Abstract:
A method of performing an HVAC system set up. The method includes coupling a supervisory controller to a plurality of equipment controllers, the equipment controllers communicating with the supervisory controller over a bus. The supervisory controller polls addresses associated with the bus to detect the presence of equipment controllers on the bus. An HVAC device is associated with each controller in response to an HVAC device designated through a user interface and assigning an address to the HVAC device. The supervisory controller retrieves control data from a database and loading the control data into the equipment controllers. The supervisory controller loads operating parameters into the equipment controllers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/647,740 filed Jan. 27, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Embodiments of the invention relate to building automation, monitoring and control of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) components and/or subsystems and more particularly relates to devices and methods used in interfacing with existing devices and control systems, in addition to devices and methods utilized in new installation of devices and control systems.  
         [0003]     Embodiments of the invention are particularly suitable for building automation, monitoring and control of HVAC systems for small to medium sized commercial office buildings, shopping centers, grouped retail establishments, hospitals, schools, educational campuses, and multi-zoned residential facilities which require different HVAC settings and operation for occupied and unoccupied conditions.  
         [0004]     At present, there are a number of building automation, monitoring and control systems for HVAC applications. If these systems offer a reasonable level of complexity, they typically require the services of a trained or experienced technician and the employment of external programming equipment, often in the form of a laptop computer on which is installed a manufacturer-specific software application, to configure and commission the system. Further, in the event of a need to reconfigure or modify the presently installed arrangement of the building automation, monitoring or control system, said technician and accompanying external programming equipment and tools are typically required to perform the required reconfiguration and/or modifications.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     A feature of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a means and method of monitoring, controlling and/or recording the operation of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) components and/or subsystems without the need for external programming equipment and specialized training. A unique feature of embodiments of the invention is the pictorially graphic-based method of initial, and/or subsequent, configuration and selection of type, arrangement, feature(s) and/or desired operation of said HVAC components and/or subsystems.  
         [0006]     It is another feature of embodiments of the invention to provide a mechanism and means to monitor and/or (optionally) control said HVAC systems, components and subsystems remotely by means of an Ethernet-TCP/IP based communication protocol; with hypertext markup language (HTML) graphics and text content resident within the invention.  
         [0007]     It is another feature of embodiments of the invention to provide a ready means of communication to a plurality of externally mounted building and process measurement devices comprising, but not limited to, temperature, pressure, flow and humidity measurement and control devices.  
         [0008]     It is another feature of embodiments of the invention to provide a supervisory role in monitoring and reporting the normal operation of building automation, heating, ventilating and air conditioning components and/or subsystems with particular emphasis on the ability to indicate visually and report via electronic mail when installed into an existing Ethernet-TCP/IP communications network, with access to an electronic mail server.  
         [0009]     It is yet another feature of embodiments of the invention to provide a building automation, monitoring and/or operating system which is easy to operate and does not require specialized training or the use of external programming equipment or tools for configuration and commissioning.  
         [0010]     Embodiments of the invention comprise a microprocessor-based computer running, for example, the Microsoft™ Windows-CE operating system having a plurality of memory means operative to store therein a plurality of predetermined and preprogrammed programs for selection and configuration by means of a touchscreen interface, an integral computer monitor screen and preprogrammed graphical depictions of typical heating, ventilating and air conditioning components, devices and subsystems. The invention is contained within a relatively small enclosure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an exemplary HVAC control system in embodiments of the invention  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts user interfaces presented to the user during system set up.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a pictorially based graphical representation of an initial grouping of several heating, ventilating and air conditioning devices, components and/ or subsystems  
         [0014]      FIG. 3B  is a pictorially based graphical representation of a more detailed grouping of the building automation, monitoring and/or control system chosen in graphic depicted in  FIG. 3A .  
         [0015]      FIG. 3C  is a pictorially based graphical representation of the heating, ventilating or air conditioning system, components and/or subsystem as configured and defined by the subsequent choices made by selections depicted in  FIGS. 3A and 3B .  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an exemplary set up process. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     Embodiments of the invention relate to an HVAC control system. The HVAC control system has several features that distinguishes it from other HVAC building control systems.  FIG. 1  is a diagram of an exemplary HVAC control system  100  in embodiments of the invention. The HVAC control system is a tiered system that uses a supervisory controller  104  and controllers  114  at the equipment level. The supervisory controller  104  is a microprocessor based device that controls scheduling, remote control of setpoints, remote monitoring, alarming, trending and graphic display. The supervisory controller  104  executes a computer program to performed functions described herein. The supervisory controller  104  is connected to an external network  108  to provide for communications with external sources (e.g., email alerts to external devices). Network  108  may be a TCP/IP network including LAN, WAN, Ethernet, Internet, etc or a dial-up connection via an internal modem in the supervisory controller  104 . Reports generated by the supervisory controller  104  may be sent to external source via network  108 .  
         [0018]     The equipment level controller  114  controls setpoints, tuning parameters, inputs and outputs. The equipment level controller  114  will operate without the supervisory controller  104  although without its features.  
         [0019]     A user interface  106  is part of supervisory controller  104  and provides a display screen for the user to view various system information as described in further detail herein. Further, the user interface  106  includes an input device for the user to enter information. The input device may be implemented using known input devices such as a touchscreen, keypad, keyboard, mouse, etc.  
         [0020]     Database  110  is connected to the supervisory controller  104  and contains control data, display data and operating parameters. The control data, display data and operating parameters are predefined and stored in the database  110  to facilitate setup of the control system  100 . The display data presents pictorial representations of HVAC systems, sub-systems, components, etc. As described in further detail herein, the user may define the HVAC system selecting predefined system elements. The control data is used to set control routines for monitoring/controlling system parameters at HVAC equipment  112 . The control data instructs the equipment controller  114  of what parameters to monitor, and when, in response to user inputs in setting up the system.  
         [0021]     HVAC devices  112  include a variety of HVAC elements such as heating/cooling units, fans, dampers, etc. The supervisory controller  104  interacts with the HVAC devices  112  through controllers  114  over a local bus  116 . The local bus may be a serial bus as known in the art to establish communications between the controllers  114  and the supervisory controller  104 . In one example, the serial bus is an RS485, multidrop serial bus. The bus  116  may also be a wireless bus. The controllers  114  monitor parameters at the HVAC devices  112  and adjust operating parameters of the HVAC devices in accordance with control data in the equipment controller  114 .  
         [0022]     A feature of the HVAC control system  100  is how these functions are initially set up. Other systems require one or more additional software packages to program. Some require classes. These may be required at the equipment controller level, another at the supervisory level and yet another for the graphics. There is a detailed learning curve that all employees must go through to become competent at programming. A laptop computer is required to perform all this programming.  
         [0023]     The HVAC control system  100  of embodiments of the invention requires no additional software or computers. The entire system is designed to be intuitive by nature. An HVAC technician with minimum computer skills can set up the HVAC control system. The entire setup is done through the user interface  106  and the supervisory controller  104  that contains its own computer and software. Very simple questions about the type of equipment to be controlled are asked. These are questions an HVAC technician would be very comfortable answering. There are graphic pictures to assist in understanding.  
         [0024]     While other systems are labor-intensive, the HVAC control system  100  is very simple and quick to set up. In some applications, the supervisory controller  104  automatically programs the equipment controllers  114  based on common system configurations. The advantage is a system that most technicians can install, lower labor costs over the life of the system, no additional equipment costs and unaffected by technician turnover.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary process for setting up an HVAC control system. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the user walks through a series graphical interfaces to set up the control system. It is understood that  FIG. 2  illustrates a single example of set up of the HVAC control system and that a number of other set ups may be implemented using the HVAC control system  100 .  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , at step  1 , the users selects the type of communication network used to establish communications between the equipment controller  102  and controllers  114 . In the example in  FIG. 2 , the user selects a bus based protocol referred to as E-Z bus and saves the selection at step  2 . At step  3 , the user selects a utility menu through a utility icon.  
         [0027]     At step  4 , the user initiates a set up routine by selecting a set up icon though a utilities menu. Launching the set up routine allows the user to select air paths, selecting heating/cooling choices, assign zones, etc. As shown in  FIG. 2 , at step  4  the user is presented with an air path selection screen, at which the user selects the rooftop or split option. It is understood that other options are presented to the user such as variable volume/temperature set up, variable air volume, etc.  FIG. 3A  depicts another grouping of heating, ventilating and air conditioning components and subsystems. Selection of the desired component is accomplished by touching the graphical image of the component representation.  
         [0028]     Once the user selects the rooftop or split option, the user is presented with a heating/cooling choice option as shown at step  6 . The heating/cooling choices include features such as 1 stage heat/cool, 2 stage heat/cool, modulated heating, etc.  FIG. 3B  shows other graphical representations further defining the combination and arrangement of heating, ventilating and air conditioning components. Selection of the desired component is accomplished by touching the graphical image of the component representation. Referring to  FIG. 2 , in this example, the user picks 2 stage heat/cool and flow proceeds to step  7  where the user assigns an address for this zone.  
         [0029]     The user assigns an address for this zone by selecting one or more addresses at step  7 . The address corresponds to an equipment controller  114 . Thus, by selecting an address, the user has specified that equipment controller  1 , for example, is associated with a 2 stage heat/cool unit (selected at step  6 ). As described in further detail herein, this allows the supervisory controller  104  to transmit the appropriate control data to the equipment controller  114  for a 2 stage heat/cool unit. This greatly facilitates system set up as the installer does not need to program equipment controllers  114  manually.  
         [0030]     By selecting continue at step  8 , the air path interface is presented again and the user selects the utility icon at step  9 . The user is presented the utility interface and selects a label icon at step  10  to launch a label interface. The label interface allows the user to assign a descriptive label to a zone. Through steps  11 ,  12  and  13 , the user selects a zone by its address and enters a textual description.  
         [0031]     The user can also set parameters for each HVAC device though a main menu selected at step  14 . As shown at step  15 , the user selects one zone by address and is presented with a graphical representation of the HVAC device for that zone. By selecting a parameters icon at step  16 , an operating parameter interface is presented as shown at step  17 . Through the operating parameters interface, the user can define operating parameters for the HVAC device. Operating parameters include setpoints, PID setup, heating and cooling for day/night, etc.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3C  depicts a fully configured and operating pictorially graphic representation of a heating, ventilating or air conditioning system, component or subsystem.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an exemplary set up process. The process begins at step  210  where the connections between the supervisory controller  114  and the equipment controllers  114  are made. The equipment controllers  114  are connected to HVAC devices  112 . The equipment controllers are also connected to bus  116  to communicate with supervisory controller  104 . The supervisory controller is powered up at step  212  at which point the supervisory controller sends a query message on the bus  116  to detect equipment controllers  114  at step  214 . The controllers  114  respond with an acknowledgment and the supervisory controller  104  records the address of the responding controllers  114 . This allows supervisory controller  104  to which addresses correspond to controllers  114 . For example, controllers  114  may be located on bus addresses  1 ,  4 , and  16 .  
         [0034]     At step  218 , the user configures the controllers as described above with reference to  FIG. 2 . The user selects a type of HVAC device from the graphical interfaces and then assigns an address to the device. The supervisory controller  104  can detect a conflict between the automatically detected address and the user configured address. For example, if the user specifies that a roof top unit should be assigned to address  12 , but the supervisory controller did not detect a controller at address  12 , this will flag an error condition.  
         [0035]     Once the user assigns a valid address to the specified type of HVAC device, the supervisory controller then loads the necessary control data into the controller  114  at step  218 . The control data is retrieved from database  110  and sent to controllers  114 . Controllers  114  are addressable on bus  116  so that the correct control data is transmitted to each respective controller. The control data defines how the controller  114  interacts with the HVAC device  112 . This may include how conditions are sensed at the HVAC device and how commands are provided to the HVAC device. The set up process ends at step  220 .  
         [0036]     The system can operate once the HVAC devices are selected by the user and addresses associated with the HVAC devices. The supervisory controller can load default operating parameters into controllers  114  to provide for immediate operation. Of course, the user can adjust operating parameters of the controllers  114  through user interfaces such as those shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0037]     The current control data and operating parameters (either default or user-defined) are stored in database  110 . In the event that a controller  114  fails, the replacement controller can be updated by pushing the control data and operating parameters to the newly installed controller. This greatly facilitates installation of a new controller.  
         [0038]     As described above, the exemplary embodiments can be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. The exemplary embodiments can also be embodied in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the embodiments. The exemplary embodiments can also be embodied in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.  
         [0039]     While this invention has been described with reference to one or more embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention.