Service and diagnostic tool for HVAC systems

• US 20050159847A1
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Shah, Rajendra K., Puranen, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,212,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

An HVAC system includes a portable controller unit which communicates with an indoor HVAC component and an outdoor HVAC component over a digital communication bus. A multiple of docking stations each in communication with the data bus are located at a multiple of locations throughout the system such that the portable controller unit may be selectively connected to any of the ports and moved therebetween. By moving the portable controller unit, the technician is then physically present at the HVAC component while exercising the system to obtain additional information and measurements directly from the HVAC component.

Claims

1. An HVAC system comprising:

a multiple of HVAC components, each of said multiple of HVAC components comprising a component microprocessor;

a digital communication system in communication with each of said component microprocessors;

a multiple of docking stations in communication with said digital communication system; and

a portable controller unit selectively connectable to any of said multiple of docking stations.

2. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1, wherein said multiple of HVAC components comprise at least one of:

an A/C unit, a heat pump, a zone control, a furnace or a fan coil.

3. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1, wherein said portable controller unit comprises a thermostat.

4. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a service tool which selectively communicates with said digital communication system through one of said multiple of docking stations.

5. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a service tool which selectively communicates with said digital communication system through one of said multiple of docking stations while said portable controller unit is connected to another of said multiple of docking stations.

6. An HVAC system comprising:

an indoor HVAC component comprising an indoor component microprocessor;

an outdoor HVAC component comprising an outdoor component microprocessor;

a digital communication system in communication with said indoor component microprocessor and said outdoor component microprocessor;

a multiple of docking stations in communication with said digital communication system; and

a portable controller unit selectively connectable to any of said multiple of docking stations.

7. The HVAC system as recited in claim 6, wherein said portable controller unit comprises a thermostat.

8. The HVAC system as recited in claim 6, wherein said multiple of docking stations comprise an indoor docking station and an outdoor docking station.

9. A method of communicating with an HVAC system comprising the steps of:

(1) selectively connecting a portable controller unit to one of a multiple of docking stations, the multiple of docking stations in digital communication with a multiple of HVAC components.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

moving the portable controller unit from one of the multiple of docking stations to another of the multiple of docking stations.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

connecting a service tool to a second of the multiple of docking stations while the portable controller unit is connected to the one of the multiple of docking stations.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of:

overriding an instruction sent by the portable controller unit when the service tool is connected to the second of the multiple of docking stations.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of:

overriding all instructions sent by the portable controller unit when the service tool is connected to the one of the multiple of docking stations.