Patent ID: 7748640
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: F24F,H01H,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A thermostat comprising: a user interface module, the user interface module having a display, a plurality of user interface buttons, and a first power and communications interface; and an I/O module, the I/O module electrically coupled to a HVAC plant, the I/O module having a plurality of switches to control the HVAC plant, and a second power and communications interface, wherein the first power and communications interface is electrically coupled to the second power and communications interface, wherein the user interface module and the I/O module are communicatively coupled and exchange power via the first and second power and communications interfaces with less wires than are used to electrically couple the I/O module to the HVAC plant, and wherein the thermostat can be mounted and operated in one of two user selectable installations selected from at least one of: a stacked configuration that comprises a thermostat, which has the user interface module directly mounted to the I/O module, and a remote configuration that comprises a thermostat, which has the user interface module remotely mounted from the I/O module, wherein in the remote configuration the I/O module is located in a first space that houses the HVAC plant, wherein the user interface module is located in a second space where comfort settings are maintained, and wherein the first space is different from the second space.