Universal cell
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorRick Solosky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A universal analog cell that has electronic circuits that can be configured with a processor using a program designed for connection to one or more of a large range of various sensor and actuator types. The cell may have just a few terminals, for example four terminals, that can be configured for a wide range of components. A sensor or actuator which inherently requires several terminals may be implemented using all the terminals of the cell, but the cell may also support multiple input or output features as long as each of these features requires less than all terminals of the cell.
Claims21
A universal interface system comprising:
- a cell;
- and
- a computer connected to the cell;
- and
- wherein:
- the cell comprises one or more terminals;
- the cell provides at the one or more terminals inputs and outputs that are configured to be compatible for a set of electrical components of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system;
- the one or more terminals provide inputs and outputs are reconfigured to be compatible for a different set of electrical components of the HVAC system;
- inputs and outputs at the one or more terminals are configured at the cell incorporating signals from the computer according to a program;
- and
- the computer provides a display showing a screen showing items to click on for providing appropriate values at the one or more terminals for connection by the one or more components of a set of electrical components.
A method for providing interfaces for analog mechanisms, comprising:
- providing a cell having circuitry with a predetermined number of terminals;
- configuring the circuitry for obtaining one or more interfaces at the predetermined number of terminals for a first kind of one or more sensors and/or actuators;
- reconfiguring the circuitry according to a program for obtaining another one or more interfaces at the predetermined number of terminals for a second kind of one or more sensors and/or actuators;
- and
- connecting a processor to the cell that configures or reconfigures the circuitry for obtaining the one or more interfaces appropriate for a kind of the one or more sensors and/or actuators.
An analog interface block mechanism comprising:
- an interface block comprising configurable inputs and outputs;
- and
- a processor connected to the interface block;
- and
- wherein:
- the interface block comprises circuitry that is affected by a program executed by the processor to result in configured inputs and outputs of the interface block;
- the inputs and outputs are configured for establishing compatibility with a first set of one or more sensors and/or actuators of an HVAC system, that are connected to the inputs and outputs of the interface block;
- and
- the inputs and outputs are reconfigured for establishing compatibility with a second set of one or more sensors and/or actuators of an HVAC system, that are connected to the inputs and outputs of the interface block.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.