Wirelessly Configuring Climate Control System Controls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC control systems are complex, requiring technicians to physically access control boards to configure settings, which can be difficult due to small, hard-to-read buttons and LEDs, especially in confined or extreme environments, and pose challenges when replacing controls with numerous options.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a short-range wireless communication interface, such as Bluetooth, into HVAC control systems, allowing configuration via a smartphone app that queries the control type, extracts parameters, and downloads settings, enabling users to configure controls wirelessly and automatically populate settings based on the identified control type or location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional HVAC control systems use physical buttons and LEDs for configuration, then technicians can directly access and adjust controls, but the small, hard-to-read buttons and LEDs make configuration difficult in confined or extreme environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wireless communication interface as an intermediary between the technician's mobile device and the HVAC control system. This mediator allows configuration commands to be transmitted wirelessly, eliminating the need for physical access to the control board and its difficult-to-read buttons and LEDs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical interface (buttons, LEDs, and manual adjustment mechanisms) with an electronic wireless communication system. The mobile device communicates with the HVAC control through wireless protocols, substituting the mechanical interaction with electronic data transmission.
2Adaptability or versatility
If HVAC controls have numerous options and settings, then the system can be highly adaptable to different configurations, but replacing controls becomes more challenging due to the complexity of setting up numerous options
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by automatically transferring configuration settings from the old control to the new control during the replacement process. The system pre-configures the replacement control with the necessary settings, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration of numerous options and reducing installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by duplicating the configuration data from the original control to the replacement control. The wireless communication system retrieves the existing settings and copies them to the new control, preserving the adaptability and versatility of the system while simplifying the replacement process.
3Productivity
If technicians must physically access control boards for configuration and diagnosis, then direct control adjustment is possible, but time is lost traveling to and from equipment locations
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication interface acts as a mediator that enables remote configuration and diagnosis. Technicians can use mobile devices to communicate with HVAC controls wirelessly, eliminating the need to physically travel to equipment locations and significantly reducing time loss while maintaining configuration capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
In an exemplary embodiment, a hot surface ignition module is configured to receive user input settings for one or more HVAC system configuration parameters wirelessly transmitted by a mobile device to the hot surface ignition module. The hot surface ignition module is configured to store the received user input settings for the one or more HVAC system configuration parameters to control the at least one HVAC component according to the received user input settings for the one or more HVAC system configuration parameters. The hot surface ignition module may be configured such that the NFC short-range wireless communication with the mobile device enables the hot surface ignition module to receive and store the user input settings for the one or more HVAC system configuration parameters without requiring the hot surface ignition module to be connected with an electrical power source, Wi-Fi, and/or cellular service