United States Patent (19)
`Krueger et al.
`
`54) TEMPERATURE CONTROL WITH STORED
`MULTIPLE CONFIGURATION PROGRAMS
`
`75 Inventors: James H. Krueger, Plymouth; Jeffrey
`RNye. Matist Mihae
`y,
`pICIS,
`73 Assignee: Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.
`
`.
`
`21 Appl. No.: 08/505,048
`22 Filed:
`Jul. 21, 1995
`(51) Int. Cl. ................................................ F25B 29/00
`52 U.S. Cl. ......................... 165/11.1: 165/238; 165/240;
`236/46 R; 236/49.3; 364/557; 62/127; 62/298
`58 Field of Search .................................... 165/11.1.238,
`165/240; 236/46 R, 49.3; 364/557; 62/127,
`298
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,181957 1/1980 Pinckaers.
`4,386,649 6/1983 Hines et al. .............................. 165/12
`4,421,268 12/1983 Bassett et al. ...
`... 236/10
`4,430,828 2/1984 Oglevee et al. ............................ 47/17
`
`USOO595.0709A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,950,709
`Sep. 14, 1999
`
`2Y- -
`
`Iald C al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`8/1986 Levine et al..
`4,606,401
`4,695,942 9/1987 Levine et al..
`4,716.957
`1/1988 Thompson ............................. 236/49.3
`5.
`8.
`ity, et al. .
`- - - - 2.
`4,911,358 3/1990 Mehta ................................... 236/46 R
`4.948,040 8/1990 Kobayashi et al. .................... 236/49.3
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Honeywell, MagicStat(R/32 Programming and Installation
`Instructions, 1994, U.S.A.
`Honeywell, MagicState(R/33 Programming and Installation
`Instructions, 1994, U.S.A.
`Primary Examiner John K. Ford
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm Kris T. Fredrick; Robert B.
`Leonard
`ABSTRACT
`57
`A thermostat which is configurable to be used with conven
`tional fossil fuel furnaces, electric furnaces, heat pumpS and
`other air conditioning equipment and fans. A Setup program
`is included which requires an installer to enter data Specific
`to the type of HVAC plant installed in the building with the
`thermostat.
`
`9 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`2O5
`
`2O6
`
`2O7
`
`WAPLATE
`277A
`
`255
`
`277
`
`START-O-SUBBASE
`COMUNCATIONS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`235
`
`245
`200-1
`USER INTERFACE PANEL (UP)
`
`RS-TO-REMOTE COMM
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`
`
`25O REMOTE SUBBASE (RS)
`
`278
`
`26O
`
`276
`
`TO
`OTHER
`HOME
`SYSTEMS
`
`OPONAL
`COMMUNICAON
`MODULE
`
`LENNOX EXHIBIT 1039
`Lennox Industries Inc. v. Rosen Technologies LLC, IPR2023-00715, Page 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`5,950,709
`
`D
`?h
`LO
`C
`CN
`to
`N
`
`
`
`d
`
`S
`
`C)
`N -
`N O
`S
`U (n-
`
`LENNOX EXHIBIT 1039
`Lennox Industries Inc. v. Rosen Technologies LLC, IPR2023-00715, Page 2
`
`

`

`LENNOX EXHIBIT 1039
`Lennox Industries Inc. v. Rosen Technologies LLC, IPR2023-00715, Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`5,950,709
`
`
`
`DON'T
`CHANGE
`PARAMETERS
`
`PRESENT
`OPTIONS
`AND
`ENTER DATA
`
`PRESENT
`OPTIONS
`AND
`ENTER DATA
`
`PRESENT
`OPTIONS
`AND
`ENTER DATA
`
`PRESENT
`OPTIONS
`AND
`ENTER DATA
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SEND ENTERED
`DATA TO
`REMOTE SUBBASE
`MEMORY
`
`
`
`(STOP) N370
`
`Figure 3
`
`LENNOX EXHIBIT 1039
`Lennox Industries Inc. v. Rosen Technologies LLC, IPR2023-00715, Page 4
`
`

`

`1
`TEMPERATURE CONTROL WITH STORED
`MULTIPLE CONFIGURATION PROGRAMS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to the field of heating,
`ventilating and air-conditioning and more particularly to the
`area of temperature controls.
`Thermostats have in more recent times have been con
`Structed in two major components: a housing and a Sub-base.
`Prior art FIG. 1 provides an example. The thermostat 200
`included a housing 201 and a sub-base 202. The housing
`usually contained a temperature Sensor (not shown), a dis
`play 215 and Some form of a setpoint Selection means, here
`shown as keys 206 through 211. The display and setpoint
`Selection means were Sometimes jointly referred to as the
`user interface. The Sub-base included typically included
`wiring terminals to connect the thermost at to an HVAC
`plant. The HVAC plant may include any or all of the
`following: heat pump, air-conditioner, furnace (either fossil
`fuel or electric), boiler and fan.
`An advance in the thermostat field occurred when a
`controller was used for control functions within a thermostat
`Such as the thermostat described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,401
`(Levine) issued Aug. 19, 1986 and commonly assigned with
`the present invention. The controller acted on prepro
`grammed instructions and Stored, user entered parameters to
`control a temperature within a Space to a desired setpoint at
`a given time. The controller generally used was a micro
`processor.
`Usually, a thermostat was configured to operate only with
`one type of HVAC plant at a time. For example, because of
`the differing control requirements for a heat pump, an
`electric furnace and a fossil fuel furnace, a thermostat was
`set up to handle only one of these types of HVAC plant. This
`led to a problem in that many different thermostats were then
`required to be manufactured to operate different HVAC plant
`types.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is a thermostat which includes
`controls and instructions Such that it may operate with many
`different kinds of HVAC plants. The thermostat may be split
`into a separate user interface and Subbase. The user interface
`includes a microprocessor with its own memory, data entry
`means, a display and read only memory. The Subbase
`includes a microprocessor with its own memory, read only
`memory and a relay drive means.
`Prior to leaving the factory, the Subbase is programmed
`with configuration parameters in the read only memory. In
`particular, the read only memory is given information on
`whether the thermostat will be connected to a heat pump or
`a conventional HVAC plant and how many controlling
`relays are going to be configured for use.
`At power up, the read only memory remote Subbase
`uploads these parameters to the read only memory of the
`user interface panel. This read only memory Stores a Series
`of user prompts, Selected ones of which are displayed to the
`installer. The user prompts request the installer to input
`information through the data entry means relating to various
`HVAC plant and thermostat parameters.
`The read only memory of the remote Subbase contains
`plural control programs for operating plural types of HVAC
`plants. Once the user enters the information requested by the
`user interface panel, this information is downloaded to the
`memory of the remote Subbase. There, the parameters are
`accessed periodically for use in the control programs.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,950,709
`
`2
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermostat of the prior
`art.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the user interface and the
`remote Sub-base of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the process followed by the user
`interface to prompt for and receive configuration informa
`tion.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`Referring now to FIG. 2 there shown is a block diagram
`of the user interface and Subbase portions of the present
`invention. The user interface includes display 205, status
`indicators 206 and 207, data entry means 210, clocks 215A
`and B, analog to digital converter 216, temperature Sensor
`217, power backup 218, first communication bus means 220,
`Second communication bus means 225, and microprocessor
`230, low voltage detect circuit 240 and watchdog circuit
`245. The user may enter desired time, temperature or other
`relevant information (e.g. desired humidity) into the System
`through use of the data entry means and the display. The
`display shows relevant information Such as Setpoint, Start
`time, current time and current temperature. In a preferred
`embodiment, the data entry means is a keyboard having a
`four by four matrix of keys and the display is a liquid crystal
`display having at least one hundred forty Segments. The data
`entry means however could be one or more Switches or a
`rotatable wheel assembly while the display may be made
`from a plurality of light Sources Such as light emitting
`diodes(LEDs). Further, status indicators 206 and 207 are
`preferably LEDs which are used to provide information on
`overall and Safety System Status.
`In a preferred embodiment, the microprocessor will be an
`LC5868 four bit micro-controller having 8K Read Only
`Memory (ROM) and 256x4 Random Access Memory
`(RAM) and memory 235 will be a 1 Kbit EEPROM. The
`microprocessor memory is used, among other functions, to
`Store instructions for microprocessor 230 operation, to dis
`play information on display 205, to accept input from the
`data entry means 210 and to communicate with the remote
`Subbase 250. Memory 235 stores time and temperature pairs
`for controlling the temperature of the Space to a desired
`temperature during a Selected time period and other user
`entered parameters.
`The clocks are used to provide real time information and
`a common time base. While only one clock is necessary, in
`a preferred embodiment, two clocks are used. One clock
`may be a continuous oscillator 215A, while the other clock
`may be a temporary oscillator 215B. The continuous oscil
`lator 215A may be used to provide low power, low speed
`timing functions to the microprocessor while the temporary
`oscillator 215B may be used to provide high speed timing
`when sufficient power is available.
`Other backup features include power backup 218, low
`voltage detect circuit 240 and watchdog circuit 245. Power
`backup 218, in a preferred embodiment is a capacitor having
`a six hour Supply for the operation of the user interface. Low
`Voltage detect circuit Shuts down the microprocessor in the
`event of low Voltage to avoid damaging the microprocessor
`and to prevent misoperation of the microprocessor. The
`watchdog circuit monitors internal microprocessor Signals
`and ensures that they are at the appropriate frequency and
`resets the microprocessor if there is a problem.
`The display, data entry means and memory all commu
`nicate with the microprocessor directly. This provides the
`
`LENNOX EXHIBIT 1039
`Lennox Industries Inc. v. Rosen Technologies LLC, IPR2023-00715, Page 5
`
`

`

`3
`benefit of fast communication among these devices as the
`microprocessor generally receives and processes informa
`tion faster than it can be entered by a user. However, while
`the first communication bus means 225 is part of the
`microprocessor, other arrangements are possible where the
`first communication bus means is separate from the micro
`processor So long as user entered information is displayed on
`the display a rate faster than information can be entered.
`The Subbase 250 includes clock 255, microprocessor 260,
`Second communication bus means 225, watchdog/low Volt
`age detect circuit 274, memory 275, analog to digital con
`verter 276, power supply 277, relay driver means 278, and
`sensor means 279. Second communication bus means 225 is
`the electrical communication link with user interface panel
`using a protocol described below. The electrical communi
`cation link may be via wire, radio frequency
`communication, fiber optic link or the like.
`Microprocessor 260, may be an 8 Kbit microcontroller
`such as an MC68HCO5C8 having 8 Kbit ROM and 176x8
`RAM. This microprocessor controls operation of the HVAC
`plant operating on instructions which may be loaded at a
`factory into the microprocessor's ROM. These instructions
`may include Such well known concepts as minimum on time,
`intelligent recovery and the like. The memory 275 may be a
`1 Kbit EEPROM. The desired state of the HVAC plant is
`accomplished through appropriate electrical Signals to the
`relay driver means 278. Timing of all functions is provided
`by clock 255, which may be a crystal oscillator.
`Power supply 277 Supplies power to all components
`needing power in the remote Subbase. It also provides power
`via link 277A to the user interface panel 200.
`Sensor means 279 allows sensors beyond the temperature
`Sensor 217 of the user interface panel to control the opera
`tion of the System. AS examples, a Second temperature
`Sensor, a humidity Sensor or a carbon dioxide Sensor may be
`connected. Memory 275 then would include instructions
`Such as temperature averaging for the Second temperature
`Sensor case, or fan operation instructions for the humidity
`and/or carbon dioxide cases.
`The protocol which is used to communicate between in
`the Second bus means has as its goal to allow the remote
`Subbase to be just a temperature controller without having to
`account for Scheduling. This is done through use of a Six
`hundred baud, five bit protocol. Four bits are used for the
`message and one bit is used as a start of message indicator.
`Both microprocessors have read and write memory access to
`the microprocessor RAM and the external memory (235,
`275) of the other microprocessor. Information which is sent
`across the Second communication bus means includes
`Setpoints, period crossing flags, time to next change of
`period, current temperature and Setup information Such as
`model number and type.
`It should be noted that while the preferred embodiment of
`the present invention is described with a separate user
`interface and Subbase, a Single piece thermostat with a single
`microprocessor is also contemplated. The invention resides
`in the ability of a thermost at to control multiple different
`types of thermostats, not in the Separation of functions.
`Referring now to FIG. 3, there shown is a flowchart of the
`proceSS used by an installer to Set up the thermostat for
`installation. Four types of Set up are allowed for in the
`present invention: System, Heat, Cool and Fan. After Start
`ing at block 305, the process determines whether an appro
`priate key Sequence has been entered for the thermostat to go
`into Set up mode at block 310. Any key Sequence desired or
`a single key actuation can be used to enter the Setup mode.
`
`4
`Use of a predetermined key Sequence can create the benefit
`of limiting access to the Setup mode if desired.
`If the appropriate key Sequence or key is not entered,
`access to the set up mode is denied at block 315.
`If so, the process moves into set up mode at block 320 and
`determines whether the System set up has been Selected. If
`So, System set up parameters as described below are pre
`sented and selected at block 325. Movement through the
`parameters is controlled by a Selected key from the data
`entry means.
`If not, the process moves to block 330 to determine
`whether the heat Set up has been Selected. If So, heating Set
`up parameters as described below are presented and Selected
`at block 335.
`If not, the process moves to block 340 to determine
`whether the cool Set up has been Selected. If So, cooling Set
`up parameters as described below are presented and Selected
`at block 345.
`If not, the process moves to block 350 to determine
`whether the fan Set up has been Selected. If So, fan Set up
`parameters as described below are presented and Selected at
`block 355.
`If not, the process moves to block 360 to determine
`whether the exit option has been Selected. If So, entered
`parameters are Sent to the read only memory in the remote
`Subbase at block 365 and the process ends at 370. If not, the
`process returns to block 320.
`If So desired, portions of the Set up may be performed in
`the factory leaving only the System and fan Set ups to be
`performed by the installer.
`AS noted above, many parameters may be entered by an
`installer. In the following charts of parameters, the following
`abbreviations are used
`
`TABLE 1.
`
`The remote subbase is heat pump capable
`HP
`HCTL Both the W1 and Y1 relay drivers (of the subbase) are
`configured to be connected
`CL
`Y1 relay driver is configured to be connected
`HT
`W1 relay driver is configured to be connected
`HPHT HP and HT
`NHPH HIT and not HP
`VNT The remote subbase is outdoor ventilation control capable
`RSEN A remote space temperature sensor has been selected.
`HHUM The remote subbase is heating humidity control capable
`CHUM The remote subbase is cooling humidity control capable
`
`In the following tables, the type refers to the abbreviations
`noted in table 1. The DISPLAY and OPTION columns show
`what is displayed on the display of the user interface.
`SCROLLING refers to what effect the selection of a key
`intended for use in moving through the items shown on the
`display has on the display. CIRCULAR means that repeated
`actuation of the above described movement key causes the
`options to rotationally appear on the display. STRAIGHT
`means that at one end of the possible OPTIONS, further
`actuation of the movement key will have no effect. The
`DESCRIPTION column provides a definition for the abbre
`viation used in the DISPLAY column.
`The System set up parameters include:
`
`5,950,709
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`LENNOX EXHIBIT 1039
`Lennox Industries Inc. v. Rosen Technologies LLC, IPR2023-00715, Page 6
`
`

`

`TABLE 2
`
`TYPE DISPLAY
`
`OPTIONS SCROLLING
`
`HTCL AUTO SYSN
`
`CIRCULA
`
`MIN OFF Y
`
`SENS REMN
`
`SENS DIS N
`
`RSEN SENS LOCY
`
`SENS OUT
`
`VNT VENTERV
`
`COMMN
`
`HP
`
`REV VLV B
`
`B y
`
`N O
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`HHUM HEATHUMY
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`CHUM COOLHUMY
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`SHOW TMPF
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`SHOW CLK 12
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`RECOVERY
`
`
`
`CIRCULA R
`
`5,950,709
`
`DESCRIPTION
`auto changeover capable
`
`enforce minimum compressor
`off time
`use remote space temperature
`SeSO
`use discharge air temperature
`SeSO
`use local space temperature
`SeSO
`Outdoor temperature sensor is
`present
`Outdoor air ventilation
`capability: damper, energy
`recovery ventilator, or none
`communications module
`connected.
`reversing valve output
`energized on heating (B) or
`cooling (O)
`humidity control enabled in
`heating mode
`humidity control (with reheat)
`enabled in cooling mode
`temperature scale (CIF)
`selection
`time scale (12/24) selection
`intelligent recovery (Y/N)
`selection
`
`The following are parameters entered in Setting up the
`heat mode:
`
`TABLE 3
`
`DISPLAY
`
`OPTIONS SCROLLING
`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`W1 CPH 6
`(conventional)
`
`W1 CPH3
`(heat pump)
`
`9
`6
`5
`4
`3
`2.5
`2
`5
`
`HT W2 CPH 6
`(conventional)
`
`W2CPH3
`(heatpump)
`
`STRAIGHT
`
`cycles per hour on first heating
`stage. NC indicates the stage is
`not connected to any equipment
`
`STRAIGHT
`
`cycles per hour on second heating
`stage. NC indicates the stage is
`not connected to any equipment
`
`HPHT AUXCPH 9
`
`STRAIGHT
`
`cycles per hour on third heating
`stage. NC indicates the stage is
`not connected to any equipment
`
`HPHT BMHT CPH 9
`
`STRAIGHT
`
`cycles per hour on emergency
`heat (E) heating stage. NC
`indicates the stage is not
`connected to any equipment.
`Must be configured if jumpered to
`auxiliary heat system
`
`LENNOX EXHIBIT 1039
`Lennox Industries Inc. v. Rosen Technologies LLC, IPR2023-00715, Page 7
`
`

`

`7
`The following parameters are entered into the thermostat
`at setup for the COOL mode:
`
`5,950,709
`
`TABLE 4
`
`DISPLAY
`
`OPTIONS SCROLLING DESCRIPTION
`
`Y1 CPH 3
`
`CL
`
`Y2 CPH 3
`
`9
`6
`
`9
`6
`
`STRAIGHT
`
`cycles per hour on first cooling stage.
`NC indicates the stage is not
`connected to any equipment
`
`STRAIGHT
`
`cycles per hour on second cooling
`stage. NC indicates the stage is not
`connected to any equipment
`
`For fan Set up, the following parameters are entered:
`
`DISPLAY
`
`OPTIONS SCROLLING DESCRIPTION
`
`NHPH ELEC HTY Y
`N
`OVERRUN N Y
`N
`
`CL
`
`CIRCULAR
`
`CIRCULAR
`
`run fan with conventional heating
`stages
`fan overrun after cooling stages
`are de-energized
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`In Summary, foregoing has been a description of a novel
`and unobivious temperature control device. This description
`is meant to provide examples, not limitations. The applicant
`define their invention through the claims appended hereto.
`We claim:
`1. A temperature control device for controlling the opera
`tion of an HVAC plant such that a desired temperature is
`maintained, comprising:
`a user interface having a first microprocessor, a display,
`first read only memory and data entry means connected
`to the first microprocessor, the first microprocessor
`controlling the operation of the user interface; the first
`read only memory Storing time and temperature pairs
`for control of the HVAC plant entered by a user through
`the data entry means, and
`a Subbase operably connected to the user interface and
`having a Second microprocessor and Second read only
`memory, Said Second read only memory Storing a
`plurality of control programs used by the Second micro
`processor for controlling different types of HVAC
`plants and a Setup proceSS which is initiated by actua
`tion of a predetermined key Sequence of the data entry
`means, causes the display means to display a plurality
`of options and receives inputs at the first read only
`memory from the data entry means representative of
`System, heating, cooling and fan parameters, the first
`microprocessor upon completion of the Setup proceSS
`transmitting the information to the Second read only
`memory.
`2. The temperature control device of claim 1 wherein said
`Subbase connection is by radio frequency transmissions.
`3. The temperature control device of claim 1 wherein said
`Subbase connection is by fiber optic link.
`4. The temperature control device of claim 1 wherein said
`user interface further includes a power backup for providing
`power in the event of main power loSS.
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5. The temperature control device described in claim 1
`further comprising a communication module operably con
`nected to Said temperature control device for communication
`between the temperature control device and other remote
`Systems.
`6. The temperature control device described in claim 1
`wherein said Subbase further includes terminals for electri
`cally connecting various HVAC plants to Said temperature
`control device.
`7. The temperature control device described in claim 1
`wherein Said display means is a liquid crystal display.
`8. The temperature control device described in claim 1
`wherein Said display means comprises light emitting diodes.
`9. A method of initializing a temperature control device
`having a user interface, display means for data entry, and
`Subbase containing a read only memory Storing configura
`tion parameters, comprising:
`operably connecting the user interface to the Subbase;
`transmitting configuration parameters from the Subbase to
`the user interface;
`displaying System Setup parameters,
`accepting information about System Setup parameters
`entered through the means for data entry;
`displaying heating Setup parameters
`accepting information about heating Setup parameters
`entered through the means for data entry;
`displaying cooling Setup parameters
`accepting information about cooling Setup parameters
`entered through the means for data entry;
`displaying fan Setup parameters
`accepting information about fan Setup parameters entered
`through the means for data entry and
`transmitting Said accepted information to the read only
`memory device in Said Subbase.
`
`k
`
`k
`
`k
`
`k
`
`k
`
`LENNOX EXHIBIT 1039
`Lennox Industries Inc. v. Rosen Technologies LLC, IPR2023-00715, Page 8
`
`