Universal analog cell for connecting the inputs and outputs of devices

• US 10,678,204 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Solosky, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddique, Mushfique
• Application Number:
  US14/869,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20160123624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21009 Display states of I-O
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview

Abstract

A universal analog cell that has electronic circuits that can be configured with a processor using a program designed for connection to one or more of a large range of various sensor and actuator types. The cell may have just a few terminals, for example four terminals, that can be configured for a wide range of components. A sensor or actuator which inherently requires several terminals may be implemented using all the terminals of the cell, but the cell may also support multiple input or output features as long as each of these features requires less than all terminals of the cell.

Claims

1. A universal interface system for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured to connect to and operate with electrical components of the HVAC system comprising:

two or more cells wherein each cell has a set of four terminals; and

a computer connected to each of the two or more cells, the computer executing a computer program; and

wherein;

each of the two or more cells provides at its four terminals inputs and outputs that are configured to be compatible for one or more sets of the electrical components of the HVAC system, wherein the one or more sets of the electrical components comprise one or more sensors and/or actuators, and wherein each set of four terminals can provide an interface for up to such as three analog I/O circuits to support such as three sensors and/or actuators at one time;

the four terminals at each of the cells providing inputs and outputs are reconfigured to be compatible for a different set of electrical components of the HVAC system;

inputs and outputs at the cell'"'"'s terminals are configured at the cell incorporating signals from the computer according to the computer program to connect to and operate with one or more of the HVAC sensors and/or actuators; and

the computer providing a display screen showing items to click on for providing appropriate values at the terminals for connection by the one or more components of a set of electrical components, the display screen including one or more radio buttons to select at least one of an analog I/O module, a fuel air module, or a limit module, wherein when a fuel air module or a limit module is selected, each of the cells in those cases includes a radio button to either have the cell be used for the local safety purpose, or donated as a full-featured wire sheet cell.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors or actuators are selected from a group comprising bridge sensors, NTC sensors, RTD sensors, powered potentiometers, and actuators with feedback.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein inputs and outputs at one or more terminals are selected from a group comprising current inputs, current outputs, voltage inputs, voltage outputs, thermocouple inputs, voltage threshold detections, tachometer inputs, PWM inputs, PWM outputs, and frequency/pulse generator outputs.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a cell can support two or more sensors or actuators at one time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a user can select from a list of configurations on a screen for use.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more terminals of the cell provide analog signal inputs and outputs to appropriate connection of the sensors and actuators.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more terminals have input signals and output signals having magnitudes less than 50 volts.

8. A method for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured to connect to and operate with electrical components of the HVAC system providing universal interfaces, comprising:

providing one or more cells, wherein each cell has circuitry connected to a predetermined number of terminals that are configured to be compatible for one or more sets of the electrical components of a HVAC system;

configuring the circuitry of a cell for obtaining one or more interfaces at the predetermined number of or less terminals for a first kind of one or more sensors and/or actuators;

reconfiguring the circuitry of the cell according to a program for obtaining another one or more interfaces at the predetermined number of or less terminals for a second kind of one or more sensors and/or actuators; and

connecting a processor executing a computer program, to the cell that configures or reconfigures the circuitry for obtaining the one or more interfaces at the predetermined number of or less terminals appropriate for a kind of the one or more sensors and/or actuators to connect to and operate with one or more of the HVAC sensors and/or actuators; and

providing a display screen showing items to click for providing appropriate values at the one or more terminals for connection by the one or more components of a set of electrical components, the screen comprises one or more radio buttons to select at least one of an analog I/O module, a fuel air module, or a limit module, wherein when a fuel air module or a limit module is selected, each of the two cells in those cases includes a radio button to either have the cell be used for the local safety purpose, or donated as a full-featured wire sheet cell.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the one or more sensors and/or actuators are selected from a group comprising bridge sensors, NTC sensors, RTD sensors, powered potentiometers, and actuators with feedback; and

one or more inputs and outputs at one or more terminals are selectable for one or more items from a group comprising current inputs, current outputs, voltage inputs, voltage outputs, thermocouple inputs, voltage threshold detection inputs, tachometer inputs, PWM inputs, PWM outputs, and frequency/pulse generator outputs.

10. An analog interface for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured to connect to and operate with electrical components of the HVAC system comprising:

an interface block comprising configurable inputs and outputs; and

a processor connected to the interface block executing a computer program; and

wherein;

the interface block comprises circuitry that is affected by the computer program executed by the processor to result in configured inputs and outputs of the interface block that are configured to be compatible for one or more sets of the electrical components of HVAC system, wherein the one or more sets of electrical components comprise one or more sensors and/or actuators;

the inputs and outputs are configured for establishing compatibility with a first set of one or more sensors and/or actuators of an HVAC system, that are connected to the inputs and outputs of the interface block to connect to and operate with one or more of the HVAC sensors and/or actuators; and

the inputs and outputs are reconfigured for establishing compatibility with a second set of one or more sensors and/or actuators of an HVAC system, that are connected to the inputs and outputs of the interface block to connect to and operate with one or more of the HVAC sensors and/or actuators; and

the processor configured for providing a display screen showing items to click on for providing appropriate values at the one or more terminals for connection by the one or more components of a set of electrical components, the display screen including one or more radio buttons to select at least one of an analog I/O module, a fuel air module, or a limit module, wherein when a fuel air module or a limit module is selected, each of the two cells in those cases includes a radio button to either have the cell be used for the local safety purpose, or donated as a full-featured wire sheet cell; and

one or more additional interface blocks like the first interface block, connected to the processor; and

wherein;

each of the additional interface blocks comprises configurable inputs and outputs;

each of the additional interface blocks comprises circuitry that is affected by a program executed by the processor to result in configured inputs and outputs of the interface block;

the inputs and outputs are configured for establishing compatibility with a third set of one or more sensors and/or actuators that are connected to the inputs and outputs of the interface block.

11. The analog interface of claim 10, further comprising a display for showing a dialog box having items that are selectable for configuring an input or output of the interface block for a compatible connection with a sensor or actuator.

12. The analog interface of claim 10, wherein the inputs and outputs are reconfigured for establishing compatibility with a fourth set of one or more sensors and/or actuators that are connected to the inputs and outputs of the interface block.