Facilitating radio frequency communications among environmental control system components

摘要

A boiler control device may include a housing and a wireless communication module for receiving coded control signals from the thermostat device. The boiler control device may also include boiler control circuitry for selectively controlling activation of the boiler-based heating system according to the coded control signals from the thermostat device. An onboard antenna disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the wireless communication module, and an interface configured to receive an auxiliary antenna. The auxiliary antenna may be disposed outside of the housing. Detection circuitry may detect times when the auxiliary antenna is communicatively coupled to the interface. Switching circuitry may interrupt communication between the onboard antenna and the wireless communication module during the times when the auxiliary antenna is communicatively coupled to the interface.

主权项

1. A control system flexibly adapted for retrofit use with multiple types of pre-existing boiler-based heating systems, the control system comprising:
a thermostat device comprising a user interface, a processor, a memory, and a temperature sensor, the thermostat device further comprising:
signal encoding circuitry for generating coded control signals for selectively controlling activation of a boiler-based heating system; anda first wireless antenna communication module for transmitting said coded control signals; and a boiler control device comprising:
a housing;a second wireless antenna communication module for receiving said coded control signals from the thermostat device;boiler control circuitry for selectively controlling activation of the boiler-based heating system according to said coded control signals from the thermostat device;an onboard antenna disposed within said housing and communicatively coupled to the second wireless antenna communication module;an interface configured to receive an auxiliary antenna, the auxiliary antenna disposed outside of said housing;detection circuitry configured to detect times when the auxiliary antenna is communicatively coupled to the interface; andswitching circuitry configured to detect said times when the auxiliary antenna is communicatively coupled to the interface and, in response, automatically interrupt communication between the onboard antenna and the second wireless antenna communication module during said times when the auxiliary antenna is communicatively coupled to the interface.