Patent ID: 7766246

Claim:
A zone control panel comprising: (i) a plurality of thermostat terminals, each thermostat terminal configured to receive signals from one of a plurality of thermostats, where each of the plurality of thermostats is located within one of a plurality of zones; (ii) a plurality of damper terminals, each damper terminal configured to transmit signals to control one of a plurality of zone dampers; (iii) one or more terminals for transmitting signals to control a fluid temperature conditioning device having a variable speed blower; and (iv) a blower terminal for transmitting a signal to a dehumidification terminal associated with the fluid temperature conditioning device, where the dehumidification terminal is labeled or indicated for use with a dehumidification operating mode or to initiate a dehumidification operating mode of the variable speed blower, and where the signal transmitted from the blower terminal changes between only a first state and a second state in response to the number of zones that are calling for conditioning, wherein the first state is an off state and the second state is an on state having a predetermined alternating current (AC) voltage, and where the change in the state of the signal transmitted from the blower terminal causes the speed of the variable speed blower to change.