Patent Application
20250146691
The present invention relates to the field of HVAC systems, and in particular to techniques for assisting commissioning an HVAC system. In one non-limiting aspect, the invention relates to an automated technique for detecting respective positions of HVAC automation devices with respect to an HVAC information plan.
Once an HVAC system is installed in a building, and before the HVAC system can become operational, the system must be commissioned into working condition. Commissioning is a complicated but necessary step to marry each physical automation device (e.g. valves, actuators, sensors and controllers) of the HVAC system with an HVAC information plan, so that each automation device can be registered and configured to operate as intended. Commissioning can also be complicated by the fact that certain automation devices may be assemblies of operating modules from different manufacturers. For example, a valve may comprise a flow-control unit with a movable valve member, assembled with an actuator unit from a different manufacturer, and requiring appropriate programming to operate correctly. Programming may include parameters specific to the HVAC system, and parameters specific to the flow-control unit and/or actuator unit.
Conventional commissioning is performed by a technical expert who manually locates each physical automation device, and identifies the device by accessing it and with respect to the HVAC information plan. Such a process is labour intensive, slow, and subject to human errors. The cost of commissioning adds significantly to the cost of installing an HVAC system, and is time critical.
Proposals have been made to make commissioning more efficient by automated position detection. The detection is based on distance measurements made electronically, using wireless or acoustic distance measurement techniques, between HVAC automation devices and fixed reference devices, referred to herein as landmark devices. These distances are used to triangulate the position of each automation device, relative to the landmark devices. Such techniques are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,378,980 and 7,382,271, and in US-A-2009/066473.
While such techniques may reduce the commissioning burden compared to an entirely manual method, they still involve significant overhead and inconveniences. The fixed landmark devices have to be disposed in specific predetermined positions, which may not be easily accessible, and need themselves to undergo commissioning to be able to act as triangulation landmarks. Triangulation accuracy is very dependent on whether the fixed landmark devices are correctly placed with respect to the HVAC information plan. Also, since distance measurement accuracy may be reduced over longer measurement distances, and some automation devices may be arranged in close proximity with one another, numerous landmark devices will be required in order to achieve accurate triangulation throughout the HVAC system. The need to provide fixed landmark devices reduces design flexibility and design freedom for the HVAC system, and increases the costs compared to a system without fixed landmark devices. Moreover, fixed landmark devices used only during commissioning become redundant once commissioning has been completed.
It would be desirable to address one or more of the above issues. In one aspect, it would be desirable to reduce excess overhead in automated commissioning of an HVAC system.
Broadly speaking, a first aspect of the invention provides an automated method of detecting respective positions of automation devices of an HVAC system with respect to an HVAC information plan representing at least partially the HVAC system. The method comprises one or more of the following steps:
By using separation distances between multiple other HVAC automation devices, it can become possible to identify the position of a respective HVAC automation device with less reliance on fixed landmarks. Optionally the step of identifying is performed without relying on, or independently of, any landmark devices. However, some features of the invention do not exclude landmark devices, if desired.
It has surprisingly been found that even though only the relative positions of the automation devices among each other and the expected positions of the automation devices in the HVAC information plan are known, the automation devices can be allocated in the HVAC information plan using the separation distance data alone.
Also by using separation distances between multiple other HVAC automation devices, the method can be sufficiently robust to identify the position of a respective HVAC automation device even if the separation distance data is incomplete, for example, if one or more distances measurements are missing or inaccurate. The measurement distance data can collectively provide sufficient information to compensate for missing information. This can provide further advantages in practice, compared to prior art techniques relying on specific distance measurements with respect to specific landmark devices.
As used herein, the term “HVAC automation device” is intended to include any device that is in data communication with other devices or controllers, and forms an operative part of an HVAC system, or control of an HVAC system, or communication in or with the HVAC system. HVAC automation devices can include valves and dampers (for example, electronically controlled valves and dampers), actuators (for example, valve and damper actuators), sensors (for example, temperature sensors), controllers (for example, manual input devices for setting target temperatures, and device controllers for controlling operation of one or more devices of the HVAC system), communications interfaces (for example, communication base-stations and communication gateways), and optionally mobile devices used, for example, as temporary automation devices.
Also as used herein, the term “HVAC information plan” is intended to cover any representation or partial representation of the HVAC system used or usable for commissioning the HVAC system. One example includes a Building Information Model (BIM) which is a type of data model enabling a system such as an HVAC system and its physical layout to be modelled with respect to a site or building plan.
Additionally or alternatively to the first aspect, a closely related second aspect of the invention provides an automated method of detecting respective positions of automation devices of an HVAC system with respect to an HVAC information plan representing at least partially the HVAC system. The method comprises one or more of the following steps:
By using a mobile device with position localization independent of the automation devices, additional position information can be provided to assist in identification of a respective automation device, with less reliance on fixed landmarks. Optionally the step of identifying is performed without relying on, or independently of, any landmark devices. However, some features of the invention do not exclude landmark devices, if desired.
A mobile device can support the detection of respective positions of the automation devices by determining a separation distance between the mobile device and each automation device or only a selection of automation devices. For example, only the separation distances between the mobile device and communications interfaces, but not between the mobile device and other automation devices, is determined. The remaining automation devices are localized by determining the separation distance between each other and between the remaining automation devices and the communications interfaces. The use of the mobile device can increase the localization accuracy of the automation devices. At the same time, a user does not need to connect to all automation devices using the mobile device, but only to a certain number of automation devices, which makes detecting the respective positions of the automation devices much easier. This also reduces the likelihood of individual automation devices being forgotten during the identification of the respective positions of the automation devices in the HVAC information plan.
The present invention can support the individual device commissioning, wherein a user connects a handheld mobile device with individual automation devices to exchange data for the commissioning between the handheld mobile device and the automation device. The connection is automatically generated when the handheld mobile device and the automation device are within a certain range (e.g. 3 m), for example; or when the devices are arranged in a certain angle with respect to each other. If more than just one automation device is within connection distance or at a specific angle with respect to the handheld mobile device, a list of automation devices is presented to the user.
The present invention can also support the individual device commissioning within a mesh network, wherein a user receives a map view of all automation devices with or without being presented the HVAC information plan, when connecting to one automation device using, e.g., a handheld mobile device. Optionally, the data needed for the commissioning of individual devices are thereby stored in a building information modelling (BIM) database. This renders manual entry of the commissioning parameters redundant. In one scenario, the absolute X, Y and Z coordinates of each automation device are not known with respect to the HVAC information plan. In another scenario, the absolute X, Y and Z coordinates of each automation device are known with respect to the HVAC information plan.
The present invention can also support the minimal effort commissioning of automation devices, wherein the position of each automation device is automatically or semi-automatically allocated with respect to the HVAC information plan. In a first solution to accomplish this is, a BIM database receives the absolute X, Y and Z coordinates of each automation device with respect to the HVAC information plan. The absolute coordinates can be determined using a handheld mobile device, for example. In a second solution to accomplish this, only the relative X, Y and Z coordinates of the automation devices are known, but by using an algorithm to assign the absolute position of the automation devices in a fully automated way.
In some embodiments of either aspect, the step of determining separation distances comprises using antenna communication between the respective automation device, and each of the multiple other automation devices. The communication may be point-to-point communication, for example, two-way point-to-point communication. The separation distance may be determined using a ranging calculation.
Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the step of determining separation distances comprises using ultra-wideband (UWB) transmission and reception. Additionally or alternatively, the step of determining separation distance comprises measuring time-of-flight (for example, return-trip or two-way time of flight). Additionally or alternatively, the transmission and reception is non-carrier-wave based. For example, the transmission and reception may be impulse-based. For example, the transmission and reception is based on pulses having a width of not more than 2 ns. Additionally or alternatively, the step of transmitting and receiving comprises using a pulse-binary-shift-keying (PBSK) protocol and/or a pulse-binary-frequency-shift-keying (PBFSK) protocol. Additionally or alternatively, the transmission and reception may occupy a bandwidth of at least 500 MHz. Additionally or alternatively, the step of determining separation distances comprises using Bluetooth® (BT) transmission and reception. Additionally or alternatively, the transmission and reception is made in the 2.4 GHz spectrum. Additionally or alternatively, the transmission and reception uses a frequency-hopping spread spectrum protocol.
A closely related third aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with the first and/or second aspect above, provides an automated method of operation of a data processing system to detect respective positions of automation devices (12) of an HVAC system (10) with respect to an HVAC information plan (48) representing at least partially the HVAC system, comprising:
In any aspect, the step of identifying may comprise using a pattern fitting algorithm to process a pattern derived from the separation distance data. As used herein, the term “pattern fitting” means adapting the pattern to fit to a target, based on the arrangement or layout in the pattern. Pattern fitting may include pattern matching and/or pattern recognition. Pattern fitting may enable accurate determination of positions even without direct triangulation from fixed landmark devices, and/or without landmark matching.
In some embodiments, the identification step comprises the sub-steps of:
With the above, the method can be performed in computationally efficient steps. By generating an intermediate data model, the relative dispositions of the automation devices can be determined without needing to identify individual automation devices with respect to the HVAC information plan. For example, the intermediate data model can represent a disposition in coordinate space compatible with the HVAC information plan. This can facilitate fitting the intermediate data model to (at least a portion of) the HVAC information plan based on the pattern. For example, the pattern fitting algorithm can be a landmark-free pattern fitting algorithm.
In some embodiments of any aspect, the intermediate data model represents the disposition as nodes in an interconnected network, the relative lengths of interconnections between nodes being based on (e.g. corresponding to) the separation distances measured between automation devices. The nodes represent the automation devices, and the interconnections, which may be virtual, represent the separation distance measurements. In some embodiments, the interconnections have a spring-like and/or weighted position model behavior to enable the intermediate data model to accommodate inconsistencies and/or inaccuracies in the measured separation distances.
In some embodiments of any aspect, the step of fitting comprises one or more of: re-orientation of the intermediate data model with respect to co-ordinate axes; rotation of the intermediate data model with respect to a rotation axis; reflection of the intermediate data model with respect to a mirror plane; re-scaling of the intermediate data model; translation of the intermediate data model with respect to co-ordinate axes; adjustment of the separation distances to fit nodes of the intermediate data model to device locations in the HVAC information plan.
In some embodiments of any aspect, the step of identifying comprises treating an automation device relative to which a greater number of measurement distances have been made, with increased position accuracy compared to an automation device relative to which fewer distance measurements have been made. For example, such treatment may be effected by the spring-like model described above, in which a greater number of interconnections will result in less position freedom of the node. Additionally or alternatively, such treatment may be effected at adjustment of separation distances during fitting of the nodes to the HVAC information model.
In some embodiments of any aspect, the step of identifying comprises treating separation distance accuracy to be dependent on the degree to which the automation devices are in mutual line-of-sight and/or the degree to which the separation distance determinations are stable. Distance measurements can be affected by obstacles in the wireless transmission path between the automation devices, especially by wall and floor structures, or other major obstacles. The separation distance accuracy can be taken into account, for example, during fitting of the intermediate data model (if used) to device locations in the HVAC information plan.
Additionally or alternatively any to the above, in any aspect the step of identifying may optionally comprise using auxiliary information provided from a respective HVAC automation device. The step of identifying may comprise comparing the auxiliary information with corresponding information in or derivable from the HVAC information plan, to assist in identifying the automation device.
In some embodiments using the step of fitting an intermediate data model to the HVAC information plan, the step of fitting may comprise comparing the auxiliary information with corresponding information in or derivable from the HVAC information plan, to guide fitting of the intermediate data model and/or to resolve ambiguities between different possible fits.
For example, the auxiliary device information may comprise one or more of:
In some embodiments of any aspect, a separation distance between one automation device and another (and/or a mobile device) may be determined by repeating a measurement of the same distance multiple times, and processing the multiple measurements to derive the separation distance data. For example, the multiple measurements can be processed to exclude the influence of noise or other measurement fluctuations caused, for example, by objects in the signal path between the automation devices that may affect the time of flight with fluctuating delays. One example of processing may be to average the multiple measurements. Additionally or alternatively, another example of processing may be to calculate (e.g. select) a smallest of the multiple measurements. Fluctuations caused by intervening objects generally only increase the measurement, and so smaller or a smallest of the values may be more reliable than larger or a largest value. Additionally or alternatively, another example of processing is to calculate a confidence factor representing a degree of confidence in the distance measurement. For example, the confidence factor may be derived from a calculation of a degree of variability amongst the multiple measurements. The confidence factor can provide a useful indicator of measurement consistency and/or reliability. The smaller the variability, the greater the confidence factor. The confidence factor may be expressed positively, for example, as a degree of stability, or the confidence factor may be expressed negatively, for example, as a degree of variability.
The number of automation devices represented by the intermediate data model may depend on the individual site, computational loads, and ease of fitting to the HVAC information plan.
Where a mobile device is used, the method may further comprise moving the mobile device from a first location to a second location, and repeating the method steps with the mobile device positioned at the second location.
Optionally, the method comprises the step of generating, in response to the position determination, a target location for guiding an operator to position the mobile device at the target location. Such a method can provide automated guidance for guiding positioning of the mobile device at one or more positions calculated to assist the position determination of the automation devices.
Broadly speaking, a fourth closely related aspect of the invention provides an at least partly automated method of setting up at least one HVAC automation device in an HVAC system, the method optionally using a position detection method according to the first aspect and/or second aspect, the method of setting-up comprising:
The HVAC information plan may optionally be stored by the first data processing system.
The term “data processing system” as used herein is intended to include any local and/or distributed processing system or apparatus including data storage. At least one data processing system (e.g. the second data processing system) may optionally be distinct from the automation devices, and/or at least one data processing system (e.g. the first data processing system), may optionally be incorporated within an automation device.
The term “operating information” as used herein is intended to cover any information loadable to an automation device to set-up operation of the automation device. Operating information includes, for example, one or more operating parameters, and/or programming and/or executable software.
At least one data processing system, for example, the second data processing system, may comprise a server accessible remotely for provisioning HVAC automation devices with operating information (e.g. operating parameters and/or suitable programming).
Such a technique can enable the automation device to be set-up without requiring all of the set-up information and/or operating parameters to be stored by the first data processing system used for detecting a respective position of an automation device with respect to the HVAC information plan, thereby reducing resource overhead at the HVAC system site.
Another aspect of the invention concerns an automated method of adapting an HVAC information plan of an HVAC system when at least one movable component of the HVAC information plan is moved affecting at least one dimension of at least one section of a building, comprising repeatedly detecting respective positions of the at least one movable component with respect to the HVAC information plan, wherein the detecting comprises:
In the context of the present invention, a movable component of the HVAC information plan is any component that has a substantial influence on the parameters to be set in an HVAC system when moved. The at least on movable component is preferably selected from the list consisting of movable walls, movable floors, movable ceilings, movable furniture, movable installations, automation devices or any combination thereof. A movable component is a component that is intended according to the HVAC information plan to possibly be displaced from an initial position. Since automation devices are also movable components of the HVAC information plan that may have a substantial influence on the parameters to be set in an HVAC system when moved, a change in location of an automation device can also trigger adapting the HVAC information plan.
In the context of the present invention, a section of a building can be a room, a hall, a hallway, an atrium, a garage, a part of a basement, a workshop or a vestibule.
Building architectures not only comprise fixed walls and ceilings, but may also comprise, for instance, movable walls to convert an office space comprising multiple sections into a conference hall comprising only one section. A movable component can be composed of several parts that can be disassembled for moving and, if necessary, storing. For example, a movable wall that divides a larger room into two smaller rooms can be disassembled into individual segments and the individual segments moved aside to create the larger room from the two smaller rooms.
The movable components are equipped with means for antenna transmission and reception allowing the communication between the respective movable component and other movable components as well as the automation devices. This enables integration of the movable components in the HVAC information plan. The technologies that can be used for antenna transmission and reception comprise Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN; e.g. Bluetooth® (BT) and ultra-wideband (UWB)), Wireless Local Area networks (WLAN; e.g. Wi-Fi), and Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWAN; e.g. used for mobile phone signals).
As a consequence of this aspect, whenever a movable component, e.g. a movable wall, is repositioned in a building, the repositioning is detected by the system and the automation devices can be reassigned to a new configuration of the HVAC information plan. Additionally, changes in the parameters of the HVAC system can be made automatically to accommodate the new configuration.
In a preferred embodiment, the updating of the HVAC information plan in the method of adapting an HVAC information plan of an HVAC system comprises the steps of:
In another preferred embodiment, the updating of the HVAC information plan in the method of adapting an HVAC information plan of an HVAC system comprises the steps of:
A further aspect of the invention concerns an automated method of configuring a new automation device of a particular type in a commissioned HVAC system, comprising the steps of:
In the context of the present invention, a new automation device is an automation device that is not yet part of the system in the sense that it has not yet been commissioned and its respective position with respect to the HVAC information plan has not yet been detected.
In the context of the invention, the process of configuring a new automation device corresponds to the commissioning of the new automation device in the HVAC system.
Prior to receiving the configuration parameters, the configuration parameters are stored in at least one automation device of the HVAC system, for example in a communication interface.
In the context of the present invention, a decommissioned automation device is an automation device that used to be but is no longer part of the HVAC system, for example, due to being outdated or defective. The configuration parameters of the at least one decommissioned automation device are stored as a digital copy of the decommissioned automation device in the HVAC system, so that they can be transferred to the new automation device that replaces the decommissioned automation device. The serial number, device type, absolute installation coordinates, relative installation coordinates and other data pertaining the decommissioned automation device can thus be transferred to the new automation device. The device configuration is preferably automatic, semi-automatic or manual. A decommissioned automation device does not necessarily have to be taken out of use completely. The decommissioned automation device can, for example, be used again elsewhere and commissioned again there.
In a preferred embodiment, the method of configuring a new automation device of a particular type in a commissioned HVAC system comprises an additional step of updating the HVAC information plan with respect to the transferred configuration parameters to the new automation device.
In a closely related fifth aspect, the invention provides apparatus for an HVAC system, the apparatus comprising:
Additionally or alternatively to the fifth aspect, a closely related sixth aspect of the invention provides apparatus for an HVAC system, the apparatus comprising:
In a closely related seventh aspect, optionally in combination with the fifth and/or sixth aspect, the invention provides apparatus for an HVAC system, the apparatus comprising:
A closely related eighth aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with the fifth and/or sixth and/or seventh aspect, provides apparatus for an HVAC system, the apparatus configured to perform a method of any of the first and/or second and/or third and/or fourth aspects above.
A closely related ninth aspect of the invention provides computer program code and/or a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions which, when executed by computer, carry out a method of any of the first and/or second and/or third and/or fourth aspects above.
Although certain features and aspects have been set out above and in the appended claims, this is merely to aid understanding certain aspects, and does not limit the scope of protection. Protection is claimed for any novel feature or idea disclosed herein and/or in the drawings whether or not emphasis has been placed thereon.
Non-limiting embodiments are now described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or corresponding features, whether or not described explicitly.
Referring to
Referring to
The communications unit 16 comprises at least an antenna 20 coupled to a transmitter 22 and a receiver 24, for antenna-based communication, also referred to herein as antenna communication. A distance determination module 16a is operable to determine a separation distance between the automation device 12 and other automation devices with which the automation device 12 is in antenna communication (
Although the distance measuring function or module 16a is illustrated as being implemented entirely within the automation device 12, in other embodiments, at least some of the functionality may be performed by other apparatus (for example, the first data processing apparatus 42 described later with respect to
The communications unit 16 may be configured to operate according to an antenna communications protocol, which may be one or more of: ultra-wideband (UWB); and/or non-carrier-wave based (for example, pulse-based and/or impulse-based instead of carrier-wave based); and/or a pulse-binary-shift-keying (PBSK) protocol; and/or a pulse-binary-frequency-shift-keying (PBFSK) protocol; and/or occupying a bandwidth of at least 500 MHz; and/or Bluetooth® (BT); and/or in the 2.4 GHz spectrum; and/or a frequency-hopping spread spectrum protocol. The communications unit 16 may optionally comprise a transceiver implementing the communications protocol, for example, a UWB transceiver, and/or a BT transceiver. Distance measuring may be performed by a ranging function of the transceiver.
Referring to
A system 40 illustrated in
Although in this embodiment the first processing system 42 is illustrated to be distinct from the automation devices 12, in other embodiments the first processing system 42 could be implemented within an automation device, for example, within the communications device D1.
The first data processing system 42 identifies (module/step 46) each automation device with respect to an HVAC information plan (HVAC-IP) 48. In the present example, the HVAC information plan 48 is a building information model (BIM). The HVAC information plan 48 may be stored within the first data processing system 42, or it may be stored in a remote system, device or server 48′, accessible by the first data processing system 42.
Step 46 includes a step 50 of detecting the position of each automation device 12 with respect to the HVAC information plan 48. In the present embodiment, step 50 detects the position automatically. Based on the detected position, the identity of the respective automation device is obtained from the HVAC information plan 48. Techniques for automatic position detection are described later below. The ability to detect the position automatically thus enables commissioning without the need for significant manual intervention.
Step 52 performs downloading operations, and/or provisioning, and/or programming, to set-up each automation device 12, based on the device identity. The information for setting-up the automation device 12 includes one or more of:
In the present embodiment, at least a portion of the downloaded information (e.g. device specific information) is downloaded from at least one second data processing system 54, optionally remote from the first data processing system 42 and/or the HVAC system 10. Such a technique avoids any need to store all of the information within the first data processing system 42 and/or the HVAC information map 48. The second data processing system 54 may, for example, be provided by the manufacturer(s) of the automation device(s) 12, to enable the automation device(s) 12 to be programmed efficiently and correctly. Each automation device 12 may communicate directly with the second data processing system 54, or indirectly, for example, via the first data processing system 42.
Step 56 completes the commissioning process by updating the HVAC information plan 48 to record the identities and/or communication addresses of the physical automation devices 12 representing in the HVAC information plan 48. The HVAC information plan 58 therefore stores information necessary to interface with the real-world automation devices 12 of the HVAC system 10.
Although in the illustrated example, the first data processing system 42 may be local to the HVAC system 10, in other embodiments, the first data processing system may be remote and/or distributed and/or decentralized with respect to the HVAC system 10, as illustrated by module(s) 42′.
Referring to
The separation distance data 62 may further include device-specific auxiliary data associated with the respective automation device 12 from which the distance measurements 64 are made, for example, the type 72 of automation device (for example, selected from actuator, sensor, controller or communications device). Additionally or alternatively, the physical orientation 74 of the automation device with respect to gravity measured by a built-in accelerometer (e.g. a three-dimension accelerometer, not shown) or inferred indirectly from one or more other sensed parameters. Additionally or alternatively, a barometer may provide an indication 76 of relative elevation. Additionally or alternatively, a magnetometer may provide additional directional orientation information 74. Additionally or alternatively, a GPS receiver may provide a further positional reference. Additionally or alternatively, a signal strength detector may provide information about relative signal strength at the locality of the automation device.
Referring to
In this embodiment, the intermediate data model 82 includes all types of automation device 12. In other embodiments, additional or alternative intermediate data models may be generated according to the type of automation device (e.g. identified according to the type information 72 of
The interconnections 84 can have spring-like and/or weighted model behaviour, to enable the intermediate data model to accommodate inaccuracies, while still being able to represent a coherent model of all automation devices 12 and separation distances. The default length of the interconnection corresponds to the measured separation distance, and the spring and/or weighting behaviour permits a degree of freedom for an interconnection to shorten or lengthen, with progressively more resistance the greater the deviation with respect to the default length. The resistance may also depend on relative weighting of the distance measurement. One example algorithm that is computationally efficient and incorporates suitable model behaviour is a so-called NEATO algorithm. Additionally to the above, the model can be further adapted by giving greater weight to positional accuracy of a node that has more interconnections and/or greater weight and/or spring resistance to interconnections that are relatively more stable and/or have a high confidence factor. Alternatively, distance measurements that do not meet a certain level of stability or degree of confidence can be screened out and not used in the intermediate data model.
Referring to
Referring to
The example algorithm comprises a first step 92 of searching for one or more geometric and/or geographical similarities between the intermediate data model 82 and the HVAC information plan 48.
A second step 94 performs one or more orientation operations, for example rotating and/or reorientating and/or reflecting the intermediate data model 82 to reduce the degree of mis-match between the intermediate data model 82 and the HVAC information plan 48.
A third step 96 comprises one or more positioning operations, for example, re-scaling and/or translation and/or position adjustment.
A fourth step 98 optionally uses auxiliary information, for resolving ambiguities in pattern fitting.
As indicated by the arrow 100, the steps 92-98 may be repeated as appropriate, for example, to perform pattern fitting iteratively and/or to evaluate a fit using different parameters, for example, different device types and/or different ones of multiple intermediate data models. The order of the steps 92-98 may also be changed as desired.
Referring to
The mobile device 102 further comprises a localization module 104 able to localize the position of the mobile device 102 independently of the automation devices 12. The localization module 104 may use any suitable localization technology or technologies. Such localization technologies may be more complicated and/or more expensive than can be used in the HVAC automation devices 12 for economic reasons. The localized position determined by the module 104 is transmitted to the first data processing system 42, to provide further position awareness. The mobile device 102 communicates with the first processing system 42 via the same communication path as the automation devices 12 (for example, via the communications device D1, directly or via relay-hop communication) and/or via a dedicated antenna communication (indicated by the broken arrow 106).
The mobile device 102 does not form part of the HVAC system 10 with a fixed position, and is not included in the HVAC information plan 48. However, in this embodiment, the step 50 (
Provision of the mobile device 102 can provide an additional information point, with position awareness, in the intermediate data model 82 and the pattern fitting algorithm 90. The additional information point can assist in resolving ambiguity and/or providing a geometric and/or geographic characteristic to assist in pattern fitting.
Although the mobile device 102 is able to provide additional position information wherever it is used or located within the HVAC system 10, the method of
In any of the embodiments, the HVAC system 10 may optionally be divided into certain zones, for example, according to different floors of a building, or different areas of an installation site. The technique of identifying (e.g. of generating the intermediate data model, and fitting to a portion of the HVAC information plan) may also be sub-divided into groups of automation devices, for example, according to the zones. Sub-dividing can reduce computational load, and facilitate fitting to the HVAC information plan, provided that the sub-group provides a sufficient number of distance measurements for identification.
The techniques described above enable the position of the each automation device 12 to be found with respect to the HVAC information plan 48, and thus without relying on fixed landmark devices being added to the HVAC system 10. It will be appreciated that the foregoing description is merely illustrative of preferred embodiments, and does not limit the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000156/2022 | Feb 2022 | CH | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2023/054039 | 2/17/2023 | WO |
