Rooftop Unit Common Data Bus for Building Protocol Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building automation systems are complex and require manual configuration, leading to extra complexity and reduced interoperability between devices due to varied protocols and data formats, which is particularly challenging for smaller scale entities.
Innovation Solution
A rooftop unit with integrated circuitry that executes control logic, expression-based event processing, and a machine learning algorithm, capable of pattern recognition and fault diagnosis, and supports communication with a cloud system for updates and data translation across diverse protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional building automation systems use multiple devices and controllers with diverse protocols, then device functionality is maintained, but system complexity increases and interoperability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a common data bus as an intermediary communication layer that translates between diverse device protocols and a unified data format. This mediator enables interoperability between different building equipment (HVAC, lighting, security) without requiring complex point-to-point integrations, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The common data bus provides universal communication capabilities that work across all building equipment types. By establishing a single standardized interface that can handle multiple protocols and data formats, the system achieves multi-functionality without requiring separate communication infrastructure for each device type.
2Productivity
If manual configuration is used for building automation systems, then device-specific control is achieved, but installation time and configuration complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic configuration where building equipment self-registers with the common data bus and automatically establishes communication pathways. Devices perform self-identification and self-configuration, eliminating the need for manual technician configuration while maintaining device-specific control parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The common data bus is pre-configured with translation rules and communication protocols before deployment. This preliminary setup allows devices to be quickly integrated without requiring on-site configuration work, significantly reducing installation time while preserving the ability to customize device-specific controls.
3Reliability
If diverse data formats are used across building devices, then device-specific data requirements are met, but data integration and analytics capabilities are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The common data bus acts as a translation intermediary that converts diverse device-specific data formats into a unified data structure. This mediator layer preserves the original device data formats for compatibility while providing standardized data for integration and analytics, ensuring both reliability and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A rooftop unit includes a housing, air conditioning components coupled to the housing and onboard circuitry enclosed within and/or coupled to the housing. The onboard circuitry is programmed to receive data from a plurality of data sources communicably coupled to the onboard circuitry. The data is received in a plurality of different formats according to a plurality different protocols. The onboard circuitry is also configured to translate the data from the plurality of formats into a common data format and perform operations onboard the rooftop unit using the data in the common data format.