Communication protocol system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning network

• US 8,352,080 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grohman, Wojciech, Hadzidedic, Darko, Sullivan, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US12/603,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 709/249, 710/306, 700/276
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24033 Failure, fault detection and isolation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25011 Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25012 Two different bus systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

An HVAC data processing and communication network includes a subnet controller and at least one demand unit. A bus interface device associated with the demand unit is configured to receive a demand message from the subnet controller over the network. The bus interface device controls an operation of said demand unit in response to said demand message.

Claims

1. An HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

a first subnet comprising a first subnet controller, a first comfort sensor and a first user interface coupled via a first data bus;

a second subnet comprising a second subnet controller, a second comfort sensor and a second user interface coupled via a second data bus; and

a switch coupling said first data bus to said second data bus, said switch being configured to decouple said first data bus from said second data bus upon receiving a command from said first subnet controller.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first subnet controller is configured to open said switch to isolate said first data bus and said second data bus in the event that said subnet controller detects a bus fault.

3. The network as recited in claim 1, further comprising a gateway configured to send message to a remote entity in the event that said first subnet controller detects a bus fault.

4. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first subnet controller is configured to attempt to reconnect said first data bus to said second data bus after the expiration of a predetermined duration.

5. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said switch receives said command via said first data bus.

11. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first subnet controller is configured to command said switch to isolate said first and second subnets after receiving a startup message via said first data bus.

12. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first subnet controller is configured to command said switch to reconnect said first and second subnets upon receiving an appropriately configured message via said first data bus.

6. A method of manufacturing an HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

configuring a first subnet controller, a first comfort sensor and a first user interface to communicate via a first data bus in a first subnet;

configuring a second subnet controller, a second comfort sensor and a second user interface to communicate via a second data bus in a second subnet;

coupling said first data bus and said second data bus via a switch configured to decouple said first and second data busses upon receiving a command from said first subnet controller.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising configuring said first subnet controller to open said switch to isolate said first data bus and said second data bus in the event that said subnet controller detects a bus fault.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further configuring a gateway to send message to a remote entity in the event that said first subnet controller detects a bus fault.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said first subnet controller is configured to attempt to reconnect said first data bus to said second data bus after the expiration of a predetermined duration.

10. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said switch receives said command via said first data bus.

13. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising configuring said first subnet controller to command said switch to isolate said first and second subnets after receiving a startup message via said first data bus.

14. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising configuring said first subnet controller to command said switch to reconnect said first and second subnets upon receiving an appropriately configured message via said first data bus.

15. An HVAC data processing and communication network bus switch, comprising:

a first contact of a switch pole; and

a second contact of said switch pole,

wherein said switch pole is configured to reversibly connect a first subnet of an HVAC data processing and communication network to a second subnet of said HVAC data processing and communication network, said first subnet including a subnet controller, a comfort sensor and a system device.

16. The bus switch as recited in claim 15, wherein said switch pole is a first switch pole configured to reversibly connect a high polarity of a first data bus associated with said first subnet to a high polarity of a second data bus associated with said second subnet, and further comprising a second switch pole configured to reversibly connect a low polarity of said first data bus with a low polarity of said second data bus.

17. The bus switch as recited in claim 15, further comprising a solenoid configured to isolate said first subnet bus from said second subnet upon command from a subnet controller coupled to said first subnet in the event that said subnet controller determines the existence of a communication failure on a data bus associated with said first subnet.

18. The bus switch as recited in claim 15, wherein said subnet controller is configured to command said bus switch to isolate said first and second subnets after receiving a startup message via a data bus associated with said first subnet.

19. The bus switch as recited in claim 15, wherein said subnet controller is configured to reconnect said first and second subnets after receiving an appropriately configured message via a first data bus associated with said first subnet.