US 12,455,089 B2
Automatic wire detection for smart HVAC controllers
Waseem Amer, Islamabad (PK); Muhammad Zeeshan Ashraf, Islamabad (PK); Aftab Farooqi, Redmond, WA (US); Anees Ahmed Jarral, Islamabad (PK); and Umair Nawaz Khan, Punjab (PK)
Assigned to DiversiTech Corporation, Duluth, GA (US)
Filed by DiversiTech Corporation, Duluth, GA (US)
Filed on Mar. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/193,486.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/483,194, filed on Feb. 3, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0263820 A1, Aug. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. F24F 11/49 (2018.01); F24F 11/32 (2018.01); F24F 11/63 (2018.01); F24F 11/88 (2018.01); G05B 19/042 (2006.01); H02H 9/02 (2006.01); H02H 9/04 (2006.01)
CPC F24F 11/49 (2018.01) [F24F 11/32 (2018.01); F24F 11/63 (2018.01); F24F 11/88 (2018.01); G05B 19/042 (2013.01); H02H 9/02 (2013.01); H02H 9/04 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2614 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for automatic wire detection and handling of Rc, Rh, and W wires for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) smart controllers, comprising:
a computing device comprising a processor, a memory, and a plurality of electrical pins, wherein:
a first electrical input pin is electrically connected to a first wire terminal through a first voltage and current limiter circuit;
a second electrical input pin is electrically connected to a second wire terminal through a second voltage and current limiter circuit; and
a third electrical input pin is electronically connected to a third wire terminal through a third voltage and current limiter circuit;
an internal ground comprising an electrical connection to the zero-volt direct current node of a alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) rectifier configured to rectify an AC signal from a first transformer across the first terminal and the third terminal;
a one-way gate comprising a diode configured to allow current to flow in a single direction from the internal ground through the second wire terminal toward a possible second transformer of the HVAC system, and a first electronically-controllable switch operable by the computing device to make and break an electrical connection between the internal ground and the possible second transformer through the diode;
the first voltage and current limiter circuit, configured to reduce an electrical signal from the first HVAC system control wire to a voltage and current compatible with the first electrical input pin of the computing device;
the second voltage and current limiter circuit, configured to reduce an electrical signal from the second HVAC system control wire to a voltage and current compatible with the second electrical input pin of the computing device;
the third voltage and current limiter circuit, configured to reduce an electrical signal from the third HVAC system control wire to a voltage and current compatible with the third electrical input pin of the computing device;
a detection algorithm comprising a plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, causes the computing device to:
determine whether a first electrical signal exists on the first electrical input pin which is indicative of connection of a first HVAC system control wire to the first wire terminal;
determine whether a second electrical signal exists on the second electrical pin which is indicative of connection of a second HVAC system control wire connected to the second wire terminal;
close the one-way gate;
re-determine whether a second electrical signal exists on the second electrical pin; and
open the one-way gate.