Copeland Comfort Control LP

A gas-powered heating system includes a modulating gas valve assembly connected to a gas source. The gas valve assembly including a modulating gas valve to variably control a flow of gas through the gas valve assembly and a controller configured to control operation of the modulating gas valve. The controller is programmed to: i) receive a heat start call; ii) control the modulating gas valve to increase the flow of gas through the gas valve assembly to a first amount of gas to light a flame; iii) control the modulating gas valve to decrease the flow of gas through the gas valve assembly to an ultra-low flame amount; iv) delay a predetermined amount of time; and v) subsequent to the predetermined amount of time, control the modulating gas valve to increase the flow of gas through the gas valve assembly to a second amount of gas.

A gas-powered appliance includes a main burner for burning gas, a flame sensor assembly, and a controller. The flame sensor assembly includes a probe positioned proximate the main burner and a detector coupled to the probe to receive an alternating current (AC) input, couple the AC input to the probe and generate a variable pulse width direct current (DC) square wave output having a plurality of pulses. The controller connected is to the flame sensor assembly and includes a processor and a memory. The controller is programmed to control the main burner to burn gas, determine a pulse width of a pulse of the DC square wave, and determine based on the determined pulse width a characteristic of the flame on the main burner with greater precision than some known systems.

A method of conditioning air within an enclosed space using an HVAC system includes controlling, by a controller, the HVAC system to cool the air within an enclosed space in response to a command from a thermostat that monitors a temperature in the enclosed space. The controller receives a humidity reading from the humidity sensor and determines whether to operate at improved cooling efficiency or at improved dehumidification efficiency based at least in part on the humidity reading. The controller determines an operating speed for the blower to achieve the determined operation at improved cooling efficiency or operation at improved dehumidification efficiency and continues to control the HVAC system to condition the air within the enclosed space including operating the blower at the determined operating speed.

A method of conditioning air includes controlling, by a thermostat, an HVAC system to condition the air within an enclosed space according to one or more temperature setpoints stored in a memory of the thermostat and the temperature within the enclosed space. Weather data for outside the enclosed space is received and compared to a previously received preference. The HVAC system is controlled to condition the air according to the one or more temperature setpoints and the temperature within the enclosed space when the weather data does not satisfy the preference. When the weather data satisfies the preference, the user is notified that heating or cooling by the HVAC system will be turned off and that the user should open the at least one opening to outside of the enclosed space, and the thermostat controls the HVAC system to stop conditioning the air.

The present disclosure relates to low power detection and power loss management for devices with limited available power, such as a thermostat, an equipment interface module, a control board, other device having a battery backup for operating in non-constant power conditions, etc. In an exemplary method of power management in a device including a display, the method comprises automatically turning off power to the display in response to detection of a power loss and/or inadequate power condition for the device. The device may comprise a thermostat, an equipment interface module (EIM), a control board, other device having a battery backup for operating in non-constant power conditions, etc.

A control for a gas fired heater is configurable to operate at either a first voltage or a second voltage higher than the first voltage. The control includes an input voltage measurement circuit and an automatic voltage select circuit. The input voltage measurement circuit is configured to be operable for measuring an input line voltage to determine whether the gas fired heater is connected with the first voltage or the second voltage. The automatic voltage select circuit is configured to be operable for configuring the control for the correct input line voltage as measured by the input voltage measurement circuit.

An exemplary system includes a thermostat configured to be operable for communicating with an equipment interface module (EIM) for controlling operation of a heating/cooling unit. The thermostat is configured to be operable for communicating wirelessly (e.g., via 900 MHz communication protocol, other wireless communication protocol, etc.) with the equipment interface module. In the event of a wireless communication loss or failure, the thermostat is configured to be operable to failover to a wired connection between the thermostat and the equipment interface module to thereby enable wired communication between the thermostat and the equipment interface module, e.g., for controlling the heating/cooling unit to provide emergency heat in the event of the wireless communication loss or failure, etc.

An example HVAC system includes first and second HVAC components. A first HVAC control is configured to control the first HVAC component according to one or more first HVAC system configuration parameters. The first HVAC component comprises an indoor HVAC component. The second HVAC component comprises an outdoor HVAC component. The HVAC system is configured such that one or more component properties and/or configuration parameters of the outdoor HVAC component are obtainable via a mobile device. The one or more component properties and/or configuration parameters of the outdoor HVAC component are usable for setting up the first HVAC control to control the indoor HVAC component in accordance with the one or more component properties and/or configuration parameters of the outdoor HVAC component.

A controller is configured to be operable for: triggering a defrost cycle when a gap between Control Temperature (CT) and Saturated Suction Temperature (SST) exceeds a defined threshold of an expected/learned gap between the Control Temperature (CT) and Saturated Suction Temperature (SST); following the defrost cycle, executing a machine learning process for a determined amount of time during which the controller learns a current expected/learned gap between the Control Temperature (CT) and Saturated Suction Temperature (SST); and averaging the current expected/learned gap with a previous expected/learned gap, which was machine learned by the controller following a previous defrost cycle, to thereby provide an average expected/learned gap usable by the controller as the previous expected/learned gap following the next defrost cycle.

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.