ALARM AND DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A DISTRIBUTED ARCHITECTURE HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING NETWORK

• US 20100106316A1
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Curry, Jimmie, Grohman, Wojciech, Jennings, Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 8,463,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

The disclosure includes an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. One embodiment of the network includes a subnet controller, a system device and a system status display. The subnet controller is configured to communicate via a data bus. The first system device is configured to communicate via a data bus. The system status display is associated with the first system device and configured to produce a visual signal when the first device detects an error or alarm condition.

Claims

1. An HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

a subnet controller configured to communicate via a data bus;

a first system device configured to communicate via a data bus;

a system status display associated with said first system device and configured to produce a visual signal when said first device detects an error or alarm condition.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first system device has a device ID assigned thereto, and said error or alarm condition is the presence on the data bus of a second system device having said device ID assigned thereto.

3. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second system devices are comfort sensors.

4. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second system devices are wall-mounted displays.

5. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said system status display is configured to provide a visual signal when the system device detects a message on the data bus indicating a critical alarm is active.

6. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein visual signal is a flash rate characteristic of said alarm condition.

7. A method of manufacturing an HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

configuring a subnet controller to communicate via a data bus;

configuring a first device to communicate via a data bus;

configuring a system status display associated with said first device to produce a visual signal when said first device detects an error or alarm condition.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said first system device has a device ID assigned thereto, and said error or alarm condition is the presence on the data bus of a second system device having said device ID assigned thereto.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said first and second system devices are comfort sensors.

10. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said first and second system devices are wall-mounted displays.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising configuring said system status display to provide a visual signal when the system device detects a message on the data bus indicating a critical alarm is active.

12. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein visual signal is a flash rate characteristic of said alarm condition.

13. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said visual signal is a color characteristic of said alarm condition.

14. An HVAC data processing and communication network system device, comprising:

a network interface configured to interface to a data bus;

a memory;

a system status display; and

a local controller configured to;

detect an alarm or error condition via said data bus;

accept via said data bus messages addressed to a device ID; and

control said system status display to produce a visual signal in response to said alarm or error condition determined to be present by said local controller.

15. The system device as recited in claim 14, wherein said system device is a first system device, and said error or alarm condition is the presence on the data bus of a second system device having said device ID assigned thereto.

16. The system device as recited in claim 15, wherein said first and second system devices are comfort sensors.

17. The system device as recited in claim 15, wherein said first and second system devices are user interfaces.

18. The system device as recited in claim 14, wherein said system status display is configured to provide a visual signal when said local controller detects a message on said data bus indicating a critical alarm is active.

19. The system device as recited in claim 14, wherein said visual signal is a flash rate characteristic of said alarm condition.

20. The system device as recited in claim 14, wherein said visual signal is a color characteristic of said alarm condition.