Method and apparatus for control of a network in hvac and other applications

Abstract

A system and method for connecting a number of network devices together in a daisy chain configuration is disclosed. A connector device comprising a number of cable interfaces for a cable is used to allow a number of network devices connected to a network to be connected in a free-form manner, yet still maintain a daisy chain configuration. A cable comprising at least two conductors, wherein the conductors are preferably a twisted pair of copper wire, is used to connect the network devices, so that each network device only has a single cable connected to it. Additional network devices can be added to the network by simply connecting the additional network device into the existing network with the use of an additional cable and an additional connector device. Wherever the additional network device is added to the existing network, the network will be maintained in a daisy chain configuration.

1 . A Y-connector device for connecting a plurality of network devices in a daisy chain network with cables, wherein each cable comprises two conductors, the apparatus comprising:
 a first cable interface comprising a pair of conductor connectors, each conductor connector operative to connect one conductor of a connected cable to a connecting circuit;   a second cable interface comprising a pair of conductor connectors, each conductor connector operative to connect one conductor of a connected cable to the connecting circuit;   a third cable interface comprising a pair of conductor connectors, each conductor connector operative to connect one conductor of a connected cable to the connecting circuit;   wherein the connecting circuit is configured such that:
 one of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of the second cable interface; 
 the other of the conductor connectors of the second cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of the third cable interface; and 
 the other of the conductor connectors of the third cable interface is connected to the other of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The Y-connector device of  claim 1  wherein each conductor connector of each cable interface is operative to connect to a conductor that is a twisted wire Pair. 
     
     
         3 . The Y-connector device of  claim 2  wherein each cable interface is operative to connect to a category 5 cable. 
     
     
         4 . A daisy chain network comprising at least one Y-connector device according to  claim 1 , and at least three network devices, wherein:
 each network device is operative to communicate as a node in a daisy chain network,   each network device is operatively connected by a cable to a cable interface of a Y-connector device;   wherein each cable interface of each Y-connector device is connected by a cable to one of a network device and another Y-connector device.   
     
     
         5 . A daisy chain network comprising at least one Y-connector device according to  claim 1 , and at least three network devices, and a shorting plug operative to connect to a cable interface such that one conductor connector of the cable interface is connected to the other conductor connector of the cable interface, and wherein:
 each network device is operative to communicate as a node in a daisy chain network,   each network device is operatively connected by a cable to a cable interface of a Y-connector device;   wherein each cable interface of each Y-connector device is connected to one of shorting plug, a cable connected to a network device, and a cable connected to a another Y-connector device.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the network devices are operative to communicate on a daisy chain network using the RS-485 standard. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the first network device in the network comprises a termination resistor for the daisy chained network. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the last network device in the network comprises a termination resistor for the daisy chained network. 
     
     
         9 . A connector device for connecting a plurality of network devices in a daisy chain network with cables, wherein at least one of the cables comprises two conductors, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of sequential cable interfaces including a first cable interface and a last cable interface, each cable interface comprising a pair of conductor connectors, each conductor connector operative to connect one conductor of a connected cable to a connecting circuit;   wherein the connecting circuit is configured such that:   one of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of a next cable interface and the other of the conductor connectors of the next cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of a succeeding cable interface, and conductor connectors of the subsequent succeeding cable interfaces are connected sequentially in the same manner; and   the other of the conductor connectors of the last cable interface is connected to the other of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface.   
     
     
         10 . The connector device of  claim 9  wherein each conductor connector of each cable interface is operative to connect to a conductor that is a twisted wire pair. 
     
     
         11 . The connector device of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the cable interfaces is operative to connect to a category 5 cable. 
     
     
         12 . A daisy chain network comprising at least one connector device according to  claim 9 , and at least three network devices, wherein:
 each network device is operative to communicate as a node in a daisy chain network,   each network device is operatively connected by a cable to a cable interface of a connector device;   wherein each cable interface of each connector device is connected by a cable to one of a network device and another connector device.   
     
     
         13 . A daisy chain network comprising at least one connector device according to  claim 9 , and at least three network devices, and a shorting plug operative to connect to a cable interface such that one conductor connector of the cable interface is connected to the other conductor connector of the cable interface, and wherein:
 each network device is operative to communicate as a node in a daisy chain network,   each network device is operatively connected by a cable to a cable interface of a connector device;   wherein each cable interface of each connector device is connected to one of shorting plug, a cable connected to a network device, and a cable connected to a another connector device.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the network devices are operative to communicate on a daisy chain network using the RS-485 standard. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the first network device in the network comprises a termination resistor for the daisy chained network. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the last network device in the network comprises a termination resistor for the daisy chained network 
     
     
         17 . A system to create a daisy chain network comprising:
 a plurality of cables, each cable having a first end and a second end and comprising at least two conductors;   at least one connector device comprising:
 a first cable interface operatively and connected to a first cable; 
 a second cable interface operatively connected to a second cable; and 
 a third cable interface operatively connected to a third cable; 
   wherein the connector device will maintain devices connected to it in a daisy chain configuration;   at least three network devices each network device operative to communicate as a node in a daisy chain network and each of the network devices operatively connected by a cable to a cable interface of a connector device;   
       wherein each cable interface of each connector device is connected by a cable to one of a network device and another connector device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the conductors are a twisted wire pair. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the cables are category 5 cables. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the network devices are configured to operate on a network using the RS 485 standard. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the first network device comprises a termination resistor. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the last network device comprises a termination resistor. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the at least one connector device comprises a connecting circuit operatively connected to the cable interfaces wherein the connecting circuit connects:
 one of the conductors of the first cable to one of the conductors of the second cable; 
 the other conductor of the first cable to one of the conductors of the third cable; and 
 the other conductor of the second cable to the other conductor of the third cable. 
 
     
     
         24 . A daisy chain network comprising:
 first, second, and third network devices each operative to communicate as a node in the daisy chain network, and each comprising an interface connectable to the daisy chain network; and   a plurality of cables, each comprising at least two conductors;   wherein the cable interface of each network device is connected to a single cable; and the cables are connected to form the daisy chain network.