HVAC system, a method for determining a source of a reset and a HVAC controller configured for the same

• US 8,171,352 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stachler, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILES, NEIL D
• Application Number:
  US12/694,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20100299563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 714/55
• US Class Current: 714/55
• 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 11/50 characterised by user interfaces or communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/127 by using pulse modulation G01R21/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1335 Tariff switching circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/00 Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion G05B19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 : The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 : The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/04 : Single phase motors, e.g. capacitor motors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 : the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 : General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 : Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 : Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 : Heat exchanger or boiler making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49359 : Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

An HVAC controller, a method for determining the source of a reset of a HVAC unit and a HVAC system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) a power on reset (POR) register configured to indicate if a POR has occurred for said controller, (2) a non-volatile memory having a first reset code section and a second reset code section, wherein said first and second reset code sections are each configured to store a reset code and (3) a processor configured to deduce when a source of a reset for said controller is a watchdog reset based on content of said POR register, said first reset code section and said second reset code section.

Claims

1. A controller for a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:

a power on reset (POR) register configured to indicate if a POR has occurred for said controller;

a non-volatile memory having a first reset code section and a second reset code section, wherein said first and second reset code sections are each configured to store a reset code that is used to indicate a type of scheduled reset for said controller; and

a processor configured to deduce when a source of a reset for said controller is a watchdog reset based on content of said POR register, said first reset code section and said second reset code section, said processor further configured to set said POR register when said POR occurs and store said reset code in both said first and second reset code sections in response to when said type of scheduled reset occurs for said controller.

2. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor is configured to determine said source at a first start-up of said controller subsequent said reset.

3. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor determines if said POR register is set at a first start-up of said controller subsequent said reset.

4. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 3 wherein said processor determines if a first reset code in said first reset code section is equivalent to a second reset code in said second reset code section at a first start-up of said controller subsequent said reset.

5. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 4 wherein said processor is configured to determine said source is said watchdog reset when said POR register is not set and said first reset code is not equivalent to said second reset code.

6. A method for determining the source of a reset for a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, said method comprising:

receiving a reset signal at a controller of said HVAC unit;

deducing if a source of said reset signal is a watchdog reset based on content of a power on reset (POR) register, a first reset code section and a second reset code section of said controller, said deducing performed by a processor of said controller;

determining if said POR register is set at a first start-up of said controller subsequent receipt of said reset signal; and

determining if a first reset code in said first reset code section is equivalent to a second reset code in said second reset code section at a first start-up of said controller subsequent receipt of said reset signal.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising setting said POR register when a POR occurs for said controller.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising storing a reset code that is used to indicate a type of scheduled reset for said controller in both said first and second reset code sections in response to when said type of scheduled reset occurs for said controller.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said deducing occurs at a first start-up of said controller subsequent said reset.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising determining said source is said watchdog reset when said POR register is not set and said first reset code is not equivalent to said second reset code.

11. A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:

heating, cooling and blowing (HCB) components; and

a controller coupled to said HCB components and configured to manage operation thereof, said controller having;

a power on reset (POR) register configured to indicate if a POR has occurred for said controller;

a non-volatile memory having a first reset code section and a second reset code section, wherein said first and second reset code sections are each configured to store a reset code that is used to indicate a type of scheduled reset for said controller; and

a processor configured to deduce when a source of a reset for said controller is a watchdog reset based on content of said POR register, said first reset code section and said second reset code section, said processor further configured to set said POR register when said POR occurs and store said reset code in both said first and second reset code sections in response to when said type of scheduled reset occurs for said controller.

12. The HVAC unit as recited in claim 11 wherein said processor determines if said POR register is set at a first start-up of said controller subsequent said reset.

13. The HVAC unit as recited in claim 12 wherein said processor determines if a first reset code in said first reset code section is equivalent to a second reset code in said second reset code section at a first start-up of said controller subsequent said reset.

14. The HVAC unit as recited in claim 13 wherein said processor is configured to determine said source is said watchdog reset when said POR register is not set and said first reset code is not equivalent to said second reset code.