U.S. patent application number 10/619714 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-20 for control of air conditioning system with limited number of discrete inputs.
Invention is credited to Deluca, Guy, Dobmeier, Thomas J., Porter, Kevin J..
Application Number | 20050011207 10/619714 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34062621 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050011207 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Porter, Kevin J. ; et
al. |
January 20, 2005 |
Control of air conditioning system with limited number of discrete
inputs
Abstract
A method for interpreting input on a X input multi-stage HVAC
& R system to control Y stages of the system wherein Y is
greater than X, including the steps of receiving input from X
inputs; translating the input into a binary system having Y binary
outputs; and controlling the system based upon the binary
outputs.
Inventors: |
Porter, Kevin J.; (Syracuse,
NY) ; Deluca, Guy; (Murfreesboro, TN) ;
Dobmeier, Thomas J.; (Phoenix, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACHMAN & LAPOINTE, P.C.
900 CHAPEL STREET
SUITE 1201
NEW HAVEN
CT
06510
US
|
Family ID: |
34062621 |
Appl. No.: |
10/619714 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/175 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 2110/10 20180101;
F24F 11/30 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/175 |
International
Class: |
F25B 007/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for interpreting input on a X input multi-stage HVAC
& R system to control Y stages of said system, wherein Y is
greater than X, comprising the steps of: receiving input from X
inputs; translating said input into a binary system having Y binary
outputs; and controlling said system based upon said binary
outputs.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said system has 2 inputs and 3
stages, and wherein said binary outputs allow said system to be
operated with each of 0, 1, 2 and 3 of said stages active.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said stages are vapor compression
circuits.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said stages are adapted to
provide at lest one of heating, cooling and combinations
thereof.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said stages include both heating
and cooling stages.
6. An HVAC & R system, comprising: a multi-stage system having
X inputs; and Y stages, and wherein Y is greater than X; and a
processor adapted to receive said X inputs, translate said X inputs
into a binary system, and use said binary system to control said Y
stages.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein said system has 2 inputs and 3
stages, and wherein said binary outputs allow said system to be
operated with each of 0, 1, 2 and 3 of said stages active.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein said stages are vapor compression
circuits.
9. The system of claim 6, wherein said stages are adapted to
provide at lest one of heating, cooling and combinations
thereof.
10. The system of claim 6, wherein said stages include both heating
and cooling stages.
11. The system of claim 6, further comprising an input member
communicated with said system for providing said X input to said
processor.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to heating, ventilation, air
conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC & R) systems and, more
particularly to a system and method for operating a system which
has a limited number of control inputs.
[0002] Conventional systems may frequently have only a discrete
number of inputs which can be utilized to signify control actions
of the device. For example, certain HVAC & R systems have, and
can read, only two discrete inputs which signify the desired amount
of cooling needed or desired in a particular space. Further, third
party controls and thermostats typically only have two outputs for
use in issuing such inputs to the air conditioning system. Thus,
with two inputs, the conventional system must decide as to how it
is to be operated.
[0003] Such systems can frequently have three or more stages or
vapor compression circuits, and when the number of stages exceeds
the number of inputs, the flexibility of operation of the device is
limited.
[0004] The need exists for an improved method for operating such a
system, to provide suitable control for all possible states of
operation for same.
[0005] It is therefore the primary object of the present invention
to provide such a system.
[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
method for operating a multi-stage having limited numbers of inputs
so as to provide expanded ranges of operation of same.
[0007] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
appear hereinbelow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing
objects and advantages have been readily attained.
[0009] According to the invention, a method is provided for
interpreting input on an X input multi-stage HVAC & R system to
control Y stages of the system, wherein Y is greater than X. This
method comprises the steps of receiving input from X inputs;
translating said input into a binary system having Y binary
outputs; and controlling said system based upon said binary
outputs.
[0010] In further accordance with the invention, an HVAC & R
system is provided which comprises a multi-stage system having X
inputs; and Y stages, and wherein Y is greater than X; and a
processor adapted to receive said X inputs, translate said X inputs
into a binary system, and use said binary system to control said Y
stages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the
present invention follows, with reference to the attached FIG. 1,
which schematically illustrates a system and method in accordance
with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The invention relates to heating, ventilation, air
conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC &R) systems and, more
particularly, to such systems and a method for operating such
systems whereby limited number of control inputs can be used to
independently control a greater number of stages of the system.
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a system 10 including a multi-stage cooling
system 12 and a thermostat 14 which is used to control operation of
multi-stage system 12.
[0014] System 12 includes a plurality of stages 16, 18, 20, in this
case three stages, each including a compressor and typical
components of a vapor compression circuit for providing the desired
cooling function. System 12 further includes a microprocessor 22
which is communicated with stages 16, 18, 20, and also with
thermostat 14. Microprocessor 22 advantageously serves to receive
input from thermostat 14 and use this input to control stages 16,
18, 20 as will be further discussed below.
[0015] As identified above, thermostat 14 is frequently a device
with a limited number of outputs, in this case labeled as y1 and
y2. Further, conventional systems typically have a limited number
of inputs for receiving such input and microprocessor 22 in this
invention is shown having a like number of inputs as the output of
thermostat 14. Thus, inputs 24 of microprocessor 22 are adapted to
receive output from thermostat 14, and to translate this input into
a greater number of outputs which can be used to more flexibly
control the different stages of system 12 as desired.
[0016] In accordance with the invention, the inputs y1, y2 are
translated or converted into a binary system which can then be used
to signify a relatively greater number of different commands that
can be conveyed to the different stages of system 10.
[0017] This is more clearly illustrated in Tables 1, 2 and 3 set
forth below.
1TABLE 1 Standard control system (Option 1) Y1 Y2 # of stages 0 0 0
1 0 1 0 1 3 1 1 3
[0018]
2TABLE 2 Standard control system (Option 2) Y1 Y2 # of stages 0 0 0
1 0 2 0 1 3 1 1 3
[0019]
3TABLE 3 Binary control system # of stages turned Y1 Y2 on by the
microprocessor 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 1 3
[0020] Table one shows one configuration of a conventional control
system wherein the microprocessor typically turns on the first
stage of cooling when the y1 input is on, and turns on all stages
of the system when the y2 input is on. Thus, in such system, the
y1, y2 inputs can be used to control the system with only one or
three stages active.
[0021] In a reverse of the configuration of Table 1, the y1 input
can be configured to turn on two stages, while the y2 input turns
on all stages. This provides for operation with two or three stages
of the system active.
[0022] It should be readily apparent, however, that the
configurations of Tables 1 and 2 do not allow for operation of the
system with each of 0, 1, 2 and 3 stages active.
[0023] In accordance with the invention, the inputs are translated
into a binary control system such as that illustrated in Table 3
above whereby the combination of different inputs has significance
as well as the quantity of the input, so that the 2 signal input
can be translated into 4 different commands. This advantageously
allows for a 2 input system to operate with 4 of stages in
operation as illustrated in Table 3, and is particularly
advantageous as compared to conventional control systems.
[0024] It should be readily appreciated that the system and method
of the present invention can advantageously be adapted to systems
having a greater number of inputs and still further greater number
of stages. For example, a system having 3 inputs can be provided in
accordance with the invention whereby the 3 inputs are translated
into 8 different distinct commands of a binary control system so
that 8 stages of cooling can be provided. Similarly, a 4-input
system can handle sixteen different stages.
[0025] This can further be advantageously be incorporated into
systems which have both cooling and heating capacity and stages,
and preferably which have multiple stages of each. Under such
circumstances, a limited number of inputs can be utilized to
control multiple stages of cooling, multiple stages of heating, and
combinations thereof.
[0026] In such a system, for example a system having 4 inputs and 3
stages each of heating and cooling, conventional systems cannot be
used to provide completely flexible operation of each of different
stages. In accordance with the present invention, however, and as
illustrated in Table 4 below, the input from stages 1 and 2, along
with a third input indicating cooling or no cooling, can be used to
provide flexible operation of each and all stages of the system,
while leaving the fourth input advantageously available for use for
a different piece of information.
4TABLE 4 Stage Input Stage Input # of Cool # of Heating #2 #1
Cooling? Stages Stages 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 3 0 0
1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 1 1 1 3 0
[0027] Thus it should readily be appreciated that the system and
method in accordance with the present invention advantageously
provide for operation of a system having X inputs so as to
independently control Y stages of the system, wherein Y is greater
than X, so as to provide enhanced flexibility of operation of the
system without substantial complication of same.
[0028] Microprocessor 22 can advantageously be any type of
processor unit advantageously adapted to be incorporated into an
HVAC & R system, or can alternatively be provided as external
hardware, or as a separate device communicated through various
electronic communication means.
[0029] Furthermore, thermostat 14 can be any type of air
conditioning or building control system, smart thermostat, and the
like.
[0030] Still further, it should be appreciated that the system and
method of the present invention can be incorporated into existing
systems and/or incorporated into new systems, as the system and
method of the present invention readily provide for incorporation
or retrofit into existing systems.
[0031] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to
the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to
be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the
invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size,
arrangement of parts and details of operation. The invention rather
is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within
its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.
* * * * *