HVAC communication system

• US 7,510,126 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Comverge Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mueller, Carl J., Garozzo, James P., Smith, Bradley A., Ng, Howard, Barton, Mark Lee, Barrett, Cecil H., Huddleston, Paul Michael, Rossi, John F., House, Russell Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): JIANG, CHEN WEN
• Application Number:
  US11/567,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20070131786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 236/51, 236/1.C, 340/310, 340/310.17, 340/533, 340/538, 340/538.11, 340/538.16
• US Class Current: 236/51
• 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 11/33 to fire, excessive heat or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits

Abstract

A system for communicating across conventional HVAC wiring is provided. The system includes a communication device having a communication module capable of inducing low power, high frequency current signals into a single control wire coupling, for example, a thermostat with a compressor. The communication module includes a power supply module that draws power sufficient to operate the communication module from the existing HVAC wiring, so as to eliminate any need for batteries or external power sources. A second communication module may be coupled to the single control wire. The second communication module operates as a transceiver sending communication signals to, and receiving communication signals from, the communication module. In one embodiment, the communication module is disposed within a building, for example coupled to an electronic thermostat, while the second communication module is disposed outside the building near the compressor. The communication signals are RF modulated signals between 5 and 50 MHz so as to take advantage of and pass across parasitic capacitances found inherent in transformers or other coils disposed within HVAC loads.

Claims

1. A communication system, the communication system comprising:

a. a communication device comprising a plurality of terminals configured to couple to a plurality of HVAC control wires, the plurality of terminals comprising at least a low-voltage AC input terminal and a Y-line terminal;

b. a power supply coupled to the low-voltage AC input terminal, wherein power required to operate the communication system is drawn from the low-voltage AC input terminal;

c. a control module coupled to the power supply;

d. at least one switch coupled to the control module, wherein when the at least one switch is coupled between the low-voltage AC input terminal and the Y-line terminal;

e. a communication module coupled to the control module; and

f. a communication transformer coupled to the communication module, wherein a winding of the communication transformer is coupled serially with the Y-line terminal.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises circuitry configured to couple a communication signal to the communication transformer, wherein the communication signal comprises a carrier signal having a frequency of between 5 and 50 MHz.

3. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the carrier signal has a frequency selected from the group consisting of between 8 and 12 MHz, between 18 and 25 MHz and between 44 and 46 MHz.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the communication device is capable of coupling to a thermostat, further wherein the control module is configured to monitor operating characteristics of the thermostat, wherein the operating characteristics are selected from the group comprising total compressor usage, total furnace usage, total HVAC system usage, average compressor usage, average furnace usage, average HVAC system usage, peak compressor usage, peak furnace usage, peak HVAC system usage, time of compressor usage, time of furnace usage, time of HVAC system usage, cost of compressor usage, cost of furnace usage, cost of HVAC system usage, time of use schedule, temperature override information, hold override information, time of day information, diagnostic information, error messages, temperature profiling information, appliance control schedules, protocol handling messages, current HVAC operating modes, thermostat configuration flags, test commands and lockout commands.

5. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising an environmental sensor coupled to the control module, wherein the environmental sensor senses a change in environmental condition selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, smoke, light, audio, water level, weight, motion, pressure, electrical current, voltage, AC input frequency and chemical element presence, further wherein when the change in environmental condition exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control module actuates the communication module.