Systems and methods for configuring and communicating with HVAC devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12429240-B2
Application number	US-202418647771-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2024
Priority date	Sep 2, 2014
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

A sensor in a building HVAC system includes a transducer configured to measure a variable in the building HVAC system and to generate a sensor reading indicating a value of the measured variable. The sensor includes a communications interface configured to provide the sensor reading to a control device in the building HVAC system and a near field communication (NFC) circuit separate from the communications interface. The NFC circuit is configured to facilitate bidirectional NFC data communications between the sensor and a mobile device. The sensor includes a processing circuit having a processor and memory. The processing circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the sensor to the mobile device via the NFC circuit, wirelessly receive data from the mobile device via the NFC circuit, and store the data received from the mobile device in the memory of the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having an application stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to perform operations for configuring a building device of an HVAC system, the application being for execution on a mobile device comprising a display, the application comprising instructions for:
receiving a plurality of configuration parameters of the building device from the building device using near field communication (NFC);
receiving logging data associated with the building device from the building device using NFC, the logging data comprising operational data and time stamps corresponding to the operational data;
displaying at least a portion of the plurality of configuration parameters in a configuration screen on the display, wherein the configuration screen provides an identification of the building device;
responsive to a command entered on a user interface of the mobile device, updating the display to display at least a portion of the logging data in a logging screen on the display, wherein the logging screen provides at least a portion of the operational data and the time stamps corresponding to the at least the portion of the operational data;
receiving a configuration parameter update, the configuration parameter update replacing or modifying at least one of the configuration parameters; and
transmitting the configuration parameter update to the building device via NFC.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of configuration parameters includes at least one of a set point, a travel time, and an operational mode, the operational mode identifying one of a direct action mode and a reverse action mode.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of configuration parameters includes at least one of a building device type, a device identifier, and a network address.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the application further comprises instructions for displaying a visual representation of the building device on the display.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the application further comprises instructions for displaying a hyperlink on the display, the hyperlink selectable to direct a user to additional information regarding the building device.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the application further comprises instructions for providing an indication that the modified or replaced set of configuration parameters was transmitted successfully to the building device.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the application further comprises instructions for displaying diagnostic data regarding operation of the building device.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the application further comprises instructions for displaying the configuration parameter update on the display.

9. A mobile device for configuring a building device of an HVAC system, comprising:
a display; and
a processor configured to:
receive data associated with at least one of diagnosis and operation of the building device, the data received from the building device using near field communication (NFC);
display the data on the display;
responsive to a command entered on a user interface of the mobile device, update the display to display a log of communications made using NFC with the building device on a logging screen wherein the log of the communications includes time stamps corresponding with the communications, wherein the logging screen provides at least a portion of the operational data and the time stamps corresponding to the at least the portion of the operational data;
receive a configuration parameter update, the configuration parameter update replacing or modifying at least one of the configuration parameters; and
transmitting the configuration parameter update to the building device via NFC.

10. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein the log is stored on the building device.

11. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein the user interface provides a clear all command for deleting information in the log.

12. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein the user interface provides a save command for saving information in the log.

13. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein the building device includes a flow sensor.

14. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a configuration parameter of the building device from the building device via NFC between the mobile device and the building device and display the configuration parameter on the display.

15. The mobile device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to display a help video related to NFC operations in response to a user request for the help video.

16. The mobile device of claim 14 , wherein the configuration parameter includes a set point for the building device.

17. A device interface application for a mobile device and for use with a building device, the device interface application comprising instructions causing the mobile device to:
receive a plurality of configuration parameters of the building device from the building device using near field communication (NFC);
receive logging data associated with the building device from the building device using NFC, the logging data comprising operational data and time stamps corresponding to the operational data;
display the plurality of configuration parameters on a display;
responsive to a command entered on a user interface of the mobile device, updating the display to display at least a portion of the logging data in a logging screen on the display, wherein the logging screen provides at least a portion of the operational data and the time stamps corresponding to the at least the portion of the operational data; and
provide a configuration parameter update to the building device via NFC in response to at least one of a write commend provided using the mobile device or a write and lock command using the mobile device.

18. The device interface application of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to display data associated with operation of the building device, the data received from the building device via NFC.

19. The device interface application of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of configuration parameters includes at least one of a set point, a travel time, and an operational mode, the operational mode identifying one of a direct action mode and a reverse action mode.

20. The device interface application of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to display the configuration parameter update on the display and provide an indication on the display that the configuration parameter update was transmitted successfully to the building device.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Rumler Daniel R
• Whitsitt Steven L
• Alexander Robert K
• Merkl Christopher
• Romanowich Gary A
• Clement Bernard
• Weiss Kevin A

Classifications

• H04B5/72

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• H04B5/26

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• G05B2219/33203

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• G05B2219/33192

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• G05B2219/23297

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