Patent ID: 10859284

Abstract:
A solid-state common-wire adapter combines two Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning (HVAC) control signals on a single pre-existing wire to allow another pre-existing wire to be used as a common-wire to provide reliable power to a Smart Communicating Thermostat. The solid-state common-wire adapter may comprise a thermostat element with at least one diode and an HVAC element with at least one device selected from the group consisting of: a solid-state TRIode for Alternating Current (TRIAC), a capacitor, a microprocessor, a power supply, an optoisolator, and a load resistor. Smart Communicating Thermostats require continuous power for communicating with a wireless network, providing a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display, and controlling an HVAC system. Some Smart Communicating Thermostats use power stealing which is unreliable. The solid-state common-wire adapter is reliable, small, low-cost, and easy to install.