Device abstraction system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning system

• US 8,855,825 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US12/603,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/277, 709/220, 709/206
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]

Abstract

The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In various embodiments, the network includes a subnet controller configured to control networked devices via a data bus. The subnet controller is configured to be addressable over the data bus. An environmental sensor is configured to provide environmental data to the subnet controller, and is further configured to be addressable over the data bus independent of addressing the subnet controller. A user interface is configured to provide access by an operator to the network. The user interface is further configured to be addressable over the data bus independently of addressing the subnet controller and the environmental sensor.

Claims

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

an active subnet controller configured to control networked devices via a data bus and configured to be addressed over said data bus;

an environmental sensor configured to provide environmental data to said active subnet controller and configured to be addressable over said data bus independent of addressing said active subnet controller; and

a user interface configured to provide access by an operator to said network and configured to be addressable over said data bus independently of addressing said active subnet controller and said environmental sensor;

wherein said active subnet controller is located in an enclosure with at least one of said environmental sensor and said user interface, and said network further includes an inactive subnet controller, that is a different controller than said active subnet controller, configured to operate as said active subnet controller when said active subnet controller malfunctions.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said active subnet controller is located in an enclosure with said environmental sensor and said user interface.

3. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said active subnet controller, said environmental sensor and said user interface are independently addressable functions of an integrated electronic subsystem.

4. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said environmental sensor is coupled independently to said data bus.

5. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said environmental sensor is a first environmental sensor, and said network includes a second environmental sensor configured to provide environmental data to said active subnet controller and further configured to be addressable over said data bus independent of addressing said active subnet controller and said first environmental sensor.

6. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said comfort sensor is configured to operate in a first subnet, and said active subnet controller is configured to operate in a different second subnet.

7. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein said first subnet is associated with a first HVAC zone, and said second subnet is associated with a different second HVAC zone.

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

configuring an active subnet controller to control networked devices via a data bus, and to be addressed over said data bus;

configuring an environmental sensor to provide environmental data to said active subnet controller and to be addressable over said data bus independently of addressing said subnet controller; and

configuring a user interface to provide access by an operator to said network and to be addressable over said data bus independently of addressing said active subnet controller and said environmental sensor;

wherein said active subnet controller is located in an enclosure with at least one of said environmental sensor and said user interface, said method further comprising configuring an inactive subnet controller, that is a different controller than said active subnet controller, of said network to operate as said active subnet controller when said active subnet controller malfunctions.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said active subnet controller is located in an enclosure with said environmental sensor and said user interface.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said active subnet controller, said environmental sensor and said user interface are independently addressable functions of an integrated electronic subsystem.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said environmental sensor is coupled independently to said data bus.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said environmental sensor is a first environmental sensor, and said network includes a second environmental sensor configured to provide environmental data to said active subnet controller and further configured to be addressable over said data bus independent of addressing said active subnet controller and said first environmental sensor.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said comfort sensor is configured to operate in a first subnet, and said active subnet controller is configured to operate in a different second subnet.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said first subnet is associated with a first HVAC zone, and said second subnet is associated with a different second HVAC zone.

15. An HVAC data processing and communication network subnet controller configured to control networked devices via a data bus and configured to be addressed over said data bus, comprising:

a network interface configured to interface to said data bus of a HVAC data processing and communication network;

a local controller configured to;

receive a temperature message via said data bus from an environmental sensor;

receive an interface message via said data bus from a user interface; and

publish via said data bus a control message configured to control one of said networked devices in response to said temperature message and said interface message;

wherein said network interface and said local controller are located in an enclosure with said environmental sensor and said user interface, said local controller being configured to operate as said network subnet controller of said communication network when an active subnet controller of said communication network that is acting as said network subnet controller malfunctions, said active subnet controller being a different controller than said local controller.

16. The subnet controller as recited in claim 15, further comprising a memory configured to store data under the control of said local controller, wherein said network interface, said memory and said local controller are located in an enclosure with at least one of said environmental sensor and said user interface.

17. The subnet controller as recited in claim 15, wherein said environmental sensor and said user interface are addressable via said data bus independently of said network interface.

18. The subnet controller as recited in claim 15, further comprising a memory configured to store data under the control of said local controller, wherein said one of networked devices is collocated in a same enclosure as said network interface, memory and local controller.

19. The subnet controller as recited in claim 15, wherein said environmental sensor is coupled independently to said data bus.

20. The subnet controller as recited in claim 15, wherein local controller is configured to operate in a first subnet different from a second subnet in which said environmental sensor is configured to operate.