Building automation systems and methods

• US 7,847,681 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Singhal, Ashish, Salsbury, Timothy I.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US12/054,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20080231437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 340/514, 340/3.1, 340 35- 355, 340/825.22, 340/825.52, 340/870, 700276-278
• US Class Current: 340/514
• 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 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24036 Test signal generated by microprocessor, for all I-O tests
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25118 Matrix to connect sensor to corresponding actuator
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

A monitoring system, including an interface configured to communicate with a building device, a sensor, and a memory. The monitoring system includes a processor configured to communicate with the memory and the interface. The processor is configured to transmit a test signal to at least one of the building device and the sensor. The processor is further configured to receive a return signal from at least one of a building device signal and a sensor signal. Further, the processor is configured to associate the building device to the sensor based on the return signal.

Claims

1. A monitoring system including an interface configured to communicate with a building device, a sensor, and a memory, comprising:

a processor configured to communicate with the memory and the interface, the processor configured to transmit a test signal to at least one of the building device and the sensor, the processor further configured to receive a return signal from at least one of the building device and the sensor; and

wherein the processor is configured to associate the building device with the sensor based on the return signal.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the test signal is at least one of a sine wave, a pulse, a white noise, and a step change.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the building device is an actuator.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to transmit a plurality of test signals in a sequential order.

5. The monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of test signals are pulses.

6. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to transmit a plurality of test signals substantially simultaneously.

7. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the building device is a damper.

8. A method of monitoring a system, comprising:

transmitting a test signal to at least one of a building device and a sensor;

receiving a return signal from at least one of the building device and the sensor; and

determining an association between the building device and the sensor based on the return signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the test signal is at least one of a sine wave, a pulse, a white noise, and a step change.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the building device is an actuator.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the building device is a damper.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting a plurality of test signals in a sequential order.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of test signals are pulses.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting a plurality of test signals substantially simultaneously.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of test signals are sine waves.

16. A program product for monitoring a system, the program product comprising machine-readable program code for causing, when executed, one or more machines to perform the following method steps:

transmitting a test signal to at least one of a building device and a sensor;

receiving a return signal from at least one of the building device and the sensor; and

determining an association between the building device and the sensor based on the return signal.

17. The program product of claim 16, wherein the test signal is at least one of a sine wave, a pulse, a white noise, and a step change.

18. The program product of claim 16, further comprising transmitting a plurality of test signals in a sequential order.

19. The program product of claim 18, wherein the plurality of test signals are pulses.

20. The program product of claim 16, further comprising transmitting a plurality of test signals substantially simultaneously.