Portable HVACR Configuration Device with Physical Switch Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

HVACR systems require efficient and intuitive methods for configuring numerous parameters, which are currently time-consuming and prone to errors when using local user interfaces.

Innovation Solution

A portable device with physical switches and a configuration manager on a personal computing device for reading and writing configuration parameters to HVACR controllers, offering intuitive operation and reducing setup time and errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If local user interfaces are used for configuring HVACR parameters, then device complexity is reduced, but setup time increases and error rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetup timeVSAvoidconfiguration operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A portable configuration device serves as an intermediary between the HVACR controller and the configuration user. The portable device includes a controller interface that couples to the HVACR controller, a user interface with physical switches for intuitive operation, and a processor that manages the configuration transfer. This intermediary approach reduces setup time by enabling efficient parameter transfer while maintaining ease of operation through the physical switch interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If local user interfaces are used for configuring HVACR parameters, then device complexity is reduced, but error rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidconfiguration system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The portable configuration device creates and manages copies of configuration parameters. The processor reads configuration parameters from the HVACR controller, stores them in memory, allows user modification, and then writes the updated configuration back to the controller. This copying mechanism enables configuration backup, verification, and error reduction while maintaining system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The portable configuration device implements feedback mechanisms to ensure configuration accuracy. The processor reads current configuration parameters, allows user review and modification through the physical switch interface, and provides confirmation before writing changes back to the HVACR controller. This feedback loop reduces configuration errors by enabling verification at each step.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If physical switches are used for configuration input, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration operationVSAvoidportable device
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The configuration system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a user interface module with physical switches for intuitive input, a processing module that interprets switch positions and manages configuration data, a memory module for storing configuration parameters, and a controller interface module for communicating with the HVACR controller. This segmentation enables ease of operation through simple physical switches while containing the complexity in dedicated functional blocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The processor automatically detects the position of physical switches and translates them into appropriate configuration commands without requiring complex interpretation logic. The system self-manages the configuration process by reading current parameters, applying user inputs from the physical switches, and writing updated configurations back to the controller, reducing the operational burden on the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11187427B2Reconfigurable portable device and system for HVACR equipment configuration management
Publication Date: 2021.11.30 TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
  • US11187427B2 patent drawing
  • US11187427B2 patent drawing
  • US11187427B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An illustrative embodiment disclosed herein is a portable device for managing heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) equipment configuration. The portable device includes a memory, a user-operable switch having a read position and a write position, and a controller interface coupled to the memory and the user-operable switch. The controller interface is configured to be coupled to an HVACR controller. The controller interface is configured to detect whether the user-operable switch is in the read position or the write position. The controller interface is configured to, responsive to detecting that the user-operable switch is in the read position, execute a read operation comprising obtaining a first set of configuration parameters from the HVACR controller. The controller interface is configured to, responsive to detecting that the user-operable switch is in the write position, execute a write operation comprising sending the first set of configuration parameters to the HVACR controller.