Flexible Building Controller Loops for Easier Equipment Programming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small and medium-sized businesses face challenges in programming building controllers due to the complexity of existing configuration tools, which require specialized knowledge and trained professionals, making it difficult to efficiently control building components like HVAC, security, and lighting systems.
Innovation Solution
A user-friendly method for programming building controllers using a mobile device interface, where users select equipment and define control loops through predefined options, with automatic terminal assignment and configuration conversion into a controller-understandable format, allowing customizable control and monitoring loops for various building equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complicated configuration tools are used to program building controllers, then control precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the user and the building controller. The mobile device runs a configuration application that simplifies the programming interface, allowing users to configure controllers without directly interacting with complex configuration tools. This intermediary layer maintains control precision while reducing the perceived complexity for end users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified digital representation or copy of the configuration interface on the mobile device. Instead of requiring users to directly manipulate complex controller interfaces, the mobile application provides a user-friendly copy or abstraction of the configuration process, making it accessible to non-specialized users while maintaining the underlying control precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If specialized configuration tools are used, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but ease of operation and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device serves as a mediator that translates simple user inputs into precise configuration commands for the building controller. Users interact with familiar mobile interfaces rather than specialized tools, improving accessibility while the intermediary ensures programming accuracy is maintained through proper translation of user intent into controller-specific commands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces specialized configuration tools and interfaces with a mobile device-based system. This substitution uses the widely accessible mobile device interface (touchscreen, keyboard, wireless communication) instead of dedicated configuration hardware, thereby improving ease of operation and accessibility while maintaining programming accuracy through software-based configuration protocols.
3Ease of operation
If intuitive programming methods are implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of communication and configuration protocols between the user and building controller. This allows the controller itself to remain relatively simple while the mobile application manages the sophisticated interactions, effectively externalizing the complexity to the intermediary device rather than increasing the controller's internal complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A first building equipment to be controlled by a building controller is selected via a user interface from a plurality of predefined building equipment options and a first control loop for controlling the first building equipment is defined via the user interface by selecting from a plurality of predefined first control loop parameter options and one or more terminals of the building controller are assigned to the first control loop. A second building equipment to be controlled by the building controller is selected via the user interface from the plurality of predefined building equipment options and a second control loop for controlling the second building equipment is defined via the user interface by selecting from a plurality of predefined second control loop parameter options. One or more terminals of the building controller are assigned to the second control loop.