HVAC communication system

• US 7,648,077 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Smith, Bradley A., Ng, Howard, Barton, Mark Lee, Barrett, Cecil H., Huddleston, Paul Michael, Rossi, John F., House, Russell Thomas, Mueller, Carl J., Garozzo, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang; Chen-Wen
• Application Number:
  US11/567,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20070131785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 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: 236/1.00C
• 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 method of communicating across an HVAC system, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a first communication device coupled serially with at least one wire of the HVAC system; and

b. providing at least a second communication device coupled serially with the at least one wire of the HVAC system; and

c. providing an HVAC load device having a coil winding coupled to the at least one wire, and disposed serially between the first communication device and the second communication device; and

d. inducing a current in the at least one wire for communicating a signal thereon;

wherein the current comprises an AC current having a frequency of between 5 and 50 MHz that is selected such that the signals are able to pass, unfiltered and unaltered, through the winding capacitance associated with the coil winding of the HVAC load device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency is between 8 and 46 MHz.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing at least a second communication device coupled serially with the at least one wire of the HVAC system includes connecting a narrow band RF receiver having a small signal transformer that is coupled serially with the at least one wire.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving the current with the second communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inducing a current in the at least one wire with the second communication device.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the first communication device includes a small signal transformer coupled serially to the at least one wire.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inducing a current in the at least one wire for communicating a signal thereon includes inducing a current having a peak value that remains below a predetermined switch threshold corresponding to a level capable of actuating the HVAC load device.