Low cost programmable HVAC controller having limited memory resources
First Claim
1. A programmable HVAC controller having a controller in communication with a non-volatile memory and a random-access memory (RAM), the programmable HVAC controller comprising:
- a function block engine having at least one program capable of being executed by the controller, the function block engine capable of executing one or more function blocks, the function block engine being resident in the non-volatile memory;
a block execution list identifying one or more of the function blocks, the block execution list being resident in the non-volatile memory;
a parameter and/or variable storage space being resident in the RAM;
wherein the function block engine program is executed by the controller from the non-volatile memory; and
wherein the function block engine program executes those one or more function blocks identified by the block execution list.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A programmable controller and method of operating a programmable controller are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the programmable controller may have non-volatile memory and random-access memory (RAM), which, in some cases, may be implemented in a single microcontroller. The illustrative programmable controller may include a function block engine resident in the non-volatile memory, a block execution list being resident in the non-volatile memory, and a parameter and/or variable storage space being resident in RAM. The function block engine may execute a program according to a list of function blocks identified in the block execution list. In some cases, the program can be executed from the non-volatile memory, which in some cases may be FLASH memory. Additionally, in some cases, the non-volatile memory may include a firmware portion and a user programmable portion. The block execution list may be stored in the user programmable portion, allowing field programmability and configuration of the function blocks.
45 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A programmable HVAC controller having a controller in communication with a non-volatile memory and a random-access memory (RAM), the programmable HVAC controller comprising:
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a function block engine having at least one program capable of being executed by the controller, the function block engine capable of executing one or more function blocks, the function block engine being resident in the non-volatile memory; a block execution list identifying one or more of the function blocks, the block execution list being resident in the non-volatile memory; a parameter and/or variable storage space being resident in the RAM; wherein the function block engine program is executed by the controller from the non-volatile memory; and wherein the function block engine program executes those one or more function blocks identified by the block execution list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A programmable HVAC controller having non-volatile memory and random-access memory (RAM), wherein the non-volatile memory has at least two portions, a first portion for storing firmware and a second portion that is user programmable, comprising:
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a function block engine resident in the first portion of the non-volatile memory; a block execution list resident in the second portion of the non-volatile memory; and a parameter and/or variable storage space resident in the RAM; wherein the block execution list is field programmable. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of operating a HVAC controller having non-volatile memory and random-access memory (RAM), the method comprising:
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storing a list of function blocks in non-volatile memory; executing a program according to the configured list of function blocks; when executing a function block; executing the function blocks from the non-volatile memory; reading variables stored from the RAM; and writing values to the RAM. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A HVAC controller having non-volatile memory and random-access memory (RAM) comprising:
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one or more execution modules resident in the non-volatile memory; one or more application configuration modules resident in the non-volatile memory; and a parameter storage space resident in the RAM; wherein one or more execution modules execute at least one program from the non-volatile memory; wherein the one or more application configuration modules are field programmable. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification