LOW-COST CONTROLLER HAVING A DYNAMICALLY CHANGEABLE INTERFACE

• US 20080125914A1
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wacker, Paul C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A controller for dynamic redefinition of a short stack initialization to provide a low cost generic controller. The controller may be built with a network variable interface which has its variables initially selected by the time of the completion of the build. Thus, if different network variables are desired, then the controller needs to be placed with the builder or special technician for implementing the changes. The present invention modifies that controller so as to provide a capability of changing the network variables without the need of the builder or anyone else to modify the network variables in the controller'"'"'s interface. The network variables may now be changed by an operator or customer, even while that controller is in operation.

Claims

1. A controller comprising:

a first processor; and

a second processor connected to the first processor; and

wherein;

the first processor comprises;

a communication interface; and

a first network variable memory; and

the second processor comprises;

a control logic module connected to the communication interface; and

a second network variable memory connected to the control logic module and the first network variable memory.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein:

the communication interface provides a set of network variables to the control logic module;

the control logic module provides the set of network variables to the second memory; and

the second memory has contents flashed into the first memory.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein:

the first memory initially holds a first set of network variables; and

the set of network variables to the control logic module is a second set of network variables.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the first set of network variables is provided by a customer to the first processor.

5. The controller of claim 3, wherein:

the first memory is a ShortStack™

;

the second memory is a ShortStack™

;

at least one processor is a Neuron™

; and

a LonTalk™

protocol is inherent in at least one processor.

6. The controller of claim 3, wherein the first and second processors are microprocessors.

7. The controller of claim 3, wherein the network variables in the communication interface are not to be changed.

8. The controller of claim 3, wherein the customer may change the first set of network variables on the fly.

9. A method for making a controller having changeable network variables, comprising:

building a controller comprising a first processor and a second processor;

providing a first memory to the first processor; and

providing control logic and a second memory to the second processor; and

wherein contents of the second memory can be flashed into the first memory.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing a communication interface in a first portion of the first memory;

selecting and providing a first set of network variables to a second portion of the first memory; and

completing a build of the controller.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing the controller to a customer; and

wherein;

the customer prefers a second set of network variables to be in the controller; and

the customer provides the second set of network variables to the communication interface.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

moving the second set of network variables from the communication interface to the control logic;

placing the second set of network variables from the control logic to the second memory; and

flashing the first memory with the second set of network variables from the second memory.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the customer has the second set of network variables in the controller; and

the second set of network variables were put into the controller on the fly.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the first memory is a ShortStack™

;

the second memory is a ShortStack™

; and

the first processor is a Neuron™

.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the controller is an HVAC controller.

16. A system for changing parameters in a controller, comprising:

a first memory in a first processor;

a control logic in a second processor;

a second memory in the second processor; and

wherein;

the first memory is flashed with an initial set of selected network variables;

the control logic receives another set of selected network variables;

the control logic flashes the second memory with the other set of selected network variables;

the first memory is reflashed with contents of the second memory; and

the first memory contains the other set of selected network variables in lieu of the initial set of selected network variables.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the initial set of selected network variables is replaced with the other set of network variables on the fly while the system is operating.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the initial set of selected network variables is flashed into the first memory before completion of fabrication of the system for changing parameters.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the other set of selected network variables are provided to the system, by a customer after completion of fabrication of the system, for changing network variables.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the first and second memories are ShortStacks™

;

the first processor is a Neuron™

; and

the first and second processors contain a LonTalk™

protocol.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first processor comprises a communication interface for connection with an external network.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the system is a networked HVAC zone controller.