Device for operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016211985-A1
Application number	US-201514712150-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 14, 2015
Priority date	Jan 19, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one embodiment a control unit for managing an HVAC system includes an RS-BUS interface that may communicate with one or more HVAC units. A plurality of universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) ports, wherein at least one of the UART ports may communicate with an interactive display using an RS-485 communication protocol, A secure digital input output (SDIO) port configured to interface with a Wi-Fi module, wherein the Wi-Fi module is operable to communicate with a plurality of HVAC sensors, wherein the plurality of HVAC sensors operable to measure temperature. A processor that may receive, from the SDIO port, a sensor reading from one of the plurality of HVAC sensors, the sensor reading formatted according to an 802.11 Wi-Fi protocol. The processor may then convert the sensor reading from the 802.11 Wi-Fi protocol into an RS-BUS protocol, the RS-BUS protocol may control the one or more HVAC units. The processor may also convert the sensor reading from the 802.11 Wi-Fi protocol into the RS-485 communication protocol that may communicate with the interactive display. The processor may then transmit the sensor reading in the RS-485 communication protocol to the interactive display using the at least one UART port. The processor may also transmit the RS-BUS protocol to the one or more HVAC units using the RS-BUS interface.

First claim

1 . A control unit for managing a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
an RS-BUS interface operable to facilitate communications with one or more HVAC units; a plurality of universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) ports, wherein at least one of the UART ports is operable to facilitate communication with an interactive display using an RS-485 communication protocol; a secure digital input output (SDIO) port configured to interface with a Wi-Fi module, wherein the Wi-Fi module is operable to communicate with a plurality of HVAC sensors, the plurality of HVAC sensors operable to measure temperature; and a processor operable to:
receive, from the SDIO port, a sensor reading from one of the plurality of HVAC sensors, the sensor reading formatted according to an 802.11 Wi-Fi protocol;
convert the sensor reading from the 802.11 Wi-Fi protocol into an RS-BUS protocol, the RS-BUS protocol operable to control the one or more HVAC units;
convert the sensor reading from the 802.11 Wi-Fi protocol into the RS-485 communication protocol operable to communicate with the interactive display;
transmit, using the at least one UART port, the sensor reading in the RS-485 communication protocol to the interactive display; and
transmit, using the RS-BUS interface, the RS-BUS protocol to the one or more HVAC units.

2 . The control unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a port allowing for an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) to interface with a control unit temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure a control temperature of a location of the control unit; and the processor further configured to transmit, using the Wi-Fi module, an alert message to a user device when the control temperature of the location of the control unit rises above a predetermined temperature.

3 . The control unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a universal serial bus (USB) host port configured to provide Ethernet communication support when interfaced with an Ethernet capable USB dongle, wherein the USB host port is one selected from the group consisting of USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and USB Type-C.

4 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the one or more HVAC units are part of a commercial refrigeration system and using an RS-485 communication protocol.

5 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the one or more HVAC units are part of a residential HVAC system comprising an outdoor HVAC unit and an indoor HVAC unit.

6 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the Wi-Fi module connected to the SDIO port is further operable to facilitate communication with one or more user devices using a Wi-Fi protected setup protocol; and
the processor is further operable to:
receive, using the SDIO port, a temperature adjust command from one of the one or more user devices, the temperature adjust command formatted according to a first protocol;
convert the temperature adjust command into the RS-BUS protocol, the RS-BUS protocol operable to control the one or more HVAC units; and
transmit, using the RS-BUS interface, the temperature adjust command to the one or more HVAC units.

7 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the Wi-Fi module connected to the SDIO port is further operable to facilitate communication between the control unit and one or more sibling control units using a Wi-Fi direct protocol.

8 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the Wi-Fi module comprises an external antenna, the external antenna operable to provide long-range Wi-Fi communication.

9 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the Wi-Fi module connected to the SDIO port is further configured to facilitate communication between the control unit and a wireless access point, the wireless access point connected to the Internet.

10 . The control unit of claim 9 , wherein the Wi-Fi module connected to the SDIO port is further configured to facilitate communication with a control server over the Internet using a wireless access point.

11 . The control unit of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further operable to receive, from the SDIO port, a firmware upgrade from the control server.

12 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the Wi-Fi module is an 802.11 B/G/N module.

13 . A control unit for managing a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
an RS-BUS interface operable to facilitate communications with one or more HVAC units; a plurality of universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) ports, wherein at least one of the UART ports is operable to facilitate communication with an interactive display; a secure digital input output (SDIO) port that interfaces with a Wi-Fi module, the Wi-Fi module operable to:
receive a temperature reading from an HVAC sensor, wherein the HVAC sensor measures temperature;
facilitate communications with a wireless access point using an 802.11 Wi-Fi protocol, the wireless access point connected to the Internet; and
receive, using a control link established with a control server over the Internet, a firmware upgrade for the HVAC unit;
a processor communicatively coupled to the RS-BUS interface, the plurality of UART ports, and the SDIO port, the processor configured to:
transmit, using the at least one UART port, the temperature reading to the interactive display; and
transmit, using the RS-BUS interface, the firmware upgrade to the HVAC unit.

14 . The control unit of claim 13 , further comprising:
a universal serial bus (USB) host port configured to provide Ethernet communication support when interfaced with a Ethernet capable USB dongle, wherein the USB host port is one selected from the group consisting of USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and USB Type-C.

15 . The control unit of claim 13 , further comprising:
a port allowing for an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) to interface with a control unit temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure an ambient temperature of a location of the control unit; and the processor further configured to transmit, using the Wi-Fi module, an alert message to a user device when the ambient temperature of the location of the control unit reaches an unsafe operating temperature.

16 . The control unit of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of UART ports are further operable to facilitate communication with a debugging apparatus using an RS-232 communication protocol.

17 . The control unit of claim 14 , wherein the Wi-Fi module is an 802.11 B/G/N module.

18 . A control unit for managing a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
a connection means for communicating with one or more HVAC units using an RS-BUS communication protocol; a plurality of universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) ports, wherein at least one of the UART ports is operable to facilitate communication with an interactive display using an RS-485 communication protocol; a means to interface with a Wi-Fi module, wherein the Wi-Fi module is operable to communicate with a sibling control unit.

19 . The control unit of claim 18 , wherein the Wi-Fi module communicates with a sibling control unit using a Wi-Fi direct protocol negotiated using a Wi-Fi protected setup protocol.

20 . The control unit of claim 19 , further comprising a processor operable to receive a command from the interactive display and communicate the command using the Wi-Fi module to the sibling control unit.

Assignees

• Lennox Ind Inc

Inventors

• Castillo Daniel A
• Charavda Jayprakash
• Ho Nguyen T
• Khiani Sunil K

Classifications

• G05B19/042

  using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04L12/283

  Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• F24F11/56

  Remote control · CPC title

• H04L12/2823

  Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network (device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00) · CPC title