US2015114595A1PendingUtilityA1

System and method of automatic detection and identification of system components

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Assignee: CARRIER CORPPriority: Oct 24, 2013Filed: Oct 14, 2014Published: Apr 30, 2015
Est. expiryOct 24, 2033(~7.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Bryan M. YardeMichael A. Roher
F24F 11/0086F24F 11/02F24D 19/1084F24F 11/47G05B 2219/25296G05B 2219/2614F24F 11/30F24F 11/49
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Claims

Abstract

A system and method to automatically detect and identify system components, wherein the system includes a processing device and at least one system component operably coupled to the processing device via a discrete connection. The method including the steps of operating the processing device to detect at least one electrical characteristic of the at least one system component, and operating the processing device to identify a type of the at least one system component based on the at least one electrical characteristic. The method further includes the step of operating the processing device to allow a user to confirm the identified type of the at least one system component.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An HVAC system comprising:
 a processing device; and   at least one system component;   wherein each of the at least one system components are operably coupled to the processing device via a discrete wire connection;   wherein the processing device is configured to:
 (a) detect at least one electrical characteristic of the at least one system component; and 
 (b) identify a type of the at least one system component based at least in part on the at least one electrical characteristic. 
   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one system components comprises an HVAC component. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing device comprises a user interface device including a display screen. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system of  claim 3 , wherein the user interface device comprises a thermostat. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical characteristic comprises an electrical characteristic selected from the group consisting of: resistance, inductance, voltage, current, capacitance, and impedance. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system of  claim 3 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:
 (c) allow a user to confirm the identified type of the at least one system component.   
     
     
         7 . The HVAC system of  claim 6 , wherein the identified type of at least one system component is displayed on the display screen, and the user is asked to confirm the proper at least one system component on the display screen. 
     
     
         8 . The HVAC system of  claim 6 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:
 (d) display a list of possible at least one system components and allow a user to select the identified type of the at least one system components if the user does not confirm the proper at least one system component on the display screen; and   (e) operate the processing device to operate the identified type of the at least one system components.   
     
     
         9 . The HVAC system of  claim 6 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:
 (d) operate the processing device to operate the identified type of the at least one system components if the user confirms the proper at least one system component on the display screen.   
     
     
         10 . A processing device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory operably coupled to the processor for transfer of data thereto;   a display screen operably coupled to the processor for transfer of data therefrom;   at least one connector including at least one terminal, the at least one connector configured for connection to at least one HVAC system component, the at least one connector operable coupled to the processor; and   executable software stored in the memory;   wherein the executable software is configured to:
 (a) detect at least one electrical characteristic of each of the at least one system components operably coupled to the at least one terminal on the at least one connector; and 
 (b) identify a type of the at least one system component based at least in part on the at least one electrical characteristic. 
   
     
     
         11 . The processing device of  claim 10 , wherein each system component comprises an HVAC component. 
     
     
         12 . The processing device of  claim 10 , wherein the processing device comprises a user interface device. 
     
     
         13 . The processing device of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface device comprises a thermostat. 
     
     
         14 . The processing device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one electrical characteristic comprises an electrical characteristic selected from the group consisting of:
 resistance, inductance, voltage, current, capacitance, and impedance.   
     
     
         15 . The processing device of  claim 12 , wherein the executable software is further configured to:
 (c) allow a user to confirm the identified type of the at least one system component.   
     
     
         16 . The processing device of  claim 15 , wherein the identified type of the at least one system component is displayed on the display screen, and the user is asked to confirm the proper at least one system component on the display screen. 
     
     
         17 . The processing device of  claim 15 , wherein the executable software is further configured to:
 (d) display a list of possible at least one system components and allow a user to select the identified type of the at least one system components if the user does not confirm the proper at least one system component on the display screen; and   (e) operate the processing device to operate the identified type of the at least one system components.   
     
     
         18 . The processing device of  claim 15 , wherein the executable software is further configured to:
 (d) operate the processing device to operate the identified type of the at least one system components if the user confirms the proper at least one system component on the display screen.   
     
     
         19 . A method to automatically detect and identify system components within a system, wherein the system includes a processing device, and at least one system component operably coupled to the processing device via a discrete wire connection, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) operating the processing device to detect at least one electrical characteristic of the at least one system component; and   (b) operating the processing device to identify a type of the at least one system component based at least in part on the at least one electrical characteristic.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each system component comprises an HVAC component. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the processing device comprises a user interface device including a display screen. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the user interface device comprises a thermostat. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one electrical characteristic comprises an electrical characteristic selected from the group consisting of: resistance, inductance, voltage, current, capacitance, and impedance. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step:
 (c) operating the processing device to allow a user to confirm the identified type of the at least one system component. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the identified type of the at least one system component is displayed on the display screen, and the user is asked to confirm the proper at least one system component on the display screen. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step:
 (d) displaying a list of possible at least one system components and allow a user to select the identified type of the at least one system components if the user does not confirm the proper at least one system component on the display screen; and   (e) operating the processing device to operate the identified type of the at least one system components.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step:
 (d) operating the processing device to operate the identified type of the at least one system components if the user confirms the proper at least one system component on the display screen.

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