# US 11,121,741 B2 · Systems and methods for configuring and communicating with HVAC devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,121,741 B2 - Document ID: US11121741B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/690,104 - Filed: 2019-11-20 - Published: 2020-04-30 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-02 - Assignees: Johnson Controls Technology Company - Applicants: Johnson Controls Technology Company - Inventors: Daniel R. Rumler; Steven L. Whitsitt; Robert K. Alexander; Christopher Merkl; Gary A. Romanowich; Bernard Clement; Kevin A. Weiss - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121741B2 ## CPC - F24F 11/00: Control or safety arrangements - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/38: Failure diagnosis - F24F 11/49: ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks - F24F 11/58: using Internet communication - F24F 11/59: for presetting - F24F 11/62: characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values - F24F 11/63: Electronic processing - F24F 11/72: for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure - F24F 11/81: by controlling the air supply to heat-exchangers or bypass channels - F24F 11/84: using valves - F24F 11/88: Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits - G05B 15/02: electric - G05B 19/0423: {Input/output} - H02J 50/00: Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power - H04B 5/79: for data transfer in combination with power transfer - H04W 52/0229: {where the received signal is a wanted signal} - F24F 11/526: giving audible indications - F24F 11/54: using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers - G05B 2219/15117: Radio link, wireless - G05B 2219/2231: Leader-follower - G05B 2219/2237: Selection of leader or follower - G05B 2219/23297: Remote load of program with cellular, wireless, satellite connection - G05B 2219/2614: HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control - G05B 2219/33192: Radio link, wireless - G05B 2219/33203: Wireless transmission of power and data, inductively, rotary transformer - H04B 5/26: using coils - H04B 5/72: for local intradevice communication - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of configuring an actuator using a mobile device, the method comprising: transmitting a plurality of first configuration parameters usable by a control program of an actuator to control operation of the actuator from the actuator to a mobile device via near field communication (NFC) using power drawn from an NFC signal, wherein the actuator is configured to couple to and control the operation of a fluid control valve within an HVAC system; receiving the plurality of first configuration parameters associated with the actuator at the mobile device and via NFC; displaying at least a portion of the plurality of first configuration parameters on a user interface of the mobile device; transmitting a plurality of second configuration parameters associated with the actuator to the actuator via NFC; wherein the plurality of first configuration parameters and the plurality of second configuration parameters each comprises an actuation span for the actuator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first or second 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first or second configuration parameters includes at least two 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first or second configuration parameters includes 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first or second configuration parameters includes at least one of a building device type, a device identification, and a network address. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a visual representation of the actuator on the user interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a hyperlink on the user interface, the hyperlink selectable to direct a user to additional information regarding the actuator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a configuration parameter update at the mobile device, the configuration parameter update replacing or modifying at least one of the plurality of first configuration parameters; displaying the configuration parameter update on the user interface of the mobile device; and providing an indication on the user interface that the configuration parameter update was transmitted successfully to the actuator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying diagnostic data regarding the operation of the actuator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the diagnostic data includes failure mode data. ### Claim 11 An application for configuring a building device of an HVAC system, the application being for execution on a mobile device comprising a user interface, the application comprising instructions for: receiving a plurality of first configuration parameters usable by a control program to control operation of the building device from the building device via near field communication (NFC), wherein signals from the mobile device via NFC are sufficient for powering transmission of the plurality of first configuration parameters from the building device; displaying at least a portion of the plurality of first configuration parameters on the user interface; and transmitting a plurality of second configuration parameters usable by the control program to control the operation of the building device and specific to a particular implementation of the building device to the building device via NFC; wherein the plurality of first configuration parameters and the plurality of second configurations parameters are associated with control of an actuator configured to couple to and control the operation of a fluid control valve of an HVAC system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The application of claim 11, wherein the plurality of first or second 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The application of claim 11, wherein the plurality of first or second configuration parameters includes at least one of a building device type, a device identifier, and a network address. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The application of claim 11, further comprising instructions for displaying a visual representation of the building device on the user interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The application of claim 11, further comprising instructions for displaying a hyperlink on the user interface, the hyperlink selectable to direct a user to additional information regarding the building device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The application of claim 11, further comprising instructions for: receiving a configuration parameter update, the configuration parameter update replacing or modifying at least one of the plurality of first configuration parameters; transmitting the configuration parameter update to the building device via NFC; and providing an indication that the modified at least one of the configuration parameters was transmitted successfully to the building device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The application of claim 11, further comprising instructions for displaying diagnostic data regarding the operation of the building device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The application of claim 16, further comprising instructions for displaying the configuration parameter update on the user interface. ### Claim 19 A mobile device for configuring a building device of an HVAC system, comprising: a user interface; and a processor configured to: receive a plurality of first configuration parameters associated with the building device from the building device via near field communication (NFC), wherein signals from the mobile device via NFC are sufficient for powering transmission of the plurality of first configuration parameters from the building device; display at least a portion of the plurality of first configuration parameters on the user interface; and transmit a plurality of second configuration parameters associated with the building device to the building device via NFC; wherein the plurality of first configuration parameters and the plurality of second configurations parameters are associated with control of an actuator configured to couple to and control operation of a fluid control valve of an HVAC system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of first configuration parameters or the plurality of second configuration parameters are a plurality of operational parameters of the building device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the processor is further 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 NFC, wherein the data includes at least one of timing data and speed data. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the data includes failure mode data. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the building device includes a flow sensor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to display the data on the user interface. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a user input modifying at least one of the plurality of first configuration parameters and transmit the modified at least one of the plurality of first configuration parameters to the building device via direct wireless communication between the mobile device and the building device as the plurality of second configuration parameters. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of first configuration parameters and the plurality of second configuration parameters include a set point for the building device. ### Claim 27 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 first configuration parameters usable by a control program to control operation of the building device from the building device using near field communication (NFC), wherein signals from the mobile device via NFC are sufficient for powering transmission of the plurality of first configuration parameters from the building device; display the plurality of first configuration parameters on a user interface; receive a configuration parameter update modifying or replacing at least one of the plurality of first configuration parameters; and transmit the configuration parameter update as a plurality of second configuration parameters usable by the control program to control the operation of the building device to the building device via NFC; wherein the plurality of first configuration parameters and the plurality of second configurations parameters are associated with control of an actuator configured to couple to and control operation of a fluid control valve of an HVAC system. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The device interface application of claim 27, wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to display data associated with the operation of the building device, the data received from the building device via NFC. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The device interface application of claim 27, wherein the plurality of first or second configuration parameters include 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. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The device interface application of claim 27, wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to display the plurality of second configuration parameters on the user interface and provide an indication on the user interface that the plurality of second configuration parameters were transmitted successfully to the building device. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the plurality of second configuration parameters associated with the actuator at the actuator via NFC using the power drawn from the NFC signal, the plurality of second configurations including an update to at least one of the plurality of first configuration parameters usable by the control program to control the operation of the actuator.