SE1630074A1 - Configuration of ventilation system by multiselection - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates a method for configuring components in an air treatment system. The air treatment system comprises one or several components such as flow control components, sensor components or input control components. The components are connected to a central control system when they are configured and the air treatment system is in use. The components are provided with a transmitter and/or receiver for sending an input signal to and/or receiving an output signal from the central control system. Each of the components are also provided with an indicator and an Electronic Control Unit programmed to activate the indicator so as to indicate when the component has been selected by an identifier selecting one or several of the components. The configuration method comprises three main steps whereof the first is preparation in which at least one component with a unique component ID is located at its intended physical position in the air ventilation system and the identifier is provided with system location IDs for components in the air treatment system. In a second step called selection procedure is the physical location of the desired component to be configured located such that an identifying signal may be sent wireless to the desired component. There is a repeated sending of signals from the identifier until the indicating signal from the indicator is indicating a selected state and the identifier displays only the desired component to be selected. Thereafter follows a pairing event in which the component ID and the system location ID of the selected component are paired such that the desired component may be recognized by the central control system by the system location ID.

Description

P10143SE 2016-04-05 CONFIGURATION OF A VENTILATION SYSTEM BY RANDOIVIIZED SELECTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an air ventilation system for providing fresh air to abuilding, e.g. a Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system. Theinvention is in particular directed to the feature of configuring components in a control system for the air ventilation system.

BACKGROUND ln offices and other larger buildings, there is often a need to be able to control theindoor climate. ln order to provide an efficient control for a building is it today oftenprovided with a Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning system which generally isreferred to as a HVAC system. This system is desired to be able to control the indoorclimate according to specific requirements for different parts or individual rooms inthe building. For example, the ventilation and amount of fresh air could be set independence of the presence of individuals in a room and the heating or coolingdemand according to a set, desired temperature. The HVAC system generallycomprises a ducting system connected to an air handling unit having fans for takingin fresh air and admitting outlet air out of the building while heat exchanging the inlet-and outlet air streams. The ducting system is further provided with a multitude ofcomponents such as air flow controllers, induction units and their associated heatexchangers and air diffusers for admitting air into the respective locations and thereare also different kind of sensors and user interfaces for setting a desired roomconditions connected to the HVAC system. Components for influencing the flow rateand the quality of the air, e.g. temperature and humidity, as well as sensors forsensing properties of the air and user interfaces or displays are connected to acontrol system in order to control the HVAC system to reach a desired roomcondition if possible. ln many cases are there a large number of components as described aboveincorporated in the control systems and these components are located in manydifferent parts and rooms of the building. ln general is therefore each componentcontrolled individually, or possibly a group of components in a certain part of thebuilding controlled together sometimes, since there may be different actual and desired conditions for many different parts where the indoor climate shall be controlled. ln order to be able to perform this control accurately for the different partsof the HVAC system by a central control unit is there a need to identify the differentcomponents by the control unit. ln general is each component which is used for thecontrol of the HVAC system provided with a unique component ID. However, thiscomponent ID is not of much use for control of the HVAC system knows where in theHVAC system each component is located. The central control unit needs thus toproperly associate the unique component ID of each component with its physicallocation in order to control the components of the HVAC system adequately to reachthe desired set conditions for the different parts of the building. There is thus a needto assign a system location ID to each component in the HVAC system such that itslocation will be known by the central control unit. The system location ID may forexample be defined in a system description of the air ventilation system including aconfiguration list with system location IDs for components. ln general, there is aspecific system location ID for each component to be connected to the central controlunit even though it could be possible to use the same system location ID for a groupof components which shall be controlled in the same way always. As previouslymentioned, HVAC systems as described above are in use today for large buildingsand one example of such a system is disclosed in US 2015/269503.

The work with setting up the network configuration and assigning each component ata specific location with its system location ID has earlier predominantly been donemanually. One way of doing this is to mount a specific individual component, knowingits component ID, at a predefined location having a system location ID wherein thecontrol system is configured to assign this system location ID to the component ID ofthe specific component. Another way has been to place the component at its locationand manually reading component ID which thereafter is input in the control system tobe associated with the system location ID representing the actual position where thecomponent is mounted. Both these systems are vulnerable for mistakes by aprogrammer or operator. ln the first case may the component be mounted at thewrong location and in the second case may the unique identification be misread orassigned to another physical location in the HVAC system if its unique ID is enteredto a faulty position in the control system. There is thus a need for a system whichmay reduce the probability for mistakes made in the configuration of the controlsystem for a HVAC system.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method for configuring components forming part of acontrol system for an air ventilation system and an air ventilation system adapted tobe configured according to the method.

The systems described above could be improved by using a more automatizedprocess for configuring the control system and adapting these systems to assure thatthe components are configured properly in the control system. An automatizedprocedure is for example disclosed in US 2015/120063 which describes a way toconfigure a HVAC system having individually controlled components, each one with aunique ID. However, the process includes the need to bring each component in thesystem to be assigned with a unique ID in close proximity to a main system controllerto be done before mounting. This could be an obstacle if the components are heavyand/or bulky and they need to be carried to the main system controller. ln addition,the components could not be mounted if the main system controller is not available.Hence, the present invention describes a possibility for an automatized processallowing the components to be mounted at their location in the ventilation systembefore they will be configured in the control system.

According to an embodiment of the invention are all the components which shall beindividually recognized in the control system provided with a component ID. This mayhave been provided already at the manufacturing process or at a later stage, it mayeven be done when the components are mounted. However, the important feature isthat the components to be used in the control system have been assigned a uniquecomponent ID before they may be configured in the control system. The uniquecomponent ID could be marked on the product such that it may be read automaticallyand to be selectively read for each component by an identifier. The marking may beany kind of code or text that may be read from a distance with an identifier. ln generalis this marking of the product some kind of visible label, e.g. a bar code, QFï-code oreven text made readable for an identifier from a distance. Whatever marking systemthat is used is the system intended to function such that it is only the product to whichthe reader is directed which possibly may be read by the reader, i.e. there should notbe a possibility that the selected component could be mistaken for any other component. ln general, the word "component" has in this disclosure been reserved for an elementforming part of the air ventilation system and is intended to be connected to thecontrol system via a transmitter and/or receiver. The communication may be by wireor wireless. ln most cases are the components adapted to both transmit and receivesignals and they may thus in general be provided with a transceiver for this purpose.The components may be elements which are used to control the ventilation and airflow, e.g. dampers in the air ventilation ducting systems, fans for providing an air flowin the air ventilation system, heat exchangers for controlling the temperature of theair flow or air diffusers in the rooms or spaces to be ventilated. Other kind ofcomponents which may form part of the control system are different kind of sensors,e.g. humidity sensors, temperature sensors, carbon dioxide sensors or occupancydetectors, or user interfaces where it is possible to require certain features, e.g. athermostat for setting a desired temperature or a control button for requesting anincreased ventilation for a specific time. Hence, the control system may include anycomponent which may provide relevant information concerning present and desiredconditions for the comfort and air quality in a room or space as well as adjustablecontrol devices which influence the quality and quantity of air to be ventilated in acertain room or part of a building.

Each of the components to be configured in the control system has been providedwith some kind of signal system. The signal system could for example be used torecognize that the component is selected, e.g. identifying the component by itscomponent ID, or for indicating the status of a component. This signal system mayfor example be a light indicator, e.g. a LED-light, a sound indicator creating a "Blip"-sound or any kind of recognizing feature which responds when the component isselected. ln this case is the important thing with the indicator that it is physicallyconnected to a specific component and may be easily recognized and used toidentify a component or a group of components in a selected state and where acomponent is located. ln order to identify a specific component or a group of components is an identifierused. The identifier is of course designed to function and interact with thecomponents and may thus be designed to function in different ways depending onhow the component ID is marked onto or comprised in the components. Since thereare indicators provided on the components may it easily be used identifiers which could indicate more than one component asince it may be possible to for example scroll in a list in the identifier to see which components that are selected and to makea selection from this list of a system location ID which could be tried for being thedesired component. The identifier could also for example be an lFï-reader for readinga bar code or QFi-code or some kind of short range wireless communication in orderto be able to identify components within a limited space. To be noted, an identifierneed not to be a single unit but could comprise a set of units forming an identifier,e.g. one unit for decoding or reading the identity and another unit for displaying theselected component or components. However, an identifier as described hereinalways includes the feature of being able to identify one component or a group ofcomponents to be selected and some way to display the selected components. lngeneral, there is also a confirmation on a selected component itself revealing itsstatus as being selected by its signal system, e.g. a blinking light. ln the followingexamples may there be selection procedures in which several components areselected in different steps during a selection procedure in order to finally select aspecific component while in other selection procedures is only one single componentselected at a time. Regardless of if only one single component is selected or severalcomponents are selected should there be an identity between the componentsidentified in the identifier, e.g. by displaying a list of identified components, and thephysical components which indicators are indicating them as selected. However, thisfeature is not necessary when there is appositive identification of one singlecomponent, e.g. using a bar code- or QFï-reader, even though it may be a usefulfeature to have a response from the component that it has been selected. ln anycase, there should preferably be some kind of recognition that the component hasbeen selected and its component ID read. The selected component could forexample be displayed in the identifier and/or there could be a sound indicating thatthe component has been selected. This recognition on the identifier could of coursebe performed together with an indication on the product itself.

Above has it been explained the function of some of the devices used in the systemas well as defining some of the terms which will be used in the method explainedbelow for configuring components in an air treatment system such as a Heating andVentilating Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system. The components forms part of a controlsystem for the air ventilation system and the control system comprises one or severalcomponents selected from the groups of flow control components such as fans, dampers and air inlet diffusers, sensor components which for example sense temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide content or input control components such asuser interfaces or other control buttons or levers for setting a desired condition. Alsodisplays for indicating conditions could be included as a component in the airventilation control system as well as heat exchangers. The components areconnected to a central control unit when the components are configured and the airtreatment system is in use such that the central control unit may control the airventilation system and the quantity and quality of the ventilated air. Depending ontheir functions are the components provided with a transmitter and/or receiver forsending an input signal to the central control system to be used for informationpurposes or computing a control output command by the control system and/orreceiving an output signal from the central control system in order to send informationor control the component associated with the respective transmitter and/or receiver.ln general, the components are provided with a transceiver allowing a component tosend and receive information signals. Each of the components is further providedwith an indicator and an Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The ECU is programmed toactivate the indicator at appropriate occasions, e.g. when there is an error in the unit,when the component is active or the intensity of the components activity. The ECU isalso programmed to indicate when the component has been selected by an identifiersending an identification signal selecting one or several of the components whichmay for example be used during configuration of the central control system. Theconfiguration comprises the steps of:l. Preparation, in which the components and the identifier are prepared to beable to configure the setup of the system,ll. Selection procedure, in which a component is identified by its identity andlocation in the system, andlll. Configuration, in which the component is configured in the control systemso as to be able to be identified concerning its location and identity by thecentral control unitThese steps are intended to be performed in the order described above, at least tosuch an extent that the first step should be finished before the second step is finishedand the second step will be finished before the third step is finished for at least onecomponent. Each of these steps will now be further explained in detail below.The first step, preparation (I), has been divided into two different preparatory procedures, step a and step b, which may be performed in any order. ln one of these steps, referred to as step a, is one or several of the components which have beendescribed above located at its intended physical location or position in the airventilation system. Preferably is the component mounted as it should be incorporatedin the system when the system is working but this is not necessary, it may just aswell be merely placed at its location or provisionally mounted in order to becompletely mounted in the system at a later stage. A component which is located atan intended position in the system has been assigned a unique component ID beforeit was located at its intended position or it may be assigned a unique component IDafter it has been located at its intended position. However, in many cases acomponent is assigned a unique component ID (clD) already when it is manufacturedat the factory. The unique clD could be marked on the product such that it may beread automatically and to be selectively read for each component by an identifier,e.g. a bar code reader or the like. However, the product may comprise a RFID or anECU having the clD in its memory such that the component may be recognized by anidentifier including a sender for identifying one or several selected components.Whatever marking system that is used is the system intended to function such that itthere is a response by the indicator associated to the selected component orcomponents. The response by the indicator could be useful also in those cases whenthere is only the product to which the reader is directed which possibly may be readby the reader, i.e. there should not be a possibility that the selected component couldbe mistaken for any other component, in order to assure a user that the componentconfirms it has been selected. ln another step, referred to as step b, is the identifier provided with a systemdescription of the air ventilation system. This system description is a representationof the air ventilation system which may be more or less detailed, e.g. a 3-D imagerevealing essentially the complete air ventilation system, a simpler plan view merelyindicating the more relevant features of the air ventilation system or configurationtree. However, the system description shall at least comprise information concerninghow the components forming part of the control system are referred to by the centralcontrol system and where in the air ventilation system they are located. Hence, thesystem description should include a configuration list with system location IDs forcomponents in the air treatment systems which will be connected to the centralcontrol system. By configuration list is herein intended to include any kind of formalized information providing information of system location IDs which may be used when assigned to a component to be readily recognized by the central controlsystem to identify the kind of component and where it is located in the air ventilationsystem. Hence, by performing step a and b will the air ventilation system be ready forthe next main step in the configuration method, the selection procedure (ll).

The selection procedure (ll) has been divided into three partial steps, step c, d and e,which will be performed as described below. ln step c is the physical location of the desired component to be configured in the airventilation system identified. ln general, this means the person who is configuring thesystem will walk to be in the vicinity of the desired component to be configured. Theidentifier should be brought to this location and located to be in reach for wirelesscommunication with the desired component. Hence, the identifier may nowcommunicate with the desired component. The person who is at the location shouldalso be aware of which of the components in the system he is selecting as thedesired component. lt shall be noted that step c could be performed before step aand/or b. however it is therefore described that the preparation (I) not necessarilymust be completed before the selection procedure (ll) starts even if it is in generalnot an efficient way of working. ln the next step, step d, is the identifier used for sending an identifying signal in orderto identify the desired component. The signal sent from the identifier may thus reacha receiver or transceiver in the desired component via wireless communication.There are several ways in which this identification via wireless communication maybe done which will be explained more in detail when referring to differentembodiments of the configuration method. However, the identifier is adapted to sendan identifying signal which the components are designed to be able to be identifiedfrom, in some cases for selecting a single component or for a group of components.ln step e is it disclosed that step d shall be repeated until the indicating signal fromthe indicator of the desired component is indicating a selected state and the identifierdisplays only the desired component, or displays only one component being in thesame selected state as indicated by the indicator, of the components in theconfiguration list. By this is meant that either is it only one component shown, orbeing possible to select, in the display or there may be possible to select two or morecomponents but they are in some way marked to be indicated differently. Forexample, there may be two components shown in the display whereof one is marked "fast blinking" and the other one is marked "slow blinking". Hence, if the indicator on the desired component is blinking slowly, the component marked "slow blinking" isthus in the same selected state as indicated by the indicator. In another example,three components may be shown being marked "YELLOW", "RED" and "BLUE" whilethe indicator is indicating a blue light and it should thus be the "BLUE" component inthe display which should be elected. Hence, there should be obvious choices formaking this selection from the display.

Hence, when the selection procedure (II) is finished should there be only onecomponent selected in the identifier and there should only be the indicator on thedesired component indicating only this physical component to be selected, thereaftermay the configuration (III) step continue.

In the configuration step (III) is a pairing event performed, this step is also referred toas step f. In the pairing event is the desired component, having its unique componentID and indicated to be in a selected state by the indicator, paired with the systemlocation ID which is displayed in the identifier. By pairing these lDs, the componentID and system location ID, is it meant that these lDs are connected to be recognizedby each other. For example, the pairing event may include the feature of assigningthe location ID to the component such that the component may be recognized by thesystem location ID as well as by its original component ID. Another way to performthis could be to send information to the central control unit to recognize thatcomponent ID for the desired component should be used when the central controlunit is receiving or sending information to the component located at the place whichis assigned to the selected system location ID used in this pairing event. Or as still analternative, the paired system location ID and component ID may be stored in aseparate memory and be used as a look up table or translator when sendinginformation from the central control system to the desired component. Hence, thereare many ways of performing the pairing event such that the desired component maybe recognized by the system location ID by the central control unit.

The method described above may have different ways for selecting the desiredcomponent. In one way is this performed by sending a group selective identifyingsignal from said identifier to identify a group of components. By group selectiveidentifying signal is meant a signal which provides for a division of a group intendedto be the subject of the signal to be divided into smaller groups which may be identified by having the same indicating feature from the indicator for all components belonging to the same subgroup. Hence, the components within reach for theidentifier and belonging to the group which is desired to be activated by the signalfrom the identifier will be influenced by the group selective identifying signal such thatthe indicators of a first subgroup of the identified group of components will indicate afirst indicating signal which is different from a second indicating signal from a secondsubgroup of the identified group of components. There may of course be furthergroups if desired having further different indicating signals. From these subgroupsgroups may y anyone of the groups be selected by the identifier to be furtherprocessed by the identifier, in general is the desired component within the selectedgroup such that the selected subgroup may be used as the identified group ofcomponents in a repetition of step d in order to be able to identify only the desiredcomponent when this have been repeated sufficiently.

The subgroup of components selected to be further processed by the identifiershould of course comprise at least 2 components and there may be a furtherselection signal sent, e.g. another group selective identifying signal, to this group ofcomponents such that these components are further divided into at least two newgroups of components to be selected to be further processed by the identifier. lf the subgroup of components selected to be further processed by the identifiercomprises only one component is the selection procedure finished and thiscomponent will be further processed in step f and be used for a pairing event.

The indicating signal from the indicators could be a light and the indicating signalcould be differentiated by the frequency of the blinking or different blinking patterns. lfthere is a group of lights, e.g. several light diodes or LED lights, could the number orcombination of lighted lights be used for distinguishing groups.

The group selective identifying signal from the identifier could be adapted to identifyonly a suitable, selected group of components, e.g. to be adapted to only includecomponents within a specific product category and/or in a certain zone.

The identifier could also be arranged to send a component specific signalcorresponding to a single unique component ID (clD). The signal could be sent to amultitude of components within reach for the identifier whereby one single indicatorcorresponding to said unique component ID (clD) indicates that said singlecomponent (1a-h) is selected. The procedure is repeated until said componentspecific signal is selecting the unique component ID (clD) for the desired component to be paired. This method may be time consuming if there are many components of 11 the same kind but may for example be efficient when there are few components, e.g.for a single sensor or the like.

As an alternative, an identifier which positively identify said unique component ID ofthe desired component by pointing at or being within a prescribed distance from thephysical component could also be used. The physical component to be selected maybe identified by a signal from the identifier causing the unique component ID of thedesired component to be transmitted to the identifier.

The invention also relates to an air treatment system comprising one or severalcomponents, as described earlier, which shall be connected to a central control unitwhen in use. The components comprises a transmitter or receiver, or transceiver,and an indicator connected to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) programmed toactivate the indicator so as to indicate when the component has been selected by anidentifier sending an component signal selecting one or several unique componentlDs which have been assigned to each one of the components.

The ECU may be programed to activate the indicator (3) so as to indicate when thecomponent has been selected by an identifier sending a signal for configuring said component in a control system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will now be described more in detail with reference to theappended drawings, where: Figure 1 discloses an overview of a ventilation system for a room in a building Figure 2 discloses a component of the system Figure 3 discloses a system description of the air ventilation system with systemlocation lDs (sl-lDs) Figure 4 discloses a system description of the air ventilation system with systemlocation lDs (sl-lDs) and component lDs (clDs) for components mountedin the system in un unpaired state Figure 5 discloses a system description of the air ventilation system with systemlocation lDs (sl-lDs) and component lDs (clDs) for components mountedin the system in a paired state Figure6 discloses a block diagram of a method for pairing and configuring a control system for an air ventilation system 12 DETAILED DESCRIPTION ln figure 1 is disclosed a ventilation system 100 in a room 101 in a building (notshown). The ventilation system 100 comprises a multitude of components (1a-1f)which are connected to a ducting system 102 and forms part of a ventilation controlsystem. Among the components (1a-1f) are there flow control components (1a-1d)such as four air diffusers (1a) for admitting air into the room 101, exhaust air intake(1 b) for ventilating air out of the room 101, a main ventilation unit (1c) which providesfor heat exchange of fresh air intake and exhaust air and induce a flow in the ductingsystem 102 and 2 dampers (1d) for controlling the flow in the ducting system 102.The main ventilation unit 1c is connected to a fresh air intake 103 and an exhaust airoutlet 104 which are connected to the ducting system 102.There are also present anumber of sensor components (1e - 1g) in the room 101 such as a carbon dioxidesensor (1e) also referred to as C02 sensor, a humidity sensor or RH sensor (1f)wherein RH means Relative Humidity and a temperature sensor (1g). There is alsopresent a user interface (1 h) which may be a control input device for setting a desiredtemperature or for demanding increased ventilation for a predefined time limit. Theuser interface (1g) could also comprise a display for information concerning presentconditions in the room 101. These components (1a - 1h) only serve as a fewexamples of different components which may be present in the ventilation system. lngeneral, the word "component" has been reserved in this description for deviceswhich forms part of a control system for the ventilation system, i.e. devices whichcontrol the flow and/or the quality of the ventilation air as well as sensors forindicating relevant properties of the air or user inputs for setting a desired values forair properties.

When the ventilation system 100 is functioning are the components (1a-1g) whichforms part of the control system connected to a central control unit (CCU) 105 whichhas been located close to the main ventilation unit 1c. ln general, the main ventilationunit 1c and is located in another room and is adapted to provide for ventilation inseveral rooms or even one or several buildings. However, the main ventilation units1c has been located in the room 101 in this example for serving the purpose ofillustrating and understand in a better way how the ventilation system 100 works. ln this example has the central control unit (CCU) 105 been located close to the main 13 ventilation unit. Such a CCU 105 may be designed to control one or more mainventilation units and components associated to the ventilation systems. Hence, thereis in general neither present a CCU 105 in every room and the CCU 105 is includedfor better illustrating the control system of the air ventilation system. ln figure 2 is disclosed a general description for features which are common for allthe components (1a - 1g) which are disclosed in figure 1 and are intended to formpart of a control system for such an air ventilation system 100 as exemplified in figure1. The component is exemplified by an air diffuser 1a but could have been any of theother components disclosed in figure 1 or any other component which is intended toform part of a control system for such a ventilation system 100 as shown in figure 1.The air diffuser 1a comprises a transceiver 2 which may be used for communicatingwith the CCU 105 (se figure 1). The transceiver 2 is adapted to be able to transmitand receive signals and could be designed to be wireless or connected by wires tothe CCU 105. The transceiver is further connected to an Electronic Control Unit(ECU) 4 which is programmed to control the air diffuser 1a and to compute controlsignals and information to be transmitted and received by the transceiver 2. Thetransceiver 1a could be substituted for a transmitter or receiver if the component onlyneeds to transmit or receive a signal. The component 1a has been provided with anindicator 3. The indicator could be a light source such as LED light or diode. Theindicator is intended to indicate a status of the component 1a and is used in theconfiguration of the control system by for example indicating a component isselected, a pairing event is occurring or that the component has been configured inthe air ventilation system.

The air diffuser 1a has further been provided with a unique component ID referred toas clD. ln general may this this unique clD be represented by a long row of numberand letters, e.g. 00:20.8C:00:08:17:54:6D. ln many cases is this unique clD inaddition to be component specific also giving information about product category andproduct kind. The products clD may be comprised visually, e.g. by marking theproduct with a readable plain text as above. The clD could also be programmed intothe ECU 4 or comprised in a RFID. ln addition, the product identity could be markedon the product by code intended to be read by an identifier. This is shown in figure 2bwhere the component has been provided with a label 5 which may for example be abar code or QR code which may be read automatically by an identifier. The information comprised in the label should at least comprise the clD for the 14 component to be useful. The plain text as disclosed above could also be used butsuch text is in general less reliable to be read from a distance. The unique clD isgenerally provided at the factory but may also be assigned later on if desired. ln figure 2 has the component 1a been assigned a component ID (clD) which hasbeen shortened compared to what is normally used in order to better illustrate howsuch an ID may be built up to serve different purposes. The component 1a has beenassigned the clD "FC:AD:0001" which is written beside the component. This clD isintended to provide the information that the component belongs to main group flowcontrollers (first two digits FC), further to subgroup air diffusers (third and fourth digitsAD) and the last four digits (0001) will respond to a unique identity number. Hence,the clD as described herein serves both the purpose of identifying product categoryand kind as well as being a unique identification of the component.

A list of the component lDs in figure 1 could be the following: First air diffuser (1a): FC:AD:0001Second air diffuser (1 a): FC:AD:0002Third air diffuser (1 a): FC:AD:0003Fourth air diffuser (1 a): FC:AD:0004Exhaust Air intake (1 b): FC:EA:0001 l\/Iain unit (1c): FC:l\/lU:0001First damper (1 d): FC:DU:0001Second damper (1d): FC:DU:0002C02 sensor (1 e): SU:CO:0001Humidity sensor (1f): SU:F{H:0001Temp. sensor (1g): SU:TE:0001User interface (1 h): Cl:Ul:0001 ln this list are thus the first two digits of flow control components (FC), sensor units(SU) respectively control input devices (Cl) the same to identify the groups ofcomponents while the third and fourth digits are dividing the groups into subgroupsdepending on the product categories and the last four digits will give each componenta unique component ID (clD). ln order to get the air ventilation system in figure 1 to work properly the controlsystem must be configured. The components 1a-h needs be mounted to the airventilation system 100 at appropriate locations and connected to the central controlunit 105. The central control unit needs to know which components that have beenmounted at which location. ln some cases, e.g. when a group a components are intended to be controlled in exactly the same way, may it not be necessary to know exactly which component that has been assigned an exact location. As an example,if all the four air diffusers 1a located in the room 101 in figure 1 shall be controlled inexactly the same way may it be enough to group these four units together and usethe same identity when sending control commands from the CCU 105 to the airdiffusers 1a. However, the CCU 105 must be able to recognize the four componentslocated at these places. ln order to be able to control the air ventilation system has the location of eachcomponent which is included in the air ventilation system been provided with asystem location ID according to a system description. This system description maydefine different groups or zones. For example, room 101 in figure 1 could be definedby being located in building 3 of a complex of buildings. The building may thereafterbe divided in sections, e.g. could different floors be different sections. The room 101could be located in section A corresponding to a floor. The section may thereafter bedivided into different rooms and the room 101 in figure 1 could be assigned to beroom 3. These definitions could for example be used such that all components in thisroom will be assigned a system location ID (sl-ID) which starts with 3A4 indicatingbuilding, zone respectively room. ln figure 3, which is based on the very same figure as is presented in figure 1, isdisclosed a system description in which all the components are marked with asystem location ID (sl-ID). A system description is thus a representation of the airventilation system 1 disclosed in figure 1. At the top of the system description iswritten "room 3A4". This means these three characters are intended to be the 3 firstdigits for each system location ID for the components represented in figure 3 and thelast digits are written at each represented component. As can be seen in figure 3 allrepresented components have been provided with a unique sl-ID. This is essentiallynecessary for all components with the exception for the air diffusers which couldhave been assigned the same sl-ID if they are intended to be controlled in the sameway. ln order to configure the air ventilation control system is there a need to connect thesl-ID for each represented component in figure 3 with the unique component ID.Hence, the central control unit (CCU) 104 needs to be able to recognize therespective ECUs 4 for each component 1a-g in order to know which component 1a-gwhich the CCU is communicating with via their transceiver 2. 16 ln order to connect these IDs, clD and sl-ID, are the physical components located atits intended positions, preferably mounted to the air ventilation system 1 as theyshould be connected. ln figure 4 this is illustrated by also having appointed thecomponent ID besides each component. However, there has been provided aninequality sign between the different identities since there is no connection orrecognition between the identities at this moment. ln order to make the component mounted to the air ventilation system, having itscomponent ID, to be able to be recognized by the central control unit 105, must thesetwo identities identify each other. This could be made by a pairing event. Theoperator is selecting which component to be identified from the system description,i.e. selecting a defined system location ID and position himself where the componentis mounted, at a location where the component ID may be identified by using theidentifier, e.g. by sending a signal selecting one or several RFID intending to identifythe desired component ID. The correct system location ID is selected from a list ofcomponents in the identifier. Thereafter is the identifier used to identify thecomponent ID and when the desired component is the only compnent to be selectedfrom the list in the identifier and the indicator 3 of the selected component isindicating, e.g. blinking, that it is selected may the component ID be paired with thesystem location ID. The pairing may result in that the component will be provided withthe identification such that it recognizes a signal from the CCU 104 directed to thepaired system location ID, the component ID could be stored in the CCU such that itwill send signals addressed to the component ID and/or store the paired connectionin a separate translator which is used when transferring information between theCCU 104 and ECU 4 of the paired component. The specific way this pairing is storedis of less importance for the system described herein. When all units have beenpaired is thus the control system for the air ventilation system configured and there ispossible for the components at each location to be readily controlled by the CCU.Hence, in figure 5 is the system disclosed after the pairing action has beencompleted for all components and this is thus described by marking the connectionbetween the identities with a sign of equality. ln figure 6 is disclosed a diagram concerning the configuration procedure.

The configuration is divided into three main procedures to be performed: Preparation(I), selection procedure (ll) and configuration (lll). 17 ln the preparation (I) are there two steps which are performed, step a which isrepresented by the first block and comprises the feature of Iocating the components1a-h in the air ventilation system, and step b which is to prepare the identifier byloading a configuration list of the air ventilation system comprising system location IDfor the components 1a-h in the air ventilation system 101. ln step a are thus the components located in the system at its desired locations,preferably also mounted so as to function as desired when the air ventilation system1 is working. ln general is it desired to mount all components, or at least allcomponents in a zone or area, before the configuration of the control system isstarted but the configuration of a component could also be made if only one singlecomponent is located at its location in the system. The components are in generalalready provided with a unique component ID when manufactured. Otherwise thismay be performed at any time before the system shall be configured, e.g. whenmounting. lf all components are mounted to the air ventilation system, and thecomponents have been provided with a component ID, and no configuration of anycomponent has been made should the air ventilation system be in the state asdisclosed in figure 4, i.e. all components at their right location but no connection oridentity between the system specific system location ID and the component specificcomponent ID. ln step b is the identifier provided with a system description of the air ventilationsystem. This system description could for example be the plan view in figure 3wherein the location of each component is shown and has been provided with asystem location ID. This plan view, or at least a configuration list with system locationIDs for components of the plan view, may thus be Ioaded into the identifier. As isobvious, it may also be possible to only load a few of all components into theidentifier if that should be desired for some reason as long as it comprises the systemlocation ID of the component or components to be configured. Hence, thecomponents for which step a and step b has been made may now be selected in theselection procedure (ll) to be configured.

The selection procedure (ll) has been divided into three partial steps, step c, d and e,which will be performed as described below. ln step c is the physical location of the desired component to be configured in the airventilation system identified. lt may be possible also to have a couple of prospects which may be chosen as the desired component if it is possible to have several 18 indicators within perception distance, e.g. being able to see indicator lights forseveral components. However, a person who is configuring the system will walk to bein the vicinity of the desired component to be configured. The identifier should bebrought to this location and located to be in reach for wireless communication withthe desired component. The person who is at the location should also be aware ofwhich of the components in the system he is selecting as the desired component orpossible components. For example, the identifier could be set to identify a group ofair diffusers and there may be several of these components within reach to benotified about there selective status by the identifier. Before we will continue with thenext step, d, should it be noted that ln the next step, step d, is the identifier used for sending an identifying signal in orderto identify the desired component. The signal sent from the identifier may thus reacha receiver or transceiver in the desired component via wireless communication.There are several ways in which this identification via wireless communication maybe done which will be explained more in detail when referring to differentembodiments of the configuration method. However, the identifier is adapted to sendan identifying signal which the components are designed to be able to be identifiedfrom, in some cases for selecting a single component or for a group of components.ln step e is it disclosed that step d shall be repeated until the indicating signal fromthe indicator of the desired component is the only component indicating a selectedstate and the identifier displays only the desired component, or displays only onecomponent being in the same selected state as indicated by the indicator, of thecomponents in the configuration list.

Hence, when the selection procedure (ll) is finished should there be only onecomponent selected in the identifier and there should only be the indicator on thedesired component indicating only this physical component to be selected, thereaftermay the configuration (lll) step continue. ln the configuration procedure, comprising step e, is the component configured in thecontrol system so as to be able to be identified concerning its location and identity bythe central control unit. This may be achieved by a pairing event in which the desiredcomponent, having its unique component ID, is paired with the system location ID.The pairing event could be performed automatically when the component ID isrecognized but preferably is there some control feature or action initiated by the operator, e.g. could the system location ID be displayed in the identifier. ln addition, if 19 available the feature is available, could the desired component indicate it is in aselected state. By pairing these lDs, the component ID and system location ID, theselDs may be connected to be recognized by each other and the component may becontrolled by the central control unit.

The pairing event may be indicated in the identifier and/or on the component, e.g. bya flashing light while the component is pairing and then allow a light on the product tolight or marking the location system ID in the identifier as being paired when thecomponent is paired.

The identifier which is used for the identification and pairing of the components couldbe designed to either directly transfer the information to the central control unit orstoring a number of paired components to be transferred as batch. For example, itmay be desired to complete pairing of all components in a room before the pairing ofthe components actually is transmitted to the central control unit, or other memory,such that the central control unit may identify a component. The components could, ifthey are provided with a light indicator, be controlled to be off when unpaired, to beturned on with a fast blinking light when selected and during its pairing event whereafter they turn to blink with a lower frequency when they are paired but yet not havebeen accessible by the central control unit where after the light is turned onconstantly when the component is configured to be recognized in the air ventilationcontrol system by the central control unit.

The status of the system in figure 5 thus corresponds to the state when all productshave been paired and configured in the system.

Claims (10)

P10143SE 2016-04-05 CLAIIVIS

1.A method for configuring components (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g, 1h) in an airtreatment system (100), e.g. a Heating and Ventilating Air-Conditioning (HVAC)system, said air treatment system (100) comprising one or several components(1a-1h) being selected to be from the groups of flow control components (1a,1b, 1c, 1d), sensor components (1e, 1f, 1g) or input control components (1h),said components (1 a-h) being connected to a central control system (101) whenthe components (1 a-h) are configured and the air treatment system (1) is in use,said components (1a-h) being provided with a transmitter and/or receiver (2) forsending an input signal to the central control unit (105) to be used for computinga control output command by the central control unit (105) and/or receiving anoutput signal from the central control system (105) in order to control thecomponent (1 a-h) associated with the respective transmitter and/or receiver (2),each of said components (1a-h) further being provided with an indicator (3) andan Electronic Control Unit (4) being programmed to activate the indicator (3) soas to indicate when the component has been selected by an identifier (102)sending an identification signal selecting one or several of the components (1a-h) wherein said configuration comprises the steps of:l. PREPARATIONa. Locating at least one component (1a-h) at its intended physicalposition in the air ventilation system (100), said component (1a-h)being assigned a unique component ID (clD) before or after it hasbeen located at its intended positionb. Providing the identifier (102) with a system description of the airventilation system (100) including a configuration list with systemlocation lDs (sl-ID) for components (1a-h) to be connected to the central control system (101) ll. SELECTION PROCEDUREc. ldentifying the physical location in the air ventilation system (100)of the desired component (1a-h) to be configured and locate theidentifier to be in reach for wireless communication with the desired component (1 a-h) 21 d. Using the identifier (102) for sending an identifying signal in orderto identify the desired component (1 a-h) e. Repeating step c until the indicating signal from the indicator (3) ofthe desired component (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f) is indicating aselected state and the identifier (102) displays only the desiredcomponent (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f), or displays only onecomponent (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f) being in the same selectedstate as indicated by the indicator, of the components in the configuration list lll. CONFIGURATION f.lnitiating a pairing event in which the desired component (1a-h)having its unique component ID (clD) and indicated to be in aselected state by the indicator (3) is paired with the system locationID, which is displayed in the identifier, such that the desiredcomponent (1a-h) may be recognized by the central control unit(105) by the system location ID.

2.A method according to claim 1 characterized in that step d, is performed bysending a group selective identifying signal from said identifier to identify agroup of components (1a-h) within reach for the identifier, said group selectiveidentifying signal causing the indicators (3) of a first subgroup of the identifiedgroup of components (1a-h) to provide a first indicating signal different from asecond indicating signal from a second subgroup of the identified group ofcomponents (1a-h) whereby any of these subgroups may be selected by theidentifier to be further processed by the identifier, e.g. to be used as theidentified group of components (1a-h) in a repetition of step d.

3.A method according to claim 2 characterized in that if the subgroup ofcomponents (1a-h) selected to be further processed by the identifier comprisesat least 2 components (1a-h) will there be a further selection signal sent to thisgroup of components (1 a-h) such that these components are further divided intoat least two new groups of components to be selected to be further processed by the identifier. 22

4.A method according to claim 3 or 4 characterized in that if the subgroup ofcomponents (1a-h) selected to be further processed by the identifier comprisesonly one component (1a-h) will this component (1a-h) be further processed instep f and be used for a pairing event.

5.A method according to any previous c|aims 2-4 characterized in that theindicating signal from the indicators (3) is a biinking light and the indicatingsignal is differentiated by the frequency of the blinking.

6.A method according to any of c|aims 2-5 characterized in that the groupselective identifying signal from the identifier is adapted to only includecomponents (1 a-h) within a specific product category and/or zone.

7.A method according to claim 1 characterized in that in step d is said identifierarranged to send a component specific signal corresponding to a single uniquecomponent ID (clD) to a multitude of components (1a-h) within reach for theidentifier whereby one single indicator (3) corresponding to said uniquecomponent ID (clD) indicates that said single component (1a-h) is selected, saidprocedure being repeated until said component specific signal is selecting theunique component ID (clD) for a desired component (1a-h).

8.A method according to any previous claim characterized in that step d isperformed by using an identifier which may positively identify said uniquecomponent ID (clD) of the desired component (1a-h) by pointing at or beingwithin a prescribed distance from the physical component to be selectedwhereby a signal from said identifier causes the unique component ID (clD) ofthe desired component (1 a-h) to be transmitted to the identifier.

9.An air treatment system (100), e.g. an Heating and Ventilating Air-Conditioning(HVAC) system, said air treatment system (100) comprising one or severalcomponents (1a-h) being selected to be from the groups of flow controlcomponents (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d), sensor components (1e, 1f, 1g) or input controlcomponents (1 h), said components (1a-h) being connected to a central controlsystem (101) when the components (1a-h) are configured and the air treatmentsystem (1) is in use, said components (1a-h) being provided with a transmitteror receiver (2) for sending an input signal to the central control system (101) tobe used for computing a control output command by the control system (101)and/or receiving an output signal from the central control system (101) in order to control the component (1a-h) associated with the respective transmitter (2),

10. 23 each of said components (1a) further being provided with an indicator (3) andan Electronic Control Unit (4) being programmed to activate the indicator (3) soas to indicate when the component has been selected by an identifier sendingan component signal selecting one or several unique component lDs (clD)which have been assigned to each one of the components (1a-h). An air treatment system according to claim 9 characterized in that the ElectronicControl Unit (4) is programmed to activate the indicator (3) so as to indicatewhen the component (1a-h) has been selected by an identifier sending a signal in order to configure said component (1a-h) in a control system.