Function transform sub-base

• US 20040238651A1
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Juntunen, Robert D., Stolt, Peter E., Shoultz, Guy M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,360,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/20R
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 1/082 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2235/18 Groups of two or more valves
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2237/08 two or more different types of fuel simultaneously

Abstract

Methods, devices and systems for coupling an HVAC controller to an HVAC system are provided. In several embodiments, a sub-base is provided allowing an HVAC controller to be coupled to a printed wire board to allow, in some cases, modification of the HVAC controller function. The sub-base may include a plurality of terminals, each terminal having a contact mating feature for receiving a pin of an HVAC controller, a terminal block location for receiving an end of a wire, and a transformation pin-out adapted to couple to a printed wire board, with the contact mating feature, the terminal block location, and the transformation pin-out being electrically coupled together. In one embodiment, an HVAC controller is modified to allow a controller adapted for use with a single fuel system to control dual fuel system.

Claims

1. A transform sub-base for an HVAC controller, wherein the HVAC controller includes a plurality of terminals, the transform sub-base comprising:

a plurality of contact mating feature for receiving at least some of the plurality of terminals of the HVAC controller;

at least one transformation pin-out electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of contact mating feature, the at least one transformation pin-out adapted to make an electrical connection to a printed wire board.

2. A transform sub-base according to claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of terminal block locations, each electrically coupled to one or more contact mating features.

3. The transform sub-base of claim 1 wherein each of the contact mating features is adapted to releasably receive a corresponding pin of the HVAC controller.

4. The transform sub-base of claim 2 wherein each of the terminal block locations is adapted to secure a wire.

5. A transform sub-base for an HVAC controller, wherein the HVAC controller includes a plurality of terminals, the transform sub-base comprising:

a body;

a plurality of contact mating features formed into one side of the body for receiving at least some of the plurality of terminals of the HVAC controller;

a plurality of terminal block locations formed into the body, each terminal block location being electrically coupled to one or more of the contact mating features; and

a plurality of transformation pin-outs, each electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of contact mating features, the plurality of transformation pin-outs formed into an opposite side of the body as the plurality of contact mating features and each being adapted to make an electrical connection to a printed wire board.

6. A controller system for an HVAC system, the controller system comprising:

an HVAC controller;

a printed wire board having a number of terminals;

a transform sub-base for providing an electrical interface between the HVAC controller and the printed wire board; and

a processing block for processing signals provided between the HVAC controller and selected terminals of the printed wire board.

7. A controller system according to claim 6, wherein the processing block includes a microprocessor.

8. A controller system according to claim 6, wherein the processing block includes one or more relays.

9. A controller system according to claim 6 wherein the processing block includes one or more inputs that are coupled to selected terminals of the printed wire board.

10. A controller system according to claim 6 wherein the processing block includes one or more outputs that are coupled to selected terminals of the printed wire board.

11. A controller system according to claim 6 wherein the processing block includes one or more inputs that are coupled to one or more terminals of the HVAC controller.

12. A controller system according to claim 6 wherein the processing block includes one or more outputs that are coupled to one or more terminals of the HVAC controller.

13. A method for using an HVAC controller, the method comprising:

providing a transform sub-base including a plurality of terminals, each terminal having a contact mating feature for receiving a pin of an HVAC controller, a terminal block location for receiving an end of a wire, and a transformation pin-out adapted to couple to a printed wire board, wherein the contact mating feature is electrically coupled to the terminal block location and the transformation pin-out;

providing a printed wire board having circuitry for customizing the function of the HVAC controller;

coupling the transform sub-base to the printed wire board; and

coupling the HVAC controller to the transform sub-base.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

providing an electric circuit on the printed wire board, the electric circuit having a first output controlling whether a first fuel valve is enabled and a second output controlling whether a second fuel valve is enabled, the circuit configured so that when the first output is enabling, the second output is not enabling.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising coupling a selected transformation pin-out of the transform sub-base to the electric circuit, the selected transformation pin-out controlling whether the first output or the second output can be enabled.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising coupling a selection signal to the electric circuit, the selection signal controlling which of the first output or the second output is enabled.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the selection signal is generated from a switch coupled to the printed wire board.

18. A control system for an HVAC system, the control system comprising:

an HVAC controller adapted to control a single fuel heat source;

a sub-base adapted to be mounted to a printed wire board and adapted to receive the HVAC controller; and

a printed wire board adapted to enable the HVAC controller to control a more than one fuel heat source.

19. The control system of claim 18 wherein the sub-base is coupled to the printed wire board and the controller such that the sub-base creates electrical connections between the controller and the printed wire board.

20. The control system of claim 19 wherein the printed wire board is coupled to a first fuel valve via a first output terminal and a second fuel valve via a second output terminal, and wherein the printed wire board includes circuitry allowing a control signal from the HVAC controller to be coupled to only one of the output terminals at a time.

21. A method for controlling an HVAC system with an HVAC controller, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a control signal from the HVAC controller to the HVAC system, the control signal intended to control at least part of the HVAC system; and

altering the control signal and/or the path of the control signal, outside of the HVAC controller, before providing the control signal to the HVAC system.

22. A method for controlling an HVAC system with an HVAC controller, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an input signal to the HVAC controller, the input signal intended to provide control information to the HVAC controller; and

altering the input signal and/or the path of the input signal, outside of the HVAC controller, before providing the input signal to the HVAC controller.