HVAC Motor Automation Control Unit and Adjustment Methods and Apparatus for Same
AssigneeEvolution Controls Inc.
InventorsDavid Lee Haessig, Ronald Sai Kit Yip, Roger Hort
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for an automation control unit (ACU) for converting an automation control signal to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to control the output of a HVACR device such as a variable speed (VS) motor in an HVAC system is disclosed. The invention limits the motor output between a high and low limit, keeping the connected HVACR device operating within a safe range for the HVAC equipment. The invention simplifies commissioning of HVACR devices, constrains the equipment to operate within its designed operating range, optimizes energy efficiency of the HVAC equipment and minimizes disturbance in the controlled environment.
Claims36
1- An automation control unit for heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems comprising:
- a power connection;
- an input to receive an input signal from a controlled heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration device;
- a display unit;
- a profile input for receiving a digital adjustment profile, wherein the digital adjustment profile comprises a plurality of values;
- a non-volatile memory for storing the digital adjustment profile;
- a microcontroller connected to the non-volatile memory, wherein the microcontroller uses the digital adjustment profile and the input signal to determine an analog output signal;
- a manually operated adjust for adjusting the analog output signal;
- a first signal output for providing the analog output signal to the controlled heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration device;
- and
- a second analog output for providing the analog output signal to a building automation system.
2- The automation control unit of claim 1 wherein the non-volatile memory is integrated with the microcontroller on the same integrated circuit.
3- The automation control unit of claim 1 wherein the controlled heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration device comprises a motor.
4- The automation control unit of claim 3 wherein the motor comprises a variable speed motor.
5- The automation control unit of claim 4 wherein the input signal comprises a signal from a tachometer indicating RPM.
6- The automation control unit of claim 1 further comprising a run output to turn on the controlled heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration device.
7- The automation control unit of claim 1 wherein the power connection comprises a 24 Volt power connection.
8- The automation control unit of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a scaling value, wherein the scaling value is used to scale an output percentage into engineering units for displaying on the display unit.
9- The automation control unit of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a minimum value allowed for the analog output signal.
10- The automation control unit of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a maximum value allowed for the analog output signal.
11- The automation control unit of claim 10 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a minimum value allowed for the analog output signal.
12- The automation control unit of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a value indicative of a number of startup cycles.
13- The automation control unit of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a value indicative of a time delay for the analog output signal.
14- The automation control unit of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a value indicative of a number of pulses per turn for the analog output signal.
15- The automation control unit of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a ramping rate for the analog output signal.
16- The automation control unit of claim 1 wherein the manually operated adjust is converted into a voltage signal for providing to a building automation system.
17- An automation control unit for heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems comprising:
- a power connection;
- an input to receive a first input signal from a first controlled heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration device, and a second input signal from a second controlled heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration device;
- a display unit;
- a profile input for receiving a digital adjustment profile, wherein the digital adjustment profile comprises a plurality of values;
- a non-volatile memory for storing the digital adjustment profile;
- a microcontroller connected to the non-volatile memory, wherein the microcontroller uses the digital adjustment profile, the first input signal, and the second input signal to determine an analog output signal;
- a manually operated adjust for adjusting the analog output signal;
- a first signal output for providing the analog output signal to the first controlled heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration device and the second controlled heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration device;
- and
- a second analog output for providing the analog output signal to a building automation system.
18- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein the non-volatile memory is integrated with the microcontroller on the same integrated circuit.
19- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein the first controlled heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration device comprises a motor.
20- The automation control unit of claim 19 wherein the motor comprises a variable speed motor.
21- The automation control unit of claim 20 wherein the first input signal comprises a signal from a tachometer indicating RPM.
22- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein the second controlled heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration device comprises a motor.
23- The automation control unit of claim 22 wherein the motor comprises a variable speed motor.
24- The automation control unit of claim 23 wherein the second input signal comprises a signal from a tachometer expressed as RPM.
25- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein the first input and the second input are processed by the microcontroller.
26- The automation control unit of claim 17 further comprising a run output to turn on the controlled heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration device.
27- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein the power connection comprises a 24 Volt power connection.
28- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a scaling value, wherein the scaling value is used to scale an output percentage into engineering units for displaying on the display unit.
29- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a minimum value allowed for the analog output signal.
30- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a maximum value allowed for the analog output signal.
31- The automation control unit of claim 30 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a minimum value allowed for the analog output signal.
32- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a value indicative of a number of startup cycles.
33- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a value indicative of a time delay for the analog output signal.
34- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a value indicative of a number of pulses per turn for the analog output signal.
35- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein one of the plurality of values of the digital adjustment profile comprises a ramping rate for the analog output signal.
36- The automation control unit of claim 17 wherein the manually operated adjust is converted into a voltage signal for providing to a building automation system.