Method and apparatus for refrigeration control and display

• US 5,191,643 A
• Filed: 06/12/1990
• Issued: 03/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard H. Alsenz
• Original Assignee: Richard H. Alsenz
• Inventors: Alsenz, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Application Number:
  US07/537,155
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 364/518, 364/521, 364/477, 312/116, 237/2 A, 237/2 R, 236/92 B, 236/91 R, 236/94, 395/155, 395/161, 395/164
• US Class Current: 715/784
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/075 with parallel compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0251 with on-off operation
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/108 characterised by physical layout of switches; switches co-operating with display; use of switches in a special way
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23055 Cursor keys to select cells of a spreadsheat with control parameter, enter value
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25092 Customized control features, configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels

Abstract

A control and display apparatus and method for use with a heating and cooling system. Operating parameters of the system are arranged in a computer memory in a data structure comprising a plurality of virtual spreadsheets, the cells of which are individually displayed on an alphanumeric display panel. A keypad comprising at least four keys is provided to move the field of the display panel to a cell to be displayed and for adjusting system operating parameters within the cell.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a refrigeration system and for displaying and adjusting, responsive to an operator'"'"'s input, operating parameters of said system, comprising:

(a) a memory for storing values of said parameters in a plurality of data arrays, each data array comprising a plurality of cells arranged in two dimensions for storing said values;

(b) a moving window display for displaying the contents of a cell of said memory; and

(c) directional control means responsive to said operator input for selecting the cell to be displayed by said moving window display, and for adjusting the parameter values stored in said displayed cell, each of said arrays containing a cell adapted to store an array selector indicative of the array containing the currently displayed cell, said directional control means adapted for adjusting the array selector within the displayed cell for moving said moving window display to an adjacent cell in one of said other arrays.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said desired operating parameter is temperature.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said desired operating parameter is humidity.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising processor means for inputting measurable parameter values measured within said system into said memory storage means and for outputting adjustable parameter values from said memory storage means to said system.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said processor means comprise a stored program computer.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising analog/digital conversion means for converting measurable parameter values to digital form for storage within said memory storage means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a key pad having:

(a) a first pair of directional keys for selecting for adjustment parameters and selectors within a displayed cell, and for causing a horizontally adjacent cell in said selected array to be displayed by said moving window display means; and

(b) a second pair of directional keys for adjusting system selectors and operating parameters within a displayed cell and for causing a vertically adjacent cell in said selected array to be displayed by said moving window display means.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of regional move keys, each said regional move key programmed for vectoring said data array to display a selected cell independent of the cell currently being displayed.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving window display means comprises an alphanumeric display panel for displaying said selector and parameter values.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said alphanumeric display panel is a liquid crystal display.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said alphanumeric display is adapted to display a cursor indicating the parameter or selector to be adjusted by said control means.

12. An apparatus for controlling a refrigeration system and displaying and adjusting a plurality of operating parameters of the refrigeration system, responsive to an operator'"'"'s input, comprising:

(a) a memory for storing the values of the parameters of the refrigeration system, said memory comprising a plurality of arrays, each array in said plurality of data arrays containing a plurality of cells arranged in two dimensions, each said array containing at least one array selector and one parameter;

(b) an alpha-numeric display panel for displaying the parameters stored in a selected cell;

(c) a keypad comprising

(i) a first set of directional keys for selecting one of said plurality of parameters stored in said selected cell displayed on said alpha-numeric display panel for adjustment and for selecting a horizontally displaced adjacent cell to be displayed by said alpha-numeric display panel,

(ii) a second set of directional keys for adjusting said selected parameter displayed by said alpha-numeric display panel and for selecting a vertically displaced adjacent cell for display by said alpha-numeric display panel, and

(iii) a plurality of regional move keys, each regional move key capable of selecting a preselected cell for display independent of the cell currently being displayed;

(d) an input/output unit for receiving values of measured parameters from said refrigeration system and for transmitting control signals to said refrigeration system; and

(e) a digital computer for receiving operator inputs from said keypad, communicating with and controlling said refrigeration system through said input/output unit, and controlling said alpha-numeric display panel to display the contents of said selected cell.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said input/output unit comprises:

(a) an analog to digital converter for converting measured values of parameters in analog form into digital form for storage in said memory;

(b) A serial databus interface for transmitting a value of setpoint temperature to said system; and

(c) a plurality of discrete outputs for controlling a plurality of switches within said system for switching components of said system off and on.

14. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 12, wherein each of said plurality of regional move keys includes a label indicative of the cell selected by operation of said regional move key.

15. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 12, wherein each of said first set of directional keys includes a label having a first arrow thereon pointing in generally opposite directions and each of said second set of directional keys includes a label having a second arrow thereon pointing in generally opposite directions, said first and second arrows being generally orthogonal one to the other.

16. An apparatus for controlling a refrigeration system and displaying and adjusting operating parameters within said system in response to an operator'"'"'s input, comprising:

(a) a computer memory for storing a data array comprising a plurality of cells for storing a plurality of parameter values wherein said parameter values comprise at least one array selector and at least one operating parameter, each of said cells having an address locating said cell within a three axis coordinate system;

(b) an alpha-numeric display panel adapted for selectively displaying the parameter values of a selected cell;

(c) means for selecting a parameter value within said selected cell, and for selecting a cell adjacent said selected cell along said first axis; and

(d) second means for adjusting said selected parameter value, selecting a cell adjacent said selected cell along said second axis, and selecting a cell adjacent said selected cell along said third axis by adjusting said array selector.

17. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said second means includes a pair or directional keys adapted for selecting said adjacent cell along said third axis in response to adjusting the value of said array selector.

18. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said directional keys are adapted for selecting said adjacent cell along said second axis in response to selecting a preselected location within the selected cell.

19. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the first means includes a pair of directional keys adapted for selecting the adjacent cell along said first axis in response to selecting a preselected location within the selected cell.

20. An apparatus for controlling a refrigeration system and for displaying and adjusting the refrigeration system parameters, comprising:

(a) a memory for storing the refrigeration system parameters in a plurality of arrays, each said array having a plurality of cells arranged in two dimensions for storing the refrigeration system parameters, the vector between adjacent arrays defining a third dimension;

(b) a moving window display for displaying the contents of a cell; and

(c) a control means for selecting the cell to be displayed by said moving window display, for adjusting the contents of the displayed cell, and for vectoring in the third dimension irrespective of the currently displayed cell for selecting and displaying contents of any cell in said plurality of arrays.