Retrieving diagnostic information from an HVAC component

• US 7,174,239 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Butler, William P., Carey, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US10/993,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20060111795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 700/209, 700/210, 700/207, 700/208, 700/275, 700/276, 700/277, 236/1.B, 236/1.R, 236/49.3, 236/1.C, 165/200, 165/205, 165/208, 165/299, 165/300, 165/265, 165/266, 621/86
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/027 Alarm generation, e.g. communication protocol; Forms of alarm

Abstract

A control is provided for controlling the operation of a climate control system, which includes a processor that is capable of receiving power from a low voltage power supply adapted to be connected to an external alternating current power source, or a second external low voltage power supply. The processor is capable of storing diagnostic information pertaining to the operating status of at least one component of the climate control system. The processor is configured to retrieve stored diagnostic information from memory pertaining to the climate control system and send the diagnostic information to the display means when the processor receives power from the external low voltage power supply and detects the absence of a connection to an external alternating current power source.

Claims

1. A controller for controlling the operation of at least one component in a climate control system, the controller comprising:

a first low voltage power supply for the controller, which may be connected to an external alternating current power source;

a plug-in connection which may be connected to a second external low voltage power supply to the controller;

a processor that receives power from either the first low voltage power supply connected to an external alternating current power source, or from a second external low voltage power supply connected to the plug-in connection, wherein the processor is capable of detecting the absence of a connection to an external alternating current power source when receiving power from a second external low voltage power supply that is connected to the plug-in connection, and responsively communicates information relating to the operating condition of the controller or at least one component of the climate control system to a display device.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the processor further comprises a non-volatile memory for storing diagnostic information pertaining to the controller.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the processor further comprises a non-volatile memory for storing diagnostic information pertaining to at least one component in the climate control system.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the processor is further capable of determining the operating condition of at least one component of the climate control system and storing the diagnostic operating condition information pertaining to the at least one component of the climate control system in non-volatile memory.

5. The controller of claim 4, wherein the processor is further capable of communicating the stored diagnostic information to a location external to the controller.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the processor communicates diagnostic information pertaining to the controller or at least one component in the climate control system, or a combination thereof, to a display device when the processor receives power from the external low voltage power supply that is connected to the plug-in connection and detects the absence of a connection of an external alternating current power source to the first low voltage power supply for the controller.

7. The controller of claim 6, wherein the displayed diagnostic information comprises information relating to the operating condition of both the controller and at least one component of the climate control system.

8. The controller of claim 6, wherein the at least one component of the climate control system is an air conditioner compressor.

9. The controller of claim 6, wherein the displayed diagnostic information comprises information pertaining to the operating condition of the controller.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein the controller controls the operation of a heating system.

11. In a climate control system comprising at least an air conditioning system or a heating system, a controller for controlling the operation of at least one component in the heating or air conditioning system comprising:

a first low voltage power supply for the controller, which may be connected to an external alternating current power source;

a low-voltage receptacle plug connector which may be connected to a second external low voltage power supply to the controller;

a processor for controlling the operation of at least one component in the climate control system, wherein the processor is capable of determining the operating condition of the controller and at least one component of the climate control system, and the processor is capable of detecting the absence of a connection to the external alternating current power source when receiving power from a second external low voltage power supply that is connected to the low-voltage receptacle plug connector;

a non-volatile memory for storing diagnostic information pertaining to the operating condition of the controller or at least one component in the heating or air conditioning system, or a combination thereof; and

a communication means for communicating the diagnostic information, wherein the processor retrieves stored diagnostic information from memory pertaining to the controller or the at least one component in the heating or air conditioning system and outputs the diagnostic information to the communication means when the processor receives power from an external low voltage power supply connected to the low-voltage receptacle plug connector, and detects the absence of a connection to an external alternating current power source.

12. The controller of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic information comprises information pertaining to the operating condition of both the controller and at least one component of an air conditioning system.

13. The controller of claim 12, wherein the at least one component of the climate control system is an air conditioner compressor.

14. The controller of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic information comprises information pertaining to the operating condition of the controller, which controls the operation of a heating system.

15. The controller of claim 14, wherein the diagnostic information further comprises information pertaining to the operating condition of the heating system.

16. The controller of claim 15, where the communication means comprises a transistor for switching voltage to an LED.

17. The controller of claim 16, where the LED is capable of displaying at least two colors.

18. The controller of claim 15, wherein the communication means comprises a transistor for switching voltage to an LCD display.

19. The controller of claim 18, wherein the LCD display displays either an operable or an inoperable diagnostic status.

20. In combination with a climate control system comprising at least an air conditioning system or a heating system, a controller for operating at least one component in the heating or air con system comprising:

a first low voltage power supply for the controller, which may be connected to with an external alternating current power source;

a plug-in connection which may be connected to a second external low voltage power supply to the controller;

a processor for controlling the operation of the climate control system, wherein the processor is powered by either the first low voltage power supply or a second external low voltage power supply, and wherein the processor is capable of detecting the absence of a connection to an external alternating current power source when the processor receives power from a second external low voltage power supply that is connected to the plug-in connection;

a memory for storing diagnostic information pertaining to the operating condition of the controller or at least one component in the heating or air conditioning system; and

a display device for displaying the diagnostic information, wherein the processor retrieves stored diagnostic information and outputs the diagnostic information to the display device when the processor receives power from an external low voltage power supply that is connected to the plug-in connection and detects the absence of a connection of an external alternating current power source to the first low voltage power supply for the controller.

21. The combination of claim 20, wherein the processor is capable of determining the operating condition of the controller or at least one component of the climate control system, or a combination thereof, and storing diagnostic information pertaining to the operation condition of the controller or at least one component of the climate control system.

22. The combination of claim 21, wherein the processor retrieves stored diagnostic information from memory pertaining to the heating or air conditioning system and send the diagnostic information to the display device when the processor receives power from the external low voltage power supply that is connected to the plug-in connection and detects the absence of a connection of an external alternating current power source to the first low voltage power supply for the controller.

23. The combination of claim 22, wherein the plug-in connection comprises a low voltage receptacle plug connector.

24. The combination of claim 23, wherein the memory comprises a non-volatile memory.

25. The combination of claim 24, wherein the diagnostic information comprises information pertaining to the operating condition of at least one component of an air conditioning system.

26. The combination of claim 25, wherein the at least one component of the climate control system is an air conditioner compressor.

27. The combination of claim 24, wherein the diagnostic information comprises information pertaining to the operating condition of at least one component of a heating system.

28. The combination of claim 27, wherein the controller controls the operation of a heating system.

29. A controller for controlling the operation of a climate control system, the controller comprising:

a processor that is capable of detecting the presence of a connection of an external low voltage power supply to a plug-in connector, and the absence of a connection of an external alternating current power source to a low voltage power supply of the controller, and responsively retrieving stored diagnostic information pertaining to the operating status of at least one component of the climate control system for display on a display.

30. A method of controlling the operation of a controller for a climate control system having a low voltage power supply which may be connected to an external alternating current power source, a plug-in connection which may be connected to an external low voltage power supply, a processor for controlling the operation of the climate control system, a non-volatile memory, and a display, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the operating condition of at least one component of the climate control system;

storing diagnostic information pertaining to the operating condition of the at least one component of the climate control system;

detecting the presence of a connection of an external low voltage power supply to a plug-in connection for supplying power to the processor and the absence of a connection to an external alternating current power source; and

responsively communicating the stored diagnostic information pertaining to the operating condition of the at least one component of the climate control system.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of the processor communicating the diagnostic status information to the display.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of displaying either an operable or an inoperable diagnostic status.