Method of twinning air conditioning units
First Claim
1. A method of controlling operation of multiple air conditioning units in an air conditioning system, the method comprising:
- detecting whether at least one air conditioning unit is operatively connected to a common controller;
operating a first air conditioning unit if at least two air conditioning units are not detected after detecting the first air conditioning unit;
the common controller performing a verification test if at least a second air conditioning unit is detected to determine whether to permit operation of one or both of the first and the second air conditioning units, the verification test comprising;
communicating information between the common controller and a first controller and a second controller associated with the first and second air conditioning units, respectively, to determine compatibility between the first and second air conditioning units,comparing information communicated to the common controller by the first controller and the second controller, andthe common controller determining whether the first and the second air conditioning units are compatible based on the information communicated by the first and the second controllers;
permitting operation of the first and the second air conditioning units if the common controller determines both first and second air conditioning units are compatible, each of the first and second air conditioning units being operable to circulate conditioned air to an enclosed space via a common duct; and
preventing operation of one or both of the first and second air conditioning unit if the common controller determines both air conditioning units are incompatible.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment units are provided with controllers which may be interconnected to a third or common controller, such as a communicating thermostat, and provide information in a process to determine if two or more of such air conditioning units may be operated as twinned units. Information is transmitted over a data bus between the controllers for the respective air conditioning units and the common controller to determine if the air conditioning units are the same type, of a same family and of essentially the same capacity before permitting twinned operation. If one of the air conditioning units is not twinnable, an alarm signal is generated to prevent operation of the air conditioning units in a multiple-unit configuration.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of controlling operation of multiple air conditioning units in an air conditioning system, the method comprising:
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detecting whether at least one air conditioning unit is operatively connected to a common controller; operating a first air conditioning unit if at least two air conditioning units are not detected after detecting the first air conditioning unit; the common controller performing a verification test if at least a second air conditioning unit is detected to determine whether to permit operation of one or both of the first and the second air conditioning units, the verification test comprising; communicating information between the common controller and a first controller and a second controller associated with the first and second air conditioning units, respectively, to determine compatibility between the first and second air conditioning units, comparing information communicated to the common controller by the first controller and the second controller, and the common controller determining whether the first and the second air conditioning units are compatible based on the information communicated by the first and the second controllers; permitting operation of the first and the second air conditioning units if the common controller determines both first and second air conditioning units are compatible, each of the first and second air conditioning units being operable to circulate conditioned air to an enclosed space via a common duct; and preventing operation of one or both of the first and second air conditioning unit if the common controller determines both air conditioning units are incompatible. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An air conditioning system comprising:
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a common controller for controlling operation of air conditioning units within the air conditioning system; and at least a first controller and a second controller operatively connected to the common controller, the first and second controller each operable to control a first air conditioning unit and a second air conditioning unit, respectively, each of the first and second air conditioning units including a heat exchanger and an air blower for conditioning and circulating air to an enclosed space by way of a common duct; wherein the common controller performs a verification test to determine whether to permit operation of one or both of the first and second air conditioning unit, the verification test comprising; the common controller communicating with the first and second controller to determine compatibility between the first and second air conditioning units, respectively, and the common controller determining whether the first air and second air conditioning units are compatible by comparing information communicated by the first and second controller, wherein the common controller permits operation of the first and second air conditioning units if the common controller determines both air conditioning units are compatible, respectively; and
wherein the common controller prevents operation of one or both of the first and second air conditioning units if the common controller determines both air conditioning units are incompatible. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling operation of multiple air conditioning units in an air conditioning system, the method comprising:
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detecting whether at least one air conditioning unit is operatively connected to a common controller; operating a first air conditioning unit if at least two air conditioning units are not detected after detecting the first air conditioning unit; performing a verification test if at least a second air conditioning unit is detected to determine whether to permit operation of one or both of the first air and second air conditioning unit, the verification test comprising; communicating information between the common controller and a first controller and a second controller to determine compatibility between the first and second air conditioning units, respectively, comparing information communicated to the common controller by the first and the second controllers; and the common controller determining whether the first and second air conditioning units are compatible based on the information communicated by the first and second controllers, respectively; instructing the first and second controllers to simultaneously operate the first and second air conditioning units if the common controller determines the first and second air conditioning units are compatible; and preventing operation of one or both of the first and the second air conditioning unit if the common controller determines both air conditioning units are incompatible, wherein the first and second air conditioning units are compatible if each air conditioning unit is at least of a similar type and operable to deliver a similar quantity of conditioned air to an enclosed space via a common duct. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification