Abstract: Power stealing circuitry to provide power to a controller for an environmental control system. The power stealing circuitry may include a first circuit, to steal power when a load for a stage is switched off, e.g. de-energized. The power stealing circuitry may include a second circuit, e.g., a power trickle circuit, to steal power when the load is switched on, e.g., energized. The load may include a furnace, electrical heating element, heat pump, humidifier, electrostatic filter, air conditioning unit and so on. In some examples, the environmental control system may have one or many stages, each with a separate load. The controller may include power stealing circuitry for each stage of the environmental control system. In other words, the controller may include a first circuit and a second circuit for each stage of a multi-stage environmental control system.

Abstract: A communication rate between a cloud-based server and an HVAC controller located within a building may be controlled based on the amount of power available at the HVAC controller. The cloud-based server may notify a user if the amount of power available at the HVAC controller is determined to be low.

Abstract: An apparatus includes processing circuitry configured to output, to a plurality of devices, an initial superframe configured in an initial superframe mode of a plurality of superframe modes. Each superframe mode of the plurality of superframe modes allocating each slot of a plurality of slots for wireless communication to a first protocol, a second protocol, or a third protocol. In response to determining a change in bandwidth, the processing circuitry is configured to select an updated superframe mode from the plurality of superframe modes. The processing circuitry is further configured to output, to the plurality of devices, an updated superframe configured in the updated superframe mode.

Abstract: A switch circuit configured to receive power from either a single power source or dual power source. The circuit includes two power input terminals and two power output terminals. For a single power source, the switch circuit may receive the single power source at either of the two power input terminals. The switch circuit provides power to a load without regard to which of the power input terminals the single power source is connected. The switch circuit shorts the power output terminals for a single power input, which provides power at both power output terminals. For a dual power source system, the switch circuit may isolate the two power output terminals so each power output terminal may operate independently without shorting. In some examples, the switch circuit may be part of a thermostat or similar HVAC system controller.

Abstract: In some examples, a system for comfort or security in a building and its premises includes a plurality of “first” devices configured to wirelessly communicate with a hub device that is a master for controlling the system for comfort or security in the building and premises, wherein the plurality of first devices and the hub device are configured to wirelessly communicate using either one of an IEEE 802.15.4 standard or a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) 5.0 standard; a plurality of “second” devices that are battery powered and configured to wirelessly communicate with respective ones of the plurality of first devices, wherein the plurality of second devices and respective ones of the plurality of first devices are configured to communicate using the BTLE 5.0 standard, wherein the hub device and the plurality of second devices are configured to communicate with each other via respective ones of the plurality of first devices.

Abstract: A system of controlling one or more building automation devices. The system may incorporate communicating over a first network with one or more network connected devices. An access point for the first network may be utilized to facilitate communication among the network connected devices. One or more of the network connected devices may be a low power device that has a first mode and a second mode. The low power device may expend less energy in one of the first mode and the second than in the other of the first mode and the second mode. The system may allow network devices connected to the first network to receive details about the low power device while the low power device is operating with the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: In some examples, a system for comfort or security in a building and its premises includes a plurality of “first” devices configured to wirelessly communicate with a hub device that is a master for controlling the system for comfort or security in the building and premises, wherein the plurality of first devices and the hub device are configured to wirelessly communicate using either one of an IEEE 802.15.4 standard or a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) 5.0 standard; a plurality of “second” devices that are battery powered and configured to wirelessly communicate with respective ones of the plurality of first devices, wherein the plurality of second devices and respective ones of the plurality of first devices are configured to communicate using the BTLE 5.0 standard, wherein the hub device and the plurality of second devices are configured to communicate with each other via respective ones of the plurality of first devices.

Abstract: A device for detecting a wire configuration connecting a thermostat and HVAC equipment includes fan controller circuitry, AC controller circuitry, switching circuitry, and processing circuitry. The fan controller circuitry is configured to operate a fan unit of the HVAC equipment using a G pin in a first wire configuration and using a K pin in a second wire configuration. The AC controller circuitry is configured to operate an AC unit of the HVAC equipment using a Y pin in the first wire configuration and the K pin in the second wire configuration. The switching circuitry is configured to refrain from electrically coupling the Y pin and the K pin in response to a deactivation signal. The processing circuitry is configured to determine the HVAC equipment is in the first wire configuration in response to determining the AC controller circuitry receives power while outputting the deactivation signal to the switching circuitry.

Abstract: A sensor device includes processing circuitry configured to output, at a first bandwidth, first bandwidth data to a hub device using a first wireless connection configured for a first wireless protocol. In response to determining that the sensor device has second bandwidth data to output to the hub device at a second bandwidth, the processing circuitry is configured to output a second wireless connection request to the hub device using the first wireless connection. In response to the hub device outputting information for establishing a second wireless connection with the sensor device, the processing circuitry is configured to establish the second wireless connection for a second wireless protocol different from the first wireless protocol. The processing circuitry is configured to output, at the second bandwidth, the second bandwidth data to the hub device using the second wireless connection. The second bandwidth is greater than the first bandwidth.

Abstract: Power stealing circuitry to provide power to a controller for an environmental control system. The power stealing circuitry may include a first circuit, to steal power when a load for a stage is switched off, e.g. de-energized. The power stealing circuitry may include a second circuit, e.g., a power trickle circuit, to steal power when the load is switched on, e.g., energized. The load may include a furnace, electrical heating element, heat pump, humidifier, electrostatic filter, air conditioning unit and so on. In some examples, the environmental control system may have one or many stages, each with a separate load. The controller may include power stealing circuitry for each stage of the environmental control system. In other words, the controller may include a first circuit and a second circuit for each stage of a multi-stage environmental control system.

Abstract: A communication rate between a cloud-based server and an HVAC controller located within a building may be controlled based on the amount of power available at the HVAC controller. The cloud-based server may notify a user if the amount of power available at the HVAC controller is determined to be low.

Abstract: A device includes communication circuitry configured to establish, with an external device, a wireless channel according to a connection protocol and exchange, via the wireless channel and with the external device, network parameters for establishing a BLUETOOTH channel that is different from the wireless channel. The BLUETOOTH channel is established according to a BLUETOOTH protocol different from the connection protocol. The communication circuitry is further configured to establish, with the external device, the BLUETOOTH channel using the network parameters. To establish the BLUETOOTH channel, the communication circuitry is configured to refrain from advertising the network parameters via the BLUETOOTH channel. The communication circuitry is further configured to exchange, via the BLUETOOTH channel and with the external device, data.

Abstract: A device includes communication circuitry configured to establish, with an external device, a wireless channel according to a connection protocol and exchange, via the wireless channel and with the external device, network parameters for establishing a BLUETOOTH channel that is different from the wireless channel. The BLUETOOTH channel is established according to a BLUETOOTH protocol different from the connection protocol. The communication circuitry is further configured to establish, with the external device, the BLUETOOTH channel using the network parameters. To establish the BLUETOOTH channel, the communication circuitry is configured to refrain from advertising the network parameters via the BLUETOOTH channel. The communication circuitry is further configured to exchange, via the BLUETOOTH channel and with the external device, data.

Abstract: A sensor device includes processing circuitry configured to output, at a first bandwidth, first bandwidth data to a hub device using a first wireless connection configured for a first wireless protocol. In response to determining that the sensor device has second bandwidth data to output to the hub device at a second bandwidth, the processing circuitry is configured to output a second wireless connection request to the hub device using the first wireless connection. In response to the hub device outputting information for establishing a second wireless connection with the sensor device, the processing circuitry is configured to establish the second wireless connection for a second wireless protocol different from the first wireless protocol. The processing circuitry is configured to output, at the second bandwidth, the second bandwidth data to the hub device using the second wireless connection. The second bandwidth is greater than the first bandwidth.

Abstract: A communication rate between a cloud-based server and an HVAC controller located within a building may be controlled based on the amount of power available at the HVAC controller. The cloud-based server may notify a user if the amount of power available at the HVAC controller is determined to be low.

Abstract: A switch circuit configured to receive power from either a single power source or dual power source. The circuit includes two power input terminals and two power output terminals. For a single power source, the switch circuit may receive the single power source at either of the two power input terminals. The switch circuit provides power to a load without regard to which of the power input terminals the single power source is connected. The switch circuit shorts the power output terminals for a single power input, which provides power at both power output terminals. For a dual power source system, the switch circuit may isolate the two power output terminals so each power output terminal may operate independently without shorting. In some examples, the switch circuit may be part of a thermostat or similar HVAC system controller.

Abstract: A system of controlling one or more building automation devices. The system may incorporate communicating over a first network with one or more network connected devices. An access point for the first network may be utilized to facilitate communication among the network connected devices. One or more of the network connected devices may be a low power device that has a first mode and a second mode. The low power device may expend less energy in one of the first mode and the second than in the other of the first mode and the second mode. The system may allow network devices connected to the first network to receive details about the low power device while the low power device is operating with the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: In some examples, a system for comfort or security in a building and its premises includes a plurality of “first” devices configured to wirelessly communicate with a hub device that is a master for controlling the system for comfort or security in the building and premises, wherein the plurality of first devices and the hub device are configured to wirelessly communicate using either one of an IEEE 802.15.4 standard or a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) 5.0 standard; a plurality of “second” devices that are battery powered and configured to wirelessly communicate with respective ones of the plurality of first devices, wherein the plurality of second devices and respective ones of the plurality of first devices are configured to communicate using the BTLE 5.0 standard, wherein the hub device and the plurality of second devices are configured to communicate with each other via respective ones of the plurality of first devices.

Abstract: A system and approach for a self-calculating test of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning load. The test may be run upon meeting predetermined conditions. Thermostatic control of the load may be disabled when the load test starts. If a call for heat or cool is made at the thermostat, response to the call may be delayed until the load test is completed, and if AC power is lost during the test, the test may finish and allow detection of the phantom AC detection device with a loss of AC power. If a voltage of a storage capacitor falls below a battery boost threshold, the test may be cancelled to allow the phantom circuit charge the storage capacitor. The system and approach may incorporate load test states that include an initialize state, start test state, get baseline state, test measure state, stabilize measurement state, calculation state, and finalize results state.

Abstract: A device for detecting a wire configuration connecting a thermostat and HVAC equipment includes fan controller circuitry, AC controller circuitry, switching circuitry, and processing circuitry. The fan controller circuitry is configured to operate a fan unit of the HVAC equipment using a G pin in a first wire configuration and using a K pin in a second wire configuration. The AC controller circuitry is configured to operate an AC unit of the HVAC equipment using a Y pin in the first wire configuration and the K pin in the second wire configuration. The switching circuitry is configured to refrain from electrically coupling the Y pin and the K pin in response to a deactivation signal. The processing circuitry is configured to determine the HVAC equipment is in the first wire configuration in response to determining the AC controller circuitry receives power while outputting the deactivation signal to the switching circuitry.