HVAC controller with user-friendly installation features facilitating both do-it-yourself and professional installation scenarios

US8544285B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Nest Labs, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Mark D. Stefanski · Palo Alto, US
• David Sloo · Menlo Park, US
• Yoky Matsuoka · Palo Alto, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 30, 2012
• Grant date: Oct 1, 2013
• Expiry date: Sep 30, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F24F2221/32
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A thermostat includes a housing, a user interface, and a processing system configured to control an HVAC system using setpoint temperature values. The thermostat may also include a plurality of HVAC connectors configured to receive corresponding HVAC control wires, and a connection sensing module configured to determine the identities of HVAC connectors into which corresponding wires have been inserted. The processing system may be further configured to identify, based on the subset of HVAC connectors, whether (i) only a single possible HVAC system configuration is indicated thereby, or (ii) multiple possible HVAC system configurations are indicated thereby, resolve a particular one of the multiple possible HVAC system configurations that is applicable based on a user response to an inquiry presented on the user interface, and operate the HVAC system according to the HVAC system configuration.