Communication protocol system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning network

• US 8,560,125 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wallaert, Timothy E., Grohman, Wojciech
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman, Sean P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp, Chad
• Application Number:
  US12/603,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 700/83, 700276-278, 700/299, 700/300
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

An HVAC data processing and communication network includes a first subnet and a second subnet. The first subnet includes a first demand unit, a first comfort sensor and a first subnet controller. The second subnet includes a second subnet comprising a second demand unit, a second comfort sensor and a second subnet controller. The second subnet controller is configured to control an operation of the first subnet.

Claims

1. An HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

a first subnet comprising a first demand unit, a first comfort sensor and a first subnet controller; and

a second subnet comprising a second demand unit, a second comfort sensor and a second subnet controller, the second subnet controller being configured to control an operation of said first subnet;

wherein said first subnet is configured to be wired as a star network, the central node of said star network being said first demand unit having direct connections to said first comfort sensor and said first subnet controller over a data bus.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said second subnet controller is configured to control said first demand unit in response to environmental data reported by said first comfort sensor.

3. The network as recited in claim 2, wherein said environmental data is an ambient temperature.

4. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second subnets are configured as different HVAC zones.

5. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second subnets are configured to communicate via a serial data bus conforming to a Bosch Controller Area Network specification.

6. The network as recited in claim 5, wherein first comfort sensor, said first subnet controller and a user interface are enclosed in a control unit.

7. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first subnet includes a user interface, and said user interface is configured to control an operation of said second subnet and to display data related to said operation.

8. A method of providing an HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

configuring a first demand unit, a first comfort sensor and a first subnet controller to operate as a first subnet;

configuring a second demand unit, a second comfort sensor and a second subnet controller to operate as a second subnet such that said second subnet is configured to be wired as a star network, the central node of said star network being said first demand unit having direct connections to said first comfort sensor and said first subnet controller over a data bus; and

configuring said first subnet controller to control an operation of said second subnet.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising configuring said second subnet controller to control said first demand unit in response to environmental data reported by said first comfort sensor.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said environmental data is an ambient temperature.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising configuring said first and second subnets as different HVAC zones.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising configuring said first and second subnets to communicate via a serial data bus conforming to a Bosch Controller Area Network specification.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein first comfort sensor, said first subnet controller and a user interface are enclosed in a control unit.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said first subnet includes a user interface, and further comprising configuring said user interface to control an operation of said second subnet and to display data related to said operation.

15. An HVAC data processing and communication network subnet controller, comprising:

a physical layer interface adapted to couple to a data bus of a first HVAC data processing and communication network subnet; and

a local controller configured to control an operation of said first HVAC data processing and communication network subnet and a second different HVAC data processing and communication network subnet;

wherein said first subnet includes a first demand unit, a first comfort sensor and a first subnet controller and is configured to be wired as a star network, the central node of said star network being said first demand unit having direct connections to said first comfort sensor and said first subnet controller over a data bus.

16. The subnet controller as recited in claim 15, wherein a second subnet controller is configured to control said first demand unit in response to environmental data reported by said first comfort sensor.

17. The subnet controller as recited in claim 15, wherein said first and second subnets are configured as different HVAC zones.

18. The subnet controller as recited in claim 15, wherein said local controller is configured to isolate said first and said second subnets in response to a bus fault on said data bus.

19. The subnet controller as recited in claim 15, wherein said physical layer interface is configured to communicate via said data bus in conformance with a Bosch Controller Area Network specification.

20. The subnet controller as recited in claim 15, wherein said local controller is associated with said first subnet controller, and control of said second subnet includes said local controller cooperating with a second subnet controller associated with said second subnet such that said first subnet controller acts an active subnet controller of said first and second subnets.