Patent ID: 7296426

Claim:
An interactive system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system, the interactive system comprising: a thermostat configured to transmit signals to request the operation of the HVAC system in either a full capacity mode, or a mid-capacity mode of operation that provides at least some degree of cooling operation; an outdoor condenser unit having a condenser fan motor and a compressor motor, a solenoid for switching the compressor to a mid-capacity mode of operation, and an outdoor condenser unit controller in connection with the compressor motor and solenoid, the outdoor condenser unit controller being configured to receive request signals from the thermostat and to activate the compressor in a full capacity mode or activate the solenoid to switch the compressor to a mid-capacity mode or operation, the outdoor condenser unit controller being further configured to detect when a solenoid fault has caused the compressor to be inoperable at mid-capacity and to responsively communicate a signal indicating that the compressor is inoperable at mid-capacity and is being switched to full-capacity operation, regardless of whether the thermostat is requesting mid-capacity cooling operation; an indoor blower unit having a blower fan motor, and a controller for the indoor blower unit in connection with the blower fan motor, the indoor blower unit controller being capable of operating the blower fan motor in a full speed mode and a low speed mode; a multi-wire network in connection with the thermostat, outdoor condenser unit controller, and indoor blower unit controller, for transmitting information between the outdoor condenser unit controller and the indoor blower controller relating to the operation of the indoor blower and the outdoor condenser unit, wherein the indoor blower controller responsively controls the operation of the blower fan motor at full speed, regardless of whether the thermostat is requesting low speed, based on information received from the outdoor condenser unit controller indicating that the compressor is not operable in mid-capacity mode of operation.