HVAC UNIT, A METHOD OF GENERATING A NETWORK ADDRESS FOR A HVAC UNIT AND A HVAC CONTROLLER THEREFOR

• US 20100295700A1
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stachler, John P., Mauk, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,441,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/9.1
• 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 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/127 by using pulse modulation G01R21/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1335 Tariff switching circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/00 Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion G05B19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 : The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 : The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/04 : Single phase motors, e.g. capacitor motors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 : the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 : General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 : Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 : Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 : Heat exchanger or boiler making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49359 : Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

An HVAC controller, a method for operating a HVAC unit and a HVAC unit are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) a memory configured to store a unique default network address for the controller and (2) a processor configured to automatically generate the unique default network address based on a seed value that is uniquely associated with the HVAC unit.

Claims

1. A controller for a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:

a memory configured to store a unique default network address for said controller; and

a processor configured to automatically generate said unique default network address based on a seed value that is uniquely associated with said HVAC unit.

2. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said seed value is obtained from GPS data received from a GPS transceiver located with said HVAC unit.

3. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said seed value is based on a serial number associated with said HVAC unit.

4. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said unique default network address complies with a network address scheme of a communications network employed by said HVAC unit.

5. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said unique default network address is reconfigurable after installation of said HVAC unit.

6. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 2 wherein said processor is further configured to employ said GPS data to determine a current date and a current time for said controller.

7. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 6 wherein said processor is further configured to maintain said current date and current time in said memory.

8. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 6 wherein said processor is configured to determine said current date and time multiple times during normal operation of said HVAC unit.

9. A method for operating a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:

obtaining, employing a controller of said HVAC unit, a seed value for a unique default network address for said controller, said seed value uniquely associated with said HVAC unit;

automatically generating, employing a controller of said HVAC unit, said unique default network address for said controller based on said seed value; and

storing said unique default network address in a memory associated with said controller.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising receiving said seed value from a GPS transceiver located with said HVAC unit, said seed value obtained from GPS data from said GPS transceiver.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said seed value is based on a serial number associated with said HVAC unit.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising comporting said unique default network address to a network address scheme of a communications network employed by said HVAC unit.

13. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said unique default network address is reconfigurable after installation of said HVAC unit.

14. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising determining a current date and a current time for said controller from said GPS data.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising storing said current date and current time in said memory.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein said determining occurs multiple times during normal operation of said HVAC unit.

17. A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:

a network transceiver configured to transmit and receive HVAC data associated with said HVAC unit over a communications network; and

a controller to direct operation of said HVAC unit, said controller including;

a memory configured to store a unique default network address for said controller for communicating over said communications network; and

a processor configured to automatically generate said unique default network address based on a seed value that is uniquely associated with said HVAC unit.

18. The HVAC unit as recited in claim 17 wherein said seed value is based on a serial number associated with said HVAC unit.

19. The HVAC unit as recited in claim 17 further comprising a GPS transceiver located with said HVAC unit, wherein said seed value is obtained from GPS data received from said GPS transceiver.

20. The HVAC unit as recited in claim 19 wherein said processor is further configured to employ said GPS data to determine a current date and a current time for said controller.