Controllers and methods for accepting multiple different types of input signals

1. A controller for use in accepting multiple different types of input signals, the controller comprising:

an input circuit including first and second terminals for receiving an input signal and at least one programmable resistor coupled to the first terminal; and

a processing device coupled to the input circuit, the processing device configured to control a resistance of the at least one programmable resistor based on a terminal setting, the terminal setting indicating whether the input signal is a voltage signal, a current signal, or a resistance signal, the processing device configured to interpret the input signal applied to the processing device via the input circuit;

wherein the controller comprises a thermostat.

2. The controller of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface coupled to the processing device and configured to receive a user input indicative of the terminal setting.

3. The controller of claim 2 , wherein the terminal setting is a preset terminal setting associated with a device coupled to the first and second terminals, the terminal setting further indicating at least one of a voltage range, a resistance range, and a current range associated with the input signal.

4. The controller of claim 2 , wherein:

the user interface includes a display device; and

the processing device is configured to solicit, via the display device, the user input indicative of the terminal setting from a user.

5. A controller for use in accepting multiple different types of input signals, the controller comprising:

an input circuit including first and second terminals for receiving an input signal and at least one programmable resistor coupled to the first terminal; and

a processing device coupled to the input circuit, the processing device configured to control a resistance of the at least one programmable resistor based on a terminal setting, the terminal setting indicating whether the input signal is a voltage signal, a current signal, or a resistance signal, the processing device configured to interpret the input signal applied to the processing device via the input circuit;

wherein:

the at least one programmable resistor includes a first programmable resistor and a second programmable resistor connected in series with the first programmable resistor, the first and second programmable resistors connected across the first and second terminals; and

the processing device includes an analog-to-digital converter having an input, the first programmable resistor connected across the input of the analog-to-digital converter.

6. The controller of claim 5 , wherein the at least one programmable resistor includes a third programmable resistor connected between the first terminal and a voltage source.

7. The controller of claim 6 , wherein the processing device is configured to set the third programmable resistor to a substantially high resistance relative to the resistances of the first and second programmable resistors, and to control resistances of the first and second programmable resistors according to at least one operating parameter of the analog-to-digital converter when the terminal setting indicates the input signal is a voltage signal.

8. The controller of claim 6 , wherein the processing device is configured to calculate the resistance of the input signal based on the resistances of the first and the second programmable resistors and a known voltage at the voltage source when the terminal setting indicates the input signal is a resistance signal.

9. The controller of claim 6 , wherein the processing device is configured to set the third programmable resistor to a substantially high resistance relative to the resistance of the second programmable resistor and to control the resistance of the third programmable resistor according to at least one operating parameter of the analog-to-digital converter when the terminal setting indicates the input signal is a current signal.

10. The controller of claim 5 , wherein the controller comprises a thermostat.

11. A controller for use in accepting multiple different types of input signals, the controller comprising:

an input circuit including first and second terminals for receiving an input signal from a device within a climate control system, the input circuit including a first programmable element;

a user interface for receiving a terminal setting from a user; and

a processing device coupled to the input circuit and the user interface, the processing device configured to set a parameter of the first programmable element to a value when the terminal setting indicates the input signal is one type of signal, and to set the parameter of the first programmable element to a different value when the terminal setting indicates the input signal is a different type of signal;

wherein the processing device is configured to interpret the input signal applied to the processing device via the input circuit; and

wherein:

the user interface includes a display device; and

the processing device is configured to solicit, via the display device, at least one user input indicative of the terminal setting from a user.

12. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the parameter is at least one of a resistance, a capacitance, and an inductance of the first programmable element.

13. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the input circuit includes a current-to-voltage converter coupled to the first programmable element for receiving a current signal.

14. The controller of claim 11 , wherein:

the processing device includes an analog-to-digital converter; and

the processing device is configured to measure, at the analog-to-digital converter, the voltage applied to the analog-to-digital converter via the input circuit and to convert the measured voltage to information represented by the input signal based on at least one of the terminal setting, a scaling factor, an equation, and a look-up table, to thereby interpret the input signal.

15. The controller of claim 11 , further comprising a second input circuit for receiving a second input signal and including a second programmable element, the input circuit coupled to the processing device; and

wherein the processing device is configured to set a parameter of the second programmable element to a value when a second terminal setting indicates the second input signal is one type of signal, and to set the parameter of the second programmable element to a different value when the second terminal setting indicates the second input signal is a different type of signal.

16. A method for accepting multiple different types of input signals, the method comprising:

receiving, at an input circuit, an input signal indicative of a condition on a system;

controlling, by a processing device, at least one parameter of at least one programmable element of the input circuit based on a terminal setting and at least one operating parameter of the processing device; and

interpreting, by the processing device, the input signal;

wherein the method further comprises displaying, at a user interface, a plurality of terminal settings and receiving, at the user interface, a selection of the terminal setting from the plurality of terminal settings.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein interpreting the input signal includes interpreting the input signal based on an input signal range indicated by the terminal setting.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein controlling the at least one parameter of the at least one programmable element of the input circuit includes controlling the resistance of a plurality of programmable elements based on the terminal setting.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising receiving, at a user interface, a selection of the terminal setting from a plurality of preset terminal settings, the selected preset terminal setting corresponding to a device coupled to the input circuit.