Abstract: A system and method of configuring HVAC components in an HVAC system including a main system controller in operable communication with at least one auxiliary controller, wherein the main system controller and each of the at least one auxiliary controllers include a near field communication interface. The HVAC system components are configured by placing each of the at least one auxiliary controllers in close proximity to the main system controller, and operating the main system controller to initiate a pairing event.

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.

Abstract: A method of exchanging parametric data between at least one HVAC component including a first near field communication interface and a second device including a second near field communication interface is provided. The method includes supplying power to the first near field communication interface, and initiating a pairing event between the first near field communication interface and the second near field communication interface. The method also includes exchanging the parametric data between the first near field communication interface and the second near field communication interface.

Abstract: A system and method to manage energy consumption in an HVAC system including a main system controller, including a near field communication interface, and at least one HVAC component in operable communication with the main system controller; wherein the main system controller is configured to compile energy consumption data from the at least one HVAC component, and transfer said energy consumption data to an auxiliary device via the near field communication interface.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a controller in communication with a network to control one or more components of an HVAC system, wherein the controller operates the controller to access the network, receives a calendar event from the network, wherein the calendar event comprises data related to the occupancy of a structure environmentally controlled by the controller, stores the data from the calendar event within the controller, and operates the controller to control the one or more components of the HVAC system based on the data.

Abstract: A system and method of configuring HVAC components in an HVAC system including a main system controller in operable communication with at least one auxiliary controller, wherein the main system controller and each of the at least one auxiliary controllers include a near field communication interface. The HVAC system components are configured by placing each of the at least one auxiliary controllers in close proximity to the main system controller, and operating the main system controller to initiate a pairing event.

Abstract: A system and method to automatically detect and identify system components, wherein the system includes a processing device and at least one system component operably coupled to the processing device via a discrete connection. The method including the steps of operating the processing device to detect at least one electrical characteristic of the at least one system component, and operating the processing device to identify a type of the at least one system component based on the at least one electrical characteristic. The method further includes the step of operating the processing device to allow a user to confirm the identified type of the at least one system component.

Abstract: A user defined interface system including a processor; a memory; a touchscreen display; and executable software stored in the memory; wherein the executable software generates a plurality of graphical elements, on the display screen; wherein at least one graphical element comprises a data input graphical element and at least one graphical element comprises an informational graphical element; wherein each graphical element includes a height dimension and a width dimension; and wherein at least one graphical element may be selected to be moved to a desired location; and placed at the desired location. A method for configuring graphical elements on a user defined interface system, wherein at least one graphical element comprises a data input graphical element, including the steps: selecting at least one graphical element; moving the selected graphical element to a desired location.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to a configurable thermostat including a thermostat core having a user interface. The user interface includes a plurality of user interface keys, a display, a temperature sensor, and a temperature control. The configurable thermostat also includes a universal thermostat expansion port. The universal thermostat expansion port is disposed on the thermostat core. The universal thermostat expansion port includes at least one electrical connector. The electrical connector electrically couples a daughter board to the thermostat core, wherein the daughter board is communicately coupled to the thermostat core by an ASCII communications protocol. According to another aspect of the invention, a method for configuring a thermostat uses a personal computer with a thermostat having a user removable memory. Yet another aspect of the invention is a method for rapidly producing a thermostat having new features without needing to redesign the entire thermostat.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostat including a user interface module. The user interface module has a display, a plurality of user interface buttons, and a first power and communications interface. The thermostat also includes an I/O module, the I/O module electrically coupled to a HVAC plant and the I/O module having a plurality of switches to control the HVAC plant, and a second power and communications interface. The user interface module and the I/O module are communicatively coupled and exchange power via the power and communications interfaces and the thermostat can be mounted and operated in one of two user selectable installations: a stacked configuration comprising a thermostat having the user interface module directly mounted to the I/O module, or a remote configuration comprising a thermostat having the user interface module remotely mounted from the I/O module.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostat including a user interface module. The user interface module has a display, a plurality of user interface buttons, and a first power and communications interface. The thermostat also includes an I/O module, the I/O module electrically coupled to a HVAC plant and the I/O module having a plurality of switches to control the HVAC plant, and a second power and communications interface. The user interface module and the I/O module are communicatively coupled and exchange power via the power and communications interfaces and the thermostat can be mounted and operated in one of two user selectable installations: a stacked configuration comprising a thermostat having the user interface module directly mounted to the I/O module, or a remote configuration comprising a thermostat having the user interface module remotely mounted from the I/O module.

Abstract: A thermostat includes a display and an illumination device that is configurable to illuminate the display in a partial illumination mode and a full illumination mode. In the partial illumination mode the illumination device generates a light intensity sufficient to review the settings of the thermostat without generating heat of a sufficient amount to disrupt thermostat measurements. The full illuminated condition is actuated upon interaction with the thermostat. Once interaction with the thermostat is completed the illumination device thermostat returns to the partially illuminated condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of an air conditioning system and a plurality of auxiliary devices, with both the air conditioning system and the auxiliary devices being adapted to operate in a setback condition. The auxiliary devices are operated in a setback condition in response to the operation of the setback operation of the air conditioning system such that, generally, the auxiliary devices are operated in a setback condition when the air conditioning system is operating in a non-setback condition and vice versa so as to thereby achieve load balancing. In addition, the auxiliary devices can, at the same time, be operated in the setback mode on the basis of duty cycle.

Abstract: A thermostat includes a display and an illumination device that is configurable to illuminate the display in a partial illumination mode and a full illumination mode. In the partial illumination mode the illumination device generates a light intensity sufficient to review the settings of the thermostat without generating heat of a sufficient amount to disrupt thermostat measurements. The full illuminated condition is actuated upon interaction with the thermostat. Once interaction with the thermostat is completed the illumination device thermostat returns to the partially illuminated condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of an air conditioning system and a plurality of auxiliary devices, with both the air conditioning system and the auxiliary devices being adapted to operate in a setback condition. The auxiliary devices are operated in a setback condition in response to the operation of the setback operation of the air conditioning system such that, generally, the auxiliary devices are operated in a setback condition when the air conditioning system is operating in a non-setback condition and vice versa so as to thereby achieve load balancing. In addition, the auxiliary devices can, at the same time, be operated in the setback mode on the basis of duty cycle.

Abstract: A thermostat receives setpoint information from a system in communication with the thermostat. The thermostat is operative to modify any locally entered setpoints by a predefined amount dictated by the setpoint information received from the system in communication with the thermostat. The thermostat is preferably operative to continually display the time remaining during which it will be under the control of the system in communication with the thermostat. This affords an occupant of the room viewing the displayed time with an opportunity to elect to either continue or to override the control by the system in communication with the thermostat at any time.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling the conditioning of air in the zones of a forced air HVAC system. The device comprises thermostats located in at least two different zones, air ducts and dampers located therein to control the flow of air to the different zones. The microprocessor receives signals from the thermostats corresponding to perceived temperatures in the zones and compares the perceived temperatures to predetermined temperatures and determines a trajectory for each of the zones. The microprocessor in turn sends signals to the dampers corresponding to a positions between fully open and fully closed to control the amount of conditioned air through the ducts such that each of the zones follows the trajectory and reaches the predetermined temperatures at about the same time. The microprocessor further determines system demand and turns the HVAC system on and off in response to the system demand.