Integrated controller an HVAC system

• US 9,599,359 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kowald, Glenn Will, Hadzidedic, Darko
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US14/304,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20140297042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/62 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

The disclosure provides, in one aspect, an integrated controller for a HVAC system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the integrated controller includes: (1) an interface coupled to an auxiliary controller of the HVAC system and configured to communicate therewith, the auxiliary controller having an auxiliary non-volatile memory, (2) a processor, coupled to the interface and configured to direct the operation of the HVAC system, and (3) a main non-volatile memory coupled to the processor and configured to receive a copy of main controller application information associated with the main system controller via the interface and store the main controller application information, the processor further configured to automatically send a copy of the main controller application information during manufacturing of the HVAC system to the auxiliary controller of the HVAC system to store as back-up data on the auxiliary non-volatile memory of the auxiliary controller.

Claims

1. An integrated controller for an HVAC system, comprising:

an interface coupled to an auxiliary controller of said HVAC system and configured to communicate therewith, said auxiliary controller having an auxiliary non-volatile memory;

a processor, coupled to said interface and configured to direct the operation of said HVAC system; and

a main non-volatile memory coupled to said processor and configured to receive a copy of main controller application information associated with said main system controller via said interface and store said main controller application information, said processor further configured to automatically send a copy of said main controller application information during manufacturing of said HVAC system to said auxiliary controller of said HVAC system to store as back-up data on said auxiliary non-volatile memory of said auxiliary controller.

2. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary controller is a predetermined auxiliary controller of said HVAC system.

3. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller application information includes feature sets for said main system controller.

4. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said main controller application information includes model identification data or model specific data for said main system controller.

5. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said main controller application information includes application specific data for said main system controller.

6. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said main controller application is received from said main system controller during manufacturing.

7. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary controller is designed to direct operation of a single component of said HVAC system.

8. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein storing said main controller application information in said main system controller and said auxiliary controller are performed substantially simultaneously.

9. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein a copy of said main controller application information is automatically sent from said main system controller to said auxiliary controller after storing said main controller application information in said main system controller.

10. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said HVAC system includes an indoor blower motor configured to move air through said HVAC system and wherein said auxiliary controller is a blower motor controller for said blower motor.

11. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said HVAC system includes a furnace and said main system controller is an integrated furnace controller.

12. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said HVAC system includes a coil blower unit.

13. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein:

said processor is further configured to;

determine whether the main controller application information is stored on the main system controller; and

when the main controller application information is not stored on the main system controller, query the auxiliary controller for the main controller application information; and

said interface is further configured to send the copy of the main controller application information to the main system controller.

14. The integrated controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said main controller application information comprises model specific information that indicates feature sets that are applicable to a particular model of the HVAC system.