SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR USING A WIRELESS SENSOR IN CONJUNCTION WITH A HOST CONTROLLER

• US 20090115604A1
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Thomas, Robert J., Bray, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,199,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature

Abstract

Systems and methods for using a wireless sensor in conjunction with a host controller are described. An illustrative system can include a host controller, a wireless sensor device, and a decoder in communication with the wireless sensor device and the host controller. The host controller may include a remote sensor input that normally would be connected to a wired remote sensor having an expected sensor characteristic. The decoder may receive a wireless signal from the wireless sensor device, and may provide an output signal to the remote sensor input of the host controller that replicate or mimic signals that would be provided by a wired remote sensor having the expected sensor characteristic.

Claims

1. A controller for an HVAC system, comprising:

an HVAC controller having a remote sensor input, the HVAC controller expecting the remote sensor input to be connected to a remote sensor having an expected sensor characteristic;

at least one wireless sensor device including a wireless transmitter and at least one remote sensor for sensing one or more parameters remote from the HVAC controller and for wirelessly transmitting a signal that is representative of the one or more sensed parameters; and

at least one decoder connected to the remote sensor input of the HVAC controller, the decoder including a wireless receiver adapted to receive the wireless signal transmitted by the at least one wireless sensor device, the decoder configured to convert the received wireless signal into an output signal that is representative of the one or more sensed parameters and is compatible with the expected sensor characteristic of the remote sensor input of the HVAC controller.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless sensor device includes a wireless temperature sensor adapted to sense air temperature at a location remote from the HVAC controller.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the output signal provided by the decoder that is representative of the one or more sensed parameters is an analog current signal.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the analog current signal is within the range of 4-20 mA.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the output signal provided by the decoder that is representative of the one or more sensed parameters is an analog voltage signal.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the output signal provided by the decoder that is representative of the one or more sensed parameters is an analog resistance signal.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless sensor device includes a motion sensor.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter and wireless receiver each operate in the radio frequency range.

9. The controller of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one decoders is in radio communication with a single wireless sensor device.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one decoders is in radio communication with multiple wireless sensor devices.

11. The controller of claim 1, wherein the decoder has a selectable output format.

13. The controller of claim 11, wherein the HVAC controller is configured to control one or more HVAC components based at least in part on the resistance presented by the decoder.

14. The controller of claim 11, wherein the decoder has a selectable output format, wherein the decoder can convert the received wireless signal into a selectable one of a number of different resistance ranges.

15. The controller of claim 14, wherein one of the different resistance ranges corresponds to an expected sensor characteristic of a 10 kΩ

wired thermistor.

16. The controller of claim 14, wherein one of the different resistance ranges corresponds to an expected sensor characteristic of a 20 kΩ

wired thermistor.

17. The controller of claim 14, wherein one of the different resistance ranges corresponds to an expected sensor characteristic of a 30 kΩ

wired thermistor.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the expected sensor characteristic corresponds to a wired sensor.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wired sensor is a thermistor.

12. A controller for an HVAC system, comprising:

an HVAC controller having a remote sensor input, the HVAC controller expecting the remote sensor input to be connected to a thermistor having an expected sensor characteristic, the HVAC controller configured to control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system based, at least in part, on the remote sensor input;

a wireless temperature sensor including a wireless transmitter, and further including a thermistor for use in sensing a temperature at a location remote from the HVAC controller; and

a decoder connected to the remote sensor input of the HVAC controller, the decoder including a wireless receiver configured to receive a wireless signal transmitted by the wireless transmitter of the wireless temperature sensor, the decoder configured to convert the received wireless signal into a resistance that mimics the resistance that would be produced by a thermistor having the expected sensor characteristic.

18. A method, comprising:

providing a controller having a remote sensor input, the controller expecting the remote sensor input to be connected to a remote sensor with an expected sensor characteristic, the controller configured to control one or more components;

receiving a wireless signal transmitted from at least one remote wireless sensor device, wherein the wireless signal represents at least one sensed parameter;

transforming the received wireless signal into an output signal that is representative of the one or more sensed parameters and is compatible with the expected sensor characteristic of the remote sensor input of the controller;

presenting the output signal to the remote sensor input of the controller; and

controlling one or more of the components based on the output signal presented to the remote sensor input of the controller.