Integrated HVACR control and protection system
First Claim
1. A control and protection system for an environmental conditioning system, comprising:
- a first microcontroller;
a temperature input coupled to said first microcontroller;
at least two sensor circuits coupled to said first microcontroller, said at least two sensor circuits selected from a group consisting of;
a power sensor circuit, a voltage sensor circuit, a current sensor circuit, and a terminal pin venting sensor circuit;
a user control coupled to said first microcontroller; and
a plurality of switching devices driven by said first microcontroller and adapted to control components of the environmental conditioning system, said first microcontroller driving said plurality of switching devices in response to evaluating signals received from said user control, said temperature input, and said at least two sensor circuits.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated HVACR control and protection system includes a modular and reprogrammable design providing a plurality of possible combinations of power detection, voltage detection, run current detection, transient current detection, temperature detection, universal thermostat interface, peripheral or remote control, and local display and control. The control and protection system is capable of evaluating the relationship between real power used by an HVACR system compressor and other system operating parameters to detect problems early in the failure cycle, i.e., before a failure has progressed to requiring a system shutdown or causing damage to other components. Additionally, a control system and method provide sensorless detection of various HVACR system faults, such as, for example, loss of refrigerant or a refrigerant flow restriction, that impact the relationship between real power and current, voltage, temperature, or other operating parameters. Peripheral or remote control includes wired or wireless system monitoring and parameter programming using a personal digital assistant (PDA), for example utilizing IR communication between the PDA and the control and protection system.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A control and protection system for an environmental conditioning system, comprising:
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a first microcontroller;
a temperature input coupled to said first microcontroller;
at least two sensor circuits coupled to said first microcontroller, said at least two sensor circuits selected from a group consisting of;
a power sensor circuit, a voltage sensor circuit, a current sensor circuit, and a terminal pin venting sensor circuit;
a user control coupled to said first microcontroller; and
a plurality of switching devices driven by said first microcontroller and adapted to control components of the environmental conditioning system, said first microcontroller driving said plurality of switching devices in response to evaluating signals received from said user control, said temperature input, and said at least two sensor circuits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A control and protection system for an environmental conditioning system, comprising:
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a microcontroller;
a plurality of modules selected from a group consisting of;
a power sensor circuit, a voltage sensor circuit, a current sensor circuit, and a terminal pin venting sensor circuit, wherein said plurality of modules are coupled to said microcontroller and any one of said plurality of modules may be individually excluded from the control and protection system without affecting the functionality of the remaining ones of said plurality of modules;
a temperature input coupled to said microcontroller;
a user control coupled to said microcontroller; and
a plurality of switching devices driven by said microcontroller and adapted to control components of the environmental conditioning system in response to said microcontroller evaluating signals received from said user control, said temperature input, and said plurality of modules. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A control and protection system for an environmental conditioning system, comprising:
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a local control having a first microcontroller;
a temperature input coupled to said first microcontroller;
an electrical sensing circuit mounted on said local controller and coupled to said first microcontroller;
a remote control having a second microcontroller;
a user control mounted on said remote control and coupled to said second microcontroller;
a communications interface coupling said first microcontroller and said second microcontroller; and
a plurality of switching devices mounted on said local control and driven by said first microcontroller and adapted to control components of the environmental conditioning system, said first microcontroller driving said plurality of switching devices in response to evaluating signals received from said user control, said temperature input, and said sensor circuit. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification