CONTROL SYSTEM PROTOCOL FOR AN HVAC SYSTEM

• US 20090261174A1
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Butler, William P., Garozzo, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/51
• 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 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values

Abstract

The present disclosure describes an HVAC system and means for communication between an integrated system of individual controllers for interactively controlling various components in the HVAC system. Various embodiments of an HVAC system are provided that may comprise at least two controllers that communicate with each other to provide a method of controlling the operation of an HVAC system, based on a communication protocol utilized by each of the various controllers. The communication protocol provides for establishing communication between a sending controller and at least one other controller that is the intended recipient. The communication protocol also provides for monitoring of communication signals by one or more controllers in the system, where the one or more controllers monitor communication signals which are intended for other recipient controllers to thereby listen to information being communicated.

Claims

1. An interactive system for controlling the operation of a climate control system, the interactive system comprising:

a two-wire network for permitting communication between one or more controllers;

a thermostat controller, a controller for controlling an air circulation blower in the HVAC system, and at least one other controller of the HVAC system, the controllers being connected to each other only through each controller'"'"'s individual connection to the two-wire network, where each of the controllers are capable of transmitting a data signal that includes information identifying a destination address of the controller that is intended to receive the signal;

wherein one or more of the controllers are configured to monitor and receive data signals that are intended for another controller, which include information about the operation of at least one component in the climate control system, and at least one controller is configured to modifying the operation of at least one component of the HVAC system in response to the information communicated in the signal.

2. The interactive system of claim 1 wherein the at least one other controller of the HVAC system a controller for controlling an air conditioner compressor.

3. The interactive system of claim 1 wherein the transmitted data signal comprises a signal intended for a controller for controlling an air conditioner compressor, and the controller for controlling an air circulation blower in the HVAC system is configured to modify the operation of an air circulator blower in response to receiving the data signal.