Pneumatic-to-digital devices, systems and methods

• US 20090192653A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cypress Envirosystems, Inc (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Envirosystems, Inc (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Ginn, Daniel, Songukrishnasamy, Rameshbabu R., Sim, Harry
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/44 pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31119 Fielddevice comprises also controller and pneumatic actuator and sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/41309 Hydraulic or pneumatic drive

Abstract

A control device may include at least a first electromechanical setpoint controller having a prime mover that applies a setpoint force in response to at least a controller signal, and a controller circuit that generates at least the controller signal in response to setpoint control data. A pneumatic controller may have at least one gas flow inlet and a flow regulator that varies a gas flow property in response to the setpoint force.

Claims

1. A control device, comprising:

at least a first electromechanical setpoint controller having

a prime mover that applies a setpoint force in response to at least a controller signal, and

a controller circuit that generates at least the controller signal in response to setpoint control data; and

at least a first pneumatic controller having at least one gas flow inlet and a flow regulator that varies a gas flow property in response to the setpoint force.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein:

the prime mover is selected from the group of;

an electrical motor that generates the setpoint force in response to at least the controller signal and a piezoelectric device.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein:

the controller circuit comprises at least one processor that executes predetermined instructions.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein:

the control device is a pneumatic thermostat, and the first pneumatic controller further includes a temperature dependent displacer mechanically coupled to the setpoint force that provides a mechanical output to the flow regulator, the mechanical output varying in response to an ambient temperature.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein:

the first electromechanical setpoint controller further includes

the controller circuit generating the controller signal further in response to local data, and

a local sensing system that generates the local data in response to conditions of a zone proximate to the control device.

6. The control device of claim 1, wherein:

the prime mover comprises a pneumatic motor, and at least a portion of the setpoint force is generated from at least a portion of an input gas flow of the gas flow inlet.

7. The control device of claim 1, wherein:

the first electromechanical setpoint controller further includes

a pressure sensing system that provides a pressure data value to the controller corresponding to a pressure of an input gas flow.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein:

the first electromechanical setpoint controller further includes

a self-contained power section that provides electrical power to at least the prime mover and controller circuit, and not to the first pneumatic controller.

9. The control device of claim 8, wherein:

the self-contained power section includes a power source selected from the group of;

a photovoltaic cell, a turbine, a supercapacitor, and a battery.

10. The control device of claim 1, further including:

a communication circuit coupled to the controller circuit for receiving setpoint control data from a location remote from the control device, and providing setpoint control data to the controller circuit.

11. A method, comprising:

varying an input gas flow value with a pneumatic controller in response to at least a first mechanical setpoint input; and

generating at least the first mechanical setpoint input with an electromechanical supervisory device mechanically coupled to the pneumatic controller;

wherein

the pneumatic controller and electromechanical supervisory device are part of a single control device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

varying the input gas flow includes varying the input gas flow in response to the at least first mechanical set point input and a temperature dependent displacer that provides a mechanical output to the flow regulator that varies in response to an ambient temperature.

13. The method of claim 11, further including:

detecting at least a portion of the input gas flow, and

diagnosing an operational error when the input gas flow is outside of at least one limit value.

14. The method of claim 11, further including:

diagnosing an error in response to an amount of time following the application of the first mechanical setpoint input and an ambient temperature after the amount of time has passed.

15. The method of claim 11, further including:

calibrating at least the first mechanical setpoint input based on at least an ambient temperature.

16. The method of claim 11, further including:

detecting an occupancy status of a zone; and

generating at least the first mechanical setpoint input in response to at least the occupancy status.

17. The method of claim 11, further including:

receiving at least one manual input setpoint value; and

if the manual input setpoint value is outside a predetermined limit, overriding the manual input setpoint value and generating or continuing to generate at least the first mechanical setpoint input based on a predetermined setpoint value, and

if the manual setpoint value is within the predetermined limit generating at least the first mechanical setpoint input based on the manual setpoint value.

18. The method of claim 11, further including:

removing at least one existing pneumatic controller, including disconnecting at least one pneumatic line; and

installing the control device includes connecting the pneumatic controller of the control device to the at least one pneumatic line and not connecting a power supply line to the control device.

19. A system, comprising:

at least one control device comprising

a pneumatic section that varies a gas flow in response to at least one mechanical control input, and

an electromechanical supervisory section that applies the at least one mechanical control input to the pneumatic section in response to setpoint data; and

a master device, coupled to the at least one control device by a communication path, that provides the setpoint data to the at least one control device.

20. The system of claim 19, further including:

the communication path comprises a wireless connection; and

at least one repeater device that provide at least a portion of a first wireless connection path between the at least on repeater device and the at least one control device and at least a portion of a second wireless connection path between the at least one repeater device and the master device.