Computer controlled facility management system (FMS)

• US 4,212,078 A
• Filed: 12/27/1977
• Issued: 07/08/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Games, John E., Bitterli, William W., Rosien, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nusbaum, Mark E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US05/864,557
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/114, 364/118, 236/1 B, 236/1 C, 165/13, 165/14, 165/22, 165/27, 165/28
• US Class Current: 700/2
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence

Abstract

A central control system includes a central processing unit (CPU) installed in a central location of a facility, and interconnected with a plurality of remote controllers, each located in an associated one of several buildings in the facility and each including a remote microprocessor (RMP), the CPU automatically controlling, simultaneously from the central location, the closed loop operation of individual environmental conditioning systems in the several buildings comprising the facility in combination with the RMP associated therewith and in dependence on the sensed temperature conditions within the living spaces associated with each system. The CPU includes a keyboard responsive to operator control for receiving selected parameter reference values provided by the operator at the central location, the reference values establishing the closed loop gains and reference temperatures for the individual environmental systems, the reference values being instantaneously changeable by the operator in one, or all of the environmental systems to accommodate changes in operating conditions. The central control including two CPUs, each fully capable of providing automatic control of the facility environmental conditioning systems in combination with the RMPs, the system further including redundant interconnecting lines between each CPU and the plurality of RMPs, each line including a liner receiver for each RMP, to provide the simultaneous control of the closed loop operation of the individual environmental conditioning systems in each of the buildings in such a manner as to provide fail-safe control of each from the centralized location.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling the operation of an environmental conditioning system (ECS) of the type which regulates environmental conditions of a space in dependence on the actual value of output parameters provided by one or more controlled devices therein in response to corresponding parameter control signals presented to each, comprising:

plurality of sensor means disposed in the ECS, one or more associated with each controlled device for providing sensed actual value output parameter signals from the associated controlled device;

plurality of control interface means, one associated with each controlled device, each adapted for providing in response to closed loop signals presented thereto the corresponding parameter control signal to the associated controlled device;

remote processor unit (RPU) means, having RPU input means and RPU output means and having RPU memory means for storing signals, said remote processor unit means being responsive at said RPU input means to said sensed actual value parameter signals presented thereto from said plurality of sensor means and to controlled device reference parameter signals for each controlled device presented thereto from a central processor unit means, said RPU input means having means for successively sampling, and registering in said RPU memory means, successively sampled values of said sensed actual value parameter signals and said controlled device reference parameter signals presented thereto, said RPU output means being connected to each of said control interface means, said remote processor unit means comparing said sensed actual value parameter signals registered therein for each controlled device with the controlled device reference parameter signal registered therein for the same controlled device for providing through said RPU output means to the associated one of said control interface means said closed loop signal at a magnitude in dependence on a difference value therebetween; and

central processor unit (CPU) means, having CPU input means connected for response to said RPU output means and CPU output means connected for response to said RPU input means, and having CPU memory means for storing signals including a plurality of ECS reference signals for the ECS, said CPU input means having means for sampling, and registering in said CPU memory means, signals presented thereto including said sensed data signals registered in said RPU memory means which are presented to said CPU input means in response to command signals provided by said central processor means to said remote processor means, said central processor means comparing said sensed actual value parameter signals for each controlled device with one or more of said plurality of ECS reference signals for providing said controlled device reference parameter signals to said remote processor means at a magnitude equal to a difference value therebetween.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means responsive to operator control for providing to said CPU input means, signal information representative of said plurality of ECS reference signals in response to selective operation thereof.

3. Apparatus for controlling the operation of a plurality of environmental conditioning systems (ECSs) each of which regulate environmental conditions of a space in dependence on the actual value of output parameters provided by one or more controlled devices therein in response to corresponding parameter control signals presented to each, comprising:

plurality of sensor means disposed in each ECS, one or more sensor means in each plurality being associated with each controlled device in the related ECS, said sensor means each adapted to provide sensed actual value output parameter signals from the associated controlled device;

plurality of control interface means, one associated with each controlled device in each ECS, each adapted for providing in response to closed loop signals presented thereto the corresponding parameter control signal to the associated controlled device;

remote processor unit (RPU) means for each ECS, each having RPU input means and RPU output means and each having RPU memory means for storing signals, said remote processor unit means each responsive to said RPU input means to said sensed actual value parameter signals presented thereto from said plurality of sensor means disposed in the related ECS and to controlled device reference parameter signals for each controlled device in the related ECS presented thereto from a central processor unit means, said RPU input means having means for succesively sampling, and registering in said RPU memory means, successively sampled values of said sensed actual value parameter signals and said controlled device reference parameter signals presented thereto, said RPU output means of each of said remote processor unit means being connected to each of said control interface means associated with the controlled devices of the related ECS, each of said remote processor unit means comparing said sensed actual value parameter signals registered therein for each controlled device with the controlled device reference parameter signal registered therein for the same controlled device for providing through said RPU output means to the associated one of said control interface means said closed loop signal at a magnitude in dependence on a difference value therebetween; and

central processor unit (CPU) means, having CPU input means connected for response to said RPU output means of each of said remote processor means and CPU output means connected for response to said RPU input means of each of said remote processor means, and having CPU memory means for storing signals including a plurality of ECS reference signals for each ECS, said CPU input means having means for sampling, and registering in said CPU memory means, signals presented thereto including said sensed data signals registered in said RPU memory means of each of said remote processor means which are presented to said CPU input means in response to command signals provided by said central processor means to each of said remote processor means, said central processor means comparing said sensed actual value parameter signals for each controlled device in a related one of the ECSs with one or more of said plurality of ECS reference signals for the same ECS, for providing said controlled device reference parameter signals to said remote processor means associated with the particular ECS at a magnitude equal to a difference value therebetween.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising means responsive to operator control for providing to said CPU input means, signal information representative of said plurality of ECS reference signals for each ECS in response to selective operation thereof.