Abstract:
A system for self-configuring complex HVAC systems has each of several units provided with a microprocessor control. The several units are each available in various optional styles, sizes, etc. The microprocessors provide information to a central control of the particular characteristic of the particular unit. Thus, when the HVAC system is initially assembled, the microprocessors associated with the individual units report these characteristics to the control. The control then determines the characteristics of each of the individual units, and accesses control strategies for the combination of individual units that are being utilized in the particular HVAC system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This application relates to a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system wherein the various units report to a central control about characteristics of the units. In this way, the control is provided with information on each of the several units, and can identify a control strategy to encompass the individual characteristics of the several units, and to ensure they cooperate efficiently.  
         [0002]     Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are becoming increasingly complex. As an example, such systems typically include an indoor unit, which may be a furnace or heater/fan coil. Also, an outdoor unit that may be an air conditioner or heat pump is provided. Most units include a thermostat. More sophisticated systems may include separate zone controls for several zones, a ventilator, a humidifier, an air cleaner, etc.  
         [0003]     Each of the several distinct units may have several available sizes (capacities, airflow, ranges, zone ranges, etc.) As examples, furnaces typically come in several capacity ranges, as do air conditioners. Within a size, there may also be types, such as high efficiency, mid-efficiency, etc. There are several options for each of the other units such as the zone control, ventilator, humidifier, air cleaner, etc.  
         [0004]     To provide efficient system control, an installer must configure a control to know the characteristics of the other units installed in the particular system. As an example, the particular size or capacity of the furnace may impact the control of the ventilator, humidifier, etc. This is but one example of interaction, and a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that each of the units would have several levels of interaction with other units.  
         [0005]     The method an installer uses for configuration can take several different forms. As an example, the installer may need to set switches, jumpers or software flags in a central control. Typically, such configuration must be done for several distinct units in the system. This configuration can require the installer to be highly trained in all aspects of the systems. Errors in proper configuration can result in inefficient control, including customer dissatisfaction, malfunction, inefficient operation, and even equipment failure.  
         [0006]     As HVAC systems become even more sophisticated, and perform more advanced functions, the complexity of configuration will only increase.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     A disclosed system is self-configuring, in that plural units are provided with an electronic control that reports the unit&#39;s particular characteristics to a central control. The central control takes in the characteristics of each of the several units, and has available to it optimum operational strategies based upon the combination of several units that have reported.  
         [0008]     In disclosed embodiments of this invention, each of the main units are provided with microprocessor controls that communicate with the central control. The central control is preferably located within the thermostat.  
         [0009]     The central control is preferably provided with control algorithms to control the inter-related operation of the several units based upon the characteristics of each unit. Thus, once the system is initially assembled, each of the several units communicates its individual characteristics to the central control. The central control is then able to control each of the units in an efficient manner based upon how the several units would be best operated in combination with the other units. The controls that are utilized once the characteristics of the units have been determined, are known. This invention extends to the way the size, type, etc. information is supplied to the central control. Problems with regard to configuration are eliminated, as the “configuration” is done at set-up.  
         [0010]     These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic view of a building HVAC system.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1B  shows examples of the types of information that might be provided.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1C  shows an example display.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method according to the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a most preferred schematic arrangement. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]      FIG. 1A  schematically shows an HVAC system  20  incorporating a thermostat  22 . As shown, thermostat  22  incorporates a microprocessor  23  which is a central control for system  20 . The microprocessor  23  has available access to a memory  24 . An indoor heating unit  26  may be a furnace, or a heater and fan, and is also provided with a microprocessor  28 . An outdoor unit  30  which may be an air conditioner or heat pump, is also provided with a microprocessor  32 .  
         [0017]     An auxiliary device, shown as a ventilation device  34 , has its own microprocessor  36 . Various zone controls  38  have microprocessors  40  shown schematically also. A connectivity kit, such as a remote access module  42  has a microprocessor  44 . A remote access module is typically a wireless link to an internet connection that allows a user to monitor or change temperature conditions from a remote location. This is an example system, and this invention does extend to systems with fewer units and systems with more units.  
         [0018]     As shown, each of the units  26 ,  30 ,  34 ,  38  and  42  communicate with the microprocessor  23 . The microprocessors  28 ,  32 ,  36 ,  40  and  44  associated with the several units control operation of each individual unit. The microprocessors  28 ,  32 ,  36 ,  40  and  44  receive instructions from the microprocessor  23 . Microprocessor  23  sends instruction to achieve temperature, etc. as requested by a user through the thermostat.  
         [0019]     Moreover, and in accordance with this invention, the microprocessors  28 ,  32 ,  36 ,  40  and  44  are operable to provide characteristic information to the microprocessor  23 . In particular, each of the units  26 ,  30 ,  34 ,  38  and  42  come in optional sizes, capacities, etc. Their individual microprocessors are able to communicate information to the microprocessor  23  at the thermostat  22  to report on the particular characteristic of the particular installed unit  26 ,  30 ,  34 ,  38  and  42 .  
         [0020]     Each of the microprocessors ( 28 ,  32 ,  36 ,  40  and  44 ) associated with the particular reporting units have stored information that is associated with a particular characteristic of the units ( 26 ,  30 ,  34 ,  38  and  42 ), and can distinguish between the available types of reporting units. As an example, if there are several available indoor units, the characteristic information stored in the microprocessor  28  of the indoor unit  26  would carry some code indicative of the particular characteristic. The microprocessor  23  is provided information such that the reporting information from the indoor unit  26  would let the microprocessor  23  know what the particular characteristics are.  
         [0021]     The characteristic information is preferably programmed into each unit&#39;s microprocessor in the factory at the time the equipment is manufactured. One preferred method of factory programming the configuration information is by a factory run test computer, which can recognize the exact model being tested. The factory run test computer can then digitally download the model specific information, or the characteristic information, into the electronic control of the unit. Alternatively, some configuration information may be factory set by means of jumpers, switches, or model plugs.  
         [0022]     When the system is initially installed, the microprocessor  23  is provided with this characteristic information on each of the units  26 ,  30 ,  34 ,  38  and  42 . If a unit is ever changed, the replacement unit will need to report its characteristic information. Thus, the reports preferably occur at least periodically.  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , an initial step in this invention, is to connect the units together. The units will then all report to the microprocessor  23 . Microprocessor  23  can then access a memory  24  to determine how the several units are best controlled in combination with each other to achieve optimal results. The information in the memory  24  may be determined experimentally, or in other ways known to a worker of ordinary skill in the art. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize how each of the several units are best utilized in combination with each other dependent upon the characteristic of each of the units, or how such optimal operation algorithms can be determined.  
         [0024]     As shown for example in  FIG. 1A , within the memory  24  are a plurality of available options for the indoor unit, the outdoor unit, and the ventilator. Various combinations of types, shown here indicated by letters of the alphabet, are stored, and are associated with algorithms for operation of that preferred combination of type units. Once the microprocessor  23  is provided with information of the types of indoor unit, outdoor unit, and ventilation device, it can identify and utilize appropriate controls for the particular combination. The illustrated memory is an oversimplification, in that there are other units such as shown in  FIG. 1A  that would also have options within the memory. Examples of the types of information, and some of the example types of units are shown in  FIG. 1B . Thus, and as an example, the furnace may be programmed to report information on its characteristics such as model number, serial number, furnace size, airflow range, and pressure constants. Again, while the chart does show numerous other units and types of characteristic information, the listing is meant to be exemplary and not limiting.  
         [0025]     At the time of installation, the identified characteristics are displayed in some manner to the installer. One example display is shown in  FIG. 1C . Preferably, a display on thermostat  22  would report to the installer that reporting information has been successfully received from each of the units that should have reported. The installer can then ensure proper installation, and that the characteristic information has been properly reported.  
         [0026]     While the various units are shown reporting directly to the microprocessor  23 , in practice, it will be most preferred that they would communicate through a serial bus connection such as is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Communicating HVAC System” filed on even date herewith, and naming the same inventors as this application.  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the preferred arrangement includes control wires providing a control communication bus between microprocessor  23  and  28 . The microprocessor  32  in the outdoor unit  30  preferably communicates through indoor unit microprocessor  28  to microprocessor  23 . Further, the auxiliary microprocessors such as the microprocessor  36  in the ventilation unit may also communicate to the microprocessor  23  through the indoor unit microprocessor  28 . Again, this aspect of the invention is disclosed in greater detail in the above-referenced co-pending patent application, and the details of the connection are incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0028]     As also shown in  FIG. 1B , each of the reporting units may carry information from various accessing units to report to microprocessor  23 . Examples are identified under “Identified Field Installed Accessories” column. One example is the capacity of an electric heater may be reported by the microprocessor  28  associated with the fan coil. The electric heater may report its capacity to microprocessor  28  such as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Identification of Electric Heater Capacity,” filed on ______. The capacity of the electric heater will then be included in the characteristics communicated by microprocessor  28  to microprocessor  23 . Again, other examples of accessory information are illustrated in  FIG. 1B , but are not intended to be limiting.  
         [0029]     The stored control algorithms may be as known in the art. As mentioned above, in the prior art, when the system was initially configured, an installer set flags, switches, etc. which instructed the control on which algorithm to pick. The present invention is directed to providing the information to the control without any need for the installer to perform such steps.  
         [0030]     While microprocessor controls have been disclosed, other types of appropriate controls can be utilized to perform this invention.  
         [0031]     Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.