
 at least one HVAC component;   an HVAC control module, the HVAC control module configured to control the at least one HVAC component, the HVAC control module including a controller board, and a controller processor, and a controller memory disposed on the controller board;   a control housing covering or enclosing at least a portion of the HVAC control module, the control housing having an inner surface facing the HVAC control module and an outer surface opposite the inner surface;   a near field communication (NFC) module including an NFC board, NFC circuitry, and an NFC antenna connected to the NFC board, the NFC module positioned remote from the HVAC control module and proximate the inner surface or the outer surface of the control housing;   a communication connection connected to the HVAC control module and the NFC module to permit communication between the NFC module and the HVAC control module; and   a mobile device, the mobile device including a user interface and a mobile NFC wireless interface configured for wireless communication with the NFC module when the mobile NFC wireless interface is in close proximity to the NFC module, wherein the NFC circuitry is configured to convert NFC signals received from the mobile device through the NFC antenna to wired signals according to a wired communication protocol and to transmit the wired signals to the HVAC control module through the communication connection.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein an opening is defined through the control housing, the NFC module is positioned outside of the control housing on the outer surface of the control housing, and the communication connection passes from the NFC module to the HVAC control module through the opening in the control housing. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system of  claim 2 , wherein a recess is formed in the outer surface of the control housing and the NFC module is positioned in the recess formed in the outer surface of the control housing. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system of  claim 3 , wherein the recess is configured such that the NFC module does not extend out of the recess when the NFC module is positioned in the recess. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system of  claim 3 , wherein the opening is located within the recess. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication connection comprises a ribbon cable. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the NFC board comprises a flexible printed circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the NFC antenna is formed from traces on the NFC board. 
     
     
         9 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the NFC antenna is separate from and communicatively attached to the NFC board. 
     
     
         10 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising a system housing enclosing at least a portion of the HVAC component, the HVAC control module, the control housing, the NFC module, and the communication connection. 
     
     
         11 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the HVAC component is mounted on the HVAC control module. 
     
     
         12 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the NFC circuitry is configured to convert wired signals received from the HVAC control module to NFC signals and to transmit the NFC signals to the mobile device through the NFC antenna. 
     
     
         13 . An HVAC controller comprising:
 an HVAC control module, the HVAC control module configured to control at least one HVAC component, the HVAC control module including a controller board, and a controller processor, and a controller memory disposed on the controller board;   a control housing covering or enclosing at least a portion of the HVAC control module, the control housing having an inner surface facing the HVAC control module and an outer surface opposite the inner surface;   a near field communication (NFC) module including an NFC board, NFC circuitry, and an NFC antenna connected to the NFC board, the NFC module positioned remote from the HVAC control module and proximate the inner surface or the outer surface of the control housing; and   a communication connection connected to the HVAC control module and the NFC module to permit communication between the NFC module and the HVAC control module, wherein the NFC circuitry is configured to convert NFC signals received from a mobile device through the NFC antenna to wired signals according to a wired communication protocol and to transmit the wired signals to the HVAC control module through the communication connection.   
     
     
         14 . The HVAC controller of  claim 13 , wherein an opening is defined through the control housing, the NFC module is positioned outside of the control housing on the outer surface of the control housing, and the communication connection passes from the NFC module to the HVAC control module through the opening in the control housing. 
     
     
         15 . The HVAC controller of  claim 14 , wherein a recess is formed in the outer surface of the control housing and the NFC module is positioned in the recess formed in the outer surface of the control housing. 
     
     
         16 . The HVAC controller of  claim 15 , wherein the recess is configured such that the NFC module does not extend out of the recess when the NFC module is positioned in the recess. 
     
     
         17 . The HVAC controller of  claim 13 , wherein the communication connection comprises a ribbon cable. 
     
     
         18 . The HVAC controller of  claim 13 , wherein the NFC board comprises a flexible printed circuit or a rigid printed circuit board. 
     
     
         19 . The HVAC controller of  claim 13 , wherein the NFC antenna is formed from traces on the NFC board or the NFC antenna is separate from and communicatively attached to the NFC board. 
     
     
         20 . The HVAC controller of  claim 13 , wherein the NFC circuitry is configured to convert wired signals received from the HVAC control module to NFC signals and to transmit the NFC signals to the mobile device through the NFC antenna.