System including interactive controllers for controlling operation of climate control system

• US 7,774,102 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Butler, William P., Garozzo, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): DeCady; Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): KONTKANEN, MARTTI U
• Application Number:
  US12/107,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20090261174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/277, 236/1.C, 621/81
• 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 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure describes an HVAC system and means for communication between an integrated system of individual controllers for interactively controlling various components in the HVAC system. Various embodiments of an HVAC system are provided that may comprise at least two controllers that communicate with each other to provide a method of controlling the operation of an HVAC system, based on a communication protocol utilized by each of the various controllers. The communication protocol provides for establishing communication between a sending controller and at least one other controller that is the intended recipient. The communication protocol also provides for monitoring of communication signals by one or more controllers in the system, where the one or more controllers monitor communication signals which are intended for other recipient controllers to thereby listen to information being communicated.

Claims

1. A system including interactive controllers for controlling the operation of a climate control system, the interactive system comprising:

a two-wire peer-to-peer network for permitting communication between one or more controllers;

a thermostat controller, a controller for controlling an outdoor compressor unit in the HVAC system, a controller for controlling an air circulation blower unit in a climate control system, and a controller for controlling a blower motor that is installed in the climate control system, the controllers being connected to each other only through each controller'"'"'s individual connection to the two-wire peer-to-peer network,

wherein the controller for controlling a blower motor is configured to transmit, via the two-wire network, serial data signals comprising configuration data that include parameters specific to the particular blower motor installed in the climate control system that are necessary for the motor controller to run the blower motor;

wherein at least one of the thermostat controller, the controller for controlling an outdoor compressor unit and the controller for controlling an air circulation blower unit is configured to receive and store the configuration data that includes parameters specific to the particular blower motor, and

wherein the controller for controlling a blower motor is configured to receive via communication of a data request the configuration data from at least one of the thermostat controller, the controller for controlling an outdoor compressor unit or the controller for controlling an air circulation blower unit, whereby upon replacement of the blower motor controller, the replacement may receive the configuration data from at least one of the thermostat controller, the controller for controlling an outdoor compressor unit or the controller for controlling an air circulation blower unit.