METHODS SYSTEMS AND TOOLS FOR DETERMINING A WIRING CONFIGURATION FOR AN HVAC CONTROLLER

• US 20150144705A1
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Thiruvengada, Hari, Tessier, Patrick, Finch, Heidi
• Granted Patent: US 9,885,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/1.C
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21086 Configuration menu program for I-O
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25471 Replace existing control system with new different system in real time
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32126 Hyperlink, access to program modules and to hardware modules in www, web server, browser
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A wiring configuration tool may be configured to determine a new wiring configuration for a replacement HVAC controller based, at least in part, on the existing wiring configuration for a current HVAC controller and, for example, the make and model of the replacement HVAC controller. The wiring configuration tool may be hosted by a server that provides a user interface for interacting with the user. The user may access the wiring configuration tool via a web services interface, a smart phone application or in any other suitable manner.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a new wiring configuration for a replacement HVAC controller based on a current wiring configuration of a current HVAC controller, the method comprising:

receiving a number of user inputs from a user via a user interface, the number of user inputs identifying;

a current wiring configuration of a current HVAC controller; and

a replacement HVAC controller that is to replace the current HVAC controller;

determining a new wiring configuration for the replacement HVAC controller based, at least in part, on the current wiring configuration of the current HVAC controller as well as the replacement HVAC controller that is to replace the current HVAC controller; and

outputting the new wiring configuration to the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the new wiring configuration that is output shows a wire mapping between the current wiring configuration and the new wiring configuration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the new wiring configuration that is output shows a wiring diagram for the new wiring configuration.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating one or more user queries requesting additional information via the user interface based, at least in part, on the number of user inputs received from the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more user queries relate to one or more characteristics of an HVAC system controlled by the current HVAC controller.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein one of the user queries query whether the HVAC system includes both heating and cooling.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein if the determining step cannot resolve to a single new wiring configuration for the replacement HVAC controller, the method further comprises displaying one or more user queries on the user interface that are related to one or more characteristics of an HVAC system controlled by the current HVAC controller.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises resolving to a single new wiring configuration for the replacement HVAC controller based, at least in part, on one or more responses to the one or more user queries.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of user inputs for identifying the current wiring configuration comprises a picture of the current wiring configuration uploaded by the user.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising automatically identifying the current wiring configuration based, at least in part, on the picture.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises accessing a memory that stores wiring configurations for each of a plurality of current HVAC controllers, along with one or more corresponding new wiring configurations for each of a plurality of replacement HVAC controllers.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the new wiring configuration is output in a format for display on the user interface.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein outputting the new wiring configuration comprises displaying a predetermined sequence of two or more screens, each screen comprising a visual indication of at least a portion of the new wiring configuration and each screen providing at least a one step of a set of steps for wiring the new HVAC controller according to the new wiring configuration.

12. A computer readable medium having stored thereon in a non-transitory state a set of instructions executable by a controller, the set of instruction causing the controller to execute a method comprising:

receiving a number of user inputs from a user via a user interface, the number of user inputs identifying;

a current wiring configuration of a current HVAC controller;

a replacement HVAC controller that is to replace the current HVAC controller;

determining a new wiring configuration for the replacement HVAC controller based, at least in part, on the current wiring configuration of the current HVAC controller as well as the replacement HVAC controller that is to replace the current HVAC controller; and

outputting the new wiring configuration to the user.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the new wiring configuration that is output shows a wire mapping between the current wiring configuration and the new wiring configuration.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the set of instruction also causes the controller to generate one or more user queries requesting additional information via the user interface based, at least in part, on the number of user inputs received from the user.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the set of instruction also causes the controller to generate one or more user queries requesting additional information via the user interface based, at least in part, on the number of user inputs received from the user identifying the current wiring configuration of the current HVAC controller.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more user queries relate to one or more characteristics of an HVAC system controlled by the current HVAC controller.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein one of the one or more user queries query whether the HVAC system includes both heating and cooling.

20. A system comprising:

a communications port for communicating with a user interface;

a memory storing wiring configurations for each of a plurality of current HVAC controllers, along with one or more corresponding new wiring configurations for each of a plurality of replacement HVAC controllers; and

a controller operatively coupled to the communications port and the memory, the controller programmed to display on the user interface a plurality of wiring terminal labels and at least two replacement HVAC controllers available for selection by a user via the user interface, wherein in response to receiving a selection of a replacement HVAC controller as well as a selection of two or more wiring terminal labels indicative of the current wiring configuration of the current HVAC controller, the controller is configured to reference the memory and determine a new wiring configuration for the selected replacement HVAC controller based, at least in part, on the selected two or more wiring terminal labels and the selected replacement HVAC controller.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller is further configured to output the new wiring configuration to the user interface via the communications port.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein if more than one new wiring configuration corresponds to the selected two or more wiring terminal labels and the selected replacement HVAC controller, the controller is configured to display one or more query on the user interface related to one or more characteristics of an HVAC system controlled by the current HVAC controller.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the user interface is on a remote device, and the communications port communicates with the user interface over a network.