HTML DRIVEN EMBEDDED CONTROLLER

• US 20090099668A1
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: York International Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: York International Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: THRUSH, Dennis R., LEHMAN, Delmar Eugene
• Application Number:
  US12/254,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20090099668A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/80
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/058 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4186 by protocol, e.g. MAP, TOP
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2638 Airconditioning
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31085 Application scripts; in web server, not sent to client
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31457 Factory remote control, monitoring through internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34444 Web control system, with intelligent control components each with web server
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method and system is provided for gathering, processing, displaying, and manipulating data from building equipment using a dedicated HTML-driven, non-PLC controller having an integral web server. Authorized users who use microprocessor controlled devices to access the website are provided with displayed equipment data that can be selected, monitored, and adjusted based on a user profile controlled by software of the controller.

Claims

1. A system for remotely monitoring building equipment, the system comprising:

at least one item of building equipment;

a non-PLC controller communicably connected to the at least one item of building equipment to receive data from the building equipment, the non-PLC controller having a web server, a microprocessor and a memory storing a computer program executable by the microprocessor, the computer program comprising computer instructions to;

gather data from the connected building equipment;

capture the data in CGI scripts;

populate the data into tags provided in an HTML web page generated by the web server of the non-PLC controller;

permit a user to log on to the web server using an HMI device;

prompt the user to enter a user name and password;

recognize the user name and password and associate the user name and password with a stored user profile having an access level for the recognized user; and

send data using the web server to the user;

wherein, the data sent to the user corresponds with the access level and includes instructions to generate a display for the user having predetermined display characteristics associated with the stored user profile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the building equipment is selected from the group consisting of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data is selected from the group consisting of alarms and faults, operational status, mode, settings, operating parameters, historical parameters, and combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

compressor speed, fan speed, thermostat setting, refrigerant level, temperature, pressure, compressor capacity, motor amps, and combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the building equipment is a compressor of an HVAC&

R system, and wherein the operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of;

capacity slide position, volume slide position, suction pressure, discharge pressure, oil pressure, main oil injection pressure, economizer pressure, filter pressure, intermediate pressure at an intermediate stage of compression, balance piston pressure, system discharge pressure, suction temperature, discharge temperature, oil temperature of the compressor, oil separator temperature, process/brine temperature leaving, process/brine temperature entering, motor current, motor amps, motor and compressor speed, compressor vibration during suction, compressor vibration during discharge, motor vibration at a shaft side, motor vibration at an opposite shaft side, and combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the historical parameters are selected from the group consisting of:

run time, downtime, and maintenance.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein date gathering from the building equipment is performed automatically at predetermined intervals selected by a user.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the gathered data is automatically retained for a preselected period of time or up to a preselected number files by a system component having data storage capacity.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the preselected period of time can be adjusted by a user.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the gathered data is automatically deleted when another CGI script is transmitted to populate the HTML web page.

11. A system for remotely monitoring building equipment, the system comprising:

at least one item of building equipment;

a non-PLC controller communicably connected to the at least one item of building equipment to receive data from the building equipment, the non-PLC controller having a web server, a microprocessor and a memory storing a computer program executable by the microprocessor, the computer program comprising computer instructions to;

gather data from the connected building equipment;

capture the data in CGI scripts;

populate the data into tags provided in an HTML web page generated by the web server of the non-PLC controller;

permit a user to log on to the web server using an HMI device;

prompt the user to enter a user name and password;

recognize the user name and password and associate the user name and password with a stored user profile having an access level for the recognized user; and

send data using the web server to the user, wherein the data sent to the user corresponds with the access level and includes instructions to display the HTML web page using predetermined display characteristics associated with the stored user profile, wherein the data further includes computerized instructions executable by the HMI device for allowing the user to manipulate the sent data, and to return the user-manipulated data to the controller to modify an operating parameter of the building equipment; and

at least one HMI in communicable connection with the web server to receive the HTML web page.

12. A method of monitoring and controlling building equipment, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a system for remotely monitoring building equipment, the system comprising;

at least one item of building equipment, a non-PLC controller communicably connected to the at least one item of building equipment to receive data from the building equipment, the non-PLC controller having a web server, a microprocessor and a memory storing a computer program executable by the microprocessor;

automatically polling the connected building equipment at preselected intervals using the non-PLC controller;

gathering data from the connected building equipment;

incorporating the gathered data into CGI scripts using the microprocessor of the controller; and

populating tags with the CGI scripts, the tags being provided in an HTML web page generated by the web server of the controller.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprised of the steps of:

providing a remote interface device for use by a remote user;

permitting the remote user to access the web server using the remote interface device;

prompting the user to enter a user name and password;

recognizing the user name and password and associating the user name and password with a stored user profile with an access level for the user;

sending data to the remote interface using the web server, the sent data corresponding with the access level of the user, the sent data further including instructions executable by the remote interface device for generating a display having predetermined display characteristics associated with the stored user profile;

displaying the sent data on the remote interface device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of gathering data includes gathering data relating to operating parameters of connected building equipment, and wherein the method further includes the steps of:

comparing the gathered data to a predetermined stored range for an operating parameter; and

automatically generating an electronic event if the gathered data falls outside of the predetermined stored range for an operating parameter.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic event includes a notification that is automatically provided to the web server.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic event further includes an electronic command that is generated by the controller and sent back to the connected equipment, the electronic command selected from the group consisting of a command to shutdown the connected building equipment, and a command to modify the operation of the connected building equipment.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of automatically generating an electronic event includes automatically notifying all logged-on users having a predetermined user profile.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprised of the step of allowing remote users to select, request, obtain, and manipulate data concerning an operating parameter of the connected building equipment.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the connected building equipment is a compressor of an HVAC&

R system, and wherein the operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of;

capacity slide position, volume slide position, suction pressure, discharge pressure, oil pressure, main oil injection pressure, economizer pressure, filter pressure, intermediate pressure at an intermediate stage of compression, balance piston pressure, system discharge pressure, suction temperature, discharge temperature, oil temperature of the compressor, oil separator temperature, process/brine temperature leaving, process/brine temperature entering, motor current, motor amps, motor and compressor speed, compressor vibration during suction, compressor vibration during discharge, motor vibration at a shaft side, motor vibration at an opposite shaft side, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the electronic event is selected from the group consisting of:

analog board communication failure shutdown, analog board failure shutdown, auxiliary alarm, auxiliary shutdown, balance piston failure shutdown, compressor auxiliary failure, compressor interlock failure, compressor starting failure auxiliary, compressor starting failure for low motor amps, compressor stopping failure auxiliary, compressor stopping failure for motor amps, compressor unable to unload alarm, dbs alarm, dbs trip, digital board reset, digital board shutdown, digital board communication failure shutdown, discharge end compressor vibration alarm, discharge end compressor vibration shutdown, discharge pressure sensor fault, discharge temperature saturation alarm, discharge temperature saturation shutdown, discharge temperature sensor fault, false start failure auxiliary, false start failure for motor amps, high auxiliary analog alarm, high discharge temperature alarm, high discharge temperature shutdown, high discharge pressure alarm, high discharge pressure shutdown, high economizer alarm, high economizer shutdown, high entering process temperature alarm, high entering process temperature shutdown, high liquid level shutdown, high manifold pressure alarm, high manifold pressure shutdown, high motor current alarm, high motor current shutdown, high oil filter pressure alarm, high oil filter pressure shutdown, high oil temperature alarm, high oil temperature shutdown, high rpm alarm, high rpm shut down, high suction pressure alarm, high suction pressure shutdown, insufficient main oil pressure shutdown, liquid slug alarm, liquid slug shutdown, low auxiliary analog alarm, low auxiliary analog shutdown, low economizer alarm, low economizer shutdown, low entering process temperature alarm, low entering process temperature shutdown, low main oil injection pressure shutdown, low motor current shutdown, low oil pressure alarm, low oil pressure shutdown, low oil separator temperature alarm, low oil separator temperature shutdown, low oil temperature alarm, low oil temperature shutdown, low process temperature alarm, low process temperature shutdown, low rpm alarm, low rpm shutdown, low suction pressure alarm, low suction pressure shutdown, maintenance alarm, missing oil pressure alarm, missing oil pressure shutdown, motor stator temperature alarm, motor stator shutdown alarm, motor starter communication failure shutdown, oil level shutdown, oil log shutdown, oil pressure sensor fault, oil pump aux failure, oil pump alarm, oil pump failure shutdown, oil temperature sensor fault, opposite shaft side drive vibration alarm, opposite shaft side drive vibration shutdown, opposite shaft side drive temperature alarm, opposite shaft side drive temperature shutdown, separator temperature sensor fault, shaft side drive vibration alarm, shaft side drive vibration shutdown, shaft side drive temperature alarm, shaft side drive temperature shutdown, starting failure, starting superheat shutdown, suction end compressor vibration alarm, suction end compressor vibration shutdown, suction pressure sensor fault, and variable speed communications alarm.