Technical Field

The invention relates to a room unit for an HVAC system comprising a short-range wireless communication module in order to establish a short-range communication connection with a mobile device. Further, the present application also relates to a method for exchanging data between a mobile device and a room unit or an HVAC system, and vice versa.

Background Art

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are in use in many public buildings, such as schools, shops, etc., industrial buildings, in office buildings as well as in private homes. Such systems usually include a room unit in each room of the building, which allow to set values, such as e.g. room temperature, ventilation intensity, etc. for each room by users. The room units usually comprise sensors, which measure certain air parameters in the room, such as ambient temperature, in order to provide the parameters to a central control of the HVAC system. The room units may further comprise screens to display information about the set values and the measured parameters.

A disadvantage of the room units as known in the art is that only a limited number of values may be set and only some parameters may be displayed, since the room units are of a small size and hence only have a limited space to display information or to feature buttons and the like. Further, operation parameters of the HVAC system as well as measured values of ambient air may be read by anyone passing by the room unit and even operating parameters of the HVAC system may be altered by anyone having access to the room unit. Summary of the invention

It is the object of the invention to create a room unit pertaining to the technical field initially mentioned which allows a great number of values to be set easily and to query a large set of data of an HVAC system as well as of the room unit itself. Furthermore, it should be possible to configure the room unit in a manner as flexible as possible.

The solution of the invention is specified by the features of claim 1. According to the invention the room unit for an HVAC system comprises an electric connection means to connect the room unit to the HVAC system and a controller. The room unit further comprises a short-range wireless communication module which allows wireless communication with a mobile device for the exchange of data between the mobile device and the room unit, and vice versa.

The inventive room unit allows the exchange of data between a mobile device, such as a tablet computer or smartphone and the room unit. The controller may thereby rely the data from the mobile device to the HVAC system, and vice versa. Hence, it is possible to display a large amount of data of the HVAC system, such as operation parameters and the like, as well as parameters of the room unit or measured values of a sensor of the room unit on a display of the mobile device. Further, as the larger and more versatile input means of the mobile device may be used, a greater set of values may be set in an easier way on the mobile device and said values may then be sent to the HVAC system via the room unit or to the room unit itself. Also, via the mobile device, different modes of operation of the room unit can be set and software updates can be uploaded to the room unit in a highly flexible manner. Furthermore, user rights for accessing different functions of the room unit can easily be implemented and configured.

As understood in the present application, a room unit is a device which is placed in a room of a building having an HVAC system in order to supply data to the HVAC system, in particular to rely values set by a user on the room unit to the HVAC system and/or to rely current air parameters measured in a room to the HVAC system. The HVAC system then changes its operating parameters such as to match the set values for the particular room. As understood herein, a mobile device is a portable electronic device such as a tablet computer, a smartphone, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a smart watch or a portable computer, e.g. a laptop. In order to be able to connect to the room unit, the mobile device must include a wireless communication module using the same frequency band and data transmission protocol of the short-range wireless communication module of the room unit. Further, the mobile device preferably has to run a software, which is capable of communication with the controller of the room unit. Such a software may be provided by the manufacturer of the room unit. Such a software may be in the form of a program or app, which may be installed and run on the mobile device.

The room unit preferably comprises a housing, e.g. made of a polymer material. Further, the room unit preferably includes means to mount the room unit to a wall. These means may for example be in the form of screw holes or the like.

Preferably, the connection means is a data cable allowing the transfer of data between the room unit and the FIVAC system, and vice versa. Alternatively, the connection means may be a wireless communication module, such as a WiFi or Bluetooth® module which allows the wireless exchange of data between the room unit and the FIVAC system, and vice versa.

Preferably, the room unit comprises a power supply, such as e.g. a power cable, primary or secondary battery or the like. If the connection means is a data cable, this data cable preferably further allows the supply of electricity to the room unit from the FIVAC system.

The controller preferably comprises a microcontroller or microprocessor as well as at least one non-erasable memory. The controller is connected to the connection means and to the wireless communication module and configured to send data to and receive data from the FIVAC system as well as the mobile device via the connection means and the short-range wireless communication module, respectively. Further, the controller may be configured to rely the data between the FIVAC system and the mobile device, and vice versa.

In the present application, a short-range wireless communication module is a module which allows the wireless transmission of data at a distance of up to 30 meters, however, preferably of less than 10 meters, more preferably of less than 1 meter, even more preferably of less than 50 cm, even more preferably of less than 10 cm. Most preferably, the short-range wireless communication module allows the wireless transmission of data in a distance of less than 5 cm.

Preferably, the room unit comprises at least one status indicator, for example in the form of an LED in order to show the status of the room unit and/or of the HVAC system.

Preferably, the short-range wireless communication module is a near field communication module and/or a Bluetooth® Low Energy communication module. The advantage of a near field communication module is that the transfer of data is only possible for mobile devices, which are in close proximity to the room unit. This increases security, as data may only be exchanged with mobile devices of users, which have physical access to the room unit and are hence inside the room. This excludes the exchange of data with mobile devices of persons, which do not have access to the room or building, as these mobile devices are out of range for the exchange of data.

Use of a near field communication module further has the advantage that certain parameters may be exchanged from a mobile device to the room unit while the room unit is powered down by means of an active-passive transmission, for example to write configuration parameters to a new room unit before installation or connection to the HVAC system.

Preferably, the room unit comprises at least one sensor to measure at least one parameter of ambient air, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the at least one parameter to the mobile device and/or the HVAC system.

The at least one parameter preferably is one of temperature, humidity, C0 ₂ concentration, concentration of volatile organic compounds and/or dust concentration, especially PM2.5 alveolar dust.

By means of the at least one sensor it is possible to provide the value of the measured at least one parameter to the HVAC system. The measured value of the at least one parameter may then be used by the HVAC system to alter its operational values in order to influence the at least one measured parameter in the room in which the room unit is present. The measured values of the at least one parameter measured by the at least one sensor are queried by the controller, preferably at pre-set intervals. The controller then transmits the measured value of the at least one parameter to the HVAC system. Preferably, the controller adds a unique identifier to the measured value of the at least one parameter when said measured value is transmitted to the HVAC system so that the HVAC system may determine from which room unit the measured value is transmitted.

Preferably, the controller saves the measured value of the at least one parameter in a memory. Once a mobile device connects to the room unit, the controller preferably transmits the last saved measured value and/or the current measured value of the at least one parameter to the mobile device. Preferably, the controller is configured such as to save measured values of the at least one parameter for a pre-set time interval, for example one or several days. When a mobile device connects to the room unit the controller preferably transmits all saved measured values of the at least one parameter, so that a chronological sequence of measured values of the at least one parameter may be displayed on the mobile device.

Preferably, the room unit comprises more than one sensor so that value of more than one parameter of ambient air may be measured, e.g. temperature and humidity.

Preferably, the controller is configured such as to issue a warning if the measured value of the at least parameter exceeds or falls below a pre-defined value or range. The warning may be in the form of a status indicator, such as an LED of the room unit which is switched on or in the form of an acoustic warning issued from a speaker integrated in said room unit.

Preferably, the data comprises at least one parameter of the HVAC system or of the room unit and/or a command to alter at least one parameter of the HVAC system or room unit. Hence, parameters of the HVAC system or of the room unit may be displayed on the mobile device. The parameters of the HVAC system comprise e.g. flow rate or temperature of an air flow supplied to a specific room or the status of actuators, valves and cooling or heating units of the HVAC system. The parameters of the room unit preferably comprise measured or saved values of at least one parameter of ambient air or the desired values of ambient air set in the respective room unit. Likewise, any of the parameters of the HVAC system or of the room unit may be altered by a command sent by the mobile device. However, preferably, commands comprised in the data only relate to desired values of parameters of ambient air in the room in which the room unit is located. These commands relating to the desired values are relied by the controller from the mobile device to the HVAC system, which then determines the operating parameters needed to alter the parameters of the ambient air in the specific room to the desired values.

The controller is preferably configured to allow or deny the exchange of specific data between the room unit and the mobile device, and vice versa, based on access rights stored in a memory of the room unit.

This allows to increase the security, as the transmission of commands to alter certain parameters as well as the transmission of certain parameters to a mobile device may be restricted to only one or only a selected group of mobile devices.

As access rights the memory contains a list of which data may be exchanged with which mobile device or group of mobile devices. Preferably, the memory contains several levels of access rights, each level of access rights defining which data may be exchanged between the room unit and a mobile device or group of mobile device belonging to the specific access rights level. For example, all data may be exchanged between the room unit and a mobile device having administrator access rights. In contrast, for example, a mobile device having only user level access rights may only exchange data pertaining to certain parameters of the HVAC system or room unit, but not any commands to alter parameters of the HVAC system or room unit.

The same access rights preferably also apply to the transmission of measured values of the at least one parameter to the mobile device if the room unit comprises at least one sensor. Hence, for example, a mobile device having only user level access may only receive measured values for the temperature but not for humidity.

Preferably, the controller identifies the mobile device by means of a unique identifier associated with a specific mobile device, for example the International Mobile Equipment Identity (I M El) number of the wireless communication module of the mobile device. The memory accordingly comprises a list of unique identifiers of mobile devices as well as the specific access rights for each of the mobile devices.

Alternatively, preferably, the controller queries the mobile device for a token which defines the access rights the specific mobile device has upon establishing a connection with the mobile device. Typically, such a token is saved on a memory of the mobile device by a software allowing the connection of the mobile device with the room unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the controller is configured to query a passcode or pin from the mobile device. The memory of the room unit includes information, which defines the access rights for mobile devices providing a specific passcode or pin.

This means that a specific passcode or pin defines the access rights conferred to the mobile device or which access rights level the mobile device belongs into. For example, a first passcode or pin may define administrator rights, while a second passcode may define user level access rights. A first mobile device providing the first passcode or pin upon query of the controller will hence be granted administrator rights, while a further mobile device providing the second passcode will be granted user level access rights. Of course if a second mobile device also provides the first passcode or pin, this mobile device will also be granted administrator access rights.

Preferably, the query for the passcode or pin is only sent to the mobile device in the case that the mobile device requests certain parameters of the room unit or HVAC system or sends commands to alter a parameter of the room unit or HVAC system.

The controller is further preferably configured to allow the exchange of certain data with a mobile device having not provided any passcode or pin. This allows to provide the transmission of some basic data, such as e.g. the currently measured room temperature to any mobile device which is in range of the short-range wireless communication module.

The query for the passcode or pin may be displayed on the mobile device, such that a user of the mobile device may input the passcode or pin, e.g. by means of a keyboard of the mobile device. Further, preferably, the software of the mobile device used to establish the short-range wireless communication connection with the room unit may store the passcode or pin after it has been input by the user, so that the software may provide the passcode or pin to the controller upon further queries and/or upon the establishment of a further short-range communication connection with the room unit.

Preferably, the controller is configured such that the access rights stored in the memory of the room unit, especially at least one passcode or pin associated with specific access rights, may be altered by a command included in the data sent from the mobile device to the room unit.

This allows an easy configuration of access rights using the mobile device. Preferably, the alteration of access rights is restricted to mobile devices having according access right, e.g. such as mobile devices having administrator level access rights.

Preferably, commands to alter access rights as well as parameters of the room unit or of the HVAC system may be sent only by using a special software, such as an administrator program or administrator app which is provided by the manufacturer of the room unit and distributed only to customers of the room unit. In this case, the manufacturer of the room unit preferably provides an openly accessible software, which may e.g. be freely downloaded from a website or app store for the general public. Such a software preferably has a restricted functionality which only allows the transmission of certain parameters of the HVAC system or the room unit as well as a restricted set of measured values to the mobile device running this software.

In a further preferred embodiment, commands to define or alter the access rights may be sent by the openly accessibly software, running in an administrator mode, e.g. after an administrator password has been entered.

Preferably, the connection means is a connector for a bus system, preferably for a field bus system. The connector preferably is in the form of a terminal block with spring or screw terminals for conductors of a cable, especially of a cable of the bus system. Alternatively, the connection means may be in the form of a receptacle for a plug of a cable, especially of a cable of the field bus system. Further, alternatively, the connector may be in the form of a lug or solder terminals for conductors of a cable, especially of a cable of the field bus system.

Preferably, the room unit comprises a display, preferably an electronic paper display on which at least a part of the data and/or the at least one parameter may be displayed.

Hence, some basic data, for example the temperature measured by the at least one sensor may be displayed on the room unit, while other data, for example such as the measured humidity or parameters of the HVAC system or room unit may only be displayed on the mobile unit.

The display preferably is a dot-matrix display or a segment display. It is further preferred that the display is an LCD display, more preferably an electronic paper display.

In the case that the room unit comprises a display, said display preferably is a touch screen or is overlaid by a touch sensitive foil. This allows to set certain values such as e.g. the desired room temperature on the room unit itself without the need to use a mobile device. The controller is configured to transmit the set value to the HVAC system such that the HVAC system may then subsequently alter operation parameters in order to change the ambient air in the specific room such as to reach the set value.

Especially, the display comprises a plurality of segments, whereby, preferably, each segment is designed for displaying predefined data, parameters and/or input means. The latter can be shown if the display is a touch-screen or if the display is overlaid by a touch sensitive foil.

For example, the actual temperature can be shown in a first segment, the set temperature is shown in a second segment, and input means, e.g. in the form of push buttons, are shown in a third segment.

Especially, the data, parameter and/or input means to be shown on the display can be set with the mobile device. In case of a display with a plurality of segments, individual segments can be displayed or hidden. The configuration of which segments are displayed or hidden on the display of the room unit may be configured by means of the mobile device, preferably only if said mobile device has administrator rights. Thus, different views can be set in a highly flexible manner for customizing the room unit to a specific environment and/or to specific user needs.

The present application further relates to a method for exchanging data between a mobile device and an HVAC system or room unit, and vice versa. In a first step of the method a short-range wireless communication connection is established between the mobile device and a room unit according to the description above. In a further step of the method, data is relayed from the HVAC system to the mobile device, and vice versa, by the controller through the connection means and the short range wireless communication connection or data is transmitted between the room unit and the mobile device, and vice versa.

The short-range wireless communication connection is preferably established by bringing the mobile device into close proximity with the room unit. Preferably, the mobile device comprises a software, e.g. in the form of a program or app, which automatically establishes the short-range wireless communication connection with the room unit. Such a software may be provided by the manufacturer of the room unit.

The data exchanged in the inventive method preferably comprises at least one parameter of the HVAC system or of the room unit and/or a command to alter at least one parameter of the HVAC system or room unit.

Preferably, the controller checks whether the exchange of specific data with the mobile device is to be allowed or denied when said mobile device establishes the short-range communication connection with the room unit, said check being based on access rights stored in a memory of the room unit.

Preferably, the controller queries a passcode or pin from the mobile device and retrieves information defining the access rights for the mobile device which correspond to the passcode or pin provided by the mobile device, the memory of the room unit having stored a table associating different access rights to specific passcodes or pins.

Hence, it is possible to easily attribute specific access rights to any mobile device being connected to the room unit by querying the passcode or pin and by retrieving the access rights associated to the passcode or pin being sent back from the mobile device. This allows a very flexible use and configuration of the room unit.

Preferably, the controller alters the access rights stored in the memory, preferably the passcodes or pins or the specific access rights associated to specific passcodes or pins upon reception of an according command from the mobile device.

The present application further relates to a method for the configuration of a room unit according to the present invention and described above. In a first step of the method configuration parameters are written to a non-volatile memory, especially an EEPROM memory of the short-range wireless communication module by means of a mobile device preferably, while the room unit is powered down. In a second step of the method, the controller of the room unit reads the configuration parameters from the non-volatile memory, especially from the EEPROM memory of the short-range wireless communication module, preferably when the room unit is powered up.

When the room unit is powered down, the writing of the configuration parameters is performed by means of an active-passive communication between the mobile device which is actively sending the configuration parameters while the short-range wireless communication module is passively receiving the configuration parameters. In this powered down, passive state the configuration parameters are written to the non-volatile memory, preferably the EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) memory of the short-range wireless communication module. The electrical energy needed for the writing of the configuration parameters to the nonvolatile memory is powered by the transmission of the mobile device.

This configuration allows for a very convenient, easy and quick configuration of the room unit even prior of the installation of the room unit or its connection to the HVAC system.

Preferably, the configuration parameters comprise information relating to access rights, to configuration parameters of the room unit or to operation parameters of the HVAC system, which may be altered by means of the room unit. Thus, configuration allows for example to setup the room unit as a room sensor or as a room operating unit. This even without need of changing any hardware components.

The present application relates further to a computer program comprising instructions to cause a room unit according to the present invention and as described above to execute the steps of the method as described above.

Other advantageous embodiments and combinations of features come out from the detailed description below and the entirety of the claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The drawings used to explain the embodiments show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a room unit for an HVAC system according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 a schematic of the data transfers mediated by the controller of a room operation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3A-3C different configurations of a display of an embodiment of a room unit according to the present invention.

In the figures, the same components are given the same reference symbols.

Preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a room unit 1 for an FIVAC system according to the present invention. The room unit 1 comprises a connection means 2 in order to connect the room unit 1 to an FIVAC system. In the embodiment shown, the connection means 2 is in the form of a terminal block with clamp terminals into which the conductors a cable 8 are inserted. Said cable 8 connects the room unit 1 with the FIVAC system and allows the transmission of data from/to the FIVAC system. Further, the cable 8 comprises at least two conductors, which provide electric power to the room unit 1. The room unit 1 further comprises a controller 3 as well as a short-range wireless communication unit 4, for example a near field communication unit. The short-range wireless communication unit 4 allows to establish a wireless communication connection with a mobile device 9 when said mobile device 9 is brought into proximity of the room unit 1. The controller 3 allows to transfer data to the mobile device 9, and vice versa, through the short-range wireless communication connection. Further, the controller 3 may rely data between the mobile device and the HVAC system, and vice versa. The data may include operating parameters of the HVAC system or operating or configuration parameters for the room unit 1 as well as commands to alter the operating parameters of the HVAC system or operation or configuration parameters of the room unit 1.

In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, the room operation unit 1 comprises a sensor 6, which allows to measure a value, such as the ambient temperature in the room within which the room operation unit 1 is located. The controller is configured to transmit the measured value of the sensor 6 to the HVAC system via the connection means 2 and - if a short range wireless communication connection is established with the mobile device 9 - also to the mobile device 9.

The embodiment of the room unit 1 as shown in Fig. 1 includes a display 5 which allows the indication of parameters of the HVAC system received through the connection means 2 and/or the measured value of the sensor 6. Further, the display 5 may be a touch-screen display which allows input from users such as to generate commands to alter operational parameters of the HVAC system, e.g. in such a way as to change the ambient temperature to a desired value, or to alter operation or configuration parameters of the room unit 1.

All components of the room operation units 1 are comprised in a housing 7 such as to protect these components from damage and dirt.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic of the data transfers mediated by the controller 3 of a room operation unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A mobile device 9 establishes a short-range wireless communication connection 1 1 with the room unit 1. The controller 3 of the room unit 1 may query a password or token from the mobile device 9 when establishing the short-range communication connection 1 1 such as to attribute access rights to the mobile device 9.

A measured value of the at least one sensor 6 is transmitted to the HVAC system 10 by means of a periodic transmission 12. Further, the measured value of the at least one sensor may be transmitted by a request 13 to the mobile device 9 having established a short-range wireless communication connection 1 1 with the room unit 1.

The controller 3 of the room unit 1 relies operation parameters 14 of the HVAC system 10 or of the room unit 1 to the mobile device 9. Further, the controller 3 of the room operation unit 1 relies commands 15 to alter operation parameters of the HVAC system from the mobile device 9 to the HVAC system 10 or receives commands to alter parameters of the room unit 1 from the mobile device 9. When relying operation parameter 14 or commands 15 to alter operation parameters, the controller 3 of the room operation unit 1 checks whether the operation parameter 14 or the command 15 may be relied to the mobile device 9, the HVAC system 10 or the room unit 1, respectively, according to access rights stored in a memory of the room unit 1.

The room unit 1 periodically queries 16 operation parameters of the HVAC system 10 in order to display the operation parameters on the display 5 of the room unit 1. Further, if a user alters a value on the room unit 1, e.g. on a touch screen, the controller 3 of the room unit 1 transmits the input command 17 to alter an operational parameter to the HVAC system.

Figs. 3A to 3C shows different configurations of a display 5 of an embodiment of a room unit 1 according to the present invention with different segments 20 - 26 which may be displayed or hidden by means of a mobile device 9, whereby Fig. 3A shows the display 5 with all segments 20 - 26 with all display options in said segments 20 - 26.

Fig. 3B depicts a first example of a configuration of the display 5. In this example, a selected temperature segment 20 as well as a temperature selection segment 21 are displayed on the display 5. The temperature selection segment 21 is touch sensitive and allows the alteration of the selected temperature for the room in which the room unit 1 is located by a user. Further, a ventilation status segment 22 and a ventilation selection segment 23 are displayed. The ventilation selection segment 23 is touch sensitive and allows the alteration of the ventilation status for the room in which the room unit 1 is located by a user.

A room parameter segment 24 shows measured values of the at least one sensor 6 of the room unit 1, such as e.g. current temperature and humidity, and a general status indication segment 26 shows general information, such as e.g. whether the air conditioning to the room is switched on or off. In the examples shown in Fig. 3B, the snowflake symbol shows that the air conditioning is switched on and cold air is being supplied to the room by the HVAC system such as to cool the room to the selected temperature of 23°C as displayed in the selected temperature segment 20 from the actual measured temperature of 24°C as indicated on the room parameter segment 24.

Further, in the exemplary configuration of the display 5 as shown in Fig. 3B a switch segment 25 is displayed which allows to switch the supply of air from the FIVAC system to the room in which the room unit 1 is located on or off. The switch segment 25 is touch sensitive.

Fig. 3C shows a second exemplary configuration of a display 5. In this configuration, the temperature in the selected temperature segment 20 as well as in the room parameter segment 24 have been set to °F. Contrary to the configuration as shown in Fig. 3B the ventilation status indicator segment 22 as well as the ventilation selection segment 23 are hidden.