Communications system, a HVAC system employing the same and a method of manufacturing a component for the HVAC system

• US 9,823,674 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2014
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grohman, Wojciech
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Yaotang
• Application Number:
  US14/454,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20140350734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

In one aspect, the disclosure provides an HVAC system. In one embodiment, the HVAC system includes: (1) an air handler configured to condition and circulate air for the HVAC system, and (2) an air handler controller for the HVAC system configured to control operation of the air handler, the air handler controller including interface circuitry having a predetermined coupling impedance and configured to couple the air handler controller to components of the HVAC system via a communications network of the HVAC system, wherein a total of the predetermined coupling impedance and an end node coupling impedance at each of the components is substantially a defined maximum loading impedance for the communications network and wherein the end node coupling impedance of one of said plurality of end nodes is determined based on said predetermined coupling impedance and end node coupling impedances of remaining ones of the plurality of end nodes.

Claims

1. A Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

an air handler configured to condition and circulate air for said HVAC system; and

an air handler controller for said HVAC system configured to control operation of said air handler, said air handler controller including interface circuitry having a predetermined coupling impedance and configured to couple said air handler controller to a plurality of components of said HVAC system via a communications network of said HVAC system, wherein;

a total of said predetermined coupling impedance and an end node coupling impedance at each of said components is substantially a defined maximum loading impedance for said communications network; and

said end node coupling impedance of one of said plurality of components is determined based on said predetermined coupling impedance and end node coupling impedances of remaining ones of said plurality of components.

2. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said components is a comfort sensor and said end node coupling impedance at said comfort sensor is based on said predetermined coupling impedance and end node coupling impedances of said remaining components.

3. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said defined maximum loading impedance is determined based on a characteristic of a transceiver at a dominant node.

4. The HVAC system as recited in claim 3 wherein said transceiver is a CAN compliant transceiver.

5. The HVAC system as recited in claim 3 wherein said transceiver is a RS-485 compliant transceiver.

6. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined coupling impedance has a resistance within a range of 50 ohms to 200 ohms.

7. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of components is coupled to a dominant node via copper wire.

8. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein a maximum number of said plurality of components is in a range of one to thirty-one.

9. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein each said end node coupling impedance is substantially the same.

10. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least two of said end node coupling impedances are not substantially the same.

11. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein each component of said plurality of components communicates with a dominant node and communication lengths between said plurality of components and said dominant node vary.

12. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein a dominant node and said plurality of components are coupled together in a free-topology network.

13. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of components are coupled together in parallel.

14. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said communicating network is a building communication network.

15. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said communicating network is a HVAC communications and control network.

16. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined coupling impedance is embedded in an electronic controller.

17. The HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said end node coupling impedances is embedded in an electronic controller.