Environmental control system and method
First Claim
1. A system for controlling an environmental unit, which includes a heating element, a cooling element, and a ventilation element;
- the system comprising;
a sensor which produces a first signal indicating an environmental characteristic;
a state machine controller coupled to the sensor, the heating element, the cooling element, and the ventilation element, the state machine controller having a plurality of states in which control signals are sent to different ones of the heating element, the cooling element, and the ventilation element;
a memory coupled to the state machine controller and having a plurality of data structures, each of the plurality of data structures associated with one of the plurality of states and containing controller parameters defining operation of the state machine controller in that one of the plurality of states and containing transition data defining at least one condition that must exist for the controller to enter that one of the plurality of states; and
a display device coupled to the state machine controller and to the memory, the display device operable for representing each of the heating element, the cooling element and the ventilation element with a respective display symbol and representing each of the first set of transition data and the second set of transition data as a display link joining respective ones of the display symbols.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a sequencing control strategy for environmental system controllers that takes better advantage of the capabilities of the system elements to enhance performance and reduce operating costs. Digital controller technology is included and operates in accordance with a state transition diagram clarifying conditions that must exist for the environmental controller to switch from one mode of operation to another (e.g., from a cooling mode with dampers set at the minimum position to a cooling mode with the dampers modulating to reduce the energy used for mechanical cooling). Several controllers, or a single controller operating on several sets of control parameters, sequentially operate in accordance with transition data and system performance characteristics for controlling system operation.
254 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for controlling an environmental unit, which includes a heating element, a cooling element, and a ventilation element;
- the system comprising;
a sensor which produces a first signal indicating an environmental characteristic; a state machine controller coupled to the sensor, the heating element, the cooling element, and the ventilation element, the state machine controller having a plurality of states in which control signals are sent to different ones of the heating element, the cooling element, and the ventilation element; a memory coupled to the state machine controller and having a plurality of data structures, each of the plurality of data structures associated with one of the plurality of states and containing controller parameters defining operation of the state machine controller in that one of the plurality of states and containing transition data defining at least one condition that must exist for the controller to enter that one of the plurality of states; and a display device coupled to the state machine controller and to the memory, the display device operable for representing each of the heating element, the cooling element and the ventilation element with a respective display symbol and representing each of the first set of transition data and the second set of transition data as a display link joining respective ones of the display symbols. - View Dependent Claims (2)
- the system comprising;
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3. A system for controlling an environmental unit, which includes a heating element, a cooling element and a ventilation damper;
- the system comprising;
a temperature sensor which produces a first signal indicating a sensed temperature; a state machine controller coupled to the temperature sensor, the heating element, the cooling element and the ventilation damper, the state machine controller having a first state in which an activation signal is sent to the heating element, a second state in which an activation signal is sent to the cooling element, and a third state in which an activation signal is sent only to the ventilation damper; a memory coupled to the state machine controller and having a first data structure containing a first set of transition data specifying a first condition that must exist for the controller to enter the first state, a second set of transition data specifying a second condition that must exist for the controller to enter the second state, and a third set of transition data specifying a third condition that must exist for the controller to enter the third state; and a display device coupled to the state machine controller and to the memory, the display device operable for representing each of the heating element, the cooling element and the ventilation damper with a respective display symbol and representing each of the first set of transition data, the second set of transition data, and the third set of transition data as display links joining respective ones of the display symbols. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
- the system comprising;
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8. A system for controlling an environmental unit, which includes a heating element, a cooling element and a ventilation damper;
- the system comprising;
a temperature sensor which produces a first signal indicating a sensed temperature; a state machine controller coupled to the temperature sensor, the heating element, the cooling element and the ventilation damper, the state machine controller having a first state in which an activation signal is sent to the heating element, a second state in which an activation signal is sent to control a position of the ventilation damper between a minimum open position and a maximum open position, a third state in which an activation signal is sent to the cooling element and another activation signal is sent to open the ventilation damper to greater than the minimum open position, and a fourth state in which an activation signal is sent to the cooling element and another activation signal is sent to place the ventilation damper at the minimum open position; and a memory coupled to the state machine controller and having a first data structure containing a first set of transition data specifying a first condition that must exist for the controller to enter the first state, a second set of transition data specifying a second condition that must exist for the controller to enter the second state, a third set of transition data specifying a third condition that must exist for the controller to enter the third state, and a fourth set of transition data specifying a fourth condition that must exist for the controller to enter the fourth state. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- the system comprising;
Specification