Patent classifications
G01R31/55
Thermostat wire detection
A device for detecting a wire configuration connecting a thermostat and HVAC equipment includes fan controller circuitry, AC controller circuitry, switching circuitry, and processing circuitry. The fan controller circuitry is configured to operate a fan unit of the HVAC equipment using a G pin in a first wire configuration and using a K pin in a second wire configuration. The AC controller circuitry is configured to operate an AC unit of the HVAC equipment using a Y pin in the first wire configuration and the K pin in the second wire configuration. The switching circuitry is configured to refrain from electrically coupling the Y pin and the K pin in response to a deactivation signal. The processing circuitry is configured to determine the HVAC equipment is in the first wire configuration in response to determining the AC controller circuitry receives power while outputting the deactivation signal to the switching circuitry.
Thermostat wire detection
A device for detecting a wire configuration connecting a thermostat and HVAC equipment includes fan controller circuitry, AC controller circuitry, switching circuitry, and processing circuitry. The fan controller circuitry is configured to operate a fan unit of the HVAC equipment using a G pin in a first wire configuration and using a K pin in a second wire configuration. The AC controller circuitry is configured to operate an AC unit of the HVAC equipment using a Y pin in the first wire configuration and the K pin in the second wire configuration. The switching circuitry is configured to refrain from electrically coupling the Y pin and the K pin in response to a deactivation signal. The processing circuitry is configured to determine the HVAC equipment is in the first wire configuration in response to determining the AC controller circuitry receives power while outputting the deactivation signal to the switching circuitry.
Control system and method for detecting ground fault
A rack BMS detects a ground fault through a circuit embedded therein, and as a master BMS is configured to disconnect all the connections between battery racks and a grid in the case in which the rack BMS detects the ground fault, no more current flows through chassis, thereby protecting the battery racks and ensuring safety of a person using the battery racks.
DISTRIBUTED BUILDING AUTOMATION CONTROLLERS
Controllers that control a building's state functions can be controlled by a master controller that the controllers choose themselves. The master controller communicates with the controllers and sensors to determine when a building state should change. When the building state should change, the maser controller or another controller determines the device or devices that need to modify state values of the building, and send messages to the devices so that they can change building state. If the master controller has a fault, the working controllers can choose another master controller. When a sensor indicates that a building state needs to be changed the master controller determines which device should change state, then tells the controller that is attached to the device.
Methods and systems of building automation STATE load and user preference via network systems activity
Tools and techniques are described to modify a defined space state depending on number of users in the space and/or preferences of users in the space. In some embodiments, users entering or leaving a space are noticed by network systems. A controller then modifies resources in the space to account for the greater or lesser load. In other cases, the network system notices that a specific user has entered a building. This user may have preferences stored in the system which the building control system then responds to by changing state of a device that controls physical state within the space.
Control System Having an Adjacent Electronic Display for Auto Labeling and Guided Wiring
A controller is described with an adjacent electronic display which allows users to input building plans, and to design where devices (e.g., equipment and sensors) are to go. The controller has access to databases of the devices including wiring diagrams and protocols, such that the controller can automatically create a wiring diagram that can be used to wire the building and the controller. The adjacent display can be moved to show controller wiring, while the display shows a wiring diagram which describes a diagram of the controller wiring including devices that are connected, and wiring information about the devices.
Automated Commissioning
Tools and techniques are described to automate commissioning of physical spaces. Controllers have access to databases of the devices that are controlled by them, including wiring diagrams and protocols, such that the controller can automatically check that each wire responds correctly to stimulus from the controller. Controllers also have access to databases of the physical space such that they can check that sensors in the space record the correct information for device activity, and sensors can cross-check each other for consistency. Once a physical space is commissioned, incentives can be sought based on commissioning results.
Energy Efficient Sensor
A sensor is discloses that uses very little power by entering a sleep state, waking up, finding a sensor or other device to report to, then going back to sleep for the next sleep cycle. The sensor may need to add itself onto its network. To do so, keys are exchanged with the network provisioner, the sensor informs the network of its capabilities, and/or characteristics, etc, and the network determines which other sensors and other places in the network the sensor may talk with.
Controller With Moveable Interactive Screen
A building controller with wiring terminals that has a moveable interactive screen is disclosed. The moveable interactive screen, when closed, covers the housing that holds the wiring terminals. The specific devices attached to specific terminals and the state of the devices can be displayed on the closed moveable interactive screen. Using the moveable interactive screen, a user can set up the expected devices and their protocols that will be attached to specific wiring terminals within the building controller. The controller wiring terminals can be viewed along with an interactive diagram of the the devices and the terminals that have been set up for the building controller can be viewed simultaneously when the moveable interactive screen is in the open position.
Semantic Labeling Analysis
Tools and techniques are described to create an interface that can translate a device language into an internal language, and describe the device to the controller in terms of actors and quanta such that when a device is attached to a controller, the controller can understand what the device does and why it does it. This internal language can then be translated back to a natural language, such as English. This allows the controller to track errors, determine what upstream or downstream device and action of the device caused the error, and to track many different facts of the system that allow for detailed reports.