Method and apparatus to sense and establish operation mode for an HVAC control
First Claim
1. A method for configuring a controller for a closed loop refrigerant system comprising:
- providing a control system to control the closed loop refrigerant system, the control system comprising;
an input device comprising a plurality of input lines;
a controller configured to receive a plurality of input signals from the plurality of input lines of the input device, the controller comprising a plurality of output lines electrically connected to a plurality of components of the closed loop refrigerant system; and
a processor functionally separate from the controller in communication with the controller, the processor comprising a signal sensing circuit, the signal sensing circuit comprising a plurality of load sensor lines connected to the plurality of input lines of the input device, the plurality of load sensor lines providing an input to the processor from the plurality of input lines;
executing a configuration mode for the controller, the configuration mode comprising;
activating the input device to provide at least one signal to the controller to instruct the controller to control at least one of the components of the closed loop refrigerant system;
sensing whether one or more signals are present on the plurality of input lines between the input device and the controller with the plurality of load sensor lines;
determining the type of closed loop refrigerant system with the processor using the sensed signals from the plurality of load sensor lines; and
sending a signal from the processor to the controller with the determined type of closed loop refrigerant system; and
configuring the controller to provide control signals to the plurality of components of the closed loop refrigerant system based on the determined type of closed loop refrigerant system in the signal from the processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for configuring a controller for an HVAC system. The method comprises providing a closed loop refrigerant system and a control system to control the closed loop refrigerant system. The control system comprises a controller, an input device, and a processor including a signal sensing circuit. The input device is activated to provide one or more signals to the controller to control the components of the closed loop refrigerant system. One or more signals are sensed with the signal sensing circuit to determine whether signals are present between the input device and the controller. The signals are processed with the processor to determine what type of closed loop refrigerant system is present. The controller is then configured to control the type of system determined by the processor.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for configuring a controller for a closed loop refrigerant system comprising:
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providing a control system to control the closed loop refrigerant system, the control system comprising; an input device comprising a plurality of input lines; a controller configured to receive a plurality of input signals from the plurality of input lines of the input device, the controller comprising a plurality of output lines electrically connected to a plurality of components of the closed loop refrigerant system; and a processor functionally separate from the controller in communication with the controller, the processor comprising a signal sensing circuit, the signal sensing circuit comprising a plurality of load sensor lines connected to the plurality of input lines of the input device, the plurality of load sensor lines providing an input to the processor from the plurality of input lines; executing a configuration mode for the controller, the configuration mode comprising; activating the input device to provide at least one signal to the controller to instruct the controller to control at least one of the components of the closed loop refrigerant system; sensing whether one or more signals are present on the plurality of input lines between the input device and the controller with the plurality of load sensor lines; determining the type of closed loop refrigerant system with the processor using the sensed signals from the plurality of load sensor lines; and sending a signal from the processor to the controller with the determined type of closed loop refrigerant system; and configuring the controller to provide control signals to the plurality of components of the closed loop refrigerant system based on the determined type of closed loop refrigerant system in the signal from the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An HVAC system comprising:
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an evaporator, a condenser, and a compressor in a closed loop refrigerant system, the closed loop refrigerant system also comprising a reversing valve when the closed loop refrigerant system is a heat pump; and a control system to control the closed loop refrigerant system comprising; a controller adapted to receive a plurality of input signals from an input device, wherein the controller comprises a plurality of output lines electrically connected to a plurality of HVAC components in the closed loop refrigerant system; a plurality of sensor output lines connected to the controller, the plurality of sensor output lines being connectable to a plurality of sensor units; a processor functionally separate from the controller in communication with the controller, the processor including a signal sensing circuit, wherein the signal sensing circuit includes a plurality of load sensing lines connected to each sensor output line of the plurality of sensor output lines, the plurality of load sensor lines providing an input to the processor from the plurality of sensor output lines; the processor being able to sense whether one or more signals is present on the plurality of sensor output lines with the plurality of load sensing lines, wherein the processor is configured to determine what type of closed loop refrigerant system is present based on the sensed signals from the plurality of sensor output lines; and the controller being configured to control the closed loop refrigerant system in response to the type of closed loop refrigerant system determined by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A control system to control a closed loop refrigerant system incorporating an evaporator, a condenser, and a compressor, the control system comprising:
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a controller comprising a plurality of input lines adapted to receive a plurality of input signals from an input device and a plurality of output lines electrically connected to a plurality of components in the closed loop refrigerant system; a signal sensing circuit, the signal sensing circuit comprising a plurality of load sensing lines connected to one of the plurality of input lines or the plurality of output lines; a processor functionally separate from the controller in communication with the controller, the processor being connected to the plurality of load sensing lines to sense whether one or more signals is present on the plurality of load sensing lines, the plurality of load sensor lines providing an input to the processor from the one of the plurality of input lines or the plurality of output lines the processor is configured to determine whether an air conditioning system or heat pump system is present based on the sensed signals on the plurality of load sensing lines; and the controller being configured to control operation of the closed loop refrigerant system in response to the type of closed loop refrigerant system determined by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification