Method of clearing an HVAC control fault code memory

• US 7,299,111 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: York International Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Harrod, Gregory Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard; Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp; Chad
• Application Number:
  US11/051,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20060179341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 700/83, 700/110, 700/276, 700/278, 714/2
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0291 Switching into safety or degraded mode, e.g. protection and supervision after failure

Abstract

A method of clearing an HVAC control fault code memory is disclosed. The method includes assigning a predetermined reset code to an HVAC control system, the predetermined reset code comprising a plurality of control signals receivable by the HVAC control system, detecting control signals at the HVAC control system, determining whether the detected HVAC control input signals match the predetermined reset code and clearing a fault code memory of the HVAC control system in response to control signals matching the predetermined reset code.

Claims

1. A method for clearing a fault code memory of an HVAC control system, the method comprising the steps of:

assigning a predetermined reset code to an HVAC control system associated with an HVAC unit, the predetermined reset code comprising a plurality of control signals receivable by the HVAC control system;

detecting control signals at the HVAC control system;

determining whether the detected HVAC control signals match the predetermined reset code; and

clearing a fault code memory of the HVAC control system in response to control signals matching the predetermined reset code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reset code comprises a predetermined sequence of the plurality of control signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reset code comprises a predetermined combination of the plurality of control signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reset code comprises a timed arrangement of the plurality of control signals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of clearing a fault code memory includes clearing an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of sending control signals from a test station to the HVAC control system.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of returning an output signal to communicate that the fault code memory has been cleared.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of returning an output signal comprises illuminating an LED a predetermined number of times.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of returning an output signal comprises activating a component of the HVAC unit.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of control signals includes heating control signals, cooling control signals, ventilation control signals, or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of control signals correspond to control signals from a thermostat.

12. A method for testing an HVAC unit comprising:

electrically connecting a test station to a control system for an HVAC unit;

receiving, by the control system, control signals from the test station at the HVAC control system;

comparing the received control signals to a predetermined reset code;

operating the HVAC unit using the control signals received from the test station in response to the received control signals being different from the predetermined reset code;

detecting a fault condition during operation of the HVAC unit;

storing a corresponding fault code in a fault code memory in response to detecting a fault condition; and

clearing the fault code memory in response to control signals received from the test station matching the predetermined reset code.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of returning an output signal to communicate that the fault code memory has been cleared.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of returning an output signal comprises illuminating an LED a predetermined number of times.

15. The method of a claim 13, wherein the step of returning an output signal comprises sending an electronic signal from an output terminal of the HVAC control signal to the test station.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined reset code is a sequence of control signals, a combination of control signals, a timed arrangement of control signals, or combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the control signals of the predetermined reset code are sent from terminals on the test station to corresponding terminals on HVAC control system.

18. A system for operating an HVAC unit comprising:

an HVAC unit having a control panel; and

means for providing a plurality of control signals to the control panel;

the control panel comprising

a memory device to store a predetermined reset code;

a fault code memory to store fault codes from faults occurring during operation of the HVAC unit;

means for detecting the plurality of control signals received from the means for providing a plurality of control signals;

means for comparing the detected plurality of control signals to the predetermined reset code;

means for operating the HVAC unit in response to the detected plurality of control signals differing from the predetermined reset code; and

means for clearing the fault code memory in response to the detected plurality of control signals matching the predetermined reset code.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the predetermined reset code is a sequence of control signals, a combination of control signals, a timed arrangement of control signals, or combinations thereof.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the fault code memory is an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory.

21. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for communicating the fault code memory has been cleared.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein the means for providing a plurality of control signals is a test station.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein the means for providing a plurality of control signals is a thermostat.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of control signals includes heating control signals, cooling control signals, ventilation control signals, or combinations thereof.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of control signals correspond to control signals from a thermostat.