Customer equipment profile system for HVAC controls

• US 8,725,299 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• 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: Hess, Mark D., Mauk, Richard A., Thomas, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US12/694,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 700276-277
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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

Disclosed herein is a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit and controller with memory provisions for storing, receiving, and transmitting customer equipment profiles. The controller may include a plurality of profiles that allows a selection thereof for restoration. A method for configuring HVAC equipment, including a customer profile database and efficiently transmitting unique customer and factory profiles, is also disclosed.

Claims

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

an interface configured to receive and transmit a customer equipment profile for said HVAC equipment, said customer equipment profile associated with a customer of said HVAC equipment;

a memory coupled to said interface and configured to store said customer equipment profile; and

a processor configured to employ said customer equipment profile to configure said HVAC equipment, said customer equipment profile uniquely tailored for said HVAC equipment and an application of said HVAC equipment for said customer, wherein said customer equipment profile is based on one of general profiles representing typical applications for said HVAC equipment.

2. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said customer equipment profile is based on configuration data from another HVAC unit.

3. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said set of general profiles are selected from the group consisting of:

a school,

a grocery store,

a mall store,

a big box store,

a restaurant,

a factory, and

a retail store.

4. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said interface includes a universal serial bus port.

5. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 4 wherein said interface includes a connection for a personal computer or a portable computer.

6. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 5 wherein said interface includes connection for a communications network.

7. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller is a rooftop unit controller.

8. The HVAC controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said memory has a first, second and third memory section, wherein said first memory section includes a default factory profile, said second memory section includes said customer equipment profile, and said third memory section includes an operational profile for said HVAC equipment.

9. A method for configuring heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, said method comprising:

receiving a customer equipment profile for said HVAC equipment, said customer equipment profile associated with a customer of said HVAC equipment;

storing said customer equipment profile in a memory of an HVAC controller; and

configuring said HVAC equipment employing said customer equipment profile, said customer equipment profile uniquely tailored for said HVAC equipment and an application of said HVAC equipment for said customer, wherein said customer equipment profile is received by said HVAC controller from a HVAC equipment profile database.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein at least a portion of said customer equipment profile is generated by said customer.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said receiving and storing and configuring occur before shipping of said HVAC equipment from a manufacturer.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said configuring occurs before shipping of said HVAC equipment from a manufacturer.

13. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising receiving installation information for said application and storing said installation information as part of said customer equipment profile.

14. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said customer equipment profile is received by said HVAC controller from a portable memory device.

15. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said customer equipment profile is received by said HVAC controller over a communications network.

16. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said customer equipment profile is based on configuration data from another HVAC equipment.

17. A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a refrigeration circuit having at least one compressor, a corresponding evaporator coil and a corresponding condenser coil;

an indoor air blower configured to move air across said evaporator coil;

an outdoor fan configured to move air across said condenser coil; and

a controller coupled to said refrigeration circuit, said indoor air blower and said outdoor fan, said controller comprising;

an interface configured to receive and transmit a customer equipment profile for said HVAC system, said customer equipment profile associated with a customer of said HVAC system;

a memory coupled to said interface and configured to store said customer equipment profile; and

a processor configured to employ said customer equipment profile to configure said HVAC system, said customer equipment profile uniquely tailored for said HVAC system and an application of said HVAC system for said customer.

18. The HVAC system as recited in claim 17 wherein said memory has a first, second and third memory section, wherein said first memory section includes a default factory profile, said second memory section includes said customer equipment profile, and said third memory section includes an operational profile for said HVAC equipment.

19. The HVAC system as recited in claim 17 wherein said interface includes a universal serial bus connection and a network connection.