Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A CONTROLLER CONFIGURED TO RECEIVE Buxom VOLUMES
FOR DIFFERENT OPERATING MODES PER ZONES, AN HVAC
SYSTEM INCLUDING THE CONTROLLER AND A raznim OF
OPERATING THE CONTROLLER
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application Serial No. 61/754,932, filed by
Charavda, et al., on January 21, 2013, entitled "USER
INTERFACE SCREENS AND CONTROLLER FOR HVAC SYSTEM,"
commonly assigned with this application and incorporated
herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
This application is directed, in general, to
heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
and, more specifically, to zoned HVAC systems.
BACKGROUND
HVAC systems are used to regulate environmental
condition within an enclosed space.
Typically, HVAC
systems have a circulation fan that pulls air from the
enclosed space through ducts and pushes the air back into
the enclosed space through additional ducts after
conditioning the air (e.g., heating, cooling, humidifying
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or dehumidifying the air). To direct operations of HVAC
components including a circulation fan, each HVAC system
includes at least one HVAC controller. For
zoned HVAC
systems, the HVAC controllers calculate, whenever
conditioning is requested, the volume of air that is
needed for conditioning the requesting zone(s). The
calculated value is sent to the blower to generate and
provide the corresponding volume of air to be dispersed
to the conditioning requested zones.
SUMMARY
In one aspect, a HVAC system having a circulation
fan is disclosed. In one
embodiment, the HVAC system
includes: (1) a controller having (1A) an interface
configured to receive, via a single graphical user
interface, blower volumes for the circulation fan that
correspond to each operating mode of the HVAC system per
each zone of the HVAC system and (1B) a processor
configured to direct operation of the circulation fan
based on at least one of the blower volumes in response
to a thermostat call.
In another aspect, a controller for an HVAC system
is disclosed. In one
embodiment, the controller
includes: (1) an interface configured to receive blower
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volumes for each zone of the HVAC system that correspond
to operating modes thereof of the HVAC system, wherein
the blower volumes are received via a single graphical
user interface and (2) a processor configured to direct
operation of a circulation fan of the HVAC system based
on at least one of the blower volumes.
In yet another aspect, a graphical user interface
for an HVAC system is provided. In one embodiment, the
graphical user interface includes: (1) air flow input
areas configured to receive blower volumes for each zone
of the HVAC system, (2) an operating mode input area
configured to indicate an operating mode of the HVAC
system and (3) start input areas configured to initiate
operation of a circulation fan of the HVAC system based
on the blower volumes and the operating mode.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Reference is now made to the following descriptions
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a high-level block diagram of an
embodiment of a HVAC system constructed according to the
principles of the disclosure;
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FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a
controller constructed according to the principles of the
disclosure; and
FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an embodiment of a
single interface screen configured to receive blower
volumes to be used by a controller of a HVAC system
according to the principles of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
During installation, an installer selects different
air flows for each zone that corresponds to each
operating mode of the HVAC system.
Typically, this is
done using jumpers and tags on the hardware boards of the
HVAC controller. This
procedure can be cumbersome and
time consuming; especially when the hardware boards are
located in an attic or in a basement.
This disclosure provides an improved scheme for
setting blower volumes for the different zones and
operating modes of an HVAC system. An
improved
controller and interface is provided that allows an
installer to enter, modify and test the blower volumes
per zone for a circulation fan for each of the operating
modes. The disclosed interface allows each of the blower
volumes to be modified by increasing or decreasing the
air flow for each operating mode and for each zone. In
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one embodiment, a single user interface is disclosed that
allows entering, modifying, testing and saving the
various blower volumes.
Accordingly, the disclosed
features and schemes provide an improved system and
method for obtaining the optimal blower volumes for each
operating mode per zone.
A thermostat call as used herein is based on an
environmental setting such as a temperature or a
humidity. The
thermostat calls include, for example,
heating demands, cooling demands and dehumidifying
demands. A
thermostat call can be generated by, for
example, a thermostat or a comfort sensor.
FIG. 1 is a high-level block diagram of an
embodiment of a HVAC system 100, constructed according to
the principles of the disclosure. The HVAC system 100 is
a networked HVAC system configured to condition air
within an enclosed space, such as a house, an office
building, a warehouse, etc. The HVAC system 100 includes
multiple components with a single one of some of the
components in FIG. 1 being represented. One skilled
in
the art will understand that multiple of the same
components can be included. One skilled in the art will
also understand the HVAC system 100 can include other
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components that are not illustrated but typically
included with an HVAC system.
The HVAC system 100 is a zoned system. As such,
multiple comfort sensors 160 and dampers 185 are denoted.
The HVAC system 100 also includes a circulation fan 110,
a furnace 120, typically associated with the circulation
fan 110, and a refrigerant evaporator coil 130, also
typically associated with the circulation fan 110. The
circulation fan 110, furnace 120, and refrigerant
evaporator coil 130 are collectively referred to as the
"indoor unit." This embodiment of the system 100 also
includes a compressor 140 and an associated condenser
coil 142, which are typically referred to as the "outdoor
unit" 144. The
compressor 140 and associated condenser
coil 142 are typically connected to an associated
evaporator coil 130 by a refrigerant line 146.
The circulation fan 110, sometimes referred to as a
blower, can operate at different capacities, i.e., motor
speeds, to circulate air through the HVAC system 100,
whereby the circulated air is conditioned and supplied to
the conditioned enclosed space. The circulation fan 110
moves the air at a certain capacity according to a blower
volume. The
blower volumes for a circulating fan are
usually stored in an indoor controller of a HVAC system,
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such as control unit 150. The
blower volume is the
airflow capacity or rate (often expressed in terms of
cubic feet per minute, or CFM) of the circulating fan
110.
The control unit 150 is configured to control the
circulation fan 110, the furnace 120 and/or the
compressor 140 to regulate the temperature of the
enclosed space, at least approximately. The control unit
150 may be an integrated controller or a distributed
controller that directs operation of the HVAC system 100.
The control unit 150 may include an interface to receive
thermostat calls, blower control signals, and blower
volumes for various zones and operating modes of the HVAC
system. The control unit 150 also includes a processor,
such as a microprocessor, to direct the operation of the
HVAC system 100. The
processor can be configured to
direct operation of the circulation fan 110 per blower
volumes entered during installation of the HVAC system
100. The
graphical user interface 300 of FIG. 3 can be
used to receive the various blower volumes that are used
by the processor. The
control unit 150 may include a
memory section having a series of operating instructions
stored therein that direct the operation of the control
unit 150 (e.g., the processor) when initiated thereby.
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The series of operating instructions may represent
algorithms that are used to control the blower volume of
the circulation fan 110. The memory or another memory of
the control unit 150 is also configured to store the
various blower volumes for each of the zones of the HVAC
system for each of the operating modes.
The HVAC system 100 also includes comfort sensors
160 that may be associated with the control unit 150 and
also optionally associated with a display 170. The
comfort sensors 160 provide current information,
environmental data, about environmental conditions within
zones of the enclosed space, such as temperature,
humidity and air quality to the control unit 150 and
display 170. For
example, with respect to FIG. 3, the
HVAC system 100 may include four comfort sensors 160.
In various embodiments, the display 170 provides
additional functions such as operational, diagnostic and
status message display and an attractive, visual
interface that allows an installer, user or repairman to
perform actions with respect to the HVAC system 100 more
intuitively. In some
embodiments, the display 170 is a
thermostat for the HVAC system 100. In other
embodiments, the display 170 is associated with a
controller of the HVAC system 100, such as the control
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unit 150. Herein, the term "user" will be used to refer
collectively to any of an installer, a tester, a user, an
operator, a repairman, etc., unless clarity is served by
greater specificity.
The zone controller 180 is configured to manage the
movement of conditioned air to the designated zones of
the enclosed space. Each of the designated zones include
at least one demand unit, such as the furnace 120, and at
least one user interface, such as a thermostat. The zone
controlled HVAC system 100 allows a user to independently
control the temperature in the designated zones. The
zone controller 180 operates electronic dampers 185 to
control air flow to the zones of the enclosed space. The
zone controller 180 generates a blower control signal to
request a blower volume for the circulation fan 110. The
blower control signal can represent the blower volumes
entered via a user interface screen such as the graphical
user interface 300 in FIG. 3. In some
embodiments, the
zone controller 180 is configured to provide greater air
flow for one zone than another zone to compensate for
greater demands or air flow requirements. The zone
controller 180 can be a conventional controller for
delivering conditioned air to designated zones of a
conditioned space. Harmony IIITM
Zone Control System
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available from Lennox Industries, Inc. of Richardson,
Texas, is an example of a zoning system that employs a
zone controller to manage the distribution of conditioned
air to designated zones.
The blower control signal is typically an electrical
signal generated by a zoning control panel in response to
thermostat demands from different zones. The
blower
control signal can be an analog or a digital signal.
Considering the Harmony 111TM Zone Control System, a pulse
width modulated (PWM) signal is used for a blower control
signal and a change in the duty cycle of the PWM signal
indicates a change in the operating speed of the
circulation fan. In other
embodiments, the blower
control signal can be a data signal including a messaging
protocol signal, such as a controller area network (CAN)
signal, or an output of a transducer. As noted
above,
the blower control signal can reflect the blower volumes
received via the interface of the control unit 150.
These can be input by an installer employing a single
user interface such as the graphical user interface 300.
A data bus 190, which in the illustrated embodiment
is a serial bus, couples the various components of the
HVAC system 100 together such that data may be
communicated therebetween or thereamong. As will be
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understood, the data bus 190 may be advantageously
employed to convey one or more alarm messages or one or
more diagnostic messages. In some
embodiments, the
connections therebetween are through a wired-connection.
A conventional cable and contacts may be used to couple
the indoor unit controller 150 to the various components.
In some embodiments, a wireless connection may also be
employed to provide at least some of the connections.
In different embodiments, the control unit 150, the
display 170 and the zone controller 180 can be a HVAC
controller. As such, either one of the control unit 150,
the display 170 or the zone controller 180 can be
configured to perform all or a portion of the features
described herein. FIG. 2 provides additional information
of an embodiment of a HVAC controller.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment
of a controller 200 of a HVAC system constructed
according to the principles of the disclosure. The
controller 200 is configured to receive blower volumes
for each zone and operating mode of the HVAC system and
direct operation of a circulation fan of the HVAC system
per the blower volumes. The blower volumes are typically
entered during installation of the HVAC system. The
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graphical user interface 300 of FIG. 3 can be used to
receive the blower volumes.
The controller 200 includes an interface 210, a
processor 220, a memory 230 and a user display 240.
Additionally, the controller 200 may comprise additional
components typically included within a controller for a
HVAC system, such as a power supply or power port. In
different embodiments, the controller 200 can be a
control unit, a zone controller or a thermostat of a HVAC
system.
In one embodiment, each of the components in the
controller 200 is operatively coupled to each other via
conventional means to communicate information. While all
of the components can be contained in one enclosure, in
some embodiments, some of these components may be located
outside the enclosure while being operatively coupled to
other components. Also in
some embodiments, a HVAC
system has multiple controllers based on the structure or
the number of zones of the enclosed space in which the
HVAC system is applied.
The interface 210 of the controller 200 serves as an
interface between the controller 200 and the HVAC
components. The
interface 210 is configured to receive
environmental data such as temperature, humidity and etc.
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from sensors, such as comfort sensors, located throughout
the enclosed space and transmit control signals that
represent instructions to perform services to the
respective HVAC components. In one
embodiment, the
environmental data and control signals are communicated
via a data bus such as the data bus 190 of FIG. 1.
The interface 210 is also configured to receive
blower volumes that correspond to zones of the HVAC
system and enclosed space. The
blower volumes can be
received during installation. In one
embodiment, the
interface 210 receives the blower volumes via a single
user interface screen. Via the single user interface
screen, the interface 210 can also receive test control
signals that the processor 220 employs to operate a
circulation fan of the HVAC system. This
assists an
installer in determining the proper blower volumes for
the various zones and operating modes of the HVAC system.
The interface 210 can also receive a save signal via the
single user interface screen that directs the controller
200 to save the optimal blower volumes determined during
testing and installation. The
single user interface
screen can be, for example, the graphical user interface
300. Inputs from the graphical user interface 300 could
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also be represented as being received from the display
240.
The processor 220 of the controller 200 directs the
operation of the controller 200 and instructs other HVAC
components based on programming data. The
programming
data includes program schedule events (e.g., temperature
setpoints, system modes, fan modes) in the HVAC system
100. The programming data can be input via the display
240. The processor 220 can receive other inputs via the
display 240 that direct the operation of the processor
220. These
inputs can be from the single interface
screen and include the set blower volumes for each zone
in the enclosed space, the testing control signals and
the save control signals. Thus,
the processor 220 can
also direct the operation of the HVAC system 100 based on
test control signals generated during installation of the
HVAC system. The
processor 220 may be a conventional
processor such as a microprocessor.
The memory 230 may be a conventional memory
typically located within the controller, such as a
microcontroller, that is constructed to store the
programming data. The
memory 230 may store operating
instructions such as control signals to direct the
operation of the processor 220 when initiated thereby.
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The operating instructions may correspond to algorithms
that provide the functionality of the operating schemes
disclosed herein.
The display 240 visually provides information to a
user and allows interaction with the user. In one
embodiment, the display 240 can provide a setup screen
that allows the user to enter the programming data. In
addition to the setup screen, the display 240 can provide
other screens such as operational, diagnostic and status
message screens. In one
embodiment, the display 240
provides the graphical user interface 300 that provides a
single screen for ease of installation of the HVAC
system.
FIG. 3 illustrates a view of an embodiment of a
graphical user interface 300 constructed according to the
principles of the disclosure. The
graphical user
interface 300 provides a single interface screen
configured to allow a user to enter, test, modify and
save blower volumes for each individual zone of an HVAC
system and for each operating mode of the HVAC system.
The graphical user interface 300 is configured to allow
testing of air flow for each zone of the HVAC system
according to a corresponding one of the blower volumes.
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The graphical user interface 300 includes air flow
input areas 310 configured to receive the blower volumes,
action input areas configured to initiate actions
associated with the HVAC system and information areas
that indicate particular values or selections associated
with the HVAC system. The
action input areas include
start input areas 330, a stop input area 340, a save
input area 350, a cancel input area 360 and a next input
area 370. The information areas include zone designated
fields 320, an operating mode input area 380, a maximum
blower volume indicator 392, an assigned blower volume
indicator 394 and a title 396.
Each of the air flow input areas 310 correspond to a
particular zone of the HVAC system and are configured to
receive a blower volume for that particular zone of the
HVAC system. Each of
the airflow input areas 310 are
modifiable during air flow testing of each of the zones
for each of the operating modes. The zone
designated
fields 320 indicate each of the zones of the HVAC system
that correspond to each of the air flow input areas 310.
A user can change the blower volumes in the air flow
input areas 310 by touching the designated areas to
increase or decrease the displayed blower volumes. In
some embodiments, the blower volumes increment or
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decrement at predetermined values, such as one, five,
ten, fifty, etc. In some embodiments, the blower volumes
may only increment of decrement wherein a user cycles
through until obtaining the desired setting.
The action input areas initiate an action when
activated.
In some embodiments, the action input areas
can be activated when touched or pressed.
In other
embodiments a user input device, such as a keypad,
touchpad, stylus pen, etc., can be used to activate the
action input areas, air flow input areas 310 or portions
of the information areas if applicable.
Activation of
the action input areas can be determined based on the
type of display in which the graphical user interface 300
is employed.
The start input areas 330 are configured to initiate
operation of a circulation fan of the HVAC system based
on the blower volumes and the operating mode.
For
example, activating the start input area for zone 1
initiates the circulation fan of the HVAC system at a
blower volume of 400 CFM. Activation of multiple ones of
the start input areas 330 causes the circulation fan to
operate at a cumulative total of those zones that are
activated.
Continuing the above example, further
activation of the start input area for zone 3 causes the
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circulation fan to operate at 800 CFM. In some
embodiments, the start input areas 330 are also
configured to stop operation or reduce the blower volume
with respect to a zone area that is already activated.
As such, each of the start input areas 330 operate as a
toggle switch and can control the overall blower volume
of the circulation fan with respect to the entered blower
volume in the corresponding air flow input areas 310.
The stop input area 340 is configured to end
operation of the circulation fan. Accordingly, the stop
input area 340 provides a single input area that shuts
down the circulation fan without having to individually
deactivate each of the start area inputs 330.
The save input area 350 is configured to initiate
storing the blower volumes in a memory of an HVAC
controller. Accordingly, a user can test air flows with
different blower volumes for the different operating
modes and activate the save input area 350 to save the
desired entered values for the blower volumes after
testing. The memory can be a conventional memory of the
HVAC controller.
The cancel input area 360 is configured to clear the
entered blower volumes from the air flow input areas 310.
The next input area 370 is configured to transition to
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another input screen. Typically the other input screen
is an additional user interface screen that is used by an
installer during installation.
The operating mode input area 380 is configured to
indicate an operating mode of the HVAC system that
corresponds to the blower volume values displayed in the
air flow input areas 310. Additionally, the operating
mode input area 380 is configured to provide multiple
operating modes of the HVAC system and receive a
selection for a particular one of the operating modes.
With the different selections made available, an
installer can select each of the operating modes and for
each of the operating modes enter and test different
blower volumes for the different zones. The
installer
can then save all of the settings for the blower volumes.
The maximum blower volume indicator 392 visually
indicates to a user the maximum blower volume for the
particular circulation fan being controlled. The
assigned blower volume indicator 394 provides a visual
indication of the cumulative blower volume for the
indicated operating mode noted in the operating mode
input area 380.
The title 396 indicates the subject of the
particular graphics user interface 300. This is helpful
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when viewing multiple screens during installation of the
HVAC system.
The above-described apparatuses, methods or
interface screens may be embodied in, provide by or
performed by various conventional digital data
processors, microprocessors or computing devices, wherein
these devices are programmed or store executable programs
of sequences of software instructions to perform one or
more of the steps of a method or provide an interface
screeen. The software instructions of such programs may
be encoded in machine-executable form on conventional
digital data storage media that is non-transitory, e.g.,
magnetic or optical disks, random-access memory (RAM),
magnetic hard disks, flash memories, and/or read-only
memory (ROM), to enable various types of digital data
processors or computing devices to perform one, multiple
or all of the steps of one or more of the above-described
methods or to provide one of the described interface
screens. Additionally, an apparatus, such as control
unit, may be designed to include the necessary circuitry
or programming to perform each step of a method of
disclosed herein or provide a single user interface as
disclosed.
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Portions of disclosed embodiments may relate to
computer storage products with a non-transitory computer-
readable medium that have program code thereon for
performing various computer-implemented operations that
embody a part of an apparatus, system, carry out the
steps of a method set forth herein or provide a single
user interface screen as disclosed. Non-transitory used
herein refers to all computer-readable media except for
transitory, propagating signals. Examples
of non-
transitory computer-readable media include, but are not
limited to: magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy
disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROM
disks; magneto-optical media such as floptical disks; and
hardware devices that are specially configured to store
and execute program code, such as ROM and RAM devices.
Examples of program code include both machine code, such
as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher
level code that may be executed by the computer using an
interpreter.
Those skilled in the art to which this application
relates will appreciate that other and further additions,
deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to
the described embodiments.
